Listening before speaking helps you learn faster, or,
why listen to soundfiles?
When you hear a sound in a foreign language, this is what happens in your brain:
- Your ear hears the sound.
The sound goes inside your ear and moves to your brain. - Your brain finds the sound pattern.
Your brain tries to remember: “Have I heard this sound before?” - You connect the sound to a word.
If you have learned the word before, your brain says, “Ah! This sound means this word!” - You remember the meaning.
Then you think of what the word means in your own language.
So:
👉 Sound → Ear → Brain → Word → Meaning
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If you haven’t heard the word before, this happens:
- Your ear hears the sound.
- Your brain listens carefully, but it doesn’t know the sound pattern yet.
- You don’t know the word’s meaning. It’s just a strange sound.
- You may ask or check what the word means.
- When you learn it, your brain saves the sound and its meaning together.
Next time you hear it, your brain will remember:
👉 “I know this sound — it means this word!”
When you learn a new language, listening is very important. At the beginner level, you should listen a lot every day. Listening helps you learn the sounds, words, and sentences. You hear how people speak in real life.
Listening is more important than reading at the start. Reading uses your eyes. Listening uses your ears and your brain. When you listen, you hear the right way to say words. You hear the rhythm and speed of the language. Reading does not help you hear these sounds.
If you listen a lot, you remember words and phrases more easily. Even if you do not understand every word, you will understand more and more. Your brain learns the language patterns. This is how children learn their first language. They listen for a long time before they read or write.
What about speaking? Speaking is important too. But if you speak too early without listening enough, it can be hard. You might say words wrong or use words in the wrong way. Listening first helps you speak better. You copy the right sounds and sentences.
If you only read or learn grammar, it is hard to talk to people. But if you listen often, you feel more confident to speak. At the beginner level, it is best to listen more than speak. Listening is the first step to learning. It helps you learn fast and well.
________________________
Vocabulary:
- a soundfile: a computer file with recorded sounds or speech
- a language: words and rules people use to talk or write
- to listen: to use your ears to hear carefully
- important: something that matters a lot
- a beginner level: the first stage of learning something new
- a sound: something you can hear
- a sentence: a group of words that tell a complete idea
- to hear: to notice a sound with your ears
- to speak: to say words with your mouth
- an eye: the part of your body you see with
- an ear: the part of your body you hear with
- a brain: the part inside your head that thinks and learns
- a rhythm: a pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking
- speed: how fast or slow something happens
- to remember: to keep information in your mind
- easily: something you can do without problems
- to understand: to know the meaning of something
- a language pattern: a usual way words and sentences are made in a language
- enough: as much as you need
- wrong: not correct or not right
- to copy: to do or say the same as someone else
- grammar: rules for making sentences in a language
- to feel confident: to feel sure you can do something well
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Multiple choice, one answer correct:
part 1: 1-16
part 2: 17-20
- What is a soundfile?
a) A computer file with recorded sounds
b) A book with pictures
c) A paper with words - What does to listen mean?
a) To close your eyes
b) To use your ears to hear carefully
c) To speak loudly - What is a sentence?
a) A single letter
b) A group of words that tell a complete idea
c) A color - What is an ear?
a) The part of your body you hear with
b) The part of your body you see with
c) The part of your body you use to write - What is grammar?
a) A kind of food
b) Rules for making sentences in a language
c) A place to read books - What does to copy mean?
a) To sleep
b) To say or do the same as someone else
c) To run very fast - What is a brain?
a) Something you wear
b) The part inside your head that thinks and learns
c) The name of a city - What is important?
a) Something that is very small
b) Something that matters a lot
c) Something that does not matter - What does to speak mean?
a) To write a letter
b) To listen carefully
c) To say words with your mouth - What does to remember mean?
a) To keep information in your mind
b) To forget something
c) To eat food - What is a language?
a) A kind of animal
b) Words and rules people use to talk or write
c) A type of music - What is speed?
a) A kind of fruit
b) A type of dance
c) How fast or slow something happens - What does wrong mean?
a) Very good
b) Very old
c) Not correct or not right - What is a rhythm?
a) A color
b) A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking
c) A kind of food - What does enough mean?
a) More than you need
b) Less than you want
c) As much as you need - What does to feel confident mean?
a) To feel scared
b) To feel tired
c) To feel sure you can do something well - What is an eye?
a) The part of your body you use to walk
b) The part of your body you see with
c) The part of your body you hear with - What does to understand mean?
a) To not know something
b) To know the meaning of something
c) To forget something - What is a beginner level?
a) The last stage of learning
b) The first stage of learning something new
c) A very difficult stage - What does easily mean?
a) Something impossible to do
b) Something very hard to do
c) Something you can do without problems
___________________________
Answers:
1a 2b 3b 4a 5b 6b 7b 8b 9c 10a
11b 12c 13c 14b 15c 16c 17b
18b 19b 20c
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Match the word with the correct definition:
Words:
- soundfile
- language
- to listen
- important
- beginner level
- sound
- sentence
- to hear
- to speak
- eye
- ear
- brain
- rhythm
- speed
- to remember
- easily
- to understand
- language pattern
- enough
- wrong
- to copy
- grammar
- to feel confident
Definitions:
a) The part of your body you see with
b) Rules for making sentences in a language
c) A group of words that tell a complete idea
d) A computer file with recorded sounds
e) To say words with your mouth
f) Something that matters a lot
g) The first stage of learning something new
h) The part of your body you hear with
i) To use your ears to hear carefully
j) To keep information in your mind
k) Not correct or not right
l) How fast or slow something happens
m) The part inside your head that thinks and learns
n) To do the same as someone else
o) A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking
p) Words and rules people use to talk or write
q) To know the meaning of something
r) To hear sounds with your ears
s) The part of your body you hear with
t) As much as you need
u) Something you can do without problems
v) To feel sure you can do something well
w) A sound that you can hear
x) The first stage of learning a new language
________________
Answers:
1d 2p 3i 4f 5g 6w 7c 8r 9e 10a
11h 12m 13o 14l 15j 16u 17q 18x 19t
20k 21n 22b 23v
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Find the word that is explained by the definition:
- A computer file with recorded sounds: ________________
- Words and rules people use to talk or write: ________________
- To use your ears to hear carefully: ________________
- Something that matters a lot: ________________
- The first stage of learning something new: ________________
- A sound that you can hear: ________________
- A group of words that tell a complete idea: ________________
- To hear sounds with your ears: ________________
- To say words with your mouth: ________________
- The part of your body you see with: ________________
- The part of your body you hear with: ________________
- The part inside your head that thinks and learns: ________________
- A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking: ________________
- How fast or slow something happens: ________________
- To keep information in your mind: ________________
- Something you can do without problems: ________________
- To know the meaning of something: ________________
- The first stage of learning a new language: ________________
- As much as you need: ________________
- Not correct or not right: ________________
- To do the same as someone else: ________________
- Rules for making sentences in a language: ________________
- To feel sure you can do something well: ________________
_____________________________
Answers:
To feel sure you can do something well – to feel confident
A computer file with recorded sounds – soundfile
Words and rules people use to talk or write – language
To use your ears to hear carefully – to listen
Something that matters a lot – important
The first stage of learning something new – beginner level
A sound that you can hear – sound
A group of words that tell a complete idea – sentence
To hear sounds with your ears – to hear
To say words with your mouth – to speak
The part of your body you see with – eye
The part of your body you hear with – ear
The part inside your head that thinks and learns – brain
A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking – rhythm
How fast or slow something happens – speed
To keep information in your mind – to remember
Something you can do without problems – easily
To know the meaning of something – to understand
The first stage of learning a new language – beginner level
As much as you need – enough
Not correct or not right – wrong
To do the same as someone else – to copy
Rules for making sentences in a language – grammar
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True or false:
- Listening helps you learn sounds, words, and sentences.
- Reading is more important than listening at the start.
- When you listen, you hear how people speak in real life.
- Listening uses your ears and your brain.
- Reading helps you hear the right way to say words.
- If you listen a lot, you remember words more easily.
- Children listen a long time before they read or write.
- Speaking is not important when you learn a language.
- If you speak too early, you might say words wrong.
- Listening first helps you speak better.
- If you only learn grammar, it is easy to talk to people.
- Listening often helps you feel more confident to speak.
- At the beginner level, it is best to speak more than listen.
- Listening is the first step to learning a new language.
- Listening helps you learn fast and well.
____________________
True: 1,3,4,6,7,9,10,12,14,15
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Complete, words below:
first – hear – easily – language – important – speak – brain – grammar – remember
When you learn a new language, listening is very __________, especially at the beginner level.
Listening helps you __________ sounds, words, and sentences the right way.
It uses your ears and __________, and helps you learn the rhythm and speed of the language.
If you listen a lot every day, you ________ words more __________ and understand more, even if you don’t know every word.
Speaking is important too, but it is better to listen __________.
Listening helps you __________ better and feel confident.
Reading and __________ are not enough to speak well.
Listening is the first step to learning a __________ fast and well.
______________________
Correct version:
When you learn a new language, listening is very important, especially at the beginner level. Listening helps you hear sounds, words, and sentences the right way. It uses your ears and brain, and helps you learn the rhythm and speed of the language. If you listen a lot every day, you remember words more easily and understand more, even if you don’t know every word. Speaking is important too, but it is better to listen first. Listening helps you speak better and feel confident. Reading and grammar are not enough to speak well. Listening is the first step to learning a language fast and well.
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Interview – complete, words below:
Rhythm – brain – first – listening – more – too – beginner – sentences – language – wrong
1. Q: What is very important when you learn a new language?
A: Listening is very important.
2. Q: When should you listen a lot?
A: At the __________ level.
3. Q: What does listening help you learn?
A: Sounds, words, and __________.
4. Q: What parts of the body do you use to listen?
A: Ears and __________.
5. Q: Is listening more important than reading at the start?
A: Yes,___________ is more important.
6. Q: Can reading help you hear the right sounds?
A: No, reading does not help.
7. Q: What do you learn when you listen a lot?
A: __________ and speed of the language.
8. Q: Do you understand more when you listen a lot?
A: Yes, you understand __________.
9. Q: Is speaking important?
A: Yes, speaking is important__________.
10. Q: Should you speak too early?
A: No, you should listen _________.
11. Q: What happens if you speak too early?
A: You might say words __________.
12. Q: What is the first step to learn a __________?
A: Listening is the first step.
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Correct version:
1. Q: What is very important when you learn a new language?
A: Listening is very important.
2. Q: When should you listen a lot?
A: At the beginner level.
3. Q: What does listening help you learn?
A: Sounds, words, and sentences.
4. Q: What parts of the body do you use to listen?
A: Ears and brain.
5. Q: Is listening more important than reading at the start?
A: Yes, listening is more important.
6. Q: Can reading help you hear the right sounds?
A: No, reading does not help.
7. Q: What do you learn when you listen a lot?
A: Rhythm and speed of the language.
8. Q: Do you understand more when you listen a lot?
A: Yes, you understand more.
9. Q: Is speaking important?
A: Yes, speaking is important too.
10. Q: Should you speak too early?
A: No, you should listen first.
11. Q: What happens if you speak too early?
A: You might say words wrong.
12. Q: What is the first step to learn a language?
A: Listening is the first step.
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ADDITIONAL LINKS, TEXTS =>
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ADDITIONAL MATERIAL on topic:
Additional information:
LINK 1
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Simpler text:
When you learn a new language, listening is very important. Beginners should listen a lot every day. Listening helps you learn sounds, words, and sentences. You hear how people speak in real life.
At the start, listening is more important than reading. Reading uses your eyes. Listening uses your ears and brain. When you listen, you hear how words are said, and the rhythm and speed of the language. Reading does not teach these.
Listening a lot helps you remember words and phrases. Even if you do not understand everything, you will understand more over time. Your brain learns the language like children learn their first language—they listen a long time before reading or writing.
Speaking is important too. But if you speak too early, it can be hard. You might say words wrong or use them in the wrong way. Listening first helps you speak better because you copy the right sounds and sentences.
If you only read or study grammar, it is hard to talk to people. Listening often helps you feel confident to speak. Beginners should listen more than speak. Listening is the first step to learning and helps you learn faster.
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Even simpler text:
When you learn a new language, listening is very important. Beginners should listen every day. Listening helps you learn words, sounds, and sentences. You hear how people speak.
Listening is more important than reading at the start. Reading uses your eyes. Listening uses your ears and brain. Listening helps you hear the right way to say words.
If you listen a lot, you remember words and phrases. Even if you do not understand everything, your brain learns the language. Children learn this way too.
Speaking is important, but it is better to listen first. If you speak too early, you can make mistakes. Listening helps you speak better.
If you only read or study grammar, it is hard to talk. Beginners should listen more than speak. Listening is the first step to learning.
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For beginners:
When you learn a new language, listen every day.
Listening helps you learn words and sounds.
You hear how people speak.
Listening is better than reading at first.
It helps you say words correctly.
If you listen a lot, you remember more.
Speaking is important, but listen first.
Listening helps you speak better.
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