Read, Listen (and repeat!) - method 1

Suitable for: all levels

Skills focus: Listening, reading, pronunciation and new vocabulary

Following on from the LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN article, something I suggest you do to help improve your listening skills is to invest in a graded reader (in other words, books for learning English, graded by level). These books are GREAT and cost from €6. You can find lots of different titles and lots of different genres; from Billy Elliot to The Grapes of Wrath!


Choose the correct level for you (you can find the level on the back of the book) and try this method:

1. Listen to the first chapter (without reading).

Try to understand the general sense but don’t worry about understanding every single word. (Remember to try and enjoy the story!)

2. Now listen again, but this time READ at the same time. 

Did you understand more? I imagine the answer will be yes. Consider why? Is there a lot of new vocabulary? Or do you understand the words when you read them, but not when you hear them? 

3. Listen and read again

This time stopping the CD when you come across words that you find difficult to understand or pronounce. Highlight these words and mark the word stress and the pronunciation. Listen and repeat until you feel you can say that word well.
4. Use the same method for each chapter.

We love: PENGUIN READERS and Oxford