English Skills

Speaking and Listening

This module covers concepts such as

Understanding the connection between effective

listening and effective speaking
Trying some new strategies to improve your
spoken English
Committing to regular practice

www.jcu.edu.au/students/learning-centre
Speaking and Listening Skills misunderstood any words and to fill in any gaps
in your listening.
Effective spoken communication requires:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/transcrip
Language skills (speaking, listening) ts/
Social skills
Did you know that PDFs can talk?
Awareness of the cultural context
Next time you open a document in PDF format,
In order to develop your spoken language, you try listening to it while you read. If you cant
need to begin by developing your listening work out how to do this, google search: How
skills. The structured listening activities below to listen to a pdf!
will help you to focus on particular aspects of
spoken language. Can your dictionary talk?
Most online or electronic dictionaries supply
1. Resources for structured listening audio files as well as text. Use this facility to
Lecture recordings check that you have the pronunciation right.

The ideal listening resource for English within

your subjects is your lectures. If an audio 2. Structured speaking activities
recording or podcast is not available in Learn
JCU, ask your lecturer for permission to record Public Speaking clubs and courses
your lectures. At JCU, you can join the Townsville University
First, these recordings can be used to check Toastmasters club. This is a great place to
that you have understood the content of the practice giving short talks and meet other
lecture. This may require you to learn new students. The club also offers Speechcraft
vocabulary. A second listening will help you to courses in public speaking.
become familiar with the structure and style of http://townsvilleuni.toastmastersclubs.org/
the lectures. Subsequent listening can help you

to become familiar with the accent and
pronunciation features of each of your 3.Unstructured speaking and listening
lecturers. practice
TED Talks and ABC Radio National The old saying, practice makes perfect, is a
There are many excellent free online resources reminder of the importance of regular practice.
to help you to improve your listening. TED Talks Without it, you are unlikely to improve. So take
are high quality presentations recorded in every opportunity you can to engage in
video format on a huge range of topics. They conversation daily. Dont be embarrassed
are an excellent resource for learning to deliver about mistakes or misunderstandings. Instead,
successful presentations to a general audience. try introducing yourself to your fellow students,
forming a study group, joining a club or
https://www.ted.com/talks
attending a social event. JCU offers a wide
Another excellent online resource is the range of events on campus and your city also
Australian Broadcasting Corporations Radio hosts numerous events. Ask a local for some
National. Radio National explores a wide range suggestions. The more opportunities for
of issues and current affairs daily. Most practice the better.
programs are podcast and many are
http://www.jcu.edu.au/student/studentlife/ind
transcribed. This is an excellent resource for
ex.htm
listening practice. First, listen to the audio file
of a program without reading the transcript. http://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/community/
Then, listen to a short segment of the interview events/Pages/EventsCalendar.aspx
and write down what you hear. Check the Practice builds confidence and competence!
written transcript to see whether you
1
English Speaking Skills realistic expectations of yourself;
language learning is a lifelong process,
1. Fluency even for native speakers.

Communicating clearly is most 6. Conversation Topics and Taboos

important. Do not focus on Listen to English speakers in different
communicating quickly; this will occur contexts and you will soon learn to
naturally, with practice. Moderate adjust to this strange new language
volume is important for communication; called Australian English. Take note of
avoid excessive or insufficient volume. the common topics of conversation you
2. Mistakes hear around you: the weather, the
weekend, etc. If you ask an
Dont be afraid of mistakes native inappropriate question, you will
speakers do not speak perfectly either! A probably notice a surprised reaction. Try
different accent and a few minor a safer question or simply talk about
mistakes are acceptable. Self-correct yourself!
when you can and allow your language
to improve steadily - it will if you 7. Communications Styles and Cultural
practise. Context

3. Misunderstandings As you mix with locals here, you will

begin to understand the cultural
Dont see a bit of confusion as a disaster. context. For example, after the first
Take a breath and try clearer meeting with someone, formalities are
pronunciation, or a different word, or often dispensed with. At university,
create a context for the listener. academic staff value student questions
If people laugh, they will want to laugh and feedback, so be direct but always
with you not at you. Try to see the use polite language. At JCU, your
humour rather than focus on the learning is paramount, so ask for help
humiliation. when you need it!
4. Conversation Practice
Take every opportunity you can to Other useful websites for learning
participate in conversations with a English
variety of people. Find people with
similar interests this is definitely not a
http://australianetwork.com/learningenglish/
waste of your time at university.

5. Muscle Building and Self Esteem
Give yourself time to learn to work your
facial muscles in new ways in order to
speak clearly. Stay positive; your skills
will develop continuously as long as you
engage in the English speaking
community as much as possible. Have