Let’s be honest, when learning English, being able to speak fluently is the main concern for most learners. It is understandable because it is how you gauge whether you have improved or not, right?
However, many of you may have to take a college entrance exam, get a job, deal with immigration procedures, or advance your career. Alternatively, what if you just want to be a better communicator in English? What other skills do you need then?
You may find focusing on your receptive skills in English aids you more than you thought.
What are receptive skills?
Receptive skills mean having the ability to understand and interpret spoken or written language. Examples of receptive skills are reading and listening. These skills are usually overpowered by productive skills such as speaking and writing. What are the differences?
Receptive skills help us to receive, understand and then process the information given. They are essential for improving our critical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding of the relationships between words and ideas.
Productive or active skills involve producing words, phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. They allow students to practice real-life activities in the classroom.
Both types of skills are important. B ut without the ability to read we would not know how to use the information that is presented to us in text. Without the input, we can not have the output.
Reading helps to improve grammar and vocabulary skills, whereas listening helps in understanding a language better. These receptive skills, along with productive skills, form a unity when used well. Thus, resulting in a smoother and easier way of learning a language.
Tips to improve your receptive skills in English
1. Be an active listener
Being an active listener means you need to pay attention to non-verbal cues. For example, the person’s intonation, gestures, as well as facial or body language can help you understand the context better.
If you focus on these visual cues and not just on verbal communication, you are being an active listener.
What if you are listening to a recording? Simply take notes while you listen but still listen out for the speaker’s tone of speech which will help you gauge their emotions.
Taking notes helps you to remember the important points. If there is something that you are not sure about, you can ask your teacher about it after.
2. Show interest by asking questions
As you are actively listening, challenge yourself to ask at least one or two questions. This shows that you are interested in the conversation and elicits more input.
Use probing questions to encourage the speaker to expand on what they have said or what you have missed.
Probing questions are open questions that begin with what, why, when, where, and how.
Don’t forget to show empathy if the situation calls for it. Below are a few empathetic expressions:
- How awful!
- I know what you mean.
- I completely understand how you feel.
3. Paraphrase or summarise what you have heard
To show that you have really been paying attention and not daydreaming, try to paraphrase or repeat back what you have heard.
This encourages you to use those active listening techniques to understand what the speaker has said and then change it into your own words. Tough, but can be done with practice!
The same can be said with summarising a conversation. With those excellent note-taking skills, you will be able to briefly go over the main points that were discussed during the conversation.
This will definitely come in useful in whatever career you embark on, especially if you have to attend meetings or take phone calls.
A few summarising expressions are:
- So we have seen that….
- So, in summary/conclusion/short…
- To summarise/sum up/conclude….
4. Always ask if you are confused
Clarification is simply asking someone to express themselves more clearly. This will happen when you are confused by what someone has said, or maybe a recorded conversation that wasn’t so clear.
You can ask them to repeat something or you could repeat what you have heard and ask the person what exactly they meant.
Some clarification phrases are:
- Would you mind repeating that, please?
- Sorry, I missed that. Could you say it again, please?
- To clarify….
- So what you are saying is….?
- Do you mean…..?
5. Giving opinions and feelings
Giving your opinion or reflecting on what has been said allows you to share your thoughts. Maybe you have a different perspective or viewpoint from a classmate or colleague, this is your time to express your thoughts or experience on the matter or conversation.
Usually, there is always a feedback session where you are encouraged to express your feelings and opinions.
Make sure that your feedback is always constructive. You do not want to make the other person feel silly or stupid in any way. Instead, focus on building up and use encouraging remarks.
Some examples are:
- You did a great job with….but/and…..
- I was so impressed with…just be careful that…
- Well done with….but I noticed…..
6. Focus on your interests
Use your interests to improve your receptive skills in English. If you have a love of music, pick your favourite songs that will motivate you to listen and see what you understand.
Take a look at the lyrics, and see how much you actually did understand. Review the words you didn’t know and then listen to the song again.
When watching scenes from your favourite film, challenge yourself by watching with English subtitles and then no subtitles. Take your time and watch small sections at a time, so as not to feel overwhelmed.
If music or films are not your thing, try podcasts, audiobooks, books, etc.
Your interests will make you pay more attention than usual, and help to enhance the development of your receptive skills. Phrases and sentence structures are more likely to stick in your head.
7. Use your knowledge and information
How can you effectively complete a listening task?
- Use your own knowledge and information on the subject and try to predict the answers. This will help prepare your mind to listen to the information that is relevant in answering the questions.
- When reading the questions related to the listening task, highlight any keywords.
- Listen to the recording and choose your answers.
- Listen a second time to check your answers.
Do not forget to make notes as we have previously mentioned. Was there a word you didn’t understand, but have an idea what it means from the context? Write it down and ask your teacher about it after the listening task is done.
By taking notes, you will be able to participate more effectively in your lessons.
Your English listening skills will improve by doing practice exercises. Make sure to re-listen to recordings as much as possible. Focus on any continuous mistakes you are making.
Focusing on your strengths and weaknesses in English will improve your grammar and help you know what needs to be improved or not.
8. Build up your vocabulary
Read different books to learn English, newspapers, magazines, online blogs, news, and many other reading materials to improve your vocabulary and English reading skills. There are also lots of English vocabulary apps that can help you.
Make a note of any new vocabulary words and phrases and create your own sentences with them. Ask your teacher to check them to see if they are correct. If not, ask the teacher to give you examples to see where you are going wrong.
The English language uses a lot of phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions, and jargon which can be very confusing at times.
Buy a good personal dictionary and thesaurus that give examples of words or structures. This will help you expand your vocabulary knowledge and to start connecting simple words with more complex ones receptively.
Look at the words and how they are used. How can you say the same thing differently?
When writing your own examples, try to use the words in a variety of different ways. Maybe even challenge yourself by using an idiomatic expression or phrasal verb.
By developing an interest, you are motivating yourself to improve your English reading skills.
9. Predict the information
How can you effectively accomplish a reading task?
- Read the heading and try to predict the information that follows.
- Skim the reading to gain a general understanding of what the article or script is about.
- Try to visualise what you are reading.
- Figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words from the context.
- Scan for specific and supporting ideas or details to answer the questions raised.
- Underline, re-read, make notes, and paraphrase to remember important points.
I know, not all reading materials are exciting, but you can build up interest before reading the text by predicting what it is about and then checking to see if you are right.
10. Online resources to help with your improvement
The internet is at your fingertips, so use it! Numerous English learning apps, radio programmes, podcasts, films, songs, and more are available to you at the click of a button.
There are also some excellent free apps out there. Here are a few to get you started:
- British Council LearnEnglish podcasts cover a range of topics. If the speaker is speaking too fast, then adjust the speed to suit your level. There are interactive audio scripts that you can check the vocabulary and phrases for any that you missed.
- BBC Learning English gives you the option to listen with or without the manuscript. It has a My Learning area where you can save your favourite series and programmes.
- Duolingo has a large amount of content. There is a wide range of podcasts and other listening activities as well as articles on a range of topics. You can practise your receptive skills until your heart’s content.
- Lingopie has a pool of TV shows, movies, and music videos to help you improve your English listening and speaking skills. Simply click on the subtitles to get instant translations and listen to the correct pronunciation.
11. Honourable mentions
Here are some more creative ways of improving your receptive skills in English.
- Create flashcards of new words or phrases so you can carry them around with you, and refer to them when you have a spare moment during your day.
- Listen to podcasts or something as you go about your day. Whether you are on public transport, walking, or in your car, listen to something that you enjoy in English.
- Keep a journal or diary in English. Simply, add a short sentence or two on what you did during the day and build it up from there.
- Study song lyrics where you can check for new words and expressions. Why not tape the lyrics to your wall at home, and belt out the songs as you read and sing along? Fun, fun, fun!
- If you are doing activities around the house, turn that radio on, listen to a podcast or any audio material, and just get used to listening to English. You will become more and more comfortable hearing English and be amazed at how much you understand.
Final thoughts
And we are done! I’m sure these tips will help improve your English reading and listening. It may be hard at first, but don’t give up. You will be amazed at how much and quickly you will improve!