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Old March 19, 2012, 12:49 PM
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Rusty Rusty is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
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Native Language: American English
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Radio broadcasts, movies and television shows are good for listening to fluent language, but you can't press the 'pause' button and figure out the things you're missing. DVD movies, MP3s, CDs and podcasts come with the 'pause' feature, so they're better, at first. But I think the very best way for you to beef up your listening skills is to find some hispanic friends that will allow you the luxury of true listening during a dialog. Don't be afraid to just repeat what you're hearing, in the form of a question. The native speaker will give you a reassuring nod that you're picking up on things.

Understanding what is being said is most likely being hampered by a need to translate everything into your native tongue (or another tongue). If so, you need to focus on the idea of a phrase instead of its individual pieces. Words and body language paint a mental picture. Try to envision it. This skill will take time, but when you realize you're thinking in Spanish instead of translating everything, you've arrived.
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