Hörverstehen simplified!?

‘Hörverstehen’ has been my weakness.

I cannot understand the audio after 2 mins.

I am lost during a conversation with my German counterpart. I understand the context, but I would like to know the details too.

Please help!

A common problem.

Any solution? Of course, every problem comes with a solution, we just need to seek it.

Problem – we practice the hören exercises only for exams. We score, receive the certificate and are done!

But what about real time conversations? You fail to understand what a real person is trying to say and then you start questioning your listening skills.

Concept – Imagine a small baby listening to podcasts and audiobooks to learn a language, it will definitely learn the language, but what about those little details, the expressions with those words, the words that come out of the baby’s mouth will be robot-like. It’s difficult to imagine a Baby that way. This is what happens to us when we start learning a new language. We know it, but don’t feel it.

Solution – Ditch your headphones, AirPods and the thoughts in your brain. You travel to your work or your German classes either with your bike or train or bus, try keeping your ears and brains open to the voices around you.

Listen to the words, to the conversations, basically eavesdrop! 

Now you might say, but not everyone speaks German, I live in India, people speak in different languages.

Okay, listen to that, make small notes on your phone or diary, go home and find the words in German, try using them in your texts or conversations. 

Benefits – You will learn new words, sentence formations, expressions with those words (extremely important), if nothing else there may be some great content for your next reel (just kidding).

Difficulty – How long will it take to excel?

There is no timeline, nothing in life has a timeline. It could take one month, one year or a decade. But the point is to keep at it. The more often you do it, the better your listening skills will get. It’s a long process, but there is surely some magic happening in the background.

It’s said, the slower the process, the better are the results. Trust the process, trust yourself. ‘Eavesdrop’ if you want to learn new languages. (without being creepy :P)