How do you know if your listening is improving?

Jul 01, 2024

4 years ago when I first started listening to native Chinese podcasts, I couldn’t understand much. But I kept listening.

Whether I was working, journaling, working out, walking, biking, or doing chores, those podcasts were always on. It was like having a background soundtrack to my life.

The funny thing is, because I couldn't understand much at the beginning, it was easy to let it fade into the background and just focus on whatever task I was doing. Slowly, I'd pick up new words and recognize old ones.

Fast forward to now, four years later, and things have changed quite a bit. When I try to listen to podcasts in the same way, I find it hard to not pay attention to them.

I get easily distracted by the content because I understand too much now!

It's like I can't just let it be background noise anymore because my brain naturally picks up what is being said.

It’s a bit like listening to instrumental music when I'm trying to focus on something like studying or working to get me in the zone.

But if I try to listen to music with lyrics, I get too caught up in the words and lose focus on my task.

If this happens to you too (you can’t help but pay attention to Mandarin audio), this is a sign that your listening is getting better.

It's a weird but satisfying problem to have.

If you want to have better conversations, listening is key. Every conversation starts with understanding what is being said.

This is why it’s Step 1 of what we tackle in the Chinese Speakers Program.

Step 2 is improving your speaking and building a consistent habit.

Step 3 is making consistent progress with personalized feedback on your tones, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary so you sound like a native speaker.

Chinese Speakers opens today. (We close in 5 days).

I have room for 3 more learners in July.

If you’re ready to start, reply “start” and I’ll get you the details.

加油，

Danyo

PS Cool vocab of the day:

天经地义 (tiān jīng dì yì)

天 (tiān): Heaven; sky.
经 (jīng): Canon; classic.
地 (dì): Earth; ground.
义 (yì): Righteousness; justice.

Translation: Absolutely right and proper; as it should be by nature; unquestionable principles.

Example sentence: 尊敬长辈是天经地义的事情。(Zūnjìng zhǎngbèi shì tiānjīngdìyì de shìqíng.) Respecting elders is absolutely right and proper.