Blog 3:
Zainab Nabeel

English cannot be fully learned by listening alone.

It is true that listening is one of the most important means of language acquisition, but it is not enough on its own; for various reasons, we review it scientifically with UniHouse Iraq in the following:

1. The role of the brain in language learning:

• Different areas of the brain play a role in language learning, the most important of which are:

• Auditory cortex area: It is responsible for processing linguistic sounds.

• Visual cortex area: It is responsible for processing visual information, such as: images, and mouth movements.

• Motor cortex area: It is responsible for controlling the muscles of the mouth and tongue to produce speech.

• Memory area: It is responsible for storing and retrieving linguistic information.

Listening just does not activate all areas of the brain necessary for language learning.

Listening focuses on the area of the auditory cortex only. It does not activate areas responsible for processing visual information, controlling speech, or storing linguistic information.

2. The role of grammar in language learning:

• Grammar is a set of conditions that govern how sentences are constructed in language; for this language tests focus on mastering grammar such as:  IELTS and Pearson.

• Grammar cannot be fully learned by listening alone.

• The learner may be able to implicitly understand some grammar by listening to a lot of language, but it is difficult to learn all the complex grammar and understand how to apply them correctly.

3. The role of interaction in language learning:

Interaction with others is necessary to learn language effectively; through interaction the learner practices various language skills, such as:

• Listening.

• Speaking.

• Reading.

• Writing.

The learner also receives hints from others about their mistakes, which helps them improve their language skills.

4. The role of motivation in language learning:

The motivation is: a person's desire to learn the language. Achieving it requires the combination of several skills, as listening alone is not a sufficient reason to learn the language effectively. The learner may feel bored or frustrated if they rely solely on listening, so it is important to have other motivations, such as:

• The desire to communicate with others.

• Travel to another country.

• Get a better job.

• Study.

5. The role of visual learning in language learning:

Some people learn better by looking at information, and these people may find it difficult to learn language by listening alone. It may be helpful for them to use visual learning materials, such as:

• Books.

• Websites.

• Applications.

The effect of hearing on language learning also varies by level as shown below:

1. For starters:

Frequent listening helps the beginner to get used to the phonetics of the language, and perhaps differentiate between words, but he cannot learn meanings and vocabulary without linking them to pictures or things that indicate those meanings.

The child learns by listening and watching at the same time, where he associates sounds with the movements and images they signify. This process takes an exceptionally long time for the child to reach an elementary level of language and cannot deal with complex ideas and sentences. You have different abilities than a child and need to learn faster and deal with complex topics across the language.

2. For intermediate or advanced level:

An advanced level can learn new vocabulary, meanings, and sentences by listening, but when limited to listening only, other language skills will still be weak, such as speaking, reading, and writing.

Englishmen, especially Americans, are usually less grammar-bound while speaking, making the language learner by listening weak in terms of grammar.

Spoken and colloquial language in English differ markedly from written, academic, and official language.

In short: listening is especially important in the language learning process, but it should not be limited to it.

Language needs tools:

• Phonetics.

• Units of meaning (such as words and terms).

• Grammar.

It is practiced within the skills of:

• Listening.

• Speaking.

• Reading.

• Writing.

Tips to improve listening skill:

• Listen to material suitable for your language level.

• Focus on understanding the main ideas rather than each word.

• Take short breaks to avoid feeling tired or bored.

• Compare what you hear with what you already know from the language.

• Practice listening skills on a regular basis.

When it comes to taking the right test for your English language requirements, UniHouse Iraq is your trusted partner. As the leading  IELTS provider in Iraq. The value Unihouse offers a wide range of resources, including test registration, preparation programs, personalized guidance and an integrated English language proficiency system.

With Unihouse, you can take the path that leads to the desired opportunities of studying, working or migrating with confidence.