How Things Used to be

Abstract

Spanish spoken in Spain is quite fast — which may be why you don’t understand the conversations or listening passages first time. If you are not familiar with certain words or structures it is difficult to sort out when one word begins and another ends, There are several ways to overcome problems with listening, You can try listening along with the transcript, until you are comfortable with the meaning. Then put the written version aside and listen again. Do you still understand each phrase? Or go back to an earlier unit and try listening to passages that you found difficult first lime around. You will discover that, having worked on them, you now find them much easier to follow. Or try listening with a partner. You often find that he or she has understood parts that you’ve not caught — and vice versa. If you share this information, you can often piece together the whole passage. And never forget that the more you practise, the easier it becomes. So keep listening — in bed, in your car, while gardening — whenever.