ARTIKEL : Listening For Speaking

We are students in university (especially the students who take English major) of course have known that there are four skills which must be understood, such as: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. They are always related to the term of usage, but speaking is viewed by learners as the most elesirable skill in “face to face communication” in this globalization era. However,

• What do you want to do before you can speak?
• What does a child learn before he/she talk?
• And what do we do before chatting?

Ok. Those questions are actually very simple. Though very simple but people mostly never think about it. They are so confused, what will they do if they can’t speak English yet. But it’s ok. Don’t worry here the writer will tell you, there is a good way you can do before you can speak. It’s very simple and easy.

Most of people are very astonish when they look people can speak English well. Sometimes the time would like to ask a question to the in selves. Why they can speak English well and why can’t? What’s a wrong?

A reality in our social life, people actually are very lazy to memorize vocabulary or grammar rules here as they are priority factor in speaking. We can imagine, if we understand about grammar but don’t understand about vocabulary or otherwise. Of course, it can cause people feel difficult  to speak English. So, what is the simple method and good way to practice speak English?

Listen, of course!

Naturally children begin listening to their parents when they are babies. They often greet, speak and admire without any response. We all realize although nobody understands whatever the babies understand with parents spoken words the process continues. Children automatically acquire such language over some times, and later gradually produce it through actual experience. The production may be incomplete at first but success full at last. That leads to speaking skill which is quite applicable to daily conversation. This fact,  almost  the same as people’s experience when they come to other countries and they don’t understand anything about the language in that place. By listening, paying attention to people speak and do action they will understand gradually by themselves.

In English listening, listening can help English speaking considerable. Although it is the first of all skill, it is neither the easiest nor the most meaningless. We need to hear various type of English repeatedly and continuously, of course if we want to communicate properly, meaning full and naturally.

Why is listening good?

Of course there are ways to learn speaking but why we use listening. There are many reasons to answer that questions.

• When we are listening, we are reviewing a lot of English usage such as vocabulary, grammar rule, structures, intonation, accent, and our own interpretation.
• We can learn new words and express by hearing them frequently
• We can imitate what we hear and apply it with great confidence
• It’s a good way to train our attention.

How can we listen for speaking?

As a citizen of Indonesia, of course we  seldom hear people speaking English in our daily life. But don’t worry, you can listen by many ways. Such as:

Listening English songs, may be from MP3; radio; VCD; HP; watch American movie, etc.

Listening carefully when lectures/teacher speaks English may be inside or outside of the class.

Listening carefully when native speaker or foreign speaks wherever we find them and they are conversing, etc.

After you listen, your keys are; understanding - memorizing - imitating - practicing in our daily life. We must realize that speaking is  a skill. If we always practice it continuously, speaking is very easy are you still in doubt?  Good luck to practice!


By: Putriana*  Mahasiswa STKIP PGRI Ponorogo. Pendiri Himpunan Mahasiswa Penulis (HMP).