Here is some of the advice I give my students:

●Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything.

●Stay relaxed when you do not understand — even if you continue not to understand for a long time.

●Do not translate what you hear into your native language.

●Listen for the general idea of the conversation. Don’t concentrate on detail until you have understood the main ideas.

I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany. In the beginning, when I didn’t understand a word, I insisted on translating it in my mind. This method usually resulted in confusion. Then, after the first six months, I discovered two very important facts. Firstly, translating creates a wall between the listener and the speaker. Secondly, most people repeat themselves constantly. By remaining calm, I noticed that — even if I didn’t pay much attention, I could usually understand what the speaker had said.

55. The best way to improve our listening is to _____.

A. practise as much as possible

B. find as many listening resources as possible

C. use the Internet like a radio station

D. speak naturally and read as much as possible

56. Which of the following is a good habit when listening?

A. Try to understand everything.

B. Try to get the main ideas.

C. Pay much attention to details.

D. Translate each word in your mind.

57. Why did the writer mention his / her experience in Germany?

A. To prove the importance of translating.

B. To show the problems of speaking a foreign language.

C. To tell us the importance of staying calm.

D. To point out an ineffective method of listening.

58. The underlined part “a wall” in the last paragraph refers to “_____”.

A. a communication barrier (障碍)

B. culture shock

C. language understanding

D. a little misunderstanding