"Passive listening is not passive" big true. I listen to audio when working, but really I'm just switching focus from working->listening->working etc etc
Very good video and something that I've been annoyed with for a while. We need better terms because the way people use passive listening is really active and attentive like you say. True passive listening is really no different from listening to background noise or in your sleep. It's pointless at best, and worsens enjoyment at worst. There is no low-effort free gains in language learning. You need to be engaged with what you are doing and it makes the activity more fun.
The most passive practice I do is with Glossika. I drive to work for 10 mins in the morning listening and repeating the sentences then when I drive home I do it again. Or I’ve done it while making breakfast. All the SRS is built into it and I don’t have to think too much about it (it mostly runs on auto pilot). For me I consider this passive listening and speaking. Mostly it improves my pronunciation though. I’m not intentionally trying to acquire new vocabulary from it although sometimes I do. I recall you mentioning your pronunciation in another video - glossika was the gateway for me when I was studying in Taiwan to correct my pronunciation. Like Anki but for pronunciation.
YEEEEES I LITERALLY AGREE SO MUCH, I just can't multitask listening to something and then doing other things at the same time especially when I comes to language learning. It's just like you said it's one or the other
For me passive listening only works for "known" material, like music or tv shows/movies that I have seen before and I know the story (or some words in the song). The key, for me at least, was that I already listened or watched it actively before. As such, when it's put on in the background (like a playlist of music or just all episodes of a tv show), I don't make an attempt to multitask or listen to it. I kinda sometimes just "notice" something ("what does that word mean again" or "oh that's how you pronounce that word" or "oh that's how you would say that/respond to that") or without thinking start repeating a conversation/lyric or filling in a blank. I can't really say it helps a lot but it at least activates my TL brain every now and then (like an anki deck that shows you a card) and thus keeps things in the "learned" category without doing cards.
Do note that it only works for me if the media doesn't disturb my "active occupation" (studying, working, ...). I cannot watch action tv shows where stuff blows up or dramas with people shouting that would trigger my brain to say "hey, you have to go check what's happening" (that indeed kills concentration). The type of shows I watch (passively) are relaxing/destressing shows with casual talking, nice scenery shots, some quiet music, ... Same for music although it's more diverse in that if I know a song so well, i kinda forget it's there (having 1 song on repeat for hours) even if it's hip hop or rock.
Excellent video as usual. I got pretty lucky that I took a course in college that taught me about the psychology of focusing and multitasking. I've been implementing this in my language learning to maximize the effectiveness of my methods. I always considered passive listening to be both over-appreciated or incorrectly utilized in the refold community. Passive listening should only be done at times when you would otherwise not be utilizing your brain for activities that would conflict your focus. For example, driving is excellent for passive listening because you can use your intuition to drive while you passively listen. This is not active listening because your full focus is not on the subject. I walk my dog 4 times a day and listen to podcasts, as well as drive to the coffee shop while listening. If a task requires your focus and has a variable estimated time to complete, it is always better to focus on that task to finish as quickly as possible, so that you can get back to active listening sooner!
I used to do a lot of passive listening when I commuted to work and during college. What really worked for me with only passive listening to things that I already actively listen to! I didn't do it all the time as well, I was also a computer science major. Mt theory is since I knew what I was listening to my mind did have to try as hard to listen passively! However, as time went on and I started to understand more of my second language the passive immersion became a distraction. passively listening to information that I have not actively listened to can be tough especially if it's something you want to actively watch! I hope I made sense! See you next month!!
Passive listening is just more casual active listening. Couldn't agree more. I'm similar in that I'm very introverted and spend most of my time along at my computer but I managed to make a very solid habit of listening to podcasts for almost every moment I was away from my desk and this worked very well for me. Bathroom breaks, making food, tidying etc. Listening while doing something I need focus for was never doable for me either, it's one or the other.
Nice video my friend. I am lesrning English and I totally agree wtih you. In my case, I try to exercise while listening to podcast in English but I believe that I can't do both things at the same time. Its like distracting. And when I listen to English pidvasht while washing fishes or vaccuuming I end spending much more time doing those housechores.
Very helpful videos as always, thanks…I was seeing your spreadsheet about Spanish, in other video I asked about you understanding in Spanish and you said it’s about 99%. I noticed you have about over 1000 thousand hours spent in that language. Are there some hours you didn’t put in the tracker or that’s it ? My question is because I have over 3 thousand hours spent in English and I didn’t reach that understanding. Thanks for sharing your experience.
3000 hours could be spent doing grammar exercises in a classroom, talking to native speakers, or reviewing Anki cards. The vast majority of my hours have been spent listening and reading. Initially, if you spend most of your time consuming content, you will improve the fastest (if you desire a high level of fluency). It really matters what you do with that time, rather than the time itself.
@@GiovanniSmith 3000 hours just with listening, I dropped out my Anki cards with 4000 cards, I’ve read 16 books. I’ve been tracking my active listening with tv time app (right now over 1600 hours) plus over 500 hours from RUclips and podcast in passive listening over 1000 hours for sure. My hunch is spent hours matter when it comes a learn language however how long it took matters the same way because the brain takes time to process all information. What do you think ?
For me if a task needs all my attention (I.e studying) I only passively listen to music in my TL, usually songs I’m familiar with. No way I could do a podcast
We appreciate your insights. Keep working hard.
"Passive listening is not passive" big true. I listen to audio when working, but really I'm just switching focus from working->listening->working etc etc
Very good video and something that I've been annoyed with for a while. We need better terms because the way people use passive listening is really active and attentive like you say. True passive listening is really no different from listening to background noise or in your sleep. It's pointless at best, and worsens enjoyment at worst. There is no low-effort free gains in language learning. You need to be engaged with what you are doing and it makes the activity more fun.
The most passive practice I do is with Glossika. I drive to work for 10 mins in the morning listening and repeating the sentences then when I drive home I do it again. Or I’ve done it while making breakfast. All the SRS is built into it and I don’t have to think too much about it (it mostly runs on auto pilot). For me I consider this passive listening and speaking. Mostly it improves my pronunciation though. I’m not intentionally trying to acquire new vocabulary from it although sometimes I do. I recall you mentioning your pronunciation in another video - glossika was the gateway for me when I was studying in Taiwan to correct my pronunciation. Like Anki but for pronunciation.
YEEEEES I LITERALLY AGREE SO MUCH, I just can't multitask listening to something and then doing other things at the same time especially when I comes to language learning. It's just like you said it's one or the other
For me passive listening only works for "known" material, like music or tv shows/movies that I have seen before and I know the story (or some words in the song). The key, for me at least, was that I already listened or watched it actively before. As such, when it's put on in the background (like a playlist of music or just all episodes of a tv show), I don't make an attempt to multitask or listen to it. I kinda sometimes just "notice" something ("what does that word mean again" or "oh that's how you pronounce that word" or "oh that's how you would say that/respond to that") or without thinking start repeating a conversation/lyric or filling in a blank. I can't really say it helps a lot but it at least activates my TL brain every now and then (like an anki deck that shows you a card) and thus keeps things in the "learned" category without doing cards.
Do note that it only works for me if the media doesn't disturb my "active occupation" (studying, working, ...). I cannot watch action tv shows where stuff blows up or dramas with people shouting that would trigger my brain to say "hey, you have to go check what's happening" (that indeed kills concentration). The type of shows I watch (passively) are relaxing/destressing shows with casual talking, nice scenery shots, some quiet music, ... Same for music although it's more diverse in that if I know a song so well, i kinda forget it's there (having 1 song on repeat for hours) even if it's hip hop or rock.
Excellent video as usual. I got pretty lucky that I took a course in college that taught me about the psychology of focusing and multitasking. I've been implementing this in my language learning to maximize the effectiveness of my methods. I always considered passive listening to be both over-appreciated or incorrectly utilized in the refold community. Passive listening should only be done at times when you would otherwise not be utilizing your brain for activities that would conflict your focus. For example, driving is excellent for passive listening because you can use your intuition to drive while you passively listen. This is not active listening because your full focus is not on the subject. I walk my dog 4 times a day and listen to podcasts, as well as drive to the coffee shop while listening. If a task requires your focus and has a variable estimated time to complete, it is always better to focus on that task to finish as quickly as possible, so that you can get back to active listening sooner!
I used to do a lot of passive listening when I commuted to work and during college. What really worked for me with only passive listening to things that I already actively listen to! I didn't do it all the time as well, I was also a computer science major. Mt theory is since I knew what I was listening to my mind did have to try as hard to listen passively! However, as time went on and I started to understand more of my second language the passive immersion became a distraction. passively listening to information that I have not actively listened to can be tough especially if it's something you want to actively watch! I hope I made sense! See you next month!!
Passive listening is just more casual active listening. Couldn't agree more. I'm similar in that I'm very introverted and spend most of my time along at my computer but I managed to make a very solid habit of listening to podcasts for almost every moment I was away from my desk and this worked very well for me. Bathroom breaks, making food, tidying etc. Listening while doing something I need focus for was never doable for me either, it's one or the other.
Such good insights!
Nice video my friend. I am lesrning English and I totally agree wtih you. In my case, I try to exercise while listening to podcast in English but I believe that I can't do both things at the same time. Its like distracting.
And when I listen to English pidvasht while washing fishes or vaccuuming I end spending much more time doing those housechores.
Nice video! How do you choose which content to sentence mine on and which content to do free-flow immersion? Thank you.
Very helpful videos as always, thanks…I was seeing your spreadsheet about Spanish, in other video I asked about you understanding in Spanish and you said it’s about 99%. I noticed you have about over 1000 thousand hours spent in that language. Are there some hours you didn’t put in the tracker or that’s it ? My question is because I have over 3 thousand hours spent in English and I didn’t reach that understanding. Thanks for sharing your experience.
3000 hours could be spent doing grammar exercises in a classroom, talking to native speakers, or reviewing Anki cards. The vast majority of my hours have been spent listening and reading. Initially, if you spend most of your time consuming content, you will improve the fastest (if you desire a high level of fluency). It really matters what you do with that time, rather than the time itself.
@@GiovanniSmith 3000 hours just with listening, I dropped out my Anki cards with 4000 cards, I’ve read 16 books. I’ve been tracking my active listening with tv time app (right now over 1600 hours) plus over 500 hours from RUclips and podcast in passive listening over 1000 hours for sure. My hunch is spent hours matter when it comes a learn language however how long it took matters the same way because the brain takes time to process all information. What do you think ?
@douglasmendes6934 What is your native language? Are you understanding most of what you listen to?
@@GiovanniSmith it’s Portuguese. It depends on the content.
Do you have around the same level of comprehension listening as reading?
For me if a task needs all my attention (I.e studying) I only passively listen to music in my TL, usually songs I’m familiar with. No way I could do a podcast
Yes
Exactly
All that stuff about learning to multi task is basically major BS