Spoken English is different from written English. We can use this to help us study English better, if we understand those differences and use them.

Here are some of the main differences between spoken and written English:

1.grammar
2.vocabulary
3.sounds
4.organization

The grammar of conversational English is usually simpler, and shorter than written English. Written forms are more complex, and may contain more clauses, and passive forms. The sentences may run longer than spoken English. This means listening to English conversation should be easier from an thinking point of view.

The vocabulary of Written English is also more inclined to use more precise wording and hence more difficult vocabulary. More explaining is done in written English to avoid misunderstandings that can otherwise be avoided up when two people are talking to each other. Explaining in detail in writing needs more difficult grammar and vocabulary. This also means English that is spoken should be easier to understand from a pure thinking point of view.

When we speak English, the sounds often run together; forms like "wanna" and "gonna" and "whatcha" occur commonly in speaking, but do not appear in written English, even when it is read out loud. This makes it more difficult to understand conversational English despite the simpler grammar and vocabulary. Listening for these sound changes is an important listening skill that must be practiced. Without practice in this skill, listening to English is often far more difficult than reading written English. Of course, when English is spoken, it also does not remain after it is spoken (the sound is finished and gone), so the thinking and understanding must be faster than the case with reading. This can be avoided with recorded English which students can (and should) listen to again and again.

Finally, the organization styles is different between these two forms of English. Written English organization tends to be more linear, proceeding from point A through to point Z. Spoken English tends to have more repetitions, reversals, re-starts, jumping to different topics before proceeding to the final endpoint, if there is any. This tends to make listening to English easier for students, and live (as opposed to recorded) English is sometimes not as difficult as they fear.

We can use this to help make a listening practice program. First, prerecorded English helps students a lot. Next, allowing students to read the script to the recording can further assist, as long as this is done in a controlled fashion and students do not rely on the scripts all the time. This is not very difficult to do. Finally, listening should start with short selections and gradually proceed to longer and longer selections as students can gradually increase their speed of thinking and understanding.

Les Perras, owner of English Language Franchise in Ikoma, Japan, and author of the website English Listening World at http://www.english-listening-world.com/.