While it’s important to practice reading and writing when learning English as a second language, that’s not all you need to do to become proficient. Listening is also an essential skill which helps you understand English in its spoken form (complete with rhythm and intonation) and get the accent right. In one Swiss study, researchers found participants who simply listened to audio of a foreign language while they slept were significantly better at recalling words than participants who slept in silence. But there are many other ways listening to English language audio can help progress your speaking abilities.

Speeds up the learning process

Research has shown people learn languages best by listening — even if it’s not your usual preferred method of learning. In particular, two studies (one in the Journal of Acoustical Society of America and the other in the Journal of Memory and Language) show you can learn a language faster by listening to it outside of your normal study time. As you passively listen to the audio, your brain picks up on words and phrases you’ve previously studied, which reinforces the language in your mind.

Improves language comprehension

Listening to English language audio regularly improve your listening comprehension — a difficult skill to grasp. Listening comprehension is generally harder than reading comprehension as it requires your brain to work at a quicker speed to keep up with the speaker. Using audio to familiarize yourself with spoken English will train your ear and help you keep up with what’s being said in any conversation.

Flexible and convenient

Using audio to learn English is flexible and convenient for your schedule. You can listen to CD’s, mp3’s, or apps with audio clips during your commute or have it on in the background at home. Your brain will still pick up the language even if you’re simply listening passively. At home, you can also use high-quality audio equipment to enhance your listening experience. A sound bar, for example, will deliver exceptional sound to help you pick up on the nuances of the English language.

Listening to audio is therefore an effective way to learn English as a second language. Be sure to listen to audio apps or even English language radio, podcasts, or TV shows in your spare time. But that’s not to underplay the importance of going to class and studying either. Combining both active practice and passive exposure is the best way to advance your English skills.