that you don't know everything. So, try to understand which areas, or which

words in English you don't understand. If you don't understand about 30% of what

you're listening to, that is a good material to listen to because it will challenge you

to learn more. If you understand about 80%, or 90%, or 100%,

then that material is great but it should just be regular maintenance.

You are not going to learn a lot of new vocabulary from something that you completely understand.

So, if you are aware that you cannot understand about 30% or more of what you're listening

to, then it's a good challenge material. If you cannot understand more than 50% of

what you're listening to, then it's too difficult. Try something that's a little bit easier.

Now, when you're listening to material that is good for your level and giving you a little

challenge you have to pick out or select the words that are new, that you don't know yet

so that you can research them, so that you can ask your native speaker teacher or friends

about what those words mean. And that is how we grow our vocabulary, little

by little, listening to the kinds of materials that we want to be able to understand and

to speak like. So, step three is to notice the new words

that you want to learn.