Intensive vs. Extensive Listening [Guide for English Learners]

In this video, we’ll explore the difference between intensive and extensive listening, and why most English learners are using the wrong approach.

You’ll learn how each type of listening helps develop different skills, from comprehension and vocabulary to speaking fluency — and what the research actually says about which method works best.

I’ll also show you a simple technique that combines the best of both, and how to use it with podcasts to improve faster.

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👇 Mentioned in this video:

🎧 English Learning for Curious Minds
Learn with Interactive Transcripts: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts
Free Transcripts: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/free-...

➡️ Listen to English Learning for Curious Minds (on YouTube):
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

📂 Free Learn English with AI Prompts Database (Copy/Paste Prompts):
https://bit.ly/4jfl6H7

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Let me know in the comments — do you do more intensive or extensive listening? What’s helped you the most? 🎧🧠

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🧠 What You’ll Learn — Timestamps:

00:00:00 - 🎬 Why listening is harder than it seems
00:00:27 - 🧠 Two types of listening: intensive vs. extensive
00:01:11 - 📈 What the research says about each method
00:02:58 - 🎯 When to use extensive listening
00:04:28 - 🕵️‍♂️ When to use intensive listening
00:06:12 - ⚖️ Key differences (length, focus, processing type)
00:07:06 - 🧪 Which helps more: fluency vs. test-taking
00:08:22 - 📊 Study: Listening + Reading = Best results
00:09:50 - 🧱 Vocabulary acquisition: what works best
00:10:40 - 🧩 How to combine both for faster progress
00:11:23 - 🎧 Why podcasts are ideal for this strategy
00:13:12 - 🔁 The “best of both” technique (only possible with podcasts!)
00:14:57 - 💡 AI tools to create intensive activities

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🧾 Key References
Chang, A. C.-S., & Millett, S. (2014).
The effect of extensive listening on developing L2 listening fluency: Some hard evidence.
ELT Journal, 68(1), 31–40.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct052

Karlin, O., & Karlin, M. (2023).
A comparison of extensive and intensive listening practice in a Japanese university EFL program.
System, 114, 102992.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2023...

Karlin, O. (2018).
An investigation of extensive versus intensive listening homework in a Japanese university EFL program.
The Language Teacher, 42(6), 3–9.
https://doi.org/10.37546/JALTTLT42.6-1

Nguyen, T. T. T. (2021).
The impact of extensive listening on EFL learners’ vocabulary acquisition and listening comprehension.
Asian Journal of English Language Teaching, 31, 67–91.
https://doi.org/10.1075/ajelt.00047.ngu

Gönülal, T. (2020).
The effect of podcasts on EFL learners’ listening comprehension.
Language Learning & Technology, 24(3), 117–130.
https://www.lltjournal.org/item/30924

Brown, R., Waring, R., & Donkaewbua, S. (2008).
Incidental vocabulary acquisition from reading, reading-while-listening, and listening to stories.
Reading in a Foreign Language, 20(2), 136–163.
https://nflrc.hawaii.edu/rfl/October2...

Waring, R. (2010).
Extensive listening: What it is, why it’s good for our students, and how to get started.
Lecture and slides retrieved from robwaring.org:
https://www.robwaring.org/presentatio...

Alm, A. (2013).
Extensive listening 2.0 with foreign language podcasts.
Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 7(3), 266–280.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2013...

Faramarzi, S., Elekaei, A., & Koosha, M. (2019).
The impact of podcasting on EFL learners’ listening comprehension.
International Journal of Instruction, 12(1), 1–16.
https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.1211a

Siegel, J. (2014).
Exploring L2 listening instruction: Examinations of practice and possibilities.
ELT Journal, 68(1), 22–30.
https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cct058

Elley, W. B. (1989).
Vocabulary acquisition from listening to stories.
Reading Research Quarterly, 24(2), 174–187.
https://doi.org/10.2307/747863

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