Tips to improve listening comprehension?

I have been studying for about 4 months. My reading and vocab is improving but I find listening comprehension to be my weak point. I want to be able to understand the news. I listened to russian radio today but found it too difficult though I could mnake out bits here and there. Any tips on stepping stones to get me to where I want to be? I have several self study programs that have listening comprehension (Russian Express 1, Langensheidt Russisch and Kljutschi) but they seem to have their own agenda and none seem suited to understanding news.

Tips appreciated!

Brian

Первый канал. Официальный сайт

has transcripts of each report.

Thanks - do you know if that site or similar sites have downloadable mp3s of the audio as well?

thanks,

brian

another site: http://www.5-tv.ru/news

on each video it says Скачать видео

this place has radio programs of topical interest and you can DL mp3s:
http://echo.msk.ru/programs/

not all programs have mp3s though.

You can also try searching Google for downloadable Russian audiobooks. For example, a lot of them can be found at rutracker.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=395 . Try finding ones with a higher sound quality, that is important for a beginner. Once you have found an audiobook you like, the chances are you will be able to find its complete text on the Internet.

How about something I can listen to in the car. I really need to find something that lends itself to being in the car - something like Pimsleur but geared towards developing more advanced listening skills.

Are there sites that have transcripts AND downloadable audio?

thanks,

Brian

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bhuether

Are there sites that have transcripts AND downloadable audio?

thanks,

Brian

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:saint: (...тихо, тихо...)

Радиостанция "Эхо Москвы" / Программы

At the beginner level it might be a good idea to listen to every mp3 repetedly until you can clearly hear and identify most of the words used in it (and not just guess or suspect what's been said). It may take half a dozen times or even more, but it pays off in the end. It might be boring at times, but for me it had a better effect than simply listening (albeit a lot) to different tapes, most of which seemed like an undecipherable murmuring at first.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bhuether

How about something I can listen to in the car. I really need to find something that lends itself to being in the car - something like Pimsleur but geared towards developing more advanced listening skills.

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Можно скачать MP3
http://www.lingq.com/learn/ru/welcome/
A Taste of Russian
Древо поэзии - Арт-студия