In today’s world, everyone is looking for opportunities to maximize their time and accomplish as much as possible each day. As an unintended side effect, people often don’t make time for hobbies that require them to slow down and focus on a sole task, like reading.
As a result, audiobooks have become an increasingly popular option to replace traditional print books. But more than just saving you time on a busy day, audiobooks can actually have mental and physical benefits on the listener:
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Improved listening skills
It should come as no surprise that listening to an audiobook will improve your listening skills. As you follow along with the audiobook, your brain works to make connections to the story you’re hearing and the language being used.
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Better time management
Reading a printed book requires you to sit and focus all of your attention for a certain period of time. In today’s busy world, it’s hard for many people to justify taking this amount of time for any activity. Audiobooks allow you to work on your time management by doing multiple tasks at once. You can listen to an audiobook while you drive, or as you exercise. You’ll feel a greater sense of accomplishment as you finish multiple tasks in your day while still making time to listen to your audiobook.
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Improved speaking and understanding of language
When we read books, if we come across a word we don’t know how to pronounce we often just guess based on how it’s spelled and move on, even if our guesses are incorrect. Listening to an audiobook can improve your speaking and understanding of language because you hear the correct pronunciation, and the context of the word helps you understand its meaning more thoroughly.
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Listeners get immersed in the story
Audiobooks can be a great mental break in your day as you allow yourself to get completely immersed in the story. The narrator often will provide more emotion and excitement in your audiobook than you may have done when reading a printed book, providing a more well-rounded experience as you listen to the story and providing context when a scene is particularly serious or suspenseful.
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Break traditional thinking patterns
Our brains are always working, often leading us down multiple trains of thought in just a few minutes. An audiobook can break us out of our traditional thinking patterns by providing a thread of consciousness for our brains to focus on. This can minimize negative thinking as well, boosting your mood and alleviating some of the stress you may be feeling.
Do you think your student may benefit from other teaching methods that aren’t being utilized at their current school? The South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools can help give you and your family the confidence to make the switch to homeschooling.
SCAIHS has been offering expert advice and academic planning for homeschool families for the last 30 years. Reach out to one of our trained counselors today to find the path that’s right for you.