Interested in Improving Audio Comprehension through Bible texts?

Question

Whether you are learning Spanish or English, here is a challenging exercise that you may find helpful. It uses bilingual written and spoken Bible texts available online. It is not meant to be a Bible study, just a language study.

Beginners 1. Click on the first link below. You should see Spanish and English versions of a passage from the Book of Numbers, chapter 6, verses 22-27 (Nm 6:22-27). 2. Read the text in the language that is more familiar to you. 3. Click on the speaker icon to listen to the language you are learning. Scroll to the audio cue provided (3 min. 54 sec.). 4. Read the text aloud in the language you are learning; use the recorded audio for pronunciation help. 5. Create or copy flashcards for unfamiliar words. (See sets titled 1/1/12 1st Reading - Nm 6:22-27, etc.) 6. Try to transcribe the audio in the language you are studying. (Do not post your transcriptions – the texts are copyrighted, as noted below.) 7. Check your own work against the text, and correct accordingly. Proceed to the next reading. 8. Do not get discouraged! With practice, your comprehension will improve over time.

Intermediate Students 1. Click on the link below. Do not read the text. 2. Click on the speaker icon of the language you are studying. Scroll to the audio cue provided. 3. As you listen, pause and transcribe for your own use what you hear. (Do not post your transcriptions – the texts are copyrighted, as noted below.) 4. Check your transcription against the text, and correct accordingly. 5. Create flashcards for unfamiliar words. (See sets titled 1/1/12 1st Reading - Nm 6:22-27, etc.)

[1/1/12 1st Reading - Nm 6:22-27][1] (Spanish audio cue: 3 min. 55 sec.; English audio cue: 3 min. 54 sec.)

[1/1/12 2nd Reading – Gal 4: 4-7][2] (Spanish audio cue: 0 min. 25 sec.)

[1/1/12 Gospel Reading – Lk 2: 16-21][3] (Spanish audio cue: 1 min. 56 sec.)

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: The linked texts display the Nueva Versión Internacional (Spanish) and New International Version (English) translations found on BibleGateway.com. These are copyrighted materials and “copying or re-posting the Scripture on the Internet is prohibited.”

You can choose your own side-by-side texts. The selected readings above coincide with the readings of the Roman Catholic liturgy for January 1, 2012. However, since the Catholic Lectionary of the Mass uses English and Spanish translations of the Bible that are not available in an online format, different translations are used here.

[1]: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers 6:22-27&version=NVI;NIV [2]: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gal 4: 4-7&version=NVI;NIV [3]: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luk 2: 16-21&version=NVI;NIV

I was able to hyperlink to the copyright notice, but not the readings, - Parrandero, Dec 22, 2011

Thank you for sharing this information. - sanlee, Dec 22, 2011

Answer 1

I have tried listening to the audio version of the Bible, but as Julian pointed out, some of the language is archaic. So I put "listening" on hold and started reading.

I have found reading through the Bible this year to be extremely helpful. It has been slow going ( I am only up to the Book of Isaiah (Isaías))., but it has been especially useful for mastering verb tenses. I have found the NVI version to be much easier to understand than Reina Valera, which is the version I started out on.

I would like to continue reading through, while attempting to try the audio again starting in Genesis (Génesis). So I thank you for the information above and I will check it out.

I know this is not for everyone, but if you are a regular Bible reader anyone, you might want to try this in the coming year. I also supplement with a variety of other reading/audio material, but for my time, I have found that the Bible (especially as you go through each of the different 66 books) will first focus on the past, then the future...with a lot of present, conditional and subjunctive thrown in for good measure. So for me it is very helpful from that perspective.

Yeah, the NVI is a lot easier to read. I like the RV because of the feeling of mightiness OuO - georgeir, Mar 11, 2015

Answer 2

Anyone wishing to improve their audio comprehension of any language would be much better off using the contemporary usage of their chosen language of study, rather than centuries-old passages that have been translated so many times that they often don´t reflect the original meaning, and nonsensical riddles.

It depends on what version you use. - BellaMargarita, Dec 22, 2011

Answer 3

Great Idea Parrandero, I have found your post to be incredible insightful. The NIV version and very useful to me in my foreign language endeavor.

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Mar 11, 2015