Listening how people speaking is challenging sometimes. And what to do if it is another language? Listen not to one person but different.When you study English it might be easier to start with RP, Actor's and Teachers speaking , but it is crucial to learn and bear in mind different dialects and variations of language.
I think, it is useful to understand what was the main influence on English we speak. Northern and Middle England speaks with pronunciation achoing old Danish and Norwegian. Thanks to a few hundred years of Viking influence we got difference in pronunciation vowels like A O etc in words like bath,laugh, husband, butter and many more,but there is a pattern!
Look at CONTEXT CLUES if it is a video!
PRACTICE
Try to fish out words you know for sure! Work out what sounds speakers usually pronounce in a certain way, different from the word in vocabulary e.g. 'for example'
Make a list of silent/mute sounds in some common words. Maybe pay attention to dialect version and variation. For example sound, 'h' is dropped in many British English dialects. Hello-> A'llo , 'horse -> o:s etc
Listen to podcasts, if there is text to follow, copy it and wipe off some words. Fill in the gap! Change the gaps and listen again.
Listen to songs and poetry. it is rhyme and rhythm you get from this exercise. Listen to Actors reading classics and find non-classical, some everyday readers.
Make your own voice recorded after you listened to a podcast. Imagine you are a spy. who has to pretend to be a local.
Make it regulary! Set up for examply Monday morning on your way to work/school. Monday Morning you just listen, may be only once. Monday evening: read and record your own reading. Tuesday listen and follow podcast subtitles/text etc. Wednesday listen once again on your way... Saturday listen and fill the gaps( especially with new words).
And Important RULES- Choose Material Suited to Your Level.Don’t bite off more than you can chew. It is not a competition for the best one! Quality is more important.
Just accept the fact that English is different- there are parallels, but it is one of it's own!
Try to find something INTERESTING to listen to and short enough to spend no more than 3-5 minutes!
Choose a short clip/audio for listening.
BON VOYAGE!