I often see, when working with Spanish-speaking professionals in English, that people underestimate how much they actually understand.
This usually happens when they are listening to something complex, especially when the topic is unfamiliar or the speaker is using a different communication style.
They focus on what they missed, such as a word they did not catch or a moment where they felt they lost the thread.
And from that experience, they often reach a conclusion: “I did not understand.”
But sometimes the reality is more complex.
Understanding is not only about catching every word
During a recent session, we were working with a professional who was listening to content in English. After listening, he described his experience as difficult. He felt that he had not understood enough.
At that point, the important question was not only: “How much of the language did you understand?”
A more interesting question was: “What can you do with the information you have understood?”
Because understanding is not only recognising words. It is the ability to build meaning from those words, connect ideas, identify what matters, and continue thinking while the communication is still happening.
The evidence appeared in the questions
After listening, I asked him to formulate questions based on what he had understood.
It was not about reproducing sentences from the recording, nor a test of vocabulary. The objective was to see whether he could engage with the content.
What happened was interesting. The questions he formulated showed that he had understood far more than he believed. He had identified key ideas and he had connected information. He had interpreted the situation and was able to move beyond individual words.
The confidence he had in his comprehension did not match the evidence of his comprehension.
The hidden problem with listening evaluation
Professionals communicating in a second language often evaluate their listening ability by comparing it with the experience of a native speaker.
A native speaker can listen “effortlessly”, recognise nuances, predict what is coming, and process the message without consciously analysing the language.
For a second-language listener, the process is different. First of all, there is more effort involved, and the listener may notice uncertainty, missing words, or unfamiliar expressions, which can become the focus of attention.
But missing something does not automatically mean missing the message.
Listening is also about staying connected to meaning
In professional situations, the goal is rarely to capture every single word. The goal is to understand enough to participate, respond, ask relevant questions, and make decisions.
This does not mean that language accuracy is unimportant. Vocabulary, pronunciation, and exposure all matter. But there is another skill involved: the ability to stay connected to meaning even when the language is not perfectly clear.
Sometimes the biggest obstacle is not recognising the understanding which is already there. And, sometimes the best evidence of what someone has understood is not what they can repeat, but the quality of the questions they ask.
Need help applying these ideas?
I help senior professionals who want to communicate with greater clarity and confidence in English.