Answers:
You seem to have been neglecting your listening comprehension. You need to expose yourself to more listening options.
Depending on where you live, you might try www.imagen.com.mx and look for living in Mexico a radio show hosted by Ana María Salazar, it has news about Mexico in English. You can listen to it on the website or download as an mp3 file. It is pretty good. This program is produced in Mexico City and the accents are many, of course it is that of Spanish speaking individuals, but a good listening exercise.
Listen to radio, www.accuradio.com select the Swinging Pop Standards, listen to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Diana Krall, among other singers that have excellent diction and pronunciation, neutral American accent, excellent.
English is my second language too.
English, Learning.
would you think that your brother is supposed to have the same iq as you?