Language or Listening Skill?

I think most of us agree that language plays a role in better communication.

However, I realize that to listen, to adapt and the effort in trying to understand are more important in communication and human interaction, specifically.

Lesson learnt from my current landlady (older lady who speaks only Chinese and Hokkien in Shanghai accent, and also her native dialect, Wen Zhou. Defintely speaks no English and Bahasa) and her helper (Indonesian, who originally speaks Javanese and Bahasa only).

When they both speak, joke and laugh, frankly, sometimes I am lost. I am not trying hard enough, I guess.