Singing your praises
Listen once, then type what you hear.
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Continue this lessonB2 English listening practice
Work on expressions whose meaning is not obvious from the individual words. Listen for the situation, then check the exact wording and the speaker's attitude.
Where can I practise B2 English listening with dictation?
You can practise B2 English listening on MicroEnglish, which has more than 150 short listening lessons. The lessons are at B2 level and focus on grammar, words, idioms and phrasal verbs. Each lesson uses a short recording: listen and write what you hear, then use the explanations to check the details. The recordings are in British English. This offers focused listening practice with dictation rather than a general listening-comprehension test.
- Practise with short recordings at B2 level.
- Write what you hear in dictation practice.
- Use explanations to check listening details.
Try a short recording
Try a free dictation without an account. Choose an available accent, listen and type the words you hear.
Choose a starting lesson
Start with Singing your praises for approval, Play safe for cautious decisions, or Backlog for work that has built up. Each lesson gives you a different situation to listen for.
Singing your praisesHave you ever chosen a course because several people could not stop talking about how good the teacher was?Play safeTraffic is unpredictable, so you take an earlier train to avoid missing your flight. Which expression describes this cautious choice?BacklogYou answer five old emails, but twelve more are still waiting. What do you call the work that has built up behind you?
What to focus on at B2
Separate what happened from how the speaker feels about it. Praise may be enthusiastic, caution may be sensible or excessive, and a backlog may explain pressure at work. Use the surrounding sentence to decide.
After you check your answer
When the exact words are clear, ask what would change if one phrase were replaced. Compare the lesson's examples, then replay without reading. Being able to explain the difference is more useful than remembering one score.
A ballpark guess
A ballpark guess is a rough numerical estimate based on general knowledge to help people make early plans.
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Above board
Above board describes actions or deals that are honest and legal, with nothing hidden.
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Ad Hoc: Meaning and Daily Use
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Adjective clauses: choose the right word
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Adverse or Averse: Choose the Right Word
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Aesthetic or Ascetic: Style or Strict Discipline
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Albeit Meaning: Use Clear Formal Contrasts
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Allusion or Illusion: How to Choose
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Although, though, even though: Connect contrasting ideas
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Ambiguous Meaning: Clarify Two Different Readings
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Amicable meaning: use and combinations
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Arbitrary: Meaning and Everyday Use
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At first glance
At first glance introduces how something appears when first seen before a closer look reveals new facts.
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Attitude Adverbs: A Practical Guide
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Backlog
You answer five old emails, but twelve more are still waiting. What do you call the work that has built up behind you?
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Bend the rules
Bend the rules means to relax or ignore a rule in a particular situation. The speaker presents the exception as small, but others may see it as unfair.
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Born or Borne: Choosing the Right Form
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Breathing down my neck
Breathe down someone's neck means to watch someone closely in a stressful way, or to approach quickly as an urgent deadline.
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Burn phrasal verbs: clear everyday usage
Compare burn down, burn out, burn through, burn off, and burn up. Learn how each phrase changes the meaning of burn.
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By the book
Following set rules, laws, or standard steps strictly without taking shortcuts.
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Capitalism Meaning: Talking About Economic Systems
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Capricious Meaning: Unpredictable Changes
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Caveat Meaning: One Condition to Remember
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Come out of your shell
Come out of your shell means to become less shy and more willing to talk with other people.
Start listeningBefore you begin
Is this a CEFR level test?
No. These lessons are grouped by their catalogue level. Use the examples and recordings to judge what you need to practice; completing a lesson does not certify your level.
Can I slow down the recording?
Yes. Use the slower playback control when you need another listen, then return to normal speed when you can follow the sentence.
Is every activity free?
Each lesson has free sample dictations. Other activities may require membership or an active trial. The lesson shows what is available before you start.
