Singing your praises
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B2 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 upper-intermediate English listening?
You can practise upper-intermediate English listening on MicroEnglish, which has more than 100 short, listening-first lessons. This B2 library includes micro-listenings focused on words and grammar, with idiom lessons also available across the collection. Lessons use compact recordings and precise explanations to build understanding, then finish with dictation practice. The recordings are in British English, giving you focused listening practice through clear examples and opportunities to write what you hear.
- Practise with short, listening-first English lessons.
- The lessons are designed for upper-intermediate learners.
- Topics include words, grammar and idioms.
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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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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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 standard regulation slightly for someone in a harmless situation.
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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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By the book
Following set rules, laws, or standard steps strictly without taking shortcuts.
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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.
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Corner the market
One company sells nearly every reusable bottle in a city, and competing shops struggle to attract buyers. How can you describe the company's position?
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Correlative conjunctions: rules and examples
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Crossed wires
You arrive for a meeting on Tuesday, but your colleague expects you on Thursday. Neither person meant to cause a problem. How can you describe what happened?
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Cut to the chase
Cut to the chase means to stop wasting time on minor details and talk directly about the most important subject.
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Cynical Meaning: How to Use It
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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.
