English dictation exercises

Bazaar or bizarre: choose the right word

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Beside or besides: position and addition

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Beside, Besides, or Except: Choose the Right Word

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Blow away

A performance blows the audience away while a gust blows the programmes away. Emotion and wind create different meanings with the same form.

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Body Part Idioms: Everyday Meaning in Context

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Booking a hotel room

A guest books two nights and asks for a quiet room. Listen for the room type, included services and free-cancellation deadline.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Bored or boring: Talk about your class

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Bother

Noise can bother you, a thought can bother you, and you may not bother to reply. The first two affect feelings; the last describes effort.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Brake or break: Choose the Right Spelling

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Break a leg: meaning and examples

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Break the ice: start conversations easily

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Break up

A couple breaks up, a meeting breaks up, and a phone call starts breaking up. Only one involves a romantic relationship.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Breathe when public speaking: Pause before each point

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Bring about

A small decision can produce a large result. Bring about connects the cause to the change that follows.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Bring up

You can bring up a difficult topic, bring up a child, or bring up a file on a screen. Context tells you which action is happening.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

British and American English: Spelling and Word Choices

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

British vs American Spelling: Choose One Style

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Bump into

If you bump into an old friend, you meet unexpectedly. If you bump into a table, the surprise may hurt a little more.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Burn out

A worker, a campfire and a motor can all burn out, but each one reaches a different kind of end.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Business English phrases: clear workplace communication

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Call off

You can call off a match before it starts, call off a search already in progress, or call a threatening dog off.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Can or may: Ability and permission

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Cancelling a subscription

The customer cancels renewal today but keeps access until the thirtieth. Does that mean another monthly payment is due?

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Catch up

Fall behind on a walk, at work or in a friendship, and catch up helps you close the gap in three different ways.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian