Micro-listenings: short English recordings
Choose a short recording and listen for the main message. Then replay it and work on the words you missed.
On Friday or in Friday: which is correct?
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On Monday or at Monday: Which Preposition Is Right
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One More Thing: Adding Information Clearly
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One of Them or Us: Pick the Right Verb
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One of the Examples Is: Choosing Verbs
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Online English Tutoring: Get Useful Feedback
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Online English routine: plan weekly habits
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Onto or Into: Choosing the Right Direction
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Optative sentences: choosing hope or wish
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Other than or then? A visit to the tailor
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Parallel structure: make your lists easy to follow
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Passive voice: when to use it
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Past Perfect Tense: Earlier Past Actions
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Past Tense in English: Four Useful Forms
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Past perfect progressive: when to use it
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Past perfect: when to use it
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Phrasal Verbs: Understanding Meaning in Context
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Phrasal verbs with break: meanings and everyday use
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Phrasal verbs with call: Choosing the right particle
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Phrasal verbs with look: meanings and everyday use
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Please contact me or myself: Which is correct?
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Plural of moose: one animal or several
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Poke meaning: quick touch and push
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Positive sentences: rules and everyday examples
Start listeningSkills in this collection
What to practise
Choose a topic and level. The instruction beside each recording tells you whether to write all the words or fill the gaps.
Follow the message without stopping at every unfamiliar word. On a second listen, look for the details that explain what happened.
Separate understanding from exact wording. You can understand a message and still need another listen to write it accurately.
Why it is hard to hear
What to listen for
A longer clip asks you to remember more words at once. Use replay or the sentence controls when available, then work through one part at a time.
In a conversation, notice who is speaking and what each person is replying to. If a reply surprises you, listen to the sentence before it as well.
Start here
Suggested starting points
Choose a level that fits you. You can return to the full list at any time.
Level progression
From B1 to C2
Check the lesson count at each level before choosing where to start.
- A1 3 lessons
- A2 82 lessons
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B1
346 lessons
Begin with familiar topics. Catch the main point before writing the details.
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B2
137 lessons
Listen for reasons, changes of plan, and the words that connect ideas.
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C1
No lessons yet
Notice how speakers qualify a statement or suggest something indirectly.
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C2
No lessons yet
Compare exact wording with intended meaning, including tone and implication.
Accent note
Compare the available voices
Use the voice choices available for each clip. A longer recording may have fewer accent options than a short dictation; check the label before playing.
Questions learners ask
Before you start
Why use short recordings?
You can replay a difficult part and compare it with the transcript in a short session. Use longer listening material too when you want to practise following an extended message.
Do I type the whole recording?
Follow the instruction above the answer field. A dictation asks for the words you hear; a gap-fill asks only for the missing words.
Can I slow the audio down?
Choose 0.75× for slower playback. Once you can hear the difficult part, try it again at 1×.
What does the number in a lesson title mean?
It identifies the lesson in the original MicroEnglish collection. It is not a score or a language level; use the level label when choosing a lesson.
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