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.
Repair inspection fee and quote
The technician mentions £35 and up to £120, but only one amount is definitely charged. Which cost needs permission first?
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Reporting a home repair
A tenant reports a loose stair handrail. Listen for the risk, the contractor's arrival window and the backup access plan.
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Rescheduled interview voicemail
An employer changes both the day and format of an interview, then asks for confirmation. Which original details no longer apply?
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Resign from or on: Choose the Right Preposition
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Resume experience lines: write clear bullet points
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Resume writing tips: Describe Your Work Clearly
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Returning an online order
This shop allows a faulty-item return without the original box. Listen for the handover deadline, receipt requirement and where the refund will go.
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Returning faulty headphones
The headphones work on one side, the paper receipt is missing, and the customer considers two remedies. Which solution is agreed?
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Root Words: Build English Vocabulary
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Root words: predict meaning from parts
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Root words: understand word parts
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Run-on sentences: find and fix them
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SMS English: Write Clear Short Texts
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Said or Told: Choose the Right Verb
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Scamming the scammers
The investigator replies to scammers, but says ordinary people should hang up. Why are those two actions not contradictory?
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Sentence fragments: repair and practice guide
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Setting Up a Café: Which Opposite Fits?
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Short answers in English: Choose the right helper
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Similes with like and as: Understand comparisons
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Simple past tense: talk about finished events
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Since or For: Choosing Time Words
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Singular Nouns: One Person or Thing
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So or such: choose the right pattern
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Speak Clear English: Grammar for Daily Speech
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.
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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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