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.
Understand Idioms from Context: Clues in Daily Speech
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Understanding an indirect refusal
A colleague says your invitation sounds lovely, then mentions a family commitment and suggests another week. Did they accept or decline?
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Unless vs until: choose time or condition
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Unusual names
People with uncommon names repeat louder sound parts to clarify them socially or use short nicknames to make phone bookings faster.
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Up to or upto: Which Is Correct?
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Using Commas: Where Commas Belong
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Using Like and As for Clear English Comparisons
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Verbs followed by infinitives: choose the next verb
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Vocabulary exercises: use words in context
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Volunteer arrival instructions
Volunteers enter through one gate, register at a tent and then split into two teams. Can you put the instructions in order?
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Weather-dependent plans
Two friends want a picnic, but the forecast may change. What will they do in each possible weather condition?
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When or if: Choosing the Right Word
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When to Use The: Practical English Rules
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Whenever or When Ever: One Word or Two?
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Who Said What? Passing On a Message
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Who booked the room? A name and I or a name and me
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Who or Which: Choose the Right Pronoun
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Whose bag is it? Describing people and their belongings
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Why English class matters: four practical habits
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Will or Going to: Choose the Right Future
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Will or be going to: choose your future form
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Write a Formal Letter: Clear Rules and Examples
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You're Welcome vs Your Welcome: Quick Spelling Guide
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Young animal words: Naming Offspring in English
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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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