Micro-listenings: short English recordings
A short recording gives you a manageable place to practise. Listen for the main message first, then work on the details you missed.
Changed museum tour
The planned first gallery is closed, so the tour changes order and finishes in a different place. Which locations remain part of the route?
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Changing a plan
A friend cannot meet at the agreed time. Can you hear why the plan changes, identify the new time, and notice how the request stays polite?
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Changing a restaurant booking
The booking begins with four people at seven. By the end, both the number and time have changed, but the seating request has not.
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Checking a café order
A customer orders for two people, changes one ingredient, and mentions an allergy. Can you separate preference from essential safety information?
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Checking a hotel bill
Breakfast appears on the bill, parking does not, and a minibar charge belongs to another room. What remains in the final total?
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Choose between at night and in the night
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Choose she and I or her and me
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Choose the verb that fits the subject
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Choosing Between Onto and Unto
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Choosing an evening course
One course is cheaper and online; the other offers classroom practice but clashes with work. Which factor finally determines the choice?
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Collective nouns: choose the right group
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Common English idioms: everyday listening guide
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Concrete nouns: simple rules and examples
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Confirming an appointment
A receptionist corrects the weekday and asks you to arrive before the appointment time. Can you record both times without mixing them up?
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Could, would, or should: choose the right verb
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Course feedback
The speaker liked the practical work but still recommends a change. Is the feedback positive, negative or mixed?
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Cut corners: avoid harmful shortcuts
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Daytime or day time: choose the right spelling
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Deer or deers: how to choose
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Delayed luggage
The suitcase missed one flight, reached another airport and has not yet arrived at the hotel. Which location describes its current position?
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Delayed train announcement
A platform number changes, one train is delayed, and another connection may be missed. Which instruction belongs to which passenger?
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Delexical Verbs: Natural Verb Noun Pairs
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Delivery voicemail corrections
A courier leaves two similar times and corrects one digit in a reference number. Which details should you write down?
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Describing lost property
Several similar bags have been found. Which combination of colour, material, contents, and location identifies the caller's bag?
Start listeningWhat this family trains
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 dialogue, identify who is speaking and how each reply relates to the previous one. If a reply surprises you, replay the preceding turn 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 25 lessons
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B1
189 lessons
Begin with familiar topics. Catch the main point before writing the details.
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B2
60 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.
Other families
Keep exploring
English idioms and listening practice
Read meanings and examples, then practise hearing idioms with dictation and word-by-word feedback.
Explore this family →Phrasal verb listening practice
Study phrasal verbs in context. Check meaning and word order, then try a recorded sentence.
Explore this family →Grammar listening practice
Read a grammar pattern and its examples, then listen for the form in a complete sentence.
Explore this family →Word focus: meaning and use
Study a word in context. Compare meanings and common combinations, then practise listening.
Explore this family →English listening tips and advice
Practical guidance on replay, hints, transcripts, and reviewing the words you missed.
Explore this family →English slang: meaning and context
A collection for informal English, with attention to meaning, setting, and tone. Check the list for available lessons.
Explore this family →
