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.
Past continuous: talking about past actions
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Practice speaking English: Ten simple steps
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Present Simple Tense: Daily Habits and Facts
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Question Marks: Direct Questions and Requests
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Question words: ask for clear details
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Regular and irregular verbs: How past forms change
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Regular past verbs: report what happened and what is ready
Regular verbs have matching past simple and past participle forms, usually ending in -ed. The past simple reports a past action. A past participle works with other verbs, such as have or has in an update about the present.
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See or watch: Choose the right verb
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Sentence structure: build clear English sentences
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Simple Past Tense: Actions and Past States
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Then or Than: Choose the Right Word
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Threw or through? Listen at the new flat
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To, Too or Two: How to Choose
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Too long or to long: Choose the right word
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Where, Were, or Wear: Choosing the Right Word by Meaning
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Why English Class Matters: Practical Adult Skills
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Your or You're: Choosing the Right Word
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telling the time: past, to, and digital
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A Goose at the Office Door
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A good trajectory
A manager says your work is moving in the right direction, then identifies one weakness. Is the overall message positive or negative?
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A or An: Choosing the Right Article
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A or an before vowels: sound over spelling
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A wardrobe clear-out
Not everything unwanted can go to a charity shop. Which clothes are donated, repaired or sent for textile recycling?
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A year-long cruise
A traveller likes the idea of living at sea for a year, but the headline price does not cover everything. Which practical questions remain unanswered?
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.
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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 39 lessons
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B1
266 lessons
Begin with familiar topics. Catch the main point before writing the details.
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B2
94 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 familyPhrasal verb listening practice
Study phrasal verbs in context. Check meaning and word order, then try a recorded sentence.
Explore this familyGrammar listening practice
Read a grammar pattern and its examples, then listen for the form in a complete sentence.
Explore this familyWord focus: meaning and use
Study a word in context. Compare meanings and common combinations, then practise listening.
Explore this familyEnglish listening tips and advice
Practical guidance on replay, hints, transcripts, and reviewing the words you missed.
Explore this familyEnglish 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
