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.
Bored or boring: Talk about your class
Start listening
Breathe when public speaking: Pause before each point
Start listening
Cancelling a subscription
The customer cancels renewal today but keeps access until the thirtieth. Does that mean another monthly payment is due?
Start listening
Changed appointment time
A caller mentions Thursday, Monday morning and Monday afternoon. Only one is the new appointment. Can you track the change?
Start listening
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?
Start listening
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?
Start listening
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.
Start listening
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?
Start listening
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?
Start listening
Choose between at night and in the night
Start listening
Choose she and I or her and me
Start listening
Choose the verb that fits the subject
Start listening
Choosing Between Onto and Unto
Start listening
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?
Start listening
Collective nouns: choose the right group
Start listening
Common English idioms: everyday listening guide
Start listening
Concrete nouns: simple rules and examples
Start listening
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?
Start listening
Could, would, or should: choose the right verb
Start listening
Course feedback
The speaker liked the practical work but still recommends a change. Is the feedback positive, negative or mixed?
Start listening
Cut corners: avoid harmful shortcuts
Start listening
Daytime or day time: choose the right spelling
Start listening
Deer or deers: how to choose
Start listening
Delayed luggage
The suitcase missed one flight, reached another airport and has not yet arrived at the hotel. Which location describes its current position?
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
-
B1
189 lessons
Begin with familiar topics. Catch the main point before writing the details.
-
B2
60 lessons
Listen for reasons, changes of plan, and the words that connect ideas.
-
C1
No lessons yet
Notice how speakers qualify a statement or suggest something indirectly.
-
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 →
