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.
Doubling Final Consonants Before -ing and -ed
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Each or Every: Which Word to Choose
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Each vs Every: Choosing the Right Word
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Eight hours of sleep
One speaker thinks every adult must sleep exactly eight hours. The other replaces that fixed number with a range and practical daytime signs.
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Emphasizing adjectives: four common choices
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English Class Activities: Plan Effective Speaking Tasks
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English Collocations: Natural Word Pairs
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English Conditionals: Rules and Real Examples
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English Determiners: Choose the Right Word
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English Infinitives: When to Use To
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English Prefixes: Guess Word Meanings
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English Quantifiers: Choosing The Right Word
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English Question Forms: How to Ask Clearly
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English Suffixes: Spot Word Clues Fast
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English Verb Forms: Choose the Right Time
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English Verb Tenses: Forms and Examples
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English articles: when to use them
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English class activities: choose practical speaking tasks
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English class activity ideas: practical speaking tasks
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English class skills: What you learn
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English homework help: Plan, write, and ask
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English pronunciation: clear daily practice
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English speaking practice: build clear responses
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English vocabulary: learn and use words
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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 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 46 lessons
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B1
267 lessons
Begin with familiar topics. Catch the main point before writing the details.
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B2
95 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
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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.
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