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.
English writing practice: four steps for clarity
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English writing tips: practical editing routine
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Equipment or Equipments: Which Is Correct?
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Ergative Verbs: When Objects Become Subjects
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Estimated energy bill
The large bill is based on an estimate, not the meter. After one number is corrected, does the customer still owe money?
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Everyday Idioms in Context: Clues from the Situation
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Exclamations with What and Such: Clear Rules and Examples
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Few vs Some: Choosing Quantity Words
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Finite Verbs: Find the Anchor Verb
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First-day onboarding tasks
A new employee receives two required tasks and one optional invitation. Which action must happen before system access works?
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Flat viewing costs and dates
Four numbers describe the flat, but they do not all represent monthly costs. Can you label each amount and date correctly?
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For example: planning a shared kitchen
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Foreign Words in English: How Loanwords Work
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Forming Adverbs from Adjectives: Rules and Word Position
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Furthermore or Moreover: Adding Connected Points
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Future perfect or continuous: Choose the right form
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Gerunds: When to Use -ing
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Getting the Repair Café Ready: Group Words
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Good English teacher: choose useful support
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Group discussion skills: speak clearly in meetings
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Group discussion tips: join and build ideas
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Has or have: choose the right verb
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Has vs Had: Choosing the Right Form
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He and I are or am: Choosing the Right Verb
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 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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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.
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