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.
There was or there were: how to choose
Start listening
Till or Until: Choose the Right Word
Start listening
Took or have taken? Choose the form for your message
Start listening
Train platform change
A station announcement contains a destination, an original time, a delay, and a new platform. Which details describe the train now?
Start listening
Transferring a ticket
The ticket is transferable, but forwarding the email is not enough. What must the buyer change by five on Friday?
Start listening
Understanding an indirect refusal
A colleague says your invitation sounds lovely, then mentions a family commitment and suggests another week. Did they accept or decline?
Start listening
Unusual names
People with uncommon names repeat louder sound parts to clarify them socially or use short nicknames to make phone bookings faster.
Start listening
Up to or upto: Which Is Correct?
Start listening
Using Commas: Where Commas Belong
Start listening
Using Like and As for Clear English Comparisons
Start listening
Volunteer arrival instructions
Volunteers enter through one gate, register at a tent and then split into two teams. Can you put the instructions in order?
Start listening
Weather-dependent plans
Two friends want a picnic, but the forecast may change. What will they do in each possible weather condition?
Start listening
When or if: Choosing the Right Word
Start listening
When to Use The: Practical English Rules
Start listening
Whenever or When Ever: One Word or Two?
Start listening
Who Said What? Passing On a Message
Start listening
Who booked the room? A name and I or a name and me
Start listening
Whose bag is it? Describing people and their belongings
Start listening
Will or Going to: Choose the Right Future
Start listening
Will or be going to: choose your future form
Start listening
Write a Formal Letter: Clear Rules and Examples
Start listening
Your or Yours: How to Choose
Start listening
abstract nouns: everyday rules and examples
Start listening
housewife vs homemaker: what is the difference
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 →
