Focused listening library
London English listening
Browse the original London accent collection. Current recordings have their own accent labels; this archive tag does not identify a new speaker.
Stubborn: meaning, tone, and alternatives
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Swapping a volunteer shift
Two volunteers discuss three time slots before agreeing on one swap. Which times belong to the final arrangement?
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Synonyms in English: Choose the Right Word
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TOEFL Study Response: Explain What You Hear
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Take after
You may have your father's smile but your grandmother's patience. When a family similarity comes from an older relative, you can say you take after that person.
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Take it easy
Take it easy means to rest and avoid hard effort. It means to calm down and stop worrying. It also means goodbye between friends.
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Take part in
You can watch a race from the side, or you can enter it and take part. The phrase means joining the activity, not simply being nearby.
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Talk into
You may not plan to join a trip, but a friend's reasons can change your mind. If the conversation persuades you, your friend talks you into going.
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There was or there were: how to choose
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Third conditional: explanation and examples
You missed one train and arrived after the interview began. How do you imagine the version of yesterday that never happened?
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Till or Until: Choose the Right Word
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Took or have taken? Choose the form for your message
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Train platform change
A station announcement contains a destination, an original time, a delay, and a new platform. Which details describe the train now?
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Transferring a ticket
The ticket is transferable, but forwarding the email is not enough. What must the buyer change by five on Friday?
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Turn down
You can turn down a job because it is unsuitable, or turn down the music because it is too loud. One reduces an opportunity; the other reduces a level.
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Turn out
A difficult recipe can turn out well, and a rumour can turn out to be false. The phrase often reveals a final result that was uncertain or surprising.
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Turn up
A late guest can turn up at your door, lost keys can turn up under a sofa, and you can turn up the heating. Context separates arrival, discovery and a higher level.
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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?
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Up to or upto: Which Is Correct?
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Using Commas: Where Commas Belong
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Using Like and As for Clear English Comparisons
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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?
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Weather-dependent plans
Two friends want a picnic, but the forecast may change. What will they do in each possible weather condition?
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When or if: Choosing the Right Word
Start listeningWhat you will find here
How this practice helps
This collection keeps the original London accent grouping. The current recordings may use different voices; check each clip’s label.
When a voice is unfamiliar, replay a short part and compare it with the transcript before trying the whole clip again.
