Listening Corner

Practice your listening skills in English, French or Spanish with our micro listening exercises.

Understanding speakers in fast, everyday speech is one of the biggest challenges that we all face when learning a new language.
Try it!

“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we speak”

Epictetus, Ancient Greek philosopher

Practice listening for free

3 Languages

1. Listen to the Audio
2. Choose a difficulty level
3. Write what you think you hear

In Listening Corner, you get instant feedback, word by word. You will know immediately if you have heard correctly, or if you made a mistake and need to listen again (or check your spelling!).

The exercises have been designed to encourage you to experiment, to keep listening and trying until you correctly understand the words you have heard. Doing this will help you to improve your listening quickly and easily.

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@edsonrosas?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Edson Rosas</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/british?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>

The English Corner

Try your knowledge!

Level 1

Lisa describes the city where she lives

It's a northern city, its quite big city, very vibrant. It has 2 massive football teams.

It's a city, its quite big city, very vibrant. It has 2 massive teams.

It's , , . It has .

Lisa describes the city where she lives in UK. Can you guess where she is from?

Thom gives his opinion

I loved the book, I did prefer the film. , I liked both.

I the book, but I prefer the film. , I liked both.

Thom gives his opinion

Thom’s preferences

I like Chinese food, , I prefer French food.

I like Chinese , , I prefer French .

Thom talks food preferences. Listen out for v. common British English  filler expression! (3 words)

Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery

Level 2

Mike talks to musician friend Michael about his job

Often a will come to you with a film and they’ve got some music they and they want you to do something in that direction.

Often a film maker will come to you with a film and they’ve got some and they do something in that direction.

Mike is talking to musician friend and composer Michael about how he makes music for films.

Mike and Kate talk about dating

So you started with girls when you were 13 and were you the one who used to with them or did they break up with you or a bit of both?

So, you with girls when you were 13 and were you the one who used to or did they or a bit of both?

with girls when you were 13 and were you the one a bit of both?

Kate asks Mike about dating when he was a teenager.  Listen out for 2 phrasal verbs used when talking about dating!

Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery

Level 3

Mike asks Julie what she would do with 6 hours extra in a day

Not work basically, I think we all work enough. So I would use it for . I would probably try and in another

Not work basically I think we all work enough. So I would use it for fun things. I would probably try and .

, I think . it fun things. .

Mike asks his friend Julie what would she do with an extra 6 hours in a day?

Sam describes Julie’s personality traits

You have such a warm and positive , but sometimes if there’s something that maybe is quite you would and dwell on it a bit.

 

You have such a warm and , but sometimes if there’s something said that maybe is quite personal you would think about it and a bit.

Sam describes his friends Julie saying what her strengths and weaknesses are.

Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

French Connection

Try your knowledge!

Level 1

Paul asks his friend a question

Je vais tu veux avec moi?

Je au marché, tu veux avec moi?

Paul is asking a friend a question.  Listen to what he says

I’m going to the market. Do you want to come with me?
Marjorie says her plans for the weekend

Ce weekend, je rencontrer des amis en centre ville

Ce weekend, je vais en centre ville

Marjorie says her plans for the weekend. Listen to what she says

This weekend i’m going to meet some friends in town.
Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery

Level 2

Eileen talks about her work

Je suis professeur de et le français cinq ans.

Je suis et depuis cinq ans.

Eileen talks about her work.  Listen to what she says

I’m a teacher of foreign languages and I’ve been teaching French for 5 years.

Marjorie explains why she can’t meet with friends

J'aurais aimé ce vendredi mais je ne peux pas, car j'ai des trucs à faire

ce vendredi mais je ne peux pas, j'ai des à faire

Marjorie explains why she can’t meet with friends.  Listen to what she says

I’d have liked to join you this Friday but I can’t as i’ve got things to do.
Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery

Level 3

Hugo from Inner French Podcast explains diet habits in certain countries

Dans certains pays, les gens sont qu’ils font un régime parce que ça montre qu’ils pour .

Dans certains {pays], les gens sont dire qu’ils font un parce que ça montre qu’ils pour .

Extract from Inner French Podcast (we love this podcast, check it out!) – Hugo explains diet habits in certain countries.

In certain countries, people are proud to say they follow a diet because it shows they make an effort to keep in shape.
Marjorie explains her grandmother is going to make an important life decision

Quels que soient les conseils , ma grand-mère va adopter un      

les conseils donnés, ma grand-mère va adopter un berger

Marjorie explains something her Grandmother is going to do. Listen to what she says. 

Regardless of the advice we give to her, my grandmother is going to adopt a German Shepherd
Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

Spanish Corner

Try your knowledge!

Level 1

Marisa’s daily routine

Marisa todos los dias a las seis y media

Marisa a las seis y media

Can you catch this detail about Marisa’s daily routine?

Marisa wakes up everyday at 6.30
Ruth talks about her weekend

los fines de semana hago ejercicio. , hago senderismo, pero , voy en bici

Todos los hago . , hago , pero , voy en bici

What does Ruth like to do at the weekend?  listen out for adverbs of frequency “sometimes, often, every weekend”

Every weekend I do exercise. Often I go hiking, but sometimes I go for a bike ride.
Sandra talks about a siesta.

Acabo de comer y a punto de la siesta

comer y estoy tomar la siesta

What does Sandra say about the siesta? Listen carefully for TWO useful expressions in Spanish “about to to do something” and “just done something “

I’ve just eaten and I am about to have a nap.
Ruth talks about what she likes to do in winter

En invierno cuando , voy a .  Me encanta la naturaleza.

En cuando , voy a . Me encanta la .

What does Sandra say about the siesta? Listen carefully for TWO useful expressions in Spanish “about to to do something” and “just done something “

In winter when there is snow, I go skiing. I love nature.
Mario and his family

Mario tiene dos y un . tiene un perro que se llama Toby.

Mario dos y un . tiene un que se llama Toby.

What does Ruth say about the Mario’s family? 

Mario has two sisters and a brother. He also has a dog called Toby. 

Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery

Level 2

Pablo describes his daily routine and gives more detail.

A las dos y media en un bar cerca de la oficina y después de comer a las tres el periódico.

A las dos y media en un bar la oficina y comer a las tres el .

en un bar la oficina y comer a las tres el .

What does Marisa do in the afternoons?

At 2.30 I eat lunch in a bar near the office and after eating at 3pm I read a newspaper.

Sandra describes her journey learning Spanish.

Empecé a estudiar español cinco años, pero dos años sin practicarlo

estudiar español cinco años, pero dos años sin

What does Sandra say about her Spanish learning journey? 

I started studying Spanish 5 years ago, but it’s been two years ago without studying.
Ruth describes her last weekend (part 1)

El fin de semana fue fantástico. El por la mañana jugué al con mis amigos y gané.

El fue fantástico. El jugué al con mis amigos y .

What does Ruth say she did last Saturday? Listen out for TWO time expressions “Last weekend” and “On Saturday morning”

Last weekend was fantastic. On Saturday morning I played Padel with friends and I won.

Ruth describes her last weekend (part 2)

El fin de semana fue fantástico. El por la mañana jugué al con mis amigos y gané.

El fue fantástico. El jugué al con mis amigos y .

What does Ruth say she did last Saturday? Listen out for TWO time expressions “Last weekend” and “On Saturday morning”

Last weekend was fantastic. On Saturday morning I played Padel with friends and I won.

Ruth describes her last weekend (part 3)

Por la noche, en un restaurante mexicano y después y bailamos toda la noche. ¡Fue muy divertido!

, en un restaurante mexicano y y bailamos toda la noche. ¡Fue muy divertido!

What does Ruth say she did last Saturday evening? 

In the evening, we went out to a Mexican restaurant, and afterwards we went for drinks and danced all night. It was very fun! 

Level 3

Sandra says why she didn’t do something

Si me lo hubieras antes, hubiera algo diferente

Si me lo antes, algo diferente

Sandra says why she didnt do something. Listen out for the Spanish subjuntive! 

If you had told me before I would have done something differently
Ⓒ created by Chris Bargery