English Listening Practice for Beginners
Short, clear conversations from everyday life for teens and adults starting out: listen, read along, then check yourself.
Not sure what to listen to?
Take the free listening level test (about 20 minutes). We will show you the scenes at your level.
- 120 scenes
- CEFR Pre-A1–A2
- Free with transcripts & answers
Early Kids 4–6
0 scenesSchool Kids 7–11
0 scenesTeens 12–17
54 scenes
New in class
It's Holly's first morning at a new school.
A new backpack
Lauren has a new backpack. She shows it to her friend Cole before class.
At the sports centre
Finn and Amy visit a new sports centre in their town.
Locker day
It's locker day at school. Eva and Oscar get their new lockers.
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Lunch with friends
It's lunch time at school. Tara, Lucas and Andy sit together in the cafeteria.
Pet photos
After school in the park, Leon, Anna and Kian show each other photos on their phones.
My first shift
Saturday morning. Kayla, 16, starts her first job at a bowling alley.
College open day
Saturday. Ruby, 16, and her aunt Cass visit a sixth-form college on its open day.
PE in the sports hall
Hayley and Danny have PE in the sports hall with their teacher, Mr Moore.
Dinner at a friend's house
Aubrey goes to her friend Colton's house for dinner. Colton's dad, Mr. Wells, is cooking.
Which bus?
Saturday morning. Cara and Elliot are at the bus stop. They're going into town.
Monday morning class
Monday morning at school. Ms. Turner starts her class. Peyton and Austin sit together.
Adults 18+
66 scenes
Ready for the warehouse?
Rory works at a big warehouse in the UK. Every morning, Paula, the team leader, meets the team at the door.
Nice to meet you
A man goes to a running club in a park in the UK. It is his first time there.
Here's my number
Lisa and her son are new at a school in the US. At the school gate, she meets another parent.
Look what I bought!
Brenda shows her best friend Janet the clothes she bought. They are at Brenda's home in the UK.
Family photos
Brad and Gina work in the same office in the US. At lunch, Brad shows Gina some photos on his phone.
At the street market
Stacey does her shopping at a street market in her town in the UK. Terry has a fruit and vegetable stall.
On my way!
Monica is at a restaurant in the US. She is waiting for three friends. They send her voice messages.
A morning in housekeeping
Shelby starts work at a hotel in the US. She cleans the rooms. Stella is her supervisor.
At the doctor's
Sally goes to the doctor's in her town in the UK.
At the coffee shop
Shane stops at a coffee shop in his city in the US on his way to work.
Moving day
Kim is moving into a new apartment in a US city today. Her friend Rick comes to help.
Can we pay, please?
Phoebe is having lunch with two friends at a café in the UK. It's time to pay.
Easy English listening that builds confidence
If you are an absolute beginner, a beginner or an elementary learner (CEFR Pre-A1 to A2), natural English can feel far too fast. These 120 scenes are short, slow enough to follow and set in places you know: ordering at a café, buying a train ticket, asking the way at the station, calling the dentist, a first day at school or work.
Use a simple three-step routine. First listen in Learn mode with the transcript: play one line at a time, replay it and slow it down. Then type the lines you hear in Check mode, a short dictation that shows the words you missed. Finish with the Exam, where each question plays once and you see your answers at the end.
Ten minutes a day is better than one long hour a week. Start with the shortest scenes, and move to a longer one when you understand most lines the first time. Pictures help you guess the meaning, so look at the scene before you press Play.
These pages are for teens and adults. Teaching young children? Try English listening for kids instead.
Frequently asked questions
How can a beginner practise English listening?
Choose short, everyday scenes and listen to one line at a time. Read the transcript the first time, then listen again without it. Typing what you hear (dictation) and answering a few questions help the words stay with you.
How many minutes a day should I listen?
About 10 to 15 minutes a day is a good start. Regular short sessions work better than one long session a week.
Should I read the transcript while I listen?
Yes, at first. Reading while you listen connects the sounds to the words. Then hide the text and listen again to check that you can follow without it.
What do A1 and A2 mean?
They are CEFR levels. A1 is beginner (simple words and phrases), A2 is elementary (short everyday conversations). Pre-A1 is for absolute beginners. The free English level test tells you where you are.
I'm a complete beginner. Where do I start?
Start with a Pre-A1 or A1 scene of 4 to 6 minutes. Listen in Learn mode with the text, replay every line you need, then try Check mode. Move on when you understand most lines the first time.