English listening guides

What the schwa sound is, a list of schwa words with examples, and how it makes small words like “to”, “of” and “and” (weak forms) almost disappear in spoken English.

A full list of English contractions (I’m, don’t, can’t, won’t, I’d, gonna and more), the rules for using them, and how to hear them in fast spoken English.

What homophones are, how they differ from homonyms, a list of common English homophones with examples, and how to tell there, their and they’re or its and it’s apart.

How to pronounce -ed endings (/t/, /d/, /ɪd/) and -s endings (/s/, /z/, /ɪz/) in English, with rules, examples and why these endings are so easy to miss when listening.

Connected speech explained with examples: linking, elision (dropped sounds), assimilation and intrusion, the rules behind them, and how to understand fast spoken English.

Practical ways to improve your English listening skills: daily practice, dictation, shadowing and choosing the right level. Free exercises from A1 to C1.

Free English listening exercises and activities for beginners: short A1 sentences and stories with audio, a simple daily plan, and tips for choosing beginner podcasts.

What the CEFR English levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2 mean, what you can understand when listening at each one, and how to find and improve your level.

Test your English listening for free: a short listening test at each level from A1 to C1, checked word by word. Or take the 5-minute test to find your level.

IELTS listening practice tips: how the test works, how bands compare with CEFR levels, and how daily dictation trains the spelling, accents and fast speech the test checks.

What dictation is, why listening and writing down English is one of the best ways to learn, the main kinds of dictation, and how to practise it online for free.

Dictation activities for English teachers: running dictation, dictogloss, gap-fill and peer dictation, plus free printable worksheets and daily dictations for homework.