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Boosting Your English Listening Skills

Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab has been providing online English listening comprehension activities for ESL and EFL learners since 1998. Visit Randall's other Web sites at DailyESL.com, EZslang.com, and Trainyouraccent.com for more language practice.

General ESL Listening Quizzes

Activities focus on everyday English comprehension skills at three levels based on content, voices, vocabulary, and natural speed. A combination of adult, teenage, and children's voices are included.

Explore More English Listening Activities

Randall has created a variety of other ESL listening activities to improve your comprehension, speaking, vocabulary, and cultural awareness.

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Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab - English Listening

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Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab helps ESL and EFL learners improve their English listening comprehension skills through conversations.

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Podcasts for professionals | LearnEnglish

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Do you want to practise your listening and find out about business topics and issues at the same time? Listen to audio recordings for upper intermediate level learners.

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January 28, 2025 * 39 mins

Can moving to a new place change you? Consider the story of Kelly, from Western Australia, who never quite fit in around her small hometown - before, during, or after her marriage. She says she was the victim of Tall Poppy Syndrome; as she strived to grow taller and more beautiful, everyone wanted to chop her down. What was the fix? Moving to one of the most beautiful places in the world (Italy). Kelly explains how leaving town changed her - and her relationship with her ex-husband - in this episode about how geography affects our ability to be our best selves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Can moving to a new place change you? Consider the story of Kelly, from Western Australia, who never quite fit in around her small hometown - before, during, or after her marriage. She says she was the victim of Tall Poppy Syndrome; as she strived to grow taller and more beautiful, everyone wanted to chop her down.

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Look at the magazine article and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

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Read an email about plans for the weekend to practise and improve your reading skills.

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Non-gradable/ Absolute or Extreme Adjectives

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Non-gradable/ Absolute or Extreme Adjectives

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Look at these examples to see how gradable and non-gradable adjectives are used.

It's really cold.
It's absolutely freezing.
This exercise is really difficult.
This exercise is completely impossible.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Grammar test 1

Adjectives: gradable and non-gradable: Grammar test 1

Grammar explanation

Gradable adjectives

Most adjectives are gradable. This means we can have different levels of that quality. For example, you can be a bit cold, very cold or extremely cold. We can make them weaker or stronger with modifiers:

She was quite angry when she found out.
The film we saw last night was really funny!
It can be extremely cold in Russia in the winter.

Here is a list of some common gradable adjectives and some modifiers that we can use with them.

Non-gradable: absolute adjectives

Some adjectives are non-gradable. For example, something can't be a bit finished or very finished. You can't be a bit dead or very dead. These adjectives describe absolute qualities. To make them stronger we have to use modifiers like absolutely, totally or completely:

Thank you, I love it! It's absolutely perfect!
Their farm was totally destroyed by a tornado.
My work is completely finished. Now I can relax.

Here is a list of some common absolute adjectives and some modifiers that we can use with them.

Non-gradable: extreme adjectives

Adjectives like amazing, awful and boiling are also non-gradable. They already contain the idea of 'very' in their definitions. If we want to make extreme adjectives stronger, we have to use absolutely or really:

Did you see the final match? It was absolutely amazing!
After 32 hours of travelling, they were absolutely exhausted.
My trip home was really awful. First, traffic was really bad, then the car broke down and we had to walk home in the rain.

Here is a list of some common extreme adjectives and some modifiers that we can use with them.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2

Adjectives: gradable and non-gradable: Grammar test 2

Language level

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Do you know how to use adjectives in phrases like a bit cold, really cold and absolutely freezing? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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Look at the email and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

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Every year in November, people look for bargains on Black Friday. But did you know that the same day is also Buy Nothing Day?

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Look at the exam question and letter and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

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Look at these examples to see how prepositions are used after verbs.

Can you wait for me to finish my lunch?
I'm relying on my co-worker to answer all my emails while I'm on holiday.
Sun cream protects you from getting burnt.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

When a verb is part of a longer sentence, it is often followed by a specific preposition.

There are no grammatical rules to help you know which preposition is used with which verb, so it's a good idea to try to learn them together. To help you do this, write new vocabulary in your notebook in a sentence or phrase. Here are some common verbs for each preposition.

Verbs with for

They're waiting for a bus.
Heapologised for being late.
Iapplied for the job but I didn't get it.
How do youask for a coffee in Polish?
I can't go out tonight because I have toprepare for my interview tomorrow.

Verbs with from

This spray should protect you from mosquitoes.
Has herecovered from the accident yet?
She won an award because shesaved someone from drowning.
Isuffer from allergies.

Verbs with in

She doesn't believe in coincidences.
Our companyspecialises in computer software.
You have to work hard if you want tosucceed in life.

Verbs with of

I don't approve of hunting animals for their fur.
Our dogdied of old age.
This shampoosmells of bananas.

Verbs with on

Their decision will depend on the test results.
The film isbased on the novel by Boris Pasternak.
If you make so much noise, I can'tconcentrate on my work.
Come on! We'rerelying on you!
We don'tagree on anything but we're still good friends.

Verbs with to

What kind of music do you like listening to?
Can Iintroduce you to my grandfather?
Pleaserefer to the notes at the end for more information.
Nobodyresponded to my complaint.
Sheapologised to me the next day.

Verbs with with

I agree with everything you've said.
My assistant willprovide you with more information if you need it.
We're finding it difficult todeal with the stress.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Do you know how to use the prepositions for, from, in, of, on, to and with after verbs? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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Speaking practice to help you learn useful language for everyday communication. Situations include responding to news, meeting face-to-face and asking a favour.

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Speaking practice to help you learn useful language for everyday communication. Situations include giving advice, dealing with a problem and challenging someone's ideas.

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Listening practice to help you understand the main points of clear, standard speech about everyday or job-related topics. Situations include phone calls, meetings and interviews.

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Listening practice to help you understand extended, standard speech about familiar topics that may contain complex ideas. Situations include broadcasts, reviews, presentations and lectures.

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Tips

1. Start informal emails with Hi + name instead of Dear + name.

2. An informal email can be like a conversation, so you can start with How are you?

3. If you're replying, you can start with Lovely to hear from you.

4. Say why you recommend those things.

5. You can add something at the end using P.S.

Discussion

Language level

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Learn how to write an email to give holiday advice.

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Tips

1. In your email, remember to thank the candidate for their application.

2. Remember to include information about:

What position the interview is for and what will be discussed at the interview.

When the interview will take place.

Who to contact if there is a problem, who will be interviewing them and who the candidate should ask for when they arrive.

Where the interview will be.

How long the interview will last.

What to bring - IDs (proofs of identity), references, etc.

3. Write the date in words, e.g. Thursday 3 April. Don't write the date in numbers - in some countries 3 April, for example, is 3/4 and in other countries it's 4/3.

4. You can end the email with a set phrase like We look forward to meeting / hearing from / seeing you soon.

Discussion

Language level

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An email to invite someone to a job interview

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Learn how to write an email to invite someone to a job interview.

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Tips

1. Start with a friendly comment:
I hope you're well.

2. It's usually best to use an informal style with colleagues:
Hi Maria, ...
Thanks for your help.

3. Keep it short.

4. Mention the good work they did and the positive effect of it:
Your expertise was vital for this project.
We couldn't have finished it successfully without your help.

5. End with a positive comment about future collaboration:
I hope to work with you more closely in future.
I look forward to working with you again.

Discussion

Language level

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Learn how to write a thank-you message to a colleague.

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Tips

1. Use an informal or semi-formal style.

2. In the title, give the main idea or opinion.

3. Write about the important parts of the experience, not every detail.

4. Organise your ideas into paragraphs.

5. Write about the good and the bad.

Discussion

Language level

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Tips

1. Focus on the most important facts. Don't give unnecessary background information.

2. Make sure you include:

the reason for writing (e.g. I am writing to ...)

what went wrong

what you would like to happen now.

3. Complaint letters are usually written in a formal style.

4. Use passives to be less direct and more formal, e.g. I was served quickly.

5. Use Yours faithfully to sign off if you don't know the name of the person you're writing to.

Discussion

Language level

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Learn how to write a letter of complaint.

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Reading practice to help you understand texts with everyday or job-related language. Texts include articles, travel guides, emails, adverts and reviews.

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Reading practice to help you understand texts with a wide vocabulary where you may need to consider the writer's opinion. Texts include articles, reports, messages, short stories and reviews.

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Liveworksheets transforms your traditional printable worksheets into self-correcting interactive exercises that the students can do online and send to the teacher.

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Liveworksheets transforms your traditional printable worksheets into self-correcting interactive exercises that the students can do online and send to the teacher.

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Look at these examples to see how adjectives are used with prepositions.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

Some adjectives go with certain prepositions. There are no grammatical rules for which preposition is used with which adjective, so it's a good idea to try to learn them together. To help you do this, write new vocabulary in your notebook in a sentence or phrase.

However, there are some patterns that can help you. Let's look at them first. Remember that a preposition is followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form).

We use at with adjectives like good/ bad/ amazing/ brilliant/ terrible, etc. to talk about skills and abilities.

We often use about with adjectives of feelings like angry/ excited/ happy/ nervous/ sad/ stressed/ worried, etc. to explain what is causing that feeling.

However, sometimes we use of with feelings.

We can use to to show the connection between people or things.

We can also use to to talk about someone's behaviour towards someone else.

Here are some other useful adjectives with prepositions.

She's interested in the project.
They want someone who'sexperienced in design.
I didn't want to getinvolved in the argument.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Language level

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Do you know how to use adjectives with prepositions like interested in or similar to? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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Practise and improve your listening skills for your school studies and your English exams. There are activities for different levels, so find your level and make a start.

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"Changing Your Stars" a story about moving on and moving out in real life

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"Changing Your Stars" a story about moving on and moving out in real life

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January 28, 2025 * 39 mins

Can moving to a new place change you? Consider the story of Kelly, from Western Australia, who never quite fit in around her small hometown - before, during, or after her marriage. She says she was the victim of Tall Poppy Syndrome; as she strived to grow taller and more beautiful, everyone wanted to chop her down. What was the fix? Moving to one of the most beautiful places in the world (Italy). Kelly explains how leaving town changed her - and her relationship with her ex-husband - in this episode about how geography affects our ability to be our best selves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Popular Podcasts

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

The Breakfast Club

The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

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Can moving to a new place change you? Consider the story of Kelly, from Western Australia, who never quite fit in around her small hometown - before, during, or after her marriage. She says she was the victim of Tall Poppy Syndrome; as she strived to grow taller and more beautiful, everyone wanted to chop her down.