Listening

A tip for guys: girls like compliments. You should sing/play this song to them regularly! This lesson is very simple, just listen to the song and put the correct words in each gap. Good luck!
Lesson by Caroline Devane

Studying can be extremely stressful. You have an essay due in, you need to learn a certain grammar point and at some point you have to make dinner! So here’s a song to make you smile and relax! I think it’s about how even when life is hard, there are always people there who care for you. Of course it still has to be a lesson, but I hope after you’ve completed this you’ll be inspired to find some of your own music that you can wind down to…

Drinking tea (with milk of course), is a huge part of British culture. Helen and Olly, a comedy duo who have their own podcast, went around the country learning all about it and trying to discover where they could find ‘the best cup of tea’.

Watch the video, and then see if you can answer the true or false questions.

Right, I’m off to boil the kettle.
By Caroline Devane

I have removed some important verbs from thi song. This is excellent listening practice and will remind you of, or teach you, some useful verbs.
By Caroline Deavne

Some words of advice from the wonderful singer, Aloe Blacc. I have written some words and their meanings at the top of this lesson, all you need to do is fill in the gaps in the lyrics with the correct word.

Warning: His accent is quite difficult to understand so listen carefully! This is, of course, excellent practice for real conversation!
Lesson by Caroline

I am absolutely famished, so hungry, totally starving! So what else could I do, but choose a song for this musical lesson that is all about food.

I have removed some types of food or food related vocabulary from this famous song from Oliver. See if you can complete the gaps with the correct words.

Right, I’m off to make a sandwich!

There are loads of other words in this song related to food and eating. Can you find them?
Lesson by Caroline

A while ago, I wrote a listening lesson based on the Taylor Swift song, ‘Today was a fairytale’ which is a song about romance, love and happy endings.

This song by Sarah Bareilles, is also about fairytales, but looks at them in a new light! Listen to the song and see if you can fill in the missing words.

You don't have to listen to the whole song.

Good luck!

I fell in love with this song when I heard it on the American dance programme ‘So you think you can dance’.

It reminded me of a great tip that really helps some students to remember vocabulary. If you are having trouble remembering a word, try associating a movement with that word. Then when you hear that word you’ll think of the movement and remember the meaning! I challenge you to choose five new pieces of vocabulary and give each one a movement. I hope this helps!

Can you tell I’m feeling festive?!

Tomorrow I am going for Christmas dinner with my best friends from my undergraduate degree.

I have no doubt we will be listening to this and many other Christmas songs.

In fact, I used this lesson last Christmas with a private student! Can you complete the gaps with the vocabulary, all of which is related to Christmas?

Good luck & merry Christmas!
Lesson by Caroline

Unfortunately, English doesn’t come with one standard accent.

Not only do we have British, Australian, American, South African accents etc. We also have all the regional accents that make up those countries!

The difference between Southern and Northen English accents are massive and even native English speakers sometimes have difficulty understanding them.

So it is important that as an English learner you expose yourself to as many different accents as possible, outside of the classroom.