Listening Intermediate
Natural English Conversations
On this page you will find many listening exercises designed for intermediate level English speakers. The listenings were made to simulate real life situations and conversations.
The best way to use this material:
1) Read the questions associated with the listening exercise.
2) listen to the audio.
3) Write down your answers on a piece of paper.
4) Check your answers using the answer key provided underneath the questions.
5) Play the listening again and follow along with the tapescript provided.
Intermediate Listening Exercises
1. About Mark
2. My holiday
5. My awful day
6. My bitcoin
8. At a shop
10. Wifi problems
11. Booking a room
Intermediate
LISTENING ONE
About Mark
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
My name's Mark I was born in Oxford but now I live in London. I'm an investment banker. I like my job because I have a good salary. But there is a problem, my job is very stressful. I never have time to do things I work long hours and sometimes I work at the weekends from home.
Intermediate
LISTENING TWO
My Holiday
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
My last holiday was a disaster. We planned to go to Greece for 10 days, but the problems started at the airport. First, the flight going was delayed two hours. Then I felt sick on the plane. When we got to Greece I didn't get my luggage back because the airline had lost it, so I had to buy new clothes. The hotel there was awful, there was a swimming pool but you couldn't use it. On the second day my wife got food poisoning. On the third day the waiter knocked my phone off the table and the screen cracked. By the fifth day we decided we had had enough and we booked a flight back home. Hopefully next year our holiday will be better.
Intermediate
LISTENING THREE
My Holiday
Buenos Aires
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
My last holiday was amazing. We went to Buenos Aires for 14 days. I love the city I think it's beautiful. I enjoy dancing so I went to tango nights almost every night. The food there is great too, their steak is delicious. On the second day we went for a walk around caminito, which is a beautiful area with colourful houses and restaurants. We had a lot of fun. On the fifth day we went to Palermo to the Japanese garden, we walked around and ate Asian food in the restaurant there. On the tenth day we went to see the sunset in Puerto Madeiro, it was spectacular. I loved the city, I want to go back next year.
Intermediate
LISTENING FOUR
Where Were You?
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
A- Hi, where were you? I tried to call you but I couldn't get through.
B- I went shopping, my phone was out of battery.
A- oh right, well, what did you get?
B- I just got a few things. I bought 2 t-shirts from Topman, a new wallet because I lost my old one and a vest.
A- Nice, can I see the T-shirts?
B- Yeah of course, here.
A- Wow they're great. How much were they?
B- 20 pounds each.
A- And the vest?
B- Here
A- Hmm I don't like the design. How much was it?
B - 40 pounds.
A- What that's so expensive. Maybe you should return it.
Intermediate
LISTENING FIVE
My Awful Day
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
A - Hey, what's wrong?
B- I've just had an awful day.
A- What happened?
B- First, I wake up every day at 7 but last night I forgot to set my alarm so I woke up at half 8. And I start work at 9.
A- Oh no.
B- Then my train to work was delayed 30 minutes. I got to work at 11.
A- That's terrible.
B - But the worst thing was, I had an allergic reaction while I was having my lunch and I had to go to hospital.
A - What caused it?
B - There were peanuts in my meal, and I'm allergic to peanuts.
A - Why didn't you call me?
B - I left my phone on the train to work.
Intermediate
LISTENING SIX
My Bitcoin
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
1- Hey Tom
2 - Hi Sarah
1- Tom have you seen all the news about bitcoin?
2- Yeah I have actually, why?
1- Well I'm thinking about buying some, do you think I should?
2- Well, I did
1- Really? how much did you buy?
2 - I bought 500 dollars worth of bitcoin, and when I bought it the price was 1 bitcoin for 18 thousand dollars, and now the price is 1 bitcoin for 9 thousand dollars, so I've lost half of my money, I'm 250 dollars down.
1- Oh no, what are you going to do?
2- I'm going to hold, I'm not going to sell, I'm sure the price will go back up soon.
1-Well you know what, maybe I should buy now because the price is so low.
2- That's not a bad idea, hmm I think I'll buy some more as well. Just another 200 dollars. Imagine if the price goes to 50 thousand dollars.
1- I'm so excited can you show me how to do it.
Intermediate
LISTENING SEVEN
Tom's Free Time
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
Tom - Well I'm not very good but I enjoy painting. I only started a few months ago but now I love it. Every Sunday morning after breakfast I spend about 3 hours painting. I guess i like it because it's very relaxing and it gives me a chance to be creative. I had always wanted to do it you see but I didn't know how to paint, so my daughter told me to do an online course, so I did and now I can paint. Like I said I'm not very good but I'm getting better. I think I'll do a more advanced course soon.
Intermediate
LISTENING EIGHT
At a Shop
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
1- Hello, good afternoon can I help you?
2- Yes I'm looking for some shoes, have you got any?
1- Yes our shoes are over here, come this way. We have 4 different styles and they come in brown and black.
2- Ok great, I like this one, do you have this in a size 10 in black?
1- Let me check, I'll be back in a second.
1- So we don't have that one in a size 10 any more. But I
brought the other 3 models in a size 10 in black to see if you would like to try them on.
2 - Thanks but I didn't like the other styles
1 - That's OK, well, we received a new model this morning, here it is in a size 10 in black. What do you think?
2- It's nice, can I try them on?
1- Of course. There's a mirror over there.
2- OK thanks. They fit well. How much are they?
1- They're 40 pounds.
2 - OK perfect I'll take them.
1- Great just come with me to the checkout, are you paying by card or in cash?
2 - Cash, here you go.
1 - Perfect, here's your change and your receipt. Thank you.
2 - Thanks, bye
Intermediate
LISTENING NINE
Sarah's Free Time
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
Sarah - I love cycling. Every weekend in the morning I go for a cycle, normally for about two hours. I leave around 9 and come back at about 11. It's fantastic. I cycle on the road so it's better when there's less traffic, that's why I go at the weekends. I enjoy going uphill and downhil. I'd like to start doing races, there's a race near where I live in a couple of months, I think I'll sign up for it.
Intermediate
LISTENING TEN
Wifi Problems
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
A - Hey Sarah could help me?
B - Sure, what's the problem?
A - I can't connect to the internet, is there a problem with the network, is your computer connected?
B - Yeah mine's working normally. Let me see your WiFi connection. WorkWifi and I'll just press connect. Hmm it's not working. Let me click forget and put the password in again. Hmm still not working. Let me try the other WiFi, WorkWifi 2, I'll just put in the password. M still nothing. Oh that's the problem Tom, you left your caps lock on.
A - Oh yeah, oops, let me put the password in again.
B - Did it connect?
A - Yes it's connected now. Thanks Sarah.
B - No problem.
Intermediate
LISTENING ELEVEN
Booking a Room
Read the questions and then play the listening.
Tapescript
A - Good Afternoon Holiday Hotel, Julie speaking.
B - Good Afternoon, I'd like to book a room for the 7th and the 8th. Do you have a room available?
A - Let me just check, yes, we have availability. Would you like a double room or a single?
B- A double please.
A - And would you like the deluxe suite or the economy?
B - How much are they?
A - The delux is 50 pounds a night and the economy is 30 pounds a night.
B - I'd like the deluxe please.
A - No problem. Could I get your name please?
B - Yes it's Ben Hargreaves.
A - How do you spell your last name?
B - That's H A R G R E A V E S
A- OK, and how would you like to pay?
B - By credit card.
A - That's fine. You can check in any time after 2pm and check out is on the 9th at 12pm.
B - Ok that's great thank you very much. Bye
A - Bye bye