Speak English Now • Free podcast listening lessons
Best of Speak English Now: 8 English Listening Lessons
Can you read English but find it harder to understand when people speak? Hi, I’m Georgiana! I picked eight free lessons to help you train your ears, listen with more confidence, and enjoy English.
Each lesson has free audio and a transcript. Listen at your own pace and use the simple 16-day plan below.
Handpicked for you
8 free lessons to improve your listening
Start with Lesson 1 and follow the plan, or pick the topic you need most. Each card opens a real podcast episode with audio and a transcript.
01 · CHOOSE THE RIGHT LEVEL
Episode 374: The 90% Listening Rule
Learn how to choose audio that you can understand without feeling lost.
Try this: Listen once without the text. Can you understand the main idea?
02 · TRAIN YOUR EARS
Episode 005: Why listening helps you speak
Find out how to train your ears with simple, repeated listening.
Try this: Listen to the Mini-Story twice. Notice what becomes easier the second time.
03 · FOCUSED VS. BACKGROUND
Episode 012: Listening in the Background
Learn when background listening helps and when you need to pay attention.
Try this: Listen for five minutes with no other task. Later, replay the same part while doing something easy.
04 · LISTEN IN DAILY LIFE
Episode 018: Listen While Exercising
See how walking and other easy activities can fit into your English practice.
Try this: Take a short walk while listening. Then say what you remember.
05 · ENJOY REPEATING
Episode 137: Make English Listening Fun
Try simple ideas to make listening to the same lesson more enjoyable.
Try this: Guess the next word or sentence when you listen again.
06 · HEAR THE RHYTHM
Episode 044: Learn English Pronunciation and Intonation
Pay attention to English stress, rhythm, and the way people say sentences.
Try this: Choose one short sentence. Listen, pause, and copy its rhythm.
07 · UNDERSTAND MORE SPEAKERS
Episode 221: Understanding Strong English Accents
Learn what to do when another person has an accent you find hard to understand.
Try this: Listen for the main message. Practice asking, “Could you say that again?”
08 · LISTENING AND READING PRACTICE
Episode 059: Listening + Reading Benefits
In this lesson, you'll learn about punctuality, practice speaking English with a mini-story, and discover the benefits of reading and listening.
Try this: Listen to the mini-story again. Pause after each question and answer out loud.
Your simple listening plan
Build your listening habit in 16 days
Use two days for each lesson. Aim for about 15–20 minutes a day, or go at your own pace. If you need more time, repeat a lesson.
Day 1: Listen first
Listen without reading. Try to catch the main idea. Then listen with the free transcript to check words you missed.
Day 2: Listen again
Play the same lesson without the text. Notice what is easier. If there is a Mini-Story, answer the questions out loud.
Your schedule: Days 1–2: Lesson 1 · Days 3–4: Lesson 2 · Days 5–6: Lesson 3 · Days 7–8: Lesson 4 · Days 9–10: Lesson 5 · Days 11–12: Lesson 6 · Days 13–14: Lesson 7 · Days 15–16: Lesson 8.
Remember: You don’t have to understand every word. Choose a comfortable level, listen again, and notice your progress.
Keep learning with Speak English Now
Explore all my free podcast episodes for more listening practice.
Want a full step-by-step program with stories and speaking practice? Explore my English courses.