Online resources for extensive listening

Listening is one of the hardest skills to acquire. These websites can ease the challenge for your students, give them more practice, and make the studying process more fun.

Elllo

Elllo (English Listening Lesson Library Online) contains listening lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. There is a wide variety of different topics and accents (both native and non-native). Whatever the theme of your lesson is, there is a good chance you will find there something to extend your students’ listening practice.

60-second idea

This podcast is a project of the BBC. Each week a global thinker from the worlds of philosophy, science, psychology or the arts is given a minute to put forward a radical, inspiring or controversial idea – no matter how improbable – that they believe would change the world. They are only given 60 seconds to persuade the host and the audience that their idea is worth considering.

This resource will be especially useful for those students who are in need of learning how to present their ideas eloquently and concisely.

60-second science

This site is similar to the previous one, but it provides 60-second podcasts on various scientific topics. Full transcripts are available as well.

CNN 10

CNN10 is a 10-minute news show. Its priority is to identify stories of international significance and clearly describe why they’re making news, who is affected, and how the events fit into a complex, international society.

If you like to incorporate discussions of the current news feed, this online resource might come in useful to give your students more conversational topics.

Lyricstraining

Last but not least is a fun site for those who love music. Your students can listen to their favourite songs and complete gaps in the lyrics at their own pace. A fun activity that will make listening more engaging.