0 XP
Streak 0
0 / 10 complete

Listening Skills Interview

An interactive B1 English lesson based on a real British Council interview about listening. Listen, answer, earn points, and build a streak.

Level: B1 10 activities Self study

How to use this lesson

Audio credit: British Council, LearnEnglish (learnenglish.britishcouncil.org), "An interview about listening skills." Used for free, non commercial educational purposes. All rights to the source audio belong to the British Council.

Predict and Personalise

Before listening

Goal: Think about the topic and your own listening before you listen.

Look at the title "An interview about listening skills." Write your ideas.

First Listen, Gist

While listening

Goal: Get the big picture from one listen.

Listen once, then choose the best answer.

1. How many speakers are in the interview?
2. The host says they are good or bad at listening?
3. What is the main topic?

Speak it aloud

Say one sentence about each answer, e.g. "There are two speakers, and the host is bad at listening."

Second Listen, True or False

While listening

Goal: Check specific facts from the interview.

Listen again and decide: True or False.

1. The host speaks German at B1 level.
2. Most people do better at speaking than listening in exams.
3. In exams you can ask the speaker to repeat.
4. The host likes saying "repeat that, please."

Speak it aloud

Say each answer with a reason: "Number one is true, because the host has B1 German."

Listen for Detail, Fill the Gap

While listening

Goal: Catch the exact words from the audio.

Type the missing word from the interview.

"People speak so fast and my brain just down."
"In real life you can ask for something to be ."
"One strategy is to to understand and leave."
"A high stakes example: a office or a bank."

Speak it aloud

Read each full sentence aloud to practise the rhythm of the phrases.

Useful Language, Match

Vocabulary

Goal: Learn four useful phrases from the interview.

Choose the meaning of each phrase.

A) in control of
B) high stakes
C) break it down
D) cold sweat

Speak it aloud

Use phrase B ("high stakes") in your own sentence, e.g. "The visa interview was high stakes for me."

The Two Strategies

While listening

Goal: Identify the two listening strategies Gabriella gives.

Choose the best strategy for each situation.

1. In a low stakes chat (like at a bus stop), the expert says you can...
2. In a high stakes situation (bank, office), the better strategy is to...

Speak it aloud

Say which strategy you use most and why.

Listen to the audio while you work on Activities 1 to 6

About 3 minutes. Two speakers: a host and Gabriella, a university English teacher from Leeds.

Read the questions in Activities 1 to 6 first. Then listen to the audio here and answer them as you work through those tasks. You can listen again as many times as you need.

Credit: British Council, LearnEnglish. Used for educational purposes.

Your Listening Story

Post listening

Goal: Tell a real story about not understanding, and try the strategy.

Write or speak for one minute about a time you did not understand.

Role Play, Practice the Strategy

Post listening

Goal: Use strategy 2 (summarise and ask a small question) in a safe practice.

Imagine you are at a bank. The clerk says fast: "Fill this form, then go to desk 3, show your passport, and wait for a number." Write your response using the strategy.

High Stakes Moment

Post listening

Goal: Describe a real high stakes moment and choose a strategy.

Write about a real high stakes moment where listening mattered (hospital, visa office, meeting).

Takeaway and New Phrase

Wrap up

Goal: Fix one plan and remember one new phrase.

Finish the sentence, then name a new phrase you learned.