Welcome to Thomas’s Classroom

Listening Lab

Short scenes from real life, recorded by one clear American voice. Listen for the main idea, then the details. The transcript stays hidden until you are ready.

1. Main ideaListen once, all the way through, without stopping. What is it about?
2. DetailsRead the questions, then listen again. Pause and replay as much as you need.
3. Read and speakOpen the transcript, listen and read along, then say it with the speaker.

A0Starter

A0Voicemail · 20 sec

A message before your first day

Tomorrow is your first day at a new job. A coworker leaves you a voicemail.

Listen
A0Announcement · 20 sec

The store closes soon

You are shopping at a supermarket in the evening. You hear an announcement.

Listen

A1Beginner

A1Voicemail · 30 sec

A call from the dentist’s office

Daniel Ortiz has a dental cleaning this week. The dentist’s office leaves him a voicemail.

Listen
A1Instructions · 35 sec

Welcome to the apartment

You rent an apartment for a weekend. The host meets you at the door and shows you the place.

Listen

A2Elementary

A2Radio · 45 sec

Morning traffic and weather

You’re getting ready to drive to work. You turn on the local radio for the morning traffic and weather.

Listen
A2Story · 50 sec

The birthday trip that went wrong

Valeria tells a story about a weekend trip to Chicago with her sister.

Listen

B1Intermediate

B1Podcast · 1 min

Three ways to spend less on groceries

You’re listening to a short podcast about money. The host shares her tip of the week.

Listen
B1Voicemail · 55 sec

A change to next week’s schedule

Marcus works at a bakery. On his day off, his manager leaves him a voicemail.

Listen

B2Upper intermediate

B2Tour · 1 min

The Friendship Quilt

You’re visiting a history museum with an audio guide. You press the number for the next stop.

Listen
B2Talk · 1 min

Why we put things off

You’re at a free evening talk at the public library. The speaker opens with a question about procrastination.

Listen

C1Advanced

C1Radio · 1.5 min

Is the four-day week ready?

A local radio station airs short opinion pieces from residents. Teresa Alvarez comments on the city’s trial of a four-day work week.

Listen
C1Lecture · 1.5 min

Why memory is not a recording

This excerpt is from an introductory psychology lecture at a community college. The professor builds on last week’s class about how memories form.

Listen

Every scene is an original script for Thomas’s Classroom, recorded with ElevenLabs. How we use AI and ElevenLabs.