Choosing a clear level for online listening practice | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults discuss an online resource for listening practice and choosing a level that feels clear..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a clear level for online listening practice to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Conoces un recurso útil en línea para practicar idiomas?

koh-NOH-ses oon reh-KOOR-soh OO-teel en LEE-neh-ah pah-rah prak-tee-KAHR ee-DYOH-mahs? Do you know a useful online resource for language practice?
B

Este sitio tiene ejercicios cortos de escucha.

ES-teh SEE-tyoh tee-EH-neh ehk-ser-SEE-syohs KOR-tohs deh ehk-SKOO-chah. This site has short listening exercises.
A

¿Puedo escuchar el audio allí?

PWEH-doh ehk-skoo-CHAR el OW-dyoh ah-YEE? Can I listen to the audio there?
B

Puedes reproducir el audio de cada ejercicio en la página.

PWEH-des reh-proh-doo-SEER el OW-dyoh deh KAH-dah ehk-ser-SEE-syoh en lah PAH-hee-nah. You can play the audio for each exercise on the page.
A

¿Cómo elijo el nivel adecuado?

KOH-moh eh-LEE-hoh el nee-BEL ah-deh-KWAH-doh? How do I choose the right level?
B

Elige un nivel en el que la mayoría de las frases sean claras.

EH-lee-heh oon nee-BEL en el keh lah mah-yoh-REE-ah deh lahs FRAH-ses SAY-an KLAH-rahs. Choose a level where most sentences feel clear.
A

Eso suena menos estresante que hacer prácticas más difíciles.

EH-soh SWEH-nah MEH-nohs eh-streh-SAHN-teh keh ah-SER prahk-TEE-kahs mahs dee-FEE-see-les. That sounds less stressful than harder practice.
B

Debería ayudarte a ganar confianza.

deh-beh-REE-ah ah-yoo-DAHR-teh ah gah-NAHR kohn-fee-AHN-sah. It should help you build confidence.

Word by Word

Conoces “Conoces” asks one person whether they know something, here a useful online resource. It is the form of “conocer” used with “tú”; a reusable pattern is “¿Conoces un recurso útil?”
un “Un” introduces one unspecified resource: “un recurso”. It is used before a masculine singular noun, and the same pattern appears in “un sitio” for one unspecified site.
recurso “Recurso” means a resource that can be used for language practice. In this dialogue it refers to an online learning resource; a reusable pattern is “un recurso para practicar idiomas”.
útil “Útil” describes the resource as useful or helpful for the learner. It can be placed after a noun, as in “un recurso útil”, and it is also reusable with other learning materials.
en In “en línea”, “en” helps express that something is available online. A reusable pattern is “en línea” followed by a purpose, such as “en línea para practicar”.
línea “Línea” means “online” in the exact expression “en línea”. Here it describes a resource accessed through the internet; keep “en línea” together when reusing this meaning.
para “Para” introduces the purpose of the resource: “para practicar idiomas”. It commonly comes before an infinitive to say what something is for, as in “para estudiar” in a new example.
practicar “Practicar” means to practice, and here it states the purpose of the resource. It remains in this infinitive form after “para”; a reusable pattern is “para practicar” followed by an activity or skill.
idiomas “Idiomas” means languages, referring to the languages being practiced. It is plural here because the resource is for language practice generally; a reusable pattern is “practicar idiomas”.
Este “Este” points to the particular site being discussed: “Este sitio”. It comes before a masculine singular noun and can introduce something nearby or currently under discussion.
sitio “Sitio” means site, here a website with listening exercises. A reusable pattern is “Este sitio tiene” followed by what the site offers.
tiene “Tiene” says that the site has or offers the exercises. It is the form of “tener” used with “este sitio”; “tiene ejercicios” is a useful pattern for describing available materials.
ejercicios “Ejercicios” means exercises, specifically the short listening activities on the site. It is plural because the site has more than one activity; a reusable pattern is “ejercicios de escucha”.
cortos “Cortos” describes the exercises as short in length or scope. It matches the plural masculine noun “ejercicios” and can be placed after a noun to describe its duration or size.
de In “de escucha”, “de” links “ejercicios” with the activity they concern. This pattern identifies a type or focus, as in “ejercicios de lectura” in a new example.
escucha “Escucha” identifies listening as the focus of the exercises in “ejercicios de escucha”. It is used here as the name of the listening activity; the reusable pattern is “ejercicios de” followed by a skill.
Puedo “Puedo” asks whether the speaker is able or allowed to listen to the audio. It is the form of “poder” used with “yo”, and it is followed by an infinitive such as “puedo escuchar”.
escuchar “Escuchar” means to listen, here to the audio on the site. It stays in the infinitive after “Puedo”; a reusable pattern is “Puedo escuchar” followed by something audible.
el “El” introduces the specific audio being discussed: “el audio”. It is used before a masculine singular noun when referring to a definite item.
audio “Audio” means the audio recording that the learner can listen to or play. Here it is the object of “escuchar”; a reusable pattern is “escuchar el audio”.
allí “Allí” means there and points back to the site or location mentioned in the conversation. It can be used after an action to indicate where that action takes place or where something is found.
Puedes “Puedes” tells one person that they are able to play the audio. It is the form of “poder” used with “tú”; a reusable pattern is “Puedes reproducir” followed by the available item.
reproducir “Reproducir” means to play the audio. It is an infinitive after “Puedes”, and a useful pattern is “reproducir el audio” or “reproducir” another recording.
cada “Cada” means each and refers to the exercises one by one: “cada ejercicio”. It is placed before a singular noun when describing every individual member of a group.
ejercicio “Ejercicio” means one exercise on the page. It is singular after “cada”; a reusable pattern is “el audio de cada ejercicio” when identifying a separate audio item for every exercise.
la “La” introduces the specific page: “la página”. It is used before a feminine singular noun when the speaker means a definite page.
página “Página” means page, here the webpage where each exercise and its audio are located. A reusable pattern is “en la página” to say that something is on the page.
Cómo “Cómo” asks how an action is carried out: “¿Cómo elijo...?” It introduces a question about the method or way to choose something.
elijo “Elijo” means choose, here asking how the speaker can choose the appropriate level. It is the form of “elegir” used with “yo”; a reusable pattern is “¿Cómo elijo” followed by the thing being selected.
nivel “Nivel” means level, here the difficulty level for listening practice. It is used with “el” and can be followed by a description, as in “el nivel adecuado”.
adecuado “Adecuado” describes the level as appropriate or right for the learner. It matches the masculine singular noun “nivel” and is useful after a noun when evaluating whether something fits a purpose.
Elige “Elige” tells one person to choose a level. It is the direct instruction used in “Elige un nivel”; a reusable pattern is “Elige” followed by the item to select.
que In “en el que”, “que” links the selected level with the clause describing it. Together, “en el que” introduces the level in which most sentences are clear.
mayoría “Mayoría” means the majority or most of a group, here in “la mayoría de las frases”. The reusable pattern “la mayoría de” is followed by the group being counted or considered.
las “Las” introduces the definite plural group “las frases”. It is used before a feminine plural noun when referring to particular sentences.
frases “Frases” means sentences, referring to the sentences in the listening practice. It is plural because the statement concerns a group; a reusable pattern is “la mayoría de las frases”.
sean In “sean claras”, “sean” presents the sentences as needing to be clear within the chosen level. It is a form of “ser” used in this clause after “en el que”; the useful pattern is “que ... sean” followed by a description.
claras “Claras” describes the sentences as clear and easy to understand. It matches the feminine plural noun “frases”; a reusable pattern is “frases claras” for understandable sentences.
Eso “Eso” refers to the idea just mentioned, namely choosing a level where most sentences are clear. It can be used at the start of a response to comment on a previous statement.
suena “Suena” says that the idea sounds or seems a certain way: “Eso suena menos estresante”. It is the form of “sonar” used with “eso”; a reusable pattern is “Eso suena” followed by an evaluation.
menos “Menos” means less and makes the comparison with harder practice: “menos estresante”. It is placed before the adjective or description being reduced in degree.
estresante “Estresante” describes the practice as causing stress. In “menos estresante”, it is compared with another kind of practice; the adjective can follow “suena” when giving an impression.
hacer “Hacer” means to do or carry out, here in the activity “hacer prácticas más difíciles”. It is an infinitive after “que” in the comparison; a reusable pattern is “hacer prácticas” followed by a description.
más “Más” means more and marks the greater difficulty of the practices: “más difíciles”. It is placed before an adjective to increase the degree being described.
difíciles “Difíciles” describes the practices as harder or difficult. It matches the plural noun “prácticas” and can follow “más” to form a comparison of difficulty.
Debería “Debería” expresses an expectation or recommendation that something ought to help the learner. It is used with “ayudarte” in “Debería ayudarte”; a reusable pattern is “Debería” followed by an infinitive.
ayudarte “Ayudarte” means to help you, with “te” attached to the infinitive “ayudar”. Here the subject of the help is the chosen practice, and a reusable pattern is “ayudarte a” followed by an activity or result.
a In “ayudarte a ganar”, “a” links “ayudarte” with the result or activity that follows. The reusable pattern is “ayudar a alguien a” followed by an infinitive.
ganar “Ganar” means to gain or build, here referring to building confidence. It follows “a” in “ayudarte a ganar”; a reusable pattern is “ganar” followed by something that can increase, such as “confianza”.
confianza “Confianza” means confidence, the feeling the practice should help the learner develop. It appears in the pattern “ganar confianza”, which can be reused when describing the development of self-assurance.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

Puedo escuchar audio allí.

PWEH-doh ehk-skoo-CHAR OW-dyoh ah-YEE.

I can listen to audio there.

After a conjugated form of poder, use the infinitive to express ability or possibility.

Spanish Vocabulary

conocer verb
koh-noh-SER to know conoces
corto adj
KOR-toh short cortos
ejercicio noun
ehk-ser-SEE-syoh exercise ejercicios
en línea phrase
en LEE-neh-ah online
escucha noun
ehk-SKOO-chah listening
idioma noun
ee-DYOH-mah language idiomas
poder verb
poh-DEHR can; to be able to puedo
practicar verb
prahk-tee-KAHR to practice
recurso noun
reh-KOOR-soh resource
sitio noun
SEE-tyoh site
tener verb
teh-NEHR to have tiene
útil adj
OO-teel useful

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can I listen to the audio there?

Show Answer¿Puedo escuchar el audio allí?

How do I choose the right level?

Show Answer¿Cómo elijo el nivel adecuado?

It should help you build confidence.

Show AnswerDebería ayudarte a ganar confianza.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

language

Show Answeridiomas

to know

Show Answerconoces

exercise

Show Answerejercicios

to practice

Show Answerpracticar