Study Path:
English for TV, Movies, and Radio
Build the Listening Skills You Need for TV, Movies, and Radio
A carefully selected sequence of 16 activities for intermediate to difficult learners. Work through them in order to build the listening and grammar skills you need to follow and talk about TV programs, movies, and radio broadcasts in English.
How to use this path: Click “Open Lesson” to start each activity — it will open in a new tab. When you finish, close that tab and come back here to continue with the next lesson.
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1🎧 Intermediate
Movie Showtimes
A recorded phone message from a local cinema covering showtimes, film ratings, and ticket prices. Good practice for following a fast, detail-heavy recorded message and for building vocabulary around movie ratings and theater culture in the United States.
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2▶️ Culture Video
Movie Tickets and Theaters
A short video in which Randall describes what he looks for in a good movie theater. Good practice for following informal spoken English and for understanding how Americans talk about everyday entertainment choices.
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3📖 Grammar: Intermediate
Would Like / Would Rather / Would Prefer
When English speakers talk about what they want to watch, they reach for “would like,” “would rather,” and “would prefer.” This lesson covers all three forms and the differences between them so you can express and follow entertainment preferences naturally.
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4🎧 Easy
Movie Rentals
A man asks a friend what kinds of movies she enjoys before heading to the video store. A short, natural conversation that builds vocabulary around movie genres and gives you practice following preference language used in real conversation.
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5📖 Grammar: Intermediate
So and Neither
When English speakers agree with each other, they often reach for “so” or “neither” rather than simply saying “me too” or “me neither.” This lesson covers both forms so you can use them naturally and confidently.
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6🎧 Intermediate
TV Guide
A short, humorous conversation in which two people try to agree on what to watch. Good practice for following fast, natural dialogue and for building vocabulary around TV programs and genres.
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7▶️ Interview
Reality TV Entertainment
Aubrey thinks reality TV is terrible. She also likes it. Randall does not share her enthusiasm. A candid, unscripted interview that builds vocabulary around reality television and gives you practice following natural conversation between two speakers with very different takes on the same topic.
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8📖 Grammar: Intermediate
Past Continuous Tense
English speakers use the past continuous to describe what was happening at a particular moment in the past. This lesson teaches you the structure so you can follow it naturally in the dramatic and conversational listening activities ahead.
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9🎧 Difficult
Movie Review
A father and daughter discuss a science fiction film they just saw. Their opinions could not be more different. A humorous exchange that builds familiarity with film criticism and gives you practice following natural opinion-based dialogue, with past continuous woven naturally throughout.
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10🎧 Difficult
Space Radio Theater
An exciting audio drama set aboard the Starship Quest, where crew members begin disappearing one by one. A fast-paced, multi-speaker production with a narrator, dramatic music, and a cliffhanger ending. Good practice for following complex dramatic English at natural speed.
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11📖 Grammar: Advanced
Reported Speech
Reported speech is the grammar behind news broadcasting. When a reporter says “witnesses reported seeing smoke” or “the forecaster said temperatures would drop,” they are using reported speech. This lesson teaches you the structure so you can follow broadcast English naturally.
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12🎧 Difficult
Friday’s Weather Forecast
A weekend weather forecast delivered at natural broadcast speed. A chance to hear reported speech used in a real broadcast context, and good practice for following detail-heavy English and building vocabulary around weather and forecasting.
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13📖 Grammar: Advanced
Adjective Clauses (who, which, that)
Broadcast English uses adjective clauses to add detail quickly, for example: “the residents who were evacuated,” “the road that is currently closed.” This lesson teaches you the structure so you can recognize and follow it in natural English.
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14🎧 Intermediate
TV News Report
A live news broadcast from the scene of a house fire. The report is delivered with the natural hesitations in speech of real broadcast English, and good practice for following fast, detail-heavy news reporting.
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15🎧 Difficult
Traffic Report
A live aerial traffic report delivered at natural broadcast speed. Multiple incidents, hazardous conditions, and specialized vocabulary make this the most demanding listening activity on the path and a strong test of everything you have built so far.
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