Listening practice
A Voicemail from a Friend: A2 Listening
Emma moves a cinema plan to a later time and asks for a favour.
- Age
- Ages 13+
- Level
- A2
- Skill
- Listening
- Time
- 20 min
- Format
- Interactive
- Listening
- Monologue
The voice is your device's built-in speech synthesis, not a recording, so it sounds different on every phone, tablet and computer. Dialogues use two voices where the device has them. The transcript is always one tap away.
1. Before you listen
Read the question, then listen to the whole script once and choose the answer.
2. Listen
Play the whole script or one line at a time. Try the questions before you open the transcript.
Transcript
- Line 1 · Transcript hidden
- Line 2 · Transcript hidden
- Line 3 · Transcript hidden
- Line 4 · Transcript hidden
- Line 5 · Transcript hidden
- Line 6 · Transcript hidden
- Line 7 · Transcript hidden
3. Listen for detail
Listen again and answer the five questions.
4. Dictation
Play each sentence and type the missing words. Capital letters and punctuation don't matter.
- 1.I'm , but I can't meet you at the cinema at six.
- 2.Can we meet at ?
- 3.Can you buy them ?
- 4.I'll tomorrow.
- 5.My phone battery is very low, so please , don't call.
5. Your turn to speak
Leave a voicemail for a friend. Change a plan you made together: say what the problem is, suggest a new time and ask them to reply.
Printable worksheet
The tasks, the transcript and an answer key on a separate page.
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Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
A. Before you listen
Why is Emma calling Jack?
- ☐ a) To invite him to dinner
- ☐ b) To change the time they meet
- ☐ c) To say she can't come to the cinema at all
B. Listen for detail
- Why can't Emma meet at six?☐ a) She has to work late☐ b) Her phone is broken☐ c) She is ill
- What time does the film start?☐ a) 6:00☐ b) 7:00☐ c) 7:15
- Emma already has the tickets.☐ a) True☐ b) False
- How does Emma want Jack to reply?☐ a) By text message☐ b) By phone call☐ c) By email
- Emma's brother would like to come with them.☐ a) True☐ b) False
C. Dictation: write the missing words
- I'm , but I can't meet you at the cinema at six.
- Can we meet at ?
- Can you buy them ?
- I'll tomorrow.
- My phone battery is very low, so please , don't call.
D. Speaking
Leave a voicemail for a friend. Change a plan you made together: say what the problem is, suggest a new time and ask them to reply.
Transcript
Hi Jack, it's Emma. I'm calling about tomorrow.
I'm really sorry, but I can't meet you at the cinema at six. I have to work late, until half past six.
Can we meet at seven instead? The film starts at a quarter past seven, so that's OK.
Oh, and I don't have the tickets yet. Can you buy them online tonight? I'll pay you back tomorrow.
My phone battery is very low, so please send me a text, don't call.
And one more thing. My brother wants to come too. Is that all right? He loves science fiction films.
OK, that's everything. Talk to you later. Bye!
Key phrases are in bold.
Answer key
- A. b) To change the time they meet
- B. 1 a) She has to work late · 2 c) 7:15 · 3 b) False · 4 a) By text message · 5 a) True
- C. 1 really sorry · 2 seven instead · 3 online tonight · 4 pay you back · 5 send me a text