My Favourite Place – B1/B2 Listening
Do you prefer quiet, peaceful places or noisy, exciting places?
In this B1/B2 English listening lesson, you will listen to Emily. She is talking about a place that she enjoys spending time in. Listen to Emily’s talk and see how much you can understand!
After you have done the exercises, read through the transcript at the end of the page. Check whether sounds and words you heard are correct.
Listen and understand
Answer the questions about Emily’s favourite place. Check answers when you have finished all of the questions.
Why does Emily enjoy being in a train station?
How does Emily describe the feeling a station gives her?
What does Emily say about how other people view train stations?
What does Emily mean when she says the station feels “alive”?
How does Emily feel about the noise and energy in the station?
Why does Emily say the train station felt special when she was young?
What kind of feeling does Emily get from sitting and watching people?
What does Emily like most about the train station?
Train your ear
Listen and complete ONLY the missing words.
I’m quiet or peaceful places
And then there’s coffee and sandwiches
But I like
I don’t take the train I used to
Some rush
Dictation and transcript
Listen to the speaker again, and write what you hear. Then check your answers. Pause, replay or restart if you want to.
Words and phrases
Here are some useful words and expressions from the text about places you love that you might want to learn and use.
Words
a platform (n) – the place beside the train tracks where you wait for a train
an announcement (n) – information spoken to everyone, often through a loudspeaker
atmosphere (n) – the general feeling or mood of a place
a possibility (n) – something that could happen
peaceful (adj) – calm and quiet
chaotic (adj) – very busy and not organised
buzzing (adj) – full of noise, movement, and activity
a bench (n) – a long seat where several people can sit
Phrases
not really into (something) – not very interested in something
the moment I (do something) – as soon as something happens
buzzing around like bees – moving quickly in many directions
when I was younger – in the past when I was a child
(Not) as often as .. used to – less often than before
arrive early – get to a place before the time you need to be there
grab a .. – quickly buy something (to eat or drink)
watch people passing by – look at people as they go past
full of movement – busy, with a lot of things happening
Grammar from the transcript
Here are some essential grammar items and patterns used by Emily in her talk:
Using Second Conditional
Emily uses a second conditional expression to talk about an unreal (imaginary) situation and outcome.
- If I could choose anywhere at all, it would actually be a busy train station…
Present Continuous
We use the present continuous to describe actions that are happening now. Emily’s story is in the past, but she is using present continuous tense to make her story sound more interesting.
- Everyone’s buzzing around like bees.
- Some are waiting…
Used to for past habits
We use used to to talk about past habits or states that are different now.
- I don’t take the train as often as I used to.
Perception verbs + object + -ing
We use verb patterns with perception verbs to show actions in progress as we experience them.
- I hear suitcase wheels rolling, people talking…
- I watch the people passing by.
To-infinitive of purpose
We use the to-infinitive to express purpose — why we do something.
- I always arrive early, just to take in the atmosphere.
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