What would you like to practise today?
- Speak along with the audio — shadowing
- Speak slightly behind the audio as you listen. If you fall behind, return to that point and start again with a short phrase.
- Reproduce what you heard — repeating
- Listen to a sentence, pause, and try saying it without looking. If you cannot recall the second half, listen to just that shorter section again.
- Check which words you heard — dictation
- Choose a short clip and write the words you can hear. Leave gaps for anything you cannot write. Replay the surrounding sounds, then check the course answer. If you wrote the words but cannot make sense of them, listen from the preceding sentence.
When you want to hear the same part again
A word you could not write, a passage you could not say, a sound you want to imitate: once you know where to return, try replaying the phrase first. Only narrow it with points A and B if the phrase is too broad. See choosing a replay section, including how to return when phrase boundaries are unavailable.
Start with one sentence today
Add your course audio or a podcast to Rehear and choose one sentence to hear again.
Where is the audio you want to practise with?
If you downloaded a purchased course, start in the iPhone Files app. Rehear can import audio such as MP3 files and ZIP archives containing several recordings. Replay English course audio on iPhone walks you through finding and adding the files.
For Music library tracks, check that the track is on your device and unprotected. Some tracks play in Music but cannot be read by Rehear.
You can also use a podcast you already enjoy. Just one passage from a favourite episode can be enough practice. See working with one podcast episode.
Can you quickly return to the part you need?
Some days, skipping back a few seconds is enough; other days, you want the same sentence repeatedly. Try your usual audio to see which controls matter. For playback speed and resuming the same part tomorrow, see seven questions for choosing a player.
When to open the transcript
If you want to test what you can write down, listen first with the text closed. If the subject is unfamiliar, read a little first. The transcript's role depends on your goal. Automatic transcripts can contain errors, so compare with the course's original text where available. See when to open the transcript.
Choose just one thing to start
You do not need to add several materials and methods at once. Pick today's audio and say one sentence or write a few words. To learn the controls as you go, start with using Rehear.