B2 · Listening
🎧 Sound Check
Get ready to listen.
Before you listen, think about this:
Would you learn a language that isn’t the official language of any country? Why—or why not?
Now make a prediction.
Why do you think people learn Esperanto? Choose TWO possibilities.
A. It can help them get better jobs.
B. They like the idea behind the language.
C. It is easier to learn than many other languages.
D. It is useful when visiting a particular country.
E. Most international companies require it.
▶️ First Hearing
Listen once. Don’t chase every word.
Don’t worry about names, numbers or details yet. Concentrate on the main message.
Which statement best summarizes the program?
A. Esperanto failed because it never became the official language of a country.
B. Esperanto was created as a simple international language, and people continue to learn it for both its ideals and its accessibility.
C. Esperanto is becoming more popular than other European languages because of language-learning apps.
D. Esperanto is mainly useful for people who travel frequently.
📢 Check your hearing
✅ B is the best answer.
The program explains why Esperanto was created, why people still learn it, and how speakers use the language to connect with people around the world.
🎚️ Fine-Tuning
Listen again. This time, tune in to the details.
1. What do the colors of the Esperanto flag represent?
A. Nature and freedom
B. Hope and peace
C. Europe and unity
D. Language and culture
📢 Fine-Tuning Results
✅ B — hope and peace
Green represents hope; white represents peace.
2. What was Ludwig Zamenhof’s profession?
A. Language teacher
B. University professor
C. Eye doctor
D. Politician
📢 Fine-Tuning Results
✅ C — eye doctor
3. What experience influenced Zamenhof’s idea for Esperanto?
A. He found foreign languages extremely difficult to learn.
B. He lived among communities that did not speak one another’s languages.
C. He traveled extensively for his work.
D. He wanted Polish people to communicate internationally.
📢 Fine-Tuning Results
✅ B — he lived among communities that did not speak one another’s languages.
Zamenhof believed these language barriers contributed to arguments and conflict.
4. Approximately how many Esperanto speakers are there today?
A. 200,000
B. 500,000
C. 1 million
D. 2 million
📢 Fine-Tuning Results
✅ D — about two million
5. Why is Esperanto described as particularly easy to learn?
A. It uses vocabulary entirely from English.
B. It has no grammar.
C. It has 16 basic rules, no irregular forms and about 1,000 root words.
D. Speakers don’t need to conjugate verbs.
📢 Fine-Tuning Results
✅ C — 16 basic rules, no irregular forms and about 1,000 root words.
👂 Trained Ears
Can you catch what was actually said?
Esperanto was created by a __________ eye doctor named Ludwig Zamenhof. He believed that better __________ between people from different __________ could help reduce conflict and promote understanding.
Today, around __________ people speak Esperanto. Learners can attend international conferences and other events where they have opportunities to __________ speaking and listening.
One reason Esperanto attracts learners is that it is relatively __________ to learn. It has only 16 basic rules and no __________ forms. However, many speakers are also attracted to the ideals behind the language, including hope and __________.
📢 Reveal the Results
Esperanto was created by a Polish eye doctor named Ludwig Zamenhof. He believed that better communication between people from different cultures could help reduce conflict and promote understanding.
Today, around two million people speak Esperanto. Learners can attend international conferences and other events where they have opportunities to practise speaking and listening.
One reason Esperanto attracts learners is that it is relatively easy to learn. It has only 16 basic rules and no irregular forms. However, many speakers are also attracted to the ideals behind the language, including hope and peace.
🎙️ Your Turn
You’ve listened. Now respond.
Zamenhof believed that a shared language could help people from different cultures understand one another better.
What do you think?
Do we still need a shared international language today?
Does speaking the same language necessarily help people understand one another?
Would you personally consider learning Esperanto? Why or why not?
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