Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Listening activities are essential for ESL students, but they can be time-consuming to prep. Learners need exposure to both spoken English they can observe and audio they can only hear—without visual cues. The latter is often the most challenging, especially without structured support. To help bridge that gap in my own classroom, I created a free ESL listening worksheet with QR code audio, designed for B1 (early-intermediate) English learners. It’s ready to print and use right away.
Why Listening Practice Matters for ESL Students
Listening practice helps ESL students build comprehension, fluency, and accurate pronunciation. In a perfect world, every teacher would slow down, articulate clearly, and face their students while speaking. But this often isn’t the case. Some teachers speak too fast, mumble, or turn their backs—making it difficult for English learners to catch key sounds and meaning. That’s why we’re tasked with helping our students adapt to real-world listening obstacles in the English-speaking classroom. Effective ESL listening practice needs to prepare students for both ideal and imperfect conditions. One proven approach is using multimodal input—combining text, audio, and visual cues—which strengthens comprehension and memory by engaging multiple parts of the brain at once.
How QR Codes Make Listening Easy to Implement
You can create a QR code for audio in just a few easy steps—no Google Drive or login required. Here’s how I do it using Vocaroo.com:
- Go to vocaroo.com
No account is needed! - Upload your audio
You can record directly or upload a saved MP3. - Click “Save & Share”
Once it processes, you’ll see sharing options. - Choose the QR code option
Vocaroo will automatically generate one for you. - Download and save the QR code image
Save it to your computer for easy use in worksheets. - Insert the QR code into your ESL worksheet
Now your students can scan and instantly listen to the audio you selected.
This is a game-changer in how teachers can create ESL listening worksheets using QR codes for the audio. The options are limitless! You can easy opportunities for stations, homework, sub plans, independent work, and more. If you are strapped for time, I have created a free one for you to try out!
What’s Included in This Free B1 Listening Worksheet
- Adapted B1 version of “I, Too”
- Poem + annotation guide
- Guiding questions
- QR code with MP3 audio
- Answer key
How to Use It in Your Classroom
This is a print-and-go worksheet in PDF format. This one covers the poetry, specifically, a B1 (early-intermediate level) adapted version of Langston Hughes’ poem, I, Too.
It is designed to meet the needs of grades 7-12 ESL students; however, it can be used with any struggling reader.
You can even use the vocaroo website that was mentioned earlier to have your students read this poem back and post their own QR codes of their own audio readings.
Want More Like This?
I also have the original plus levels A1-B2 adapted versions of this activity. In my TPT store, they are called I, Too Leveled Poetry Pack
The full set of leveled poetry includes so much more. It includes:
- 5 leveled versions of “I, Too”:
- A1 Beginner
- A2 High Beginner
- B1 Intermediate
- B2 High Intermediate
- Full Text (Original Poem)
- 5 MP3 audio recordings (one per level)
- Google Slides version with embedded audio
- PowerPoint version with embedded audio
- Printable PDFs (color + black & white)
- QR codes for optional listening access
- Complete teacher answer keys
Final Thoughts
Finding meaningful listening activities for ESL students shouldn’t be stressful or time-consuming. This printable B1 worksheet with QR code audio is an easy way to support fluency, comprehension, and confidence—without the tech headache. It’s low-prep, high-impact, and designed to meet your students exactly where they are.
If you’re looking for a quick win in your classroom, I hope this free resource becomes a go-to. Try it out, and if it works well for your students, consider sharing it with your ESL colleagues who might need something simple and effective too.
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