1. Skills
  2. Listening
  3. A1 listening
  4. A good night's sleep

A good night's sleep

A young man sleeping in bed

Listen to the radio interview and do the exercises to practise and improve your listening skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise before you listen. Then do the other exercises to check your understanding.

Preparation

Audio file

Transcript

Host: At exam time it is important to sleep well. Today we have Doctor Baker with us in the studio and he is going to give us five top tips for getting a good night’s sleep. Welcome to the show, Doctor Baker. 

Dr Baker: Thank you. It’s great to be here. Let’s start with tip one. Don’t go to bed with the television on. Some people think they can sleep well with the TV on, but the noise and lights mean you don’t really sleep well, so turn it off!

Tip two: Don’t think too much before bedtime. Do your hardest homework earlier in the evening. Do easier homework later. If your brain is too busy and full of ideas it takes longer to get to sleep.

Tip three: Don’t play video games for an hour before you go to sleep. They also make your brain too busy and active. 

Tip four: Turn off your cell phone when you go to bed. What is so important that it can’t wait until the morning? If possible, leave your phone in another room. 

Tip five: Play music if you like. But don’t play it too loud. Turn the sound down low.

Host: Thank you, Doctor. That is very useful advice for our young listeners.

Worksheets and downloads

A good night's sleep - exercises260.98 KB
A good night's sleep - answers238.29 KB
A good night's sleep - transcript238.71 KB
Discussion

Do you sleep well? How many hours do you sleep a night?

Language level
A1 Elementary
Topics
sleep
study skills
health
Average: 3.9 (85 votes)
Personal online tutoring
EnglishScore Tutors is the British Council’s one-to-one tutoring platform for 13- to 17-year-olds.
Find out more

Comments

Submitted by Mughal on Mon, 06/25/2018 - 13:38

please teach me about what does it mean "It's great to be here". Dr Baker said in the studio.
Profile picture for user Jonathan - Coordinator

Submitted by Jonathan - Coo… on Tue, 06/26/2018 - 03:18

Hi Mughal! This is a phrase commonly used by a guest on a show or television programme. When the presenter introduces the guest or says 'Welcome', the guest can reply 'It's great to be here' (= I am happy to be here / I am happy to be here on this show). Does that help? :)

Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team) 

Submitted by Emy99 on Mon, 05/28/2018 - 20:19

why is the audio file not playing?
Profile picture for user Jonathan - Coordinator

Submitted by Jonathan - Coo… on Tue, 05/29/2018 - 02:49

Hi Emy99. I've just tested it, and it seems to be working fine for me. Can you tell us which browser you are using (e.g. Chrome, Safari)?

If it doesn't play for you, here are some things you can try.

  • Download the mp3 using the link.
  • Try using a different web browser.
  • Try using a different computer/phone to check if it works there.

Let us know how it goes :)

Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)

Submitted by Vantuongle on Wed, 05/02/2018 - 08:33

I don't sleep well because i have usually thinking about something when i let back, I know its bad habbit, i am tring to give that up. The lessen so good. Thanks,

Submitted by felixminecraft on Wed, 04/25/2018 - 17:07

This lesson was very good bye bye
Profile picture for user SLMT

Submitted by SLMT on Thu, 04/05/2018 - 13:40

I am a good sleeper.I can sleep everywhere.Even the place is changed,I can sleep as soon as I touch my pillow.That may be God’s best gift for me. I always sleep around 11 o’clock and get up at 6 AM.My sleeping time is only 7 hours.That May be the reason why I always doze off on my way to home from work.
Profile picture for user alc_inf

Submitted by alc_inf on Mon, 03/19/2018 - 02:58

This is very important. Sleeps good it's a good next day. Thank's.

Submitted by Vuive on Mon, 03/12/2018 - 10:21

Hello, this is really useful advice for all. I usually sleep very good, about 7 or 8 hours. Thanks advance for there 5 tips for a good sleep.

Submitted by Laury on Mon, 03/12/2018 - 09:01

I like sleeping, I'm always looking forward to my dreams. I sleep 11-12 hours per day, is that good?

Submitted by djoweken on Mon, 02/26/2018 - 20:17

during the time school, i usually sleep 5 or 6 hours. My bedtime is almost normaly. When holidays arrive, i change radically my way to sleep. Sometime i cant sleeping at 4 am and Wake up at 5p.m. i know that's bad but from now on i try to keep the same bedtime school. I hope!
Profile picture for user Jonathan - Coordinator

Submitted by Jonathan - Coo… on Tue, 02/27/2018 - 02:41

Hi djoweken. I think that's a good idea. A steady routine can help you to plan your day and use the time well. Good luck :)

Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)

Profile picture for user Scorpion7

Submitted by Scorpion7 on Tue, 02/20/2018 - 18:03

I usually sleep early for week days but I don´t want to wake up, and in weekend days I sleep late but I get up earlier, that's ironic.☺

Submitted by tyulegeneva on Mon, 02/19/2018 - 15:15

Hello everybody. I sleep badly because I go to bed at 1-2am and wake up at 6:30 am.

Submitted by gvantsa1003 on Fri, 02/16/2018 - 11:54

Hi everyone, It's my first comment here :) I don't sleep very well and that's why I am always tired in the morning. My main problem is sleeping with phone. I can't turn off phone and then go to bed. So my daily sleep-time is 6-7 hours and that's not enough for me.
Profile picture for user JoEditor

Submitted by JoEditor on Fri, 02/16/2018 - 14:58

Hi gvantsa,
Welcome to LearnEnglish Teens! Why can't you leave your phone in another room when you go to bed? It's not a good idea to sleep with your phone next to you. :) Sleep is really important so if your phone is stopping you getting enough sleep try not having it near you at bedtime. Good luck! 
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team) 

Submitted by NinjaStudent121 on Sun, 01/28/2018 - 10:57

I sleep very well beacause I'm a student, and my school is near my house
English courses near you