Read and Listen at the Same Time to Improve English
When you read and listen at the same time, you follow the words on the page while a narrator reads them aloud. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve your English: you hear how every word is pronounced, you keep moving through the story, and your listening gets better without extra study time.
In this guide you’ll find out why it works, what audiobooks with text are, how to read along on your phone or computer, three ways to practise, and which books to start with at your level, from A1 to B2.
Jump to: Why it works · Audiobooks with text · How to read along · Books by level · Three ways to practise · FAQ
Why read and listen at the same time?
- You connect spelling and sound. English spelling and pronunciation often don’t match. Seeing and hearing a word together fixes both in your memory.
- You keep going. The narrator sets the pace, so you don’t stop at every new word. You learn to understand from context.
- You hear stress and intonation. A good narrator shows you which words are important and how questions, surprise and humour sound.
- You concentrate better. With two senses on the same text, it’s harder for your mind to wander.
- Your listening improves. After a few chapters, try listening without the text. You’ll understand more than you expect.
What are audiobooks with text?
Audiobooks with text (also called read-along audiobooks) let you see the words on screen while you listen, a bit like subtitles for a book. Most audiobooks don’t include the text: an audiobook is usually audio only, and the ebook is a separate purchase.
Every book in our graded readers for English learners is an English audiobook with text: narrated in British English, with the full text on screen as you listen, at no extra cost. They are written at your level, from A1 to B2, so you can read and listen at the same time without getting lost.
How to read along on Digitalbook
- Open a book on digitalbook.io or in the Digitalbook app. Every book has a free sample, and The Blue Suitcase (A2) is free from start to finish.
- Press Play to start the narration.
- Tap the read-along icon (an open book) on the chapter, and the text appears on screen. The sentence being read is highlighted as you listen.
- Pause or replay any sentence you missed, and switch between listening, reading and both whenever you like.
In the app: tap the read-along icon on the chapter, and the sentence being read is highlighted as you listen.
It works the same on your phone and on a computer, so you can listen on the bus and read along at home.
On a computer, the sentence being read is highlighted as you listen.
English audiobooks with text at your level
Choose a book where you know almost every word on the page. These are a good place to start, one for each level:
Nobody Saw the Cake
You Should Tell Her
The Blue Suitcase
Diwali in the Rain
Every Knot a Memory
See all our graded readers by level, or start with short stories for English learners: about 13 minutes each, so you can finish one in a single sitting.
Three ways to read and listen to improve your English
1. Read and listen at the same time
Follow the text while the narrator reads. You don’t stop to understand every word; you continue at the narrator’s speed and get used to natural, continuous speech. This is the best method for fluency, and for noticing stress and intonation. You can always pause or rewind.
2. Listen first, then read
Listen to a chapter without the text, to train your ear and test your understanding. Then read it (or read along) to check what you missed. Read a few sentences aloud to practise your pronunciation.
3. Read first, then listen
Read the chapter at your own pace, looking up the words you need. Then listen to the same chapter and try to get the same meaning from the audio as you did from the text. This method suits learners who like to understand every sentence.
Try all three and mix them: for example, read along with chapter one, then listen only to chapter two.
Reading and listening on Kindle
If you use a Kindle, Amazon’s Whispersync for Voice links a Kindle ebook with its Audible audiobook, so the text is highlighted as the narration plays. You need to own both versions, and they usually cost more than a graded reader. For more, see how to listen to audiobooks on your Kindle.
Digitalbook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
Free classics to read and listen to (B2 and above)
Want to try classic literature? These free classic audiobooks have a free ebook of the same book, so you can open the ebook next to the audio and read and listen at the same time. They are the original texts, written for native speakers, so most suit B2 learners and above (levels are approximate). For more, see our free audiobooks for English learners and the top 100 free audiobooks in English.
Frequently asked questions
Is it good to read and listen at the same time?
Yes. Reading while listening connects spelling with pronunciation, keeps you moving through the text at a natural speed, and trains your ear. Many learners find it easier to concentrate, too. Start with a book at your level, so that you know almost every word on the page.
Do audiobooks come with text?
Usually not: most audiobooks are audio only, and the ebook is sold separately. Digitalbook’s graded readers are an exception: every one is an audiobook with the full text on screen as you listen.
Where can I find English audiobooks with text?
Digitalbook’s graded readers for English learners are English audiobooks with text, from A1 to B2, narrated in British English. Prices start at $0.99, and The Blue Suitcase (A2) is free. For classic literature, you can open a free ebook next to its free audiobook.
Can I read along on my phone?
Yes. Read-along works in the Digitalbook app and in the browser on your phone or computer: press Play, then tap the read-along icon on the chapter to see the text on screen, with the sentence being read highlighted.
Does Audible have subtitles?
Not on its own. If you own both the Kindle ebook and the Audible audiobook, Whispersync for Voice highlights the text as you listen. Digitalbook’s graded readers include the text with the audiobook.
Which level should I start with?
Choose the level where you understand almost every word. Most adult learners start at A2 or B1. If you’re not sure, start with a short story at A2 and move up when it feels easy.
Short Stories for English Learners: 17 Easy Beginner Reads
Easy short stories for English learners: love stories, mysteries and ghost stories for adult beginners (A2), with audio. From $0.99.
Graded Readers for English Learners: Read and Listen at Your Level
What graded readers are, how to choose your level, and our 25 original graded readers and short stories, A1 to B2+, to listen and read. Prices from $0.99.
Free Audiobooks for English Learners
Free audiobooks for English learners — tips to improve your listening skills, plus eleven classics to start with, from The Wind in the Willows to Dracula.