VOA · Ask a Teacher
Beginner · A2learner speed4:092025-01-13public domain
In Ask a Teacher, real learner questions about English grammar and usage get short, clear answers. Episodes are only a few minutes long and use simple classroom English — a gentle entry point if you are new to dictation practice.
Hit "Start dictation practice" — all 4 minutes are already sliced into sentences, so practice starts immediately. No wait.
Replay each sentence as many times as you need — beginner episodes use short sentences and simple vocabulary.
Switch to Dictation mode, type each sentence, and get a word-by-word diff with your accuracy score.
01This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Kristina in Poland.
02Here is Kristina's question.
03Dear Teacher, I would like to know of different ways to use words such as apply and application for getting jobs or other purposes.
04Thank you.
05Kristina I'm happy to answer this question, Kristina.
06The word apply is a verb and the word application is a noun.
07We can use both words when discussing the process of looking for a job.
08We say we apply for a job when we go through the official process of asking an employer for work.
09To do this, we usually have to complete a job application.
10The application is a form, either online or on paper, that gives the employer information about the person applying for the job.
11We commonly use the phrasal verb fill out to express the act of completing an application.
12Consider the following examples.
13You must fill out this application first.
14You must fill out this application first.
15Did you fill out the application?
16While we say apply for when trying to get a job, we say apply to when we are trying to get accepted into a school or other program, as in the following example.
17She applied to three medical schools in California.
18However, we say apply for when we are trying to get financial aid or special awards.
19The expression apply to also has another meaning.
20It can mean that something relates to something else, or that something is true for all people or things.
21Listen to the following examples.
22The new rule only applies to people who work more than 40 hours each week.
23The right of freedom of speech should apply to all citizens.
24The word application has other meanings besides a form people fill out.
25Among these is a computer program that does a specific task or kind of work.
26From this meaning, we get the term apps, which we use in our smartphones and computers.
27There also is another expression with the verb apply.
28If you apply yourself, that means that you are working hard over a period of time to complete a project or develop a skill.
29For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English?
30Are you applying yourself to your study of English?
31We want to hear from you.
32Send us an email at learningenglish at voanews.com.
33And please let us know where you are from, too.
34And that's Ask a Teacher.
35I'm Andrew Smith.
36I'm Andrew Smith.
37I'm Andrew Smith.
38I'm Andrew Smith.
39I'm Andrew Smith.
40I'm Andrew Smith.
41I'm Andrew Smith.
42I'm Andrew Smith.
43I'm Andrew Smith.
44I'm Andrew Smith.
45I'm Andrew Smith.
46I'm Andrew Smith.
// transcribed with Whisper AI — reading it is easy; catching it by ear is the skill
Practice it by ear
