Sproochentest listening (B1): the three recordings and how to practise

Thirty-five minutes, three recordings and multiple-choice questions on a tablet: how the listening part of the Sproochentest works, why it can rescue your speaking score, and how to train your ear with real Luxembourgish from the LOD dictionary.

Updated · 5 min read

Luxembourg City: the Kirchberg plateau seen from the old fortifications
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.

The listening part is the half of the Sproochentest people prepare least — and it is the one that can save the day. It is tested at level B1, one level above the speaking part (A2), and it is pure comprehension: no speaking, no writing, no reading of long texts. Everything below about the exam comes from the INL's Sproochentest page and the nationality law; every Luxembourgish sentence is an example from the Lëtzebuerger Online Dictionnaire (LOD) with its native recording.

In short: 35 minutes, three recordings — a radio-style message, an everyday conversation, and an exchange or presentation on a specific subject — and multiple-choice questions on a tablet. It takes place on the same half-day as the speaking part (INL).

Why listening matters for your result

Under Article 15 of the nationality law you pass with half the points in speaking — or, if speaking falls short, when the average of both parts, rounded up, reaches half the points. A good listening score can therefore make up for a nervous ten minutes of speaking. It is the easier part to train alone, too: all you need is recordings and time.

The three kinds of recording

1. A radio-style message

An announcement or a short news item: who, what, when, where, how much. Listen for numbers, times, days and places — they are what the questions ask about. LOD has sentences that sound exactly like this:

Wärend de Feierdeeg ginn extra Zich agesat.

Literally: Extra trains are put on over the holidays.

Meaning: ginn … agesat — the passive with ginn: typical of announcements.

D'Gripp gräift dëst Joer scho fréi ëm sech.

Literally: The flu is spreading early this year.

D'Renovatiounsaarbechte kaschten ëm déi 50.000 Euro.

Literally: The renovation work costs around 50,000 euros.

Meaning: ëm déi = around, about — listen for it before numbers. kaschten = to cost.

Eise Buttek huet sonndes vun aacht bis zwielef Auer op.

Literally: Our shop is open on Sundays from eight to twelve.

2. An everyday conversation

Two people making plans, asking for something, solving a small problem. Listen for who wants what and what they decide. The questions are usually about the outcome, not every word. Know the question words and the short pronouns — *hu mer, gi se, bass de* (pronouns).

Gees de muer den Owend mat an de Kino?

Literally: Are you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow evening?

Riffs de vun doheem aus un oder bass de ënnerwee?

Literally: Are you calling from home, or are you out?

Hutt Dir d'Rechnung scho kritt?

Literally: Have you received the bill yet?

Wéi vill Auer hu mer? Wéi vill Auer ass et?

Literally: What time is it? (two ways to ask)

Meaning: hu mer — *hunn mir* in fast speech. If you only know the long forms, you won't hear it.

3. An exchange or presentation on a subject

Someone explains a topic or two people discuss it: a local event, a service, a change. Listen for opinions and reasons — *well* (because), *mee* (but), *ech mengen, datt…* — and remember that after *datt* and *well* the verb often comes at the very end (word order).

Vill Leit wunnen um Land a fueren all Dag an d'Stad schaffen.

Literally: Many people live in the country and go into town to work every day.

Wéinst den héije Präisser ass et haut schwéier, eng Wunneng ze fannen.

Literally: Because of the high prices it's hard to find a flat these days.

Et nervt, datt alles esou deier ass.

Literally: It's annoying that everything is so expensive.

Meaning: Opinion + datt + verb at the end.

What makes Luxembourgish hard to hear

  • Swallowed n's. *gi, hu, si, ka* instead of *ginn, hunn, sinn, kann* — the n-rule.
  • Short pronouns. *mer, der, se, en, et, de* — see personal pronouns.
  • The verb at the end. In a long sentence the key verb arrives last; keep listening (word order).
  • Negation. One small net or keen flips the meaning of the answer — see negation.
  • French words with Luxembourgish sounds. *Rendez-vous, Ordonnance, Supermarché* — useful if you know French, confusing if you don't. Our pronunciation guide has the sounds.

A daily listening routine

  1. Ten minutes of short recordings. LOD's example sentences are perfect: native speakers, natural speed, one sentence at a time. Every sentence on this page and in our grammar guides plays one.
  2. Listen first, read second. Play a line, say what you understood, then check the text — not the other way round.
  3. Write down numbers and times you hear. Prices, dates, opening hours: that is where marks are lost.
  4. Then something longer. Luxembourgish radio and TV (for example RTL) for five minutes: you are training your ear to keep up, not to understand every word.
  5. Do the INL listening sample with its answer sheet and key — INL Sproochentest page — once at the start and once two weeks before the exam.
  6. Talk about what you heard with someone who speaks Luxembourgish. A native teacher on Edluxio can read you short texts and ask you questions on them — book a trial lesson; if the first one isn't right for you, it is refunded in full.

In the exam: read the questions before each recording starts, so you know what to listen for. Don't get stuck on a word you missed — the next sentence often repeats the idea.

Train your ear with native recordings

16Word's Luxembourgish sentences, dialogues and travel lines come with native LOD recordings — type what you hear, 16 at a time. The Sproochentest path covers the exam's everyday topics. Free to start.

Keep learning

Questions about the Sproochentest listening part

How long is the Sproochentest listening part?

35 minutes. You hear three recordings and answer multiple-choice questions on a tablet.

What level is the Sproochentest listening part?

B1 — one level above the speaking part, which is A2.

Can the listening part make up for a weak speaking part?

Yes. If you have less than half the points in speaking, you still pass when the average of speaking and listening, rounded up, reaches half the points (Article 15 of the nationality law).

What kinds of recordings are in the listening part?

A radio-style message, an everyday conversation, and an exchange or presentation on a specific subject.

How can I practise Sproochentest listening?

With short native recordings every day (LOD's example sentences), the INL's listening sample with its answer key, and a few minutes of Luxembourgish radio. Note numbers, times and places as you listen.

Official sources

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