All of the exercises in the manual can be practised in noisy backgrounds. • You can create background noise by opening windows if there is noise outside, turning on a fan or air conditioner, or turning on the radio “off station” with static noise in the background, or to a station with music or talking. • Increase the level of the noise as you progress: • Start with the noise at a level where you are just aware of it until you can get > 90% correct on your chosen exercise. • Next, increase the noise level so that you have to really concentrate on the speaker but the speaker is still louder than the noise. Practise until you can get > 80% correct. • Increase the noise so that it is the same level as your speaker. At this level, sentence-type exercises work best. Remember to listen for meaning rather than every word.