Detailed attention to segmenting the stream of sound is generally better supported by allowing learners themselves individual control of recordings, unless of course the aim is to practise sound stream segmentation under tight time constraints, as in dictogloss-type exercises. Language laboratories can provide learners with individual control or learners can be given their own cassette tapes for work outside of the class. As mentioned above (see section 5.3.2), useful bottom-up tasks which learners can undertake on their own include making full or partial transcriptions and identifying words and phrases used in the recording from a variety of cues, such as simple word lists, categories or first-language translations.

Individual recordings can also be useful for independent 'background' listening. Listening to a cassette of target-language recordings while travelling or doing other activities can help build up the implicit familiarity with the sounds and rhythms of the target language (referred to as 'phonotactic knowledge' - see section 5.3.2) which allows for quicker bottom-up processing.