Learned to repeat after listening first (8)
I believe the answer is:
literate
'learned' is the definition.
(able to read and write)
'repeat after listening first' is the wordplay.
'repeat' becomes 'iterate' (synonyms).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'listening first' becomes 'l' (1st letter of 'listening').
'iterate' put after 'l' is 'LITERATE'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for literate that I've seen before include "Relate it, being well read" , "Able to read and write" , "well expressed" , "properly educated" , "Well versed in books" .)