Using my small MP3 Player, I created additional electronics that would turn a switch hit into music/audio playback for 10-120 seconds. It's a simple 3 x 3 cube, rechargeable, with built-in small (but sufficient) speaker, with a removable mini-SD card for song storage. Plug a switch in (OPTIONAL), and the audio plays for your set-able amount of time, then pauses. (It goes strictly by time, not song or chapter or anything)
A 3-way switch lets you choose between Timed, Latching, or Momentary.
When presenting to learner, audio should be paused, and the first switch hit will then start the audio.
My Switch-Adapted Cause/Effect Player is innovative, to say the least, but that's why you're drawn to it in the first place.