About this podcast
Learn and practise useful English with clips from programmes around the BBC.
Each week, we talk about an interesting topic and learn helpful words and phrases used in natural spoken English - all in 6 minutes!
Practise your listening and hear natural spoken English.
Find more at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
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Episodes
The newest 50 of 349 episodes
- Learning from different generations · 7 minWhen you were younger, did you have a special bond with your grandparents? Many of us develop particularly close attachments with older family members, but did you know that this…
- Could vaccines cure cancer? · 7 minWhen was the last time you had a vaccination, and what was it for? Many of us get vaccinations when we are children or when we go travelling, but did you know that scientists…
- Is aircon the answer to a heating world? · 6 minDo you ever feel it is too hot to sleep? With climate change gradually increasing world temperatures, people across the world are becoming increasingly affected by hot weather…
- What should you eat for a better night’s sleep? · 7 minHave you ever had the feeling of lying awake at night, unable to get to sleep? Many of us know what it is like to struggle with sleep, especially if we have drunk too much tea or…
- Why has gold got so expensive? · 7 minMany of us own jewellery or other items that are gold coloured, but do you own anything that is made from real gold? Gold is a precious metal, which means that there is a limited…
- Are people drinking less alcohol? · 7 minIn recent generations many people have chosen to stop drinking alcohol. Surveys from the UK suggest that 16 to 24-year-olds are more likely to be non-drinkers than the older…
- Why does heartbreak hurt so much? · 7 minAnyone who has had their heart broken will know how horrible it feels. But did you know that the pain you feel is not just imaginary – it registers in the same part of the brain…
- Why do we itch? · 6 minFeeling itchy is unpleasant, and the feeling of finally scratching that itch can be very satisfying! But why do we feel itchy in the first place? And is it possible to catch an…
- Is rejection good for us? · 6 minHow would you feel about going up to a stranger on the street and asking them for a cheeky favour? If the idea makes you nervous, then don't worry – you are not alone! But…
- Can apps teach you a language? · 7 minHave you ever used Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu or perhaps another language-learning app? How did you get on? Some people love the convenience of these apps – you can learn on the go…
- Climate change and extreme weather · 7 minEvery year we see damage, death and destruction caused by hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons - tropical storms. Is climate change making this impact worse? Climate change may be…
- How do we describe smells? · 7 minWhat is the worst smell in the world? And what is the best smell? Are there any smells that you like, but that your friends or family hate? Smells are all around us all the time…
- Sharing the road with driverless cars · 7 minImagine crossing a road and turning to see a car heading towards you... without a driver! While this might seem scary, driverless cars are already operating safely in many cities…
- Who does the housework? · 7 minUnloading the dishwasher, mopping the floor, cleaning the loo... what is your most hated household chore? We all know there are jobs around the house which have to be done…
- How do climate scientists make predictions? · 7 minAcross the world, climate change is already beginning to change the way we live our lives. But how big will that change be and what kinds of change will occur? These are the…
- The Enhanced Games · 7 minWhat would the world of athletics look like if athletes were allowed to take drugs? Pippa and Neil discuss the Enhanced Games. Learn English from authentic BBC programme clips…
- Children in warzones · 7 minThe most recent figure from 2024 says that 520 million children are living in conflict zones. That's about one in every five children worldwide. Some of the discussions in this…
- What's in a footballer's brain? · 6 minFootball players are faster than ever before. But in a game where every tiny decision counts, elite clubs are turning to neuroscience to understand how players can think, decide…
- Should we cycle more? · 6 minWhen did you learn to ride a bike? Perhaps you learnt as a child and have not cycled for a long time. Well don't worry, you can pick it up again quickly – it's just like riding a…
- Rude emails · 7 minWhat is the rudest email you have ever received? We all deal with emails on a daily basis, but sometimes people can write them too quickly, without thinking enough about how it…
- Stress-free family meals · 7 minAre you a fussy eater? Many of us remember foods that we used to hate as children – some of us still do hate those foods! But what can parents do to help encourage their children…
- Limiting screen time for children · 7 minMany parents worry that their children spend too much time on screens. Governments around the world, such as in the UK, Australia and China, are introducing online safety…
- How advertisers make us spend money · 7 minWhat was the last thing you bought? And can you remember why you bought that particular thing, rather than something else? We all like to think we make rational, independent…
- The power of poetry · 7 minDo you like to read poetry? When was the last time you heard someone recite a poem? Some people may just think of poetry as something they studied at school, but for many people…
- Living with debt · 7 minMany people have to borrow money to make big purchases, like buying a house or a car. When you do this, you have to pay the money back over time – the money you owe is a debt…
- Making cities feel quieter · 7 minWhat do you prefer – the sounds of birdsong and wind rustling in the trees, or the hum of traffic and chatter of people passing by? Some people like the quiet of the countryside…
- How reading shapes your brain · 7 minDo you remember what it was like before you learnt to read? It's hard to think back that far! Scientific research has shown that learning to read changes the way our brains work…
- Searching for life on another planet · 7 minWill we ever be able to live on a planet that isn't Earth? A science and space journalist explainss the latest research and data collected from planet TRAPPIST-1e. Neil and Becca…
- Should we eat ultra-processed food? · 7 minWhat is your ultra-processed guilty pleasure? Many of us love home-cooked food, but when we're in a rush, it's often more convenient to eat snacks, or to buy quick, easy meals…
- Why are we all so stressed? · 7 minWorrying about exams, work or climate change in the news. It's no wonder modern life is stressful. Becca and Neil hear from a presenter and psychologist about managing stress…
- Love the foods you hate · 7 minAre there some foods that you just hate? Have you ever hated a food in the past but started liking it? We hear from a food expert and a dietitian about why there are some foods…
- The future of food · 7 minMany of us are trying to be more careful with our food choices, both for our personal health and for the health of the planet in general. But did you know that the food we buy is…
- Are saunas good for you? · 7 minHow do you feel about being in a small room heated to a temperature of 80°C? Believe it or not, some people love it! There might be some health benefits to this hot habit too!…
- Weight loss drugs · 7 minWeight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are modified versions of natural hormones which make us feel full when released into the body. Prof Giles Yeo explains how the drugs…
- How do we adapt to the cold? · 7 minWhere is the coldest place you have ever been? Did you enjoy the experience? Some people don't seem to mind the cold, whereas other people seem to feel it much more strongly and…
- Should we pay more for chocolate? · 6 minHow often do you eat chocolate? It's one of the most loved sweet treats in Europe, but a new EU law could make chocolate more expensive. A business owner, who has small cocoa…
- Why are some animals black and white? · 7 minHow many animals can you think of that are black and white? Zebras, penguins, orcas, snow leopards… there are loads! But have you ever wondered why these animals have developed…
- The power of pepper · 7 minHow often do you use pepper? It's one of the most common spices to add to food, so common in fact that many of us don't just use it when cooking, but also place it on our dinner…
- Dreaming of being a chef · 7 minWhat did you have for dinner last night? And did you cook it yourself? Many people cook at home regularly, for themselves and for others, but have you ever thought about cooking…
- Artistic swimming · 7 minHow long can you hold your breath underwater? And what about if you were doing a gymnastic and dance routine as well...? Artistic swimming, which used to be known as synchronised…
- Rethinking dyslexia · 7 minDyslexia is a condition which makes it difficult for people to read, write and spell. But, can the ability to process information differently actually be an advantage? And why do…
- Why are billionaires building bunkers? · 7 minPeople around the world have been preparing for what they believe will be a major world disaster in the near future. Now, some tech billionaires are joining the trend by building…
- Scared to speak English? · 7 minDo you ever feel scared to speak in English? Lots of people find speaking a different language stressful. Beth and Pippa talk about learning languages and how to fight your fears…
- What English phrases really mean · 7 minWe've all been there – we're talking to someone and they say one thing, when we know they mean something else! British people love to play with language, using it deliberately to…
- Is social media dead? · 7 minWhat is your favourite social media platform? Do you still use it as much as you did three or four years ago? With the rise of generative AI, many social media users are finding…
- Is it OK to disagree? · 7 minAre we becoming a divided society? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at…
- Was Christmas better in the past? · 7 minIt's Christmas time in the UK. And like with celebrations around the world, people have lots of traditions that they do every year, and memories about Christmas from their…
- Finding and eating wild food · 7 minWhere do you get your fruit and vegetables – a supermarket, a greengrocer... or the wild? For our distant ancestors, foraging for wild food was vital for survival, while these…
- How are horses helping to heal humans? · 7 minHorses and humans have had a close relationship for thousands of years, but did you know that horses, along with other animals, are being used to help with physical and mental…
- What’s your favourite flavour of crisp? · 7 minYou might know them as potato chips, but here in the UK we call them crisps... and we love them! With many different shapes, sizes and flavours, there's a lot to choose from, but…
