Practising English
by M. A. Bilbrough
Latest episode
335. Adventure of the Windmills (B1 story)
335. Adventure of the Windmills (B1 story)
About this podcast
Listening practice for learners of B1 intermediate and B2 upper-intermediate levels of British English. Learn British English by listening to stories. Original and exciting stories written for learners and students of British English. Practise and prepare for Cambridge: B1 PET Preliminary and FCE First Certificate exams. IELTS: level 4, level 5 and level 6. Includes English grammar explanations and practice exercises, examples of vocabulary use, phrasal verbs and collocations help, British English pronunciation practice, advice and help for passing B1 and B2 English examinations: Cambridge, IELTS and Trinity. Start practising and improving your British English listening, vocabulary and speaking levels today!
Episodes
The newest 50 of 343 episodes
- 335. Adventure of the Windmills (B1 story) · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 335Don Quixote was riding his old, thin horse named Rocinante. He believed he was a brave knight searching for adventure... My B1-level extract from Cervantes' Don Quixote. Read the…
- B1 grammar practice - do for emphasis · 10 minWe are going to practise the use of the auxiliary verb 'do' for emphasis. In this first section, we are going to practise using DO, DOES, or DID WHEN WE WANT TO EMPHASISE AN…
- B2 grammar practice - neither and nor · 11 minToday, we are going to practise the use of NEITHER / NOR. Example: I don't speak French. I don't speak German. Answer: I speak neither French nor German. I also have another full…
- 334. Araby (B2 story) · 25 min · Season 6 Episode 334B2-level extract from James Joyce's Araby (a short story from the book "The Dubliners". You can see the full transcript here: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-334.htm…
- B1 grammar practice - repeated comparatives, so much · 12 minToday, in this B1 practice, we are going to practise repeated comparatives, including two comparatives in a sentence, and use 'so much' as an intensifier. For more help on…
- B2 grammar practice - enough, rather a, by far · 13 minToday, we are going to practise some key words that will help you to raise your level from B1 to B2. We are going to practise the use of 'enough', 'rather a', and 'by far'. For…
- 333. Treasure Island (chapter 20) B1 story · 27 min · Season 6 Episode 333This is my last chapter of the B1-level Treasure Island story. You can read the transcript here: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-333.htm These are the B1 phrases we…
- B1 grammar practice - present perfect continuous -still, yet, already · 12 minPractise of Present Perfect Continuous, still, yet, already and for and since. You will hear two short sentences describing an action that started in the past and is still…
- B2 grammar practice - passive causative · 14 minToday's grammar practice for learners of B2 English is about the passive causative e.g. "I had my house painted", and "I got my hair cut". We'll also look at the passive…
- 332. The New Accelerator (B2 story) · 31 min · Season 6 Episode 332This is a B2 story with B2 vocabulary. Here is what we'll study: You can read the full transcript of the story at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-332.htm 1)…
- B1 grammar practice - present perfect, since, for, ever · 13 minThis is the first of my weekly B1 grammar practice podcasts. Today, you can practise present perfect simple and the use of "for" and "since" and the structure "the most beautiful…
- B2 grammar practice - active to passive voice · 11 minThis is the first in my series of weekly B2 grammar practice sessions. Ten minutes of listening and repeating B2-level grammar structures so that you perfect your B2 grammar in…
- 331. Treasure Island (chapter 19) B1 story · 23 min · Season 6 Episode 331Today, for my B1 recording of chapter 19 of Treasure Island, there are three comprehension questions. Read these before you start listening: 1. Why did Doctor Livesey give Long…
- 330. The Great Gatsby (B2-level extract) · 31 min · Season 6 Episode 330These are the B2 words and phrases I'll be explaining today: You can see the transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-330.htm 1) From time to time Definition…
- 329. Treasure Island (chapter 18) B1 story · 23 min · Season 6 Episode 329These are the B1 phrases we'll be studying today: You can find the transcript here: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-329.htm 1. Refuse Definition: To say that you will…
- 328. Jeeves and the hard-boiled egg (B2 level story) · 30 min · Season 6 Episode 328Here are the B2 phrases we'll be talking about today: See transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-328.htm 1. stand up for Definition: To defend or support…
- 327. Treasure Island (chapter 17) B1 story · 26 min · Season 6 Episode 327Here are the phrases we will study in this B1 story: To see the full transcript with the B1 words: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-327.htm hand something over…
- 326. Dracula (extract 2) B2 story · 31 min · Season 6 Episode 326The B2 phrases we'll be studying are: Transcript available at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-326.htm 1. Bizarre situation Definition: A very strange or unusual…
- 325. Treasure Island (chapter 16) B1 Story · 27 min · Season 6 Episode 325I'm back from my holiday. It's a new season! My sixth year with Practising English Podcasts. There'll be new things this season, which I'll let you know about soon. Firstly, here…
- 324. Drawing Conclusions (B2 story) summer repeat · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 324Drawing Conclusions is a mystery story about a woman who witnesses some strange things happening at the house next door. The B2 phrases analysed before the story can be found at…
- 323. Coming Home (complete version) B1 - B2 Story · 22 minThis story is the complete version of the B1, B2-level, Coming Home, first published here in 2024. Now you can enjoy the full story with vocabulary exercises below and at my…
- 322. The Harmonica Players (full version) B2 story · 34 min · Season 5 Episode 322This is the complete version of the B2-level story, The Harmonica Players. I include here for you a B2 vocabulary list of words and expressions to listen for in the story…
- 321. The Visitors (full version) B2 story · 29 min · Season 5 Episode 321Comprension questions and vocabulary tasks At my website, you can also find B1 and B2 vocabulary tasks to do for this story: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-321.htm…
- 320. Bully! (B1 short story) · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 320Hello, and welcome to Practising English! Mike Bilbrough is on his summer holiday, so we'd like to offer a B1 story recorded way back in 2022. It's called Bully, and it's taken…
- 319. The Hole (complete story) B2 level · 16 min · Season 5 Episode 319Mike Bilbrough is taking his summer holiday at the moment. Meanwhile, we'd like to offer you a story recorded last year in two parts as one complete story for you to listen to…
- 318. Treasure Island (chapter 15) B1 story · 31 min · Season 5 Episode 318These are the B1 phrases we'll study today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-318.htm 1. Attempt Definition: To try to do something, especially something difficult. (Can…
- 317. Dracula (extract 1) B2 story · 34 min · Season 5 Episode 317The B2 phrases we'll be studying are: Full story transcipt: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-317.htm on behalf of Definition: Instead of someone else, or representing…
- 316. Treasure Island (chapter 14) B1 story · 31 min · Season 5 Episode 316Here are the words and expressions we''l study today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-316.htm 1) to handle Definition: To deal with a situation, a person, or a problem…
- 315. The Importance of Being Earnest 2 (B2 level) · 31 min · Season 5 Episode 315Here are the B2 phrases we'll be studying today: 1) far too many/much/few etc. There are far too many games in this new 48-team tournament, and our players look absolutely…
- 314. Treasure Island (chapter 13) B1 story · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 314These are the B1 phrases we'll be studying today! See full story audioscript here with B1 words highlighted: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-314.htm 1. Take care of…
- 313. The Importance of Being Earnest (B2 story) · 33 min · Season 5 Episode 313These are the B2 phrases I'll be studying today: (See transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-313.htm as far as sth is concerned Definition: When talking about a…
- 312. Treasure Island (chapter 12) B1 Story · 29 min · Season 5 Episode 312These are the B1 phrases we're going to study today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-312.htm 1. after a while Definition: after some time has passed Example: We talked…
- 311. The Adventure of the Western Star (part 2) B2 story · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 311These are the B2 phrasal verbs we're studying today: For full stiry transcript: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-311.htm 1. Turn up (Meaning: To arrive or appear) "We…
- 310. Treasure Island (chapter 11) B1 story · 24 min · Season 5 Episode 310These are the B1 expressions we'll study today: For full story audio script: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-310.htm 1) just in case Definition: to be prepared if…
- 309. Adventure of the Western Star (B2 story) Part 1 · 27 min · Season 5 Episode 309These are the B2 phrases we'll be studying today: For audioscript see: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-309.htm peculiar Definition: strange or unusual in a way that is…
- 308. Treasure Island - chapter 10 (B1 story) · 28 min · Season 5 Episode 308These are the B1 phrases we'll be studying today: See transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-308.htm 1) on one's own Definition: alone, without help from others…
- 307. Cowboy (B2 story) Part 2 · 29 min · Season 5 Episode 307These are the B2 expressions we're going to study today. For full transcript of the story, you can go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-307.htm 1) take the blame…
- 306. Treasure Island - chapter 9 (B1 story) · 28 min · Season 5 Episode 306These are the B1 phrases we are going to study today. To read the full transcript of the story, please go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-306.htm Non-B1 words from…
- 305. Cowboy (B2 story) Part 1 · 28 min · Season 5 Episode 305Here is the B2 vocabulary I'll be studying today. The link takes you to see the audioscript. https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-305.htm 1) Reckon Definition: To think or…
- 304. Treasure Island - chapter 8 (B1 story) · 27 min · Season 5 Episode 304These are the B1 words and expressions we'll be looking at today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-304.htm 1) Binomial pairs Neat and tidy (meaning: clean, organized)…
- 303. The Count of Monte Cristo (extract) B2 Story · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 303These are the B2 phrases we are going to study in today's podcast: thinking twice Definition: Considering a decision carefully or hesitating before doing something. Example: I…
- 302. Treasure Island - chapter 7 (B1 story) · 27 min · Season 5 Episode 302Read the audioscript: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-302.htm These are the words studied today: 1) take a good look at Definition: to look at something carefully 2)…
- 301. Anne of Green Gables (B2 story) · 28 min · Season 5 Episode 301These are the B2 words and phrases we will be studying today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-301.htm 1) scared stiff Meaning: extremely frightened; so scared you…
- 300. Treasure Island - chapter 6 (B1 story) · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 300These are the words we'll be studying in this B1 podcast today. To see the full audioscript of the story, you can go to my website at…
- 299. The man who could work miracles - part 2 (B2 story) · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 299These are the B2 words we'll study today. You can also find the story transcript with B2 words highligted at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-299.htm · in amusement She…
- 298. Treasure Island - chapter 5 (B1 story) · 24 min · Season 5 Episode 298Here is the B1 vocabulary for today's Treasure Island chapter: 1) close up 2) show somebody in 3) have one’s doubts 4) keen on / fond of 5) dislike 6) not be convinced 7) give…
- 297. The man who could work miracles - part 1 (B2 story) · 23 min · Season 5 Episode 297The vocabulary and story transcript to today's B2 story: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-297.htm 1. define It is sometimes difficult to define success, because it means…
- 296. Treasure Island - chapter 4 (B1 story) · 23 min · Season 5 Episode 296These are the words I'll be studying today: Transcript at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-296.htm treasure to sail crew sailor the docks ship telescope…
- 295. The Signalman - part 2 (B2 story) · 21 min · Season 5 Episode 295You can read the transcript here at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-295.htm The B2 words I study today are these: · without hesitation She accepted the job…
- 294. Treasure Island - chapter 3 (B1 story) · 17 min · Season 5 Episode 294These are the questions for the story today. You can see the complete audioscript for the story at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-294.htm 1) Why wouldn't…
