Practising English
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
245 episodes
245. B1 Linking Words with a story
B1 Linking WordsLinking words join two sentences together. Here are the ones I mention during the podcast:A Rainy AdventureTom wanted to go hiking. The sky looked grey but he didn’t mind – no problem...
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Season 4
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Episode 245
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17:27
244. The Breath of the Mosquito (complete version) B1 Story
For health reasons, I'm afraid I cannot share a new podcast with you today. I include instead, one of my favourite stories that I wrote for students studying for B1 English level: The Breath of the Mosquito as a complete version.
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Season 4
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Episode 244
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37:18
243. B1 adjectives (short story)
Here are the B1 words we're studying today:acceptableaccurateamusingannoyedconvenientembarrassedforbiddengratefulhopelessmiserableTo see the transcript of the story:&n...
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Season 4
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Episode 243
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20:50
242. FCE Story 2 (B2)
In today's B2 FCE story, you'll be listening to this B2 vocabulary:heading for Paris his hands were trembling both thrilled and terrified himdoubting every shotgazing out of the windowan old woman wiped her ...
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Season 4
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Episode 242
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19:50
241. FCE Story (B2 )
How to write the FCE story (B2 level) for the Cambridge exam. If you're not taking this exam, this episode will be useful for learning how to express yourself at B2 level in written prose.You can see the transcript at
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Season 4
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Episode 241
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23:59
240. Tudor Conspiracy revisited B1, B2
I apologise for not bringing you a new podcast this week. I leave you with chapter 1 of the Tudor Conspiracy (from an audio book and reader I published a few years ago). Hope to be with you next week with a new podcast episode!
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Season 4
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Episode 240
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16:53
239. The Letter (B1, B2)
These are the words I discuss today. They are linking words, essential for your B1 and B2 writing papers in the Cambridge exam.MoreoverIn addition,BesidesWhat is more,Furthermore,YetTo begin with,In the sam...
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Season 4
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Episode 239
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18:51
238. If so, if not, B1 level with dialogue
How to use 'if so' and 'if not' in dialogue.A conditional clause to refer a previous direct or indirect 'yes-no' question where the answer might be ‘yes’. Do you think we could study more grammar? If so, could y...
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Season 4
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Episode 238
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14:18
237. Candle Burning - B1 short story (complete version)
These are the four comprehension questions to read before you listen to the story.1) What was the first thing Nigel did when he went into the shower?2) What did Nigel decide not to have for breakfast that day?3) Why did Nigel los...
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Season 4
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Episode 237
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28:49
236. Complex sentences B1, B2 (4 funny jokes)
Structure SummaryWould like / want / askI would like you to come to a party on SaturdayObject Clause (noun clause): you to come to a party on SaturdaySubject + verb + [object = (object pronoun + verb + more info...
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Season 4
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Episode 236
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15:47
235. Future Perfect B2 (short story)
LOOKING BACK FROM A POINT IN THE FUTURE - FUTURE PERFECTI have studied / I have been studying English for/since...(from the past to the present)Next September, I will have studied / been studying English for ten years...
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Season 4
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Episode 235
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18:31
234. B2 Time Adverbs
These are the B2 time adverbs you should learn for the speaking and writing of the Cambridge FCE exam. Listen for them in the podcast, and decide which I am referring to in the dialogue section at the end of the podcast. (B1 students also invit...
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Season 4
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Episode 234
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19:05
233. Uses of 'rather' (with dialogue)
'Rather' and its usesFORM/USE: 'RATHER THAN' + PHRASEB1Use a specialist book rather than the Internet. A book is more reliable.Take the stairs rather than the lift. It’ll keep you fitter.FORM: 'RATHER THAN' + N...
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Season 4
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Episode 233
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18:29
232. Would and used to with short story
Stative verbsThoughts and opinionsbelieveknowunderstandsupposethink(I would sit and think about her every day.)(People used to think that smoking was good for you.) ...
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Season 4
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Episode 232
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26:28
231. B1 Do for emphasis (with dialogue)
Emphasis is used with lots of auxiliary verbs:- I MUST get to the shop before it closes.- You SHOULD try and finish the painting today. I'm fed up with smelling paint all over the house.- I do like your new tie. It's so colou...
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Season 4
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Episode 231
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15:41
230. B2 story The Visitors (complete version)
The VisitorsThis is the full version of my story The Visitors recorded in October of last year. The level is B2, but my B1 students are also invited, of course! ;-) These are the comprehension questions: (the answers a...
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Season 230
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Episode 4
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28:29
229. B1 adjectives with hyphens (with dialogue)
Adjectives with hyphen at B1 levelgood-looking (only with hyphen) - attractive (for people, often men)well-known - a lot of people have heard of it and know it/him/herold-fashioned (only with hyp...
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Season 4
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Episode 229
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21:27
228. The Medical check-up (expressions for emphasis)
Words and expressions for emphasis- The reason is I like working with people, I have experience of looking after elderly people and I enjoy volunteering work. - The problem is I’m a little lazy, I am often lat...
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Season 4
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Episode 228
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11:27
227. Talking about the Future (with dialogue)
Future Forms in EnglishI'm not going to talk about future tense and predictions, but other uses of future tense.Going to and present continuous for futureGoing to – plans and intentions that we have;I'm going to pay Mum a v...
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Season 4
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Episode 227
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12:40
226. Get and verbs of movement B1, B2 and story
Now it's interesting that we use get as a verb of motion. Often, when it's difficult to actually move. Have you noticed that we say,Would you like to get into my car.Now, you go into your house, you open the door and you walk in. ...
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Season 4
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Episode 226
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17:52
225. Verbs of Movement with story (B1, B2)
Why my students say 'enter the classroom'Where there is movement, there's a preposition, and a preposition is used in the same way we use preposition of place (where things are) He ran across the street.The do...
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Season 4
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Episode 225
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18:25
224. The Londoner (B1 B2 level story)
In today's story, I'll be looking at some B2-level phrasal verbs.I explain 5 of the phrasal verbs below in the podcast: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10. You can listen to all ten of these phrasal verbs. They are in the order you'll hear them.1)...
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Season 4
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Episode 224
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19:06
223. Game Over (B1 story)
To write a successful story for the Cambridge PET exam (Preliminary English Test)Here is some of the help and advice I talk about in the podcast. I will also read you a model story.You are always given a first sentence, which you must us...
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Season 4
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Episode 223
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18:41
222. A Window on Time (complete version) B2 level
Strong B1 to B2-level story. Today, as I'm still on holiday, I'm offering you the complete version of the very popular story I published in September - A Window on Time. Read and listen to the comprehension questions before you start listening....
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Season 4
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Episode 222
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31:57