Practising English

B2 English podacst for learners of English. I'm continuing with the theme of polite language in English and the importance of intonation. This time we'll hear typical phrases in the restaurant used by the waiter and the responses from the customers when ordering their food. The point is though being polite is more than using polite words... Come over to Practising English, podcast 109 to...

This is a listening podcast for B2 level students of English. In today's episode, I'm going to talk about more advanced uses of auxiliaries in English such as 'do' and 'did'. They're not only used for making questions and negatives but have several other important uses too. Listen and find out! You can read the audio script with answers to the questions I ask at...

This is a special podcast I made four years ago about Easter. I'm not doing one this week because officially I'm on holiday! The podcast is for A2 and B1 students in a slow and easy to understand English for learners. The podcast talks about Easter in the UK and Seville, Spain (where I live) and makes a brief comparison between the two - lots of useful Easter vocabulary and expressions....

In this B2 level listening we'll hear examples of conversations using polite language in English. Most of this language depends on the modal auxiliaries like: would, could, can, may, and lots of please and thank yous. Enjoy these dialogues from genuine-sounding dialogues and learn how to be polite for the next time you're invited to somebody's home for a cup of tea. I invite you ove...

B1 and B2 revision English listening podcast to talk about comparatives and superlatives in English and the exceptions there are to the usual rules. For the audio script to this podcast please visit Practising English podcast 105... Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm My NEW book: " B...

Podcast for learners of English at B1 level and studying for exams like the Cambridge Preliminary . This podcast is about the words too and enough and how they are used in sentences and how the syntax depends on whether they are used with nouns, verbs or adjectives. The podcast also comes with a short funny story, which gives examples in context of the words too and enough . For a transcript of th...

Podcast and listening skills for B2-level students. Today I'm talking about intonation again. This is a follow-up of my previous podcasts on this subject. In this session, I will be discussing and giving examples of how meaning in a sentence can change if the intonation changes. You can read this podcats (recommended so you can see the examples properly) at Practising English, podcast 103......

In today's podcast, I'm going to talk about how to make deductions in English in different ways but especially with the use of the modal auxiliaries: can't, may, could, might and must . I'll give you a little audio quiz and you must deduce (or guess) what the sounds are. We'll use those modals to talk about the possibilities. To see the audio script of the podcast, come ov...

A description of the order of adjectives in English. Adjectives usually go before the noun, and if there are several of them, then they go in a certain order. In this podcast for learners of B1 level English, I explain what the adjective categories are. I will also talk about the language we use to describe holiday accommodation in English. You can find the audio script to this episode if you go t...

Hello, and today I'm particularly happy! This is podcast number one hundred! So that's one hundred free listening podcasts I've published at Practising English since July last year. Not only that, B1 and B2 learners of English have downloaded nearly thirty thousand podcasts from Practising English in just nine months! So today I'm celebrating and I would like to say thank you a...

Poscasts for B1 level learners of English with listening skills practice. Listen to and repeat model answers to the Cambridge speaking exam Part One (for adults and for schools) . I'll also help you to understand what the criteria are that the Cambridge examiners are assessing you on. Come over to Practising English to read the transcript and do more grammar exercises to help you with English...

B1 English level help for Cambridge English exam students, Today, I'm going to talk about linking words: also, as well as, too, despite, in spite of, although, though and however. I'll explain how we use them and what they mean. I'll also explain their position in the sentence. There is a Nasreddin story which follows with examples of these linking phrases for you to identify. Come...

Podcast listenings for B2 level learners of English. Today I'm continuing with the subject of intonation in English. This is an important area for students because correct intonation can transform the impression we give of our oral competence level. Good intonation provides the listener with an English which is clearly understood. Furthermore, it may often convince language examiners that our...

In this podcast, I'll talk about the words and expressions we need to go shopping for clothes. How to talk about sizes, and if clothes suit you etc. This is essential language for B1 level students of English studying for Cambridge exams or similar.  To see the audioscript, please go to Practising English... Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising Eng...

We're living in difficult times at the moment - very sad times. I'm referring to, of course, the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I'm going to talk about that today. There aren't many words from the Common European Framework of languages (CEFR) about war. But I'm going to bring some words in. The podcast, in general, is at a B2 level. So I'm going to talk about the situat...

Today I'm going to talk about towns and cities. This is a B1 session. And this vocabulary is particularly useful for people studying for B1. I will include lots of words and expressions to describe a city. In this case, Seville, which is the city where I live, there will be lots of useful expressions here for you to learn. For the transcript, please go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/po...

Podcast listening for B2 level students of English. Today, a vocabulary study of the expressions we use to talk about the different types of housework with also a discussion about the roles of men and women and household chores. For a transcript of this podcast, please visit https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-93.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Prac...

Podcast listening on the auxiliary verb used to for B1 level students of English. I'll talk about its structure and how and why we use used to . I'll give you lots of examples by talking about things I used to do when I was a child. To read the audio script on this podcast, please go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-92.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry ab...

Poscasts for learners of B2 level English. This is a follow-up of Podcast 40, where I gave an introduction to the passive. In this B2 level description of the passive, I'll go into the use of the passive in a little more detail. I'll talk about the important phrases we use to discuss what people say, think and believe - It is said that... etc. There is a story with examples of the passiv...

Essential B1 and B2 language for learnees of English - talking about the mobile phone and telephones in general. Words and expressions about the phone and a few expressions we use when we make or receive a telephone call. You can also find a link to a complete page on useful telephone phrases for receptionists. There is also a short story afterwards about a funny telephone conversation. For audio...

B2 level English for students at this level wishing to take exams or who just want to improve their general English. Today I'm talking about the use of 'will' and 'going to' when they are used for predictions. I'll talk a little about how these words have other meanings and therefore the meanings can become changed and ambiguous. We mustn't think of 'will&ap...

This session teaches students studying for B2 level English most of the words and expressions you'll need to talk about money matters. From saving money, getting an allowance from our parents (when we're at school) and words about having a bank account, loans, ATM's and buying things in the sales. For the audio script, go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-88.htm Contact...

The words that we use to express obligation are: must, have to and then similar words, not necessarily obligation, but strong advice: should and ought to . I'll talk about how we use those words and what they really mean and also when not to use them and how we can make our orders sound softer and less direct. See audio script at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-87.htm Contact Mike...

Today I'm doing a B1 level podcast about infinitives. Now, the problem with infinitives in English is that there are three of them. So, I will just briefly talk about the three types of infinitive. And the practice I'm going to do today is just on two types, and there's a shorter story afterwards to illustrate the infinitives I'm using. For the audio script, please go to: https...

This is a follow-up of Podcast 23 about holidays. It has lots of vocabulary and expressions B2 students of English must learn for passing exams at this level. This time I'm including a Hangman game for you to practise the holiday expressions. You can find the link at the end of the audio script page at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-85.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or...