Practising English

These 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 interesting or surprising. Examples: There was a peculiar smell coming from the kitchen. worrying Definition: making you feel anxious or concerned. Examples: The doctor said the test results were worrying. playing a j...

These 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 Example: ·     She lives on her own in a small flat.  2) of one's own Definition: something that belongs only to a person Example: ·     He wants a room of his own.  3) in the end Definition: finally, after...

These 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 Definition: to accept that you are responsible for something bad that happened.  I took the blame for the mistake at work. 2) make for Definition: to move in a particular direction or go toward a place.  After dinner, we...

These 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 this chapter of Treasure Island: cannibals - humans who eat the meat of other humans shipwreck - a ship which has been destroyed at sea cannon - a large gun used in ships to shoot at other ships Union Jack - the flag of th...

Here 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 believe that something is true or will happen. Example Sentence: I reckon it is going to rain this afternoon, so we should probably bring our umbrellas. 2) Head (verb) Definition: To go or move in a particular directio...

These 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) Example: She keeps her bedroom incredibly neat and tidy. Sick and tired (meaning: very annoyed/bored of something) Example: I am sick and tired of this cold weather. Short and sweet (meaning: quick but pleasant) Exampl...

These 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 saw the cat in the tree and, without thinking twice , I climbed up to save it.  lose his nerve Definition: To suddenly become afraid or lose the courage to do something intended.  Example: He wanted to go skydiving, bu...

Read 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) for sure Definition: definitely; without doubt 3) what’s on your mind Definition: what you are thinking or worrying about 4) sooner or later Definition: at some time in the future (not now, but eventually) 5) pay attention t...

These 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 cannot move Example: I was scared stiff when I heard a loud noise in the dark. 2) awkward Meaning: feeling uneasy, embarrassed, or not relaxed Example: I felt awkward when I didn’t know anyone at the party. 3) drop somebody off...

These 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:  https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-300.htm  ·  Set off – We set off early in the morning to start our trip to the mountains.   ·  Join in – Everyone was dancing, so I decided to join in and have fun.   ·  Reliable and efficient – Our new computer syste...

These 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 laughed in amusement when she saw the puppy trying to catch its own tail.   ·  boast   He likes to boast about his achievements, even when no one asks him about them.   ·  deliberately   She deliberately ignored...

Here 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 somebody a hand  The Hispaniola was waiting out at sea, not near the land but a little way out. We rowed out in a small boat among many big ships. Their ropes hung down in the water, and some...

The 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 different things to different people.   2.      an act of will   Finishing the marathon after injuring his ankle was purely an act of will.   3.      upside down   When I turned the map upside down, I finally...

These 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 crutch pirate the squire All hands on board! aye, aye, sir! a schooner Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm My N...

You 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 offer without hesitation because it matched her skills perfectly.   ·  take pride in something   He takes pride in his work and always tries to do his best, even under pressure.   ·  talk this over   Let’s talk this ov...

These 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 the people from the village help Jim and his mother? 2) How much money did Jim's mother take from the chest (box)? 3) How did the blind man and his men get into the inn? 4) What was inside the packet that Jim foun...

These are the 7 B2 words I discuss during the podcast: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-293.htm 1) rolled 2) feared 3) shade 4) dragged 5) unwilling 6) endless 7) uneasy Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm My NEW book: " B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Le...

For the full transcript of the story go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-292.htm These are the phrases I study from the B1 story today: get rid of – I want to get rid of these old clothes because I never wear them.  run (a business) – She runs a small business with her sister.  unpleasant – The weather was cold and unpleasant all day.  set the table – Can you help me set the table bef...

The second and final part of my B2-level adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat: The B2 phrases studied are: The Black Cat (B2-Level- Part 2)  ·  fall into hopeless despair   After losing his job and the apartment in the same week, he fell into hopeless despair.   ·  draw their attention to   The teacher pointed at the board to draw the students’ attention to the maths problem solution...

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. My B1-level version. Chapter 1 Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and some other gentlemen asked me to write down the whole story of Treasure Island, from the beginning to the end . I must leave out only the exact position of the island, because there is still treasure there... https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-290.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a qu...

First part of my B2 version of The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe:  For the most strange , yet also ordinary , story that I am about to write, I do not expect belief , nor do I ask for it. To tell the truth , I would be foolish to expect anyone to believe me... Read story transcript with B2 words in bold: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-289.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enq...

You can find the audioscript to the B2 story today just here: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-288.htm The Lost Ring Mary Grams, a woman from Alberta, Canada, lost her diamond engagement ring in 2004 while she was working in her garden. The ring slipped off her finger, but although she made a long search for it, in the end, she believed it had gone missing forever. Mary was very disappoin...

This is the audioscript for today's B1-level dialogue: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-287.htm That's Life! Mary: 'Morning, Anna. You don't look very well today. Are you sick ? Anna: 'Morning, Mary. Oh, yes. I feel terrible. I'm suffering from this backache and my head hurts. I think it's an illness caused by this awful, cold weather. Mary: Oh dear. I&a...

This is the audioscript for this B2 story (part 2) of The Hole: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-286.htm The Hole (Part 2) I hurriedly set up the equipment from out of my bags. 'Can I help, señor?' Pedro stepped forwards. 'Please. Undo these two ropes . One has a harness and the other is fixed to this small sack , while I set up the laptop and monitor .' I then had to...

This is the audioscript for today's B2 story: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-285.htm The Hole 'We're arriving, señor,' said the helicopter pilot. 'It's down there, by that hill. I'll land as close as I can get. Time is going to be crucial .' The helicopter dropped down vertically and bounced once before finally settling on the grassy slope . There...