BBC Radio

6 Minute English

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 Follow us at https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

Author

BBC Radio

Category

Education

Podcast website

www.bbc.co.uk

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

Birthday cakes 08.08.2024

How have birthday cakes changed over the years? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240808 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODC...

The science of falling in love 01.08.2024

What's really happening in our brain when we fall in love? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240801 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followu...

Why read books, not screens? 25.07.2024

Why is it better to read from a book than a screen? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240725 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningengli...

AI to reduce animal testing 18.07.2024

Could AI reduce the need for animal testing? Phil and Georgie teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240718 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://...

The school that puts the kids in charge 11.07.2024

What happens when you put the kids in charge of the school? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240704 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learn...

What can we learn from toddlers? 04.07.2024

You might think that we teach toddlers, but they can teach us as well! Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240704 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co....

How learning to read changes lives 27.06.2024

How can literacy change people's lives? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240627 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️...

Building a better world with wood? 20.06.2024

Did you know that being in nature, and building with wood, has benefits for our physical and mental health? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240620 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Vis...

How names can tell painful stories 13.06.2024

Can names be attached to painful histories? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. [Image: Getty] TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240613 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge...

Too old to have a baby? 06.06.2024

Men and women are having babies later in life. Why? And what does society think of older parents? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240530 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https:...

E-rickshaws driving away pollution 30.05.2024

Are electric rickshaws the solution to urban air pollution? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240606 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learning...

How bubble tea got its bubbles 23.05.2024

How did bubble tea get its bubbles? How was this drink invented? Neil and Beth chat about this. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240523 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc....

Can you keep a secret? 16.05.2024

Are secrets always negative? Or can they be positive too? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. [Image: Getty Images] TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240516 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co...

Bitter food, better health? 09.05.2024

Could bitter foods be better for your health? (Image: Getty Images) Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240509 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus...

Talking at the table 02.05.2024

A lot can happen at the dinner table, and not just eating! Beth and Neil discuss chatting at meal times and teach you some useful vocabulary. (Image: Getty) TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240502 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔...

Eating for two 25.04.2024

Mums-to-be often feel guilty about the food they crave in pregnancy. Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. (Image: Getty) TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240425 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ htt...

Dancing for the brain 18.04.2024

Not a dancer? You might change your mind once you hear the benefits! Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. (Image: Getty) TRANSCRIPT 
Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: 
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/6-minute-english_2023/ep-240418   FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: 
Visit our website 
✔️ https:/...

Nudges: The secrets of persuasion 11.04.2024

Are nudges good or bad? Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240411 . FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co...

Why sitting is bad for health 04.04.2024

Could sitting be damaging to our health? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240404 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? T...

Why everyone loves the underdog 28.03.2024

Could being the underdog help you succeed? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240328 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS?...

Disability in music and theatre 21.03.2024

The UK's Equality Act of 2010 guaranteed the rights of disabled people to equal access to education, employment, and services, including music, theatre and the arts. Despite this, it's still difficult for disabled musicians and music fans to perform and see live music. Neil and Georgie introduce you to some ways people are trying to change this, while teaching you some useful vocabulary. (Image: G...

What makes a great library? 14.03.2024

What makes a library a library? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240314 . FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https...

Sewing to fight period poverty 07.03.2024

TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240307 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts inc...

Plastic waste eaten by enzymes 29.02.2024

Plastics can be difficult to recycle, could a recently discovered enzyme help? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-240229 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www...

Feed your brain 22.02.2024

Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you learn English at bbclearningenglish.com

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