Practising English

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...

B2 level reader novel The Tudor Conspiracy listening with book version to read. In the last chapter of the book, Isabel and Philip are now in the police station, where a few surpises are waiting for them. To see the questions and activities for this chapter go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-83.htm To buy the book to read with this podcast: The Tudor Conspiracy... Contact Mike Bilbro...

This listening text talks about common prepositions following adjectives and verbs used at B2 English level. I will discuss why sometimes choosing the wrong preposition could change the meaning of what you want to say. There is also a short story which illustrates the use of these prepositions . Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: htt...

Listening to phrasal verbs. B1 level English for students of English. Here are seven important phrasal verbs you must know for B1 level English exams. Listen to an explanation of the phrasal verbs and then a short funny story where they are used in context. See audio script to this podcast at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-82.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about...

Graded reader for students studying for B2 level exams. The Tudor Condpiracy. In this chaper Isabel and Philip are taken to the police station for questioning and Isabel reveals some interesting news.  For answers to the vocabulary and question, go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-81.htm To purchase the book to read and listen at the same time, go to: The Tudor Conspiracy on Amazon......

In this episode I will tell you some essential colloquial B2 phrases to use to describe things . I will be describing my favourite town in Spain. This podcast for intermediate students of English can be used with podcast episode 50, which used more formal modifiers to describe and compare things . The sort of language I'll be using is somewhere around, an awful lot, masses of, great big, a ha...

Stories for students at a B2 level of English. This is a late, Christmas story called Babouscka. I was told this story when I was a very small child but I still remember it today as it seems somehow sad but relevant as a story about searching but not finding. It contains useful vocabulary to talk about keeping warm inside when it's cold outside. Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enqui...

Graded reader for B1-level students who are working towards B2 level (and above) in English. My novel called the Tudor Conspiracy that you can also read while you are listening by buying the book at https://mabilbrough.com In the last chapter, Isabel was about to be shot by the fanatic Jane from the Anglia Nostra sect but something happens to change the situation... You can find comprehension ques...

This is a help podcast for the B1 Cambridge Preliminary exam listening Part 4 with advice on how to do the test and you can also listen to a full test for practice. To read the questions and answers go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-77.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm...

The word mind refers to the part of us that thinks - in other words, our brains. But there are a lot of expressions using mind that have a wide range of different meanings. Learn about those meanings with my podcast today. For transcripts of this podcast, please go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-76.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising...

B2 reader for learners of English called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can buy the book and listen to each chapter in my weekly podast episodes. In this chapter, Isabel and Philip arrive at Shakespeare's birthplace, where they find Jane and the Master. However, things do not go to plan. You can find the answers to the comprehension questions in the podcast at https://www.practisingenglish.com/pod...

Vocabulary and expressions for intermeditae level students of English. Today for the interest of B1 or B2 level students - talking about being by te river and the vocabulary we use to describe the activities we can do there. Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htm My NEW book: " B1 Englis...

Podcasts for intermediate level students of English. Today I'm going to look at intensifiers or modifiers : not exactly, fairly, quite, pretty, really, extremely. These help us to give opinions about things more precisely. In other words, "it's a good school" and "it's an extremely good school". For audio script on this podcast, please visit: https://www.practisi...

Graded reader novel for students of English at B1 and B2 levels. The Tudor Conspiracy. In today's chapter Philip continues to explain the plans the Anglia Nostra sect had to rule England and Spain. They then take the bus back to Stratford-upon-Avon and prepare to meet the terrifying Anglia Nostra Master. If you are interested in reading The Tudor Conspiracy while you listen, you can find it a...

Hello, and welcome back to Practicing English. And today it's the 22nd of December. And we're getting close to Christmas Day . So I thought it would be nice to talk about Christmas and give you some relevant vocabulary for talking about the different things that we do at Christmas and the traditions. This is definitely an English Christmas that I'm talking about. English or British...

Podcasts for learners of intermediate level English. I've always been amazed as a Brit, living here in Spain, about the fascination for the Christmas lottery. I've always been fascinated by the way the Spanish talk about the lottery ticket number - if it's a pretty number, a beautiful number or an ugly number. As though having one number or another can make a difference to the resul...

Reader for intermediate students progressing from B1 to B2. The Tudor Conspiracy, chapter 13. In this chapter, Philip explains what he knows about the secret society Anglia Nostra. To do so he must explain about the events surrounding the times of the Tudor kings and queens. For questions and answers about this chapter, go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-69.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough...

Hello! Today I'm going to do a session on the B1 exam English, for the B1 Cambridge exam especially, or any, B1 [level] exam that you may be going to do. This will be very useful and it's based on analysing vocabulary which is essential for the B1 level. And it will be vocabulary in different categories. And the category today is English for making friends. And they are sensitive, annoyi...