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Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations. Find more at bbclearningenglish.com Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
Total 245 episodes
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Invasive species: Why don't we eat them?

Invasive species: Why don't we eat them?

Invasive species are causing problems for nature around the world, so why not eat them?
06:1307/12/2023
What and where is Little Italy?

What and where is Little Italy?

How did Italian food become famous throughout the world? Find out with Neil and Georgie
06:1430/11/2023
Social media and teenage health

Social media and teenage health

What are the risks of social media to teenage health and what can be done about them?
06:0923/11/2023
Mystery flying objects

Mystery flying objects

What exactly did navy pilots see in 2004? The US investigates these UFOs now, in 2023.
06:1316/11/2023
Elephant-proof farming

Elephant-proof farming

What happens when an elephant wants to eat your crops? How can you stop it?
06:1314/11/2023
Should we farm octopus?

Should we farm octopus?

Is it OK to eat animals that can feel emotion? Learn vocabulary on this topic.
06:1302/11/2023
Ways to live for 100 years

Ways to live for 100 years

More and more people are living to 100, but what is the secret of a long life?
06:1326/10/2023
How green is your money?

How green is your money?

Should climate change make us think where to invest our money? Learn useful vocabulary.
06:1219/10/2023
Mushrooms: Medicine or myth?

Mushrooms: Medicine or myth?

Today the medicinal mushroom industry is big business. But are there actually benefits?
06:1312/10/2023
Saving dead languages

Saving dead languages

Some Australian languages have been saved from extinction. We discuss Barngala's revival.
06:1405/10/2023
Sounds that make you want to scream

Sounds that make you want to scream

Some sounds cause some people huge distress. Learn about 'misophonia' here.
06:1128/09/2023
How fans talk about their passions

How fans talk about their passions

Fandom is more than simply being a fan, and now it is developing its own language.
06:1321/09/2023
Making male friends

Making male friends

Do men find it harder than women to make close friendships? Neil and Beth discuss.
06:1414/09/2023
Space-saving solar hacks

Space-saving solar hacks

How can we find space for new solar panels?
06:1307/09/2023
The stories behind our names

The stories behind our names

What can names tell us about our culture and history?
06:1131/08/2023
Heatwaves - can we adapt?

Heatwaves - can we adapt?

Heatwaves - can we adapt? 6 Minute English
06:1424/08/2023
Are you unhappy at work?

Are you unhappy at work?

How can jobs change so that workers are happier?
06:1117/08/2023
Do you have eco-anxiety?

Do you have eco-anxiety?

A growing number around the world are experiencing something called 'eco-anxiety'.
06:1010/08/2023
Can we stop natural disasters?

Can we stop natural disasters?

Is there any way we can stop natural disasters being so damaging?
06:1104/08/2023
The right way to say sorry

The right way to say sorry

Neil and Beth talk about different ways of apologising.
06:1427/07/2023
Could you live on wild food?

Could you live on wild food?

We hear about a new foraging project and the health benefits of eating wild food.
06:2220/07/2023
Plants fighting pollution

Plants fighting pollution

We talk about whether plants can clean up our mess.
06:1313/07/2023
Should we fear chatbots?

Should we fear chatbots?

We talk about chatbots and teach you some useful vocabulary along the way.
06:1406/07/2023
Is it wrong to eat plants?

Is it wrong to eat plants?

We are kind to animals. What about plants?
06:2629/06/2023
Sonic seasoning

Sonic seasoning

Can sound make your food taste better? Neil and Beth discuss.
06:1522/06/2023
The benefits of doing nothing

The benefits of doing nothing

Would being lazy have a purpose in life?
06:1915/06/2023
The art of subtitling

The art of subtitling

Hear how subtitles can help bring TV and movies to life.
06:1508/06/2023
Ecotourism: good or bad?

Ecotourism: good or bad?

Is a style of tourism that respects animals and local communities working well?
06:2901/06/2023
Can climate change cause more disease?

Can climate change cause more disease?

Mosquito-borne diseases kill 750,000 annually. Could climate change make it worse?
06:2125/05/2023
Food shortages

Food shortages

Listen to an expert on the global food system and learn some vocabulary.
06:3118/05/2023
Addicted to war

Addicted to war

A war correspondent tells his story.
06:2111/05/2023
Ice and the origins of life on Earth

Ice and the origins of life on Earth

Sam and Neil talk about an essential element for life to thrive.
06:2104/05/2023
Women in politics

Women in politics

We discuss some of the reasons why women make up only 26% of the world's politicians.
06:1827/04/2023
What's the point of museums?

What's the point of museums?

Beth and Neil discuss the controversial role of museums in the 21st century.
06:1920/04/2023
How culture affects sadness

How culture affects sadness

Could your culture influence sadness? We talk about sadness and teach you vocabulary.
06:1513/04/2023
Would you eat a Kalette?

Would you eat a Kalette?

Learn about the world of novelty vegetables.
06:3506/04/2023
Do you get jealous easily?

Do you get jealous easily?

Hear experts talking about jealousy and envy, and learn related vocabulary.
06:2030/03/2023
Are you lonely in a crowd?

Are you lonely in a crowd?

We discuss the role of crowds in modern life
06:2023/03/2023
Food and mood

Food and mood

We look at the link between what you eat and how you feel.
06:1516/03/2023
How to talk to a climate denier

How to talk to a climate denier

The dos and don'ts of trying to discuss science with someone who doesn't believe in it.
06:3009/03/2023
Losing your mother tongue

Losing your mother tongue

Hear the story of a woman who replaced her native Czech for English.
06:1902/03/2023
The health benefits of apples

The health benefits of apples

Could there be some truth in the proverb 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'?
06:2123/02/2023
Why do we procrastinate?

Why do we procrastinate?

Do you leave your work until the last minute? If so, this programme is for you!
06:1416/02/2023
Doomscrolling: Why do we do it?

Doomscrolling: Why do we do it?

We discuss if there is an evolutionary reason why we're attracted to bad news.
06:1609/02/2023
Exercise for The Lazy

Exercise for The Lazy

What's the least amount of exercise you should do to stay healthy?
06:1902/02/2023
Can AI have a mind of its own?

Can AI have a mind of its own?

Hear about the software engineer who became 'friends' with his computer.
06:2026/01/2023
Climate change: Are there too many people?

Climate change: Are there too many people?

Does the size of your carbon footprint depend on where in the world you were born?
06:1719/01/2023
The hidden life of buffets

The hidden life of buffets

We discuss buffet meals and the history behind them and teach related vocabulary.
06:0012/01/2023
Songwriting

Songwriting

We discuss the art of songwriting – combining lyrics and music to make a hit song.
06:1605/01/2023
United against food waste

United against food waste

According to the UN, one third of the food we grow is thrown away. How can we stop this?
06:1829/12/2022