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.practisingenglish.com/podcast-73.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https:...
Dec 27, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 73
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 at my website https://mabilbrough.com/ Answers to the comprehension questions will be posted at https://ww...
Dec 24, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 72
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 and not American, which is probably somewhat different from the way that the English or British celebrate their Chr...
Dec 22, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 71
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 result of the lottery. If you have a pretty number, well, then you have more chances of winning. This story then is rath...
Dec 20, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 70
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 with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practising...
Dec 17, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 69
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, annoying, easy-going, jealous, sociable, reliable, sensible , and there are a few more as well so, just listen up an...
Dec 15, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Today I'm talking about the imperatives and lots of examples I translate from Spanish from my experience at my MOT test. I also talk about the parts of the car and related verbs we use when driving a car. To see the transcript of this podcast, please go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-67.htm 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 - ...
Dec 13, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 67
After the shock of finding Jane in the same guest house where they are staying, Isabel makes a plan to trap her at Shakespeare's Birthplace... This is chapter 12 from the book The Tudor Conspiracy by M.A. Bilbrough. A book for B1 students studying towards B2 English level. This book can be purchased to listen along with these podcasts at https://mabilbrough.com To view the comprehension questions about this chapter, go to https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-66.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough wi...
Dec 10, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Hello, and today, I'm going to talk about quantifiers ! Now, when we talk about quantifiers, we refer to those little words that we use, such as some , and any , little , a few , much and many . In this episode, I'm just going to talk about some and any . Now, I think it's more useful if we think of some and any when we talk about plurals as just the plural of a or an . So if I have a pen in my hand, there is one pen . If I have more than one, I have some pens or any pens - depending on whether ...
Dec 08, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 65
English for intermediate level students studying for B1 and B2 exams. Today I'm continuing with my description of the verb ' to get' with the meanings: get your car fixed, get talking to someone, get to do something, get into, get the top off, get the phone and it gets my goat! You can see the transcript at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-64.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact....
Dec 06, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 64
The Tudor Conspiracy is a reader for B1 learners of English studying towards B2 level English. In chapter 11, Isabel and Philip are hiding out in a guest house close to Stratford-upon-Avon. Then Isabel discovers there is something very sinister about the room next to hers... Questions and answers on the text at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-63.htm If you are interested in following the story by reading too, the buy the book on any Amazon platform. https://mabilbrough.com Contact Mike...
Dec 03, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Podcasts for learners of English at intermediate levels. Today I'm continuing with my description of the verb ' to get ' with the meanings: find, fetch, arrive, reach, illnesses and taking a boat down the river. See the transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-62.htm 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...
Dec 01, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In this episode of podcasts for intermediate level students learning English, I'll talk about one of the most common verbs in the English language - the verb to get . As a learner, you may find you prefer to use other verbs instead of get - it's easier to do so! But if you wanr to sound more like a native speaker, the verb to get should probably substitute most of those more formal verbs you're using: achieve, obtain, etc. This is the first of three podcasts on the most common meanings of this v...
Nov 29, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Podcast version of the graded reader The Tudor Conspiracy by M.A. Bilbrough to help B1 students progress to B2 level English. In this week's episode we learn how Isabel and Philip escape being killed by the strange woman with a gun, Jane. They find shelter in a guest house but for how long can they stay out of danger...? https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-60.htm The book can be purchased at https://mabilbrough.com/ Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Pra...
Nov 26, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Hello, and today, I'm going to interview my daughter. My daughter is 11 years old. And we're going to talk about her school. This is good B1 language about school subjects, school terminology and the school routine. 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 Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam " is ...
Nov 24, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Podcasts for learning and practising English for intermediate level students. Today I'm talking about the language we use when we're playing cards . I'll talk a little about the history, where cards came from and the language we need to talk about playing cards with friends or family. 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 ...
Nov 22, 2021•14 min•Season 1Ep. 58
The Tudor Conspiracy is a reader for B1 students studying for B2 level English. In this chapter Isabel and Philip, who now believe the quarto to be a fake, visit the Holy Trinity Church, where Shakespeare was christened. They don't know, however, they are being followed and the person who is following them is determined to get the quarto back. You can buy the book from any Amazon platform... https://www.mabilbrough.com/ Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Pract...
Nov 19, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Help with understanding the different tenses and aspects in English. Here, I explain in simple language and with examples the past perfect (she had already left). I explain its structure and why we use past perfect and compare it to past simple. For the transcript, go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-56.htm 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 Vocabu...
Nov 17, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Following on from the podcasts on zero and first conditionals , second and third conditional , we now look at the circumstances when we mix conditionals . This happens when we make references to both past and present in the same sentence. This podcast explores mixed conditional clauses and offers simple to understand examples for the various cases when we use them. See transcript at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-55.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertisi...
Nov 15, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 55
This is chapter 8 from my book, The Tudor Conspiracy, which is a reader for B1 students studying for B2 English level exams. In this chapter, Isabel and Philip visit David Buddle's laboratory where they find out some surprising and worrying news about the newly discovered play by Shakespeare. You can find out more about this book at my website: https://mabilbrough.com and for more podcasts for intermediate learners of English, visit my podcast site https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-54.ht...
Nov 12, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Part of a series of B1 level talks on the grammar, structure and use of the conditionals in English. This is the third conditional. Learn what the phrases 'spilt milk' and 'water under the bridge' mean. Offers lots of example sentences and the full transcript can be read at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-53.htm 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 Voc...
Nov 10, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Grammar study for B1 level English. Today I'm continuing with the series of conditional studies. The last one was episode 22 on the zero and first conditionals and today we're looking briefly at the main points of the second conditional - If I were a rich man... You can find the audioscript to this podcast at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-52.htm . Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/cont...
Nov 08, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 52
The continuing story of The Tudor Conspiracy for B1 students studying for B2 level English. Available in book form and now these weekly audio podcasts. Isabel and Philip drive on to Stratford-upon-Avon. When they arrive, they decide to have lunch before going to see David Buddle but an unexpected visitor turns up at the restaurant, and Isabel and Philip have to react quickly. Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisin...
Nov 05, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 51
This podcast is about words which go with comparatives so that we can add more precision to what we mean. So the words that we're using are words like not quite , slightly , almost , easily , a good deal , far ... I don't think they make much sense on their own. So I'm going to put them together. And it will be clearer then what I'm trying to explain to you, in fact, it will be far clearer . It'll be far clearer once I put this into context. (Also comes with a fun story that will use some of the...
Nov 03, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode, I talk about the different genres of books and give some examples I have on my bookshelves. I explore the language associated with books : the different types of book, the parts of a book, what we do with a book and the language of commercialization of books. Useful language to complete your knowledge on the correct way of expressing ideas when talking about literatures or your reading hobby . For the audio script, please visit: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-49.htm C...
Nov 01, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 49
This is the continuing story of The Tudor Conspiracy - a reader for B1 students studying for B2. In this chapter, Isabel and Philip decide to head for Stratford-upon-Avon to meet the antique book authenticator while some people in the dark shadows of the Bodleian Library are making sinister plans. See audioscript at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-48.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com...
Oct 29, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 48
B2 level podcast story listening - talking about ability in the past and useful vocabulary explained before the story begins. Verbs like: manage to, be able to, which we use for certain single events in the past instead of the auxiliary could. See transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-47.htm 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 Build...
Oct 27, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Help with IELTS, Cambridge B2, C1 speaking exams, phrases and expressions talking about the question of how sport influences our lives . I bring in lots of useful language for students to copy and learn in preparation for their speaking exams. For transcript, go to - https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-46.htm 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 ...
Oct 25, 2021•12 min•Season 1Ep. 46
This is the continuing story of the Tudor Conspiracy - a reader for B1 students studying for B2. In this chapter, Isabel and Philip set out for Oxford and the Bodleian library. They meet the librarians there but one, in particular, reacts in a strange way when she hears what Isabel and Philip are looking for. https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-45.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contac...
Oct 22, 2021•23 min•Season 1Ep. 45
A look at how to write the story for Cambridge Preliminary writing exam practice part 2 and in this case the story-writing option. I look at the use relative pronouns and how to use them in the story so as to make your text more interesting and impress the examiners, who will give you more marks. I'll finish the episode with another story of Nasreddin and I'll use relative clauses for you to identify. https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-44.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enqu...
Oct 20, 2021•15 min•Season 1Ep. 44
