This is the story text for the B2 story today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-283.htm The song in today's podcast is an arrangement by Dmitry Taras - check it out at Pixabay. The Christmas Festival 'So, Miss Jenkins,' said the mayor. 'As the town's new Councillor for cultural events, it'll be your turn this year to organise the Christmas town festival.' 'Yes, Mr Mayor. I'm aware of that,' Jenny Jenkins answered. 'Councillor David did a marvellous job last year. A difficult act to foll...
Dec 18, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 283
This is the audioscript for today's story and the B1 words studied: Scrooge and the Turkey Scrooge ran to the window, opened it, and put his head outside. There was no fog or mist. The air was clear, bright , and cold. The sun was shining , the sky was blue, and the bells were ringing happily. 'Oh, how absolutely wonderful!' cried Scrooge in a cheerful voice . 'What day is it?' he shouted down to a boy wearing his Sunday clothes, who was standing in the street. 'Eh?' said the boy, very surprised...
Dec 18, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 282
Not able to bring my new B2 podcast today so I'm leaving you with an older Christmas story (repeat). Audioscript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-70.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 Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam " is now available! This book gives the learner enough ...
Dec 12, 2025•15 min•Season 5Ep. 281
This is the text for the B1 story today. Who was the mysterious girl in the park? https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-280.htm A brief meeting at Christmas It was two days before Christmas, and Lucas, a sixteen-year-old boy, was feeling rather lonely. His parents were busy at work, and his older sister was studying in London. To pass the time , Lucas decided to take a walk through the snowy park. Everything was quiet and peaceful , and the trees were covered in white. As he walked, he notic...
Dec 10, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 280
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-279.htm This is a B2 recording today with a story for you to enjoy... Christmas cheer I’m standing in a peaceful, wealthy suburb a few miles from Bristol city centre. Without doubt , It’s going to be a white Christmas, or rather it is already a white Christmas thanks to a generous amount of snow that has fallen on this Christmas Eve. The quiet, snowy road has a number of luxury cars parked on either side, and on my right and left stand those sort of hous...
Dec 04, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 279
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-278.htm This is the story text I'll be using with the B1 words in bold: White Christmas Steve Matlock worked in a car factory in Bristol. Every day at lunch, he sat in the canteen with his colleagues. They had discussions about their families, their aims , and their dreams. It was Christmas Eve, and the canteen felt warm and cheerful . “What are you doing for Christmas, Steve?” one colleague asked. Steve smiled politely . “I intend to spend Christmas wit...
Dec 03, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 278
This is the formal conversation studied today: “Beginning morning food consuming cycle ,” said the father as he entered the kitchen. “Please gather at the table for an efficient distribution of resources .” Mother replied, “Indeed, I have organised a balancedcombination of carbohydrates and proteins, which should provide ideal operating for the day.” The ten-year-old entered next. “Parents, I request information regarding today’s academic schedule . My timetable indicates elementary programming ...
Nov 27, 2025•13 min•Season 5Ep. 277
Here is the text we are studying today. The Best Way to Learn a New Language If you want to build confidence in English language speaking, rather than silent study, choose conversation activities instead . And try writing short messages instead of only memorising vocabulary lists. Practice speaking whenever you find someone willing to talk, and use new words wherever you go. It does not matter whether the conversations are long or short; every moment helps. Keep studying, unless you are feeling ...
Nov 26, 2025•18 min•Season 5Ep. 276
B2 conjunctions City Life Compared to Country Life Many people wonder whether they would be happier living in the city or in the countryside. City life offers a fast rhythm and many opportunities, and it can be exciting, though it often feels crowded and noisy. Some people imagine that they would enjoy the peace of rural areas, when , in fact, they admit they enjoy the crowds and the lively lifestyle a city provides. Life in the countryside is usually quieter, whereas cities are full of cultural...
Nov 20, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 275
This is part 1 of my TWO podcasts on B1 linkers: The text for today is: Many people want to learn a new language, yet they often wonder what method works best. One helpful idea is to treat the language as you would a musical instrument, practising regularly. Learning can also happen as you travel or do other activities, as practice is important because it keeps the language fresh in your mind. In addition , using a mix of reading, listening, and speaking gives you a balanced approach. In additio...
Nov 19, 2025•15 min•Season 5Ep. 274
Here is the text for the B2 story today: Priorities Steve was a talented guitarist who had spent years trying to make it big . When his band finally got an album deal, he felt his dreams were coming true. But his wife, Laura, was tired of being alone with their two children. One night, she told him enough was enough : 'Spend time with us, or you'd better leave. We can't go on like this.' Steve didn’t know what to say. He loved Laura. He had fallen for her at once years ago. He'd come across a li...
Nov 13, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 273
Here is the script for today's B1 story: The Sandwich Hero In our town there used to be this chap, Tom. Every day, he sat near the market asking for coins or for a sandwich to eat. His clothes were dirty, and his hair was messy , I noticed he smelled a bit too. People didn’t pay him much attention . I couldn’t say I was fond of him, but I did feel sorry for him. He looked a bit depressed . I wondered if he’d had a difficult life. I used to give him money now and again . I remember one cold winte...
Nov 12, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 272
Here is the B2 story for today: A chance of a lifetime (B2) Sophie had always led a busy life . Between her job at the hospital and her evening art classes, she hardly had a moment to relax. One Friday, after a long shift , she received a last-minute call from her boyfriend, Tom. He insisted she came to the old café by the river. When Sophie arrived, the place was quiet, and Tom was waiting with a big smile. ‘You’ll never guess what’s happening,’ he said. Sophie laughed sharply . ‘You’re such a ...
Nov 06, 2025•16 min•Season 5Ep. 271
This is the B1 story I'm going to read to you today and the vocabulary I'll look at: A helpful ghost (B1) Detective Sam Green liked to hang around any place where strange things happened. One autumn morning, he arrived in a small town surrounded by a beautiful landscape of snowy mountain peaks . The people there seemed friendly, but whenever Sam asked about the old castle on a nearby hill, they were silent . At night, lights could be seen in the windows, yet nobody had lived there for hundreds o...
Nov 05, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 270
Norman Newbury has never won anything in his life, and then when a swimming competition comes up, Norman thinks he could, at last, win the trophy. B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase? 1) talk things over with 2) kept in good shape 3) push himself 4) (feel) over the moon 5) took a deep breath 6) taken it for granted The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) have been taken out (unless the word begins with a vowel). Read the definition and guess the word in bold . B1-level 1) achvmnt n. ...
Oct 28, 2025•27 min
The B1 story today: The Girl in the Painting Sophie had been meaning to visit the old house on the hill for years, and she was surprised to see the door open, as though inviting her to visit. Inside, the air was heavy and quiet. She glanced around the dusty room and saw an old mirror. In the glass, she saw a handsome young man smiling at her. She turned suddenly , however, there was no one there behind her. She turned back to the mirror. There was the same young man dressed in a smart dinner jac...
Oct 22, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 268
This is a B2 level podcast: The Magic of True Friendship Have you ever stopped to think what really makes a good friend? We all have people we hang out with, but genuine friendship goes beyond just having fun together. A good friend is someone you can count on , no matter what . They listen when you need to talk, cheer you up when you’re feeling down , and tell you the truth — even when it’s hard to hear. Trust and honesty are key . After all, what’s friendship without trust ? With good friends,...
Oct 16, 2025•17 min•Season 5Ep. 267
Today, I'm going to read an article, which is similar to the articles you have to write if you're doing the B1 Cambridge PET exam. Many people enjoy playing games in their free time. Some prefer board games like chess or Monopoly, while others like video games such as Minecraft or FIFA. But which type of game is more interesting to play? Board games are great for spending time with family and friends. You can sit together, talk, and have fun face to face . These games often need players to think...
Oct 15, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 266
A B2-level short story for you today... A True Champion Sofia had always dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player. She trained every morning, even when she was tired, because she knew success would depend on her hard work. Some people tried to discourage her from doing so much training, saying she was wasting her time, but Sofia refused to listen. Her first big tournament didn’t go well. She suffered a terrible defeat , and her confidence began to decline . Deep down , she felt that mayb...
Oct 09, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 265
The Mystery of the Lake Day after day , Lily walked past the old lake near her village. The elderly people of the village said it was dangerously deep, and that in its depths lived an enormous monster. In all her life, Lily had never seen anything, although she often wondered why there were never ducks or swans on the lake. One summer morning, she decided to take her small boat and explore the lake herself. As her tiny boat moved further from the lake’s edge , dark clouds began to form. The wind...
Oct 08, 2025•22 min•Season 5Ep. 264
The audioscript for today's B2 story: If only we could go back On Tuesday morning, Alice decided to call in sick , not because she was ill, but because the clouds outside looked like elephants marching across the sky. Today she felt like the little girl that she used to be many years before. She simply couldn’t be bothered to sit at her office desk when such wonders were happening around her. She set off to the fields near her country home, carrying a picnic basket. A rabbit wearing a red jacket...
Oct 02, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 263
The story audioscript for the story. The B1 words are shown in black. The missing actor Detective Anna Jones had a long career solving strange crimes . One rainy night, the police had called her to a dark hotel outside the village to help them. A film actor and celebrity , John Kelly, had disappeared from his locked room. The manager had knocked on the door, to bring his dinner, but there had been no reply. Unfortunately , the local police had been careless , and Anna realised they had touched a...
Oct 01, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 262
B2 story and vocabulary today. Here is the audioscript of the story and the B2 words in bold. The Crown Thief Detective Harris was on the point of leaving the police station when the phone rang. A robbery had taken place at the old museum. He grabbed his coat and hurried out. At the scene, the guard looked bad-tempered . “This is a disgrace !” he shouted. “The thief just walked in and out. Nobody stopped him. There are three of us, but the robbery happened the other side of the museum. My collea...
Sep 25, 2025•20 min•Season 5Ep. 261
A B1-level podcast today with a story and a test on the B1 words and expressions: A frightening experience at the airport Read the audioscript of the story at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-260.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 Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam " is now av...
Sep 24, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 260
This is the B2 podcast for this week. Aidioscript: The Fresh-food Market See audioscript with B1 words highlighted at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-259.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 Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam " is now available! This book gives the learner enoug...
Sep 18, 2025•19 min•Season 5Ep. 259
I'm back from my holidays! Today I'm publishing the first B1 podcast of season 5 - five years helping intermediate students pass Cambridge exams. I also have news of my new book just published on Amazon "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam. Hear more on the podcast! See audioscript with B1 words highlighted at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-258.htm Contact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about a...
Sep 17, 2025•23 min•Season 5Ep. 258
This favourite story for learners of B1 will be the last of the summer episodes before my return for season 5 next week. Enjoy the story! 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 now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 ex...
Sep 10, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 257
Here are some words that are not B1 and you'll need to understand the story. Words which are outside the A1 to B1 levels *Greenhouse - a building with glass sides and roof for growing plants in. *Skin - the outside of some types of vegetable and fruit. *String - a long piece of material used for tying things together. *Ultraviolet (light) - a blue light with wavelengths shorter than violet light. *Allotment - an area of land in a town which a person can rent or buy in order to grow vegetables on...
Sep 03, 2025•17 min•Season 4Ep. 256
This lovely story from the the American writer O'Henry, I completely re-wrote for B2 level. Here is the vocabulary discussed: Just around the corner . The means a place further on where we cannot see but is very close. English proverb: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence . This means that life is better any place but where you are now. hesitation - worried about doing something because you are not sure that it is the right thing to do. impersonal - without friendly human f...
Aug 27, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 255
Here is Part two of my popular story, Tsunami for learners of B1 English 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 now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams). To read more about my book...
Aug 20, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 254
