Learn British English as well as British culture, history, news and current affairs, and much more with weekly episodes from your host Charlie on The British English Podcast! Visit the website for learning resources:thebritishenglishpodcast.com
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Click here for the FREE PDF Lesson Pack In this episode, we tackle one of the toughest IELTS Speaking challenges — describing a person who inspires you — with the legendary Sir David Attenborough as our muse. Hear three real student answers (Band 5, 7, and 9) and discover what separates a good response from a great one. From fluency to phrasing, this lesson reveals how to sound confident, natural, and genuinely Band 9-worthy in your next Speaking test. 🎁 Download the FREE IELTS Speaking Lesson...
📥 Grab this episode's FREE PDF with 20 intermediate+ expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences, to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster ! 🎓 Learn More about Harry's Immersion Courses 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons In this Halloween special, Charlie and Harry each share a spine-tingling tale. First, Claire finds a vintage mirror at a market — but her reflection starts behaving… differently. Then we follow Jina, a new stu...
👄 Improve Your Pronunciation In this episode, Charlie breaks down a clip from a previous episode of his to help you master natural British pronunciation. You’ll learn how to shadow native speakers by focusing on connected speech, word stress, intonation, and rhythm… all in a lighthearted, playful manner. This is for learners who want to sound smooth and natural, not forced or overly “native”. 📧 Get on Charlie's Email List Here 🎓 Sign Up to Charlie's Pronunciation Course 🎓 Join Th...
📥 Grab this episode's FREE PDF with 10 advanced expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences, to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster ! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons A children’s fairy tale gets a cheeky modern twist as Charlie retells The Elves and the Shoemaker —British-style. With playful commentary, cultural asides, and a few raised eyebrows at naked elves, this episode blends nostalgia, humor, and linguistic insight in just und...
📥 Grab this episode's FREE PDF with 10 advanced expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences, to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster ! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons In this episode, Harry’s car gets clamped out of nowhere… but that’s just the beginning. A mysterious fine, a sketchy bailiff, a crash, a kettle burn, even a fire engine turns up. What on earth is going on in Harry’s life… and is his luck finally turning around? 💬 Want to ...
This episode revisits a 'From the Archives' segment, 'A British Conversation in Charlie's Pub, Scene 1,' featuring host Charlie Baxter acting out a lively pub chat with friends. The seemingly casual conversation takes a dramatic turn when one friend reveals a shocking accusation regarding his ex-girlfriend's twin pregnancy and the questionable use of his frozen sperm. Charlie later breaks down the various British accents portrayed and offers resources to help listeners learn native expressions from the dialogue.
This episode breaks down the often-confusing phrases involving 'get stuck,' stemming from a member's question about their usage. Host Charlie Baxter meticulously explains how the addition or omission of prepositions like 'in,' 'to,' or 'with' completely alters the meaning, transforming a state of being trapped into one of enthusiastic involvement. He reveals the 'golden rule' for understanding these nuances, emphasizing that fluency often lies in such intricate details. The discussion also highlights The Academy as a resource for deeper language exploration.
📥 Grab this episode's FREE PDF with 15 advanced expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences, to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster ! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons In this episode, step into the Golden Age of England with Charlie and Ben as they unravel the drama, danger, and dazzling growth of the Elizabethan era. From religious upheaval and rebellious pirates to political power plays and the making of a Virgin Queen, this episode sets t...
📥 Grab the FREE PDF with 20+ advanced expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences , to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster. Plus, get the script from today's story included! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons Welcome to a series of short, story-driven episodes that help you learn British English while exploring everyday life and culture in the UK. Each dialogue mixes humour, real expressions, and cultural insights so you can improve your listening...
📥 Grab the FREE PDF with 15 advanced expressions from this episode, complete with quizzes and example sentences, to learn today’s vocabulary 3x faster ! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons In this episode, we dive into a shocking chapter of British history : The Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894 . Discover how Victorian London almost disappeared under nine feet of dung and why experts at the time were completely stumped . This isn’t just a wild story from the past — it’s packed with ri...
Click here to grab the FREE PDF with 10 Everyday Expressions, quizzes, and example sentences if you want to learn this episode's vocab 3x faster! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons In this episode, we move away from culture and focus purely on language . I’ll teach you 5 everyday expressions that native speakers use all the time — but that you’ll almost never see in a textbook. You’ll learn: ✅ How to talk about personal annoyances with a pet peeve ✅ Why Brits say I just needed to vent after...
Click here to grab the free PDF with all the vocab, quizzes, and example sentences here if you want to learn 3x faster! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons Harry’s run of bad luck takes centre stage in this episode. From a parking fine that spiralled into debt collectors, to a stressful eBay camera scam, we explore the ups and downs of everyday mishaps in the UK. Along the way, you’ll learn useful English for real-life situations and enjoy plenty of British humour. Want to finally speak Engl...
🧐 Test Your Level of English 📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet An episode from the archives where Charlie got Lucy from "English With Lucy" on the show to talk about British wedding culture. There are a lot of traditions involved in this day and so we took a look at some of those in a lighthearted conversation asking Lucy about her wedding plans as she was engaged to be married. Are British weddings anything like your culture's weddings? Listen to find out! Useful Links below... W...
FREE PDF Lesson Pack – https://bit.ly/S5E2_FREE-PDF-Lesson Join my next group lesson on Zoom (The Academy) – https://thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Check out Matthew McAloone on Instagram or TikTok Charlie chats with British comedian Matthew McAloone to explore the wild world of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival — the largest arts and comedy festival in the world . Whether you've never heard of it or you're curious about British culture, this episode gives you an insider look at the highs, ...
FREE PDF Lesson Pack – https://bit.ly/BonusEp82_FREE_PDF_Lesson Join my next group lesson on Zoom (The Academy) – https://thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Check out Rob's podcast - The Business English Podcast ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Highlights 00:37 Intro 1:40 5 Awkward Scenarios in Business 3:30 FREE Vocabulary PDF 4:41 5 Awkward Scenarios in Business 21:19 Reminder of FREE Vocabulary PDF I’ll be honest—before I started teaching English, I didn’t realise how many odd little phrases we use in Br...
Click here to grab the free PDF with all the vocab, quizzes, and example sentences here if you want to learn 3x faster! Join Charlie as he unpacks the unspoken cultural code behind how Brits describe their homes. From the classic two-up two-down to the oh-so-cosy cottage , this episode is packed with real British vocabulary, quirky facts, and subtle social cues, like what Brits really think when you say “apartment”. Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're alr...
📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet Charlie focuses on whether or not to accept the offer of "Would you like a cup of tea?" when entering somebody's home in the UK. For a lot of us this seems like a simple topic but add cultural variation into it and the answer is never that simple. Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good but let's go that extra step! Join my academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Eac...
Click here for the FREE PDF Lesson Pack In this episode, Charlie helps you improve your British English and boost your IELTS Speaking score by focusing on Part 3 of the speaking exam using the topic of education . You’ll hear three model answers — Band 5, Band 7, and Band 9 — to the same question, followed by a breakdown of what makes each one different and how you can level up your own speaking skills. Expect practical tips, natural British expressions, and insights into how examiners really as...
Join Charlie for a short story about Emma, who tells a white lie about living in a luxurious flat near Hyde Park to impress her Italian cousin Marco. When Marco decides to visit, Emma and her friends must stage an elaborate illusion of a posh life. This episode uses the funny story to teach authentic British English expressions and offers explanations of key vocabulary.
📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet 👄 Improve Your Pronunciation 🧐 Test Your Level of English Charlie chats with Don, a well-travelled Aussie with stories spanning decades of globetrotting, to ask the big question: Has travel got worse? From booking flights at a high street travel agent to navigating airport chaos today, they explore how travel has changed — for better and for worse. Expect tales of travel in the '70s, cultural quirks, and plenty of useful advanced vocabulary and expressions...
👄 Improve Your Pronunciation In this episode, Charlie breaks down a hilarious scene from The Office (UK) to help you master natural British pronunciation. You’ll learn how to shadow native speakers by focusing on connected speech, word stress, intonation, and rhythm… all through British humour. This is for learners who want to sound smooth and natural, not forced or overly “native”. 📧 Get on Charlie's Email List Here 🎓 Sign Up to Charlie's Pronunciation Course 🎓 Join The Academy...
Join Charlie as he explores one of Britain’s most enduring legends: the Loch Ness Monster. From ancient sightings in 565 A.D. to modern-day hoaxes and government-funded sonar scans, discover why nearly 10 million Brits still believe in Nessie. Along the way, you’ll learn natural British expressions and cultural references—all while questioning what really lurks in the murky depths of Loch Ness. 📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality?...
In this episode, Charlie helps you improve your British English by focusing on how to talk about hobbies and free time naturally—both for everyday conversation and, more specifically, for Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking exam. You'll hear model answers, learn useful expressions, and get tips to sound more fluent and confident when discussing your interests. Download - How to use idioms in IELTS FREE ebook/audiobook Learn about Charlie's IELTS Speaking Course Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
Charlie welcomes Emma from Pronunciation with Emma back on the show to share her five “brilliant things” — from the oddly specific to the surprisingly relatable. Along the way, they reflect on British culture, personality quirks, and the small moments that make life feel just right. A cosy listen for learners who enjoy natural, unscripted British English. 👉 🎧 Listen to Charlie on Pronunciation with Emma on Spotify 👉 🎧 Listen to Charlie on Pronunciation with Emma on Apple Podcasts Want to l...
🧐 Test Your Level of English 📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet Charlie gets Martin from Rock N' Roll English on the show to do an interview style episode all about the life of a uni student in the UK. They cover nightlife, student accommodation and campus lifestyle. 🎓 The Academy 📑 Transcripts & Glossaries 📧 FREE Email Lessons 👋 Instagram @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱 On iOS / Apple App Store here 📱 Android currently not working 😡 (working ...
🧐 Test Your Level of English 📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet Charlie tries something new this week: reflecting on five small but meaningful things that have shaped him. Joined by Harry, the two share a thoughtful and lighthearted conversation that's a gentle way to tune into everyday British English and culture. Perfect for learners who enjoy real talk over rehearsed scripts. 🎓 The Academy 📑 Transcripts & Glossaries 📧 FREE Email Lessons 👋 Instagram @thebritishenglishpodcast...
👄 Improve Your Pronunciation In this episode, Charlie uses a real-life story to teach you the key features of natural British pronunciation. From connected speech and word stress to intonation and rhythm, you’ll hear how native speakers really sound — and how to train your ear to follow along. Perfect for learners who want to sound more natural, not necessarily native. 📧 Get on Charlie's Email List Here 🎓 Sign Up to Charlie's Pronunciation Course 🎓 Join The Academy 👋 Instagram @t...
📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet Charlie tells the true story of the British Post Office scandal — a shocking case where many honest people were wrongly blamed because of a computer mistake. You’ll learn about the people behind the post office counter, the problems they faced, and how the truth finally came out. 🎓 Join The Academy 📑 Get Transcripts & Glossaries 📧 FREE Email Lessons 👋 Instagram @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱 On iOS / Apple App Store here 📱 On Androi...
This episode takes listeners on a unique walking tour through London's oldest pubs, revealing the city's hidden history. Charlie shares practical tips for navigating the London Underground and delves into captivating stories, from Victorian gin cravings and medieval confession booths to the economic impact of Dutch tulip mania and the surprising role of nutmeg in shaping New York's identity. It's a journey through time, culture, and British English.
📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet (S1/E3) Learn British English & about British culture in this episode where your host Charlie interviews a variety of English speakers starting with his school friends from the South of England to New Zealanders, Australians and even South African English speakers to find out what the world thinks of us Brits and if we are self aware of our stereotypes! Useful Links below... 🎓 Join Charlie's Academy 📝 Free episode worksheet 🧐 Take English Level Test 📑 Transc...
