Practising English

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

In this B1-level podcast today I'll use lots of important vocabulary and expressions to talk about daily actions. I'll also discuss 10 interesting B1-level words, which you can listen for while you listen to the short story.

I'll analyse these intermediate-level words and expressions:

no going back - you cannot go to where you were earlier, or if you start something, you cannot leave it but must carry on.

warning - a notice or something spoken to tell us to be careful of a danger

damage your health - to harm (B2) or do something that can make you ill

step into / step out of - go in or out of something you get to by using your feet

fresh - can mean cool, such as a cool breeze (but not cold); it can also mean not bad when referring to fruit; or it can mean 'new' such as 'fresh ideas'

admire - to look at a picture etc. and realise you like it; or to look up to somebody (B2) when we think somebody is wonderful because of their qualities.

backwards - moving in the opposite way from forwards; or something like a word seen the other way around e.g. ENGLISH = HSILGNE

funny - amusing, it makes you laugh; also strange or peculiar

topic of discussion - a subject to talk about

can't help + verb + ing - something we do but perhaps should not do like eating too much chocolate.

For answers and transcript of story, see: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-215.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

The upper-intermediate phrsal verbs studied in today's episode are:

look up to - admire somebody because of their qualities
fall apart - to break into pieces, probably because it's old
date from - saying how old something is, from what year something is
think sth over - consider something carefully
take on - offer a contract of work to somebody
miss out - not to take advantage of an opportunity which would bring benefits
come across - find something unexpectedly, find something you were not looking for or didn't expect to find
do without - not need something, even though it may or may not help you

Listen for the phrsal verbs in the story and not down the context. Youbcan find the answers at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-214.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

This is another podcast on B1 intermediate phrasal verbs - those a little difficult to learn. The ones I will talk about are:

put on - to switch on or activate some device (electrical?)
sign up - to join or becme part of a club etc.
show up - to arrive somewhere unexpectedly.
deal with - to try to resolve a problem
take up - to begin a new sport, hobby or other activity
carry on - to continue, often when things seem difficult.

Listen to the context these phrasal verbs are used in during the story. Answers are given at the end of the episode. You can read the full transcript of the story and read the answers at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-213.htm

Solidarity with the people who have suffered after the Valencia storms (Spain)!

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

The six B1 phrasal verbs studied are:
give up - stop doing some activity e.g. smoking, or a game because you are losing.
end up - to finish in a place probably you didn't expect to find yourself in.
put off - to do some activity at a later time.
set off - to start a journey.
run out - to find you have no more of something e.g. petrol in your car, milk in the fridge.
look forward - wait excitedly for an event to happen.

For story transcript and answers: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-212.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

Intermediate (B1) and upper-intermediate (B2) English expressions and vocabulary.

Words to explain:

binoculars - a device used to see objects far away

UFO - unidentified flying object (alien spaceship)

What the hell is going on? - What is happening?

fin - wing-like structure of a creature that lives in the sea

B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?

1, failed to comprehend

2, under the impression 

3, get straight to the point

4, It goes without saying 

5, taken somebody's word for it

6, I don’t get it

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, swtchd off - turned off

2, accrt - precise

3, brz - a light wind

4, srrndd - were on all sides

5, dcrsng - less and less

B2-level

6, cmpsd of - made up of

7, drknng - losing light

8, ignrd - did not look at or speak to

9, incrdbl - hard to believe

10, Srly - of course, obviously

Find all answers at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-211.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

Words to explain:

extraterrestrial - from another planet

alien - life from another planet

life forms - beings which are living

electro-magnetic field - this surrounds the Earth and protects us from harmful rays from space

orbit - going around the sun etc.

meteorite - an object that may crash into the Earth

evolve / evolution - life that grows and changes over long periods of time

cosmic - from the universe

comet - a huge ball of us that flies through space

B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?

1) Nevertheless

2) no expense spared

3) you've got another thing coming!

4) evidently

5) up to one's eyes

6) in the middle of nowhere

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) knwldg - what is known

2) ancnt - very old

3) dstntn - the end of your journey

4) plnt - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars etc.

5) elmntry - easy

B2-level

6) wsdm

7) uncnvncd

8) figr ot - find a solution

9) ovrxctd - too nervous

10) hbtbl - a place where life can exist

See the answers at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-210.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

The second part of my story A Window on Time.

Strong B1 and B2-level story.

Words to explain: 

detention - in schools this was (is?) a punishment for children. We had to stay in a classroom during the lunch-break and do extra homework

B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?

1) to feel faint

2) Naturally,

3) tremble with excitement

4) hit it off

5) stick together

6) stand by somebody

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) uncmfrtbl adj. a chair, for example, that is not nice to sit in because it is too hard etc.

2) blvd v. thought something was true

3) cmplnd v. said he didn't like something

4) aplgy n. saying sorry

5) mngd t v. was able to

B2-level

6) astnshd adj. very surprised

7) rvrsng v. going backwards

8) trvl adj. not serious at all

9) pndng v. beating hard e.g. your heart

10) bd-tmprd adj. angry, in an angry mood

For the answers to the questions above, see https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-209.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context they are used in during the story.
1) deep in thought
2) Strangely enough,
3) strictly forbidden
4) an exception to the rule
5) the situation had become unbearable
6) the truth of the matter was

B1 words from the story: what are they?
1) prvs adj. what happend before
2) shckd n. very surprised in a bad way
3) prvntng v. stopping
4) apprchd v. got closer
5) aplgs v. say sorry

B2 words from the story: what are they?
6) rclld v. remember
7) prsmbly adv. supposedly
8) grdlly adv. little by little
9) strd v. looked at somebody in a long hard way
10) frd v. be frightened of

Answers to word test at https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-208.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

Part 2 of my exciting story Victims of Nature for students studying B1 and B2 English.

Words to explain: 

shepherd = somebody who looks after sheep in the countryside

raft = a small flat boat

flock of sheep = a group of sheep

waterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rock

B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?

1) All of a sudden

2) scared him stiff

3) To make matters worse

4) it went without saying

5) Out of breath

6) shout at the top of his voice

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) prdctd v. said what would happen in the future

2) crshd v. hit sth hard

3) clff n. a long vertical drop down in the countryside

4) stt n. a stone model of a person

5) fld n. when the water from a river, etc. covers the land

B2-level

6) trmnds adj. to a large extent, very much

7) ignrd v. did not take notice of because it seemed unimportant

8) shllw adj. not deep (water)

9) rg n. anger

10) exhstd adj. very tired

For answers to the above, go to https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-207.htm You can also see a video clip on this page of the flood mentioned in the story!

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.

A Strong B1 and B2-level story based on a real event this summer in the Alpujarra mountain region of Southern Spain (Granada).

Words to explain:

shepherd = spmebody who looks after sheep in the countryside

raft = a small flat boat

flock of sheep = a group of sheep

waterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rock

B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?

1) The reality of the situation...

2) take charge of...

3) he held on for dear life...

4) What’s the point of...

5) be bored stiff...

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) dsty adj. covered in a fine layer of dirt, sand, etc.

2) shd n. the dark are under a tree, for example, where the sun does not shine.

3) strm n. a small river

4) dprtr n. opposite of arrival, where you leave from, going away

5) end p v. finish, where an event has its end.

B2-level

6) unblvbl adj. something you find difficult to think is true

7) pctrsq adj. very pretty scenery e.g. mountains, woods etc.

8) wtty adj. clever with words

9) undrstndbl adj. when you respect somebody's feelings and feel what they say is true

10) thrtnng adj. something that could hurt or harm us, it could be dangerous

Read the answers at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-206.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)