Send me a text.B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context they are used in during the story.1) deep in thought2) Strangely enough,3) strictly forbidden4) an exception to the rule5) the situation had become unbearable6) the truth of the matter wasB1 words from the story: what are they?1) prvs adj. what happend before2) shckd n. very surprised in a bad way3) prvntng v. stopping4) apprchd v. got closer5) aplgs v. say sorryB2 words from the story: what are they?6) rclld v. remember7) prsmbly a...

Send me a text.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 countrysideraft = a small flat boatflock of sheep = a group of sheepwaterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rockB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) All of a sudden2) scared him stiff3) To make matters worse4) it went without saying5) Out of breath6) shout at the top of his voic...

Send me a text.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 countrysideraft = a small flat boatflock of sheep = a group of sheepwaterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rockB2 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 p...

Send me a text.One way or another, Norman imagined that other people regarded him as an underachiever. He became obsessed by what his colleagues at the supermarket might call him when he was not listening. What about Norman Nobody or Norman Nothing in Particular. Norman was a man who was of the opinion that life had not treated him fairly...This is a strong B1 to B2-level story.B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) talk things over with2) kept in good shape3) push hi...

Send me a text.The Winds of Bolonia (B1 Story with new comprehension questions)I wanted to publish this story together with the Para-olympics in Paris. I was watching it on television. It shows how positive attitudes, strength, determination are not qualities limited to those athletes in the Olympics we saw earlier this summer, but that persons with disabilities are no different and share the same qualities.The heroine in my story today, The Winds of Bolonia (B1 level) is about a young girl i...

Send me a text.Comprehension questions and answers for the complete story.1) Why did Benjamin decide to go back to the hotel?2) How did Jessica know Benjamin was staying in the Borromeo Hotel?3) Where did Benjamin move to when fe left school?4) What did Benjamin think the old woman was doing on the stairs?5) What did Benjamin plan to do with Jessica?6) Why did Benjamin's son, Logan, leave the car at the end of the story?You can see the answers to these questions at https://www.practisingengli...

Send me a text.Comprehension questions to read before listening to the complete B1-level story: Who was Sidney Peabody?1) What was unusual about the way Sidney Peabody looked?2) According to Simon Fotheringay, the journalist and reporter, why did Sidney Peabody perform the miracle in Benalmadena?3) What did people do in Madrid just before Sidney Peabody said the words: "I wish it would rain!"?4) After talking to his friend, Stephen Smithers, who did Simon think Sidney Peabody was?5) Did the d...

Send me a text.This is the complete B1-level story of The Spaceman (first published in 2022)Comprehension questions for story1) Why was Max Headroom angry at the beginning of the story?2) What were the space-time doors?3) Who was the old man in Max's bedroom?4) Why did Max and his wife, Sheena, separate?5) Do you think Max and Sheena got back together again?I'll give you the answers at the end of the story.Think about this question below. You can send your written answer at the link at the to...

Send me a text.Today I'm giving you the full version of my B1-level story (with some B2 English) Tsunami!Here are 4 comprehension questions for part TWO of the story, which starts after the written transcript has finished.1) What did Yannick think Melville's name was?Mr Tsunami2) Which was the last accident that stopped Melville and the French family from escaping from the beach?But that jeep was going nowhere that day. It hit a rock hidden under the sand, which made it jump to the side and t...

Send me a text.These are the two stories I chose for the story task I gave you at podcast 197.Story 1Mrs Jones was 82. Her husband had died many years ago, so she lived alone with her cat. She had a large vegetable garden, and she kept fit by working there every day.But she was often unhappy, because she remembered she had lost her wedding ring many, many years ago. It was like a treasure for her.One day, she was in the garden pulling carrots out of the ground. Suddenly she saw the ring. A ca...

Send me a text.There are 4 questions for you to answer while you listen to the story:The questions are:1) What did uncle Tom make so he didn't have to get up early?2) When they were on the boat, where did Stephen Liddel put the box of beer?3) What did William's Dad do wrong that made him lose the fish?4) Why did Uncle Tom fall into the sea?At the end of the story, I'll tell you the answers.You can also answer the question:Is there a hero in your family? Who is it?You can send me your answer b...

Send me a text.Here are the rules for the story-writing activity.- The story must include at least one of the phrases 1 to 8 shown below.- The subject of the story can be anything you like.- The story should not be longer than 80 words.- The story can only be sent from the link on mobile phones "send me a text" at the top of this page in your podcast app.- Please include your name and the country you are from at the bottom of the text.- The last day for sending the story is 28th July 2024.- I...

Send me a text.Today I have joined the two halves of The Quiet Man together so you can enjoy this story in one complete story. I briefly discuss intonation and give you a task to listen to while enjoying the story.For more podcasts on intonation at Practising English, go to podcasts: 126, 109, 43, 103. See the podcast numbers at my website...https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-content.htmThe Quiet ManFirst part of story. If you can't see the words in red on your app (the stressed w...

Send me a text.Extracts from my stories with examples of SO and REALLY Here are the 4 extracts from my stories I use in this podcast to give examples of the use of SO and REALLY as intensifiers. Extract 1:'The fishmonger,' corrected Vanessa again. 'The person who sells fish is called a fishmonger.' 'The fishmonger was REALLY big and fat,' added Jason. 'Then Gran pointed to the fish man and said to me, "Do you know what this gentleman's name is?" And I said, "No, I don't." And ...

Send me a text.Writing the B1 article.(If you are interested in my podcast about writing the B1 story...https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-128.htm )These are some general, very important words I recommend you learn for writing in any part of the PET exam. You won't be able to use all of them, but try to use some at least:unless, available, suitable, encourage, increase, intend to, involve, keen to/on, supposed to, unable to. (Which words do I use?)These are the usual topics that c...

Send me a text.Expressions to memorize1) There is a decline in the numbers of lynxes. (usually negative)The decline in the number of tourists.2) It is extremely important that we finish this project on time.It is crucial that we finish this project on time. 3) Tigers are an endangered species.Tigers are a threatened species.Bees are becoming threatened by the use of pesticides.4) Forests are disappearing very quickly.Unemployment is increasing at an alarming rate. (usually negative)5) Pr...

Send us a Text Message.Introduction to part 2 of The Breath of the MosquitoEmil Zimmermann, professor of astrophysics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University sat back in his leather chair and studied the colourful feather, he was holding in his hand, through his thick glasses. ‘Incredible!’ he said. ‘You say it comes from an extinct* type of bird, don’t you?’Mathew was sitting the other side of Emil’s huge wooden desk, covered in piles of papers.‘That’s what we believe, yes, Emil. I...

Send us a Text Message.This is a B1-level short story in two parts.Professor Mathew Pearson, a paleontologist and professor at Oxford University, made an incredible discovery when he found a skull. Tests are done and the results are extremely surprising...Technical vocabulary in the storyPrehistory / A prehistoric scenepaleontologyfossilsThe Jurassic period (finished 145 million years ago)The Eocene period (finished 33m years ago)skullThe prehistoric animal mentioned in the story is a sarkast...

Send us a Text Message.This is the third and final part of the story 'The Harmonica Players'. Here are the B2 phrases I discuss in the podcast.1) This was not the familiar peaceful atmosphere of Oxted.2) He found London rather threatening. 3) An awful lot of unfamiliar people who packed the streets.4) You were swept along by dense, hostile crowds of total strangers.5) A black man in a hat, moving quickly towards Jeffrey in the opposite direction, bumped straight into him. 6) Jeffrey, although...

Send us a Text Message.In Part 2 of my story, The Harmonica Players, I’ll be talking about racial prejudice. That means the irrational distrust and dislike of people from other countries. My motive for bringing up this topic and creating Jeffrey, a man who is very prejudiced against foreigners, has been from the unfortunate policy by the current Conservative party in the UK, who have proposed and are about to carry out flying immigrants, who have arrived illegally into the UK, to the African ...

Send us a Text Message.The Harmonica Players. The story of two people who are very different from each other, yet there is something that unites them.Words and expressions discussed in the podcast:bedsit - accommodation, which is very basic, and is usually just one room.meter - a machine you put money into which controls the amount of electricity is consumed.- Somehow, he couldn’t face starting his day without a hot shower- All of a sudden...

Send us a Text Message. This is a B1 and B2 level podcast with a new story about the ages of Man. (See link to audioscript of story below.) B1 words discussed: sunrise landscape valleys scenery waterfall cave the cool shade setting sun (sunset) B2 words discussed youth bounced along life was a gift, which he would grab for himself make the most of the lines around his eyes a bald area mature his  body was curved and bent slow, clumsy and tired leaned awkwardly his old legs struggling to...

I'm listing below the phrases I explain in the audio. This is a B1-level story. Below, are the phrases I explain from the story. Vocabulary expressions for the story Today's story is B1 level. I'm listing below the phrases I explain in the audio. The point of this podcast is to explain that the language you use in your speaking exam must sound authentic. These are the B1 expressions I suggest you use in the speaking: some kind of - when you are describing something, or identifying...

In Telmah's life, very little happens. His garden is really the only thing he seems to care about. But one day, a neighbour loses her dog, and Telmah's life suddenly becomes much more complicated than he would like. These are the B1 expressions I explain from the story: be just about to do sth believe it or not feel sorry for a sense of humour straight away be fond of sb/sth keen on sth shortly afterwards just in case What do you think about Telmah. Is there a little of him in all of us? At...