Podcast
6 Minute English
Hosted by Angeles Martinez · EN
Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations with the BBC. Your weekly instruction manual for saying or doing something in English is published every Thursday.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Living with debt
1w ago00:06:38Tap to summarizeMany people have to borrow money to make big purchases, like buying a house or a car. When you do this, you have to pay the money back over time – the money you owe is a debt. With the current cost of living getting increasingly high, some people are having to borrow money even for everyday purchases like bills and food. Sometimes this debt can get out of control, which causes anxiety and stress. Neil and Pippa discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260528Got another 6 Minutes? Try Real Easy English to learn from natural English conversations: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english/ Learn English from the biggest news stories from around the world: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026Search 'BBC Learning English' in your podcast app to find our other programmes or visit bbclearningenglish.com
Transcribe →Making cities feel quieter
2w ago00:06:38Tap to summarizeWhat do you prefer – the sounds of birdsong and wind rustling in the trees, or the hum of traffic and chatter of people passing by? Some people like the quiet of the countryside and others love the noise of the city, but did you know that constant exposure to loud noise has been found to increase anxiety? That's why some people have been trying to find ways to make our cities feel quieter. Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260521Got another 6 Minutes? Try Real Easy English to learn from natural English conversations: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english/ Learn English from the biggest news stories from around the world: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026Search 'BBC Learning English' in your podcast app to find our other programmes or visit bbclearningenglish.com
Transcribe →How reading shapes your brain
3w ago00:06:36Tap to summarizeDo you remember what it was like before you learnt to read? It's hard to think back that far! Scientific research has shown that learning to read changes the way our brains work. Not only that, but depending on the language you are reading, your brain changes in different ways. Becca and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260514Got another 6 Minutes? Try Real Easy English to learn from natural English conversations: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/real-easy-english/ Learn English from the biggest news stories from around the world: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026Search 'BBC Learning English' in your podcast app to find our other programmes or visit bbclearningenglish.com
Transcribe →Searching for life on another planet
4w ago00:06:37Tap to summarizeWill we ever be able to live on a planet that isn't Earth? A science and space journalist explainss the latest research and data collected from planet TRAPPIST-1e. Neil and Becca teach you some new language to understand this potentially habitable planet.Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260507Practise your listening skills at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the_listening_roomLearn language to use at work in Office English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-englishGet our latest programmes. Subscribe to our free email newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters
Transcribe →Should we eat ultra-processed food?
Apr 3000:06:43Tap to summarizeWhat is your ultra-processed guilty pleasure? Many of us love home-cooked food, but when we're in a rush, it's often more convenient to eat snacks, or to buy quick, easy meals from the supermarket which we simply have to heat up. These are often ultra-processed forms of food, which recent studies have linked to poor health. Phil and Pippa discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260430Learn language to use at work in Office English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-englishGet our latest programmes. Subscribe to our free email newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters
Transcribe →Why are we all so stressed?
Apr 2300:06:43Tap to summarizeWorrying about exams, work or climate change in the news. It's no wonder modern life is stressful. Becca and Neil hear from a presenter and psychologist about managing stress. Learn some tips to help with worrying and stress, as well as some new vocabulary and phrases!Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260423Learn language to use at work in Office English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-englishGet our latest programmes. Subscribe to our free email newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters
Transcribe →Love the foods you hate
Apr 1600:06:42Tap to summarizeAre there some foods that you just hate? Have you ever hated a food in the past but started liking it? We hear from a food expert and a dietitian about why there are some foods we just hate and even fear, and whether it's possible to learn to love them. Neil and Becca discuss this, learn some tips for loving the foods you hate, and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a transcript and worksheet at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260416Learn language to use at work in Office English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-englishGet our latest programmes. Subscribe to our free email newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters
Transcribe →The future of food
Apr 900:06:47Tap to summarizeMany of us are trying to be more careful with our food choices, both for our personal health and for the health of the planet in general. But did you know that the food we buy is closely linked to national security? Neil and Pippa hear from climate reporter and a chief executive of the UK's Climate Change Committee, and teach you some new vocabulary.
Transcribe →Are saunas good for you?
Apr 200:06:35Tap to summarizeHow do you feel about being in a small room heated to a temperature of 80°C? Believe it or not, some people love it! There might be some health benefits to this hot habit too! Georgie and Neil hear from a BBC reporter and a professor from BBC Radio 4 programme Inside Health. You'll also learn some useful language! Read along with this podcast with the free transcript, and practise the vocabulary using the quiz and worksheet: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260402Learn English to use at work in Office English available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-englishSubscribe to our newsletter for our weekly highlights: https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u178220599 and feel free to email us at learningenglish@bbc.co.uk!
Transcribe →Weight loss drugs
Mar 2600:06:32Tap to summarizeWeight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are modified versions of natural hormones which make us feel full when released into the body. Prof Giles Yeo explains how the drugs, which were originally used to treat diabetes, are now being used for weight loss. Georgie and Neil teach you some useful vocabulary.Read along with this podcast with the free transcript, and practise the vocabulary using the quiz and worksheet: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260326Learn English to use at work in Office English available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/office-englishSubscribe to our newsletter for our weekly highlights: https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u178220599 and feel free to email us at learningenglish@bbc.co.uk!
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