Practising English

Here is the B1 vocabulary for today's Treasure Island chapter: 1) close up 2) show somebody in 3) have one’s doubts 4) keen on / fond of 5) dislike 6) not be convinced 7) give somebody a hand The Hispaniola was waiting out at sea, not near the land but a little way out. We rowed out in a small boat among many big ships. Their ropes hung down in the water, and sometimes they touched our boat. I had never seen a ship so close up before and was amazed at their size and beauty . At last, we came next to our ship and climbed on board... 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

The vocabulary and story transcript to today's B2 story: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-297.htm 1. define It is sometimes difficult to define success, because it means different things to different people. 2. an act of will Finishing the marathon after injuring his ankle was purely an act of will. 3. upside down When I turned the map upside down, I finally realized I had been reading it the wrong way. 4. What on earth happened? The kitchen was covered in flour and broken plates—what on earth happened while I was out? 5. something daring She decided to do something daring and quit her stable job to start her own business. 6. stare in disbelief He could only stare in disbelief when he saw his small village on the international news. 7. Don’t talk nonsense! Don’t talk nonsense! Of course you can pass the exam if you prepare properly. 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

These are the words I'll be studying today: Transcript at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-296.htm treasure to sail crew sailor the docks ship telescope crutch pirate the squire All hands on board! aye, aye, sir! a schooner 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

The signalman explained to me that every signal had to be written down, with the exact time. Even during the quietest hours of the night, he had to remain watching. As he spoke, the bell rang sharply . He stopped mid-sentence, moved quickly to the wall, and rang back without hesitation . Then he returned to the desk and carefully wrote the time and signal in his book. ‘You see?’ he said. ‘ Accuracy is everything. A single mistake can have serious consequences .’ We continued talking, but twice he suddenly stopped, his face turning pale . Each time, he opened the door and stared towards the tunnel, though the bell had not rung. ‘Did you hear something?’ I asked. ‘No,’ he said. ‘But I thought I might.’ When I stood to leave, I said, ‘You sound like a man who once took pride in his work.’ ‘I did,’ he replied quietly. ‘Before the trouble started.’ I returned the following night, exactly as arranged . I did not call out. He was waiting for me, holding his white light steady. ‘I’m glad you came back,’ he said. ‘I need to talk this over with somebody .’ We sat by the fire, and he leaned forward, speaking in a low voice. ‘One night,’ he began, ‘I was sitting here alone when I heard a voice cry, ‘Hallo! Below there!’’ Without wanting to, I shivered . ‘I went to the door,’ he said, ‘and I saw a figure near the danger light. One arm was waving wildly , as if in warning. The other arm was held across the face.’ ‘What did you do?’ I asked. ‘I ran towards it,’ he said. ‘I believed an accident had happened.’ ‘And then?’ ‘It disappeared.’ He told me that within hours, there was a terrible accident on the line. Trains were stopped. People were injured. Some were killed. ‘I told myself it was a coincidence ,’ he continued. ‘But months later, the figure returned. It said nothing. It stood with both hands before its face, like someone in deep sadness .’ ‘And that same day—’ I said. ‘A young woman died on a passing train,’ he finished. I tried to convince him of my point of view . I spoke of stress, imagination, and long hours alone. ‘I wish I could accept that,’ he said. ‘But the figure keeps coming back.’ ‘How often?’ I asked. 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

These are the questions for the story today. You can see the complete audioscript for the story at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-294.htm 1) Why wouldn't the people from the village help Jim and his mother? 2) How much money did Jim's mother take from the chest (box)? 3) How did the blind man and his men get into the inn? 4) What was inside the packet that Jim found inside the chest? 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

These are the 7 B2 words I discuss during the podcast: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-293.htm 1) rolled 2) feared 3) shade 4) dragged 5) unwilling 6) endless 7) uneasy 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

For the full transcript of the story go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-292.htm These are the phrases I study from the B1 story today: get rid of – I want to get rid of these old clothes because I never wear them. run (a business) – She runs a small business with her sister. unpleasant – The weather was cold and unpleasant all day. set the table – Can you help me set the table before dinner? unfriendly – The waiter was unfriendly and didn’t smile at all. annoyed – He felt annoyed when the bus arrived late again. straight to somewhere – After work, I went straight to the gym. warning – The teacher gave us a warning about being late. grab – The thief grabbed my bag and ran off with it. threaten – The man threatened to call the police if they didn’t stop. 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

The second and final part of my B2-level adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Black Cat: The B2 phrases studied are: The Black Cat (B2-Level- Part 2) · fall into hopeless despair After losing his job and the apartment in the same week, he fell into hopeless despair. · draw their attention to The teacher pointed at the board to draw the students’ attention to the maths problem solution. · fill somebody with shock and terror The sudden crash in the middle of the night filled her with shock and terror. · a growing dislike for After months of working late with no thanks, she developed a growing dislike for her boss. · be ashamed to admit I’m ashamed to admit that I forgot my best friend’s birthday. · beyond control The situation quickly became beyond control once people started arguing. · a violent rage He flew into a violent rage when he realized his car had been stolen. · completely untouched The cake was still completely untouched at the end of the party. · fill somebody with great relief Hearing that her family was safe filled her with great relief. · sleep peacefully After the storm passed, the children finally slept peacefully. Read the transcript at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-291.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 vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams). To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. My B1-level version. Chapter 1 Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and some other gentlemen asked me to write down the whole story of Treasure Island, from the beginning to the end . I must leave out only the exact position of the island, because there is still treasure there... https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-290.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 vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams). To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

First part of my B2 version of The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe: For the most strange, yet also ordinary, story that I am about to write, I do not expect belief, nor do I ask for it. To tell the truth, I would be foolish to expect anyone to believe me... Read story transcript with B2 words in bold: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-289.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 vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams). To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English lear...

You can find the audioscript to the B2 story today just here: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-288.htm The Lost Ring Mary Grams, a woman from Alberta, Canada, lost her diamond engagement ring in 2004 while she was working in her garden. The ring slipped off her finger, but although she made a long search for it, in the end, she believed it had gone missing forever. Mary was very disappointed about the disappearance of her ring, but she did not want to worry her husband. Instead of telling him, she decided to buy a replacement ring and wore that for many years. Thirteen years later, Mary's daughter-in-law made an interesting discovery. She was picking vegetables from the same garden when she pulled up a strange carrot. Around the carrot was a gold ring. When the family cleaned it, they realised it was Mary's original engagement ring. It had finally turned up. Mary was over the moon. Despite being in the ground all that time, it was in perfect condition and did not need restoring - it even fit her finger. The family believes the ring had fallen into the soil years earlier, and as the carrot grew, it passed through the ring. The story quickly became well-known around the world and reminded many people that although things can go missing, they may turn up again - even after a long time. 1. vanished - My wallet seems to have vanished without a trace. 2. locate - It took hours to locate the missing document. 3. restore - The museum worked hard to restore the damaged painting. 4. disappearance - The disappearance of the important files was never explained. 5. discovery - I made an important discovery last night. I found snails on my cabbages in the garden. 6. search - a search was made for the missing hikers 7. seek - We are seeking top secretaries for our London office 8. turn up - My door key finally turned up. It was under the sofa. 9. go missing - Several files went missing after the office renovation. 10. come across - I came across these old photograph albums in the attic 11. hold on to - Make sure you hold on to the receipt. 12. replacement - a part of the car engine is worn; the gar 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www....

This is the audioscript for today's B1-level dialogue: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-287.htm That's Life! Mary: 'Morning, Anna. You don't look very well today. Are you sick? Anna: 'Morning, Mary. Oh, yes. I feel terrible. I'm suffering from this backache and my head hurts. I think it's an illness caused by this awful, cold weather. Mary: Oh dear. I've got problems too. I can't breathe properly, and I have to blow my nose all the time. I know I'm always complaining of my poor health, but it's getting worse - I can tell you! Anna: Did you check your temperature? Mary: Yes, it's a little high. The doctor says it's nothing serious, but I'm not sure I believe him. I've probably got some terrible, tropical disease, but he doesn't want to tell me. You know what doctors are like? Anyway, last week I fell and now I have a bandage on my leg. Just look at it! Anna: Ooer! That looks painful. I think many people of our age suffer from the same illnesses. Our lifestyle is quite unhealthy, my mum is always telling me. Too many hamburgers and no salads. Mary: You're right. We don't exercise enough - too much mobile phone, my dad says. Anna: I hope I recover soon. I want to feel young again. After all, I'm only fifteen. Mary: I'll be sixteen next month. Time waits for nobody! …By the way, Anna. Anna: What's the matter now? Another illness you haven't told me about? Mary: No. I was just going to ask. Is your mum giving you a lift to school tomorrow? Anna: Oh, yes. As always. Mary: Can she take me too? All that walking makes me tired. 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www....

This is the audioscript for this B2 story (part 2) of The Hole: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-286.htm The Hole (Part 2) I hurriedly set up the equipment from out of my bags. 'Can I help, señor?' Pedro stepped forwards. 'Please. Undo these two ropes. One has a harness and the other is fixed to this small sack, while I set up the laptop and monitor.' I then had to think fast. After I had the computer equipment ready, I knelt down at the side of the borehole and felt the walls. Cement. 'Pedro. Are the walls cement all the way down to the bottom? I imagine they're not.' 'These holes are dug with a machine and lower down the walls are just earth.' So as the child fell, his body brushed against the sides of the hole bringing the earth down on top of him, I thought to myself. Not good. I turned to Heidi. I had already typed in the programme for her to follow. 'Go, Heidi!' She almost jumped into the hole head first. Even her small body would find it difficult to descend, but she disappeared rapidly into the darkness. Unlike the slow and clumsy articulated robots we usually see, those constructed at my company had the ability to react and move with lively and precise movements. I looked into the borehole, as did Pedro and the father. I could see Heidi's multiple phosphorescent bulbs on her titanium frame had now lit up. The brightness descended as her feet dug expertly but carefully into the walls of the borehole so as not to disturb the soft soil. I then turned to the laptop screen and monitor, and Pedro and the father followed. I examined the screen. There was now a crowd of people behind us, silent but impatient. The camera and microphone on Heidi's tail showed her metal frame moving mechanically down metre after metre. 'There's the bag of sweets,' said Pedro pointing at the screen. 'And there's the earth. The tunnel stops there.' Heidi did not pause. She began digging with great care into the floor. We could hear the sounds over the speakers. I then picked up the rope with the sack and dropped it into the hole, ensur 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www....

This is the audioscript for today's B2 story: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-285.htm The Hole 'We're arriving, señor,' said the helicopter pilot. 'It's down there, by that hill. I'll land as close as I can get. Time is going to be crucial.' The helicopter dropped down vertically and bounced once before finally settling on the grassy slope. There were a number of people gathered about fifty metres further up the hill, and several vehicles: cars, police vehicles, two ambulances and a fire engine. It was otherwise a lonely spot, close to a country road; pleasant with green grass, trees and four or five wooden tables with benches for picnickers. New Year is part of the Christmas holiday season in Spain, and in Andalusia, where the weather is often mild at this time of year, families will often head for the nearest countryside with a picnic basket and spend an afternoon in the fresh, clean outdoors. The helicopter pilot jumped out and pulled open the side exit for me, and I jumped out immediately with my backpack and heavy canvas bag. I was not alone. Sunny, my 4-year-old golden retriever leapt out too, thankful to be out of that strange and noisy craft. However, I had another companion with a more complex name: High Degree of Articulated Freedom Robot. Naturally, you cannot use that name all the time when talking to an AI robot, so I had given her a shorter name - Heidi. At my robotics company in Almeria, she had been my own creation, although a whole team of computer engineers had been responsible for her construction. Although smaller than a golden retriever, she looked like a dog in shape, so much so that Sunny, the golden retriever accepted her company even though a little suspiciously. However, there was little covering the shiny, titanium structure, so she looked something like a yellow and silver dog skeleton. But she had two, bright, green and gold-coloured eyes, and there was a hook-like hand at the end of the tail - so she could hold firmly to any surface. She behaved like a dog too - the perfect companion: all obeying, fast and responsive with a strength far exceeding her canine friend, Su 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www....

This is a B1 and B2 story with phrasal verbs. Here is the audioscripy for the story: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-284.htm A Christmas Surprise Christmas didn't turn out very well for Flora. She lived in the north of Scotland, where the weather can be a problem in the winter months. She lived in Keiss, a fishing village at the northern end of Sinclair's Bay on the east coast of Caithness in Scotland's Highland area. She wanted to spend Christmas with her ageing mother who lived in Lairg - not far away but higher up in the mountains. A heavy snowstorm had cut off the town, so travel there was impossible. She had to give up that idea. Feeling disappointed, she decided to stay in and wait for the weather to change. On Christmas Eve, Flora woke up early and put on her warmest coat to check outside. The streets were quiet, and most shops were closed. While she was looking around, she noticed an elderly neighbour, Mr. Armstrong, trying to clear away the snow in front of his house. Flora went over to help him, even though she didn't know him very well. As they worked together, Mr. Armstrong opened up about his life. He told Flora that his family lived far away and that he usually ended up spending Christmas alone. Hearing this, Flora didn't want to walk away and forget about him. Instead, she came up with an idea. Later that day, Flora set up a small Christmas dinner in her apartment. She invited Mr. Armstrong over, and he happily turned up just before sunset. They shared stories, laughed a lot, and slowly got to know each other better. Flora realized that even though her original plans had fallen through, something special had worked out in the end. 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www....

This is the story text for the B2 story today: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-283.htm 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 follow, Miss Jenkins. I understand you used to direct pantomimes at Christmas. And you would sing yourself in them. You sing well - so I've been told.' 'Well, they were just school pantomimes, Mr Mayor. When I was a teenager. Nothing professional.' Then she added, 'The experience will help, of course.' 'We're all convinced you'll do a splendid job, Miss Jenkins.' 'I'll do my best,' Mr Mayor. However, quite honestly, Jenny Jenkins wasn't sure she could live up to everyone's expectations. Last year's event had been perfect, and people kept reminding her of the fact. Still, she had decided to take on the challenge. Trying to get out of it was useless - it was her job after all. At first, everything went smoothly-until the main singer suddenly dropped out of the programme a week before Christmas. Jenny tried not to panic, but she kept putting off finding a replacement. She hoped someone would magically appear, but Christmas magic seemed to be running late. Two days before the festival, the town mayor pointed out that the schedule still had an empty space where the singer should be. Jenny realised she could no longer ignore the problem. Finally, she caught up with her long list of tasks and started calling local musicians… It was Christmas Eve, the morning of the festival. There had been a heavy fall of snow the night before and everything was looking very Christmassy. Jenny was exhausted but proud. Everything was ready. The mayor had told her he'd found a singer himself, and she'd be the star of the festival. Jenny felt relieved - whoever it might be. Jenny was on the stage in the market square, making final preparations. The mayor walked across the square towards her from the Town Hall. He was wearing a thick coat, a hat, and a scarf to keep out the icy wind and snow. Curiously, he was holding a paper bag 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www.practisingenglish.com/ Be back soon with another podcast! Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

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. 'What day is it, my boy?' Scrooge repeated, expecting to be disappointed. 'Why, it's Christmas Day!' replied the boy. 'It's Christmas Day!' said Scrooge to himself, delighted. 'I haven't missed it. The Ghosts did everything in one night. They can do anything!' 'Hello, my boy!' Scrooge called. 'Hello!' said the boy. 'Do you know the shop on the corner in the next street where they sell turkeys?' asked Scrooge. 'Of course I do,' said the boy. 'Good boy!' said Scrooge. 'Do you know if they have sold the big prize turkey? Not the small one-the huge one.' 'The one as big as me?' asked the boy. 'Yes!' laughed Scrooge. 'That one.' 'It's still there,' said the boy. 'Good!' said Scrooge. 'Go and buy it.' 'You must be joking!' said the boy amazed. 'Definitely not, my boy,' said Scrooge. 'Go and tell them Ebenezer Scrooge will buy it, and then tell them to bring it here. Come back with the man, and I'll give you a shilling. If you don't hang about and come back in less than five minutes, I'll give you two shillings!' The boy ran off as fast as he could go. 'I'll send the turkey to Bob Cratchit,' Scrooge said quietly, laughing to himself. 'He won't know who sent it. It's much bigger than his son, Tiny Tim. I'll wrap it up and send it as a Christmas gift. This will be a wonderful surprise for him!' 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www.practisingenglish.com/ Be back soon with another podcast! Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

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 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www.practisingenglish.com/ Be back soon with another podcast! Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

This is the text for the B1 story today: 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 noticed a small brown glove lying on a bench. It looked new, so Lucas picked it up. ‘Maybe someone lost it,’ he thought. It was made of leather with a small silver chain on the back, and looked valuable. He looked around and saw a girl about his age standing under some pine trees. She was well-dressed, her clothes seemed a little old-fashioned. She seemed worried, so Lucas went up to her. ‘Hi, is this your glove?’ he asked. The girl’s face suddenly shone. ‘Yes! Thank you. I thought it was gone forever.’ When he looked at her face, he noticed she had a beauty that was unforgettable. They started talking, and soon they were laughing. They made a snowman together, which was the handsomest one Lucas had ever made. Before leaving, the girl said, ‘Come to the Christmas market tomorrow. I’ll be at the hot chocolate stall. I run it with my mother.’ Lucas agreed and went home – a smile on his face. The next day, he arrived early at the market. He looked for the girl, but she wasn’t there. There wasn’t a chocolate stall either. When he asked an elderly woman about her who sold woolly cardigans, the woman looked surprised. ‘There hasn’t been a hot chocolate stall here for years,’ she said. ‘There used to be one, I remember. But I was a child then. It was set up by a lady and her daughter every Christmas. Pretty girl, the daughter. She died of typhus, poor thing, at just about Christmas time if I remember correctly.’ 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www.practisingenglish.com/ Be back soon with another podcast! Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

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 houses, or should I call them mansions, the whole world would love to own: large, spacious, attractive stone, sloping grey roofs, leafy gardens - front, back and sides, and a broad driveway to park an expensive SUV. If I take a glance through the windows, I can just make out flashing lights from Christmas trees and decorations. A car pulls up outside a house. A couple get out. They open the boot and in the soft illumination of the street lamps I can see they take out some colourful boxes - Christmas presents. The front door of the house is pushed open. Three children dash out into the snow in their slippers laughing excitedly. They’re hugged by the two adults. The parents appear at the door shouting warm greetings. Everybody is laughing and chatting. They all disappear inside the house. A silence falls over the houses again as the front door shuts. I hear voices to my right over the soft snow. To the best of my knowledge, they’re a group of carol singers making their way to a house on the other side of the road. Some are still singing. They’re wrapped up warm in thick coats, furry boots and woollen scarves. Some are holding sticks with candles burning still. I hear a girl make a comment: something about how hungry she is - the others agree enthusiastically. Another door is opened by a man in an apron, and they all make their way up the steps singing and shouting “Merry Christmas”. Again, the door shuts and all that happiness and laughter is shut in – as though something exclusive to a privileged few, Who am I? And what am I doing out in the snow on such a special night? I should be with family, friends, and loved ones. It would be a sad Christmas Eve indeed if I were alone here, outside in the cold, no food, unloved, forgotten, probably even rejected by most who saw me. How many like me are out in the cold when it seems the whole world around is w 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, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform): https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv Oxford Bookworm Graded Readers: Read stories at your level to improve your English. I recommend Oxford Bookworms as the best series of books for learners: https://amzn.to/4r7YVHg At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages. https://www.practisingenglish.com/ Be back soon with another podcast! Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)