We discuss our personal experiences of what works in learning a language, some of the research on language acquisition, how many people listen to the podcast and where they live and interviews with 2 of our students.

English for Life in the UK

How to learn a language

We interview the Artistic Director of a national touring theatre company about what they do and how they work. We also talk about theatre in the West End and elsewhere.

Theatre in the U.K. - Northern Broadsides

We discuss and illustrate a number of the regional variations in how English is spoken in different parts of the U.K. including Yorkshire, Lancashire, Liverpool, Birmingham, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. We hear the story of Wilfred Pickles who was used in World War 2 to confuse the Nazis.

Regional accents and dialects in the U.K.

A soap opera is a tv or radio drama. We interview one of the writers and ask her to explain what is a ‘soap’, talk about some of the most popular soaps, give examples of story-lines and discuss whether soaps reflect our society.

Soap Operas in the U.K.

The G7 is meeting in the U.K. this week. This episode explains the G7 and talks briefly about other international organisations including the United Nations, the Commonwealth and NATO. In Language Support we talk about abbreviations and acronyms.

Britain in the world: the G7 and other international organisations

The history and work of our independent charity which specialises in support for asylum seekers and refugees. We hear the voices of some of our asylum seekers and refugees.

Seeking asylum in the U.K.: part 2 local support, the work of the St Augustine’s Centre.

The right to asylum. How the process I supposed to work. Some of the challenges. The voices of experience from asylum seekers and refugees.

Seeking asylum in the U.K. - part 1, the asylum process and experiences

In May 2021 there were local and mayoral elections in England, national elections in Scotland and Wales. We interview one of the local candidates to find out what it was like.

Elections in the U.K.

We discuss the recent proposals for a European Super League. The history of some of England’s big clubs including Manchester City and Manchester United. Football related phrases and idioms.

Football in the U.K.

We recorded this episode on Shakespeare’s birthday which is also St George’s day. We discuss aspects of Shakespeare’s life and plays. Idioms from Shakespeare.

Shakespeare

The importance of Easter to Christians and the Easter story. Easter as a pagan festival. Modern U.K. traditions at Easter. Easter in some other countries. Symbolism and metaphors.

Easter in the U.K.

What is the census? Historical examples of the census. How the census changes over time. The census 2021 and how it will be used. How to talking about obligation in English including ‘to have to’ and ‘must’.

The census in the U.K.

History of film. Festivals and award ceremonies, the Oscars. How films get selected and the impact of streaming. Film genres. Film vocabulary.

Film and Cinema in the U.K.

Wild animals, trees, plants and flowers in different parts of the U.K. How to talk about quantities and amounts in English.

Wildlife in the uk

A podcast aimed particularly at Asylum Seekers and Refugees who want to improve their English and at the same time learn more about life in the U.K.

hubhopper

English for Life in the UK

hubhopper