Practising English copertina

Practising English

Practising English

Di: M. A. Bilbrough
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Listening practice for learners of B1 intermediate and B2 upper-intermediate levels of British English. Learn British English by listening to stories. Original and exciting stories written for learners and students of British English. Practise and prepare for Cambridge: B1 PET Preliminary and FCE First Certificate exams. IELTS: level 4, level 5 and level 6. Includes English grammar explanations and practice exercises, examples of vocabulary use, phrasal verbs and collocations help, British English pronunciation practice, advice and help for passing B1 and B2 English examinations: Cambridge, IELTS and Trinity. Start practising and improving your British English listening, vocabulary and speaking levels today!

© 2026 M. A. Bilbrough Apprendimento della lingua
Episodi
  • 324. Drawing Conclusions (B2 story) summer repeat

    324. Drawing Conclusions (B2 story) summer repeat
    Aug 25 2026

    Drawing Conclusions is a mystery story about a woman who witnesses some strange things happening at the house next door.

    The B2 phrases analysed before the story can be found at the show notes of your podcast app and at Practising English dot com, podcast 184.

    See phrases at my website: Practising English...

    B2 phrases:

    - drawing conclusions

    - Mrs Robinson had neither seen nor heard Lorna since

    - take great pride in sth

    - to go into more detail

    - he couldn’t look her in the eye

    - was very absorbed in everything

    - as far as she knew,

    - ideas had crossed Mrs Robinson’s mind

    - gossip

    - the trouble with

    - was on the point of

    - it’s common knowledge

    - sooner or later

    Important words:

    - greenhouse (a glass house in a garden, where you keep flowers)

    - boot (the back of a car, where you put suitcases etc.)

    - to split up (to separate from your partner, husband or wife)

    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 ...
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    26 min
  • 323. Coming Home (complete version) B1 - B2 Story

    323. Coming Home (complete version) B1 - B2 Story
    Aug 18 2026
    This story is the complete version of the B1, B2-level, Coming Home, first published here in 2024. Now you can enjoy the full story with vocabulary exercises below and at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-323.htmWords to explain:to strengthen = to make strongera property = a house (usually for sale)keep clear = stay away, do not come nearB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1, more or less (finished etc.) = nearly2, obliged to = you have to3, not have the slightest intention = (used in the neagative) not want or will not do something4, neither (inversion = e.g. neither do I like...) / neither... nor... e.g. I don't want to do neither one thing or the other5, drop in = an informal visit6) turn up = arrive without an appointmentThe 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-level1) ow - when you must pay somebody money because it is theirs2) unbl - you cannot do it3) brng up - the care and protection that parents give their children until they are adults4) sgntr - your written name5) lttry - tickets you buy to try to win a money prizeB2-level1) dbt - the money you owe to somebody2) dstrb - by making noise etc. other people get annoyed3) incm - the money you earn in your job4) py off - pay the money that you have borrowed5) shbby - untidy clothesAnswers to listening to the context of the B2 phrases:1, more or less (finished etc.)What amazed Jonathon was that his house was more or less standing. For most, it would have proved to be a painful experience. His charming two-storey country house was in ruins. 2, obliged toJonathon had been unable to pay the debts he owed on it in the taxes that he was obliged to pay after the house had been left to him on his mother’s death.3, the slightest intentionFor some unexplained reason, nobody in his family had had the slightest intention of strengthening the bottom floor, and neither did Jonathon do anything about it after his mother passed away. 4, a) neither... nor... / b) neither (inversion)a) However, the fact that it had been abandoned, and had neither been rebuilt nor pulled down completely, gave Jonathon a certain sense of satisfaction.b) For some unexplained reason, nobody in his family had had the slightest intention of strengthening the bottom floor, and neither did Jonathon do anything about it after his mother passed away. 5, drop inTo claim your prize, please drop in at any local branch of your bank.6) turn upJonathon felt he could not turn up at the bank looking like a vagabond. Answers to vocabulary test.B1-level1) owe2) unable3) bring up4) signature5) lotteryB2-level1) debt2) disturb3) income4) pay off5) shabbyContact Mike Bilbrough with a question or enquiry about advertising on Practising English Podcasts: https://www.practisingenglish.com/contact.htmMy 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/46AVFe9Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0iFor 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/46TCWvvOxford 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/4r7YVHgAt https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning ...
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    22 min
  • 322. The Harmonica Players (full version) B2 story

    322. The Harmonica Players (full version) B2 story
    Aug 11 2026
    This is the complete version of the B2-level story, The Harmonica Players. I include here for you a B2 vocabulary list of words and expressions to listen for in the story:Practising English podcast 322...B2 Words and expressions in the story1. couldn't faceStory sentence to listen for: Somehow, he couldn’t face starting his day without a hot shower. Definition: To feel unable or unwilling to do something because you do not want to deal with it. 2. All of a suddenStory sentence to listen for: All of a sudden , the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on at once. Definition: Very quickly and unexpectedly. 3. get hold ofStory sentence to listen for: Work as a musician had been difficult to get hold of . Definition: To find or obtain something that you need or want. 4. From time to timeStory sentence to listen for: From time to time , he gave harmonica lessons online… Definition: Sometimes, but not regularly. 5. kept his eye out forStory sentence to listen for: Martin always kept his eye out for a job that he could do. Definition: To watch carefully for something because you hope to find or see it. 6. Every once in a whileStory sentence to listen for: Every once in a while , he’d found work doing what he really loved. Definition: Sometimes, but not often. 7. a chance of a lifetimeStory sentence to listen for: It was a chance of a lifetime . Definition: A very special opportunity that is unlikely to happen again. 8. dropped out ofStory sentence to listen for: He dropped out of college. Definition: To leave a school, college or course before you have finished it. 9. make ends meetStory sentence to listen for: He was struggling to make ends meet . Definition: To have just enough money to pay for the things you need. 10. had a strong dislike ofStory sentence to listen for: Jeffrey had a strong dislike of mobile phones. Definition: To strongly dislike someone or something. 11. behind barsStory sentence to listen for: They should be behind bars . Definition: In prison. 12. gazed out ofStory sentence to listen for: She gazed out of the window at the daffodils in the snow. Definition: Looked at something for a long time, often without moving your eyes. 13. foreignersStory sentence to listen for: 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English .' Definition: People who come from a different country. 14. native EnglishStory sentence to listen for: 'I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English .' Definition: Describes people who have English as their first language. 15. In contrast toStory sentence to listen for: In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people. Definition: Used to show how one thing is different from another. 16. primarilyStory sentence to listen for: In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people. Definition: Mainly or mostly. 17. respectableStory sentence to listen for: 'All respectable , traditional people. Proper English people, Jeffrey would say.' Definition: Considered to be good, honest and acceptable by most people. 18. upbringingStory sentence to listen for: 'His upbringing had always been in country areas, away from cosmopolitan cities.' Definition: The way a person is treated and taught by their parents while they are growing up. 19. distrustedStory sentence to listen for: 'He distrusted foreigners in his country, in general.' Definition: Did not trust someone because you believed they might not be honest or reliable. 20. take it for grantedStory sentence to listen for: 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play .' Definition: To believe that something will always be there or happen, without thinking about it. 21. decency and fair playStory sentence to listen for: 'In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play .' Definition: Decency means behaving in a good and honest way. Fair play means treating people fairly and following accepted rules. 22. deceit and dishonestyStory sentence to listen for: 'Unfortunately, the deceit and dishonesty , which so many immigrants brought with them from elsewhere was giving this country a bad name.' Definition: Deceit means trying to make someone believe something that is not true. Dishonesty means not being honest or truthful. 23. discourageStory sentence to listen for: 'The current government’s policy of sending them all to Rwanda was obviously a practical solution which would discourage others, tempted by England’s superior standard of living, from attempting the crossing of the English Channel.' Definition: To make someone less willing to do something. 24. giving the country a bad nameStory sentence to listen for: 'Immigrants giving the country a bad name .' Definition: Making other people have a bad opinion of a country because of someone's actions. ...
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    34 min
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