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, the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on* at once.

- work as a musician had been difficult to get hold of

- From time to time, he gave harmonica lessons online…

- Martin always kept his eye out for a job that he could do.

- Every once in a while, he’d found work doing what he really loved

- a chance of a lifetime

- he dropped out of college

- struggling to make ends meet

- Jeffrey had a strong dislike of mobile phones

- They should be behind bars.

- [She] gazed out of the window at the daffodils in the snow

https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-188.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

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 make the final steps

To see full transcript, visit my website:
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-187.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

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 something

That must be... I suppose - this means you are quite sure what something is

very fond of - like

I've changed my mind - I don't agree with what I said before

I think that's a... isn't it? - easy to use question tag

Good point! - You have said something which I agree with

keen on - like

It's difficult to please everybody - to please means to make somebody happy

I mean, - say this to explain something you have said in a better way, or add more information

See the picture and transcript for the speaking test at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-186.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

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 https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

This is a B2 story in the genre of mystery or thriller. It's called Drawing Conclusions, which is one of the expressions I explain before I start the story.

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)

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

These are the dog expressions I mention today:
Dog Eat Dog
Raining cats and dogs
Teach an old dog new tricks

And these are the B1 and B2 expressions I explain, and that you will hear in the story:

B1
It didn’t look like they were expecting me.
They were definitely up to something.
He walked in and I went after him. I glanced around.
Rocky close on my heels. Somehow, I had to get rid of him.
Winning that dog food would be a dream come true.

B2
‘Weather seems to be getting worse and worse, this winter.'
The sight of those tins brought back fond memories
‘It was raining cats and dogs yesterday. Not to mention the cold. A dog can’t get warm at night.’
I wasn’t about to make a fool of myself.
I was under the impression something was going on.
‘Nice-looking collar,’ said Bozo. ‘Fair enough. You’re in.’

See the picture that inspired the story at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-183.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Today's story is B1 level with lots of B2 phrases added. This let's you improve little by little without getting lost because the text is too difficult to understand. I'm listing below the phrases I explain in the audio.

I also talk about ellipsis, which is where you omit words from a sentence in an "economy of words". We still understand the meaning - only the grammar is affected. Ellipsis is common in informal prose and speech. The examples are:
- Not a nice place, the street.
- No nice mat by the fire to sleep on either.
- Got to keep away from the police.

The expressions I talk about are:

B1 level.
take it easy
make a face
in case (of)
keep somebody waiting
be willing to do something
keep something a secret

B2 level.
taking everything into consideration
make your way
in actual fact / as a matter of fact
the look of somebody
be out of practice
be a disgrace
none of your business

Listen for these expressions and examples of ellipsis as you listen to the story.

You can see a better version of the painting which inspired my story at my website:
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-182.htm

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

This is a special edition podcast. Today I’m publishing The Octopus’s Garden as one complete story.

If you have listened to this story in the two parts I published two weeks ago (podcasts 179 and 180), you’ll remember that I have dedicated this story firstly, to the children of Gaza, who are suffering so terribly during this horrific war.

Secondly, I’ve also dedicated this story to my brother Nick Bilbrough and the HandsUp Project team, who worked for so many years to give the Gazan children a voice in the world. Please see the introduction of podcast 179 for more details of the HandsUp Project.

For this special edition, which is a B1 and B2-level story, I include eight comprehension questions for you to read before you listen. You can find the answers below the questions.

I hope you enjoy this story in its complete form.

Questions

1) What was Dunya drinking while she was sitting in the courtyard?

2) In what season of the year did the action take place?

3) According to Yousef Hussan Omar, Dunya's father, what are the two reasons why the reception room should belong to him?

4) What happened immediately after Dunya's mother spoke?

5) In which part of Dunya's house did the drone land?

6) What do you think is the symbolic meaning of the box where the mouse was kept?

7) How many bombs fell on the street where Mohammad and his family lived?

8) What was waiting for Dunya when she walked into the sea?

Answers

1) Dunya sat on a rug in the corner almost hidden by the rubber plants, drinking a glass of honey lemonade...

2) The warm autumn sun shone through the opening above the courtyard...

3) ‘I’m just saying that the reception room, which is at the entrance on my side of the house (and always has been), should belong to me in the testament - officially. Furthermore, I am the older brother.

4) There was a scream above. Dunya lifted her gaze to the sky above the courtyard. A bright flash. Everything went white. Then, an enormous bang split the world.

5) The doctors also said the drone had landed in the reception room of the house and exploded killing every member of her immediate family...

6) [The box represents Gaza.] She wondered how people could live in a place, from where no friendly countries could be seen. It was like being shut in a room where the only window was too high up to see out of.

7) The block of flats in front has been hit, and so has the block at the end of the street. [two bombs]

8) The water came up to her waist, and it was then that she saw the octopus. He was sitting on the seabed looking up at her with his seven legs stretched out

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)