Over time I have come across many places on the Internet where there are excellent free resources to help with English learning. I don’t just mean the usual places like YouTube and FaceBook, I mean podcasts that have been developed professionally for a particular audience. I listen to many of these myself.
I’ve grouped the video and podcasts in groups to make it easier, as the list will be getting longer and longer. If you find anymore that I don’t know about, please leave a comment in the relevant section and I’ll add it to the list. The index is on the right »
Why Podcasts?
Podcasts can be used for learning in three ways. To listen for meaning. In other words to understand what is actually being said, in the way that you would listen to a podcast in your first language. To listen for language. By this I mean listening to the grammar, for new words and collocations; listening to the way that words are pronounced, the way that words join together when they are spoken. Lastly not listening at all! Maybe when you’re half asleep, or trying to concentrate on something else. Even if you’re not listening, your subconscious is! See my article “The Human Sponge” for more about this.
Anyway, I’ve grouped the video and podcasts in groups to make it easier, as the list will be getting longer and longer. If you find anymore that I don’t know about, please leave a comment in the relevant section and I’ll add it to the list.
I must add that these podcasts are NOT on this site, I have linked them to their original site, and added a source for them. If you prefer, you could go straight to the website in question
Art, Culture and Real Lives
These all relate to arts and culture. But in this section you’ll also find interviews with people in the news, and reports form correspondants around the world.
Excess Baggage
“Travellers’ Tales from home and around the world: their destinations, experiences and issues arising from their journeys are discussed.”
Length: 27 minutes
Prof Brian Cox flew to the top of the atmosphere, dived to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, descended into a cave soaked in sulphuric acid and witnessed a total solar eclipse tells Sandi how visiting some of earth’s most extreme locations gave him an idea of other planets’ environments. Chief executive of Oxfam Dame Barbara Stocking talks to Sandi about her recent visit to Chad, and explains how lack of water is at the heart of the humanitarian crisis and that the role of women in organising wells offers some hope. Artist and writer Esther David is from a Indian Jewish community and tells Sandi whow they came to be there and how the two cultures have become intertwined.
From Our Own Correspondent
“Insight, wit and analysis as the BBC’s foreign correspondents take a closer look at the stories behind the headlines.”
Length: 28 minutes
Gideon Long reflects upon the end of twenty years of centre-left rule in Chile; Mark Tully tells of the development on its way to the remotest corner of India; Alex Bell warns that the water is running out in Cyprus; Caspar Leighton finds that his boots leave a lasting impression on a quiet Saturday night in Togo, and Matt Frei smokes himself sick in Cuba.
Expense and embarrassment as Chris Simpson, the BBC man in the Central African Republic, is accused of spying; Andrew Harding is in Harare where the white community is nervous as the government draws up new legislation; Monica Whitlock meets refugees from a massacre in Uzbekistan trying to carve out new lives for themselves in Sweden; as the Kurds in northern Iraq prepare to go to the polls Jim Muir finds there’s a new political force in the land — and it wants change. And Simon Winchester’s in the hills of Massachussets where a village newspaper is preparing to do battle against the Internet revolution.
Front Row Highlights
“Interviews with leading novelists, musicians, film directors, artists and more.”
Length: 36 minutes
John Wilson meets Benny and Bjorn from Abba; actor Colin Farrell on his film Ondine and his career so far; new disc from Gorillaz reviewed by Miranda Sawyer; novelist Joanna Trollope; photographer Lord Snowdon at 80.
Global Arts and Entertainment
“This is a weekly compliation of the World Service culture programme, The Strand.
Length: 45 minutes
Mukoma wa Ngugi; Jazz Loft; Ion Barladeanu; Karachi Literary Festival; Kingdom of Ife; Atiq Rahimi; Jerry Dammers.
Interview
“Hear from the major players who shape our world. What motivates them and drives their thinking.”
Length: 25 minutes
Sophie Andrews has had a long journey to her current position as chair of the British counselling charity The Samaritans — a charity which she turned to during her darkest moments. She tells Carrie Gracie how she dealt with the terrible abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her adoptive father and her attempts to end her life, and how we should all take time to listen to people in need.
Forum – A World of Ideas
“Bridget Kendall hosts three prominent international thinkers debating big ideas.”
Length: 48 minutes
How can we improve trust in an age of catastrophic risk? Argentinean Graciela Chichilnisky, professor of Economics and at Columbia University. How fear influences the way we decide under the pressure of catastrophe. Brazilian Helio Mattar, ex govt minster and a major thinker on corporate responsibility, believes consumers are on the verge of telling big businesses what to do. American medical doctor Mitch Besser advocates training HIV positive mothers to inspire behaviour change in their communities. Special recording in front of participating audience in Portmeirion.
Business
Here are a selection of feeds I’ve found that are related specifically to business. I’ve grouped them buy source. Click on the link to play the file directly, or right click to save it to your computer.
The Bottom Line with Evan Davis
“Evan Davis meets 3 or 4 powerful business leaders for an evening round table conversation exploring their passions, their products and their relationship to consumers.” Evan Davis is one of the rising stars of the BBC. In the last couple of years his elbowed his way to the top table, in the same way that Andrew Marr did only a few years before. There are two versions of this produced, one for the UK audience and one for an international audience.
Length: 20-25 minutes
The faster things get, the more we all seem to be trying hard just to stand still. Evan asks his panel of top business guests about the pace of life, and how they find time to think. The panel also discusses the power of advertising – is it true that the more you spend the more you get?
On the panel this week: Sir Martin Sorrell of WPP, Rita Clifton of Interbrand and Wol Kolade of ISIS.
Business Daily
This is everything you need to know about global business, everyday. It cludes analysis and reports ranging from management to marketing.
Length: 18 minutes
Don’t tighten the screws on Iran because it’s only developing nuclear technology for medical use, or, do get tough with Iran because it’s disguised its true military intentions.
Steve Evans hears the heat and the light of the argument.
He is first joined by Hossein Askari is an Iranian exile who is also the Iran Professor of Business and International Relations at George Washington University in DC.
He told us that the current sanctions restricting financial activities by Iranian enterprises don’t go far enough.
Plus Abbas Edalat is Professor of Computer Science at Imperial College in London tells us the anti-sanctions argument.
And our regular commentator Bright Simons in Accra explains how the internet revolution is a bit like the railway revolution of two hundred years ago.
When we think of teched-up places, it’s America we think of first, don’t we? Not quite true, actually. Figures just out, show that a hefty 40% of Americans don’t have broadband at home. The BBC’s Jane O’Brien reports on how the US has been slow to adopt the latest technology and why the Obama administration is now unveiling a National Broadband Plan aimed at making sure all Americans have access to the internet. Also we hear from internet entrepreneur Gordon Guthrie founder of hypernumbers.com – on the difficulties of starting up an internet enterprise. And Leslie Scott the inventor of Jenga, tells us she doesn’t think she’s made enough money out of the game, even though it’s swept the world in popularity.
Brazilians love to party. They also love the net. The average Brazilian internet user spends 70 hours a month online, more than anywhere else in the world. But is it making them any richer? Mark Gregory reports from Brazil, a country that is part rich, but mainly poor, and has found that with the explosive growth of internet commerce, it’s made lots of entrepreneurs a bit rich and a few very wealthy indeed. We hear from Fabio Seixas a serial entrepreneur, who’s had three previous businesses that went bust. However this time round he’s struck gold with an innovative way of selling designer T-shirts. Plus we hear from Romero Rodrigues the founder of Buscape, Brazil’s first price comparison website. And Silvia Bassy of the Now Digital website based in Sao Paulo tells us how Brazil fits into the global internet picture.
Business Daily today comes from Iceland after its tax payers voted overwhelmingly against a plan to pay back Britain and the Netherlands after the collapse of the online savings bank, Icesave. How will the money be paid back now?
What does the President of Iceland, Olaf Ragnar Grimsson, read into this resounding “no”? Steve Evans in Reykyavik finds out. And he wonders how the psyche of this windswept North Atlantic island has changed. Have the descendants of the Vikings discovered the true good things of life now the money has gone?
Plus The Chairman of the Federation of Icelandic Industries, Helgi Magnusson, refuses to dwell on the past and says we should stop looking for business leaders to blame, and look forward not back.
And Steve goes to church and meets Gunnar Orn Olafsson, the Head of Investigations at the Icelandic tax collections authority. He says the great crash changed the Icelanders in many subtle ways including their attendance at the Sunday service.
As China’s National People’s Congress meets in Beijing, voices are warning that China’s economy could become a runaway train. Premier Wen Jiao Bao has good reason to celebrate, with sparkling growth figures. But already the authorities have had to slam the brakes on to control inflation. The central bank has moved to reduce bank lending.
Business Weekly
This is a 30 minute summary of Business Daily, it comes out over the weekend.
Length: 30 minutes
Iceland’s huge debts have ignited public anger there. Meanwhile, the tide of red ink in Greece’s government finances has led speculators to hammer the euro. Plus, there are looming troubles for some of the world’s biggest economies – if they fail to cut their public debts.
Peter Day’s World of Business
These are two different programmes, In Business from BBC Radio 4 and Global Business from the BBC World Service. Both provide insights into the world of business
Rwanda has huge ambitions to grow itself out of poverty and become a middle income country by the year 2010, to become an information technology and business hub for central and eastern Africa. Rwanda, poor though it still is, hopes to set an example that it is possible to do proper business here in Africa. Peter Day reports.
Producer: Richard Berenger
Editor: Stephen Chilcott
World Business News
This is an analysis of each day’s major global business developments, and how they affect consumers, investors and the environment.
Length: 10 minutes
A boom that saw stock markets soar, we’ll be marking the tenth anniversary of the end of the dotcom boom.
Campaigning for the Robin Hood tax: leading economist Jeffrey Sachs backs a scheme to take from the banks to give to the poor.
A looming trade war between Brazil and the US over cotton subsidies. Brazil has now published a list of US goods it will impose tariffs on within 30 days, unless Washington and Brasilia find a negotiated solution.
Millions defied rocket and bomb attacks to vote in Sunday’s General Election in Iraq: how maximising oil revenues remains key to reviving the country’s economy.
Iceland’s referendum rejects a deal to compensate the UK and Netherlands for billions lost when the nation’s banks collapsed.
Nearly five billion dollars of public money is to be pumped into Europe’s largest defence project to rescue it from collapse. And one of South Africa’s most prominent business leaders tells us it’s time to privatise parts of the state-owned energy company.
English Learning
Here are a selection of feeds I’ve found that are related specifically to English language learning. I’ve grouped them buy source. Click on the link to play the file directly, or right click to save it to your computer.
6 minute English
This is published every Wednesday. It’s six minutes of useful instruction on how to do or say something in English.
Length: 6 minutes
In the second part of our programme on tree climbing, Dan and Kate discuss some record-breaking trees and hear what it’s like to spend the night on the top of one.
Grammar Challenge
This is published on Friday. It’s six minutes of useful English grammar on a particular subject each week
Length: 6 minutes
Militant: BBC Journalist Clare Arthurs talks about the use of this word in news contexts.
Talk About English
This is a 20 minute chat show to help you develop your language skills. It’s published on Thursday.
Length: 20 minutes
Amy Lightfoot answers a question from Marlene in Brazil and explains when you can use the words ‘persons’ and ‘peoples’
Global, News & Politics
Here are a selection of feeds I’ve found that global news and politics. I’ve grouped them buy source. Click on the link to play the file directly, or right click to save it to your computer.
If you find any others that you think might be of interest to others, please add a comment below telling us where to find it.
Africa Today
Daily news show focussed on Africa. Detailed stories and analysis.
Length: 16-17 minutes
Just one month until Sudan’s historic election day- we gauge awareness in the capital Khartoum. At least sixty people have been killed after two days of fierce fighting in Somalia. Sierra Leone’s former health minister is convicted of corruption. A Kenyan blogger wonders why there isn’t more entertaining African content on the web.
Nigerians protest in Abuja to demand an end to President Yar’Adua’s rule. The latest from Jos following a night of gunfire exchange. Reaction from the ANC after criticism of Nelson Mandela by his former wife. The Kenyan women planning to drive from Kenya to South Africa to take advantage of the World Cup’s money making opportunities.
The Christian Association of Nigeria criticise the government following violence in Jos. Somalia’s president claims Britain’s backing as Somali military strength is discussed with Gordon Brown. The Togolese opposition election-result protests are put down for a fourth day by security forces. The Democratic Republic of Congo launch a new disarmament campaign in the eastern region of North Kivu.
Tension remains in Nigeria’s Plateau State as the authorities there refuse to accept blame for the 500 killed in Jos violence. Women from Uganda’s opposition protest on the streets against bad governance. And the deputy chairman of Tanzania’s ruling party denies that his country is a one party state.
Sixteen people injured in two grenade attacks in Rwanda’s capital. As elections approach journalists in Sudan complain of intimidation by security forces. Search and rescue efforts continue after landslides in Uganda’s eastern Bududa district. The head of the UN refugee agency visits Cameroon to highlight the security crisis in Central African Republic.
Evening Report: South Asian News
Daily news show focussed on South Asia and international stories.
Length: 30 minutes
Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, to be court-martialled next week/Sri Lanka prepares to elect a new parliament/Ten of Asia’s twenty five richest men are Indian/The BBC invites schoolchildren in Britain and Afghanistan to compare notes/Tinku Ray talks to young Sri Lankan musicians
Evening Report again comes from Sri Lanka – looking at rehabilitating child soldiers/Two top Pakistani cricketers banned after poor performance/The Iranian president says no peace in Afghanistan until Western troops leave/Police in Nepal clash with Tibetan anti-China protesters
Evening Report comes from Sri Lanka today – a Tamil family in eastern Sri Lanka, displaced by the fighting/Parliament in Sri Lanka extends state of emergency/A law guaranteeing that a third of Indian MPs will be women clears its biggest hurdle in parliament/Finding a partner on the net in India
A suicide car bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Lahore/The Indian government introduces a long-delayed bill to set aside a third of all seats in the national and state parliaments for women/Rally in Sri Lanka in support of imprisoned presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka
The British Prime Minister tells Iraq inquiry that he believes the decision to go to war was right/At least twelve people killed in a suicide attack in north-west Pakistan/Maternal mortality awareness campaign launched in India/Sri Lanka election commission orders posters and cardboard cut-outs of candidates to be removed
Global News
Daily summary of the best global news stories, taken from a selectien of BBC news programmes.
Length: 25-30 minutes
Settlements row threatens Mideast peace talks / Clashes during Greek general strike / Lituania celebrates 20 years of independence
Jos violence / Somalia aid / Rich list
Biden condemns Israeli decision to build new homes / Ahmadinejad in Kabul / Chinese economy: exports soar
Nigeria violence/ Swedish cartoonist/ Back to Haiti
Mideast talks offer real opportunity says Joe Biden / Burmese military government publishes election details / Body of former Cypriot president found
Instant Guide
“Daily summary of the best global news stories, taken from a selection of BBC news programmes.”
Length: 8 minutes
NewsPod
Daily programme with highlights from all of the main BBC news stations.
Length: 30-35 minutes
High speed rail plans announced / Anti-social behaviour / School report around the UK.
Economic storm not ever, say PM / US “hid terror suspect treatment” / World premiere for Phantom sequel.
‘Insurance for all’ plan for dogs in Britain /Tories urged UUP to back NIreland deal / Selling ghosts online.
Ainsworth defends Brown on Afghanistan / Bulger mother calls for answers / Oscar triumph for the Hurt Locker.
Brown defends Iraq invasion / Anti Muslim Dutch MP screens film / Icelanders prepare for referendum on banks’ debt
This Week in Africa
Broadcast at the weekend, this programme looks at the news in Africa, with analysis, over the previous week.
Length: 30 minutes
Grief in eastern Uganda as mudslides claim more than 350 lives. Despite the reported smooth conduct of Togo’s presidential elections, a leading opposition figure remains cautious. Sanctions on Zimbabwe remain in place, despite pleas from President Zuma on his UK state visit.
World Have Your Say
“The BBC News programme where you set the agenda.”
Length: 52 minutes
Joe Biden being in town didn�t stop the Israelis announcing 1600 new homes in East Jerusalem. The US VP has responded saying such a move undermines the peace process. So how do we explain America�s demands having so little sway with the powers that be in Jerusalem?
Last night we were at the opening reception at WeMedia and I briefly took the mic to invite any of the delegates to suggest topics for today. Ritchie Lucas runs a company called Think Factory and was one of the first to come up to me. He believes that the way we build our working lives around offices is incredibly inefficient. It�s a radical idea that would change how we work and how we get others to work for us. Do you think Ritchie�s logic holds?
Two questions appear to be at the centre of your discussions of the weekend�s shocking violence near Jos. They are:
Why is it happening?
And why isn�t more attention being paid to it?
We�ll ask both, as well as hear about our sister�s show Africa Have Your Say�s discussion on what now needs to be done to present such massacres happening again.
A law that has been reintroduced in India which would reserve a third of all seats in the national parliament and state legislatures for women. It again raises the issue of whether women require this kind of assistance to achieve the same success and power as men. WHYS is coming from Miami and discusses this with students there and callers round the world.
Is fast food unafairly demonised? Weightwatchers in new zealand has put its seal of approval on several items on the menu at McDonald’s. Chicken nuggets and a Filet-o-fish have been included in the weight loss organisation’s list of food to eat. It’s fair to say many bloggers have reacted with something between bemusement and anger – but not all of you.
Do criminals deserve anonymity?
Jon Venables killed a two year old when he was just 10. He served time, got a new identity and began a new life. Now he is back in the news because he’s been sent back to prison.
There is intense public interest about his identity and his whereabouts.
Does the public have a right to know the movements of criminals? Do they deserve a level of privacy or do they waive that right when they commit a crime?
World News For Children
“4 minute weekday news bulletin for 7-14 year olds. Accompanying scripts available on the BBC World Class website – bbc.co.uk/worldclass.”
Length: 4 minutes
Life for school pupils in Afghanistan/ Becks is beaten at Old Trafford/ And the longest ever hug!
Top cricket players banned from the game!/ Becks faces Manchester United for the first time/ And the German town that’s selling off its potholes.
Alice beats Avatar at the box office/ Little hope left for Liverpool/ And bottled ghosts sold on the internet!
Special report from Haiti/ History is made at the Oscars – with first female director win/ And skiers take to the slopes in kilts.
Chile mourns quake victims/ Dinosaurs wiped out by asteroid/ And the grandmother that’s rocking Paris’ nightclubs!
Health and Fitness
Health Check
“The BBC World Service’s weekly round up of global health stories and topical issues in medicine.”
Length: 27 minutes
Artemisinin resistant malaria in Cambodia. Condom fit. Why we feel bad when we feel ill. And the internet and disability.
Science, Technology & the Environment
Here are a selection of feeds I’ve found that are related specifically to English language learning. I’ve grouped them buy source. Click on the link to play the file directly, or right click to save it to your computer.
Digital Planet
This is a magazine programme which looks at how technology changes our lives.
Length: 25-30 minutes
Eve economy; web behaviour test; Love Clean Streets; EpiSurveyor
Discovery
This weekly programme looks at the lastest discoveries in science, no matter how big or how small.
Length: 25-30 minutes
Twenty years after the emergence of the world wide web, Rory Cellan-Jones looks what�s in store in its third decade which promises a vision where objects and people are seamlessly connected to the net.
One Planet
The programme deals with the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Length: 25-30 minutes
Mike Williams heads to London Zoo to investigate threats to biodiversity, plus python news from Florida.
Science in Action
Each week this programme looks at global developments in science.
Length: 25-30 minutes
Permafrost thawing releasing methane; Dead pigs in the sea and Hollywood science
Sport
“This podcast gets right under the skin of world football with extraordinary stories, interviews, and features from BBC World Service’s World Football.”
Length: 27 minutes
Is the sport facing a financial crisis?
With Portsmouth going into administration – what’s the likelihood of a big name club going bust?
We’ll also hear how the Lazio President has angered fans and jeopardised the teams top flight status – by introducing a self-imposed salary cap.
And with many big name players returning home – has South America benefited from the financial problems in the European game?
Plus, listen to a players view as England striker Peter Crouch gives his opinion on salary caps.
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