RADIO STATIONS & PODCASTS FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS

Hello my dear friends. Those who have studied with me will know that I constantly push the idea:
REAL AUTHENTIC SOURCES! REAL AUTHENTIC SOURCES In order to successfully pass
exams with an A, we need to move beyond grammar/vocab reference books and get used to
reading/listening to real English on a daily basis until it becomes second nature. So I’ve put together
a list of useful radio stations and podcasts to aid you in your studies.

The English We Speak (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features..
This English language learning podcast series focuses on everyday phrases and slang. The podcasts
are published weekly.

Elementary Podcasts by the British Council

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/general-engli..
Unusually for language learning podcasts, these lessons are quite long, at about 25 minutes. All
scenarios are acted out in dialogue and are the kind of situations people experience every day. The
podcasts also include broader discussions of some of the topics.

Splendid Speaking
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/splendidspeaking
The podcasts are designed for advanced language learners who can speak reasonably good English.
Each lesson features interviews and discussions with non-native English language speakers. The
podcasts are useful for students preparing for exams.

Better at English
https://www.betteratenglish.com/be-episode-archives
Better at English is a mix of English language podcasts featuring real conversations with native
speakers. The topics range from serious to silly and light-hearted ones. Better English is suitable for
intermediate students and above. These English language podcasts are accompanied by transcripts
and vocabulary notes.

Voice of America Learning English

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/programs/radio
In the audio section, there are
1) a weekly global news program
2) a science documentary strand
3) the history of America and American cultural life and
4) a series on American English idioms

Culips ESL Podcast

https://esl.culips.com/
There are four different podcast styles.
The Close Up podcasts feature recurring characters in a variety of situations. During each episode,
the host focuses on vocabulary, expressions, idioms, and slang. There is also a small amount of
grammar.
Chatterbox podcasts feature real conversations between people, while Catch Word podcasts are
centred on one word only and its meanings and uses.
Curious Questions is a podcast devoted to answering listeners’ questions.

Luke’s English Podcast

https://teacherluke.co.uk/archive-of-episodes-1-149/
Luke is a qualified English language teacher and stand-up comedian who provides an engaging and
entertaining podcast series.

Stuff you should know

https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts
The podcast is aimed at anyone who is fascinated by the world we live in and who wants to know
more about how it works. The diverse topics and occasional use of technical language exposes the
student to a rich source of vocabulary. Previous areas tackled by the podcast include: “Do Zombies
exist?”, “How Black Boxes Work” and “Do objects or experiences make us happier?”

The Nerdist
https://nerdist.com/
One of the ways you can tell if your English is really improving is if you can enjoy a podcast
without it seeming like hard work. And if you can keep up with the witty and fast-paced
conversations of comedians then you really are doing well. This is also a good podcast for
intermediate students. They may find some parts challenging, but they’ll enjoy a laugh or two along
the way.

Entrepreneur on Fire
https://www.eofire.com/podcast/
This podcast introduces the English language student to a lot of business jargon and related terms.
This is useful for anyone who needs to hold business discussions in English. It also includes lots of
everyday language as well as inspiration for business owners.

BBC Radio
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio
Comedy, dramas, sports, politics, talk shows, music

NTS Radio
http://www.nts.live/
More than 150 different programs.

CORNUCOPIA Radio
http://www.cornucopia-radio.co.uk/
Comedies, dramas, documentaries, news, music (Sheffield)

LBC Radio
http://www.lbc.co.uk/london/radio/player/
Hosts discuss current affairs with people who call them in real time.

Remember: it's ok to listen passively i.e. have the radio or podcasts playing in the background.
But for those of you who are preparing for exams:
1) Listen attentively
2) Record vocab and check it
3) Don't overload yourselves
4) Get into a routine and dedicate a few minutes ever day to real authentic sources.

PRESS
So by using these sources I am providing below, you can create a daily routine where you subject
yourself to real English.Therefore, in the exam you will perform better because:
a) You won't be selective when it comes to material and will be able to focus better.
b) You will have recorded a lot of frequent, contemporary, and relevant language which you can
transplant into your writing and speaking.
c) By regularly studying these sources, you will build up your database of "Topical Vocabulary"

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ (National Geographic)

- A lot of the reading themes can be based on such topics

http://time.com/ (Time magazine)

- Be random with the themes whether you like them or not. Great source of formal vocab.

https://www.standard.co.uk/ (Evening Standard)

- Great source of language

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/culture (The Guardian/Culture)

- Even though there are many subjects here, I have chosen "Culture" as the themes here are exactly
those that you might get in CPE

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/ (Private Eye)

- A tough read since a lot of the articles are written with satire

http://discovermagazine.com/ (Discover Magazine)

- A bit of science but definitely CAE and CPE style

https://issuu.com/ (A site with a collection of various magazines)

- Perfect for exam prep since there are so many different themes here

https://www.youtube.com/user/newatlantisline (New Atlantis Documentary Channel)

- Loads of documentaries on Youtube: mainly nature stuff

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLj8sbKYMCIkU5BBtL6C.. (Documentary Films)

- Every boring theme you need for CAE/CPE Reading and Listening

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZEPItn2Nb62Zso5eohH.. (BBC Documentary Channel)

- Nice English to follow, investigative journalism. Loads of useful Language

https://www.youtube.com/user/vice (VICE Documentaries)

- Themes on basically everything!!!!

So guys, set yourself a routine, watch and read stuff even if it's not your cup of tea. Train your
brain to form context, train your ear, learn to read faster, record loads of language even if known
and that you could imagine using said structure in your writing or speaking