Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.Words to explain:binoculars - a device used to see objects far awayUFO - unidentified flying object (alien spaceship)What the hell is going on? - What is happening?fin - wing-like structure of a creature that lives in the seaB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1, failed to comprehend2, under the impression 3, get straight to the point4, It goes without saying 5, taken somebody's word for it6, I don’t get itThe 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, swtchd off - turned off2, accrt - precise3, brz - a light wind4, srrndd - were on all sides5, dcrsng - less and lessB2-level6, cmpsd of - made up of7, drknng - losing light8, ignrd - did not look at or speak to9, incrdbl - hard to believe10, Srly - of course, obviouslyFind all answers at my website: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-211.htmAt 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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.Words to explain:extraterrestrial -from another planetalien - life from another planetlife forms - beings which are livingelectro-magnetic field - this surrounds the Earth and protects us from harmful rays from spaceorbit - going around the sun etc.meteorite - an object that may crash into the Earthevolve / evolution - life that grows and changes over long periods of timecosmic - from the universecomet - a huge ball of us that flies through spaceB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) Nevertheless2) no expense spared3) you've got another thing coming!4) evidently5) up to one's eyes6) in the middle of nowhereThe 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) knwldg - what is known2) ancnt - very old3) dstntn - the end of your journey4) plnt - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars etc.5) elmntry - easyB2-level6) wsdm7) uncnvncd8) figr ot - find a solution9) ovrxctd - too nervous10) hbtbl - a place where life can existSee the answers at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-210.htmAt 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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Write to Mike Bilbrough to ask a question or give an opinion.The second part of my story A Window on Time. Strong B1 and B2-level story.Words to explain: detention - in schools this was (is?) a punishment for children. We had to stay in a classroom during the lunch-break and do extra homeworkB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) to feel faint2) Naturally,3) tremble with excitement4) hit it off5) stick together6) stand by somebodyThe 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) uncmfrtbl adj. a chair, for example, that is not nice to sit in because it is too hard etc.2) blvd v. thought something was true3) cmplnd v. said he didn't like something4) aplgy n. saying sorry5) mngd t v. was able toB2-level6) astnshd adj. very surprised7) rvrsng v. going backwards8) trvl adj. not serious at all9) pndng v. beating hard e.g. your heart10) bd-tmprd adj. angry, in an angry moodFor the answers to the questions above, see https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-209.htmAt 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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Send me a text.B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context they are used in during the story.1) deep in thought2) Strangely enough,3) strictly forbidden4) an exception to the rule5) the situation had become unbearable6) the truth of the matter wasB1 words from the story: what are they?1) prvs adj. what happend before2) shckd n. very surprised in a bad way3) prvntng v. stopping4) apprchd v. got closer5) aplgs v. say sorryB2 words from the story: what are they?6) rclld v. remember7) prsmbly adv. supposedly8) grdlly adv. little by little9) strd v. looked at somebody in a long hard way10) frd v. be frightened ofAnswers to word test given on 1st OctoberAt 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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Send me a text.Part 2 of my exciting story Victims of Nature for students studying B1 and B2 English.Words to explain: shepherd = somebody who looks after sheep in the countrysideraft = a small flat boatflock of sheep = a group of sheepwaterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rockB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) All of a sudden2) scared him stiff3) To make matters worse4) it went without saying5) Out of breath6) shout at the top of his voiceThe 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) prdctd v. said what would happen in the future2) crshd v. hit sth hard3) clff n. a long vertical drop down in the countryside4) stt n. a stone model of a person5) fld n. when the water from a river, etc. covers the landB2-level6) trmnds adj. to a large extent, very much7) ignrd v. did not take notice of because it seemed unimportant8) shllw adj. not deep (water)9) rg n. anger10) exhstd adj. very tiredFor answers to the above, go to https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-207.htm You can also see a video clip on this page of the flood mentioned in the story!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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Send me a text.A Strong B1 and B2-level story based on a real event this summer in the Alpujarra mountain region of Southern Spain (Granada).Words to explain:shepherd = spmebody who looks after sheep in the countrysideraft = a small flat boatflock of sheep = a group of sheepwaterfall = where water falls vertically down from a high rockB2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) The reality of the situation...2) take charge of...3) he held on for dear life...4) What’s the point of...5) be bored stiff...The 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) dsty adj. covered in a fine layer of dirt, sand, etc.2) shd n. the dark are under a tree, for example, where the sun does not shine.3) strm n. a small river4) dprtr n. opposite of arrival, where you leave from, going away5) end p v. finish, where an event has its end.B2-level6) unblvbl adj. something you find difficult to think is true7) pctrsq adj. very pretty scenery e.g. mountains, woods etc.8) wtty adj. clever with words9) undrstndbl adj. when you respect somebody's feelings and feel what they say is true10) thrtnng adj. something that could hurt or harm us, it could be dangerousRead the answers at: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-206.htmAt 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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

Send me a text.One way or another, Norman imagined that other people regarded him as an underachiever. He became obsessed by what his colleagues at the supermarket might call him when he was not listening. What about Norman Nobody or Norman Nothing in Particular. Norman was a man who was of the opinion that life had not treated him fairly...This is a strong B1 to B2-level story.B2 phrases to listen for. What is the context of each phrase?1) talk things over with2) kept in good shape3) push himself4) (feel) over the moon 5) took a deep breath6) taken it for grantedThe 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) achvmnt n. (something difficult you managed to de)2) dscssn n. (talking among people)3) rd v. (opposite of polite)4) rcgnsd (saw somebody and knew who they were)5) cmpttr n. (somebody in a competition)B2-level6) otstnding adj. (exceptional, very good)7) trgc adj. (very sad)8) prftbl adj. (a way that earns you money)9) gggls n. (worn over the eyes when swimming)10) astnshd adj. (very surprised)For answers, listen to the podcast, and go to: https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-205.htmAt 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/33Axu2Nhttps://amzn.to/33Axu2NBe back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)