Street food: Why is it becoming so popular?
Buying food on the street is nothing new but in the UK this idea is really taking off. It's a great way of sampling freshly cooked dishes from around the world. Rob and Neil discuss the subject and hear from an expert who explains the popularity in this type of food - plus you can learn some new vocabulary along the way.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
phenomenal - something that is amazing, remarkable and extraordinary
to take off - to become popular
provinces - areas of a country that aren't the major cities
captures the imagination - makes you interested in something
authentic - real, genuine, not a fake or a copy
microwave food - food prepared in a microwave oven
This week's question:
Recently archaeologists in Jordan discovered what they believe is the oldest remains of bread. How old is this bread? Is it…
a) 18,000 years old
b) 14,000 years old
c) 5,500 years old
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Vocabulary
phenomenal - something that is amazing, remarkable and extraordinary
to take off - to become popular
provinces - areas of a country that aren't the major cities
captures the imagination - makes you interested in something
authentic - real, genuine, not a fake or a copy
microwave food - food prepared in a microwave oven
This week's question:
Recently archaeologists in Jordan discovered what they believe is the oldest remains of bread. How old is this bread? Is it…
a) 18,000 years old
b) 14,000 years old
c) 5,500 years old
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Does being taller mean you earn more at work?
Does being taller mean you earn more at work?
Tanya S Osensky is an attorney who has made it her personal crusade to highlight the discrimination faced by short people in our society.
Neil and Catherine discuss height and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
Tanya S Osensky is an attorney who has made it her personal crusade to highlight the discrimination faced by short people in our society.
Neil and Catherine discuss height and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
to relish (something) = to really enjoy something
discrimination = unfair or unequal treatment of people because of, for example, their race, religion, colour, age or indeed height
embellish = exaggerate
premium = extra benefit, extra advantage
disparity = difference
This week's question:
The tallest person ever proven to live was Robert Wadlow from the USA. How tall was he? Was he:
a) 2.71m
b) 2.72m
c) 2.73m
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Vocabulary
to relish (something) = to really enjoy something
discrimination = unfair or unequal treatment of people because of, for example, their race, religion, colour, age or indeed height
embellish = exaggerate
premium = extra benefit, extra advantage
disparity = difference
This week's question:
The tallest person ever proven to live was Robert Wadlow from the USA. How tall was he? Was he:
a) 2.71m
b) 2.72m
c) 2.73m
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
How intelligent is the octopus?
The octopus uses its senses of vision and taste like we do.
Its large nervous system is a sign of intelligence.
Philosopher of science Peter Godfrey-Smith wonders how the octopus - a solitary creature - became so smart.
Neil and Catherine chat about this curious animal and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
Its large nervous system is a sign of intelligence.
Philosopher of science Peter Godfrey-Smith wonders how the octopus - a solitary creature - became so smart.
Neil and Catherine chat about this curious animal and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
cephalopod
the group of animals to which the octopus belongs
publicity stunt
something a company might do to grab your attention and promote its products
a common ancestor
a distant relative from which two different species evolved
comparable to
similar to
vertebrates
animals that have a spine
protean
(adjective) adaptable and changeable
This week's question:
What is the correct plural form of octopus? Is it:
a) octopuses
b) octopodes /ɒkˈtɒpəʊdɪːz/
c) octopi
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Vocabulary
cephalopod
the group of animals to which the octopus belongs
publicity stunt
something a company might do to grab your attention and promote its products
a common ancestor
a distant relative from which two different species evolved
comparable to
similar to
vertebrates
animals that have a spine
protean
(adjective) adaptable and changeable
This week's question:
What is the correct plural form of octopus? Is it:
a) octopuses
b) octopodes /ɒkˈtɒpəʊdɪːz/
c) octopi
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Learn to talk about walks in the countryside in 6 minutes!
Fewer and fewer people are going out for a walk in the countryside. Our obsession with social media platforms seems to have something to do with it. Neil and Catherine talk about the trend of staying indoors and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
to venture out somewhere
to go out somewhere, but usually when the conditions are bad
millennials
those who became adults in the early 21st century
Generation X
those who became adults in the 1980s and 1990s
phenomenal
amazing, surprising and unbelievable
distractions
activities that prevent us from doing more important things
instagramable
new informal word made with the sufix 'able' and it means 'suitable for posting on the social media platform Instagram'
This week's question:
In the survey, what percentage of people gave the poor social media photo opportunity as their reason for not wanting to venture out into the countryside? Was it:
a) around 10%
b) around 30%
c) around 50%
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Vocabulary
to venture out somewhere
to go out somewhere, but usually when the conditions are bad
millennials
those who became adults in the early 21st century
Generation X
those who became adults in the 1980s and 1990s
phenomenal
amazing, surprising and unbelievable
distractions
activities that prevent us from doing more important things
instagramable
new informal word made with the sufix 'able' and it means 'suitable for posting on the social media platform Instagram'
This week's question:
In the survey, what percentage of people gave the poor social media photo opportunity as their reason for not wanting to venture out into the countryside? Was it:
a) around 10%
b) around 30%
c) around 50%
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Is technology always the solution?
Human beings are flawed and carry their prejudices and opinions with them.
Wouldn't it be better if we could replace them with artificial intelligence,
if we could get computers to do all our thinking for us?
Rob and Catherine discuss if technology is a good solution for all our problems and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
Wouldn't it be better if we could replace them with artificial intelligence,
if we could get computers to do all our thinking for us?
Rob and Catherine discuss if technology is a good solution for all our problems and teach you six items of vocabulary.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
chauvinist
someone who believes their country, race or sex is better than any others
technochauvinism
the belief that a technological solution is always a better solution to a problem
objective
neutral, fair and balanced
proxy
a piece of software but also someone who does something for you, on your behalf
a nuanced problem
a problem which has small and important areas which may be hard to spot, but they need to be considered
an algorithm
a set of software instructions for a computer system
This week's question:
Artificial Intelligence, or A.I., is an area of computer science that develops the ability of computers to learn to do things like solve problems or drive cars without crashing. But in what decade was the term 'Artificial Intelligence' coined? Was it:
a) 1940s
b) 1950s
c) 1960s
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Vocabulary
chauvinist
someone who believes their country, race or sex is better than any others
technochauvinism
the belief that a technological solution is always a better solution to a problem
objective
neutral, fair and balanced
proxy
a piece of software but also someone who does something for you, on your behalf
a nuanced problem
a problem which has small and important areas which may be hard to spot, but they need to be considered
an algorithm
a set of software instructions for a computer system
This week's question:
Artificial Intelligence, or A.I., is an area of computer science that develops the ability of computers to learn to do things like solve problems or drive cars without crashing. But in what decade was the term 'Artificial Intelligence' coined? Was it:
a) 1940s
b) 1950s
c) 1960s
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Smartphone addiction
Are you a phubber?
Do you suffer from FOMO?
These are words associated with smartphone addiction.
6 Minute English describes these words and discusses what can be done to help you put your phone down.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
Do you suffer from FOMO?
These are words associated with smartphone addiction.
6 Minute English describes these words and discusses what can be done to help you put your phone down.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
This week's question:
In what year did the term ‘smartphone’ first appear in print? Was it:
a) 1995
b) 2000
c) 2005
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Vocabulary
- FOMO (acronym) - Fear of Missing Out
- phubber - person who ignores the real people around them because they are concentrating on their phones
- addicted (to something) - having a physical or mental need to keep on doing something
- compulsively - unable to stop doing something again and again
- keep in touch with - stay in contact with
- in person - actually meeting someone face-to-face
This week's question:
In what year did the term ‘smartphone’ first appear in print? Was it:
a) 1995
b) 2000
c) 2005
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to the new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
(HERE'S the script)
Talking about the World Cup
The Football World Cup kicks off today, and the hype is incredible.
Colombia has a world-class team, and I fancy their chances - what about you?
Whatever happens, whether their underdog or favourite, I'm sure you'll get behind them, and win or lose, let's show good sportsmanship.
In this programme we hear from people with different viewpoints; Neil and Rob discuss the vocabulary they use.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
Colombia has a world-class team, and I fancy their chances - what about you?
Whatever happens, whether their underdog or favourite, I'm sure you'll get behind them, and win or lose, let's show good sportsmanship.
In this programme we hear from people with different viewpoints; Neil and Rob discuss the vocabulary they use.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
world-class - (someone or something is) the best in the world
to fancy your chances - to believe you may succeed at something, even if you might not
get behind - support (someone or something)
underdog - person or team least likely to win
sportsmanship - fair and honest behaviour
hype - lots of talking and publicity to make people interested in something
This week's question:
The mascot for Russia 2018 is a wolf called Zabivaka. What does his name mean in English?
a) The winner
b) The one who scores
c) Fair play
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to thee new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
*Here's the transcript, if you need it
Vocabulary
world-class - (someone or something is) the best in the world
to fancy your chances - to believe you may succeed at something, even if you might not
get behind - support (someone or something)
underdog - person or team least likely to win
sportsmanship - fair and honest behaviour
hype - lots of talking and publicity to make people interested in something
This week's question:
The mascot for Russia 2018 is a wolf called Zabivaka. What does his name mean in English?
a) The winner
b) The one who scores
c) Fair play
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to thee new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
*Here's the transcript, if you need it
Talking to machines
More and more people are talking to machines - more specifically, virtual assistants or bots. It's easy to do because you can often find them on your smartphone, computer or even a speaker in your house. Rob and Dan discuss how this is changing the way we interact with technology and the type of language we use.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
FIRST - Relax and Listen for the general idea - don't stress, don't worry about what you DON"T understand.
SECOND - Review the key Vocabulary, and this week's question:
Vocabulary
This week's question:
When was the first computer which could recognise speech, launched? ... Was it in:
a) 1951
b) 1961
c) 1971
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to thee new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
*Here's the transcript, if you need it
Vocabulary
- chit-chat - informal conversation about unimportant things
- to date - up until this moment in time
- agent - something that causes change
- agency - ability to think, make decisions and act independently
- vernacular - native language
- brusque/to the point - very direct, not very polite
This week's question:
When was the first computer which could recognise speech, launched? ... Was it in:
a) 1951
b) 1961
c) 1971
THIRD - Listen again, pay attention to thee new vocabulary, and listen for the answer to the question.
*Here's the transcript, if you need it
