6 Minute English
Episodes
Scared to speak English?
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel scared to speak in English? Lots of people find speaking a different language stressful. Beth and Pippa talk about learning languages...
What English phrases really mean
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been there – we're talking to someone and they say one thing, when we know they mean something else! British people love to play with lang...
Is social media dead?
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What is your favourite social media platform? Do you still use it as much as you did three or four years ago? With the rise of generative AI, many soc...
Is it OK to disagree?
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Are we becoming a divided society? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive qui...
Was Christmas better in the past?
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's Christmas time in the UK. And like with celebrations around the world, people have lots of traditions that they do every year, and memories about...
Finding and eating wild food
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where do you get your fruit and vegetables – a supermarket, a greengrocer... or the wild? For our distant ancestors, foraging for wild food was vita...
How are horses helping to heal humans?
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Horses and humans have had a close relationship for thousands of years, but did you know that horses, along with other animals, are being used to help...
What’s your favourite flavour of crisp?
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You might know them as potato chips, but here in the UK we call them crisps... and we love them! With many different shapes, sizes and flavours, there...
How are influencers affecting politics?
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've seen influencers on social media posting about all sorts of things – from lifestyle and fashion, to sports, travel, gaming and music. But did ...
Do you have good dining etiquette?
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know the 'proper' way to behave during meals? And what would be the worst thing someone could do while eating? This episode is all about etique...
How important is play?
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all remember playgrounds when we were children – slides, swings, climbing frames. But have you heard of the new playgrounds which are designed to...
Do you like garlic?
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It makes our food tasty and our breath smelly, but what are some of the other uses of garlic...? Apart from warding off vampires, of course! Neil and ...
Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you like your eggs in the morning? Or do you prefer toast, cereal, yogurt or something else? Maybe you usually don't bother with breakfast! Wel...
Did a civilisation exist on Earth before humans?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you believe that life exists on other planets? Well, here's an even more mysterious idea: Have you ever considered that there might have been anoth...
Are we too fixated on protein?
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We know that protein is important for our health. It plays a crucial role in many of the body's functions, including growth, repair, the immune system...
What makes a good citizen?
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is a good citizen someone who votes and follows the law? Or is there more to it? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find ...
Have you ever seen a whale?
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How have humans treated whales throughout history? Their sheer size, their ability to swim to great depths and their whale song have captured our imag...
The criminal trade in ancient objects
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us like to visit museums to see ancient artefacts in person – it's an exciting way to learn about the history and culture of different civil...
Would you like a robot companion?
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us could use extra help around the house – but what if that help came from a robot? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabu...
What causes hearing loss?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we get older, our hearing naturally gets worse. But what are the causes of this decline? And is there anything we can do to prevent it? Neil and Ge...
The joys of writing lists
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shopping lists, to-do lists, check lists – when was the last time you made, or followed, a list? When you stop to think about it, many of the things...
What's it like to be a twin?
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know any twins? Or perhaps you are a twin yourself! Many people are fascinated by the lives of twins, but what questions should you avoid askin...
What's your favourite snack?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you prefer healthy, homemade snacks... or modern, packaged goodies?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: http...
Grown-ups buying kids’ toys
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What was your favourite toy as a child? And would you consider playing with it as an adult...? It's not just kids who like to play with toys – many ...
Are you flourishing?
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us are familiar with wellbeing, but have you heard about flourishing?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode a...
What is the manosphere?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever come across a so-called masculinity influencer on social media?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode a...
What is degrowth?
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should we shrink the economy to save the planet? Today, Phil is joined by Hannah from BBC podcast What in the world who explains the idea of degrowth....
How can we help wild bees?
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that many species of wild bees are endangered in the UK? What can we do to help?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz fo...
Do you need to declutter your home?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is your home neat and tidy? Or is it full of stuff you no longer need? You might need to declutter!Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive q...
How do you say sorry?
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you had to apologise to somebody? Do you remember how you did it? Neil and Beth discuss apologies from around the world. Find a...
Are plant-based substitutes healthier than meat?
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are plant-based substitutes any healthier than the meat options they have replaced? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Fi...
How do babies communicate?
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do babies let their parents know what they want when they can't speak? Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. Find a full t...
Can climate change affect our mental health?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can you protect your mental health from the impacts of climate change?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at:h...
How important is politeness?
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why are we polite? Does what we say really affect what people think of us? Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at:...
What's your favourite kind of noodle?
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Neil and Beth discuss the history of noodles and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode...
Foods that go crunch
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you like the crunch of biting into a fresh apple? What about the crunch of biting into a roasted insect? Georgie and Beth discuss this and teach yo...
Which cooking oil is the best?
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Which cooking oil do you tend to use in the kitchen? Are some really more healthy than others, or is it just a way for companies to make you buy more ...
Should animals be kept in zoos?
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you feel about zoos? Some think they are important for education and scientific research; others think they are cruel. Neil and Georgie discuss...
Can cows prevent wildfires?
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How are cows helping to prevent wildfires in Spain? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and...
How climate change affects animal migration
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change can affect the way animals migrate, but did you know that some animal migration could be used to fight climate change? Neil and Beth di...
Can AI solve crime?
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could artificial intelligence be used to solve a murder? Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.c...
Learning multiple languages
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is learning languages good for you? Hannah from the What in the World podcast joins us to discuss.Listen to Hannah’s podcast What in the World https...
Are we getting more allergic to things?
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know anyone who has 50+ allergies? Neil and Beth discuss allergies and teach you some new vocabulary. Find a full transcript, worksheet and int...
Can we boost the immune system?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can ginger shots, turmeric and cold water swimming boost your immune system? Georgie and Neil hear from experts and teach you some vocabulary.Find a f...
Healthy meals on a budget
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is eating healthily always expensive? Pippa and Georgie discuss this and teach you some vocabulary. Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive ...
Should we eat less rice?
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Demand for rice is increasing, but is it possible to grow it in a more eco-friendly way? Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for th...
The country that measures happiness
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bhutan: The country that measures happiness. Hear all about it and learn some vocabulary with Neil and Pippa. Find a full transcript, worksheet and in...
A vaccine for cancer
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's been a breakthrough in cancer research! Hear all about it and learn some vocabulary with Neil and Beth. Find a full transcript, worksheet and ...
Young women on social media
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do women in different countries experience the online world?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at...
Rage bait: How online anger makes money
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do people make money from rage bait? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. Find a full transcript and worksheet for this e...
Why smells make us feel at home
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can smells make you feel at home?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/lea...
Becoming a musician
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about life as a musician from some people around the UK.Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: ...
How the world learned to love fast food
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How did fast food spread around the world?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.u...
Which country has the best schools?
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you compare education systems? Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/le...
Eating 50-year-old stew
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Would you eat a stew that's been in a pot for 50 years? Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https:...
Are you drinking enough water?
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How much water do you drink every day? Is it enough?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://ww...
Embarrassed to go to the doctor?
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are the consequences of medical embarrassment?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://www...
Call centres: Are you talking to AI?
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could AI make call centre queues less painful?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc....
Making 'mum friends'
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is making new ‘mum friends’ the positive experience it’s often described as?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you wi...
Can you trust ancestry DNA kits?
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are DNA ancestry tests a reliable way to trace your ancestry? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. (Image: Getty)Find a full...
How babies learn to talk
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What do babies need to learn to do to be able to talk?TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English a...
The secrets to a healthy old age
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can we stay healthy in old age? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript and worksheet for t...
The bond between sisters
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A relationship between sisters can be one of the closest there is. Neil and Georgie tune in to a BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour special about sisterhood a...
Having acne
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Acne affects people of all ages, but especially teenagers. Neil and Beth listen to a skin doctor talking about the condition and teach you some useful...
Why you need a good night's sleep
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it so important to get a good night's sleep? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at:...
Divorce: Why does it happen?
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How is divorce talked about in different countries? Georgie and Phil teach you some new vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript and worksheet for...
Tech that refuses to die
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Technology is always changing! Or is it...? Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.Find a full transcript and worksheet fo...
Did Taylor Swift fans cause an earthquake?
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could 73,000 Taylor Swift fans cause an earthquake? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.Find a full transcript and work...
What decides our taste?
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes us like the flavours we like? Phil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this e...
Learning a new food culture
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you moved to a different country, how would you cope with new kinds of food? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSC...
Saving water in the driest place on Earth
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can farmers water their crops when they live in the driest place on Earth? Neil and Beth teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full ...
Keeping kids off smartphones
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you stop a child having a phone if all their friends have one? Neil and Beth teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript fo...
Less salt, better health
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are we all eating too much salt? Neil and Georgie teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more progra...
Meet a real Willy Wonka
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mmm, delicious. Hear a real-life chocolate maker talking about her job! Neil and Beth teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcri...
Why we love dumplings
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Every country seems to have its own version of dumplings! Neil and Beth discuss.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes...
Kids and climate change
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are young people's thoughts on climate change?TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your Englis...
Birthday cakes
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How have birthday cakes changed over the years?TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English a...
The science of falling in love
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's really happening in our brain when we fall in love?TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your...
Why read books, not screens?
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it better to read from a book than a screen? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcri...
AI to reduce animal testing
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could AI reduce the need for animal testing? Phil and Georgie teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and ...
The school that puts the kids in charge
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you put the kids in charge of the school? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full ...
What can we learn from toddlers?
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You might think that we teach toddlers, but they can teach us as well! Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find...
How learning to read changes lives
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can literacy change people's lives? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this epi...
Building a better world with wood?
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that being in nature, and building with wood, has benefits for our physical and mental health? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you s...
How names can tell painful stories
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can names be attached to painful histories? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. [Image: Getty]TRANSCRIPT Find a full tra...
Too old to have a baby?
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Men and women are having babies later in life. Why? And what does society think of older parents? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode a...
E-rickshaws driving away pollution
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are electric rickshaws the solution to urban air pollution? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full tra...
How bubble tea got its bubbles
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How did bubble tea get its bubbles? How was this drink invented? Neil and Beth chat about this. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and...
Can you keep a secret?
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are secrets always negative? Or can they be positive too? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. [Image: Getty Images]TRANSC...
Bitter food, better health?
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could bitter foods be better for your health?(Image: Getty Images)Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your En...
Talking at the table
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A lot can happen at the dinner table, and not just eating! Beth and Neil discuss chatting at meal times and teach you some useful vocabulary. (Image: ...
Eating for two
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mums-to-be often feel guilty about the food they crave in pregnancy. Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. (Image: Getty...
Dancing for the brain
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Not a dancer? You might change your mind once you hear the benefits! Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary. (Image: Getty)TR...
Nudges: The secrets of persuasion
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are nudges good or bad? Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more program...
Why sitting is bad for health
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could sitting be damaging to our health?TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https...
Why everyone loves the underdog
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Could being the underdog help you succeed? TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: ...
Disability in music and theatre
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The UK's Equality Act of 2010 guaranteed the rights of disabled people to equal access to education, employment, and services, including music, theatr...
What makes a great library?
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a library a library? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and...
Sewing to fight period poverty
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english...
Plastic waste eaten by enzymes
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plastics can be difficult to recycle, could a recently discovered enzyme help? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCR...