In the last few years, podcasts have become a great resource for language learners, especially those seeking to enhance their English skills. After all, most of them are in English.
Podcasts offer a perfect complement to your daily routine, allowing you to immerse yourself in real conversations, diverse accents, and a sheer variety of topics.
This guide will introduce you to eight excellent English podcasts that address entertaining topics, boost your vocabulary, and refine your listening skills.
Join us as we explore these linguistic gems that promise to improve your English language proficiency.
Table of Contents
- Learn English Podcast from the British Council (Beginner)
- Voice of America: Learning English (Beginner)
- 6-Minute English from the BBC (Beginner)
- The English We Speak (Beginner)
- The Joe Rogan Experience (Advanced)
- This American Life (Advanced)
- Crime Junkie (Advanced)
- Overheard at National Geographic (Advanced)
- FAQ
- Summing Up: English Podcasts to Take Your English Skills to the Next Level
1. Learn English Podcast from the British Council (Beginner)
Overview: The Learn English Podcast from the British Council is a fantastic resource for beginners in English language learning. This podcast focuses on language learning for English learners, targeting those at A1 to B1 levels.
Each episode is discussion-based, covering common everyday situations. It also offers valuable support materials, including transcripts and exercises, making it an ideal choice for those seeking quality support materials.
Where to find it: You can access the Learn English Podcast from the British Council on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or directly from the British Council website.
What You Can Learn: By listening to this podcast, English learners can enhance their language skills, explore British culture, society, and sports, and delve into scientific topics.
It's a comprehensive resource that provides valuable support for language learners, ensuring a productive language learning journey.
2. Voice of America: Learning English (Beginner)
Overview: Voice of America: Learning English is an excellent choice for beginner English learners. This podcast is designed to facilitate language learning, and it offers different programs tailored for beginners, intermediates, and advanced ESL learners.
It focuses on enhancing basic language skills for those just starting their English learning journey. The titles of its beginner-level programs include "Let’s Learn English," "Everyday Grammar," and "Words and Their Stories."
Where to find it: You can find Voice of America: Learning English on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or directly on the Voice of America website.
What You Can Learn: This podcast provides a valuable resource for beginner English learners, covering a variety of topics such as American culture, health and lifestyle, science, technology, and language learning.
It includes transcripts to help you follow along, making it an effective tool for those in the early stages of language acquisition.
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3. 6-Minute English from the BBC (Beginner/Intermediate)
Overview: 6-Minute English is a podcast provided by the BBC. It offers bite-sized, 6-minute episodes that are perfect for individuals with busy schedules. You can listen to it while driving and improve your listening comprehension easily.
This podcast is tailored to intermediate learners, and each episode comes with quality support materials, including a list of vocabulary, thought-provoking questions, and transcripts. The podcast features British English.
Where to find it: You can find 6-Minute English on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or directly on the BBC website.
What You Can Learn: This podcast is a superb tool for learners interested in British English and is suitable for both beginners and advanced learners looking to enhance their listening skills.
It covers various themes and topics related to British culture, the world, and lifestyle.
4. The English We Speak (Beginner/Intermediate)
Overview: "The English We Speak" is a podcast produced by the BBC, tailored for beginner and intermediate English learners. This series stands out as it focuses on teaching English through idioms and expressions commonly used in the UK.
Each episode lasts for a short 3 minutes, making it an ideal choice for those with limited time. It's designed to improve your English listening skills while offering insights into the language spoken in an English-speaking country. The lesson features interviews and includes elements of pop culture, making it an engaging and informative choice.
Where to find it: You can find "The English We Speak" on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or directly on the BBC website.
What You Can Learn: This podcast is an excellent resource for learners interested in enhancing their English listening skills. It provides a glimpse into the language used in an English-speaking country, primarily the UK.
With its focus on idioms and expressions, you can gain valuable insights into everyday language, idiomatic expressions, and elements of pop culture in the UK. It offers a fun and informative way to improve your English language skills.
5. The Joe Rogan Experience (Advanced)
Overview: "The Joe Rogan Experience" is a highly popular podcast that's suitable for advanced English learners. Hosted by Joe Rogan, a well-known stand-up comedian, this podcast offers a wealth of content, covering an extensive range of topics.
With over 1,660 episodes, it presents an opportunity for advanced learners to expand their vocabulary and understanding of spoken English.
The show covers a variety of subjects, from comedy and science to politics and sports, and features cultural references and idiomatic expressions, making it an enriching experience for those seeking new vocabulary and the nuances of spoken English.
Where to find it: You can listen to "The Joe Rogan Experience" on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and Spotify.
What You Can Learn: This podcast provides an excellent platform for advanced learners to encounter new vocabulary in diverse subject areas. While not explicitly an ESL podcast like "Espresso English," it offers opportunities to expand your vocabulary and understand how native speakers express themselves.
With its wide array of topics, including cultural and political references, it serves as an engaging source for enhancing your spoken English and comprehension.
6. This American Life (Advanced)
Overview: "This American Life" is a podcast that is mostly focused on the United States and you will be able to learn the American version of English. Combining elements of journalism and storytelling, the podcast focuses on real-life tales from citizens across the country.
The stories are diverse, covering various aspects of American life and experiences. For advanced learners, this podcast provides a rich source of vocabulary and cultural insights.
Where to find it: You can listen to "This American Life" on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or visit the This American Life website.
What You Can Learn: Through "This American Life," advanced learners can gain valuable insights into American culture, lifestyle, and politics. It's an excellent resource for expanding your vocabulary and deepening your understanding of American society through engaging narratives.
7. Crime Junkie (Advanced)
Overview: The true crime genre has gained immense popularity, and "Crime Junkie" is one of the most prominent podcasts in this category.
In each 50-minute episode, the presenters discuss different murder cases in detail and offer their theories on unsolved aspects of the crime.
While this podcast might make you shiver, it is truly addictive and an exciting choice for those interested in the true crime trend.
Where to find it: "Crime Junkie" is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and the Crime Junkie website.
What You Can Learn: This podcast exposes advanced learners to a wide range of vocabulary and expressions related to crime, investigation, and storytelling.
While you might not need to use these words in everyday conversation, it's an opportunity to explore a unique aspect of the English language and acquire a deeper understanding of crime-related terminology and idiomatic expressions.
8. Overheard at National Geographic (Advanced)
Overview: "Overheard at National Geographic" is a podcast that caters to advanced English learners who appreciate the concept of "connection not perfection."
The podcast features discussions among Nat Geo employees during their breaks, offering a collection of stories from explorers, photographers, and scientists around the world.
Episodes run for around twenty minutes and are presented in slightly slower, easily digestible English, making it an ideal choice for those looking for an immersive, yet manageable, language experience.
Where to find it: You can access "Overheard at National Geographic" on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and the National Geographic website.
What You Can Learn: This podcast is an opportunity for advanced learners to explore captivating stories related to science, nature, and the environment in American English.
It's presented at a slightly slower speed, allowing learners to savor the language and appreciate the richness of English words and phrases. In every episode, you can discover such gems of vocabulary and gain insights into the world of slow English that brings you closer to the wonders of our planet.
FAQs: English Podcasts to Take Your English Skills to the Next Level
Whether you're a beginner looking to enhance your vocabulary or an advanced learner aiming to refine your listening skills, this section provides insights and guidance to make the most of these language resources.
What podcasts improve English?
Podcasts like "Learn English Podcast from the British Council" and "Voice of America: Learning English" are excellent for improving English skills. They offer language learning content and cover a wide range of topics.
How can I listen to podcasts for learning English?
To listen to podcasts for learning English, you can use platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and specific podcast websites. Simply search for English learning podcasts, choose one that suits your level, and start listening.
What should I listen to learn English?
You should listen to podcasts that match your English proficiency level. For beginners, options like "6-Minute English from the BBC" are great. Advanced learners can benefit from shows like "The Joe Rogan Experience" or "This American Life."
What is the Apple podcast?
Apple Podcasts is a popular podcast platform and app developed by Apple Inc. It's available on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads, as well as on macOS. Apple Podcasts allows users to discover, subscribe to, and listen to podcasts on a wide range of topics, including news, entertainment, education, and more.
Can I learn English by listening podcast?
Yes, you can definitely learn English by listening to podcasts. Many podcasts are designed for language learners, offering a mix of real conversations, vocabulary, and cultural insights, making it an effective and enjoyable way to enhance language skills.
Summing Up: English Podcasts to Take Your English Skills to the Next Level
In conclusion, podcasts are versatile tools for language learning, catering to learners at every level.
With the ability to find podcasts across various platforms, learners have access to an extensive variety of educational content.
The key is to select podcasts that align with your proficiency level. From beginner to advanced, these audio resources offer quality support material, aiding in vocabulary expansion and listening comprehension.
So, whether you're just starting your language journey or seeking advanced language skills, podcasts are a valuable companion on your path to English fluency.
