Shows / 6 Minute English
6 Minute English
Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations with the BBC. Your weekly instruction manual for saying or doing something in English is published every Thursday.
Episodes
6 Minute EnglishThe joys of writing lists
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 we read…
- 6 Minute English
What's it like to be a twin?
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 asking when…
- 6 Minute English
What's your favourite snack?
Do you prefer healthy, homemade snacks... or modern, packaged goodies?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at…
- 6 Minute English
Grown-ups buying kids’ toys
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 adults like…
- 6 Minute English
Are you flourishing?
Many of us are familiar with wellbeing, but have you heard about flourishing?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at…
- 6 Minute English
What is the manosphere?
Have you ever come across a so-called masculinity influencer on social media?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at…
- 6 Minute English
What is degrowth?
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.Find a…
- 6 Minute English
How can we help wild bees?
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 for this…
- 6 Minute English
Do you need to declutter your home?
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 quiz for…
- 6 Minute English
How do you say sorry?
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 full…
- 6 Minute English
Are plant-based substitutes healthier than meat?
Are plant-based substitutes any healthier than the meat options they have replaced? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full…
- 6 Minute English
How do babies communicate?
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…
- 6 Minute English
Can climate change affect our mental health?
How can you protect your mental health from the impacts of climate change?Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode…
- 6 Minute English
How important is politeness?
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…
- 6 Minute English
What's your favourite kind of noodle?
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 at…
- 6 Minute English
Foods that go crunch
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 you some…
- 6 Minute English
Which cooking oil is the best?
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 expensive…
- 6 Minute English
Should animals be kept in zoos?
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 this and…
- 6 Minute English
Can cows prevent wildfires?
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…
- 6 Minute English
How climate change affects animal migration
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 discuss…
- 6 Minute English
Can AI solve crime?
Could artificial intelligence be used to solve a murder? Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at…
- 6 Minute English
Learning multiple languages
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…
- 6 Minute English
Are we getting more allergic to things?
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 interactive…
- 6 Minute English
Can we boost the immune system?
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 full…
- 6 Minute English
Healthy meals on a budget
Is eating healthily always expensive? Pippa and Georgie discuss this and teach you some vocabulary. Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for…
- 6 Minute English
Should we eat less rice?
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 this…
- 6 Minute English
The country that measures happiness
Bhutan: The country that measures happiness. Hear all about it and learn some vocabulary with Neil and Pippa. Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive…
- 6 Minute English
A vaccine for cancer
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…
- 6 Minute English
Young women on social media
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…
- 6 Minute English
Rage bait: How online anger makes money
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 episode to…
- 6 Minute English
Why smells make us feel at home
How can smells make you feel at home?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at…
- 6 Minute English
Becoming a musician
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…
- 6 Minute English
How the world learned to love fast food
How did fast food spread around the world?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at…
- 6 Minute English
Which country has the best schools?
How do you compare education systems? Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at…
- 6 Minute English
Eating 50-year-old stew
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…
- 6 Minute English
Are you drinking enough water?
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…
- 6 Minute English
Embarrassed to go to the doctor?
What are the consequences of medical embarrassment?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at…
- 6 Minute English
Call centres: Are you talking to AI?
Could AI make call centre queues less painful?Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at…
- 6 Minute English
Making 'mum friends'
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 with your English…
- 6 Minute English
Can you trust ancestry DNA kits?
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…
- 6 Minute English
How babies learn to talk
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 at…
- 6 Minute English
The secrets to a healthy old age
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 this…
- 6 Minute English
The bond between sisters
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 and teach…
- 6 Minute English
Having acne
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…
- 6 Minute English
Why you need a good night's sleep
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…
- 6 Minute English
Divorce: Why does it happen?
How is divorce talked about in different countries? Georgie and Phil teach you some new vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript and worksheet for this…
- 6 Minute English
Tech that refuses to die
Technology is always changing! Or is it...? Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.Find a full transcript and worksheet for this…
- 6 Minute English
Did Taylor Swift fans cause an earthquake?
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 worksheet for…
- 6 Minute English
What decides our taste?
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 episode…
- 6 Minute English
Learning a new food culture
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.How can farmers…
- 6 Minute English
Saving water in the driest place on Earth
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…
- 6 Minute English
Keeping kids off smartphones
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 for this…
- 6 Minute English
Less salt, better health
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 programmes to…
- 6 Minute English
Meet a real Willy Wonka
Mmm, delicious. Hear a real-life chocolate maker talking about her job! Neil and Beth teach you some useful vocabulary.TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for…
- 6 Minute English
Why we love dumplings
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 to help…
- 6 Minute English
Kids and climate change
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 English at…
- 6 Minute English
Birthday cakes
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 at…
- 6 Minute English
The science of falling in love
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 English…
- 6 Minute English
Why read books, not screens?
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 transcript for…
- 6 Minute English
AI to reduce animal testing
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 more…