The British English Podcast

Click here to grab the FREE PDF with 10 Everyday Expressions, quizzes, and example sentences if you want to learn this episode's vocab 3x faster! 🎓 ⁠Join my weekly online group lessons In this episode, we move away from culture and focus purely on language. I’ll teach you 5 everyday expressions that native speakers use all the time — but that you’ll almost never see in a textbook. You’ll learn: ✅ How to talk about personal annoyances with a pet peeve ✅ Why Brits say I just needed to vent after a long day ✅ A vivid alternative to I realised with it dawned on me ✅ How to add emphasis or humour with thrown in for good measure ✅ And the playful phrase to steal someone’s thunder when someone takes your big moment Each phrase is another step towards sounding more authentic, confident, and natural in English — no more robotic, textbook-like speech. Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? Join Charlie's Academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you'll: Join 2–3 Zoom calls Enjoy podcast episodes with premium learning resources Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get the recording of the LIVE show in London with a bunch of premium learning resources FREE (worth £250). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! ⁠⁠⁠thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Click here⁠ to grab the free PDF with all the vocab, quizzes, and example sentences here if you want to learn 3x faster! 🎓 Join my weekly online group lessons Harry’s run of bad luck takes centre stage in this episode. From a parking fine that spiralled into debt collectors, to a stressful eBay camera scam, we explore the ups and downs of everyday mishaps in the UK. Along the way, you’ll learn useful English for real-life situations and enjoy plenty of British humour. Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good but now become great! Join Charlie's academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you'll: Join 2-3 Zoom Calls Enjoy podcast episodes Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get the recording of the LIVE show in London with a bunch of premium learning resources FREE (worth £250). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! ⁠⁠thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🧐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Test Your Level of English⁠⁠ ⁠📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠⁠⁠⁠ An episode from the archives where Charlie got Lucy from "English With Lucy" on the show to talk about British wedding culture. There are a lot of traditions involved in this day and so we took a look at some of those in a lighthearted conversation asking Lucy about her wedding plans as she was engaged to be married. Are British weddings anything like your culture's weddings? Listen to find out! Useful Links below... Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good but let's go that extra step! Join my academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you can: Join 2-3 Zoom Calls Enjoy podcast episodes Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get a FREE bonus offer (see details on website). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! ⁠⁠⁠thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FREE PDF Lesson Pack – ⁠https://bit.ly/S5E2_FREE-PDF-Lesson Join my next group lesson on Zoom (The Academy) – ⁠https://thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy⁠ Check out Matthew McAloone on Instagram or TikTok Charlie chats with British comedian Matthew McAloone to explore the wild world of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival — the largest arts and comedy festival in the world. Whether you've never heard of it or you're curious about British culture, this episode gives you an insider look at the highs, lows, and very awkward moments comedians face at the Fringe. ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Highlights 00:36 Intro 6:00 Why the Irish don't like being British 8:42 FREE Vocabulary PDF 9:54 Why being Irish is useful as a comedian 12:50 How comedians start their careers 16:10 Describing the biggest Arts Festival in the world 25:15 How to get the full episode 25:30 Get Bonus Learning Resource 25:58 Outro Get Manually Corrected Transcripts with Glossaries & Flashcards here 📧 ⁠⁠⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠⁠⁠ 👋 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get Charlie's Podcast/Courses App: 📱⁠⁠⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FREE PDF Lesson Pack – https://bit.ly/BonusEp82_FREE_PDF_Lesson Join my next group lesson on Zoom (The Academy) – https://thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Check out Rob's podcast - The Business English Podcast ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Highlights 00:37 Intro 1:40 5 Awkward Scenarios in Business 3:30 FREE Vocabulary PDF 4:41 5 Awkward Scenarios in Business 21:19 Reminder of FREE Vocabulary PDF I’ll be honest—before I started teaching English, I didn’t realise how many odd little phrases we use in British English that just don’t appear in textbooks. Words like “dunnit” or “the Watford Gap” sound totally normal to us… but leave learners totally confused! So in this lesson, I’m sharing 10 brilliant British phrases that every B1-level learner should know. These expressions are the real deal—stuff you’ll hear in the pub, on TV, or when you’re out with British friends. 🇬🇧 What you'll learn: Real British phrases with natural examples What expressions like “Queen’s English” or “jaunt” actually mean Key collocations and pronunciation notes Mini quizzes and context breakdowns Why Kendal mint cake is a big deal if you go hiking 📘 Who it’s for: Perfect for intermediate+ (B1+) learners who want to speak more naturally, boost their cultural knowledge, and understand the unspoken rules of British English. ✅ Subtitles available ✅ Includes listening, pronunciation, and comprehension practice ✅ Free PDF lesson pack in the description! #BritishEnglish #LearnEnglish #BritishPhrases #BritishVocabulary #EnglishListeningPractice #BritishSlang #SpeakLikeABrit #BritishEnglishWithCharlie #EnglishWithStories 🎓 ⁠⁠The Academy⁠⁠ 📑 ⁠⁠Transcripts & Glossaries⁠⁠ 📧 ⁠⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠⁠ 👋 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get Charlie's Podcast/Courses App: 📱⁠⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Click here to grab the free PDF with all the vocab, quizzes, and example sentences here if you want to learn 3x faster! Join Charlie as he unpacks the unspoken cultural code behind how Brits describe their homes. From the classic two-up two-down to the oh-so-cosy cottage, this episode is packed with real British vocabulary, quirky facts, and subtle social cues, like what Brits really think when you say “apartment”. Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good but now become great! Join Charlie's academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you'll: Join 2-3 Zoom Calls Enjoy podcast episodes Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get a FREE bonus pronunciation lesson (worth £30). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! ⁠thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Click here for the FREE PDF Lesson Pack In this episode, Charlie helps you improve your British English and boost your IELTS Speaking score by focusing on Part 3 of the speaking exam using the topic of education. You’ll hear three model answers — Band 5, Band 7, and Band 9 — to the same question, followed by a breakdown of what makes each one different and how you can level up your own speaking skills. Expect practical tips, natural British expressions, and insights into how examiners really assess fluency, grammar, and vocabulary. 🎁 Download the FREE IELTS Speaking Lesson Pack — includes 5 more Part 3 questions with Band 5/7/9 model answers and upgrade exercises: 👉 FREE PDF Lesson Pack - https://bit.ly/fromband5to9inIELTS 🎓 Learn more about Charlie’s ⁠⁠IELTS Speaking Course⁠⁠ — a complete system to help you speak with fluency, confidence and nuance for a high score. Click here to watch the video version of this episode on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Charlie focuses on whether or not to accept the offer of "Would you like a cup of tea?" when entering somebody's home in the UK. For a lot of us this seems like a simple topic but add cultural variation into it and the answer is never that simple. Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good but let's go that extra step! Join my academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you can: Join 2-3 Zoom Calls Enjoy podcast episodes Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get a FREE bonus offer (see details on website). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! ⁠⁠thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠⁠ Join Charlie for an episode of Learn English with Short Stories, where a small lie turns into a big problem. Emma tells her cousin she lives in a fancy flat near Hyde Park, but she actually lives above a kebab shop. With the help of her friends, she tries to keep up the lie, but things quickly get out of control. This fun story helps you learn real British English, understand everyday expressions, and enjoy a bit of British humour at the same time. 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good—now become great! Join my academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you'll: Join 2-3 Zoom Calls Enjoy podcast episodes Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get a FREE bonus offer (see details on website). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! ⁠thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📝 ⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠ 👄 ⁠⁠Improve Your Pronunciation⁠⁠ 🧐 ⁠Test Your Level of English⁠ Charlie chats with Don, a well-travelled Aussie with stories spanning decades of globetrotting, to ask the big question: Has travel got worse? From booking flights at a high street travel agent to navigating airport chaos today, they explore how travel has changed — for better and for worse. Expect tales of travel in the '70s, cultural quirks, and plenty of useful advanced vocabulary and expressions from a conversation around holidays, flying, and the travel experience. 🎓 ⁠The Academy⁠ 📑 ⁠Transcripts & Glossaries⁠ 📧 ⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠ 👋 ⁠Instagram⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get Charlie's Podcast/Courses App: 📱⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

👄 ⁠⁠Improve Your Pronunciation⁠⁠ In this episode, Charlie breaks down a hilarious scene from The Office (UK) to help you master natural British pronunciation. You’ll learn how to shadow native speakers by focusing on connected speech, word stress, intonation, and rhythm… all through British humour. This is for learners who want to sound smooth and natural, not forced or overly “native”. 📧 ⁠Get on Charlie's Email List Here⁠ 🎓 ⁠Sign Up to Charlie's Pronunciation Course⁠ 🎓 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Academy⁠⁠⁠ 👋 ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱⁠⁠⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠⁠⁠ 📱⁠⁠⁠On Android / Google Play Store here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Charlie as he explores one of Britain’s most enduring legends: the Loch Ness Monster. From ancient sightings in 565 A.D. to modern-day hoaxes and government-funded sonar scans, discover why nearly 10 million Brits still believe in Nessie. Along the way, you’ll learn natural British expressions and cultural references—all while questioning what really lurks in the murky depths of Loch Ness. 📝 ⁠⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠ Want to finally speak English with confidence, flow, and personality? You're already good—now become great! Join my academy and leave behind hesitation, awkward pauses, and filtered conversations. Each week you'll: Join 2-3 Zoom Calls Enjoy podcast episodes Master vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation Participate in live Q&A Zoom sessions Receive personalised feedback Practise speaking naturally and fluently 🎁 Plus, for a limited time, get a FREE bonus pronunciation lesson (worth £30). Ready to unlock true fluency? Try it risk-free for 30 days and start speaking English like you’ve always wanted. Click below to join today! thebritishenglishpodcast.com/academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Charlie helps you improve your British English by focusing on how to talk about hobbies and free time naturally—both for everyday conversation and, more specifically, for Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking exam. You'll hear model answers, learn useful expressions, and get tips to sound more fluent and confident when discussing your interests. Download - ⁠How to use idioms in IELTS FREE ebook/audiobook⁠ Learn about Charlie's ⁠IELTS Speaking Course Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie welcomes Emma from Pronunciation with Emma back on the show to share her five “brilliant things” — from the oddly specific to the surprisingly relatable. Along the way, they reflect on British culture, personality quirks, and the small moments that make life feel just right. A cosy listen for learners who enjoy natural, unscripted British English. 👉 🎧 ⁠⁠Listen to Charlie on Pronunciation with Emma on Spotify 👉 🎧 Listen to Charlie on Pronunciation with Emma on Apple Podcasts Want to learn more about Emma? Click here. 📝 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🧐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Test Your Level of English⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ 🎓 ⁠⁠The Academy⁠⁠ 📑 ⁠⁠Transcripts & Glossaries⁠⁠ 📧 ⁠⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠⁠ 👋 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱⁠⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠⁠ 📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Android currently not working 😡 (working on fixing it) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🧐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Test Your Level of English⁠⁠ ⁠ 📝 ⁠⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠⁠ Charlie gets Martin from Rock N' Roll English on the show to do an interview style episode all about the life of a uni student in the UK. They cover nightlife, student accommodation and campus lifestyle. 🎓 ⁠⁠The Academy⁠⁠ 📑 ⁠⁠Transcripts & Glossaries⁠⁠ 📧 ⁠⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠⁠ 👋 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱⁠⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠⁠ 📱⁠⁠⁠⁠Android currently not working 😡 (working on fixing it) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🧐 ⁠⁠⁠Test Your Level of English⁠⁠ 📝 ⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠ Charlie tries something new this week: reflecting on five small but meaningful things that have shaped him. Joined by Harry, the two share a thoughtful and lighthearted conversation that's a gentle way to tune into everyday British English and culture. Perfect for learners who enjoy real talk over rehearsed scripts. 🎓 ⁠The Academy⁠ 📑 ⁠Transcripts & Glossaries⁠ 📧 ⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠ 👋 ⁠Instagram⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠ 📱⁠⁠Android currently not working 😡 (working on fixing it) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

👄 ⁠Improve Your Pronunciation⁠ In this episode, Charlie uses a real-life story to teach you the key features of natural British pronunciation. From connected speech and word stress to intonation and rhythm, you’ll hear how native speakers really sound — and how to train your ear to follow along. Perfect for learners who want to sound more natural, not necessarily native. 📧 Get on Charlie's Email List Here 🎓 Sign Up to Charlie's Pronunciation Course 🎓 ⁠⁠⁠Join The Academy⁠⁠ 👋 ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱⁠⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠⁠ 📱⁠⁠On Android / Google Play Store here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📝 ⁠Get FREE Episode Worksheet⁠ Charlie tells the true story of the British Post Office scandal — a shocking case where many honest people were wrongly blamed because of a computer mistake. You’ll learn about the people behind the post office counter, the problems they faced, and how the truth finally came out. 🎓 ⁠⁠Join The Academy⁠ 📑 ⁠Get Transcripts & Glossaries⁠ 📧 ⁠FREE Email Lessons⁠ 👋 ⁠Instagram⁠ @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱⁠On iOS / Apple App Store here⁠ 📱⁠On Android / Google Play Store here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🧐 Test Your Level of English 📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet Charlie takes you on a sunny Saturday walk to visit London’s oldest pubs. He gives simple Tube tips, shows you hidden alleys, and tells stories about Roman Londinium, medieval confession booths, the gin craze, tulip mania, and the nutmeg trade. Along the way he meets an Aussie traveller, enjoys half‑pints in centuries‑old taverns, and shares useful British English phrases. 🎓 The Academy 📑 Transcripts & Glossaries 📧 FREE Email Lessons 👋 Instagram @thebritishenglishpodcast Get the App: 📱On iOS / Apple App Store here 📱On Android / Google Play Store here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📝 Get FREE Episode Worksheet (S1/E3) Learn British English & about British culture in this episode where your host Charlie interviews a variety of English speakers starting with his school friends from the South of England to New Zealanders, Australians and even South African English speakers to find out what the world thinks of us Brits and if we are self aware of our stereotypes! Useful Links below... 🎓 Join Charlie's Academy 📝 Free episode worksheet 🧐 Take English Level Test 📑 Transcripts & glossaries 📧 Newsletter with e-lessons 👋 Instagram @thebritishenglishpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices