BBC Podcasts

Vocabulary global village description of the modern world as a connected community in which people communicate across great distances using technology such as the internet and telephone spasmodic happening suddenly for a short time and not in a regular way dodgy (informal) bad, not able to be trusted word-of-mouth information passed by people telling each other, rather than being written down or sent electronically gadget small, modern electronic device or machine which does something useful (straight) from the horse's mouth (idiom) directly from the most reliable source, or from someone who has reliable knowledge of it

Connecting remote communities 🌐

Introduction In certain developed countries around the world, there is a stark difference in the availability of internet to different communities. In tribal lands, located in remote, rural and rugged landscapes, internet connection is often very patchy, or non-existent.  In this episode, Sam and Neil discuss attempts to connect these remote areas. Join us to explore this topic and learn the useful vocabulary you need to talk about it!  This week's question: What was the name of the first ever internet browser, the engine for searching websites? Was it: a) Ask Jeeves? b) WorldWideWeb? c) Yahoo? Watch the video to find out the answer.

Vocabulary cast your eye over (something) look quickly at (something)   in abundance in large quantities; more than enough   health halo consumer perception of food which overestimates how healthy an item is based on a single feature – such as being low in calories, organic or high in protein – even if its overall nutritional value is poor   the tide is turning (idiom) things are beginning to change   fibermaxxing American social media trend where people intentionally consume high levels of fibre by eating fibre-rich foods and supplements for their health benefits   hack a good solution or piece of advice

Are we too fixated on protein?🥚

Introduction 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 and, of course, building muscles! But has our love for protein come at the expense of other important food groups, like fibre? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question What is Irishman Patrick Callahan famous for? a) owning a company which makes protein shakes b) winning the 2024 Mister Universe bodybuilding contest c) discovering a new protein in outer space Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary moratorium temporary suspension of an activity   chap (informal) man   turning point time when a situation starts to change, especially in a positive way   (not) stand a chance (not) have a chance of success   give a shout-out publicly praise someone or something   good at media skilful at using media outlets, like TV and newspapers, to convey a message to the public

Have you ever seen a whale? 🐳

Introduction Whales are majestic creatures. Their sheer size, their ability to swim to great depths and their whale song have captured our imaginations throughout history. But have humans always had a positive relationship with whales? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question Which is the smallest whale species? a) the beluga whale b) the vaquita whale c) the pygmy right whale Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary humanoid having the appearance and behaviour of a human   sassy bold, confident and cheeky   be taken aback be surprised or shocked by something   has a mind of its own seems to be controlling the way it behaves or moves independently, without human control   a splash of colour a bit of colour added to brighten up something which is dull or unexciting   expressive showing what someone thinks or feels

Would you like a robot companion? 🤖

Introduction Many of us could use extra help around the house – but what if that help came from a robot? Would you treat the robot as a lifeless machine, or do you think you might start thinking of it as a friend? In fact, many companies are trying to create robots that help people to feel less lonely. Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary. This week's question What is the name of Pixar's friendly robot who picks up garbage on an uninhabited planet Earth in the year 2805? a) Roz b) Wall-E c) R2D2 Listen to the programme to hear the answer.

Vocabulary bucket list list of all the things a person would like to do before they die   puke (slang) vomit, sick   bang for your buck (idiom) value gained in return for the money, time or effort you spend doing something   saccharine excessively sweet or sentimental and so considered insincere or inauthentic   the nub of (something) the most important or essential point of (a situation, problem, etc.)   pros and cons advantages and disadvantages

The joys of writing lists 🗒