The B1 story today:The Girl in the PaintingSophie had been meaning to visit the old house on the hill for years, and she was surprised to see the door open, as though inviting her to visit.Inside, the air was heavy and quiet. She glanced around the dusty room and saw an old mirror. In the glass, she saw a handsome young man smiling at her. She turned suddenly, however, there was no one there behind her. She turned back to the mirror. There was the same young man dressed in a smart dinner jacket and matching trousers, his dark, curly hair falling down onto his broad shoulders.“Help yourself to some tea,” he said calmly, and pointed to a table with a silver teapot, plates and dishes with cakes.Sophie wanted to escape, but the man’s deep, brown eyes somehow pulled her towards them, and then she disappeared into the mirror altogether.When her friends came looking for her a few days later, the mirror was gone, and in its place was an enormous painting of a young couple in fine clothes taking tea and cakes. The gorgeous woman looking out of the painting, they recognised as Sophie. Her sad eyes filled with tears.Here is a link to a Pdf extract from my new book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" so you can see how it works and how it can help you reach a B1 English level. https://www.practisingenglish.com/pdf/Inchcape-rock-sample.pdf My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.https://www.practisingenglish.com/Be back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and...
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267. Article on Friendship (B2 level)
This is a B2 level podcast:The Magic of True FriendshipHave you ever stopped to think what really makes a good friend? We all have people we hang out with, but genuine friendship goes beyond just having fun together.A good friend is someone you can count on, no matter what. They listen when you need to talk, cheer you up when you’re feeling down, and tell you the truth — even when it’s hard to hear. Trust and honesty are key. After all, what’s friendship without trust?With good friends, you don’t have to pretend to be someone else. You can be completely yourself — messy hair, bad jokes and all! They accept you for who you are and stand by you, whatever happens.But can we really be good friends with lots of people? Honestly, I don’t think so. You can have many acquaintances, sure, but real friendship takes time, effort and care. You can’t give that to dozens of people!In the end, it’s not about having loads of friends — it’s about having a few who truly matter. Because when you find those special people, you know you’ve found something priceless. So, who’s that person you can always count on?Here is a link to a Pdf extract from my new book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" so you can see how it works and how it can help you reach a B1 English level. https://www.practisingenglish.com/pdf/Inchcape-rock-sample.pdf My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.https://www.practisingenglish.com/Be back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and...
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266. An article about games for PET exam (B1 level)
Today, I'm going to read an article, which is similar to the articles you have to write if you're doing the B1 Cambridge PET exam.Many people enjoy playing games in their free time. Some prefer board games like chess or Monopoly, while others like video games such as Minecraft or FIFA. But which type of game is more interesting to play?Board games are great for spending time with family and friends. You can sit together, talk, and have fun face to face. These games often need players to think carefully and plan their moves, so they help improve memory and problem-solving skills. They also teach people how to be patient and work as a team.Video games, on the other hand, are exciting because of their fast action and colourful graphics. They can take you to different worlds and let you do amazing things, like flying a plane or saving a city. Some video games help you think quickly and make decisions under pressure. Online games can also connect you with players from around the world, which is a great way to make new friends.In my opinion, both types of games are interesting in different ways. Board games are better for real social time, while video games are more exciting and creative. From playing games, people can learn teamwork, problem solving, and how to think in new ways. No matter which type you choose, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the game.Here is a link to a Pdf extract from my book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" so you can see how it works and how it can help you reach a B1 English level.https://www.practisingenglish.com/pdf/Bully-sample-with-explain.pdfHere is a link to a Pdf extract from my new book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" so you can see how it works and how it can help you reach a B1 English level. https://www.practisingenglish.com/pdf/Inchcape-rock-sample.pdf My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.https://www.practisingenglish.com/Be back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and...
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265. A True Champion (B2 Story)
A B2-level short story for you today...A True ChampionSofia had always dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player. She trained every morning, even when she was tired, because she knew success would depend on her hard work. Some people tried to discourage her from doing so much training, saying she was wasting her time, but Sofia refused to listen.Her first big tournament didn’t go well. She suffered a terrible defeat, and her confidence began to decline. Deep down, she felt that maybe everyone had been right. For a moment, she even hesitated to enter the next competition.However, her coach reminded her that real champions never give up. He said that despite the fact she had lost she had learned something important. Sofia realised he was right. She returned to the court, determined to demonstrate her true ability.In the final match, her opponent tried to deceive her with tricky shots, but Sofia stayed calm and focussed. This time, she won.When she lifted the trophy, she smiled – not because of the victory, but because she had proved to herself that determination and a belief in yourself are stronger than fear.Here is a link to a Pdf extract from my new book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" so you can see how it works and how it can help you reach a B1 English level. https://www.practisingenglish.com/pdf/Inchcape-rock-sample.pdf My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.https://www.practisingenglish.com/Be back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and...
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264. The Mystery of the Lake (B1 Story)
The Mystery of the LakeDay after day, Lily walked past the old lake near her village. The elderly people of the village said it was dangerously deep, and that in its depths lived an enormous monster. In all her life, Lily had never seen anything, although she often wondered why there were never ducks or swans on the lake. One summer morning, she decided to take her small boat and explore the lake herself.As her tiny boat moved further from the lake’s edge, dark clouds began to form. The wind grew stronger, and waves started to crash against the side of her boat. She tried to turn back, but something sharp cut into the wood and made a huge hole. Lily thought she saw something just under the water – something powerful and dark that moved under the boat. It was huge like a whale. But no whale lives in lakes. Water started to pour into the boat fast. Lily knew she had to deal with the situation quickly. She jumped into the cold water, swimming hard towards the shore. Her arms felt heavy, and her energy began to run out. Just when she thought she wouldn’t make it, a fisherman’s voice shouted from behind her. She knew him. He was a friend of her father’s. He grabbed her arms and pulled her on board. Lily was delighted to be rescued but shaking from cold and fear. The fisherman smiled and said, “You were lucky! The last person who went out so far out into the lake never returned. You should stay near the shore.”Now safe, Lilly sat in the back of the large, metal fishing boat. She thought about what she had seen under the water, and realised that perhaps what the elderly people of the village said might be true. Here is a link to a Pdf extract from my new book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder" so you can see how it works and how it can help you reach a B1 English level. https://www.practisingenglish.com/pdf/Inchcape-rock-sample.pdf My NEW book: "B1 English Vocabulary Builder - 22 Short Stories for Learning the Words and Phrases Students Need to Pass the B1 Exam" is now available! This book gives the learner enough vocabulary to pass any B1 exam (special help for Cambridge exams).To read more about my book, click here (you can access it from any Amazon platform):https://amzn.to/46AVFe9 Learners studying towards B2 level will be interested in my B1 to B2 reader: The Tudor Conspiracy (includes audio version) https://amzn.to/4gPsj0i For very young learners (from 8-10), I recommend my picture reader book for children learning A1 to A2 English. It comes with a fully dramatised audio version: https://amzn.to/46TCWvv At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, free grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.https://www.practisingenglish.com/Be back soon with another podcast!Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and...
Listening practice for learners of B1 intermediate and B2 upper-intermediate levels of British English. Learn British English by listening to stories. Original and exciting stories written for learners and students of British English. Practise and prepare for Cambridge: B1 PET Preliminary and FCE First Certificate exams. IELTS: level 4, level 5 and level 6. Includes English grammar explanations and practice exercises, examples of vocabulary use, phrasal verbs and collocations help, British English pronunciation practice, advice and help for passing B1 and B2 English examinations: Cambridge, IELTS and Trinity. Start practising and improving your British English listening, vocabulary and speaking levels today!
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