Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

6 Minute English

Learn and practise useful English with clips from programmes around the BBC. Find more at bbclearninenglish.com

Radio,312 episodes

Episodes

ListGrid

The power of pepper
Did you know there are hundreds of different varieties of pepper worldwide?
26 Feb 2026,6 mins
Dreaming of being a chef
Working in a restaurant can be tough, but for some, becoming a top chef is a dream job
19 Feb 2026,6 mins
Artistic swimming
Could you hold your breath underwater while doing gymnastics? These athletes can.
12 Feb 2026,6 mins
Rethinking dyslexia
Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations.
05 Feb 2026,6 mins
Why are billionaires building bunkers?
Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations.
29 Jan 2026,7 mins
Scared to speak English?
Beth and Pippa discuss learning languages and how to fight your fear of speaking English.
22 Jan 2026,7 mins
What English phrases really mean
British people love to play with words, but why do we do it? Pippa and Beth discuss this.
15 Jan 2026,6 mins
Is social media dead?
Is social media on a downward spiral? Neil and Pippa discuss this.
08 Jan 2026,6 mins
Is it OK to disagree?
Are we becoming a divided society?
01 Jan 2026,6 mins
Was Christmas better in the past?
Beth and Neil talk about a strange emotion we can feel at Christmas called nostalgia.
25 Dec 2025,6 mins
Finding and eating wild food
Where do you get your fruit and vegetables – a supermarket, a greengrocer... or the wild?
18 Dec 2025,6 mins
How are horses helping to heal humans?
Did you know that horses are being used to help with physical and mental illness?
11 Dec 2025,6 mins
What’s your favourite flavour of crisp?
Why do we like crisps so much?
04 Dec 2025,6 mins
How are influencers affecting politics?
Do you follow politics on social media?
27 Nov 2025,6 mins
Do you have good dining etiquette?
Do you know the 'proper' way to behave during meals?
20 Nov 2025,6 mins
How important is play?
Would you ever consider playing in a bomb site?
13 Nov 2025,6 mins
Do you like garlic?
Have you ever had garlic breath?
06 Nov 2025,6 mins
Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
Is a large breakfast the key to maintaining healthy eating habits?
30 Oct 2025,6 mins
Did a civilisation exist on Earth before humans?
Was there a civilisation with advanced technology on planet Earth before humans?
23 Oct 2025,6 mins
Are we too fixated on protein?
Has our love for protein come at the expense of other important food groups, like fibre?
16 Oct 2025,6 mins
What makes a good citizen?
Is a good citizen someone who votes and follows the law? Or is there more to it?
09 Oct 2025,6 mins
Have you ever seen a whale?
How have humans treated whales throughout history?
02 Oct 2025,6 mins
The criminal trade in ancient objects
Did you know that there are criminal networks which steal and trade ancient objects?
25 Sep 2025,6 mins
Would you like a robot companion?
How would you feel if you shared your home with a robot?
18 Sep 2025,6 mins
What causes hearing loss?
As we get older, our hearing naturally gets worse. What are the causes of this decline?
11 Sep 2025,6 mins
The joys of writing lists
When was the last time you made, or followed, a list? Phil and Beth discuss this.
04 Sep 2025,6 mins
What's it like to be a twin?
Many people are fascinated by the lives of twins. Neil and Beth discuss this.
28 Aug 2025,6 mins
What's your favourite snack?
Do you prefer healthy snacks or modern, packaged treats? Beth and Neil discuss snacks!
21 Aug 2025,6 mins
Grown-ups buying kids’ toys
It's not just kids who play with toys. Phil and Beth teach you some new vocabulary.
14 Aug 2025,6 mins
Are you flourishing?
Many of us are familiar with wellbeing, but have you heard about flourishing?
07 Aug 2025,6 mins