6 Minute English

Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations with the BBC. A weekly instruction manual for saying or doing something in English is published every Thursday....more

BBC Radio

All Episodes (171)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new

1. Ecotourism: good or bad?

Is a style of tourism that respects animals and local communities working well?

Jun 01,2023 06:29
2. Can climate change cause more disease?

Mosquito-borne diseases kill 750,000 annually. Could climate change make it worse?

May 25,2023 06:21
3. Food shortages

Listen to an expert on the global food system and learn some vocabulary.

May 18,2023 06:31
4. Addicted to war

A war correspondent tells his story.

May 11,2023 06:21
5. Ice and the origins of life on Earth

Sam and Neil talk about an essential element for life to thrive.

May 04,2023 06:21
6. Women in politics

We discuss some of the reasons why women make up only 26% of the world's politicians.

Apr 27,2023 06:18
7. What's the point of museums?

Beth and Neil discuss the controversial role of museums in the 21st century.

Apr 20,2023 06:19
8. How culture affects sadness

Could your culture influence sadness? We talk about sadness and teach you vocabulary.

Apr 13,2023 06:15
9. Would you eat a Kalette?

Learn about the world of novelty vegetables.

Apr 06,2023 06:35
10. Do you get jealous easily?

Hear experts talking about jealousy and envy, and learn related vocabulary.

Mar 30,2023 06:20
11. Are you lonely in a crowd?

We discuss the role of crowds in modern life

Mar 23,2023 06:20
12. Food and mood

We look at the link between what you eat and how you feel.

Mar 16,2023 06:15
13. How to talk to a climate denier

The dos and don'ts of trying to discuss science with someone who doesn't believe in it.

Mar 09,2023 06:30
14. Losing your mother tongue

Hear the story of a woman who replaced her native Czech for English.

Mar 02,2023 06:19
15. The health benefits of apples

Could there be some truth in the proverb 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'?

Feb 23,2023 06:21
16. Why do we procrastinate?

Do you leave your work until the last minute? If so, this programme is for you!

Feb 16,2023 06:14
17. Doomscrolling: Why do we do it?

We discuss if there is an evolutionary reason why we're attracted to bad news.

Feb 09,2023 06:16
18. Exercise for The Lazy

What's the least amount of exercise you should do to stay healthy?

Feb 02,2023 06:19
19. Can AI have a mind of its own?

Hear about the software engineer who became 'friends' with his computer.

Jan 26,2023 06:20
20. Climate change: Are there too many people?

Does the size of your carbon footprint depend on where in the world you were born?

Jan 19,2023 06:17
21. The hidden life of buffets

We discuss buffet meals and the history behind them and teach related vocabulary.

Jan 12,2023 06:00
22. Songwriting

We discuss the art of songwriting – combining lyrics and music to make a hit song.

Jan 05,2023 06:16
23. United against food waste

According to the UN, one third of the food we grow is thrown away. How can we stop this?

Dec 29,2022 06:18
24. 3D printers

We look at the role of 3D printers in medicine, and teach you some related vocabulary.

Dec 22,2022 06:17
25. Are opinion polls accurate?

What can opinion polls really tell us?

Dec 15,2022 06:20
26. Deep-sea mining: Good or bad for the planet?

Could some ideas to deal with climate change actually damage the environment?

Dec 08,2022 06:22
27. Can music mend a broken heart?

Meet a singer-songwriter who used music to express her feelings of falling in love.

Dec 01,2022 06:16
28. The art of conversation

We discuss whether the art of conversation is being lost in the era of social media

Nov 24,2022 06:19
29. Qatar's World Cup workers

Hear about the workers who built the World Cup stadiums

Nov 17,2022 06:11
30. Controlling the weather

We discuss two different types of weather manipulation.

Nov 10,2022 06:17
31. Meet the flavourists

Is designing a food flavour a dark art? We talk about the people who make flavours.

Nov 03,2022 06:20
32. Are Halloween costumes too scary?

Some parents are complaining that some Halloween costumes are too scary.

Oct 27,2022 06:18
33. Does climate change make you anxious?

We discuss how extreme weather events are affecting our mental health.

Oct 20,2022 06:20
34. Translating recipes

How to adapt dishes from other countries? We talk about it and teach you vocabulary.

Oct 13,2022 06:20
35. Are artistic brains different?

We talk about Mozart, Jimi Hendrix and teach you vocabulary.

Oct 06,2022 06:19
36. Why are prices going up?

We discuss inflation and economics and teach related vocabulary.

Sep 29,2022 06:21
37. English for dating online

We discuss language that gets used for dating online and new language that is emerging.

Sep 22,2022 06:20
38. Man vs beast: Who is more efficient?

We discuss the advantages of the design of the human body, and teach you vocabulary too.

Sep 15,2022 06:18
39. Are you following your dreams?

Hear about two people who dared to follow their dreams and are happy to have done so.

Sep 08,2022 06:19
40. Do emojis make language better?

Are emojis turning us into lazy writers?

Sep 01,2022 06:22
41. Being a beauty influencer

Hear about women who are using social media to change attitudes to beauty

Aug 25,2022 06:19
42. Women in the workplace

Hear about the career-killing tasks that are holding women back in the workplace

Aug 18,2022 06:18
43. Connecting remote communities

How do you connect the unconnected?

Aug 11,2022 06:18
44. How pandemics end

Covid-19, The Black Death ... We discuss what happens when deadly diseases go global.

Aug 04,2022 06:24
45. Confused by modern idioms?

We talk about some new expressions that have been introduced to English through the media

Jul 28,2022 06:26
46. Which are more dangerous: Sharks or humans?

From monster killers of the sea to endangered species - we talk sharks and vocabulary.

Jul 21,2022 06:24
47. Climate change and evolution

We discuss the impact of climate change on today's wildlife.

Jul 14,2022 06:18
48. Preserving traditional recipes

We discuss the tastes of our childhood and teach new vocabulary.

Jul 07,2022 06:18
49. Restoring trust in science

Modern scientists are under pressure from critics motivated by political views.

Jun 30,2022 06:18
50. The Manhattan Project

Learn about the invention of the atomic bomb

Jun 23,2022 06:21
51. Island life: Is it paradise?

Rob and Sam discuss some of the problems Pacific islanders face and teach vocabulary.

Jun 16,2022 06:20
52. The technology of translation

What is the relationship between translation, technology and the human brain?

Jun 09,2022 06:19
53. What is the Platinum Jubilee?

We talk about a very British tradition involving Queen Elizabeth II

Jun 01,2022 06:17
54. People who can taste words

Can you imagine being able to ‘taste’ every word that you hear?

May 26,2022 06:18
55. Finding your way in space

What’s up and what’s down for astronauts who are floating in zero gravity?

May 20,2022 06:18
56. Can VR treat fears and phobias?

VR is helping people overcome phobias and even tackling more serious problems.

May 12,2022 06:18
57. Life in the modern office

Great or awful? How do people rate office working? We talk about it and teach vocabulary.

May 05,2022 06:17
58. Remembering Desmond Tutu

Deep convictions and a sense of humour - we talk about a man who helped end apartheid.

Apr 28,2022 06:24
59. Discoveries of the Deep Sea

We talk about an extreme environment, and teach you vocabulary along the way.

Apr 21,2022 06:16
60. Rhetoric: How persuasive are you?

We talk about an art that started with ancient Greek philosophers

Apr 14,2022 06:18
61. Britain's love affair with coffee

It's not all about tea - Britons like coffee too. Learn vocabulary to talk about it.

Apr 07,2022 06:26
62. Optimists vs Pessimists

Which one you are may be linked more to your birthplace and age than attitude.

Mar 31,2022 06:19
63. The world of Agatha Christie

We discuss one of her most famous characters and teach you related vocabulary.

Mar 25,2022 06:22
64. Mars: Mysteries of the Red Planet

Neil and Sam discuss our fascination with the 'Red Planet' and teach you related vocab.

Mar 17,2022 06:18
65. Why laughter is the best medicine

Shouldn't we take laughter more seriously? We discuss and teach related vocabulary.

Mar 10,2022 06:17
66. Is being kind good for you?

Neil and Sam discuss the benefits of kindness and teach you related vocabulary.

Mar 03,2022 06:17
67. Eating bugs

Neil and Sam discuss eating insects and teach you related vocabulary.

Feb 24,2022 06:19
68. The benefits of boredom

We talk about the positive side of boredom and teach you related vocabulary.

Feb 17,2022 06:15
69. Do our pets care about us?

We love and care for our pets. But do they care about us in return? Neil and Sam discuss.

Feb 10,2022 06:18
70. Sleepy in South Korea

Life in a place where people work longer hours and get less sleep than anywhere else.

Feb 09,2022 06:19
71. Sleepy in South Korea

Life in a place where people work longer hours and get less sleep than anywhere else.

Feb 03,2022 06:19
72. Preparing for the Beijing Winter Olympics

Artificial snow, coronavirus and controversy surround the Beijing Games starting soon.

Jan 27,2022 06:18
73. Are personalised diets the best way to be healthy?

We discuss how microbes matter when it comes to food, and teach some related vocabulary.

Jan 20,2022 06:17
74. Inventing languages

Learn about how languages get invented

Jan 13,2022 06:14
75. Welcome to the 'metaverse'

We discuss how things like the metaverse and AI might influence how we live.

Jan 06,2022 06:19
76. Do trees have memories?

We discuss whether plants can 'remember' stressful situations, such as droughts or pests.

Dec 30,2021 06:19
77. Algorithms

We talk about the maths formulas that are increasingly part of our lives.

Dec 23,2021 06:19
78. Changing the Earth's climate

Could diamonds help to prevent a climate catastrophe? That's what we discuss.

Dec 16,2021 06:18
79. Body language online

How can we make video conferences feel more natural? That's what Sam and Neil talk about.

Dec 09,2021 06:19
80. The Human Library: Life as an open book

Would you like to borrow a person for a half-hour candid conversation?

Dec 02,2021 06:17
81. How green is nuclear energy?

How safe is a nuclear plant in a world of climate extremes? Listen to Neil and Sam.

Nov 25,2021 06:17
82. Why we forget the things we learn

Georgina and Rob talk about memory and teach you vocabulary along the way.

Nov 18,2021 06:19
83. Why is Super Mario so popular?

We talk about a famous video game character from the 80s.

Nov 11,2021 06:18
84. Should fast food sponsor sport?

Is it right for companies selling unhealthy products to sponsor sporting events?

Nov 04,2021 06:19
85. Grime: Music from architecture

We talk about the music of Wiley and Stormy, and teach you related vocabulary.

Oct 28,2021 06:19
86. Where do your tips go?

We talk about tipping: the act of giving extra money to someone that has served you well.

Oct 21,2021 06:18
87. Angela Merkel

Sam and Neil talk about the influential German leader and teach you related vocabulary.

Oct 14,2021 06:10
88. Smart tech and climate change

Could AI be used to help fight against climate change?

Oct 07,2021 06:12
89. Going through the menopause

Why don't people talk more about this aspect of women's lives?

Sep 30,2021 06:18
90. Bitcoin's energy cost

Bitcoin: is it an investment option for ordinary people?

Sep 27,2021 06:18
91. I love my language!

Neil and Sam talk about a woman's effort to keep her language alive.

Sep 23,2021 06:18
92. Why are people collecting NFTs?

What are 'non-fungible tokens'? That's what Neil and Sam talk about in this programme.

Sep 20,2021 06:20
93. Robot Artists

Will Robots ever be able to think or dream? Could they fall in love or create art?

Sep 16,2021 06:46
94. Bats: Friend or foe?

Learn more about these furry flying mammals with Neil and Sam.

Sep 13,2021 06:19
95. Is the planet warming up faster?

Some extreme weather events are puzzling scientists.

Sep 09,2021 06:46
96. Is technology harmful to youngsters?

Can spending hours online affect the new generation's mental health?

Sep 06,2021 06:18
97. Is chimp politics like ours?

Just like humans, chimps live in social groups, have leaders and a desire for power.

Sep 02,2021 06:46
98. Making sense of the census

What's behind counting people in a country? Neil and Sam talk about the census.

Aug 26,2021 06:44
99. The fear of numbers

Are you afraid of maths? Neil and Sam talk about numbers and teach you vocabulary.

Aug 23,2021 06:17
100. A future without doctors?

We discuss if artificial intelligence could replace human doctors and nurses.

Aug 19,2021 06:46
101. Lights! Camera! Kiss! - Intimacy on screen

How actors are made to feel more comfortable when filming intimate scenes.

Aug 16,2021 06:17
102. Head injury in sport

Contact sports can be dangerous. The truth about the effects on players is coming out.

Aug 12,2021 06:46
103. Inside the head of Jeff Bezos

How does the founder of the web giant Amazon think? Listen to the programme to find out.

Aug 09,2021 06:19
104. The history of swimming

We talk about the history of swimming and teach you related vocabulary along the way.

Aug 05,2021 06:47
105. Are humans a messy species?

Learn the language of going to the toilet.

Jul 29,2021 06:43
106. The loneliest man in history

We talk about Michael Collins, who orbited the Moon in the command module Columbia.

Jul 26,2021 06:16
107. How colour affects us

Neil and Georgina add some colour to your life by discussing how colour can make you feel

Jul 19,2021 06:17
108. Flexible working

Is there a stigma attached to not wanting to work the 9-to-5 shift?

Jul 15,2021 06:17
109. Hypnotism

Hypnotism has always fascinated us, but can anyone be hypnotised?

Jul 08,2021 06:18
110. Saving the white rhinos

Conservationists are working on an artificial breeding programme to preserve the species.

Jul 01,2021 06:16
111. Making old things last longer

Shouldn't we stop throwing things away and start fixing them?

Jun 24,2021 06:18
112. Making old things last longer

Shouldn't we stop throwing things away and start fixing them?

Jun 24,2021 06:18
113. Building rapport with others

We discuss four styles of communication and teach you related vocabulary along the way.

Jun 17,2021 06:17
114. Food superstitions

We talk about food superstitions and teach you vocabulary along the way.

Jun 10,2021 06:18
115. The Rosetta Stone

How the famous piece of rock became the key to decoding Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Jun 03,2021 06:18
116. Compassion fatigue

Has the pandemic made people tired of feeling sorry for others and themselves?

May 27,2021 06:17
117. Hermits

Why do people decide to be alone for long periods of time?

May 20,2021 06:16
118. When males are not needed

We talk about different animals which can reproduce without having sex.

May 14,2021 06:18
119. Mermaids

We talk about different variations on the concept of mermaids.

May 06,2021 06:18
120. A quieter world

Neil and Georgina discuss noise and whether it is bad for our health.

Apr 29,2021 06:19
121. US and China vs climate change

Can the world's two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases work together?

Apr 22,2021 06:17
122. Naked in nature

Hear about why being naked in nature might be good for you.

Apr 15,2021 06:19
123. The language of biscuits

Rob and Neil talk about the origins and the language of this humble snack.

Apr 08,2021 06:13
124. Is English really English?

Neil and Georgina discuss where the English language we use today really comes from.

Apr 01,2021 06:19
125. Astronauts on strike?

Hear all about the Skylab astronauts’ disagreement with mission control.

Mar 25,2021 06:19
126. Digital help for blind people

Hear about digital technology which helps blind people improve their lives.

Mar 18,2021 06:19
127. What’s the key to happiness?

Hear about what small things you can do to feel happier about life.

Mar 11,2021 06:19
128. Looking for utopia

Rob and Georgina talk about how to create a happy place.

Mar 04,2021 06:19
129. Covid: One year on

Over a year on since the first outbreak, what have we learnt? We talk about the pandemic.

Feb 25,2021 06:19
130. Singing in tune

Neil and Georgina discuss singing and teach you related vocabulary along the way.

Feb 18,2021 06:19
131. Working for yourself

Rob and Georgina talk about the advantages and disadvantages of freelancing.

Feb 11,2021 06:19
132. How much heat do you lose from your head?

Rob and Georgina talk about percentages and teach you some English vocabulary.

Feb 04,2021 06:17
133. The woman whose cells never die

Rob and Georgina discuss medical research and teach you related vocabulary.

Jan 28,2021 06:19
134. What makes a good story?

Hear about storytelling and how it helps us to connect and communicate.

Jan 21,2021 06:19
135. For the love of foreign languages

Is learning languages good for head, heart and soul?

Jan 14,2021 06:18
136. Why can't we resist comfort food?

Neil and Rob talk about comfort food and what actually makes us eat it.

Jan 07,2021 06:19
137. What is fat-shaming?

We discuss where the attitudes behind fat-shaming come from.

Dec 31,2020 06:19
138. Coronavirus vs other pandemics

Hear about coronavirus and how it isn’t that bad compared to historical pandemics

Dec 24,2020 06:19
139. Are trees intelligent?

We talk about trees and how they can communicate and help each other.

Dec 17,2020 06:19
140. Can jellyfish help us solve our problems?

We discuss how these sea creatures could help us solve the problem of plastic pollution.

Dec 10,2020 06:18
141. Why do we choose to text instead of talk?

Communicating by text has become more and more popular. Neil and Georgina talk about it.

Dec 03,2020 06:19
142. Loneliness

Neil and Rob talk about loneliness and how some people prefer their own company.

Nov 26,2020 06:19
143. Is punctuality important?

We discuss people's attitude to being on time and why some people are always late.

Nov 19,2020 06:19
144. Could you be a victim of online fraud?

We talk about online fraud and teach you some useful vocabulary along the way.

Nov 12,2020 06:19
145. Melting ice sheet: Is it too late?

Many scientists are wondering whether it’s now too late to stop global warming.

Nov 05,2020 06:17
146. Walkman: the music player revolution

Neil and Georgina take a nostalgic look back at the 1980s and the birth of the Walkman.

Oct 29,2020 06:18
147. Could humans live in underwater cities?

Hear about projects to create liveable underwater habitats and learn new vocabulary.

Oct 22,2020 06:17
148. Hacking help for US elections

Rob and Sam discuss plans in the US to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks on election day.

Oct 15,2020 06:22
149. Do chimps have the same emotions as us?

Hear Jane Goodall talk about the deep connections between humans and the great apes.

Oct 08,2020 06:17
150. How can we make the web a better place?

Neil and Sam talk about the subject and teach you vocabulary along the way.

Oct 01,2020 06:17
151. Coronavirus: Dealing with mass unemployment post-pandemic

Neil and Sam discuss the post-Covid job landscape and teach you vocabulary along the way.

Sep 24,2020 06:18
152. Grandma therapy in Zimbabwe

Grandmothers are being trained to provide therapy to people in their community.

Sep 17,2020 06:24
153. Is there a future without bees?

The number of bees is declining at an alarming rate, with serious consequences for us.

Sep 10,2020 06:17
154. How to talk about conspiracy theories

We discuss what to do when you are confronted with someone who spreads falsehoods.

Sep 03,2020 06:23
155. What’s the point of blood types?

In this programme, we’ll be finding out all about blood and teaching you some vocabulary.

Aug 27,2020 06:23
156. Will Covid-19 change cities?

Rob and Neil discuss the future of our cities and teach you useful vocabulary.

Aug 20,2020 06:03
157. Is this the era of distrust?

In an era of fake news, could it be that we are living through a crisis in trust?

Aug 13,2020 06:18
158. No more bosses

Can companies operate better without managers? We talk about it and teach you vocabulary.

Aug 06,2020 06:17
159. The medicine of coronavirus

Neil and Georgina talk about Covid-19 and teach you related vocabulary.

Jul 30,2020 06:17
160. Food made in space

Find out how growing plants in space might help develop better crops.

Jul 23,2020 06:17
161. Sport against poverty

Neil and Sam discuss how sport is giving hope to young people leading the toughest lives.

Jul 16,2020 06:17
162. Covid-19: The office after lockdown

Companies are rushing to install technology to make offices safer. Neil and Sam discuss.

Jul 09,2020 06:17
163. Should we wear a face mask?

Can wearing masks in public help prevent the spread of coronavirus? Rob and Sam discuss.

Jul 02,2020 06:20
164. Millennials and business

Rob and Sam discuss the new generation's desire to make the world a better place.

Jun 25,2020 06:22
165. Is being thrifty a virtue?

Neil and Sam talk about being a saver in a consumer culture and teach you vocabulary.

Jun 18,2020 06:17
166. The food delivery revolution

Takeaway apps are changing food culture. We talk about it and teach you vocabulary.

Jun 11,2020 06:17
167. What difference has #MeToo made?

Sam and Georgina talk about the movement and teach you related vocabulary.

Jun 04,2020 06:17
168. Is the recycling system broken?

We talk about the over-reliance on recycling rather than reducing the use of plastics

May 28,2020 06:17
169. The soothing power of books

How can books help us relax and feel more alive during troubled times?

May 21,2020 06:17
170. Shocking facts about electricity

Neil and Georgina talk about how electrical systems differ from country to country.

May 14,2020 06:17
171. Internet - good or bad?

Rob and Neil discuss some of the advantages and drawbacks of going online

Apr 26,2018 06:19

6 Minute English

Learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations with the BBC. A weekly instruction manual for saying or doing something in English is published every Thursday.

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6 Minute English

All Episodes (171) From new to old From new to old From old to new

All Episodes (171)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new