Practising English M. A. Bilbrough

In Part 2 of my story, The Harmonica Players, I’ll be talking about racial prejudice. That means the irrational distrust and dislike of people from other countries. My motive for bringing up this topic and creating Jeffrey, a man who is very prejudiced against foreigners, has been from the unfortunate policy by the current Conservative party in the UK, who have proposed and are about to carry out flying immigrants, who have arrived illegally into the UK, to the African country of Rwanda.

This is a B1 to B2 level English story.

B2 vocabulary discussed in the podcast:
foreigner
native English
"I don’t know what this country is coming to. More foreigners than native English."
In contrast to
primarily
"In contrast to the London area, Oxted was primarily a small town of white people."
respectable
"All respectable, traditional people. Proper English people, Jeffrey would say. "
upbringing
"His upbringing had always been in country areas, away from cosmopolitan* cities. "
distrusted
"He distrusted foreigners in his country, in general. "
superior / inferior
What does he say about these words? (see answer 1 below)
raise their voices
Who don't raise their voices? (see answer 2 below)
take it for granted
decency and fair play
"In England, you could take it for granted that you would find decency and fair play*. 
deceit and dishonesty
"Unfortunately, the deceit and dishonesty, which so many immigrants brought with them from elsewhere was giving this country a bad name. "
discourage
"The current government’s policy of sending them all to Rwanda was obviously a practical solution which would discourage others, tempted by England’s superior standard of living, from attempting the crossing of the English Channel. "
"immigrants giving the country a bad name"

Answer 1) His main argument was that why would anyone from another country wish to live in England unless his or her own origins were somehow inferior*. Here, in England, everybody enjoyed a superior* culture, a better welfare state: medical care, friendly doctors (such as his own Doctor Feelgood, for instance).

Answer 2) The English didn’t raise their voices* or shout at each other like they did on the Continent. (By the term ‘the Continent’, Jeffrey referred to all of Europe excluding* Britain.) 
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

The Harmonica Players. The story of two people who are very different from each other, yet there is something that unites them.

Words and expressions discussed in the podcast:

bedsit - accommodation, which is very basic, and is usually just one room.
meter - a machine you put money into which controls the amount of electricity is consumed.
-        Somehow, he couldn’t face starting his day without a hot shower
-        All of a sudden, the ceiling light, television, fridge and electric heater all came on* at once.
-        work as a musician had been difficult to get hold of
-        From time to time, he gave harmonica lessons online…
-        Martin always kept his eye out for a job that he could do.
-        Every once in a while, he’d found work doing what he really loved
-        a chance of a lifetime
-        he dropped out of college
-        struggling to make ends meet
-        Jeffrey had a strong dislike of mobile phones
-        They should be behind bars.
-        [She] gazed out of the window at the daffodils in the snow

https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-188.htm
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

This is a B1 and B2 level podcast with a new story about the ages of Man. (See link to audioscript of story below.)

B1 words discussed:
sunrise
landscape
valleys
scenery
waterfall
cave
the cool shade
setting sun (sunset)
B2 words discussed
youth
bounced along
life was a gift, which he would grab for himself
make the most of
the lines around his eyes
a bald area
mature
his  body was curved and bent
slow, clumsy and tired
leaned awkwardly
his old legs struggling to make the final steps

To see full transcript, visit my website:
https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-187.htm
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

I'm listing below the phrases I explain in the audio.
This is a B1-level story. Below, are the phrases I explain from the story.
Vocabulary expressions for the story
Today's story is B1 level. I'm listing below the phrases I explain in the audio.
The point of this podcast is to explain that the language you use in your speaking exam must sound authentic.
These are the B1 expressions I suggest you use in the speaking:
some kind of - when you are describing something, or identifying something
That must be... I suppose - this means you are quite sure what something is
very fond of - like
I've changed my mind - I don't agree with what I said before
I think that's a... isn't it? - easy to use question tag
Good point! - You have said something which I agree with
keen on - like
It's difficult to please everybody - to please means to make somebody happy
I mean, - say this to explain something you have said in a better way, or add more information
See the picture and transcript for the speaking test at:  https://www.practisingenglish.com/podcast-186.htm



At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

In Telmah's life, very little happens. His garden is really the only thing he seems to care about. But one day, a neighbour loses her dog, and Telmah's life suddenly becomes much more complicated than he would like.

These are the B1 expressions I explain from the story:
be just about to do sth
believe it or not
feel sorry for
a sense of humour
straight away
be fond of sb/sth
keen on sth
shortly afterwards
just in case

What do you think about Telmah. Is there a little of him in all of us?
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)

This is a B2 story in the genre of mystery or thriller. It's called Drawing Conclusions, which is one of the expressions I explain before I start the story.

B2 phrases:
- drawing conclusions
- Mrs Robinson had neither seen nor heard Lorna since
- take great pride in sth
- to go into more detail
- he couldn’t look her in the eye
- was very absorbed in everything
- as far as she knew,
- ideas had crossed Mrs Robinson’s mind
- gossip
- the trouble with
- was on the point of
- it’s common knowledge
- sooner or later

Important words:
- greenhouse (a glass house in a garden, where you keep flowers)
- boot (the back of a car, where you put suitcases etc.)
- to split up (to separate from your partner, husband or wife)
At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)