7 Podcasts That Are Ideal to Improve English Listening Skills

BySpokenEnglishPractice Team

Back in the day, families would gather around their radios to listen to their favorite radio shows. Radios and radio shows still exist today, but they are not the only form of entertainment anymore. The internet and other digital media have taken over as many people’s preferred entertainment.  But the concept of a radio show- listening to people discuss a certain topic- has not died. In fact, the internet has helped create a new popular trend that is very similar to radio shows: podcasts. A podcast is a recording of a person or a group of people who discuss different topics or put on skits. There are countless podcasts on many diverse topics, including how to learn and speak English! Below are 7 podcasts that are perfect to improve English listening skills.

 

  1. VOA Learning English Podcast

This website is dedicated to teaching people the English language. It has many resources, including podcasts! There is a large number of podcasts with many different categories and subjects to choose from. Some discuss current issues in the world or go over history. Others are designed to teach you essential skills for speaking English, such as grammar. No matter which topic you listen to, you will be exposed to English, which you help you learn both the language and important topics.

 

  1. ESL POD

Like its name suggests, this site is podcast website for English learners! ESL POD has over 1800 audio lessons, all focused on teaching the listener how to speak English. There are many different topics, but the lessons are broken down into two categories. The first is called “Daily English” and teaches the listener basic conversational English. The second category is “Cultural English.” These lessons are a little more advanced and teach the listener about the culture and history of the United States. The lessons also come with written guides to really help you practice and improve English listening skills.

 

  1. Business English Pod

If your job requires you to speak English and you want to improve your fluency, check out Business English Pod. This site has over 400 podcast lessons with one purpose: to teach the language skills needed in the business world. This is important because business English is very different than causal English. The website has lessons that cover everything from interviews, presentations, socializing, and more! Visit Business English Pod and browse through the different categories that could help you with your job or career. You’ll be able to improve your English, improve English listening skills and maybe even impress your boss!

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  1. NPR

NPR stands for National Public Radio, which is an American broadcasting station. Originally, they only provided services to radio stations. Now, you can listen to news broadcasts and other recordings on their website. In other words, podcasts! You can scroll through their website to find all kinds of recordings. It is a great way to listen to news outside of the radio and TV. You can also be introduced to other interesting topics and discussions. While listening to the podcasts, you will be educated about new things and will also be exposed to English, which is essential to learning it.

 

  1. All Ears English Podcast

This podcast is hosted by two women named Lindsey and Michelle and is a great resource to improve English listening skills. The purpose of their podcast is to make learning English fun! Like the other podcasts, their lessons will teach you vocabulary, idioms, grammar and other important English skills. They will also teach you about American history, culture, and etiquette. In addition, Lindsey and Michelle will give you tips on taking the important tests for English language learners, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEIC.

 

  1. BBC Learning English

BBC stands for the British Broadcasting Corporation. This company is known for broadcasting television and radio shows. However, they also have podcasts, including ones for learning English! BCC has created several podcasts that all teach English in different ways. One podcast is the BBC Learning English Dramas, which performs dramas and stories. Listen to these to be exposed to classic literature and the English language. BBC also has a 6 Minute English podcast that provides short but effective English lessons, and The English We Speak podcast that teaches vocabulary. All of their different podcasts are perfect to improve English listening skills and can help you get a British accent too!

 

  1. The British Council Podcast

Another great podcast to listen to if you want to develop a British accent is the British Council’s podcast. The British Council is an organization that aims to provide cultural and educational opportunities to people all over the world. As part of their mission, they have created a podcast to teach people English. In this podcast, the hosts will let the audience listen to a conversation between two or more people. Afterword, they discuss the conversation and go over some of the vocabulary and phrases that were used in the conversation. They really break down what the people are trying to say, making it so you can really understand the English being used.

 

Now that you know which podcasts to listen to, try visiting their websites! Many times, you can download the podcasts as audio files on your phone or music device. This means you can listen to them anytime and anywhere without an internet connection! The more you listen, the more you will learn! If you want to practice some of the skills you learn from the podcast but don’t have many English-speaking friends, check out Spoken English Practice, where you can speak with a real native English speaker.

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