How can we make language learning simpler and faster? What challenges do we face? Rob and Neil discuss the best way to learn languages - and bring you some useful English vocabulary.

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Have you ever wondered why seeing someone yawn also makes you yawn? According to researchers, it makes a difference if you think of yourself as similar to the person who started the yawning. Georgina and Rob discuss yawning and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question
What biological function does yawning have?

a: To take in more oxygen

b: To get rid of carbon dioxide from our body

c: No one really knows

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
a yawn / to yawn
breathe in and out with our mouth stretched open

contagious
can be spread from one person to another

a behaviour
an action, often automatic, in response to a particular situation

cognitive
connected to mental processes and the way our minds work

to identify with (a group)
to feel close to and have a sense of belonging to (a group)

exhibit (a behaviour)
do, show (a behaviour)

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Watch our weekly news video. This week's video is: Armchair tourism: How to visit the Taj Mahal - without going to India. Take a closer look with Video Words in the News.

Why has an operation to remove food stalls in Hong Kong turned into a riot? Watch and listen to Neil and Catherine discussing this story. Learn the words and phrases you need to talk about the news.

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Test your understanding here http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/cours

Anna has an interview at Tip Top Trading. This episode helps her and you prepare for an interview by providing answers to interview questions. English at work helps you learn the language you need to get a job and to work in an office environment.
For more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

Learn English vocabulary from the news: The Queen has said she supports Harry and Meghan's plan to divide their time between the UK and Canada. But she has told the Duke and Duchess of Sussex there are details still to work out. Learn the vocabulary the world's media is using to discuss this story in our new-look News Review.
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Key words and phrases:

shrewd
showing good judgement that leads to an advantage

I made a shrewd investment and used the profit to buy a car.
Getting both parties to agree on a ceasefire was a shrewd move.

progressive
modern and encouraging change

It's a new political party that has very progressive policies.
At one time mixed-sex schools were considered progressive.

railroaded
forced into doing something

I was railroaded into signing the contract before I read it properly.
The first offer was cheap, but I was railroaded into buying the upgrade.

Test your understanding of the vocab and download the audio on our website here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/cours

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Myanmar's acting leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, will appear at a UN hearing in The Hague to defend Myanmar's actions towards thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar in 2017. Dan and Catherine teach you the language the media is using to discuss this story.
In the video we mention another News Review programme about

The story
The International Court of Justice in The Hague will shortly begin hearing a case brought by The Gambia accusing Myanmar of genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar in 2017 when the Burmese army launched a bloody campaign against them. Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is in the Netherlands to lead the defence.

Vocabulary

bolsters
makes (something) stronger

• A government-run community project often bolsters community spirit and morale.
• Her time helping the villages has bolstered their opinion of her as a doctor.

ray of hope
small signal that things will improve

• No matter how difficult a situation is, there's always a ray of hope.
• This final legal appeal offers a last ray of hope in this difficult court case.

moment of reckoning
time when past mistakes or crimes must be dealt with

• Returning home, the thief knew there would be a moment of reckoning.
• After months building a case, the moment of reckoning arrived for the defendant.Language challenge

Which adjective means 'actual, but not official'?

a) de trutho
b) de facto
c) de deduco
d) de actualo

You'll find the answer on our website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/cours

For more English videos and English lessons to help you learn English: www.bbclearningenglish.com
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Learn vocabulary to talk about the news. This week we discuss mental health and the Coronavirus. More than eight million people in the UK suffer from anxiety disorders. But the current concerns over the spread of the coronavirus and the restrictions on daily life have left many more people feeling under pressure. Anxiety UK estimates it’s seen a rise of between 30 and 35 per cent in the number of calls to its helpline in the last couple of weeks. The charity recommends that to reduce anxiety, people talk about their concerns, limit the time they spend listening to the latest developments, and find time to do things that distract them.

Vocabulary:
anxiety
a strong feeling of worry
• Anxiety has increased as a result of coronavirus.
• Charities are offering advice on how to manage anxiety.

isolation
the state of being alone
• People are struggling to entertain themselves while in isolation.
• Isolation can lead to loneliness.

taking a toll
causing harm over time
• All the late nights are taking a toll on Neil. He looks exhausted.
• Coronavirus is taking its toll on people's mental health.

To download the audio and test your understanding, go to our website at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learning....english/english/cour

#bbclearningenglish #bbcnews #coronavirus

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Michelle Obama left the White House with her husband, President Barack Obama, in 2016, but she's still very much in the news. In a recent visit to the UK to publicise her autobiography, the former First Lady of the US indicated that her official position may have come to an end, but she continues with her mission to try to inspire girls and women all over the world. Rob and Dan talk about Michelle Obama and teach you new vocabulary.

You'll find the transcript and the vocabulary on our website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

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Learn English with our free English videos everyday on BBC Learning English's website and YouTube channel. Learning English is easy - Improve with our free English videos and lessons on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and English exams.

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Have you ever had insomnia? Is there anything more frustrating than lying there, unable to sleep, with your eyes open - especially if it's not just now and then, but night after night? Apparently, there is one simple - and surprising solution. Neil and Rob find out all about it and teach you some related English vocabulary.

You'll find the transcript and vocabulary on our website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

For more free English lessons and videos visit our website: http://www.bbclearningenglish.com

Thousands of women have signed up with 50:50 Parliament to register their interest in standing as an MP (Member of Parliament) in the UK. What's inspiring them to get involved? Sam and Georgina discuss the engagement of women in politics and teach you related English vocabulary.

This week's question
Which country has the highest percentage of women in its parliament? Is it:
a) Rwanda
b) Sweden
c) New Zealand
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
to stand
to be a candidate in an election

to see yourself (doing something)
to imagine that it is possible for you to do something

the prospect of
the possibility of

jargon
vocabulary and expressions related to a particular job

a disadvantaged background
growing up in a family situation without much money

to tailor (what you say)
to change (how you speak) to make it suitable for a particular group

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To download the audio and a transcript, go to our website http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

For more English videos and English lessons to help you learn English: www.bbclearningenglish.com

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Do you have a tattoo? If not, have you ever felt tempted to have one? Some tattoos can be very artistic and elaborate and are ways some people found to express their creativity and make them unique. But tattoos can last a long time and... what do you do if you feel your ink no longer represents how you feel about yourself? Sam and Rob discuss body art and teach you some vocabulary.

This week's question
According to the Guinness World Records, the record for the most tattooed person in the world goes to Lucky Diamond Rich from New Zealand. Do you know how much of his body is covered by tattoos? Is it…

a) 80%?

b) 90%? Or

c) 100%?

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
parlour
name for a shop or room where certain businesses carry out their trade – such as a tattoo parlour, a massage parlour or an ice cream parlour

creative person
someone who uses imagination and experiments with new ideas

express yourself
show outwardly how you feel and what you’re thinking

big business
activity that is currently popular and making lots of money

fashionable
popular at a particular time

dilute
make something less strong or less valuable

You'll find audio and text for download on our website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

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Rob and Dan discuss what our brains are doing when we are using dating apps.
Listen to the discussion and learn new items of vocabulary in just 6 minutes!

To download the audio and transcript, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

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Do you want to learn how to speak English? Then join us here on YouTube for great grammar, drama, news, study, pronunciation, vocabulary, music, interviews and celebrity videos. Every day we have a new video to help you with English. We also produce regular 'extra' videos across the week so come back every day to see what's new.

MONDAY: The English We Speak
TUESDAY: News Review
WEDNESDAY: LingoHack
THURSDAY: 6 Minute English
FRIDAY: The Experiment (watch this space for new and exciting content that we are trying out!)

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How do you express anger in English? Listen to our speakers describe their pet peeves and learn how to talk like a native speaker about the things that make you see red!

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Being in the green open space can certainly help us relax and de-stress. So much so that the beneficial contact with the outdoors is inspiring a particular kind of therapy. Neil and Georgina discuss ecotherapy and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question
How high is the world’s tallest tree thought to be? Is it...
a) 65.8 metres,
b) 115.8 metres, or
c) 185.8 metres
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
tonic
something that makes you feel happier and healthier

horticulture
the study or activity of growing garden plants

panacea
something that is believed to solve everything

therapeutic
makes you feel better or healthier

biophilia
a passion for or empathy with the natural world and living things

innate
a quality that you’re born with

To download the transcript and the audio, go to our webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

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English pronunciation is easy, right? Well, maybe it isn't always a piece of cake, but Tim's back in the pronunciation workshop and ready to give a helping hand. This time he's looking at an aspect of spoken English called ‘schwa’. The symbol for the schwa sound looks like this /ə/.

For more, visit our website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/cours

Transcript:
Tim
Hi, I'm Tim and this is my pronunciation workshop. Here, I'm gonna show you how English is really spoken. It'll help you to become a better listener and a more fluent speaker. You ready? Come on, follow me. Now, there's an idiom in the English language that means that something is really easy. Any idea what it is? Well, here's a clue. Do you know now? Let's ask the people of London.

Voxpops
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake

Tim
A piece of cake – an expression that means that something is really easy to do, as well as meaning – a piece of cake. But listen again to the words 'a' and 'of'. They are actually pronounced the same. What is the sound and are those words stressed?

Voxpops
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake
It's a piece of cake

Tim
The words 'a' and 'of' are both pronounced as /ə/ and they're not stressed. This sound /ə/ is the most common sound in the whole English language. It's so common that it even has its own name – schwa. Now, it can be difficult to hear the schwa because it is never stressed. However, it's a vowel sound that's used in many grammar words like articles and prepositions. Here are some more examples.

I like a cup of tea in the morning.
Could you get a packet of biscuits?
Can you give it to me?
I had an apple for lunch today.

Tim
So, you've heard the examples, and now it's your turn. Are you ready to start? Listen and repeat.

I like a cup of tea in the morning.
Could you get me a packet of biscuits?
Can you give it to me?
I had an apple for lunch today.

Tim
Great work. Now remember, if you want to learn more about pronunciation then please visit our website: bbclearningenglish.com. That's about it from the pronunciation workshop for now. I'll see you soon. Bye bye.
Now, I've got a cup of tea and I've got a biscuit, I'm looking forward to a piece of cake.
That was a mistake, but a tasty one.

There are nearly eight billion people on our planet - yet many of us feel alone and isolated. Neil and Sam from BBC Learning English discuss the results of a survey about loneliness involving 55,000 people from all over the world - and teach you new English vocabulary.

Visit our website: http://www.bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary

isolated
far away from other places and people

stereotype
the noun for a simplistic view of person or group based on certain characteristics such as their nationality, age, profession and the like

intensely
strongly

plagued by something
it causes you problems and difficulties

figure something out
trying to understand something

to regulate
to control

You'll find the transcript here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

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Do you want to learn how to speak English? Then join us here on YouTube for great grammar, drama, news, study, pronunciation, vocabulary, music, interviews and celebrity videos. Every day we have a new video to help you with English. We also produce regular 'extra' videos across the week so come back every day to see what's new.

We like receiving and reading your comments - please use English when you comment.

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Lots of people are planning to buy no new clothes this year, favouring second-hand or making do with what they already have. However, sales at online fast fashion sites, trade is going well. Could you give up buying new clothes for a year? Would you do it over concerns with the environment? Georgina and Neil discuss this fashion and environment and teach you some useful items of vocabulary.

This week's question:
Do you know how many items of clothing were sent to landfill in the UK in 2017? Was it…
a) 23 million items
b) 234 million items
c) 2.3 billion items
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary:
pledging
publicly promising to do something (you can make a pledge to do something)

outsourced
given to another company to do, often because that company has the skills to do it or it can be done cheaper

undercuts
if a company undercuts another, it charges less to do a job than its competitor

stems from (something)
caused by or a result of something

illogical
unreasonable - not sensible, more driven by emotions than practical reason

backlash
strong negative reaction to what is happening

You can download the text here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learninge....nglish/english/featu

For more English videos and English lessons to help you learn English: www.bbclearningenglish.com

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