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.
Episodes
Jan. 14, 2021
For the love of foreign languages
Is learning languages good for head, heart and soul?
Jan. 7, 2021
Why can't we resist comfort food?
Neil and Rob talk about comfort food and what actually makes us eat it.
Dec. 31, 2020
What is fat-shaming?
We discuss where the attitudes behind fat-shaming come from.
Dec. 24, 2020
Coronavirus vs other pandemics
Hear about coronavirus and how it isn’t that bad compared to historical pandemics
Dec. 17, 2020
Are trees intelligent?
We talk about trees and how they can communicate and help each other.
Dec. 10, 2020
Can jellyfish help us solve our problems?
We discuss how these sea creatures could help us solve the problem of plastic pollution.
Dec. 3, 2020
Why do we choose to text instead of talk?
Communicating by text has become more and more popular. Neil and Georgina talk about it.
Nov. 26, 2020
Loneliness
Neil and Rob talk about loneliness and how some people prefer their own company.
Nov. 19, 2020
Is punctuality important?
We discuss people's attitude to being on time and why some people are always late.
Nov. 12, 2020
Could you be a victim of online fraud?
We talk about online fraud and teach you some useful vocabulary along the way.
Nov. 5, 2020
Melting ice sheet: Is it too late?
Many scientists are wondering whether it’s now too late to stop global warming.
Oct. 29, 2020
Walkman: the music player revolution
Neil and Georgina take a nostalgic look back at the 1980s and the birth of the Walkman.
Oct. 22, 2020
Could humans live in underwater cities?
Hear about projects to create liveable underwater habitats and learn new vocabulary.
Oct. 15, 2020
Hacking help for US elections
Rob and Sam discuss plans in the US to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks on election day.
Oct. 8, 2020
Do chimps have the same emotions as us?
Hear Jane Goodall talk about the deep connections between humans and the great apes.
Oct. 1, 2020
How can we make the web a better place?
Neil and Sam talk about the subject and teach you vocabulary along the way.
Sept. 24, 2020
Coronavirus: Dealing with mass unemployment post-pandemic
Neil and Sam discuss the post-Covid job landscape and teach you vocabulary along the way.
Sept. 17, 2020
Grandma therapy in Zimbabwe
Grandmothers are being trained to provide therapy to people in their community.
Sept. 10, 2020
Is there a future without bees?
The number of bees is declining at an alarming rate, with serious consequences for us.
Sept. 3, 2020
How to talk about conspiracy theories
We discuss what to do when you are confronted with someone who spreads falsehoods.
Aug. 27, 2020
What’s the point of blood types?
In this programme, we’ll be finding out all about blood and teaching you some vocabulary.
Aug. 20, 2020
Will Covid-19 change cities?
Rob and Neil discuss the future of our cities and teach you useful vocabulary.
Aug. 13, 2020
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. 6, 2020
No more bosses
Can companies operate better without managers? We talk about it and teach you vocabulary.
July 30, 2020
The medicine of coronavirus
Neil and Georgina talk about Covid-19 and teach you related vocabulary.
July 23, 2020
Food made in space
Find out how growing plants in space might help develop better crops.
July 16, 2020
Sport against poverty
Neil and Sam discuss how sport is giving hope to young people leading the toughest lives.
July 9, 2020
Covid-19: The office after lockdown
Companies are rushing to install technology to make offices safer. Neil and Sam discuss.
July 2, 2020
Should we wear a face mask?
Can wearing masks in public help prevent the spread of coronavirus? Rob and Sam discuss.
June 25, 2020
Millennials and business
Rob and Sam discuss the new generation's desire to make the world a better place.
June 18, 2020
Is being thrifty a virtue?
Neil and Sam talk about being a saver in a consumer culture and teach you vocabulary.
June 11, 2020
The food delivery revolution
Takeaway apps are changing food culture. We talk about it and teach you vocabulary.
June 4, 2020
What difference has #MeToo made?
Sam and Georgina talk about the movement and teach you related vocabulary.
May 28, 2020
Is the recycling system broken?
We talk about the over-reliance on recycling rather than reducing the use of plastics
May 21, 2020
The soothing power of books
How can books help us relax and feel more alive during troubled times?
May 14, 2020
Shocking facts about electricity
Neil and Georgina talk about how electrical systems differ from country to country.
April 26, 2018
Internet - good or bad?
Rob and Neil discuss some of the advantages and drawbacks of going online