BONUS: New Year, New News

This time Benjamin learns about something completely new: a sport that involves 22 people chasing a ball around a field. He knew nothing about it before, but now he knows quite a bit. Rob Tilson from Not So Fantasy Football was substituted in at the last minute to save the day. Listen to Rob's podcast Not So Fantasy Football.

Friend of the podcast Alex is given the right to reply in this week's episode. He chose to talk about Episode 14, 'Posh'. Dig out your bow ties and ball gowns.An article about British architecture in American Universities

A little bonus episode to wish you a Happy New Year and share some exciting news.

Looking at the monarchy in the 20th and 21st centuries, this is the second part of the double episode on the British royal family. 

She is on our postage stamps, our notes and our coins, but how did she get there? I didn't vote for her. Over the following two episodes, Intermediate English explores the twists and turns in Britain's monarchy, and the case for its continuation. Music: Dragon Rider by Dogon LightsFind out more about Scottish history hereFind out more about Republic here

Intermediate English looks over the pond to the United States, which chose its 46th president on 3 November. We answer four questions about the American election, and discuss what may or may not be one of the great turning points in American politics.

Here at Intermediate English, we thought that we would like to continue our series of short stories that we began with Episode 10 (A Prisoner of Time). Today Benjamin reads out Jack London's famous tale of survival in the wilderness, 'To Build a Fire'.Music: Dragon Rider by the Dogon Lights.

Here at Intermediate English we speak to our resident literature correspondent Alex about arguably the greatest British writer, William Shakespeare. How should a student of English approach such old and complicated texts? Who was this mysterious man from Stratford? And is he all he's cracked up to be?

This week Intermediate English delves into the upper echelons of British society, politics and education, in a search to discover what it means to be posh and whether it matters. Music: Dragon Rider by Dogon Lights

British chefs are global household names, and the food scene in the UK is one of the most diverse you can find. So why does British cuisine still carry a negative reputation? Intermediate English investigates.