Was Christmas better in the past?

It's Christmas time in the UK. And like with celebrations around the world, people have lots of traditions that they do every year, and memories about Christmas from their childhood. But were the Christmases of the past as magical as we remember? Neil and Beth discuss a strange emotion we can feel at Christmas called nostalgia.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251225The Reading Room - improve your reading skills here: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Where do you get your fruit and vegetables – a supermarket, a greengrocer... or the wild? For our distant ancestors, foraging for wild food was vital for survival, while these days we tend to rely on farmed food, bought in shops. Pippa and Beth discuss foraging and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251218The Reading Room - improve your reading skills here: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Horses and humans have had a close relationship for thousands of years, but did you know that horses, along with other animals, are being used to help with physical and mental illness? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251211The Reading Room - improve your reading skills here: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Grammar ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

You might know them as potato chips, but here in the UK we call them crisps... and we love them! With many different shapes, sizes and flavours, there's a lot to choose from, but why do we like them so much? And what are some of the other crispy snacks enjoyed around the world? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251204 LEARN ENGLISH GRAMMAR Improve your grammar here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-grammar SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

We've seen influencers on social media posting about all sorts of things – from lifestyle and fashion, to sports, travel, gaming and music. But did you know that some social media influencers are trying to get involved in politics? Beth and Pippa discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251127LEARN ENGLISH GRAMMAR Improve your grammar here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-grammarSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Do you know the 'proper' way to behave during meals? And what would be the worst thing someone could do while eating? This episode is all about etiquette, what makes good table manners and what is considered rude! Phil and Pippa discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251120 LEARN ENGLISH GRAMMAR Improve your grammar here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-grammar SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

We all remember playgrounds when we were children – slides, swings, climbing frames. But have you heard of the new playgrounds which are designed to include things that others might consider junk... like old tyres and wooden pallets! Pippa and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251113THE READING ROOM Improve your reading here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

It makes our food tasty and our breath smelly, but what are some of the other uses of garlic...? Apart from warding off vampires, of course! Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251106THE READING ROOM Improve your reading here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

How do you like your eggs in the morning? Or do you prefer toast, cereal, yogurt or something else? Maybe you usually don't bother with breakfast! Well, some experts believe that a large breakfast could be the key to maintaining healthy eating habits. Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251030THE READING ROOM Improve your reading here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newslettersFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for WorkThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Do you believe that life exists on other planets? Well, here's an even more mysterious idea: Have you ever considered that there might have been another civilisation with advanced technology on planet Earth... before humans? Beth and Phil discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2025/ep-251023THE READING ROOM Improve your reading here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomSUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ Learning English Stories ✔️ Learning English from the News ✔️ Learning English for Work They're all available by searching in your podcast app.