Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - The World's Brightest City Read and listen to the news article about the world's brightest city.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - My Town Read the description of a small town and the lifestyle that people enjoy there.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - African City becomes World Fashion Capital Read a newspaper article about a city in Africa that is changing to become like Paris or Milan.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - The City of London Watch the video about big city life in London.
Watch the video.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Business Skills: Change Management
Reading - British Council: Business Magazine - Change Management Read an article from a business magazine about how businesses need to be able to change and adapt to internal and external environmental pressures.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Change Management Listen to a consultant talking about the basic stages of the change process and the people in the change management team.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking
Speaking - Australia Network: Passport to IELTS - Speaking Test Watch a student doing a mock IELTS interview. Download the videos, along with transcripts and an expert, detailed commentary.
Download the interview and watch.
Download the transcript.
Download the notes.
Speaking - Take IELTS - Fluency and Coherence Read the tutorial about the IELTS speaking test.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Themes: Slavery and civil-rights
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Nelson Mandela Read and listen to a news article about the civil-rights campaigner Nelson Mandela.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - Politics Read about politics and politicians.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - My Hero Listen to speakers talking about their heroes.
Listen to the audio.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - Child Labour Read a newspaper article about the civil rights of child workers in developing countries.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Achievement
Reading - British Council: Business Magazine - Achievement Read an article from a business magazine about achievement in business. Achievement is an important competency given that the more you can achieve, the better your prospects will be.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Achievement Listen to this speech given at a party being held for the retirement of an employee, James Dawson. The managing director of the company delivers a speech outlining James's achievements.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS: Speaking
Speaking - Australia Network: Passport to IELTS - Speaking Test Watch a student doing a mock IELTS interview. Download the videos, along with transcripts and an expert, detailed commentary.
Download the interview and watch.
Download the transcript.
Download the notes.
Speaking - Take IELTS - Lexical Resource Read the tutorial about the IELTS speaking test.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Themes: Security and fear
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Threats to Security Read and listen to the news article about why young British jihadists are concerning security forces in the UK.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - MI6 The Secret Service Read about the Secret Service security organisation.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - A Famous Detective Watch a video about the famous detective Sherlock Homes.
Watch the video.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - Combat Zones Read a newspaper article about Nepal's efforts to attract more tourists by allowing them to visit former combat zones.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Employment complaints
Reading - British Council: Business Magazine - Complaining Read an article from a business magazine about the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of complaining with some useful tips on how to complain effectively, whether in writing or speaking to your boss at work.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Complaining Listen to a conversation between a human resources officer and an employee who is unhappy with the way he is treated by his boss.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking
Speaking - Australia Network: Passport to IELTS - Speaking Test Watch a student doing a mock IELTS interview. Download the videos, along with transcripts and an expert, detailed commentary.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Theme: Science and Imagination
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Insect-inspired Robots Read and listen to a news article about a creative invention by engineers in the US.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - Robots for Human Environments Read about how science and imagination are paving the way for an exciting future.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - New Inventions Listen to a radio programme about new inventions.
Listen to the audio.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - Youngest Professional Conductor Read a newspaper article about a young person who is unusually creative and skilful for his age.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Creativity
Reading - British Council Business Magazine - Multiple Intelligences Read an article from a business magazine about multiple intelligences.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Developing Creativity Listen to part of a radio programme. Peter Jones works for Art and Business, a company that develops creative partnerships between business and the arts.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking
Speaking - British Council: IELTS Interview Skills - Don't Memorise Answers Watch a video with tips for the IELTS speaking exam.
Watch the video.
Read the advice.
Read the transcript.
Speaking - Take IELTS - Pronunciation Read the tutorial about the IELTS speaking test.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Theme: Giving thanks and gratitude
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Happier Commute Read and listen to a news article about how the way you commute to work can improve feelings of health and happiness.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - How do you feel? Read an article about a new phone app that can read your emotions.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - Important People Listen to the speakers talking about important people in their lives.
Listen to the audio.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - Campaigners Reach out for a Happier Society Read a newspaper article about activists in Britain who want to increase happiness and joy in the world with more hugging.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Motivation
Reading - British Council Business Magazine - Coaching at Work Read an article from a business magazine about the basic principles of coaching and what happens when somebody engages in a coaching partnership.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Motivation in the Workplace Listen to an extract of an interview with a professor of Business Studies about the subject of motivation.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking and Writing
Speaking - British Council: IELTS Interview Skills - Tell the Truth Watch a video with tips for the IELTS speaking exam.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Theme: Health, illness, and death
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Assisted Dying Debate Read and listen to a news article about assisted dying laws in Britain.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - Red nose day Read an article about an unusual way to raise money for charity.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - Difficult situations Listen to the people discussing different problems.
Listen to the audio.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Relationship Building
Reading - British Council Business Magazine - Relationship-building Read an article about relationship-building. You will learn what is meant by the term and what a competent relationship-builder does.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Relationship-building Listen to a trainer at the end of a management training session summing up the importance of relationship-building as a competency and reviewing ways of developing the competency.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking and Writing
Speaking - British Council: IELTS Interview Skills- Not A Job Interview Read the tutorial about the IELTS writing test.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Writing - Take IELTS - Coherence and Cohesion Read the tutorial about the IELTS writing test.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Theme: Work conditions and career choices
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Street Cleaner Strike Read and listen to a news article about the pay and conditions for street cleaners who make their living in Rio de Janeiro.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - Working at Sleep Read an article about the work you can do to have a better sleep.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - The Best Job in the World Listen to information about the 'best job in the world' competition.
Listen to the audio.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - Avon Sellers Prosper in South Africa Read a newspaper article about how working as a door-to-door salesperson has transformed the lives of marginalised.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Finding a Job
Reading - British Council Business Magazine - Market Research Read an article from a business magazine about what is involved in market research jobs.
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Advice on Writing CVs Listen to an interview with a recruitment expert, who talks about his experience of reading CVs and offers some good advice on writing them.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking and Writing
Speaking - British Council: IELTS Interview Skills - Develop what you say Watch a video with tips for the IELTS speaking exam.
Watch the video.
Read the advice.
Read the transcript.
Writing - Take IELTS - Lexical Resource Read the tutorial about the IELTS writing test.
Read the tutorial and follow the links to practise.
Theme: Scientific and the future
Listening and Reading - BBC Learning English: Words in the News - Face up to Genetics Read and listen to an article about how our genes influence the way we look.
Click on 'Report' in the downloads box to listen to the news report.
Click on 'Words' to hear the key vocabulary.
Open the 'Text' PDF if you would like to print the news story.
Reading - British Council Teens: Reading Skills - Bionic Man Read an article about the future of bionic robot-men.
Read the article.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your reading skills.
Writing - British Council Teens: Listening Skills - Amazing Body Facts Listen to a conversation about the human body.
Listen to the audio.
Click on the comprehension activities that follow to practise your listening skills.
Reading - The Guardian: News Lessons - Nasa to Clean up Space Junk Nasa is being urged to take responsibility for a growing cloud of space junk that could potentially be dangerous.
Read the news article online and complete the before, while, and after reading activities or click 'Original Document (PDF)' if you would prefer to print and do the questions on paper.
Business Skills: Business ethics
Reading - British Council Business Magazine - Business ethics Read an article from a business magazine about competencies. Find out how competencies are used in Human Resources and how can individuals use them to their advantage?
Do the preparation task first.
Read the text.
Go to each task and do the activity.
Listening and Vocabulary - British Council: Professional Podcasts - Business ethics Listen to two students talking about genetically modified food. Frank is for GM food, but his friend Ann is against it.
Do the preparation task first.
Listen to the talk.
Go to each task and do the comprehension activities.
IELTS Skills: Speaking and Writing
Speaking - British Council: IELTS Interview Skills - Don't Get Over-emotional Watch a video with tips for the IELTS speaking exam.
