ESL Podcast Review – 6 Minute English

ESL podcasts are a great way to practice English in your downtime. You can listen to them in the car, at the gym, on the subway or even during a quiet lunch. There are dozens of free podcasts for ESL, but there are also a few premium paid options. Podcasts are also a great way for ESL teachers to incorporate audio into their classes. Whether you are a student or a teacher, I have some podcast recommendations.

One of my favorite podcasts is produced by the BBC, a reputable source of information and education. The title of the ESL podcast, 6 Minute English, indicates the content. This biweekly podcast hosts two speakers discussing a current event, cultural keynote, or other relevant topic. At the end of the 6-minute discussion, vocabulary words are reviewed. The site also hosts a text version of the topic, so students are able to follow along.

One of the highlights of this podcast is the length. Since it is only 6 minutes long, it is easy to replay the audio multiple times within one class. When I use it in my classes, I first play the audio alone, without text. After,  I read through the text with my student, alternating lines, explaining expressions and defining vocabulary together. Finally, I play the audio a second time, so the student has a better understanding of the topic.

I rate this ESL podcast: 4.5/5

Vocabulary Level: Upper Elementary – Advanced

Vocabulary Type: General English