LearnEnglish Podcasts

What LearnEnglish Podcasts covers

LearnEnglish Podcasts is a listening app from the British Council, built around its English podcasts. The listing says it targets listening, reading and understanding in general English and business English.

The episodes cover a wide range of subjects. Some are about language learning tips, and others are about information on the wider world, so a learner can move between practical study and general interest content in the same app.

It suits adult and younger learners who want to practise English by ear during a commute, a walk or a break. The listing does not limit it to one level or one exam.

Listening offline and on the move

Episodes can be downloaded in advance and played without a connection. Once you have finished one, you can delete it to free space on the phone, and you can download it again later if you want it back.

Background playback keeps audio running when the screen is off. The listing points to this as the way to put the phone in a pocket and keep listening while walking or travelling.

Together these two features make the app usable on a train or in a place with weak signal. Nothing has to stream while you listen.

Following difficult speech with scripts and pitch control

Each episode comes with an interactive script. Tapping a line lets you repeat a phrase that was hard to catch, and new vocabulary can be heard again the same way.

Pitch control changes the playback speed so that a fast or unclear speaker is easier to follow. The listing describes it as a way to slow the audio down without rewinding over and over.

Used together, the script and the speed control suit a learner who wants to hear each sentence clearly before moving on.

Checking understanding with exercises and progress

Every episode includes simple comprehension exercises. They test whether you understood what was said, so you can see the gaps before you move to the next episode.

A progress screen records how far you have got through the exercises and episodes. The listing presents it as the place to track your progress over time.

For a learner studying alone, the exercises and the progress screen together give a simple record of what has been covered.

Sharing progress and sending feedback

Integrated social sharing lets you post what you are listening to through Facebook, Twitter or email. The listing suggests this as a way to share achievements with friends who are also learning.

The listing gives an address for reporting problems and for sending ideas for new episodes. It asks users to include a short description of the issue and details about their phone and operating system when reporting a fault.