About this show
6 Minute English is a education podcast from BBC Radio. On Apple Podcasts it ranks #32 in Europe, #31 in Philippines, #18 in Thailand, #25 in Indonesia (as of 2026-10-26).
Learn and practise useful English with clips from programmes around the BBC.
Each week, we talk about an interesting topic and learn helpful words and phrases used in natural spoken English - all in 6 minutes!
Practise your listening and hear natural spoken English.
Find more at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
Follow us at
Where it charts
Latest episode
2026-10-227 min
What should you eat for a better night’s sleep?
Have you ever had the feeling of lying awake at night, unable to get to sleep? Many of us know what it is like to struggle with sleep, especially if we have drunk too much tea or coffee before bed! But did you know that your sleep quality can be affected by o…
Recent episodes
- 2026-10-156 minWhy has gold got so expensive?Many of us own jewellery or other items that are gold coloured, but do you own anything that is made from real gold? Gold is a precious metal, which…
- 2026-10-086 minAre people drinking less alcohol?In recent generations many people have chosen to stop drinking alcohol. Surveys from the UK suggest that 16 to 24-year-olds are more likely to be non…
- 2026-10-016 minWhy does heartbreak hurt so much?Anyone who has had their heart broken will know how horrible it feels. But did you know that the pain you feel is not just imaginary – it registers i…
- 2026-09-246 minWhy do we itch?Feeling itchy is unpleasant, and the feeling of finally scratching that itch can be very satisfying! But why do we feel itchy in the first place? And…
- 2026-09-176 minIs rejection good for us?How would you feel about going up to a stranger on the street and asking them for a cheeky favour? If the idea makes you nervous, then don't worry –…
- 2026-09-106 minCan apps teach you a language?Have you ever used Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu or perhaps another language-learning app? How did you get on? Some people love the convenience of these ap…
- 2026-09-036 minClimate change and extreme weatherEvery year we see damage, death and destruction caused by hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons - tropical storms. Is climate change making this impact w…
- 2026-08-276 minHow do we describe smells?What is the worst smell in the world? And what is the best smell? Are there any smells that you like, but that your friends or family hate? Smells ar…
- 2026-08-206 minSharing the road with driverless carsImagine crossing a road and turning to see a car heading towards you... without a driver! While this might seem scary, driverless cars are already op…
- 2026-08-136 minWho does the housework?Unloading the dishwasher, mopping the floor, cleaning the loo... what is your most hated household chore? We all know there are jobs around the house…
- 2026-08-066 minHow do climate scientists make predictions?Across the world, climate change is already beginning to change the way we live our lives. But how big will that change be and what kinds of change w…