• A Brit Difficult - Episode 32 - uses of 'may' and other ways to use formal English
    Oct 19 2022

    Hi all, it's been a while since the last episode - sorry! Please enjoy this guide to using 'may' and a few other forma phrases in English.


    Words and phrases that might be new for you:


    • rule of thumb: a rule or piece of advice that is right most of the time
    • day-to-day: everyday
    • to do with: something related to something else
    • picky: being very particular about something
    • period drama: a film or tv show set in a particular period of history e.g. Downton Abbey
    • the long and short of it: a summary

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    16 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 31 - introducing regions of the UK #6 South West England
    Oct 4 2022

    Let's learn about another region in the UK! Today, we'll briefly look at the South West of England!


    Words and phrases that might be new for you:


    • pull up something: can mean to literally pull something upwards, but here means to open
    • pointy: has a sharp point shape
    • census: a big survey held regularly to find out basic information about a population
    • Cornish: an ethnic group and language in Cornwall
    • pick something out: can mean to choose but here I'm using it to mean to recognise
    • digression: talking about something that is part of.a completely different topic before returning to the main topic
    • stunning: beautiful
    • dome: a circular roof structure
    • book worm: somebody who really likes reading
    • savoury: an adjective to describe food that is not sweet

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    15 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 30 - the future perfect and future perfect continuous
    Sep 25 2022

    Welcome to episode 30 and thank you if you have been regularly following along!


    Follow us @abritdifficultpodcast on Instagram!


    Today, we'll talk about one of the most difficult parts of English grammar - the future perfect.


    Words and phrases that might be new for you:


    • ill / sick / not feeling well - to be unwell
    • construction - building; creating something
    • regardless of - even if x is true
    • shift: move
    • hint: information that makes a problem or question easier to understand
    • assumption: a guess based on information you have

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    16 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 29 - improving your English accent (if you want to!)
    Sep 19 2022
    Let's talk about some of the ways you can practice to improve your accent! In my opinion, having an accent is completely fine and I love hearing everyone's different accents :) how to get a better English accent is a common question from learners though, so I thought I would share some advice / tips.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    21 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 28 - types of transport in the UK
    Sep 12 2022

    Hello, it's me again!

    If you'd like to connect and stay up to date, you can now follow the podcast on Instagram @abritdifficultpodcast !

    Words and phrases that might be new:

    • bicycle lane: sometimes just called a cycle lane. A part of the road reserved for cyclists
    • remote: far away, not well connected

    Intro music is 'Just Relax' by Lesfm via Pixabay.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    18 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 27 - using the passive voice
    Sep 11 2022

    Hello! I'm back after a short break :) let's learn about the passive voice.

    Words and phrases that might be new :

    • spam: unwanted mail or emails from people or businesses
    • subject: the actor or focus of a sentence
    • object: a person or thing which is receives the action of the verb
    • present progressive: sometimes called the '-ing form'. Describes an ongoing action in the present
    • context: a situation or information that makes it clear what people mean
    • to attend: to go to an event
    • brownie points to you: a phrase used to mean 'well done'

    Intro music is 'Just Relax' by Lesfm via Pixabay.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    20 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 26 - conversation with an English learner #6
    Aug 15 2022

    I chat with Ammar about his experience learning English as an Urdu/Punjabi speaker. We get some wise final words at the end of the episode!

    Words and phrases that might be new:

    • South Asian - people from the region of Asia that contains the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. There is a large amount of people with South Asian heritage in the UK :)
    • come again - a phrase used in the UK that means 'please repeat that'
    • to make sense - to have meaning, to understand the meaning of something
    • chunks - pieces
    • manoeuvre - when talking about driving, this refers to technical movements made with the car e.g. reverse parking
    • spoiler - telling somebody the plot of a story before they have seen / read / heard it

    Intro music is 'Just Relax' by Lesfm via Pixabay.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    15 mins
  • A Brit Difficult - Episode 25 - politics in the UK : a basic overview
    Aug 8 2022

    Let's have a look at how politics work in the UK! Remember to listen until the end for some comprehension questions :) Sorry for the edits in this episode!

    Words and phrases that might be new for you:

    • to get something out of the way: to do first; to give priority to something
    • monarchy: royal family; queens, kings, etc.
    • a great deal: a lot
    • broad: general, not specific
    • petition: a written document with signatures from people asking for something to change, be done, etc.
    • mayor: a local leader (the word for a female leader is a mayoress)
    • to inherit: to get something from somebody when they die. This could be money, objects, or even a title (such as with the House of Lords)
    • coalition: sharing power by joining two parties
    • referendum: a public vote to make a decision

    Intro music is 'Just Relax' by Lesfm via Pixabay.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    23 mins