BBC podcast series helps people learn English through UK songs

A new BBC Learning English podcast offers a way to learn the language by meeting local musicians from across the UK and listening to them and their original songs.

The five-part weekly podcast series, My Song, My Home is a musical tour that helps learners practise listening to, and understanding, English as it’s spoken around the UK. From the beach in Cornwall, to the canal side in Leeds, with a stop-off on the balcony of the BBC Broadcasting House in London,

Each episode takes the listener to a different location to meet an unsigned musician, to hear their story and listen to them perform an original song in a place that is important to them.

Learners can listen to the audio podcast as the programme presenter explains language and lyrics. They can also watch the musical performance on the BBC Learning English website, see the musicians and their hometowns, and learn the lyrics of each song.

Online support material includes full interview transcripts, lyrics, glossaries and worksheets.

BBC Learning English Editor, Paul Scott, comments: “Songs can help develop skills that any language learner needs: widening vocabulary, developing understanding of grammar, making it easier to remember words and phrases. And quite simply, they can also make learning fun and enjoyable.

“Our new series is designed to provide all of that whilst also introducing learners to British cultural life – and some fantastic musicians.”

Episode 1 – Bailey in St Ives

Travel to a beach in Cornwall to meet Bailey who grew up attending Open Mic nights in the arty town of St Ives. Bailey talks about her musical ambitions and performs her song, Cobalt Blue, by the sea.

Episode 2 – Josh in London

Josh, who moved to the capital to continue his busking career, explains what it’s like to be a busker, and performs his song, That Side of the Wall, on the balcony of the BBC Broadcasting House.

Episode 3 – Grace in Liverpool

At the University of Liverpool campus, audiences are introduced to Grace, who is blind. She talks about learning piano as a child to improve her sense of touch, and how she fell in love with music. She performs her song, Perplexed, surrounded by books in one of the University’s libraries.

Episode 4 – Alice in Leeds

Alice moved to Leeds to pursue a career in music. She explains why she thinks Leeds is a hidden gem and performs her song, Okay, by the canal in the city’s centre.

Episode 5 – Adam in Ipswich

In the centre of Ipswich – home of busker turned pop star Ed Sheeran – busker Adam shares how the death of his father prompted him to become a fulltime musician, and performs his song, Missing Chemicals, by the town hall.

The series launches today, with the first episode available now. BBC Learning English is part of the BBC World Service. Find out more on the BBC Learning English website  bbc.com/learningenglish.

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