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15 Best Podcasts for IELTS
We have listed down all the popular and best English podcasts for IELTS. From now onwards you can sit on your bean bag while chilling with your earbuds in. Say goodbye to boring and long lectures! Without any further ado, let us get into it:
Best Podcasts for IELTS Listening
1. Espresso English
Where: Apple PodcastHost: Ben Worthington
Beware of Espresso English, as it can become one of your favourite podcasts for IELTS preparation. This podcast is headed by Ben Worthington, who is an expert in IELTS preparation.
It covers all the important strategies for each section of IELTS and practical tips on improving vocabulary. Along with that, this IELTS podcast also offers a wealth of insights that could significantly impact your performance. Enhance your language skills with that play button!
2. Coffee Break English
Where: YouTube, SpotifyHost: Mark and Josie
Dive into English learning with the Coffee Break English podcast, free on major platforms. Enjoy short, impactful lessons in slow English, perfect for A2-level learners. Hosts Mark and Josie guide you through language nuances, covering tenses and phrasal verbs. Explore different accents with cultural insights from the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. This flexible and one of the best podcasts for IELTS prepares you for real-life English scenarios. Cheers to enhancing your English proficiency over coffee!
3. The TED Radio Hour
Where: Amazon Music, NPR, Castbox, RadioPublic, Pandora.
Host: Manoush Zomorodi
Enhance your IELTS prep with TED Radio Hour! Explore profound questions alongside top thinkers, gaining insights into the world. TED Radio Hour offers an ad-free experience through subscription. National Public Radio transforms TED Talks into engaging podcasts for IELTS, exploring 50+ ideas weekly. While an advanced English level is recommended, each 50-minute episode ensures valuable vocabulary addition. For an IELTS-ready vocabulary boost, tune in to TED Radio Hour at NPR.
4. English Learning for Curious Minds
Where: SpotifyHost: Leonardo
Elevate your preparation with "English Learning for Curious Minds," Leonardo English's podcast for IELTS. Tailored for learners, it offers shorter episodes with slightly slowed-down English. Explore over 300 topics in standard British English. While many episodes are free, a membership provides full access to transcripts and learning materials. Get yourself into 20-30-minute episodes with available transcripts and downloadable PDFs.
5. Luke’s English Podcast
Where: YouTube
Host: Luke Thompson
Dive into Luke's English Podcast, an award-winning show since 2009 designed for foreign language learners. Led by DELTA-qualified English teacher and comedian Luke Thompson, it is one of the best podcasts which offers 850+ episodes, transcripts, and a YouTube channel with 1 million subscribers. Enjoy premium episodes on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, along with a special series on phrasal verbs. With 150 million downloads, numerous awards, and a British Council ELTon nomination, Luke's English Podcast is a dynamic resource for global learners.
6. SEND7
Where: Send7.org, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Pocketcasts.
Host: Stephen Devincenzi
Explore the world of podcast for IELTS in just 7 minutes with SEND7 (Simple English News Daily), a weekday podcast designed for English learners and speakers of English as a second language. Released daily at midnight CET (8 AM in Tokyo), each episode covers essential global stories in clear, easy language. Native speakers also find value in these concise world event summaries. Accessible on major podcast platforms for free, SEND7 offers transcripts for a small contribution. Stay informed effortlessly with this English podcast for IELTS, your go-to source for a quick global update.
7. Stories Podcast
Where: YouTube
Host: Dan Hinds and Amanda Weldin
Explore the Stories Podcast, a language-learning gem for young native speakers. Each episode unveils a simple, slow, and captivating story, be it a myth, fairy tale, or original narrative. The podcast's unique approach prioritises engagement over direct teaching, making it perfect for learners who absorb language effortlessly through memorable stories. Engross yourself in this, where every episode is a delightful step towards language proficiency. Explore the captivating world of Stories IELTS podcast and elevate your language learning experience with each story.
8. Mother isn't Murder
Where: YouTube, Spotify, Apple PodcastsHost: Adenike Babalola
Achieve IELTS success with "Mother isn't Murder," a weekly podcast by an experienced teacher and IELTS expert. Adenike guides listeners through practice tests in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, sharing insights to help understand the exam nuances. The goal is clear! Assist you in reaching your desired band score, be it for the Academic or General Training test. With an average episode length of 38 minutes, this IELTS podcast is a valuable resource for practical tips and confidence-building on your IELTS journey.
9. English Across the Pond
Where: JioSaavn, Youtube, Apple Podcast
Host: Dan and Jennifer
Focus on the best of British and American English with "English Across the Pond," a unique podcast co-hosted by Dan and Jennifer. Covering vocabulary, idioms, culture, and history, this podcast for IELTS caters to learners seeking a comprehensive language experience. Stand-out features include study plans and transcripts for members, taking your learning to the next level. Explore more at English Across the Pond and enhance your linguistic skills with each episode.
10. Aussie English Podcast
Where: SpotifyHost: Pete Smissen
Explore Australian English with the Aussie English Podcast, tailored for newcomers and intermediate-advanced learners. Host Pete Smissen covers Australian history, news, slang translations, and cultural tidbits in each episode. Whether you're planning to emigrate or enhancing language skills, this is one of the best podcasts for IELTS that offers an amazing linguistic and cultural experience. Tune in and be involved in the Aussie way of life. Explore more at Aussie English Podcast.
11. This American Life
Where: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google PodcastsHost: Ira Glass
Do you want to become a language master? "This American Life," a popular IELTS podcast preparation, presents captivating American stories. From a man accidentally striking it rich to insightful interviews by multiple hosts, the podcast seamlessly blends learning with entertainment. Forget you're studying as you become a lifelong listener! With no subscription needed, each hour-long episode offers an interactive language-learning experience. Tune in to This American Life to elevate your English proficiency through engaging stories.
12. 6 Minute English
Where: BBC, Spotify, Apple PodcastsHost: Neil Edgeller, Georgina Jackson, Sam Proffitt
No English podcast list is complete without the BBC's 6 Minute English. A weekly program guiding you through everyday English situations, it covers a wide range of topics from comfort food to politics and cryptocurrency. Each episode's key vocabulary and transcript are available on the BBC website, enhancing your learning experience. Explore the huge list of episodes for a quick, effective English boost.
13. Thinking in English
Where: Spotify
Host: Tom Wilkinson
Boost your English thinking with Tom, your go-to podcast for IELTS preparation. As a British teacher, his 20-minute, well-structured and the best IELTS podcast on Spotify aims to get you to "think in English" on various topics. Get into free podcasts at Thinking in English and, if you choose, subscribe to the conversation club for extra speaking practice. Tom's engaging content is designed to enhance your language skills effortlessly.
14. The Daily
Where: Apple Podcasts
Host: Michael Barbaro
Ready for an advanced English challenge? "The Daily," is a top-ranked podcast by The New York Times. With episodes lasting just 20 minutes, this global news podcast will make your preparation interesting by telling a different story every weekday. Powered by award-winning journalism, "The Daily" offers a quick yet comprehensive way to stay informed on world events. Explore this top-rated podcast for IELTS speaking, a concise and insightful language-learning adventure.
15. Magoosh IELTS
Where: iTunes
Host: Eliot Friesen
‘Magoosh IELTS’ IELTS podcast listening covers essential vocabulary for various topics like information, environment, weather, technology, travel, work, family, school, free time, hometowns, and more. Each episode provides valuable understanding for IELTS test-takers, with Eliot explaining and using keywords. The podcast also includes episodes on test preparation, band scores, and specific IELTS sections like Writing and Speaking.
How to Choose The Podcast for Your IELTS Preparation
Selecting the right IELTS podcast can make or break your preparation for this test. The right podcast can enhance and improve your test preparations. Need more help with test preparations? Learn all you need to know about the IELTS exam at the touch of a fingertip. Here is how you can choose the right podcast for IELTS:
1. Relevance to IELTS content: Perhaps it goes without saying, but the best podcast for IELTS is one that is relevant to your training. It must cover all bases: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
2. Content Quality: Aspects such as mic quality, video quality, the personality of the host, and their knowledge of the subject matter are all important when looking at podcasts for IELTS listening.
3. Variety of topics and exercises: Most IELTS podcasts will cover a wide range of topics as well as assign you daily or weekly exercises. Observe the quality and variety of these topics and exercises such as practise questions.
4. Word of mouth: Check whether the podcast for IELTS that you’re looking for has good reviews or not. Word of mouth and testimonials are great social proof that the content will be engaging.
5. Engaging delivery: Talking about engaging, ensure the host of the podcast you’re listening to is engaging and makes learning fun. Clear pronunciation and good audio quality make a good IELTS podcast speaker.
Benefits of IELTS Podcasts
Podcasts for IELTS listening, IELTS podcast speaking, and more sound good in theory. But are they really helpful? What makes a good IELTS podcast? Let’s look at some reasons how a podcast for the IELTS exam can help you:
1. Enhanced listening skills: While there are no podcasts that market themselves as podcasts for IELTS listening, prolonged exposure to people speaking in clear English is a great way to improve your listening skills.
2. Improved vocabulary: A great and engaging host can help you learn the hardest words with ease! Regular exposure to these difficult words can help you gain essential skills for your IELTS Listening and Reading portion of the exam.
3. Familiarisation with the test format: Listening to IELTS podcasts specifically designed for IELTS preparation familiarizes test-takers with the format, question types, and timing of the Listening section.
4. Access to expert advice: Most podcasts for IELTS feature experts who may have pieces of information and advice that you wouldn’t have been aware of before. Therefore, IELTS podcasts give you insights into expert tips and more.
5. Complementary learning resources: Many IELTS podcasts may provide you with complementary learning resources. This can be audio content and sometimes even writing exercises.
These 15 podcasts for IELTS serve as invaluable resources for preparation. With various content ranging from news and cultural insights to targeted vocabulary lessons, each podcast offers a creative approach to language learning. Whether engaging with the storytelling of This American Life or benefiting from the focused lessons of Magoosh IELTS, these podcasts make language learning flexible and enjoyable. Listen in anytime, anywhere, and let these podcasts not only assist in IELTS success but also enhance your overall English proficiency. Explore, tune in, and step on a language-learning journey with these exceptional podcasts for IELTS.
