English for Upper-Intermediate (B2)

Explore how the rainbow symbolizes a colorful, emotionally rich life beyond black and white, reflecting diverse friends, events, and feelings that shape your English learning at upper-intermediate level.

Discover why the speaker's favorite word is 'yeah' and how it appears in about 90% of sentences, shaping casual interludes and everyday conversation.

Explore the difference between translator and interpreter, learn when to solve vs resolve, and understand when to use raise vs rise with practical examples, from baking to business meetings.

Answer common English questions about FYI, the difference between compare to and compare with, and the heel and heal homophones, with practical examples.

In episode 13, Stuart Pollard clarifies when to use a whole day versus a full day, explains bad versus badly, and shows in or at with cities and places.

Explain the difference between female and woman, and when each applies to people or animals, plus the meaning of e.g. for example. Clarify uploads and downloads with practical examples.

Learn how to ask for opinions using what's your opinion on, about, or of, and distinguish common from average, plus unless versus until, with practical examples.

Explain the differences between believe and belief, possession and ownership, and apply to versus apply for, with examples.

Compare the verb pray with prey, explain blonde spellings for male versus female contexts, and define lol as laugh out loud in informal writing.

Explore the differences between wait and await, broke and broken, and idol and idle, with practical examples showing usage as verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

Clarify threat and threaten with examples like death threats to the environment; distinguish council, counsel, and console, including the consulate. Explain fall versus autumn across American and British usage.

Explore common English word pairs in a question-and-answer format, clarifying accept vs except, good vs well, and for sale vs on sale, with practical examples and usage tips.

Explore the differences between arc with c and arc with k, plus the phrasal verbs take over, take up, and the phrase get along with somebody, with practical examples.

Explore the differences between carry on and carry out, aunt and ant, and stand for versus stand in for, with clear examples to boost upper-intermediate English understanding.

Compare watch and clock usage, distinguish a lot from lots of, and explore phrases like out of the blue, black and blue, and blue blood.

Explore the nuances of shut off vs shut down, including primary and secondary meanings, and distinguish peal from peel, plus when to say last night versus the night before.

Brandt explains key English distinctions in episode 105: closet vs wardrobe, drive vs ride, and table vs desk, with practical examples and quick tests.

Explore when to use between versus among, and learn the nuances of reply versus answer. Compare subway and underground usage in American and British English, with practical examples.

Explore the nuances between close and shut, team and group, and city and town, with examples showing formality, emotion, and size differences, plus practice tasks.

Explore everyday English distinctions, from redhead versus ginger, to pain versus ache, and money for jam versus plum job, with quick tests and examples.

Compare illness and disease, explaining illness as a general feeling and disease as a condition with known causes. Distinguish laws from rules, and explain the idiom 'piece of cake'.

Explain the difference between carpet, rug, and mat with practical examples, then clarify butter versus batter and the idiom to run the show for everyday use.

Distinguish reporter from journalist by examining roles, sources, and the reporting process. Clarify fee versus fare and learn the common idiom break a leg for good luck.

Explore the difference between copy and simulate, noting that copy creates an exact duplicate while simulate imitates immaterial aspects; compare flavor and flavour spelling, and the phrase 'time to kill'.

Learn to use English phrases such as soccer mom vs hockey mom, aloud vs allowed, and the expression at the end of the day, with American and British examples.

Clarifies the differences between birth and berth and when to use births, including home births. Explains that diverse means very different, with examples, and defines earworm as a stuck-in-head song.

Compare do versus make and see versus watch to express general actions and creation. Practice with examples like the idiom costs me an arm and a leg to reinforce distinctions.

practice balancing sharing and listening to move from monologue to two-way conversation. learn to use expressions of interest, handle touchy subjects, and know when to change topic.

Explores first date dynamics, teaching how to start and maintain engaging conversation, ask good questions, balance talking and listening, and give sincere compliments.

Explore mexican cuisine through restaurant dialogue and food vocabulary. Practice ordering, describing dishes, and discussing spicy flavors like burritos, salsa, and enchiladas.

Explore bread vocabulary and ingredient descriptions in a German bakery post show. Students describe rye, wheat, oats, sugar, flour, yeast, sourdough, malt, and various seeds while practicing speaking and comprehension.

This post-show episode invites English for upper-intermediate students to hear and share personal addiction stories—workaholic, shopaholic, chocoholic, and game addiction—and discuss strategies in a quick, interactive format.

Explore expressing wishes using I wish constructions, including past simple, past perfect, and would, through holiday-themed dialogues and practical exercises.

Revisit lessons with a live review and knowledge test, and explore seven steps for successful small talk and grammar points like get used to and should have.