E65 Friendship at First Sight - Advanced Listening Practice

Why is it so hard to make real friends in the UK? In this episode of English & Beyond, Oliver sits down with Antonio from Spanish with Antonio to talk about what it's actually like living abroad - the friendships that never quite happen, the cultural codes nobody explains, and why British politeness doesn't always lead to real connection. Antonio shares his experiences living in Portsmouth (UK) and Lille (France), and together they explore why making friends as an adult abroad is so compl...

Is it rude to ghost someone, or is silence sometimes the kindest answer? In this episode of English and Beyond, Oliver and César explore the modern phenomenon of ghosting - when someone suddenly stops replying in dating, friendships or even professional situations. This episode is designed for advanced English learners who want to improve their English listening skills through natural conversation. As they discuss why people ghost, whether honesty is always better, and why rejection can somet...

In this advanced English conversation, César and Oliver reflect on how birthdays change as we get older - from childhood parties and British birthday traditions to adult expectations, gifts and family gatherings. The discussion explores ageing, social pressure and cultural differences in a natural, unscripted dialogue designed for advanced learners. Improve your listening with real British English, authentic storytelling and reflective conversation. 📖 Want to improve your English even more? R...

Does ambition make us more successful - or just more disconnected from the people around us? In this advanced English conversation, César and Oliver explore the role of ambition in modern life, from hustle culture and big-city pressure to discipline, happiness and personal relationships. Through a natural, unscripted discussion, they question whether constantly striving for more can affect how we see success, friendship and even ourselves. This episode is designed for advanced English learner...

Why does everyone have a podcast now? In this episode, we discuss the podcast boom, why most podcasts don’t last, and what podcasting says about modern culture - through natural, unscripted advanced English. Ideal for advanced English learners who want to improve listening comprehension, learn real expressions, and get used to native-level conversation without simplified language. 📖 Want to improve your English even more? Read the full transcript, access vocabulary flashcards and vocabulary t...