Learning English from the News

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico is the biggest ever. But concerns surrounding the cost of tickets, the impact of international politics and immigration policies, security, extreme heat and sustainability could also make it the most controversial ever. Learn English from the news headlines with Pippa and Georgie.
Get a free worksheet for this episode to practise what you've learnt:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026/260610.
We have lots of programmes on the topic of sport to help you improve your English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/topics/sport_and_exercise. Maybe you want to practise some other skills? Have a look at our skills page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/skills

The World Meteorological Organization said this El Niño is likely to strengthen over the rest of 2026, driving more extreme weather around much of the globe. El Niño is the name for a natural climate event where sea water temperatures rise in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. It creates unusually hot and stormy weather. Several forecasts from national weather agencies suggest it could end up as one of the strongest ever recorded – a possible so-called ‘super’ El Niño.
Learn about this story and learn some vocabulary from the headlines with Phil and Georgie.
Get a free worksheet for this episode to practise what you've learnt: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026/260603.
We have lots of programmes on the topic of the environment to help you improve your English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/topics/environment
Maybe you want to practise some other skills? Have a look at our skills page: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/skills

A group of senior doctors in the UK compare the harms of social media to smoking, not because it has the same physical health impacts, but because they believe it’s an important health issue that people need to take seriously.
Learn about this story and learn some vocabulary from the headlines with Pippa and Georgie.
Get a free worksheet for this episode to practise what you've learnt: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026/260527.
We have lots of programmes ton the topic of technology to help you improve your English: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/topics/technology

An Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo was announced by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday. Ebola is a serious disease caused by a virus caught from wild animals and is usually found in certain parts of Africa. It spreads from person to person when you come in to contact with infected body fluids, such as blood, urine and vomit.
Officials in Uganda reported that the deadly disease had spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The total ⁠number of suspected cases means that this outbreak is already one of the largest on record
Get a free worksheet for this episode to practise what you've learnt: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026/260520
Develop your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills on our website here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/skills

All passengers have now left the Dutch cruise ship, MV Hondius after a voyage that lead to the death of three passengers from hantavirus. The virus is usually found in rats. One passenger is thought to have caught the virus while birdwatching in Ushuaia, Argentina, where the ship's journey began.
Get a free worksheet for this episode to practise what you've learnt: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026/260513
Navigate BBC Learning English content by level on our website. Find the 'easy', 'medium' and 'hard' buttons here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/
Try our series 'Our World in English' - BBC documentaries, made easier for you: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/our-world-in-english