1. The first of two that I was prompted to include by a colleague from Japan, Gary Robert, this morning: BBC English’s 6 Minute English https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english Lead story at present? ‘When males are not needed’!

Programme archives back to 2008 here http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/

Gary and his colleagues have also produced a really good guide to using the site for teachers and students: PDF below.

3. And here’s the second of Gary’s tips: newsela. You’ll need to sign up for free here first https://newsela.com/ Once you’ve done so, there’s a wealth of extensive reading material at all levels available to you – or your students, who can sign up for themselves, which might make setting homework a lot easier? https://newsela.com/content/browse/browse-home/ckcdgr4qy00003hof00i2mwlq/#news-articles-latest

PDF of another very useful site guide from Gary and his colleagues below.

[PDF]

3. Next, three recordings of sessions at this year’s online TESOL conference by British Council colleagues from round the world: Pandemic Challenges: Accessibility, Inclusion and Engagement with John Shackleton, Gemma Bellhouse and Paul Muir https://youtu.be/RiqJc2b9FGo Pandemic Challenges: Pedagogical Skills, Technological Awareness, and Student Interaction with Graham Stanley and Ruth Horsfall https://youtu.be/YaW_0t8nIng The Pandemic Challenge: From Crisis Response to New Normality? with Richard Spiby, Hala Ahmed, Jenny Simms and Tim Phillips https://youtu.be/XKNEC7V7UVQ

4. And, finally, I mentioned Bob Dylan’s own radio show on Friday. A new five-part series about him began on BBC Radio 4 today: ‘It Ain’t Me You’re Looking For: Bob Dylan at 80’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w4ny I enjoyed the first one!