u/AlexNort

I am learning English through the Cambridge English in Use series (grammar and vocabulary), which are British books. Is it okay if I study the British Cambridge books but listen only to American English? Or do I need to listen to British English because the books are British and the listening and studying should match?

For context, British content is very limited for me and I don’t understand the British accent at all, whereas there is a huge amount of American content and I understand the American accent easily.

Are British and American English mostly the same in terms of grammar and vocabulary, with pronunciation being the main difference?

I am learning English through the Cambridge English in Use series (grammar and vocabulary), which are British books. Is it okay if I study the British Cambridge books but listen only to American English? Or do I need to listen to British English because the books are British and the listening and studying should match?

For context, British content is very limited for me and I don’t understand the British accent at all, whereas there is a huge amount of American content and I understand the American accent easily.

Are British and American English mostly the same in terms of grammar and vocabulary, with pronunciation being the main difference?

What is the best listening resource you would recommend for someone who wants to learn English?

I am not looking for educational content. I want content created for native speakers.

I don’t mind the format at all—it could be films, TV series, audiobooks, podcasts, radio, or anything else. I also don’t mind the topic.

The only thing that matters to me is this: if you had to choose the very best listening resource for improving English, what would it be and why?

I want to improve my English, so I listen to BBC Sounds, especially the podcast In Our Time because it’s considered one of the BBC’s most iconic and greatest programmes.

However, I don’t want to listen only to British English. I think it’s important to listen to both British and American accents.

So, what is the American equivalent of BBC Sounds? And what is the iconic and outstanding podcast on that platform that you would recommend?

Question for Americans:

I’m an intermediate English learner and want to become advanced.

I’m not looking for educational podcasts or news podcasts. I want a podcast made for native speakers where people talk naturally, like everyday conversations between friends.

I’m learning English as a hobby and for everyday communication, not for work, university, or exams.

I don’t mind any topic at all. My main goal is simply to hear natural, everyday American English and improve my listening skills.

Which American podcast would you recommend?

Question for British people from England only:

I’m looking for natural British English, not simplified English designed for learners, children, or beginners.

Could you please search for “Luke’s English Podcast” on YouTube and listen to a few minutes of it?

Since Luke is an English teacher, I’m wondering whether he speaks naturally, like British people do in everyday conversations, or whether he deliberately simplifies his English for learners.

Would you say that the way he speaks is close to real everyday British English?

Thank you very much.

What is the best podcast on the BBC Sounds app for a B1-B2 level? And what is the best podcast for a C1-C2 level?

I am currently learning English, and I have a question.

What do you recommend I listen to? Is it better to focus mainly on educational English content, or should I spend most of my time listening to authentic English spoken by native speakers?

I don’t mind listening to different English accents, so the accent itself is not a concern for me.

For context, I am studying the complete Cambridge English in Use series, including the audio for all the books. Specifically, I am studying:

Grammar in Use

Vocabulary in Use

Pronunciation in Use

Idioms in Use

Phrasal Verbs in Use

Collocations in Use

I am studying the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of all these books.

My current English level is approximately B1 (Intermediate).

Based on this, what would you recommend I do to improve my listening skills?