The Reading Room
Intermediate level
Improve your reading with short stories and articles
The Reading Room / Does where you grow up shape your personality?
Episode 260625 / 25 Jun 2026
Are certain regions more likely to have higher levels of a certain personality trait?
The Reading Room / Is there life on venus?
Episode 260521 / 21 May 2026
Could we live on Venus?
The Reading Room / Do birds build their homes like humans?
Episode 260518 / 18 May 2026
Birds teach each other how to build a home
The Reading Room / How micro-dramas could revolutionise our viewing habits
Episode 260514 / 14 May 2026
How much drama can fit into one minute?
The Reading Room / When sandwiches are not so simple
Episode 260507 / 7 May 2026
What goes into a gourmet sandwich?
The Reading Room / What happens when your job is just too boring?
Episode 251110 / 10 Nov 2025
Are you suffering from rust out?
The Reading Room / What are the chances of an asteroid hitting you?
Episode 251109 / 9 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about whether it's possible you could be hit by an asteroid!
The Reading Room / Britain celebrates 200-year anniversary of passenger trains
Episode 251108 / 8 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about the history of trains in English
The Reading Room / Can we trust technology in sport?
Episode 251107 / 7 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about how well technology is being used in sport
The Reading Room / Life lessons learnt from pocket money
Episode 251106 / 6 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about the pros and cons of pocket money in English
The Reading Room / Is your dog reading your mind?
Episode 251105 / 5 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about pets reading your mind in English
The Reading Room / How can restaurants earn a Michelin star?
Episode 251104 / 4 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about Michelin stars in English
The Reading Room / Is food colouring bad for you?
Episode 251103 / 3 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about whether food colouring really is bad for you
The Reading Room / Small steps to build long-lasting habits
Episode 251102 / 2 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about habits in English
The Reading Room / Why some people believe AI is human
Episode 251101 / 1 Nov 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about how AI can seem human in English
The Reading Room / How to make a good apology
Episode 250924 / 24 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about the art of a good apology in English
The Reading Room / Beating brain fog
Episode 250923 / 23 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about brain fog and how to avoid it
The Reading Room / The joy of missing out
Episode 250922 / 22 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn the difference between 'FOMO' and 'JOMO'
The Reading Room / Making friends as you age
Episode 250921 / 21 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about ways to make friends as you reach adulthood
The Reading Room / Morning shower or evening shower: Which is best?
Episode 250920 / 20 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about hygiene in English
The Reading Room / What can magic teach us about the brain?
Episode 250919 / 19 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn how illusions can tell us what happens in our brain
The Reading Room / Can we create the perfect city soundscape?
Episode 250918 / 18 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about city soundscapes
The Reading Room / The world's first digital country
Episode 250917 / 17 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about a country that is slowly sinking underwater
The Reading Room / The benefits of spending money on a good time
Episode 250916 / 16 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn whether it's better to treat yourself by buying a thing or an experience
The Reading Room / How to take control of your emotions
Episode 250915 / 15 Sep 2025
Practise your reading skills and learn about emotion regulation
Browse more skills programmes
View all skills programmes