How to take great picture

Click on the image to read my summary of this article from the Guardian newspaper. Photographers give tips about how to take good photos.

Why I run…

Click on the image to read my summary of this article from the Guardian newspaper. Famous people are interviewed about how they started running, why they do it and if they have any tips for others.

Strange ‘lockdown dreams’

Apparently people are having strange dreams during when our lives have changed so much. I’ve summarised two articles: one from the Guardian and the other from GQ magazine.

Getting in the mood for Christmas

Christmas has come early this year! Read my summary of this article of a Guardian article all about how people started preparing for Christmas early and why this is.

Looking forward to 2021

2021 is here and there’s lots to be optimistic about. Read this summary of a Guardian article that outlines reasons to be positive at the beginning of this new year.

The Perseverance Mars Mission

Last week a rover successfully landed on Mars! Read my summary of a Guardian article, Radio extract and Nasa YouTube video.

The Monarchy

I have summarised an article in the Guardian newspaper about how opinion in Britain is very divided about the Royal family but it’s the stories that draw people in.

21 Places to go in 2021

This week I’m paraphrasing an article in which twenty-one writers across Europe tell us where they are dreaming of going back to. There’s a whole range of places from glacier-topped mountains to edgy cities.

Is it immoral to refuse the vaccine?

This week’s topic is about the morality of having the covid vaccine.Listen to an interesting discussion on The Moral Maze (Radio 4) and read my summary.

The Yorkshire Shepherdess

Read my summary and find out about the amazing, Amanda Owen. She has nine children and lives on a remote hill farm in Yorkshire.

How professional magicians have been impacted by Covid

This week I decided to summarise an extract from a Radio 4 programme. You can read and listen to my summary as well as listening to the radio programme and reading the transcript. Just click on the image.

Pottering

What is pottering? Read my summary of this extract of this Radio 4 programme and find out more about it.

Talking to strangers

Listen to a interesting BBC 4 radio programme about talking to strangers and read my summary. Two experts are interviewed.

Burns Night

Read about the traditional celebration of the Scottish poet Robert Burns that happens on 25th January. I have summarised a BBC radio 4 program and a Guardian article.

Joe Wicks

Joe wicks became a lockdown sensation when he started doing free workouts for kids. Read my summary of the Desert Island Discs radio interview and various newspaper articles.

Ayanna Witten-Johnson

Read my summary of a BBC Radio 4 interview with Ayanna Witten-Johnson, a cellist that has a very unique style.

The world’s first A.I. robot artist

I’ve summarised a BBC Radio 4 interview with the creator of the robot and also included a YouTube video for you to watch.

Eat some Bacteria

Listen to a Radio 4 programme and read my summary about the health benefits of eating and drinking probiotics and making them yourself!

British TV

Intrigue - Tunnel 29

Listen to the first episode of an incredible true story that was on Radio 4. It’s about a man who dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall.

Covid-19 Vaccine passports

Listen to the BBC news and the story about how the British government have decided to scrap the idea of vaccine passports for the moment.

Swimming the English Channel

Chloe McCardel is on the verge of swimming the English Channel forty-four times and breaking the world record! Listen to this radio clip and read my summary to find out more about her and her incredible achievement.

The US election

Watch a BBC news report and read my summary to find out about this tense election and what is currently happening.

Sir Sean Connery

Read my summary of a BBC TV programme clip and radio extract about the late Sir Sean Connery.

Julia Donaldson

I summarised a BBC documentary (and newspaper article) about the famous Children’s author, Julia Donaldson.

Asma Khan

Watch a clip of ‘The Chef’s Table’. A Netflix documentary about incredible chefs around the world. This episode is about Asma Khan, a British Indian chef that has a very successful restaurant in the heart of London.

Painting Cornwall - Kurt Jackson

This week’s summary is from a TV programme about Cornwall. A painter called Kurt Jackson is interviewed about his interesting technique.

Easter Hot Cross Buns

Watch a clip of a programme about sweet treats that are typical at Easter. Mary Berry tells us about the history of Hot Cross Buns and teaches us how to make them.

The boy who camped out for a year

Watch this news report and read my summary about a boy that camped out in his garden for a year to raise money for charity.

Who do you think you are? Kate Winslet

In this genealogy programme Kate Winslet researches her family tree and uncovers a strange irony.

Wet weather

We’ve had very changeable weather recently! I’ve summarised the weather forecast and a Guardian article about the weather.

A code for happiness

An equation for happiness has been created! Watch a clip from a famous news quiz where they joke about it, find out more in an article and listen/read my summary.

The Edinburgh festival

Watch two TV clips about the One-Liner show at this year’s Edinburgh festival! Read my summary and find out who won the Edinburgh Unlocked Gag of the Year award!

Life in a Day 2020

Keven Macdonald has directed a film that is made up of thousands of clips people from all over the world submitted of their day on 25th July 2020. Click on the picture to read my summary.

The Social Dilemma

A documentary/drama (docudrama) about the harms of social media. Very interesting interviews with former executives of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google etc

Atomic Habits

Watch a YouTube video about habits and read my summary. James Clear, the writer of a book called Atomic Habits, gives us some great tips to help us stick to good habits.

Aggie is a tutor at Sky Blue English and she wrote a series of stories during the summer 2020. The level is a little easier than the summaries above.

Click on the image to have a read (and listen!)

How to take action with your English learning