
The Level Up English Podcast
🇬🇧 I'm Michael Lavers and this podcast will help you improve your English. I'm an online English teacher for students learning as a second language. In this podcast, I answer your questions about learning and help you achieve your goals in British English. Once a month I talk to a teacher or expert on topics related to language.
Latest episodes

Mar 26, 2025 • 43min
#317 British & American Words That Reveal Cultural Differences
There are many differences in vocabulary between British and American English. Some of these are quite well-known and easy to understand (biscuit and cookie, maybe), but others are a bit more complex.In today's episode, I'm not simply listing these differences. I'm looking at 8 terms that are different in both British and American English, but aren't quite the same in meaning. Each term reveals something special about the culture of each country.Hopefully, this episode will highlight some of the subtle cultural differences in each country, while teaching you new words and ideas.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast317Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 2min
#316 Curious Minds Learn Faster with Alastair Budge
Alastair Budge from Leonardo English joined me for a casual chat about a variety of different topics.Alastair has his own podcast called "English Learning for Curious Minds". In it, he covers all sorts of topics from space mining to population decline, while making content that helps English learners improve.I found this concept so interesting, so I picked a few topics at random to chat about in our conversation today. We also talk about the importance of curiosity.Today, you'll hear about fascinating inventors, admirable people, population decline, Ozempic, the shadow side, and much more.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast316Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Mar 12, 2025 • 48min
#315 Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
We've now done quite a few episodes on Phrasal Verbs, but this is an important one. Today, I'll be looking at the differences between separable and inseparable phrasal verbs. This is a very important part of English if you want to sound natural and fluent.As always, I'm not just listing off words in a boring way. I'll be sharing examples of both types while talking about my recent trip to Cambodia, and I also encourage you to make your own examples.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast315Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Mar 5, 2025 • 53min
#314 British Driving Culture & Vocabulary
In this episode, I'll be talking about driving culture in the UK. There are a lot of interesting laws and unwritten rules that are reflective of British culture. So whether you will be driving in the UK or not, I think this will be interesting for you.I share some of the big differences between driving culture in the UK and in Thailand, as well as my own experience taking my driving test when I was a teenager and how it might compare to your country.Of course, I also make sure to share loads of new vocabulary related to driving, so don't miss it!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast314Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Feb 26, 2025 • 39min
#313 The Grass is Greener on the Other Side
Explore the mindset behind the saying 'the grass is always greener on the other side' and discover how we often idealize what we lack. Learn about the hidden challenges in relationships and the misconceptions tied to single life. The dangers of comparison, especially on social media, reveal the detrimental effects of envy. Embrace individuality and personal growth as key themes, encouraging a focus on gratitude and self-reflection. Dive into personal stories that illustrate the importance of appreciating your current situation.

Feb 19, 2025 • 53min
#312 Moving Across the World with Zdenek
Today I'm doing a rare in-person discussion with Teacher Zdenek. Zdenek has more than 12 years of experience in various settings, primarily teaching English learners of levels B2-C2. He's taught English in the Czech Republic, UK, Ireland and most recently Vietnam. Zdenek has also moved to Vietnam, and that's why we were able to meet up nearby in Bangkok for a casual discussion. We speak about moving abroad, learning the local language, habit-building, teaching English, naughty tourists, and much more!I hope you enjoy this one.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast312Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Feb 12, 2025 • 1h 10min
#311 Habit Building Masterclass
This is a big habit masterclass episode! We'll be diving into the basics of creating habits, how to keep them going without giving up on your goals, and also how to kick some bad habits that are holding you back.I also give examples of successes and failures based on a lot of my own habit-building experiences. As you can tell by the length of this episode, this is a topic I'm truly passionate about and something I've been focusing on for my whole adult life.I really do believe that creating good habits can be one of the key things you can do to start seeing big, positive changes in life and reach your greatest goals. You can use these tips to help achieve your English learning goals, or something else like career goals or financial goals.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast311Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Feb 5, 2025 • 38min
#310 The British Attitude Towards Healthcare
Explore the nuances of the British healthcare system and its NHS, contrasting it with Thailand's proactive approach. Personal anecdotes reveal the challenges of navigating medical treatment and the importance of effective communication with providers. Discover new health-related vocabulary and delve into the emotional struggles of illness, emphasizing preventative measures and the healing power of hobbies. The discussion navigates fears of being labeled a hypochondriac, highlighting patience and positivity in managing health concerns.

Jan 29, 2025 • 37min
#309 Emphasising with Cleft Sentences
Explore the intriguing world of cleft sentences and their practical use in everyday communication. Discover how these structures can add emphasis to your words, enhancing both speaking and writing. The host shares personal stories, including a health revelation, demonstrating how to effectively apply this grammar. Engage with fun questions about travel and life experiences, all while learning to articulate your thoughts more clearly. Immerse yourself in a unique grammar approach that's both enlightening and entertaining!

Jan 22, 2025 • 55min
#308 Pass the Cambridge English Exams with Ben Gill
Ben Gill from To The Point English joins us today for a great, detailed overview of the Cambridge English exams. Ben covers all sorts of topics and questions related to these exams on his YouTube channel (particularly B2, C1, and C2 levels). The exams are huge and we could talk about them for days, so in today's episode, I try to ask Ben a couple of common questions for each paper of the exam.We talk about tips for the listening exam, what accents to prepare for in the speaking exam, how much advanced grammar to use in your writing, and strategies for making the reading sections easier.Exam Format:B2 FirstC1 AdvancedC2 ProficiencyShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast308Level 3 is coming to Level Up English this August! Click here to claim your 60%! Be fast! Spaces are limited.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.