Welcome to pie plus, our magazine with extra learning worksheets - updated weekly
Competition time why not try and win free membership?
Take a text 30 activities for teachers to use with reading texts
Information sheets to help you make the most of our site
How to find a specific podcast
February news and
Competition to win free pie membership
Last month we celebrated our 700th podcast and our 100th pie video on the site (well done to us, again!). This month we have podcast 701 and video 101 which is called Good luck! This seems a good title because it's for our beginners' level and we really wish good luck to everyone learning English.
We often think about learning a new skill in a new year (not just a language). So we have a collection of podcasts about learning: learning to swim, drive, ride a bike... and many more! We particularly like learning to cook - What's cooking is for level 2 and learning to knit - Knit 1, purl 1 is for level 3. Check out the sidebar on the levels page for more.
You'll also see the sidebar has new podcasts of the month. This includes Bad habits for level 1. What bad habits do we have?!
Remember, If you find it difficult to find a podcast we have updated 'the lists'. Levels 1, 2 and 3 have details of all the podcasts listed by name and topic. You can find them here. We have also updated the list that details special days and events too.
Good luck learning or teaching English in 2025.
Richard and Jackie
The pie team
Competition time
Michael from England was the lucky winner of last month's competition. He correctly said that the answer was b) when he was a boy.
For this month's quiz just answer this question:
What is the first lucky symbol we talk about? Is it a) a horseshoe, b) a clover, or c) a penny? The answer is in this beginners' video: Good luck!
Write your answer on our Contact us page. Remember to tell us your name and where you are from. One winner gets free pie membership for 3 months. Good luck! Answers by the end of the month.
We have our own facebook page. Please like us and meet us there - and why not write some suggestions for podcasts, we'd love to hear from you!
Take a text
Take a text is a collection of 30 activities that you can do with your course book readings. There are 23 pre-reading activities, and 7 post-reading activities.
Each activity has information on what it practises, its uses, preparation before the class and clear instructions on what to do in class. There are also example texts used from a variety of course books so the activities are super clear.
Who is the book for?
■ It's ideal for new teachers. We remember not knowing what a 'jigsaw' reading was, or a 'dictation race'. We also remember thinking that we could do a lot more with a text in a course book, but not knowing what exactly. Over the years we have collected loads of exciting ideas, and these are what we want to share.
■ It's great for more experienced teachers too. Having so many ideas collected together means that it's a practical, easy reference book and one that should remind teachers of tasks they may have forgotten about. We're sure there are some new ideas included too!
Is it free?
Almost! It's just 9 Euros.
Students' information worksheets
To help you make the most of the site. There are more information worksheets for teachers on the teachers' page.
► Using PayPal (pdf 60KB) How to find your pie log in details and how to cancel your subscription. For everyone.
► Listening to the podcasts (pdf 23KB)Ten top listening tips to help you to listen to and understand real conversations. For members.
► Watching the videos (pdf 23KB)Eight great ideas on how you can watch the videos and understand the podcasts better. For members.
► Using the webquests (pdf 205KB)An explanation of the words and phrases we use on our webquests. For members.
► Natural spoken English 1 (pdf 55KB)Tasks to help you recognise the key features of natural spoken English. For members.
► Natural spoken English 2 (pdf 35KB)This worksheet helps you recognise fillers - and encourages you to use them yourself. For members.
Find a podcast
Over 700 podcasts! There are now three ways to find a podcast. One, go to the extras page where they are listed under topics. Two, type a topic into the search box (top, right). Three, by browsing the new lists of podcasts which we have compiled for each level:
►Level 1 list
►Level 2 list
►Level 3 list
And we have podcasts linked to special days throughout the year: ►Special days list
If you have a school subscription why not copy the lists and put them on the notice board for all your teachers to read.
PS Fill in the blanks as new podcasts come out until we renew the lists. (Lists last updated January 2025)
