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
March news and
Competition to win free pie membership
After what seems a rather long and wet winter we are pleased that spring has arrived, we just need to tell the sun. In case you missed it, Richard avoided the worst of the weather by returning to India, he came back with tales of his trip especially about the Incredible caves he saw there. This is a level 3 podcast, but we also have a video too.
There's a new level 2 podcast this month. We're back to one of Richard's favourite topics: football, but this time we talk about the names of clubs United or City? has all the usual worksheets of course.
We have also added another pie vid this month, which means 103 videos! This time we talk about Working animals, listen, or watch, and find out some unusual, and interesting, jobs that some animals have. This is for level 1.
We have updated the Podcasts of the month which includes a podcast about Two great British meals for level 1. Others include Happy or sad? In this beginners level podcast we talk about feelings. For level 2 we go to the circus in The big top and for level 3 we have an interesting podcast called Would I lie to you honey? Can you tell if someone said something that wasn't true?
Plus, of course we have our Podcasts for March. There's The Emerald Isle Michael talks about Ireland for St Patrick's Day on 17th. That's funny and Happiness are for International Day of Happiness on the 20th. There will be more added throughout the month so do keep an eye out for the sidebar on the levels pages.
With over 700 podcasts and 100 pie videos there are so many things to listen to and watch! We hope you enjoy them all.
Remember that while most podcasts are free podcasts 1 - 99 are for members only. Each podcast has essential transcripts, worksheets and extra materials for teachers and learners and with over 2000 to choose from, so Join pie now!
Good luck learning or teaching English in 2025.
Richard and Jackie
The pie team
Competition time
Huyen from Vietnam was the lucky winner of last month's competition. She correctly said that the answer was a) horseshoe.
For this month's quiz just answer this question:
What is a popular surname for the Portuguese? Is it a) names of colours, b) names of animals, or c) names of trees? The answer is in this level 1 podcast: Surnames
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)
