A1 English News | Can Smoke from Canada Reach US Cities?

A1 English News | Can Smoke from Canada Reach US Cities?

Learn with slow English news for A1 listening practice. In this episode: Ghana is making businesses use a phone app to check ID cards, and copying the card is now banned. Also: More than 800 wildfires in Canada are sending smoke into US cities, with air alerts and cancelled outdoor events. Today’s English focus: have to use = must use. Vocabulary: The card (ID card), check (look carefully and make sure), copy (make the same thing again on paper). Learn more from today’s episode with the full podcast transcript, English translation, vocabulary explanations, and extra learning materials: https://linguawire.com/episodes/english-a1-2026-07-17

A1 English News | China's Growth Falls to 4.3%

Learn with slow English news for A1 listening practice. In this episode: China's growth fell to 4.3%, below Beijing's target, as weak home demand and higher oil prices weighed on the economy. Also: Scientists confirmed a new monkey species in a Congo forest after years of sightings, photos, sound recordings, and gene tests. Today’s English focus: used to + verb = did in the past as a habit or old state. Vocabulary: species (a group of animals that are the same kind), forest (a large area with many trees), recordings (sounds or videos saved for later). Learn more from today’s episode with the full podcast transcript, English translation, vocabulary explanations, and extra learning materials: https://linguawire.com/episodes/english-a1-2026-07-16

A1 English News | De Beers Stops Work at South Africa's Biggest Mine

Learn with slow English news for A1 listening practice. In this episode: De Beers pauses work at a huge South African diamond mine as fewer people buy diamonds and lab-grown gems grow in popularity. Also: A T. rex fossil called Gus sells for a record $50.1 million at Sotheby's in New York. Today’s English focus: sell for = to be sold at a certain price. Vocabulary: mine (a place to get rock, metal, or stone), market (the place where people buy and sell things), price (how much money something costs). Learn more from today’s episode with the full podcast transcript, English translation, vocabulary explanations, and extra learning materials: https://linguawire.com/episodes/english-a1-2026-07-15

A1 English News | Volkswagen Faces Up to 100,000 Job Cuts

Learn with slow English news for A1 listening practice. In this episode: Volkswagen says it may cut up to 100,000 jobs as profits fall and costs stay high. Also: The UK and Switzerland sign a deal that could make travel easier and end roaming charges. Today’s English focus: zählen = to count. Vocabulary: der Job (job), die Kosten (costs), der Arbeiter (worker). Learn more from today’s episode with the full podcast transcript, English translation, vocabulary explanations, and extra learning materials: https://linguawire.com/episodes/english-a1-2026-07-14

A1 English News | Qatar's Former Leader Dies Aged 74

Learn with slow English news for A1 listening practice. In this episode: Qatar's former leader, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, has died aged 74. The country will hold funeral prayers and days of mourning. Also: South Africa says more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or sent home during a crackdown linked to anti-immigration protests. Today’s English focus: pay tribute = to show respect for someone. Vocabulary: deported (sent out of a country by officials), migrants (people who move to live or work somewhere else), protests (public actions where people show strong feelings). Learn more from today’s episode with the full podcast transcript, English translation, vocabulary explanations, and extra learning materials: https://linguawire.com/episodes/english-a1-2026-07-13