Hi! I'm
Charlie.

Your British English is about to get a proper upgrade.

Whether you've found me through the podcast, YouTube or somewhere else on the internet, welcome!

There's more to my little podcast than meets the ear! I've got free resources, courses, speaking practice and a brilliant community of learners inside The Academy.

See how I can help ↓ Try The Academy →
Charlie Baxter, host of The British English Podcast
Laugh your way to fluency
40K+ CommunityJoin a brilliant community of learners
Go from good to GREAT English

Take your English further.

Whether you prefer learning with others, listening on the go or doing things at your own pace, I've got you covered.

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The Academy

Ready to take your English seriously without taking all the fun out of it? Join me for live lessons, speaking practice, personalised feedback and a brilliant community of learners.

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The bloke behind the microphone.

Charlie Baxter at the microphone

If you've listened to a few episodes, you probably know more about my life than you ever asked to!

But what you might not know is that I've spent the last 12 years teaching English and figuring out how to make the whole process a lot more enjoyable.

For me, learning a language should be about interesting conversations, having a laugh and meeting brilliant people along the way.

And that's really what I've tried to build here. A place where you can improve your English, meet some brilliant people and actually look forward to learning.

Something I'm rather proud of

And that's exactly why I created The Academy.

The podcast is where it all started, but The Academy is where I get to know the people on the other side of the headphones.

It's a lovely little community of intermediate and advanced learners who come together every week to practise speaking, learn new expressions, share stories and have a laugh.

And with structured lessons, live sessions and personalised feedback, there's plenty to help you make real progress too.

Meet a few of the lovely people inside.

These are three genuine Academy members sharing how their English has improved.

Lena

From avoiding conversations to enjoying them.

Annaelle

From speaking anxiety to freedom of expression.

Enrique

From knowing expressions to using them naturally.

Fancy joining us?

Come and see how The Academy works and whether it's right for you.

Take a look inside The Academy →

Free English Level Checker

Not sure of your English level?

Whether you're thinking about joining The Academy or you're simply curious, my free English Level Checker will give you a better idea of where you stand in just a few minutes.

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The free podcast

Put the kettle on. Press play.

I've picked out a few episodes I'm particularly fond of. Have a listen, enjoy a bit of British English, and grab the free worksheet if you fancy some extra practice.

01 / 05

British Complaints with Luke

Mosquitoes, horoscopes and people who refuse to peel the plastic off new things. Luke and I have a proper moan in this very British take on Room 101.

Learn the English from this episode

Grab the free worksheet to practise the vocabulary and expressions you've just heard.

Get the free worksheet →

02 / 05

What Makes a Proper British Pub?

What's so special about a British pub? My old mate Jim joins me to talk about pub culture, drinking etiquette, the joy of having a local and some rather questionable stag-do behaviour.

Learn the English from this episode

Grab the free worksheet to practise the vocabulary and expressions you've just heard.

Get the free worksheet →

03 / 05

Why I Left London for Portugal

I swapped London for a sunnier, more relaxed life in Portugal. Instead, I got flooded bathrooms, noisy nightclubs and three storms in a row. Was it all a terrible mistake?

Learn the English from this episode

Grab the free worksheet to practise the vocabulary and expressions you've just heard.

Get the free worksheet →

04 / 05

How to Stop Feeling Left Out in English Conversations

Ever found yourself sitting quietly while everyone else chats away in English? I'll show you a simple technique to jump into conversations more naturally, without feeling like you're interrupting.

Learn the English from this episode

Grab the free worksheet to practise the vocabulary and expressions you've just heard.

Get the free worksheet →

05 / 05

What Brits REALLY Say at the Pub

Three Brits, three very different accents and a night down the pub. Join Chaz, Charlie and Charles as I act out a typical British conversation and explain the expressions you'd never learn from a textbook.

Learn the English from this episode

Grab the free worksheet to practise the vocabulary and expressions you've just heard.

Get the free worksheet →

Real students. Real progress.

Will you be my next success story?

One of my favourite parts of teaching is seeing people surprise themselves with how far they've come.

Shunsuke Kato · Business developer · Originally from Japan, now in the Netherlands

From struggling with English to expressing himself more naturally.

After trying textbooks, online speaking lessons and courses, Kato joined The Academy.

Now he describes using a wider range of expressions in real conversations and seeing fewer corrections on his writing assignments.

  • BEFOREStruggling to use English comfortably despite trying several different learning methods.
  • PROGRESSFrom approximately A2–B1 to feeling he could be B2 or above.Kato's own estimate, not an independently verified assessment.
  • TODAYFewer writing corrections and more natural expressions in real conversations.

The more time and energy you put in, the more you can get from The Academy.

Shunsuke Kato · Lightly edited for clarity from his interview

Your story could be next.

If you'd like to make real progress with your English and have a few laughs along the way, I'd love to welcome you into The Academy.

Take a look inside The Academy →