Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson: Recent Episodes

Luke Thompson

Luke's English Podcast is an award-winning podcast for learners of English.

Listen, learn and have fun while picking up natural British English as it really is spoken.

http://teacherluke.co.uk

Here it is, finally! The long-awaited episode 1000. It has taken me weeks to finish this. If you listen, you will understand why it has taken so long! This is a celebration of this podcast after 17 years and 1000 episodes. It includes a lot of rambling, an interview with my brother, questions from friends and family, and the voices of various guests who have been on this podcast over the last few years. Also, regular interruptions from my daughter and all sorts of other random moments such as the sounds of dogs, woodpeckers, neighbours, and more! Thank you to all the LEPsters around the world and my guests for helping to make this achievement possible! ❤️

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/08/12/episode-1000/

PDF Transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Episode-1000-Transcript-2.pdf

LEP Premium 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Full LEP Episode Archive 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/episodes

Get James' latest EP "High Score Table" here 👉 https://jimthompson.bandcamp.com/album/high-score-table

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Back by popular demand, here is another Sherlock Holmes mystery for episode 999. How will Watson deal with his mini-mission to an opium den, before joining Holmes on one of his most singular cases so far, attempting to solve the disappearance of a gentleman and the suspicious involvement of the man with the twisted lip? Listen to the story and then keep listening as I break it down paragraph by paragraph.

Get the story PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sherlock-Holmes-The-Adventure-of-the-Man-with-the-Twisted-Lip-999.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/29/sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-man-with-the-twisted-lip-🕵/

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Some podcast housekeeping is necessary in this episode, as I talk about current LEP news, moving into a house in the countryside, sketchy plans for episode 1000, an update on the scary story competition, final thoughts on the World Cup, and more. My daughter joins me with various comments throughout, and at one point a bird even flies into the room. What fun we had. PDF transcript available.

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Rambling-in-the-Countryside-feat.-my-daughter-998.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/21/rambling-in-the-countryside-🏡-feat-my-daughter-998/

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Recorded the day after Argentina beat England in the semi-final 😭 here is World Cup Ramble #4. Zdenek joins me again as we discuss as many talking points as possible, including what on earth happened yesterday, the intense rivalry between Argentina & England, the historical background to that rivalry, Spain eliminating France, predictions for the final and so many other things, including a passionate conversation about cultural differences and communication style, plus the real heroes and villains of this epic World Cup competition. Normal podcasting will continue next week.

Luke on The Footglish Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc-Wjg_DEXk

Episode Page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/16/world-cup-ramble-4-fifa-2026-england-vs-argentina-and-much-more-with-zdenek/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Martin returns with a set of questions about childhood, sparking a funny conversation full of stories from school, family holidays, getting into trouble, and formative years of Luke growing up both in urban West London and rural West Midlands. Expect a premium episode dealing with vocabulary in this conversation.

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Funny-Childhood-Memories-Stories-with-Martin-Episode-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/13/funny-childhood-memories-stories-with-martin/

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Here is the third World Cup ramble, covering the events of the last 16, predicting the outcomes of the quarter finals and beyond, and discussing the various issues, talking points and controversies. Is the World Cup rigged? Are the referees biased? What about the scandal involving FIFA and Trump? Who is going to win this massive competition? I'm joined by football fan and returning guest Fred Eyangoh. Leave your comments below and join the discussion!

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/08/world-cup-ramble-3-fifa-2026-with-fred-bonus/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Win any argument in English with these incredible debating skills. Ray Addam joins me for a discussion about the art of debating, including various strategies you can use to help you win arguments, disagreements and debates. With plenty of examples given and techniques explained, this is surely a useful episode for developing your speaking skills in English.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/06/debating-skills-in-english-with-ray/

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Debating-Skills-in-English-with-Ray-Addam-996-.pdf

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Links for Ray Addam

His Preply profile, to book one-to-one English tuition with Ray 👉 https://preply.in/RAY6EN200844011?ts=17815602

Ray's school website, to access my courses and join live group sessions to practise English together, plus soft skills such as debating and public speaking 👉 https://www.skool.com/elevate-english-6228/about?ref=77d17e9d6acf4bf1ae51158796ecaa0f

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Here is the next bonus football rambling episode on LEP. The group stage of FIFA World Cup 2026 is over and teams are now being eliminated in the round of 32. In this episode, which is roughly the same length as the average game at WC2026, I am joined by Zdenek from The Footglish Podcast. Expect discussion of styles of play in modern football, the changes introduced this year and their effects on the game - including VAR updates, time wasting measures, plus an overview of England today (30 June) and Czechia, who is the true GOAT - Messi? Who will get to 1000 first? Luke or Christiano Ronaldo? Plus various meme-worthy moments of weirdness and hilarity.

The Footglish Podcast 👉https://pod.link/1751816033

Contact Zdenek through his website https://teacherzdenek.com/

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/07/01/world-cup-ramble-2-fifa-2026-with-zdenek-bonus/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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There has been an awful heatwave in Europe recently, with really high temperatures and a humid, sticky atmosphere. In this episode I ramble about the conditions, explore vocabulary with the words "hot" and "heat" and show the typical things British people say when the weather is boiling. Expect various funny tangents, anecdotes and improvisations, including a David Attenborough BBC nature documentary about Luke trying to buy lunch on a red-hot Paris boulevard, and plenty more. PDF notes available.

Get the PDF with notes and full transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-to-talk-about-HEATWAVES-like-a-sweaty-British-man-995-PDF-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/29/how-to-talk-about-heatwaves-like-a-sweaty-british-man-995/

LEP Premium (new episodes coming) 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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What are the different English accents you can hear if you visit London? In this episode I am talking to Patricio from the YouTube channel Patricio Languages, who makes videos about diverse English accents from around the world. We talk about 4 specific accents that are native to his home town of London, namely Received Pronunciation, Cockney, Estuary English and Multicultural London English. We also chat about Patricio's study routines for learning Spanish and Portuguese.

So, plenty of insights about British English pronunciation, how to understand native English speakers, and some tips for language learning. Perfect topics for another episode of LEP, right? Full transcript available, and listen all the way to the end to hear me turn into a proper cockney geezer.

Check out Patricio's YouTube channel 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@PatricioLanguages

Get the episode transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/London-Accents-Study-Tips-with-Patricio-Languages-994TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/22/london-accents-study-tips-with-patricio-languages-994/

Sign up to LEP Premium for more episodes on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In this episode I am reconnecting with an old friend after over 25 years of not seeing each other. Jez Booker is from Solihull in the West Midlands and I first met him at 6th form college, where we became friends and later we got into a band together and had many adventures. Jez later went on to work in marketing and has recently started up his own YouTube channel all about getting out and enjoying the British countryside. Expect a chat full of natural English expressions and slang, and a journey into the past as Jez and I reminisce and also jog each other's memories of things that we did together years ago.

Check out Jez's channel "Get Out" @getoutfilms

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Music-Marketing-Memories-with-Jez-Booker-993-Episode-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/15/music-marketing-memories-with-jez-booker-993/

LEP Premium 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In 2009 I did a solo travelling experience around Vietnam, and I wrote a diary while I was there. In this episode, over 16 years later, I read out the diary, follow my descriptions of each part of my trip, explore how I was feeling at that time of my life, go off on some comedy and English teaching tangents, and take a journey into the past, across a very different country.

Get the episode transcript PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Vietnam-Travelling-Diary-992-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/08/vietnam-travelling-diary-992/

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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A bonus mid-week episode previewing the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America. I'll be talking about all the teams, the favourites, the underdogs, the wild cards, the dark horse teams, England's chances, plus various issues and controversies both on and off the pitch. Comments are welcome! This is a bonus episode, and you will get another normal episode (no football) on Monday.

Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BONUS-FIFA-WORLD-CUP-2026-PREVIEW-MEGARAMBLE.pdf

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/04/bonus-fifa-world-cup-2026-preview-megaramble/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[991] A conversation with English teacher / comedian / cake maker Kate Billington, talking about her academic qualifications, cutting edge subtitling technology for theatres, questions of teaching English including teaching in Taiwan vs in France, Kate's tips for language learning, a cat-village in Taiwan, traffic madness, earthquakes, signage in train stations, using flashcard apps to learn English, testing Kate's Chinese by making her translate jokes, and drinking coffee in Taipei! Just that! Check out P81 a premium episode with vocabulary review for this conversation.

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Coffee-Cats-Conversation_-900-Days-in-Taiwan-with-Kate-Billington-991.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/06/01/coffee-cats-conversation-kate-billingtons-900-day-streak-in-taiwan-991/

LEP Premium (with a vocabulary review for this episode) 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

👩‍🦰 Kate Billington on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cakey_comedy/

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An epic rambling episode packed with British humour, listener emails, anecdotes, English teaching, thoughts about AI, parenting, podcasting, language learning, YouTube comments, animals listening to LEP, British communication styles, and much more.

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAMBLEMAN_-Into-the-Ramble-zone-990_compressed.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/25/rambleman-into-the-ramble-zone-990/

Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

This is a long-form English listening experience designed to help you improve your English naturally through extensive listening. I explain vocabulary, break down expressions, tell stories & jokes, react to listener comments, and reflect on recent episodes featuring Amber, Paul, James, Charlie Baxter, my parents, my daughter, and more.

In this episode:

Why some people complain about Luke’s long intros

The truth about “rambling” and learning English through listening

British expressions like “shoot the breeze”, “chew the fat” and “talk the hind legs off a donkey”

Funny listener stories and emails

British indirectness and politeness

AI, YouTube algorithms and the future of content

Parenting, children asking “why?”, and a Louis CK routine

Wild boar in Fontainebleau 🐗

Funny dad jokes and Comedy Corner

Luke’s thoughts on recent episodes and the future of the podcast

Vocabulary explanations including “bothered” vs “disturbed”

Why long podcasts can help your English

This episode is ideal for:

Intermediate to advanced English learners

Fans of British English and British humour

Learners looking for long English listening practice

Anyone who enjoys relaxing podcasts, storytelling and rambling discussions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Luke’s English Podcast, I chat with my 8-year-old daughter as we answer a series of absurd questions, including funny Would You Rather...? questions, imaginative What if...?questions, food questions, science questions, superpowers, animals, fairy tales and more.

This is a natural, funny and heart-warming English conversation full of real spoken English, perfect for English learners who want to improve their listening skills, vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency.

📄 Get the PDF transcript for this episode

Use the transcript to check words, follow the conversation and study vocabulary from the episode.

👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Crazy-Questions-with-my-daughter-989-Questions-Episode-Transcript.pdf

🌐 Website page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/18/crazy-questions-with-my-daughter-989/

⭐ LEP Premium: https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[988] In this episode of Luke’s English Podcast, Luke and James discuss artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, the AI bubble, generative AI, AGI, automation, job displacement, tech startups, Silicon Valley culture, deep fakes, AI hallucinations, cryptocurrency, Blade Runner, and the future of work. This is a long-form British English conversation designed to help learners improve listening comprehension, vocabulary and fluency while exploring the hype, risks and promises surrounding AI technology.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/11/is-the-ai-bubble-bursting-technology-discussion-with-james-988/

PDF transcript and vocabulary glossary 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Is-the-AI-Bubble-Bursting_-Technology-Discussion-with-James-988-Transcript.pdf

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Are the massive predictions about AI and the future real, or just hype? Why does the tech industry push frightening narratives about AI and its effects on society? Will tech companies ever make a profit from the huge $$$ investments they have made in AI? How are ordinary people reacting to AI at the moment? How useful is it for Luke in his job? Do people really like or want what is produced by AI? Will AI ever reach super-intelligence? Is Harrison Ford actually a robot in the film Blade Runner? What disgusting thing did James eat for breakfast today? All these questions answered and discussed in rambling style by The Low Tech Bros - James and Luke. PDF transcript available with vocabulary glossary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[987] British English listening practice at a natural speed with surprising facts and lots of humour. Pod-pals Amber & Paul join me for an outlandish and outrageous "true or false" quiz 📝. Can Amber and Paul decide if these facts are true, or just total bulls#t (or maybe that should be bllocks?) The episode is long, the English is fast, but the jokes come regularly and I promise that you will learn something new.

⚠️Warning: some topics are a bit disgusting, graphic or explicit and not for the kids👧🙅.

Includes talk of satanic cats 🐈‍⬛, animal accents 🐐, unsexy corn flakes 🥣, wolverine toads 🐸, blood-shooting lizards🦎🩸, suicide sex-bees 🐝, British tank tea 🫖, astro pee 🛰️, urine mouthwash 😬, ancient dogs 🐕, 23-hour dinosaurs 🦕 and a lot more. Listen all the way to the end as things get incredible in the 2nd half. Transcript available.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/04/insane-facts-true-or-false-with-amber-paul-987/

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Insane-Facts_-True-or-False_-with-Amber-Paul-987-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Another short story on LEP to entertain you and help you learn some more English words and expressions. This one is a creepy tale about a room in a house with a strange, fatal attraction. People can't stop themselves going through the door, but then what happens to them? Follow along with me and try to understand the final, crucial line at the end. I will explain everything, analyse the vocabulary line by line and teach you plenty of useful English phrases. PDF available as usual!

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Bad-Room-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-986.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/04/27/the-bad-room-learn-english-with-a-short-story-986/

Sign up to LEP Premium for more vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation episodes from me 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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A funny British English conversation about food, cooking & eating habits, with my friend Martin. Why is British food a bit of a joke? Do French people have the right to criticise British cuisine? What is marmite, and why don't Brits just throw it away? What did Luke eat for lunch every single day during secondary school? And, who would be Luke's dream dinner party guests? All that and more, in a conversation full of tangents, recipes, rants and apologies, and a nice range of vocabulary expressions to spot. Enjoy! PDF Transcript available.

Sign up to LEP Premium to hear the vocabulary review for this episode with my wife 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/10-Questions-about-Food-with-Martin-985-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/04/20/10-questions-about-food-with-martin-985/

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[984] English listening practice in the form of an authentic conversation about ghosts and the paranormal. Returning guest Anna Brooke returns to talk about her latest book "Death by Chocolate" which is inspired by various spooky and unexplained experiences she has had recently, including a suspected haunting of her apartment, poltergeist activity, cold and creepy atmospheres, sightings of spirits and more strange encounters. Anna describes these experiences and we have a discussion about the paranormal. A premium episode with vocabulary review is available for premium subscribers. PDF transcript also available.

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Paranormal-Experiences-with-Anna-Brooke-984-Episode-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/04/13/paranormal-experiences-with-anna-brooke-984/

Learn 19 vocabulary items from this episode with Premium series 78 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuim

"Death by Chocolate" available now 👉 https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/books/death-by-chocolate/

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Practise your listening in English with a fascinating conversation with a writer of haiku poetry in English. John Stevenson is one of the world's leading English language haiku poets, and in this episode I had the pleasure of talking to him for an hour. John taught me more about haiku and senryu poetry, revealed how he first became interested in haiku, and then was willing to discuss various haiku poems he has written over the years, giving details of what real events inspired them, what they mean and more about his process of writing haiku in English. I hope this episode is fascinating and inspiring. Keep listening because it becomes more and more revealing as it continues. John was a pleasure to talk to and I think this is the perfect conclusion to the trilogy of episodes I have done on this subject on the podcast recently.

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/English-Language-Haiku-Master-John-Stevenson-Interview-983-Episode-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/04/06/english-language-haiku-master-john-stevenson-interview-983/

Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

"My Red" by John Stevenson available from Brooks Books 👉 https://www.brooksbookshaiku.com/Stevenson-MyRed.html

The Heron's Nest haiku website 👉 https://www.theheronsnest.com/March2026/index.html

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Haiku poems communicate a lot of ideas, thoughts and feelings into just a few simple words. They can be moving, humourous or meditative, and reading haiku in English allows you to learn vocabulary in a very interesting way. In part 1 I talked about the form and history of haiku, and read out various short poems in English from both Japanese writers and modern English ones. In part 2 here I finish reading my haiku selection, including many written by English-language haiku master John Stevenson. Listen to each one, consider the different meanings and interpretations and also learn specific words and phrases to expand your English vocabulary.

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Haiku-in-English-2-982-1.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/03/30/haiku-in-english-2/

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In this episode I discuss optimism and pessimism, what forms our outlook on life, which is healthier, how we talk about optimism and pessimism in English and which perspective helps you learn English more effectively. Expect some discussion, science, vocabulary, advice for learning English and a few jokes thrown in for good measure. PDF available.

Get the episode PDF (free) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Is-the-glass-half-empty-or-half-full_-Vocabulary-Discussion-891.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/03/23/is-the-glass-half-empty-or-half-full-vocabulary-discussion-891/

Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Practise listening to British English conversation and enjoy some complaining, ranting and funny anecdotes in this episode based on the concept of a popular BBC TV chat show. My guest is Charlie Baxter from The British English Podcast. Charlie has chosen 3 things which he wants to be locked inside the mythical "Room 101" 🚪 an imaginary place where all the things you hate in the world are stored forever. What would Charlie like to remove from the world to be kept inside this room? And what is the shocking info about a certain popular British English YouTuber 👩‍🏫 that could break the internet? 🤔

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Room-101-with-Charlie-Baxter-980-Episode-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/03/16/room-101-with-charlie-baxter-980-funny-british-english-listening-practice/

Listen to Luke's Room 101 choices on The British English Podcast this week 👉 https://pod.link/1533216336

Watch Luke on BEP (YouTube version) 👉 https://youtu.be/56jqC8Q88oc?si=Gy2w7udJsRR8yaVh

Sign up to LEP Premium for a vocab review for this episode 👉 https://lep.supercast.com

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Time to learn English with another short story on Luke's English Podcast. Listen to the story and my comments, then learn vocabulary as I break down the text line by line and teach you English in context. This time it is a funny little tale written by Saki - the English author and master of the short story. A mischievous lad is punished by his strict aunt, but who ends up having the last laugh?

Get the episode PDF with story text 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Lumber-Room-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-979.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/03/09/the-lumber-room-learn-english-with-a-short-story-979/

LEP Premium for episodes focusing on vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Following my chat with my mum last week, now it's my dad's turn! In this episode my plan was to ask my dad lots of questions about his life, and to listen to him talking about the various choices he has made, and experiences he has had, as well as details about his parents. The result is another deep chat about family history, and my dad's life story. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. Full transcript available.

Get the episode transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/My-dad-talks-about-his-life-978-Episode-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/03/02/my-dad-talks-about-his-life-978/

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[977] Recently I visited my parents at their home, and while I was there I took the time to record conversations with them both. This first one is with my mum. I asked her questions about her life story, our family history, her memories of growing up and so many other things that I was curious about. The result is this recording. I hope you will find that it is not only good for your English listening practice, but also fascinating and absorbing as a piece of personal history. Full transcript available.

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/My-mum-talks-about-her-life-977-Transcript.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/02/23/my-mum-talks-about-her-life-977/

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Here's an epic rambling episode in which I talk about learning English with BBC Radio and TV 📻 vocabulary expressions with the word 'thumb' 👍 the story of how I became a taxi driver on the streets of Paris 🚖 the grammar of Yoda 🐸 fantastic haikus written by my listeners ✍️ and getting pecked in the face by a swan 🦢. 3h30min+ of English listening and learning from me to you. #learnenglish #britishenglish #englishlistening

👉 Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/RAMBLEMANIA-3-Hours-of-English-Listening-Learning-with-Luke-976.pdf

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/02/16/ramblemania-3-hours-of-english-listening-learning-with-luke-976/

👉 Sign up to LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

👉 A Phrasal Verb a Day podcast https://apvad.libsyn.com/

📺 The Office UK - Big Keith's Appraisal https://youtu.be/IkYUDQCYGHA?si=T1Hz0VQ9HIrhLOSw

📺 Downton Abbey clup - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAnsGZCahlU

📺 Monty Python - The voice of God - https://youtu.be/z-iWe4qXUD8?si=za7e_XF3CsGjuDjm

LearnEnglish #BritishEnglish #EnglishListening

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What skills are involved in being a good writer? What makes a good piece of writing? How is writing different to speaking? What are the challenges faced by learners of English who want to write well, and what are some solutions to these challenges? How can AI help develop writing skills? And, what does it take to write your own book in English? These are all questions which I talk about in this episode, with the help of professional writer and returning guest Fabio Cerpelloni.

Get the PDF transcript & summary of main points 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/How-to-Write-Well-in-English-with-Fabio-Cerpelloni-975-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/02/09/how-to-write-well-in-english-with-fabio-cerpelloni975/

Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

🧔🏻 Fabio's website & blog 👉 www.fabiocerpelloni.com

📚 Fabio's books 👉 https://fabiocerpelloni.com/books/

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[974] In this episode I read out lots of haiku poems, explain their meaning, discuss what they make me think and feel, and use them to teach you some vocabulary. The haikus I read include some traditional Japanese ones translated into English, plus more modern ones written in English by writers from around the world. Some of these haikus are meditative, some are sad, some are funny and some find a way to capture feelings that are otherwise difficult to put into words.

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Haiku-in-English-974.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/02/02/haiku-in-english-974/

Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Back by popular demand, here is another Sherlock Holmes short story on LEP. This one tells the suspenseful tale of a young engineer 👷 who accepts a well-paid but mysterious job. In classic horror movie style, he ignores so many red flags 🚩 and warnings ⚠️ and ends up paying the price for it! But, can Holmes and Watson make sure that justice is served? I tell the story and explain some details and words along the way. Story text and summaries available on the episode PDF.

Get the PDF with story text, vocabulary list and vocabulary quiz here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/01/26/sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-engineers-thumb-learn-english-with-a-short-story-973/

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/01/26/sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-engineers-thumb-learn-english-with-a-short-story-973/

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[972] I talk with multilingual actor Ivan Doan about his multicultural background, his learning of languages and his work as an actor. Ivan shares his insights and experiences of learning English, dealing with different accents in film & TV roles, and the importance of mindset and discipline in his life. There are plenty of language learning insights in this episode, which I summarise at the end. Full transcript available.

Get the episode PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Identity-Mindset-Accents-Learning-English-with-Multilingual-Actor-Ivan-Doan-972-Transcript.pdf

Episode page with language learning insights 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/01/19/learning-english-accents-identity-mindset-with-multilingual-actor-ivan-doan/

Sign up to LEP Premium (20% off until 31.1.26) 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[971] Part 2 of 2. Here is the continuation of last week's episode about changes you can make to your lifestyle, mindset and habits in order to become a better learner of English in 2026. Each of these tips is backed up by scientific research from the fields of psychology and psycholinguistics, with insights into human behaviour and thinking processes that result in better learning. Full PDF available.

Get the episode PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/9-Science-based-Life-Hacks-to-Improve-your-English-Learning-Potential-PART-2-971.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/01/12/9-science-based-life-hacks-to-improve-your-english-learning-potential-part-2-971/

20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 (hurry hurry hurry) 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[970] Part 1 of 2. An English podcast about simple habits you can introduce in your life, to be in top condition for learning English all year long. This is all backed up by scientific research into how our brains work, how we learn language, and how little changes in our behaviour can help us perform better and achieve more in the time we are given. Includes top advice for preparing yourself to be a great learner of English in 2026. Part 2 will be available next week.

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/9-Science-based-Life-Hacks-to-Improve-your-English-Learning-Potential-PART-1-970-1.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/01/05/9-science-based-life-hacks-to-improve-your-english-learning-potential-part-1-970/

20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

learn English, English learning tips, English listening practice, English podcast,

British English, Luke’s English Podcast, language learning science,

learning habits, habit formation, neuroscience of learning,

improve your English, English fluency, ESL podcast,

1 percent rule, atomic habits, marginal gains,

new year habits, motivation for learning,

cognitive performance, how to learn English

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[969] It's time for the annual World News Quiz with 20 questions about some of the curious news stories of 2025. Stephen Devincenzi from the SEND7 podcast is the quizmaster. Can you I improve on my poor performance from last year? Can you beat me? Take a trip through some news highlights from this year. Full transcript available as usual.

⛑️ Donate to MSF today to help people in need https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WORLD-NEWS-QUIZ-2025-with-Stephen-from-SEND7-Podcast-969-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

🔗 Episode page with questions and answers 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/29/world-news-quiz-2025-with-stephen-from-send7-podcast-969/

🏆 20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 https://lep.supercast.com

🎧📰 Listen to SEND7 podcast here 👉 https://pod.link/1505603790

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[968] The Collins Dictionary Words of the Year is a list of 10 words which capture the cultural zeitgeist - the spirit of the times that we are living in now. These are new words, picked by Collins, which reflect big issues that people have been talking about over the last 12 months. In this conversation, Amber, Paul & I discuss the impact of AI, the ways social media is affecting people's behaviour, how people are using technology to control their health, the strange habits of tech leaders, and more. Pick up new words and listen to conversation about big issues in society. Full transcript available.

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/25/the-words-of-the-year-2025-with-amber-paul-968/

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Transcript-968-The-Words-of-the-Year-with-Amber-Paul-1.pdf

🏆 20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[967] A conversation in the podcastle with my pals Amber & Paul. In this one we chat about Paul's ambitious international marathon plans (what is he running from exactly?) what Amber knows about the famous robbery of the Louvre this year, and Paul's dramatic "Jason Bourne" situation which he faced in West Africa recently. Listen to some spontaneous conversation between friends in English. Full transcript available.

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/22/robbing-the-louvre-escaping-to-nigeria-with-amber-paul-967-catching-up-16/

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Transcript-967-Catching-Up-with-Amber-Paul-16.pdf

🏆 20% off LEP Premium until 31 January 2026 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[966] Here is a super-long seasonal rambling episode, which you can listen to while wrapping presents, finishing some last-minute gift shopping, or (if you don't celebrate Christmas) just doing whatever you normally do in December. This is a long one, but the more you listen, the more it will help your English! 💪🎅

📄 Get the PDF with all my notes here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Ramble-Before-Christmas-966-Episode-PDF.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/15/the-ramble-before-christmas-966-listen-learn-english-with-luke/

🏆 20% off LEP Premium in Dec & Jan https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

🎁 Give LEP Premium as a gift (also 20% off in Dec/Jan) https://lep.supercast.com/gifts/new

Join me as I chat to you in English for nearly 3 hours about:

LEPster listening habits in 2025 (Spotify Wrapped) 🎧
Messages and emails with funny stories from LEPsters 📧
Bits of grammar & vocabulary teaching ✍️
ChatGPT's questionable teaching skills 🤖🤔
AI hallucinations 😵‍💫
Dreaming in English 💭
Responses to recent episodes 💬
12 jokes dissected in the Comedy Corner 😂 🐸
More funny comments from my daughter 👧
Another dramatic Hollywood action movie screenplay 🎥

...and finally a vocabulary quiz for the whole episode. ✅

All of that in your Christmas stocking 🧦 this week, with cosy log fire background sounds 🔥 as well.

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[965] It is traditional to tell a scary story at Christmas time, so here is one for this year's festive season. The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood is a classic scary tale which will give you a chill, while you stay cosy and warm indoors this winter. Listen and I will explain a lot of vocabulary which comes up in the story.

Get the episode PDF with story text and word list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Kit-Bag-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-965.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/08/the-kit-bag-learn-english-with-a-short-story-965/

LEP Premium 20% off in Dec and Jan 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In this audio-only episode today you can join me at home as I potter around, and take time to relax while recording a rambling episode for you to enjoy. Enjoy the sounds of street noise outside, and my attempts to find the most comfortable spot in my flat where I can ramble about various things, including several robberies in Paris - one of which is the famous heist at the Louvre museum, where burglars broke in and stole precious jewels worth millions, in broad daylight. The other robbery was more painful - our own apartment, which was broken into earlier this year. Join me as I discuss all of these things and more. The video episode this week is a walk & talk in Paris.

Get the episode PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A-Cosy-Rambling-Episode-at-Home-964.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/01/a-cosy-rambling-episode-at-home-964-walk-talk-mission-in-montmartre/

Walk & Talk: Mission in Montmartre 📺 https://youtu.be/b0THApJaJTs

20% off LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[963] Emma Camara Ortega and I worked together as English teachers years ago, but since then Emma has become a licensed counsellor and therapist - helping people with their mental health. In this episode, Emma talks to me about what is involved in counselling, and we discuss some everyday habits to promote good mental health. This should be full of interesting insights and helpful tips for mental wellbeing, which is so vital for our general lives but also to help us learn as effectively as possible. Full transcript and vocabulary list available.

Get the PDF transcript & word list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Talking-Therapy-Mental-Health-Counselling-with-Emma-Camara-Ortega-963.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/11/24/talking-therapy-mental-health-counselling-with-emma-camara-ortega-963/

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Emma Camara Ortega in the UK Counselling Directory 👉 https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/emma-camara-ortega

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[962] Time for another short story on LEP. This one is about a man who has a wondrous experience as a child, which then haunts him for the rest of his adult life. Listen as I read the story to you, and then ramble about its meaning, interpretations and how it evoked some strong memories and strange feelings in me. Then there is a vocabulary review which will continue in an upcoming premium series.

Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Door-in-the-Wall-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-962.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/11/17/the-door-in-the-wall-learn-english-with-a-short-story-962/

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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[961] Emma Jakobi is the host of MmmEnglish on YouTube, and now the online community Hey Lady! In this episode Emma joins me for a chat about living on the remote Western coast of Australia, "blowing up" on YouTube, her decision to step away from MmmEnglish to focus on Hey Lady! Also, her thoughts on the rise of AI, and some fun facts about singing in the shower, her vintage Lexus car and her phobias of public speaking (surprising) and leeches (understandable). Full transcript available.

Get the episode transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Emma-from-MmmEnglish-and-Hey-Lady-961-Transcript-1.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/11/10/emma-from-mmmenglish-and-hey-lady-961/

Emma's Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mmmenglish_emma/

Hey Lady! website 👉 https://www.heylady.io/join

Hey Lady! IG 👉 https://www.instagram.com/hey_lady_community/

Hey Lady! YT 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@heyladyenglish

MmmEnglish on YouTube 👉 @mmmEnglish_Emma

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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A particularly useful and interesting episode for you today - a conversation about English words which are very similar, but crucially, not the same. My guest Eli Burnstein is the author of “Dictionary of Fine Distinctions” - a book which aims to bring clarity to English words. Expect a funny discussion about subtle shades of meaning between words like poison & venom, accuracy & precision, envy & jealousy and many others. Eli is Canadian, now living in London and so he also shares some key features of Canadian English.

📄 Get the PDF transcript https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Fine-Distinctions-Subtle-Shades-of-Meaning-with-Eli-Burnstein-960.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/11/03/fine-distinctions-subtle-shades-of-meaning-with-eli-burnstein-960/

🏆 LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

📗 Get the book in the UK https://www.waterstones.com/book/dictionary-of-fine-distinctions/eli-burnstein/9781805227229

📘 Buy the book from Profile Books https://profilebooks.com/work/dictionary-of-fine-distinctions/

📙 Also available on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-Fine-Distinctions-Nuances-Niceties/dp/180522722X/

🧔‍♂️ https://www.eliburnstein.com/

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People keep asking me in comments, "How can I learn English with your podcast?" so in this episode I am answering that question as simply, directly and efficiently as possible. Expect advice about improving your English across the 4 skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, and the language systems of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and discourse management. PDF available.

📄 Get the PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/How-to-learn-English-with-my-podcast-959.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/10/27/how-to-learn-english-with-my-podcast-959/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Sign up to LEP Premium here 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

If you have ever wondered what happens in premium episodes, this episode will show you. I'll play you some clips from the latest series (P71) including some vocabulary explanations, memory quiz questions, pronunciation practice and discussion questions for speaking practice. For the rest of the series, and all the other episodes of LEP Premium (now over 250, each with PDF worksheets and video versions) sign up and become a Premium LEPster today 🏆 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

📄 Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/A-Free-Sample-of-LEP-Premium-Series-71-_-Vocabulary-Pronunciation-958.pdf

🔗 Website page for this episode 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/10/20/a-free-sample-of-lep-premium-series-71-vocabulary-pronunciation-958/

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How many words are there in English? How many do you really need to know? And how many words have I spoken on this podcast? 🧐 Also, what is shadowing, and how should you do it? Can you do episodes about different English accents? What are your top 10 countries for this podcast? In this episode of Luke’s English Podcast, I answer listener questions about vocabulary size, English accents, the shadowing technique and more. PDF available with transcript and vocabulary list.

📄 Get the PDF with transcript and vocab list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/More-Questions-of-English-Listener-Comments-_-Bits-Bobs-5-957.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/10/13/more-questions-of-english-listener-comments-bits-bobs-5-957/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium for more lessons on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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My brother James joins me again on the podcast for a rambling chat about diverse topics such as: trousers 👖 sandwiches 🥪 gangster films 🍿 the work of Edgar Allan Poe 📖 vinyl and cassettes 🎵 memories of living together 🎮 annoying behaviour 😤 and English words and grammar that irritate people 😠 plus James has a new vinyl EP out now on Ooz records. Transcript available 📄.

🎧 Get OOZ004 - James' new vinyl EP 👉 https://oozrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ooz004

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Thompson-Originals-A-Chat-with-My-Brother-956-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/10/06/thompson-originals-a-chat-with-my-brother-956/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium for extra episodes about vocab, grammar, pronunciation 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In episode 949 I did an online test which claimed to be for C1 level, but let's be honest - it was more like an intermediate level, the questions were rubbish and it was ultimately a useless scam. This time I'm taking a proper C1 English test - the Use of English section from a Cambridge CAE exam. Let's see what is required to pass this, and what bits of English you can learn from it.

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lets-take-a-REAL-C1-English-Test-CAE-Use-of-English-955.pdf

🔗 Website page for this episode 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/09/29/lets-take-a-real-c1-english-test-cae-use-of-english-955/

🏆 LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

🎧 Listen to my podcast in an app on your phone 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/links

What is the pass mark for this CAE test?

I forgot to add that the pass mark is 60% for this test, which means you must get a minimum of about 22/36 in the Use of English section (that's 14 lost points). Could you do it? Bear in mind that this is only a part of the whole test, and you'd need to get at least 60% across all 4 sections (also including listening, writing and speaking).

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The Pod-Pals are back on the podcast for another catching up session! Recorded just after the summer holidays, there is talk of Paul's hatred of the beach 🏖️, the English tradition of building epic sandcastles 🏰, other famous people with our names (including an "evil" teacherluke 👿) and what AI gets completely wrong about us 🤦. PDF transcript available. (a.k.a Catching Up with Amber & Paul #15)

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Transcript-Holiday-Hell-Serious-Sandcastles-AI-Inbreeding-with-Amber-Paul-954-2.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/09/22/holiday-hell-serious-sandcastles-ai-inbreeding-with-amber-paul-954/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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My 7-year-old daughter joins me again as co-host in this fun episode. We play "Would you rather?", a conversation game in which we ask each other ridiculous questions about various hypothetical situations. Enjoy listening to another cute and funny chat with my daughter, which covers topics such as food, world peace, wealth, fame, success and Inspector Gadget.

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/A-game-of-Would-You-Rather_-with-my-daughter-953-TRANSCRIPT-1.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/09/15/a-game-of-would-you-rather-with-my-daughter-953/

🏆 LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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A description of my recent family holiday to Norway 🇳🇴 including rambling about how I can't stand beach holidays 🏖️, chasing my son around different international airports 🏃, visiting Oslo ⛴️, Bergen 🏠, fjords 🚤 and mountains 🏔️. Edward Munch's The Scream 😱, staying in a cabin with no hot water, shower or washing machine, swimming in a freezing lake 🥶, catching a trout 🎣 and driving an electric Jaguar 🐆(that's a car). Includes a PDF with vocabulary in context, definitions, full transcript, and vocabulary quiz.

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/The-Trip-to-Norway-_-Learn-Vocabulary-in-Context-952.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/09/08/the-trip-to-norway-learn-vocabulary-in-context-952/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Dealing with some questions from listeners about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary, namely how to know when 'd is had or would (in writing and pronunciation), the curious origins of the word podcast and a vocabulary lesson about the word cast including various collocations and phrases which include this morpheme (that means a part of a word, not some kind of shape-shifting alien). More groundbreaking and genre-defying content to grace your earphones, and not boring grammar stuff at all, not even a little bit, no, no way, not here.

Get the PDF here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Questions-of-English-Listener-Comments-Bits-Bobs-4.pdf

Website page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/09/01/questions-of-english-listener-comments-bits-bobs-4-951/

Subscribe to LEP Premium for more of this kind of thing https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Peter, my old flatmate from Japan, is back on the podcast after his previous appearance 11 years ago! We chat about travelling experiences, teaching English in Malaysia and Japan, dealing with jet lag and culture shock, doing stand-up comedy abroad, and some of the funny, strange, and even weird experiences we’ve had while travelling. A relaxed, wide-ranging conversation full of stories, laughs, and cultural insights.

Get the full PDF transcript here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Flatmate-from-Japan-Returns-Travelling-Tales-More-950-TRANSCRIPT-.pdf

Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/08/25/the-flatmate-from-japan-returns-travelling-tales-more-950/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In this episode I take a typical multiple choice grammar test that you can find online, explain the answer to each question and give mini grammar lessons along the way. I also discuss what makes a good test of your English, and what good and bad level tests do. Learn more about grammar, and about how to check your language level.

📄 Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Lets-take-a-C1-English-Grammar-Test-and-critique-it.pdf

🔗 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/08/18/lets-take-a-c1-grammar-test-and-critique-it-949/

🏆 LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In this fun and practical episode I dive into realistic workplace English through improvised role-play conversations. Designed to help you boost your vocabulary, listening skills, and confidence in professional settings, this episode features six humorous and educational role-play scenarios in workplaces like a factory, office, supermarket, and a shop. Listen to me improvising with ChatGPT and see if it can keep up with some ridiculous ideas, and learn some useful practical English in the process.

📄 Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Workplace-Role-Plays-_-Scenarios-for-Practical-English-948.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/08/11/workplace-role-plays-scenarios-for-practical-english-948/

🏆 LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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This episode is all about choices we have to make relating to technology in our everyday lives, and the vocabulary of technology today. This episode focuses on issues such as information quality & fact checking, digital sustainability, AI and automation, security, surveillance and privacy, tech company ethics, & tech and well-being. All important topics which you should be able to talk about in English! PDF available. Part 2 of 2.

📄 Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Technology-in-Everyday-Life-Part-2-The-Choices-We-Make-_-Topic-Discussion-Vocabulary-947.pdf

🔗 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/08/04/technology-in-everyday-life-part-2-the-choices-we-make-topic-discussion-vocabulary-947/

🏆 LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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This episode is all about choices we have to make relating to technology in our everyday lives. I'll be discussing contemporary tech-related issues such as privacy vs. convenience, data sharing, digital, detox, online behaviour, digital legacy, tech addiction, tech for children. It includes loads of vocabulary and will give you the chance not only to listen to me talking, but also to practise your speaking on this subject too. PDF available. Part 1 of 2.

📄 Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Technology-in-Everyday-Life-Part-1-The-Choices-We-Make-_-Topic-Discussion-Vocabulary-946.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/07/28/technology-in-everyday-life-part-1-the-choices-we-make-topic-discussion-vocabulary-946/

🏆 LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Sometimes it is fine to laugh at the mistakes that we make in English (I do it in French) and so in this episode let's look at some English errors that are unintentionally hilarious. I will correct the errors, explain what is funny, and there is a lot of vocabulary to learn in the process. PDF available with vocabulary list and memory questions.

📄 Get the episode PDF with vocabulary list and memory questions https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Funny-English-Errors-Corrected-945.pdf

🔗 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/07/21/funny-english-errors-corrected-945/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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In this episode I take you on a big rambling journey through all sorts of English-learning goodness (and nonsense). We start by pondering what makes a good podcast title — is it clever, clickbait, or just clear? I reveal a monumental tectonic shift in the way I am titling my episodes. Then it’s into the Grammar Zone, with an in-depth look at English narrative tenses. Then I reveal LukeGlish.com, a custom search tool that lets you explore my entire podcast content by words and phrases. And, there’s the Comedy Corner, where I break down some English jokes and wordplay, dissecting the frog.

📄 Get the PDF transcript here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Listen-Learn-English-with-Luke-This-is-SOMETHING-944-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/07/14/listen-learn-english-with-luke-this-is-something-944/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium here https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

👉 Subscribe for more episodes about learning English, grammar, vocabulary and British culture.

👉 Leave a comment with your favourite part of the episode or a question for me to answer next time.

🎧 Listen, relax and improve your English naturally with Luke’s English Podcast.

✨ Explore my podcast archive at https://teacherluke.co.uk/episodes

🕵️‍♂️ Try out LukeGlish to search all my podcast content by words and phrases: https://LukeGlish.com

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Time for another Sherlock Holmes mystery story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on the podcast, because: Why not? I have adapted the text into modern English this time. A champion racehorse 🐎 has gone missing, and its trainer violently murdered. Only Sherlock Holmes can find the solution 🕵️. Listen to the events, follow my summaries and simply enjoy another story on Luke's English Podcast. PDF available 📄.

Episode page with PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/07/07/943-sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-silver-blaze-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

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Improve your English and reduce stress with this unique ASMR-style episode ☁️ 🧘. Join me for a relaxing, meditative journey featuring calm background music, softly spoken English, vocabulary for peace and tranquillity, some grammar practice, and gentle humour. Designed to help you learn English naturally while calming your mind, this episode is ideal for listening in bed, during quiet study, or or on a peaceful walk. Includes ambient music by my brother Jim Thompson. ASMR English, learn English while relaxing, calming English podcast, mindfulness, ESL listening practice with humour. Episode transcript available.

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/942.-The-ASMR-Zen-School-of-English-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/06/30/942-the-asmr-zen-school-of-english-learn-english-and-relax/

🎧 "Ambient Anthology" by Jim Thompson 👉 https://jimthompson.bandcamp.com/album/ambient-anthology

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Learn English with a short story on LEP. In this episode I am reading "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" by HG Wells (adapted into modern English). First you can listen to the story, then I summarise it again in my own words, discuss my interpretations of its meaning, explain how you can use stories like this to improve your English, and teach some vocabulary which came up.

📄 Get the PDF with story text, notes and vocabulary list here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/941.-The-Man-Who-Could-Work-Miracles-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-PDF.pdf

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium to get all vocabulary explanations for this story in premium series P69 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/06/23/941-the-man-who-could-work-miracles-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

📖 Read the original (unadapted) story text here 👉 https://revistaliterariakatharsis.org/manmiracles.pdf

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Here is the second part of this double episode all about great things to see and do while in London 🇬🇧. Listen to my friends and family talking about the city 🏙️, learn some fascinating bits of history 🔥, get inside tips 🗺️ and learn some vocabulary in the process.

📄 Get the episode PDF with transcript, recommendation summaries & vocabulary list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/940.-Our-favourite-things-to-do-in-London-Part-2-Transcript.pdf

📺 Watch "Walk & Talk: London 🇬🇧" on YouTube 👉 https://youtu.be/Rd8Auzn-KfI

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/06/09/940-our-favourite-things-to-do-in-london-part-2/

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Here is part 1 of a double episode about London 🇬🇧 and great things you can see and do there 🎡. Listen to my friends and family describing their favourite things to do in the city 🍻, get some travel tips 🏙️, get a mini history lesson 🏛️, and learn some vocabulary in the process.

📄 Get the episode PDF with transcript, recommendation summaries & vocabulary list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/939.-Our-favourite-things-to-do-in-London-Part-1-Transcript.pdf

📺 Watch "Walk & Talk: London 🇬🇧" on YouTube 👉 https://youtu.be/Rd8Auzn-KfI

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/06/09/939-our-favourite-things-to-do-in-london-part-1/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A return to Luke's Film Club with a conversation about one of the funniest and most controversial films of all time, also voted one of the UK's favourite films. Antony and I discuss the film's writing, production, story, famous scenes, deeper meanings and acting by the various members of the Monty Python team. Transcript available.

📄 Get the PDF transcript here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/938.-Film-Club_-Monty-Pythons-Life-of-Brian-with-Antony-Rotunno.pdf

🔗 Website page with links to previous Monty Python episodes 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/06/03/938-film-club-monty-pythons-life-of-brian-with-antony-rotunno/

Links for Antony’s Podcasts 👇

Glass Onion: On John Lennon https://pod.link/1473867166 (A deep dive into the life and complex psychology of John Lennon)

Film Gold https://pod.link/1544641271 (Discussions about favourite films)

Life & Life Only https://pod.link/1549021296 (All about the search for inner and outer truth)

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It's my birthday 🥳 so join me for a relaxed and light-hearted ramble, first with some comments about recent episodes and other podcast housekeeping, and then a series of talking points with the Spinning Wheel of Random Questions ☸️ including bits about how being an English teacher affects my social interactions 💬, the infamous ice-cream wars of Ice-Cream Island 🏝️, leading an army of English learners into battle on the back of an Elephant 🐘, the title of my (hypothetical) autobiography 📖, and my age revealed at the end of the episode. Full transcript available 📄.

📄 Get the PDF with transcript and questions 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/937.-A-Birthday-Ramble-_-The-Spinning-Wheel-of-Random-Questions-PDF-.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/05/27/937-a-birthday-ramble-the-spinning-wheel-of-random-questions

🏆 Sign up for LEP Premium 👉 https://lep.supercast.com

👕 LEP Merch 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

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In this episode, I’m joined by Alastair Budge from Leonardo English to explore how you can use AI tools like ChatGPT to boost your English, especially when combined with podcasts. We go through specific, practical ways to actively engage with podcast content using AI — improving your listening, vocabulary, grammar, writing, and even speaking. Alastair shares a set of very useful prompts and techniques you can try out straight away, and we discuss the pros and cons of using AI for language learning. There's also a bit of fun as I try chatting with an AI version of myself. Download the free PDF in the show notes for all the prompts and ideas we mentioned, plus a full transcript.

📄 Get the PDF with all prompts and transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/936.-How-AI-Can-Boost-Your-English-with-LEP-feat.-Alastair-Budge.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/05/19/936-how-ai-can-boost-your-english-with-lep-feat-alastair-budge/

🏆 Sign up to LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

🎧 Leonardo English 👉 https://www.leonardoenglish.com/

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This episode is all about the exciting topic of driving, getting stuck in traffic jams, the future of our roads and how self-driving cars might be the solution. What is so annoying about traffic jams? Why do they even happen in the first place? Have you seen your first self-driving car yet? Will they solve our driving problems, or not? The episode is full of anecdotes, analysis, opinions and plenty of vocabulary. PDF available with notes, vocabulary list & vocabulary quiz.

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/935.-Terrible-Traffic-Jams-Self-Driving-Cars-Topic-Vocabulary.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/05/12/935-terrible-traffic-jams-self-driving-cars-topic-vocabulary/

🏆 LEP Premium 👉 https//www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Have you ever wondered about sign language, how it works and if it is similar to other languages like English? In this conversation I speak to Siobhan Dodd who is a sign language interpreter between English and BSL (British Sign Language). Siobhan is an enthusiastic and entertaining guest and we have a great chat about the nature of sign language, the challenges & opportunities faced by the deaf community today, and some of Siobhan's memorable interpreting experiences, such as working at the Glastonbury music festival.

📄 PDF Transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/934.-Sign-Language-is-Fascinating-with-Siobhan-Dodd.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/05/06/934-sign-language-is-fascinating-with-siobhan-dodd

🏆 LEP Premium 👉 https://lep.supercast.com

📸 Siobhan on Instagram 👉 https://www.instagram.com/unclesiobhan/

🎧 Siobhan's Podcast (The Following Through Podcast) 👉 https://pod.link/1797539101

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Hello! In this episode I focus on English expressions and idioms that originated in the works of William Shakespeare and are still used in modern everyday language. Notice the expressions in various contexts, fully understand their meanings and use, explore their origins in Shakespeare's work, and gain valuable lessons about how to learn new vocabulary with real world examples. Also, learn about my short-lived career as a goalkeeper for the legendary football team "Chadwick FC".

Includes a PDF worksheet and transcript.

📄 Get the PDF here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/933.-The-Best-English-Expressions-are-from-Shakespeare-_-Learn-English-Vocabulary.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/04/29/933-the-best-english-expressions-are-from-shakespeare-learn-english-vocabulary/

🏆 LEP PREMIUM https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

☕️ LEP MERCH https://www.redbubble.com/people/lepluke/shop

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In this episode I talk to my parents about the topic of William Shakespeare. We discuss the enduring appeal and significance of William Shakespeare's work, biographical details of his life, the key themes in Shakespeare’s plays, and the impact of his language on modern English. We try to explain the qualities that make Shakespeare great, using examples from plays like Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth.

We also consider the challenges of understanding Shakespeare and suggest ways for newcomers to engage with his plays, such as watching film adaptations.

Enjoy a conversation about this important figure in English language and culture, with two other important figures - my mum and dad!

PDF available with transcript, vocabulary list and vocabulary quiz. Premium listeners - watch out for a language review of this episode coming soon, in P68 "Learn English with Shakespeare" parts 1 & 2.

📄 Get the PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/932.-What-is-so-great-about-Shakespeare-with-Mum-Dad.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/04/21/what-is-so-great-about-shakespeare-with-mum-dad/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode features a conversation with Zdenek about fears and anxieties experienced in everyday life. We explore common fears such as driving, flying, culture shock, language learning and public speaking, plus vocabulary we use to talk about the subject. Listen for stories of Luke's fear of Paris cafes, airport anxiety, Luke's dramatic scooter ride in Nha Trang, Zdenek's fears of Vietnamese roads and driving, Luke's recent cycling accident in Paris, Zdenek's encounter with a London police officer, nerves about teaching, and more.

The accompanying PDF worksheet offers a vocabulary list from the conversation, with definitions, examples, and quizzes and a full transcript to help you boost your English with the episode.

📄 Get the PDF here (lucky you - it's very expensive but you can have it completely free) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/931.-Overcoming-Fears-with-Zdenek.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/04/14/931-overcoming-fears-with-zdenek/

⚽️ The Footglish Podcast (Learn English with Football) 👉 https://pod.link/1751816033

💬 Zdenek's Discord server "The Achiever's Chamber" 👉 https://teacherzdenek.com/?page_id=2816

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This episode is about the bizarre and funny questions that people input into Google. I explore and answer some of these questions, explaining some vocabulary. The result is an engaging and intellectually light-hearted discussion involving the usual mix of rambling, and English teaching. The episode covers a range of topics, from personal health, sex and relationships to broader existential and practical issues, with some diverse and absurd moments. The language style is a mix of informal slang and neutral high-frequency vocabulary related to personal matters and common problems. I hope you enjoy it! PDF available with a full transcript and vocabulary list.

📄 Get the episode PDF (transcript, vocabulary list) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/930.-Can-I-eat-my-cat-other-weird-Google-questions-answered.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/04/07/930-can-i-eat-my-cat-weird-google-questions-answered-topics-vocabulary/

🏆 LEP PREMIUM 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Sarah Donnelly comes back onto LEP to catch up and to tell us about her stand-up special, now available to watch on YouTube, and to do a British English vs American English pronunciation quiz.

Sarah’s show is called The Only American in Paris and we discuss some of the themes of the show - the real experience of being a US citizen living in Paris, the Netflix show Emily in Paris, cultural differences, learning French, plus a pronunciation quiz to help you compare UK and US English.

📼 Watch Sarah's stand-up show here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2_N_CRoRz0&ab_channel=SarahDonnelly @sarahdcomedy

📄 Get the episode PDF with quiz questions and full transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/929.-Sarah-Donnelly_-The-Only-American-In-Paris-US-vs-UK-Accent-Quiz.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/03/31/929-sarah-donnelly-the-only-american-in-paris/

🏆 Sign up for LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Learn English with another short story on Luke's English Podcast. This one is about a learner of English who has an extraordinary experience. Listen to me tell the story, and summarise it, then explain plenty of natural, commonly occurring, up-to-date English vocabulary.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/03/24/928-the-abduction-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

Get the PDF with transcript and vocabulary notes 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/928.-The-Abduction-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-1-1.pdf

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Finally, it's here - the medieval museum episode with Amber & Paul. Join us as we visit the museum of the middle ages in Paris. Learn about the history of the middle ages, find out about some of the art and artefacts from that period, including some fantastic symbolic tapestries, sculptures and weapons, and have fun with a few jokes along the way.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/03/17/927-walk-talk-medieval-museum-with-amber-paul-kyle/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The other day I was thinking about how podcasts must be good for your mental health, and how this could be connected to the tradition of collective oral communication which was the first form of mass media in most human civilisations, and how this has been central to human psychological and cultural development over the years. So, I made this podcast episode about it. Expect discussion of culture, history, psychology and communication, with plenty of vocabulary explained. Detailed PDF available.

Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/926.-Oral-Storytelling-Traditions-and-the-Mental-Health-Benefits-of-Listening-to-Podcasts.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/03/11/926-oral-storytelling-traditions-and-the-mental-health-benefits-of-listening-to-podcasts/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Walaa was first on this podcast in episode 703 she talked about living in Syria as a student during the civil war (or people’s revolution) but at that time she felt she could not talk in detail about the situation. Now that the Assad regime is no longer in control of Syria, Walaa feels she can talk more candidly about what it was like to live near Damascus during those days. Walaa’s descriptions are both shocking and moving. This is the topic of this episode, which is part 2 of a two-part series.

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/03/06/925-walaas-experience-in-syria-walaa-mouma-returns-part-2/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Walaa Mouma returns to the podcast after 4 years to give us an update about her academic studies and personal story, including getting married and moving to Wales, details of her PhD doctorate, as well as her other studies and volunteer work helping to teach English to refugees and asylum seekers. Walaa's passion for this work is inspired by her own personal story of learning English, seeking asylum in the UK and studying in the UK's academic system, which she first talked about in episode 703 of this podcast. Part 1 of a 2-part episode.

Episode page with more information and links to Walaa's social media 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/03/03/924-walaa-mouma-returns-part-1-phd-studies-in-wales-teaching-english-for-refugees/

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A rambling episode full of spontaneous speaking from me to you. Topics include; an exercise for you to practise your spoken fluency 🗣️, the benefits of extensive listening to spontaneous speech 🎧, overcoming mental blocks 🌳, the English of my daughter and raising our kids to be bilingual 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, some reactions to recent episodes 🙉, some thoughts about upcoming content 🔮, some bird-related idioms 🐦, the phrasal verb "to follow through" including its rude meaning 💩 ...and more! PDF transcript available.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/02/23/923-a-rambling-exercise-for-fluency-late-winter-2025/

Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/923.-A-Rambling-Exercise-for-Fluency-_-Late-Winter-2025-Transcript.pdf

LEP Premium info ℹ️ https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amber joins me for a discussion of some words which reflect various cultural movements of the last 12 months or more. Learn some trending words and listen to discussions of topics such as the influence of online content on mental health, the Oasis concert ticket scandal, an exploration of the 'lore' of LEP, romantic fantasy books, the rise of AI and more. Includes a PDF with my episode notes and vocabulary lists.

The Oxford Words of the Year is a shortlist of words chosen by OUP because they saw a significant increase in usage in 2024 and because they represent certain cultural moments of recent times.

📄 Get the episode PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/922.-Words-of-the-Year-with-Amber.pdf

Episode page on my website (with links for previous episodes) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/02/17/922-words-of-the-year-with-amber/

The Oxford Words of the Year (OUP website) 👉 https://corp.oup.com/word-of-the-year/

LEP Premium information ℹ️ https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign into your premium account 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/account

Sign up for LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Ian Moore returns to the podcast to talk about his career shift from stand up comedy to writing "cosy" crime novels. After several decades as a professional stand-up comedian, Ian has transitioned to writing murder mysteries. Now he is a bestselling author and his books are being adapted for television. In this episode Ian talks about ending his stand-up comedy career, why he was not suited for life as the host of a guesthouse, writing books on trains, and why his COVID lockdown was actually great.

🔗 Episode page on teacherluke.co.uk 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/02/10/921-from-comedy-to-cosy-crime-with-ian-moore/

📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/921.-From-Comedy-to-Cosy-Crime-with-Ian-Moore.pdf

📚 Ian's books 👉 https://www.ianmoore.info/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you know more animal vocabulary than my 6-year-old daughter? Find out in this episode which covers over 60 items of vocabulary for describing animals, their body parts, habitats and behaviour. I am joined by my daughter for a quiz and chat about different kinds of animals. PDF available with quiz questions, vocabulary review & more.

Episode page with PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/02/03/919-animal-vocabulary-quiz-with-my-daughter/

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Another fun chat with my friends Amber Minogue & Paul Taylor. This one was recorded in early January and we talk about running & fitness 🏃, falling out of bed 🛏️, my phone's battery issues 🪫, our Christmas meals 🍗, Amber's family bingo game 😅, Paul's horrendous Christmas rat story & some rat facts 🐀, insights into the lives of urban pigeons and country cats 🐈, handheld microphone technique 🎤 and Paul's lovely new jumper (or is it a sweater, or a pullover?)

No homework and no PDF this time.

Just enjoy keeping up with this conversation and catching up with Amber & Paul once again.

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/01/27/919-catching-up-with-amber-paul-14/

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It's time for another classic Sherlock Holmes mystery story by Arthur Conan Doyle on the podcast. This time it is The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle - a case of a stolen gemstone! 💎 My aim here is to help you to understand and enjoy the story. I’ll read the original text to you, and will explain and summarise what is happening regularly. Just relax, listen carefully and try to enjoy this classic story. PDF available.

👉 Get the PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/918.-Sherlock-Holmes_-The-Adventure-of-The-Blue-Carbuncle-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story.pdf

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/01/20/918-sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-blue-carbuncle-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a listener-generated episode, meaning that the content is mostly written by listeners of this podcast. In this one I read out various comments and messages from listeners who have improved their English with the podcast. They describe the progress they've made and how they did it. Expect lots of success stories and plenty of advice for improving your English in 2025.

Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/917.-Listener-Stories-How-LEP-has-helped-my-listeners-with-their-English-Success-Advice.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/01/13/917-listener-stories-how-lep-has-helped-my-listeners-with-their-english-%e2%98%85-success-advice/

LEP Premium info 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lengthy New Year's message about how to improve your English through consistent podcast listening. This episode details how regular listening improves comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary, and fluency, incorporating listener testimonials and tips, with some specific advice about how to push your English with this podcast.

Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/916.-Learning-English-in-2025-with-Lukes-English-Podcast-.pdf

Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/01/06/916-learning-english-in-2025-with-lukes-english-podcast/

Listen to the audio podcast 👉 https://pod.link/312059190

My phrasal verb podcast 👉 https://pod.link/895725104

LEP Premium info 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me for a quiz about some curious stories from the news this year (2024). Stephen Devincenzi from the SEND7 Podcast is the quizmaster for the third year running, and has prepared questions that will test my knowledge of some of the slightly less serious global news stories this year. Can you beat me in the quiz? Listen to find out.

🔗 Episode page (with quiz questions) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/29/915-the-world-news-quiz-2024-with-stephen-from-send7-podcast/

🎧 Listen to SEND7 Podcast 👉 https://pod.link/1505603790

⛑️ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Consider donating to help people in need of medical aid this year 👉 https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An end-of-year rambling episode with some seasonal good wishes 🎄, comments on recent episodes 🎧, an update about upcoming content 📲, anecdotes about seeing Paul McCartney live in concert 🎸, playing music at the British Ambassador's residence 🇬🇧 and visiting the British Library in London 📚, lots of library jokes (explained) 😂 and a vocabulary review at the end 🙇‍♂️. PDF available.

Send your answers to my questions here luketeacher@hotmail.com (1. How has LEP helped your English? 2. Do you have any tips for improving your English with LEP?)

📄 Get the PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/914.-A-Midwinter-Ramble-❅-Lukes-English-Podcast.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/24/914-a-midwinter-ramble-lukes-english-podcast/

💻 Sign into your Acast+ account (LEP Premium) 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/account

⭐️ LEP Premium info 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to a short story and learn some useful English vocabulary in the process. This one is called The Snowman - a mysterious winter tale about a creepy snowman which appears outside a cabin in a remote forest. Follow the story, and learn plenty of descriptive vocabulary.

📄 Get the PDF (story text, vocabulary notes, vocabulary list) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/913.-The-Snowman-⛄️-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/17/913-the-snowman-learn-english-with-a-short-story

📼 Animated Horror Flicks on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@AnimatedHorrorFlicks

🏆 LEP Premium info 👉 www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part three of a series featuring collected bits & bobs for the podcast, with mini-lessons on vocabulary and grammar. Topics include listener comments on listening twice, a joke about double negatives & sarcasm, staying safe while listening to LEP in the car, the phrase "don't be shy, give it a try," fun facts about Paraguay, and a Quentin Tarantino eggcorn. Learn English with LEP!

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/912.-Bits-Bobs-3-Questions-of-English-Part-3-More-Listener-Comments.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/10/912-bits-bobs-3-questions-of-english-part-3-more-listener-comments

🏆 LEP Premium info 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Part 2 of 2) Let's continue where we stopped in the last episode, by going through the rest of my list of funny English signs 🪧 from around the world. These signs are badly-written and have unintentionally funny double meanings. I will read out the signs, then explain what is funny and offer corrections to make the signs clearer. I will also explain vocabulary in the process. PDF available.

📄 Get the PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/911.-FUNNY-ENGLISH-SIGNS-Explained-Part-2.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/03/911-funny-english-signs-explained-part-2

🏆 LEP Premium info 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's look at some funny examples of badly-worded signs from around the world (including UK & USA), which show the ambiguity and unintended consequences of unclear English. I analyse lots of signs, explaining the errors and offering improved versions, using them as teaching moments to illustrate grammatical and vocabulary points. The episode also features vocabulary explanations and corrections for the poorly written signs.

📄 Get the PDF with notes and detailed vocabulary list 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/910.-FUNNY-ENGLISH-SIGNS-Explained-Part-1-Lukes-English-Podcast-teacherluke.co_.uk_.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/11/26/910-funny-english-signs-explained-part-1/

🇻🇳 LEP Meetup in Vietnam, details 👇

Friday Nov 29th 7-10pm local time.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Little Du Mien cafe restaurant

119D Pho Quang street, ward 9, Phu Nhuan district (it's near the airport)

Email Zdenek at teacherzdenek@gmail.com to confirm your participation!

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the important topic of AI and human civilisation, and teaches plenty of vocabulary on the subject. I analyse an interview with an AI expert and explore many words and phrases for talking about this subject. This includes discussion of the potential pros and cons of AI, how it will impact the job market, global security and economics, and what could happen if (and when) AI exceeds human intelligence. Check the episode PDF for a transcript and detailed vocabulary list.

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/909.-The-Existential-Threat-of-AI-to-Human-Civilisation.pdf

💻 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/11/19/909-the-existential-threat-of-ai-to-human-civilisation-topic-vocabulary/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Responding to comments from listeners on various episodes in the LEP archives, including how to get a TEFL certificate, linking /r/ sounds, being a fly on the wall, singular "they", antique vs vintage, and when the verb "see" doesn't mean "see". PDF available.

👉 Get the PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/908.-Bits-Bobs-_-Questions-of-English-Part-2-Listener-Comments-Episode-PDF-teacherluke.co_.uk_.pdf

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/11/908-bits-amp-bobs-2-questions-of-english-part-2-listener-comments/

👉 LEP Premium info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a free sample of LEP Premium. The episode contains clips from my recent premium series: P64, in which I told a couple of anecdotes about catching a cold and travelling to England with my two young children. You will also hear me teaching a lot of the words, phrases and expressions that I used in my stories. The entire premium series will be available for premium subscribers this week, but here is a free sample for subscribers of the free version of my podcast. Links below for more information about my premium podcast series.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/11/05/907-catching-a-cold-travelling-with-children-lep-premium-sample-episode-p64/

Get more information about LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign into your Acast+ account 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/account

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode for Halloween I read out a classic work of gothic horror fiction by Edgar Allan Poe, then go through each line and explain vocabulary and discuss the themes and meanings of the story.

📄 Get the story PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/906.-The-Tell-Tale-Heart-by-Edgar-Allan-Poe-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story.pdf

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/10/29/906-the-tell-tale-heart-by-edgar-allan-poe-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You can learn from it, but the frog dies in the process.

Let me tell you 49 jokes (of varying quality). How many do you understand? I will explain all the jokes. How much vocabulary can you learn in the process?

Episode page with vocabulary list etc 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/10/22/905-49-random-jokes-explained-dissecting-the-frog/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the first part of a series in which I share various little things which I have collected over the years for this podcast, including questions about English, some interesting talking points and some general motivation and inspiration for your English learning journey.

👉 Episode page 📃 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/10/15/904-bits-amp-bobs-questions-of-english-part-1

👉 Get the PDF 📄 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/904.-Bits-Bobs-_-Questions-of-English-Part-1.pdf

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By popular demand I have chosen to publish this episode! In 2002 I ended up stuck in a Japanese hospital feeling very ill and confused. I ended up staying there for about two weeks. During my stay I wrote a diary nearly every day. In this episode I read from my diaries, share my personal experience with you and explain a few bits of vocabulary.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/10/08/903-reading-from-my-japanese-hospital-diaries-sept-2002/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A conversation with my dad about his new book, which is about the history and wildlife of a famous Roman road which passes right through the heart of England. Expect stories from various periods of English history, plus descriptions of typical English bird life. English history and culture on Luke's English Podcast.

📕 Get the book here 👉 https://a.co/d/6qpPBIA

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/10/01/902-a-year-on-the-fosse-by-rick-thompson-english-history-amp-wildlife-dads-new-book-out-now/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn English with another classic Sherlock Holmes mystery story by Arthur Conan Doyle. In this episode my aim is to help you to understand and enjoy a Sherlock Holmes story. I'll read the original text of this classic locked-room mystery to you, and will explain and summarise what is happening regularly. Just relax, listen carefully and try to enjoy this classic story. PDF available.

Download the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/901.-Sherlock-Holmes_-The-Adventure-of-The-Speckled-Band-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story.pdf

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/09/24/901-sherlock-holmes-the-adventure-of-the-speckled-band-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a catchy title! Episode 900 is here, and what better way to celebrate than by inviting my pals Amber & Paul back onto the podcast? Amber & Paul have been regular guests on this podcast for 10 years. We usually have light-hearted and tangential conversations and these episodes are often very popular with long-term listeners. This time we talk about Episode 900 celebrations 🎉 the title of this episode 🔁 Paris Olympics 2024 🏟️ encounters with dead animals in Paris 😢 Paul's Olympic marathon run 🏃 the dangers of sneezing 🤧 and more...

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/09/18/900-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-and-expecting-a-different-result-with-amber-paul/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rambling about being back after the summer break, with regular moments of grammar analysis. Includes a lot of tangents, funny moments and analysis of English tenses and complex sentence structures. PDF with transcript and notes available.

👉 Get the PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/899.-Back-to-the-Mic_-September-2024-Ramble-Grammar-Tangents.pdf

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/09/09/889-back-on-the-mic-september-2024-ramble-amp-grammar-tangents/

👉 LEP Premium information https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April I did a Zoom workshop about how to learn vocabulary. This is the audio version of the workshop. Learn how to notice, understand, record, remember and use new words. Don't just stare at word lists with translations, find some more effective ways to expand your vocabulary.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/09/02/898-how-to-learn-vocabulary-and-not-just-stare-at-word-lists-workshop/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Dysfluent" is a piece of interactive fiction, all about communication. The story shows what it is like to live with dysfluency - a condition which makes it difficult to make smooth, fluent speech. How does a speech impediment create challenges in someone's life? Listen to the story, follow my choices and learn new vocabulary along the way.

👉 Episode page with game link https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/26/02/897-dysfluent-learn-english-with-an-interactive-story/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Aaron is an old friend of mine from the days when I taught English in London. In this episode we chat about being an English teacher, travelling to different countries, the status of English in other places, how native English speakers (don't) learn languages, stories of learning French in school, and Martin's memories of boarding school.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/08/19/896-a-rambling-chat-with-martin-aaron/

👉 Podcast links for Martin's podcast https://pod.link/1742336735

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking to author Anna Brooke about her book Monster Stink, the sequel to Monster Bogey (Chicken House publishing). Anna is a travel writer and author of books for children. She is a great storyteller, and in this episode she talks about her fun new book for kids, which involves dangerous gas. This leads to a new topic for the podcast; farting! We teach you the most important vocabulary for this tricky subject, and then Anna tells some chilling stories about real supernatural encounters she has had. Not farts, but similar - ghosts!

👉 Episode page with fart vocabulary 💨 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/08/12/895-books-farts-amp-ghosts-with-anna-brooke/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rambling episode recorded on-stage in front of a live audience in Paris in July 2024. Join my audience and me, as I share scenes from the screenplay for my new Hollywood blockbuster action movie about an English teacher called "Last Lesson", and the sequel "Last Lesson 2: Fast & Fluent".

👉 Episode page with screenplay script https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/08/05/894-lep-live-in-paris-live-podcast-recording-summer-2024/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking about the story of Lord Lucan, the British aristocrat who disappeared in 1974 after the murder of his nanny and attempted murder of his wife. Lord Lucan is an infamous name in Britain, and the story of his disappearance is a compelling glimpse into a life of privilege, high-stakes gambling, and unresolved mystery. I am joined by Alastair Budge, who covered this story for one of his podcast episodes, and we discuss it in detail.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/07/30/893-the-mystery-of-lord-lucan-with-alastair-budge/

👉 English Learning for Curious Minds https://pod.link/1489301603

👉 Alastair's The Lord Lucan episode of ELfCM https://pod.link/1489301603/episode/16779ace14a51eb475ab4084551c52f4

👉 Pioneers of the Continuum - A Time-Travelling Story for English Learners https://pod.link/1685968014

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me on another rambling episode as I encourage ninjas to come out of the shadows 🥷, touch on some present perfect continuous verb forms 🔁, give some podcast updates, give a report about the stand-up comedy show 😂 & live podcast recording 🎤, teach some polite and diplomatic language with a dramatic bank robbery scenario 🔫, give a summary of the UK's general election results 🗳️ & more...

📄 Download the PDF transcript/notes https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/892.-Youre-not-a-LEPster-by-any-chance-are-you_-July-2024-Ramble.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/07/23/892-youre-not-a-lepster-by-any-chance-are-you-july-2024-ramble/

🎧 My podcast episode archive https://teacherluke.co.uk/episodes

🎧 Listen to LEP in a podcast app https://pod.link/312059190

🏆 LEP Premium info and FAQ https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking to bilingual journalist Charles Pellegrin (France 24) about how the conventions of broadcast journalism influence the way the English is used in news reports, how Charles started as a journalist, the challenge of making TV news reports, our time at university, the Olympics in Paris, and Charles' experiences of living and working in China.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/07/16/891-the-bilingual-journalist-with-charles-pellegrin/

🎤 Luke & Charles' stand-up comedy show in Paris on 19 July (few tickets left) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/french-fried-comedy-night-tickets-603182383747

📲 Charles on Instagram & X

👉 https://www.instagram.com/chpilgrim/

👉 https://www.x.com/chpilgrim/

👉 https://www.instagram.com/charles_pellegrinf24/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn English with a short story.

Listen & repeat after me if you'd like to practise your pronunciation.

Learn some vocabulary in the second half of the video 👍

📄 Read the story here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/07/09/890-the-simulation-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

🎤 Reserve seats (free) for Luke's stand-up comedy on 19 July 2024 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/french-fried-comedy-night-tickets-603182383747

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natasha V. Broodie returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, which is full of advice for success in job interviews. Natasha has a lot of job interview experience, and she has learned the importance of self-belief and preparation. In this conversation she talks about some experiences that led her to write the book, and gives advice on what you should do before, during and after job interviews.

📖 Click here to get Natasha's book "Swaggart" on Amazon 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM5WCVPR

✨ More information about Natasha's book, on her website here 👉 https://www.lifewiththebige.com/swaggart

🤣 Luke's comedy show in Paris. Click here and choose 19 July 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/french-fried-comedy-night-tickets-603182383747

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

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My dad returns to talk about the current political situation in the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has called a general election to take place on 4 July. Why did Sunak call an election at this moment? What do people think of the Consvervative Party, who have been in power for 14 years? Will we have a new government and a new Prime Minister in the UK in a couple of weeks? Also, what about England's performances in the Euro 2024 football championship?

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/06/24/888-uk-general-election-euro-2024-the-rick-thompson-report-june-2024

Luke's stand-up comedy show, details 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/comedy

LEP Premium info 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

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Join me as I take a walk along the embankment of the river Seine from Louvre to Ponte Marie in the centre of Paris. This time the topic is health and diet. Watch out for the phrasal verbs I use during my ramble!

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/06/17/887-walk-talk-health-diet-phrasal-verbs/

Come and see me performing stand-up comedy in Paris on 19 July - details here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/comedy

The next series of LEP Premium will deal with the phrasal verbs (+ other vocabulary) from this episode. Sign up below👇

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In this episode I am joined by Rob from The Business English Podcast, and we are talking about networking in English. 🗣️ Networking is when you speak to other people, probably in a professional context, in order to build relationships, expand your social circle and make work contacts that can lead to business opportunities in the future.

Networking is all about socialising, speaking spontaneously, active listening and being aware of cultural factors which can affect everything. Listen to the episode to hear plenty of comments, anecdotes, advice and language tips relating to networking in English in a professional context.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/06/10/886-networking-in-english-with-rob-from-the-business-english-podcast/

👉 Listen to Part 2 on Rob's podcast https://pod.link/1643413701/episode/fbd1f3cc76ebb5e41b7d2fa2948f175b

👉 Rob's website https://www.thebusinessenglishpodcast.com

👉 Stand-up comedy shows https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/comedy

👉 My other YouTube channel where I play bass, guitar & ukulele https://www.youtube.com/@lukulele30

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Hang out with me while the rain pours down outside 🌧️ and in this episode I'll talk about the problem of "faffing around" 😵‍💫 , podcast news & updates 📲, some stand-up comedy dates 🎤, comments on recent episodes 💬, some common questions from listeners 🙋, a lot of rambling about how I learned to play music 🎵, a tour of all the guitars in my podcast room 🎸 and a song at the end 🎶, with lyrics explained 👨‍🏫.

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/885.-Still-Raining-Still-Rambling-News-Comments-Questions-Guitars-Music-1.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/06/03/885-still-raining-still-rambling-news-comments-questions-guitars-amp-music/

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A conversation with my brother about one of the most successful British bands of all time - Madness. We talk about the story of the band, our early memories of their music, the songs, the members, their lyrics, their popularity and why we've always been big fans!

Episode page with links, music videos and more 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/05/27/884-british-music-madness-with-james/

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A spontaneous monologue about being taken by surprise by public holidays in May (in France), a podcast recommendation, and seeing a hard-rocking and hilarious band perform live in a big arena last week. Includes a song at the end as a tribute.

Episode page with links etc 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/05/21/883-a-last-minute-rambling-episode/

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Here's a list of jokes about different countries which I found on the website Bored Panda. I'll tell you the jokes and then explain them all (dissecting the frog), including any homophones, double meanings or specific cultural references. Can you "get" the jokes? Do you find any of them funny, or are they all just terrible dad jokes? And, what vocabulary can you learn in the process? Includes a vocabulary review at the end of the episode.

Episode page with notes, jokes and vocabulary list 👉

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/05/14/882-47-funny-country-jokes-explained-learn-english-with-humour/

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Barbara Serra is an award-winning Italian journalist who has spent much of her career reading the news in the UK on various high-profile well-established English language news networks including the BBC, Channel 5, Al Jazeera English and Sky News.

Barbara has quite a specific relationship with English. It’s her dominant language but not her native language. She has a certain accent, which does place her outside the UK somehow.

So how has this affected her career as a news reader and reporter? What is the story of her English? What kind of challenges has she faced while reading the news in the UK? And what does this all tell us about learning English, what it means to improve your accent, the relationship between accent and identity, the definition of “native” and “non-native speaker”, the status of different English accents in the English speaking world?

🔗 Barbara's email newsletter "News with a foreign accent" 👉 https://barbaraserra.substack.com/

🔗 Barbara's website with course info 👉 https://www.barbaraserra.info/

📺 Luke talks to Alastair Budge about Paris 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jveYc5vFh7A&ab_channel=LeonardoEnglish on @LeonardoEnglishCom

🎧 Luke on Elena’s mtunonon's podcast "Online Bound" 👉 https://www.elenamutonono.com/2024/04/25/1-mln-subscribers/

📋 Take the Acast listener survey 👉 https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/ugLVUK15

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I read an article about Paris' preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games, discuss the issues, summarise the article and explain plenty of vocabulary. Is Paris ready for the games? What are the attitudes, complaints, expectations and fears ahead of this potentially controversial event.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/04/29/880-is-paris-ready-for-the-olympic-games-2024-article-vocabulary/

👉 Article https://theweek.com/sports/olympics-2024-is-paris-ready-to-party

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Top tips for spontaneous speaking 🏆 with communication expert Matt Abrahams, a professor at the Stamford Graduate School of Business, California. Matt is a leading expert in his field and his new book "Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot" gives you clear, academically-researched advice on how to deal with anxiety, focus on making connections, improve your mindset, learn to listen, and find really useful structures to help you become a more spontaneous and successful speaker.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/04/22/879-think-fast-talk-smart-communication-techniques-for-spontaneous-speaking-with-matt-abrahams/

Matt's website (book, podcast & more) 👉 https://mattabrahams.com/

Matt's presentation about communication techniques (34 million views) 👉 https://youtu.be/HAnw168huqA?si=jyE7BpzaIt4el_dl

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These days Elena Mutonono is an experienced business coach who helps online English teachers to gain independence and control over their own careers, but Elena's journey started as a learner of English herself. In this conversation I ask Elena about how she learned English, making the step to becoming an English teacher, then teacher trainer and what challenges online English teachers face when trying to work in a crowded and demanding job market.

👉 Elena's website https://www.elenamutonono.com/

👉 Elena's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/elenamutonono/

👉 Elena's podcast https://www.elenamutonono.com/podcast/

👉 Join Luke's Zoom Workshop on 18 April 2024 (10AM UK time) https://english-at-home.com/summit/

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This conversation is a preview of my Zoom workshop on Thurs 18 April 2024 at 10AM (UK time), as part of the Advanced English Summit. In my workshop I will be talking about how to really learn vocabulary, and not just stare at word lists.

This is a conversation about the subject of the workshop, and summit organiser Clare Whitmell asks me questions about why vocabulary is important, why I love teaching it, common mistakes made by learners, ways of learning vocabulary more effectively, and some tools you can use.

👉 Sign up for the Advanced English Summit here https://english-at-home.com/summit/

👉 Episode page on teacherluke.co.uk https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/04/11/877-how-to-learn-vocabuary-a-conversation-with-clare-whitmell/

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Listen to me rambling about Daylight Saving Time, weird AI generated images for Luke's English Podcast, and lots of comments and responses to recent episodes including the Birthday Party story 🎂 , the MBTI Personality Test 🙇 and the Walk & Talk in Paris 📹🚶.

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/04/08/876-thoughts-comments-on-recent-episodes-a-spring-equinox-ramble-2024/

📄 Get the PDF (no email needed) 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/876.-Thoughts-comments-on-recent-episodes-_-A-Spring-Equinox-Ramble.pdf

📺 The Advanced English Summit - book your place for Luke's Zoom talk (free) 👉 https://english-at-home.com/summit/

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Learn English with another short story. I'll read the entire story to you, and then go through the text again explaining and clarifying the main events and plenty of vocabulary. This is a wonderful adventure story written by HG Wells, a very influential and imaginative English writer from the late 19th century. The story is full of vivid descriptive language, action, adventure and extraordinary moments. I hope it captures your imagination and lets the English come alive in memorable ways.

The story starts after about 12 minutes.

📄 Get the PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/875.-Aepyornis-Island-by-HG-Wells-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-Lukes-English-Podcast.pdf

🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/04/01/875-aepyornis-island-by-hg-wells-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

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Here is an episode in which I walk through the streets of Paris, rambling about a particular subject. This time the subject is Paris itself. This summer Paris is hosting the Olympic Games. The city will be filled with visitors. I am very curious to see how the city will handle this moment. Will it be a huge success? What will visitors think of the city? Will anyone suffer from the mysterious "Paris Syndrome"? Join me on my walk, follow my words, look out for vocab and consider using my questions for your own speaking practice.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/03/25/874-walk-talk-paris/

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The MBTI Personality Test (aka "16 Personalities") is a very well-known and widely used test which claims to be able to give you a "freakishly accurate" analysis of your personality type. In this episode I take the test, explain the reasons for my answers, explain some vocabulary and give my thoughts on the test results and the test itself. Includes plenty of expressions for describing personality traits, behaviour, ways of thinking and feeling and the subject of psychological testing.

👉 Episode page with notes, transcripts and links https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/03/18/873-luke-takes-the-mbti-personality-test

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Learn English with another short story. This time it's a 300-word story by Katherine Brush often used in literature classes, full of vivid imagery and with an emotional twist. I read the story to you, and then go through each line, explaining vocabulary and grammar.

👉 Episode page with story text and vocabulary notes https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/03/11/872-the-birthday-party-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

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A very long rambling episode with a big mix of vocabulary, stories about my trip to Rome, comments from listeners, lots of thoughts about episodes I've published over the last 12 months, more advice about learning English, and a story about being Jackie Chan's English teacher.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/03/04/871-rambling-through-my-episode-archive-listener-comments-gold-youtube-creator-award/

👉 Download the PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/871.-Rambling-through-my-episode-archive-_-Listener-Comments-_-Gold-YouTube-Creator-Award.pdf

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Returning guest Kate Billington suddenly decided to move to the other side of the world, to Taipei in beautiful Taiwan. In this episode we talk about meeting LEPsters in Taipei, her decision to move there, and how everything is going, with the usual conversational tangents along the way.

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/02/26/870-kate-billington-moved-to-taiwan

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In international diplomacy, "communication is everything". This is the main point of this conversation, in which I talk to my friend who works for the UK delegation at UNESCO in Paris. We discuss the work that UNESCO does, and the various communication challenges involved in working together with representatives from countries all around the world, including the collaborative writing of official documents where the use of a single comma can be debated for hours, and the meetings and conversations in which cultural sensitivity and good-will are essential elements for success.

Also includes some communication idioms and guitar playing near the end of the episode.

👉 Episode page with introduction transcript https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/02/19/869-working-at-unesco-english-in-international-diplomacy/

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Talking to Lindsay from All Ears English about social, economic and political changes happening in the USA (and the UK) at the moment.

Includes some rambling and a song at the end of the episode.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/02/12/868-how-the-usa-is-changing-with-lindsay-mcmahon-from-all-ears-english/

👉 Listen to Luke on All Ears English talking about American & British English https://pod.link/751574016/episode/d4b5eabd02763c0770be33d021098248

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This episode is all about the different modes of communication that we use beyond the 4 linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening speaking. My guest is Nik Peachey who has helped to write a new paper published by OUP called "Multimodality in ELT: Communication Skills for Today’s Generation". Listen to Nik and me chatting about the importance of multimodal literacy in our social interactions and in the ways we consume and produce media online.

🔗 Episode page with intro notes 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/02/06/867-multimodal-communication-with-nik-peachey/

📄 Read the OUP paper "Multimodality in ELT: Communication Skills for Today’s Generation" 👉 https://elt.oup.com/feature/global/expert/multimodality?itm_source=oup-elt-site&itm_medium=hero-banner&itm_campaign=ww-multimodality&cc=ca&selLanguage=sk

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Here are my reactions to getting 1 million subscribers on YouTube, and probably 1 million+ on audio platforms too!

Listen to me rambling on my own and with my daughter (6 years old now) while the subscriber number gradually goes up, and eventually reaches this big milestone.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/02/02/1-million-subscribers-on-youtube-x1f389/

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The return of the lying game on LEP! Amber, Paul and I play a speaking game which I sometimes use in my English classes. Listen to our stories and try to work out if we are lying or telling the truth. The second half of the episode contains story summaries and vocabulary explanations.

👉 Episode page with vocabulary list, etc https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/01/29/866-the-lying-game-9-with-amber-paul-with-vocabulary-explanations/

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Amber & Paul return to the podcast for another tangential conversation about various things, including:

why Paul is angry (again) 😤
how Amber gets crushed in her own bed 🛌
how our British children don't need to wear coats 🧥
the special gifts Luke has prepared for Amber & Paul 🎁
the highs and lows of Paul's global comedy tour 🎭
how Paul's been telling the Russian joke on stage 😐
Amber's recent trip to London 🇬🇧
The Beatles' "Now & Then" 🎶
the next step in Paul's career ⏩
Amber's kids saying more funny things 👧👦💬
and more...

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/01/22/865-catching-up-with-amber-paul-13/

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Join me as I talk without a script about lovely cold weather ❄️ being too lazy to wash my cups 🍵 feeling exhausted because my son won't sleep 👶😮‍💨 New Year's Eve celebrations 🛋 performing stand up comedy to 4200 people 🎤 a recommended YouTube channel about adventurous missions in the UK countryside 🥾 and recent horror films I've seen 🙀.

Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/01/15/864-a-winter-ramble-x2744xfe0f-learn-english-with-lep/

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A new year episode to welcome you back to my podcast, to encourage you to reflect on your learning of English over the last 12 months, to consider your English learning in 2024 and how this podcast can help you. Includes plenty of ideas for how to improve your English, some reflections on my learning of French, and some 'help' from my baby son 👶.

📄 Get the PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/863.-Your-English-in-2024-with-LEP-PDF-Transcript-reduced-size.pdf

🔗 Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/01/08/863-welcome-back-your-english-in-2024-with-lep-x1f4c8/

🏆 LEP Premium information 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

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[2/2] Stephen from the Simple English News Daily podcast asks me questions about news events from this year. This is part 2 of a 2-part episode.

🔗 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/27/862-world-news-quiz-2023-part-2-with-stephen-from-send7-podcast/

*Edits - On reflection, I decided to remove questions 11 and 12 because they were about the war in Ukraine and I think the tone of our conversation was not appropriate considering the solemnity of the situation. I regret not expressing my sincere condolences for the victims of the war.

Question 11 was about Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and question 12 was about the % of land in Ukraine occupied by Russian forces at the end of 2023 (20%).

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[1/2] Stephen from the Simple English News Daily podcast asks me questions about news events from this year. This is part 1 of a 2-part episode.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/27/861-world-news-quiz-2023-part-1-with-stephen-from-send7-podcast/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to me telling this classic Christmas ghost story - "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. I have read this story on the podcast before (in episode 320) but it's a good one so let's do it again, shall we?

📄 Download the PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/860.-Charles-Dickens-Christmas-Ghost-Story-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-PDF.pdf

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/22/860-charles-dickens-christmas-ghost-story-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

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How about some English rambling at Christmas time? ChatGPT (who can speak now) helps me with some questions and ideas, and I ramble about Christmas plans, traditions, post-gift melancholy, upcoming episodes, how to do a King Charles impression, and more...

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/20/859-a-christmas-ramble-2023-with-chatgpt

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This is part 2 of this double episode. Please listen to part 1 first! Sarah and Fred are trivia quiz nerds with a new trivia podcast. In this episode they joined me for some trivia quizzing and conversation. In this second part you can listen to my quiz for Sarah and Fred, and then Fred's quiz for me. Can you answer the questions? Can you follow the whole conversation? Listen carefully!

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/15/858-trivia-quizzing-with-sarah-and-fred-part-2/

👉 Listen to Luke's first episode on Sarah & Fred's podcast "Not An Alias Podcast" https://pod.link/1503202147/episode/f33a8fcf069e1a69d06335e4a472f372

👉 Fred on Instagram @FredMeUp https://www.instagram.com/fredmeup/?hl=en

👉 Sarah on Instagram @ParisQuizMistress https://www.instagram.com/parisquizmistress/

👉 Not An Alias Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ParisQuizMistress/

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ and add the premium episodes to a podcast app on your phone. https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Fred are trivia quiz nerds who have been doing trivia nights in Paris for years and now have a new trivia-themed podcast. In this episode we get together to discuss trivia quizzing, and to quiz each other with our own trivia questions. In this first part we get to know Sarah and Fred again, talk about their new podcast and then Sarah quizzes me with some cleverly-written questions. Can you understand and answer the questions? The quizzing continues in part 2.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/13/857-trivia-quizzes-with-sarah-and-fred-part-1/

👉 Listen to Luke's first episode on Sarah & Fred's podcast "Not An Alias Podcast" https://pod.link/1503202147/episode/f33a8fcf069e1a69d06335e4a472f372

👉 Fred on Instagram @FredMeUp https://www.instagram.com/fredmeup/?hl=en

👉 Sarah on Instagram @ParisQuizMistress https://www.instagram.com/parisquizmistress/

👉 Not An Alias Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ParisQuizMistress/

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Talking to my brother about his new album "Glytek Audio - Mood Selector" (available now on Touched Revolutions records) and then discussing music including the first album we ever bought, and favourite albums in different genres.

🎧 Click here to get James' new album https://touchedrevolutions.bandcamp.com/album/mood-selector

👉 Page for this episode on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/07/856-my-brothers-new-album-is-out-now-music-chat-with-james/

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Talking to Cara about films, movies, her movie club for English learners and a discussion about films and what they mean.

Episode page with all the links you could ever need! 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/12/06/855-discussing-films-with-cara-leopold/

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🎧 Learn English with a short story.

🗣 Listen & repeat after me if you'd like to practise your pronunciation.

💬Learn some vocabulary in the second half of the video.

📄 I found this story in answer to a post on Quora.com asking about true scary stories.

I thought I could use it to help you learn English. Can you understand the story, and predict the twist at the end?

📄 Read the original by Lance Stephenson here https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-short-scary-stories

🔗 Page for this episode on my website with a word-for word copy of the story https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/11/28/854-the-invitation-learn-english-with-a-short-story/

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Join me as I meet and get to know Rhiannon, an English coach whose mission is to help you feel awesome about your English. I had never met Rhiannon before this interview, so listen as I get to know her and we chat about her English & Welsh roots, moving to Edinburgh, studying theology at university, early experiences as an English teacher, why learners often feel ashamed of their English, and how she can help. We also discuss the wonders of fish & chips and deep fried Mars bars which you can buy on the streets of Edinburgh.

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/11/22/853-a-conversation-with-rhiannon-carter/

👉 Rhiannon's website https://www.rhiannonelt.com/

👉 Rhiannon's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonelt.coaching/

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How does it feel to have a visual impairment? How do blind people navigate the world? How do other people treat you, if you are blind? And, how do we talk about blindness and other forms of disability in English? This episode is inspired by a listener called Hafid, who contacted me recently. I talk about the subject of blindness and disability in general, read an article written by a partially sighted person, and explain a list of words and phrases we should use when describing different forms of disability. Also includes various medical vocabulary such as the different parts of the eye and other related topics.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/11/15/852-how-does-it-feel-to-be-blind/

👉 Get the PDF 📄 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/How-does-it-feel-to-be-blind-Lukes-English-Podcast-.pdf

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A listener left a comment on my website asking for my thoughts on the new Beatles song which was released last week, and I was happy to ramble about it for 45 mins. Listen to hear me give my thoughts and tell several stories related to what is being described as the last Beatles song.

I talk for about 10 minutes about burning down my apartment, and my thoughts on the content I make for this podcast and then start talking about The Beatles until the end of the episode. To skip straight to the Beatles bit, go forward to about 12 minutes.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/11/08/851-rambling-about-the-beatles-now-and-then-%f0%9f%8e%b8/

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Fabio has written a book about language learning, based on his own personal experiences of learning English. Each chapter ends with the same sentence: “This is how to learn a language”. But each chapter disagrees with the next. There are many ways to learn a language, and none of them is the only right way to do it.

In this episode, we talk all about this and Fabio shares some of his stories.

Fabio is the host of "Stolariod Stories" a self-development podcast which includes lots of lessons about learning English, and learning about life in general.

👉 Page for this episode on Luke's website 🔗 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/11/01/850-any-language-you-want-with-fabio-cerpelloni/

👉 Get Fabio's book 📖 https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-language-you-want/

👉 Listen to Fabio interview Luke about stand-up comedy on Stolaroid Stories here 🎤 https://pod.link/1588409467/episode/5a1f614be55bdffa8513091565ef4985

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Bed bugs in Paris & London, Mosquito hunting in the middle of the night, a home invasion by fleas and the terrors of cockroaches - listen to some anecdotes about encounters with insects with Zdenek who has recently relocated to Vietnam. Watch out for various insect idioms which appear during the conversation.

👉 Episode page on Luke's website (with list of insect idioms 🦟 & more) https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/10/25/849-stories-of-insects-bugs-creepy-crawlies-with-zdenek-lukas/

👉 Zdenek's Website with courses, and Discord server for learning English https://teacherzdenek.com/

🏆 P53 Technology in the Modern World - parts 1, 2 & 3 available now on LEP Premium. For more information about LEP Premium click here https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Luke on Other People's Podcasts recently 👇

🎧 Listen to "Mission in Paris" on Into The Story with Bree Aesie https://pod.link/1522715603/episode/71b6f95ea88babe5f978960f07a9e73c

🎧 Listen to "The Art of Making People Laugh" on Stolariod Stories with Fabio Cerpelloni https://pod.link/1588409467/episode/5a1f614be55bdffa8513091565ef4985

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Bree Aesie is an English teacher with a background in psychology, especially child development, and in this episode she comes onto LEP with advice and encouragement for parents who want to help their children to learn English from an early age.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/10/18/848-the-superpower-of-starting-english-early-with-kids-with-bree-aesie/

👉 Listen to Luke's funny & dramatic story on Bree's podcast https://pod.link/1522715603/episode/71b6f95ea88babe5f978960f07a9e73c

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Join me for an unplanned rambling episode about various things including: hump day, bed bugs in Paris 🐞, fashion trends I followed when I was younger 👟👖, CDs 💿 vs cassettes 📼 vs vinyl 🎵, the most relaxing place in the world 🛏, Japanese zen gardens ⛩, Hunter S Thompson 🚬, the most disgusting job I ever had 🤮, and more...

👉 Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/10/11/847-random-topic-generator/

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"The Glib Brothers" reunite on the podcast to discuss more music, films, books, scary AI and UFO sightings. James is my older brother and he's probably been on this podcast more than any other guest. Listen for another deep and humorous conversation with lots of cultural reference points.

Episode page https://www.https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/10/03/846-topic-tombola-with-james/

Glytek Audio on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1trBdNNHMafKfWxaXDdUBf?si=2L2beuujSkWU0mAeHYcTNw

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TECH TALK! A conversation with Joe Dale (modern foreign language teaching consultant, EdTech guru) about the use of ChatGPT in English teaching and learning. Lots of recommendations, tips and tricks for saving time and combining ChatGPT with other software including Google Chrome extensions.

💻 For a list of all the Google Chrome extensions and other software, click here (episode page on my website) 👉

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A conversation with accent coach Luke Nicholson, including lots of insights, advice and conclusions about improving your pronunciation in English.

👉 Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/09/19/844-improve-your-pronunciation-with-luke-nicholson-accent-coach/

🔗 Luke Nicholson's websites

www.improveyouraccent.co.uk

www.funetics.com

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Talking to my wife (and daughter) about the birth of our son, who came into the world just a few weeks ago. We describe what happened, and explain how it feels to become parents for the second time. This is a very personal, first-hand account of childbirth and the experience of bringing a child into the world. Watch out for the vocabulary of childbirth and children which has previously been explained in episodes 162, 491, 492 and 814.

Episode page on my website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2023/08/31/843-the-birth-of-my-son/

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Hang out with me for an unscripted and unedited ramble about things like engaging moments while teaching English, how it feels to be about to become a father again, a funny new recording of my daughter speaking English, some recent films I've seen, and a recording of me doing stand-up comedy in front of an audience recently.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sRi

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Monopoly is one of the most famous board games of all time.

It's sold in more than 114 countries and has been printed in more than 47 languages.

It's famous for causing arguments and taking forever to finish!

But it is a fantastic and fascinating game, so let's talk about it.

In this episode I talk to Anna Tyrie from English Like a Native about childhood memories, rules that people don't follow, winning strategies, the real history of the game and more!

I guarantee that with this episode you will learn new things about Monopoly.

Episode page 👉 https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sQq

Listen to Anna's episode with Luke about board games 👉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2038858/13484501

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Here is a list of curious mysteries, jokes and observations about the English language and life in general. I talk about each interesting point, give some funny comments and explain bits of English vocabulary in the process. Expect to learn a few things, and have a bit of a laugh in the process 🙂.

Episode page with text https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPU

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Kate Billington returns for her 4th appearance on LEP to create some fun English conversation for you to listen to. We talk about lots of things, as usual, including her cycling trip to Berlin and a nasty accident she had on her bicycle in Paris earlier this year. Expect tangents, vocab, idioms, jokes, stories, cups of tea and some very "professional" podcast eating.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sQh

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This is the longest episode of LEP so far, and it's a solo ramble. I talk freely about a lovely day I had in Paris earlier this year, which really stuck in my memory. Relax, follow my words, hang out with me for 3 hours, get stranded on a desert island of the imagination, and then get rescued. Includes a haircut, a sleep and a t-shirt change during the episode.

👉 📖 Script/notes available on the episode page here https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sQd

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How would the same car accident be described in over 15 completely different styles of English?

What are the differences in vocabulary, grammar and organisational structure?

How should I change my voice to read each description?

Let's see how English changes in different situations.

Styles presented include:

formal and informal English,
news reports,
an action movie screenplay,
an Eminem rap, a romantic novel,
a Shakespeare play,
a politician making a speech,
a stand-up comedian,
Liam Neeson in the film Taken,
and Luke in an episode of Luke's English Podcast.

Episode page (with PDF transcript) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sQ8

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[Part 2 of 2] Since recording part 1 of this conversation, Antony caught COVID-19 and lost a bit of weight, but he managed to talk for about 100 minutes here about more topics he has previously covered in episodes of his podcast "Life & Life Only". Here we discuss diverse things including the extraordinary feats of endurance by David Blaine🕴🏻, food and dieting 🍔, Stanley Kubrik's film "The Shining" 🪓, the term "conspiracy theory" 🤫, the ways that comedy shows can reveal the truth 🎭, and the complex art of happiness 🙂.

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sQ4

🎧 Listen to Antony's podcast https://plinkhq.com/i/1549021296?to=page

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Antony is an English teacher, podcaster, life-coach and writer and he returns to LEP today for a conversation about topics which he has discussed in episodes of his podcast called "Life & Life Only". Listen to us chat about why cats are good for your health 🐱, what the Titanic disaster tells us about social class 🚢, how losing his backpack while travelling taught Antony a valuable life lesson 🎒, how psychology is involved in English teaching 🧠 and more.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sQ1

Antony's Podcast "Life and Life Only" https://plinkhq.com/i/1549021296?to=page

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Reading an article by Gavin Lamb (PhD) about the conclusions of academic studies into language learning, and adding my own reflections and comments. What does research tell us about the best way to learn a language? What are the most important things to consider? What are the best methods? The article boils it all down to three main points.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPY

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Join me as I read through a bizarre online game. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a lemon? No? Well, neither had I, until I played this game. Can I escape the kitchen, become human again and avoid being chopped up and turned into a juice! Watch out for some descriptive language and some funny moments along the way! Story by Daniel Champion on www.textadventures.co.uk

Episode page with links https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPF

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Let me read you a classic Sherlock Holmes detective story, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

I'll read the original text and stop regularly in order to explain what is happening so you can follow the story.

📄 Episode page with PDF transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPO

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A conversation with Hadar Shemesh, a non-native speaker who has improved her English to a very high level, and who now shares her knowledge and experience with the world through her podcast and YouTube channel. Hadar describes her own experiences of learning English and mastering pronunciation. This episode is all about the voyage of discovery that is learning a language.

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sOJ

👉 Hadar's website https://hadarshemesh.com/

👉 Hadar's podcast (InFluency Podcast) https://hadarshemesh.com/influency-podcast/

👉 Hadar's YouTube channel @hadar.shemesh https://www.youtube.com/@hadar.shemesh

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In conversation with Andy Cooke, an English teacher from England who is very popular on Instagram. We talk about Andy's background, becoming an English teacher, getting big on Instagram, ChatGPT and a few other tangents along the way. Includes a few songs on the guitar at the end of the episode.

👉 Episode page on teacherluke.co.uk https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPG

👉 🎧 Listen to Luke's Podcast using a podcast app on your phone (audio episodes have more content) https://plinkhq.com/i/312059190?to=page

👉 Andy's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/englishwithcooke/

👉 Andy's Website https://ewcooke.com/

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Finally, here is the third part of this series about English slang words and expressions that most British people know, but which will probably confuse almost everyone else! I started this series in 2019. It's only taken me nearly 4 years to get round to finishing it. Learn loads of slang and culture, plus a bit of British history too.

Vocabulary and transcript available on the episode page here https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aj8

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Maria is a CELTA and DELTA qualified teacher and teacher-trainer who has been helping people prepare for IELTS for over 7 years. Maria knows a lot of tips, tricks and inside information about succeeding in IELTS. She got a band-9 score in the speaking part of the test herself and she's not a native speaker. In this episode we talk about the speaking part of the IELTS test, and give plenty of useful advice for getting the best score possible in this tricky test.

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPw

👉 Maria's useful website on IELTS with fresh speaking topics:

🇬🇧 https://yourielts.net/

🇷🇺 https://yourielts.ru/

👉 Maria and Rory's IELTS Speaking for Success podcast: https://fanlink.to/ieltssfs

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Amber returns to the podcast to tell us some grisly stories about the history of Paris. Amber is a bit of an expert about Paris. She has read pretty much every book about the city and is also a registered tour guide here. A few years ago she set up a podcast called Paname Podcast (Paname is a nickname for Paris). Each episode contains a true story from history, with tales of battle, execution, romance, tragedy and adventure. You can get it where you get your podcasts. In this episode Amber comes onto LEP to share a few stories from her podcast series. Includes a 30-minute ramble at the end of the episodes.

👉 Listen to Amber's podcast https://plinkhq.com/i/1241927554?to=page

👉 Page for this episode on my website https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sOg

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👉 Take Carlos' survey here https://forms.ua.pt/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=699278&lang=en

Carlos Soares, from the University of Aveiro in Portugal, is doing a master's degree dissertation all about language learning podcasts. He contacted me to conduct an interview as part of his research, and he agreed for me to publish it as an episode of my podcast. Carlos asks me about my thoughts on learning English through listening, my approach to making my podcast and some other details.

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sPa

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Comedian Sebastian Marx returns to the podcast in order to talk about Yiddish words which have found their way into the English language, including common words like bagel, glitch and schmooze and plenty more.

👉 Episode page with links, etc https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sOX

👉 Sebastian Marx's website https://www.sebmarx.com

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Is that a confusing title? Hopefully not. As you might expect, it's a little summary of what's included in the episode. To give you some more details, Alastair Budge is the host of a podcast called "English Learning for Curious Minds" and he has created a new audio drama for English learners called "Pioneers of the Continuum". It's a time-travel adventure for English learners, and Alastair asked me to be the narrator for episode 1. In this episode of LEP, we talk about Alastair's story, living in Malta, learning English by immersion, cliches and complaints from English speakers visiting Paris and Alastair's story about playing the bagpipes on the streets of Paris. The audio version includes 30+mins of rambling from me at the end. Enjoy!

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sOL

👉 Alastair's website (podcasts + more) https://www.leonardoenglish.com/

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Talking to my parents about the coronation ceremony of King Charles III which happened in Westminster, London on Saturday 6 May. Includes descriptions of the ceremony and discussion of some of the issues related to it, plus a few dodgy jokes along the way 👑.

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sOz

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In this final part of the series I'm going to evaluate ChatGPT's ability to work as a dictionary with definitions, example sentences, synonyms, phonetic transcriptions, etc. I test its ability to convert texts into British English or other varieties, see if it can help with sentence stress and word stress, and check its ability to create grammar and vocabulary quizzes and other useful exercises.

Episode page with transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sOb

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In this series I am evaluating ChatGPT as a language-learning tool. In this part I'm experimenting with role-play conversations, job interview practice, creating texts and dialogues and seeing if it can help you prepare for Cambridge exams like IELTS or CAE.

Episode page with transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sND

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An episode exploring the various ways that ChatGPT might be able to help you learn English. Can it create study plans? Can it correct your errors and explain the corrections? Can you use it to simulate natural conversations? This is the first of a three-part series in which I test ChatGPT's usefulness as an AI language learning tool.

Episode page with transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sMP

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Rambling on my own about getting stuck in a time-loop 🔁, protests and strikes in Paris 🔥, the arrival of child 2 👶, and more.

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sMu

👉 Tony Kaizen interviews Luke on his podcast https://youtu.be/rIolbmPGKRU

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How do we know when someone's English is good? Is it just about having a "British accent", knowing lots of big words, or speaking with no errors? In fact, there is a lot more to it than that. IELTS can show us how someone's level of English is assessed by looking at a wide range of skills and sub-skills and there is a lot more to it than making no errors while speaking with a "British accent". This episode should help you consider your own level of English level, get some perspective on what language competence really means, and hopefully cause people to think twice when making snap judgements about other people's English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sNi

Get the PDF transcript https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/819.-What-does-it-really-mean-to-be-good-at-English.pdf

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My friend Anna has written a book for children (7+) which has a full publishing contract and is available in all good bookshops now. The book tells the story of a boy who accidentally creates a monster when his secret collection of nose bogeys gets struck by lightning! This conversation includes lots of talk of snot and bogeys, as well as stories from Anna's time as a travel writer.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sN1

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Learn English with another short story. This time it's Parson's Pleasure by Roald Dahl, which is an intriguing tale of a dodgy antiques dealer with a nasty twist. Learn vocabulary while you enjoy a fascinating story.

👉 Episode page on my website https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sMo

👉 Buy "The Complete Short Stories" by Roald Dahl https://amzn.eu/d/axqHJjc

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Kate Billington returns to LEP for the third time, to drink tea, talk about my pod-room, learning the bassoon, exam results, learning Chinese, responding to listener comments and talking about her videos on TikTok.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sM1

The British Council on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@britishcouncilenglish?is\_from\_webapp=1&sender\_device=pc

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An episode all about studying at university in the UK, with loads of advice about student visas, funding your studies with scholarships, extra-curricular social activities and opportunities at the Students' Union and more. Features a conversation with a German student currently studying a master's in clinical neuropsychology at UCL in London. This episode is published in paid partnership with Study UK and the British Council's GREAT Britain campaign. For more information, follow the links below.

Links

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sMB

👉 The Study UK website with all the info you need https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/

👉 Student Visas https://www.gov.uk/study-uk-student-visa

👉 Scholarships and funding https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding

👉 Study in Wales https://www.studyinwales.ac.uk/

👉 Scholarships for Welsh universities https://www.studyinwales.ac.uk/scholarships-and-funding

👉 German Academic Exchange for information about scholarships https://www.daad.de/en/

👉 German Federal Ministry of Education and Research https://www.xn--bafg-7qa.de/bafoeg/de/home/home\_node.html

👉 International Health Insurance Surcharge Refund www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/refunds

👉 Working while on a student visa - The UK Council for International Student Affairs https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

👉 Study Guides for Parents in Germany

https://www.britishcouncil.de/sites/default/files/studyuk\_guide\_parents\_en\_2023\_final.pdf

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My dad has written a new book and he's come on the podcast to tell us about it. The book follows the path of the river Avon as it flows through the middle of England, telling stories of key moments in British history, nature and the current condition of Britain's rivers.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sLS

A River Avon Year: The Wildlife and History of Shakespeare's Avon by Rick Thompson is available now!👇

📖 Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/dIzchIU

📖 Book Depository https://www.bookdepository.com/A-River-Avon-Year-Rick-Thompson/9781803813615?redirected=true&selectCurrency=JPY&w=AFFBAU9680B63XA8YC5K

📖 Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122976600-a-river-avon-year

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A conversation with Anna Tyrie from English Like a Native (YouTube, Podcast) about children, the way we talk to children, and vocabulary relating to children and childcare, with a vocabulary quiz and some special news from the Thompson family...!

👉 Episode page with vocabulary lists https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sKN

👉 Anna's podcast https://podcast.englishlikeanative.co.uk/

👉 Anna on YouTube @EnglishLikeANative

👉 Anna interviews Luke on her podcast (link coming soon)

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Steve Kaufmann is a very prolific language learner. He has learned at least 20 languages to varying degrees during his life. Some of them he learned during his career as an international diplomat and businessman, and others he has learned during his (semi) retirement. In this interview Steve talks about his language learning experiences, methods and motivations. We talk about various metaphors and similes for language learning including ocean voyages 🚢, cows 🐮, skiing ⛷ and cutting grass🏡 and and I ask Steve about cross-cultural experiences he has had during his career.

There is a video version on YouTube but only the audio version contains my intro and ending rambles about getting my hair cut and how you need to remember that you're a baby cow-shark on skis 🐄🦈🎿😅.

Episode page with video, comment section, MP3 download link etc https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sLt

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To qualify for British citizenship, one of the requirements is to pass the "Life in the UK" test. Questions cover things like British history, British life & culture, British politics, British geography and principles of modern British life. What do you think? Can you pass the test? Join me as I test online English teacher Cara Leopold. How much does she know about her own country of origin? What can you learn about Britain? What IS Britain anyway? Find out in this episode!

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sLh

👉 Cara's website www.leo-listening.com

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An episode about two (unconnected) situations, 1) the very recent earthquake in Turkey & Syria which has left many people in urgent need of help, 2) the humanitarian crisis in Iran. During the episode I read from various articles and explain some vocabulary.

👉 Consider donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee to help people affected by the earthquake https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal

👉 Episode page with transcript & links https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sL5

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A conversation with my brother about a specific musical genre, "ambient". We discuss Brian Eno's inspiration and approach to his first ambient albums, talk about the genre's origins in French 19th century classical music, jazz and the avant-garde and describe ambient trance music from the 80s and 90s including artists like Aphex Twin, The KLF, The Orb and The Irresistible Force. Enter the ambient zone on LEP.

👉 Get James' new ambient EP "Ambient Mode" on BandCamp https://jimthompson.bandcamp.com/album/ambient-mode

👉 Episode page with lots of music recommendations https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sKj

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An unedited conversation with Amber & Paul about toilet habits, Titanic (1997), weird videos on TikTok & YouTube and plenty more.

Advanced level listening practice with the POD-PALs.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sKt

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James Harris is a writer, comedian, English teacher and language learner (French, German, Chinese) from England. In this funny chat, we talk about learning Chinese, being married to a Chinese woman and his semi-autobiographical book, "Midlands" which tells several funny and touching stories about two ex-pats living in Germany; Stuart, who is a stand-up comedian trying to understand the Germans, and Doug who gets involved in a love affair. James reads several passages from the book during the episode.

👉 Get James' book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midlands-James-Harris/dp/B0B38CX11P

👉 Sign up to James' email newsletter "Stiff Upper Quip" for regular short articles in English & more https://stiffupperquip.substack.com/

👉 Follow James on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesHarrisNow

👉 Page for this episode on Luke's website https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sJr

👉 Listen to James' first episode on LEP https://youtu.be/nppFuFyIBZU

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None

A conversation about two legends of contemporary popular culture - Bob Dylan and John Lennon, with pop-star academic Jon Stewart (guitarist in The Wedding Present and Sleeper).

👉 Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sJE

📖 Get Jon's book here https://a.co/d/fPBgTel (other bookshops are available)

Jon Stewart is an interesting mix. He is both a university lecturer and a pop star. He runs a Masters Degree course in Music Business and Popular Music Practice at the BIMM Institute in London and he also plays guitar for legendary British group The Wedding Present, AND classic 'Britpop' band Sleeper. So, Jon knows all about the music business from both a personal and academic point of view.

In this conversation I ask Jon about his new book "Dylan, Lennon, Marx and God" which is an amazing dual-biography of John Lennon and Bob Dylan, two of the most significant figures in contemporary popular culture.

Jon talks about the way Dylan and Lennon used language in their work, the references they make to the culture they grew up in, including their spiritual and political views.

Jon also talks about his time as a musician, including working with Elvis Costello and George Michael, and a funny story about John Lennon's "Imagine piano".

I hope you find this conversation as fascinating as I did. If you like it, consider getting a copy of Jon's book!

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Santiago has a top job in the English teaching industry. He is the managing director of English teaching at Oxford University Press. But English is not his first language. He learned it as an adult when he moved to London in his twenties. This conversation explores how he progressed in his English learning and in his career, while dealing with daily challenges and failures in English.

The conclusions are that motivation and positivity are vital, you have to keep going through the difficult times, and you can achieve great things in your career in English even if you're not perfect. This episode should be a boost for the confidence of all English learners! Keep an open mind, keep your eyes on the prize, keep going and your English WILL improve!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sJx

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A rambling episode about making a fresh start in the new year, and some things I just have to tell you about listening to Luke's English Podcast using a podcast app on your phone + lots of tangents. I hope you enjoy it!

Episode page on my website (with transcriptions, notes, video version etc) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sIV

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The third (and final) adventure in this series of mini-mysteries on LEP. Can I improve my detective skills to work out the disappearance of a priceless painting and a series of gruesome murders? Story by Peter Carlson and available on textadventures.co.uk

👉 Episode page with links https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sJd

👉 Play Victorian Detective Interlude by Peter123 yourself here https://textadventures.co.uk/games/view/abwfcm2vke6b6nbmqh2v1w/victorian-detective-interlude

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The second in a trilogy of text adventure stories by Peter Carlson. In this one we are chasing a ghostly serial killer with a few tricks up his sleeve. Do I have the detective skills to solve the mystery and avoid certain death?

👉 Episode page on teacherluke.co.uk https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sJ7

👉 Play "Victorian Detective Interlude" on textadventures.co.uk https://textadventures.co.uk/games/view/abwfcm2vke6b6nbmqh2v1w/victorian-detective-interlude

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Let's do another text adventure mystery story by Peter Carlson. Listen to me read the story and make choices to solve the mystery. You can read the story with me (link below) or do the game yourself later. This is the first in a series of 3 stories from Peter's "Victorian Detective Interlude" game on textadventures.co.uk

Episode page (including a message from Luke - "2022, A Year In Podcasting") https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sIa

Play "Victorian Detective Interlude" on textadventures.co.uk https://textadventures.co.uk/games/view/abwfcm2vke6b6nbmqh2v1w/victorian-detective-interlude

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Stephen from the SEND7 Podcast asks Luke 20 quiz questions about international news stories from 2022. Do you know the answers? Can you beat Luke in the quiz? Listen for some serious moments, some funny moments and a re-cap of some key events from the year.

Episode page on my website https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sCl

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A quick ramble about why this is the final part of episode 800, why there was a delay between part 2 and part 3, some comments about having flu, and about World Cup 2022.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sH4

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Celebrating episode 800 by answering a massive list of questions from listeners. This episode covers things like how to improve your speaking when you live in a non-English speaking country, the headphones and microphone I use, my current favourite episode, the afterlife and spirit world, my favourite brands of tea, my favourite video games, being a father and the recent Star Wars series Andor and plenty plenty more. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sA7

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Celebrating episode 800 and responding to lots of questions sent in on social media. Expect questions about my ill-fated music career, grammar, favourite authors, my daughter, life as an English teaching podcaster and plenty more. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-siR

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Luke reads an extraordinary email from a listener in an sos situation in a hospital. Contains some disturbing descriptions of fear, anxiety and horror, but there's a happy ending!

👉 Free ELSA app download link (download ELSA free & get 7 days pro membership free): https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/elsa

👉 ELSA Discounts page - ELSA PRO (85% off lifetime & 40% off one year ELSA memberships): https://elsaspeak.com/inf/LukesEnglishPodcast/

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-shK

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A bonus mini-ramble about my plans for episode 800 (send me your questions) and why I haven't done any World Cup episodes yet, but you can listen to me talking about it with Zdenek on his podcast (link available).

Website page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-stM

Check out my conversation with Zdenek about World Cup 2022 https://youtu.be/PZOOa-PVXcw

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In conversation with Mysterious Al, a contemporary artist / street artist from London now living in Melbourne, Australia. The conversation covers Al's background, how he makes his art, the difference between street art & graffiti, attitudes towards graffiti, how Al needs to use social media (but doesn't like it!) his recent ghost train exhibition, and more. Al's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mysteriousal/ Al's website https://www.mysterious.al Video version also available.

Episode page with video, and audio download https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sij

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Stephen from SEND7 podcast becomes the host to interview me about how I started LEP, the ins and outs of doing this, plus some advantages and challenges for podcasting to learners of English. Video version available.

Episode page with audio download, video and links https://wp.me/p4IuUx-smy

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Special Guest Mark Steel joins me to discuss cultural and linguistic differences between the UK and France, plus accents in the UK and a little tour of some places in the UK that you don't know about. Also includes a discussion of swearing and rude language in Britain. What is the R word which you should never say in a specific part of the UK? Listen on to find out.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-s8I

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Learn English with a short story. In fact, this episode contains two stories. Listen until the end for the 2nd one.

Repeat after me to practise your pronunciation. Learn some vocabulary & grammar in the second half of the episode, with an explanation of modal verbs of deduction in the past and present.

Episode page to read/download the transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-scI

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Reading out loud can have lots of benefits on our memory and our mental health. How can it help with your English? In this episode I read an article, help you understand it and give comments on the importance of reading, both quietly in your head, and out loud.

📖 Read the article on the BBC Future website https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200917-the-surprising-power-of-reading-aloud

📄 Read the transcript and download the PDF transcript from my website (free) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-s8w

✅ Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ to access the 3-part series about this episode, and more https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

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Last week a very special guest visited one of our comedy shows in Paris. I was given a ticket to the show, so I decided to record a podcast while riding through the streets on the way to the show, wondering if I might be able to interview this guest on LEP. Listen to find out what happened, and to hear some rambling and atmospheric sounds of Paris streets at night.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-s2m

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My dad returns to talk more about UK politics, this time describing the disastrous economic policy of Liz Truss and her Chancellor (finance minister) Kwasi Kwarteng. Advanced level English listening practice - this is complicated stuff, but keep listening to develop your English skills and learn about what's going on in UK politics and current affairs.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-s7G

Video version https://youtu.be/csrAYt0eNbc

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Amber and Paul join me in my pod room again for a rambling discussion about everything! Includes a language point about adjective + preposition collocations. Notice the phrases and try to find examples of them in context. Video version available.

Episode page with some vocabulary notes, links, video version https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rY3

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My mum returns to the podcast to answer some questions from listeners about books, cooking, her relationship with Luke and her granddaughter, the war in Ukraine, the song Imagine by John Lennon, family games, the time she fell off a horse & more...

Episode page with notes, links and scripts https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rTm

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[Part 2 of 2] James and Luke discuss some more "facts" about the UK, but can you guess if they are true or false? Learn some interesting trivia about life in Britain, and improve your vocabulary in the process.

Episode page with video version, all facts written + intro & ending transcripts https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rTT

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[Part 1 of 2] Can you guess if these "facts" about the UK are true or false?

James and Luke read out the facts and then discuss them one by one.

Learn some odd things about the UK, pick up some vocabulary about laws and customs, and try not to laugh on the bus.

Episode page with all facts written https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qI9

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Talking to my parents about events in the UK following the death of The Queen on 9 September, including the media coverage, the proclamation of King Charles III, comments about Charles as King and a discussion of the role of the monarch in the UK’s constitution. Also includes some comments about the new Prime Minister Liz Truss and the future of the UK government over the next 18 months.

Episode page (download the audio and check the full episode archive) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rOu

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Queen Elizabeth II died today. Here are my thoughts and feelings about the significance and symbolism of her life and death, recorded just an hour after I first saw the news.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rLA

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Fred Eyangoh returns to the podcast to bring some entertaining and useful word puzzles, quizzes and insights into English etymology & history.

👉 Episode page with vocabulary notes and introduction transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rJr

📼 YouTube video version (doesn't include intro or vocabulary summary) https://youtu.be/GmZlDQB8QWc

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Join us on a trip to a virtual pub for a couple of pints, a packet of crisps and some advice about how to go to the pub in English, with plenty of funny tangents, with Charlie Baxter.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rmQ

Video version on YouTube https://youtu.be/Vg5n11RfrvY

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Comparing British and American English vocabulary with a fun online quiz. My guest today is American comedian Sarah Donnelly. Video version (of the conversation) available.

Episode page with vocabulary notes & intro transcript 👉 https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rmL

Watch the conversation on YouTube 👉 https://youtu.be/JZ8A8lDopkw

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Paul McCartney turned 80 this year, so let's talk about this legend of British music! In this one, I am joined by Sam Whiles, the host of the Paul or Nothing podcast. Listen to hear an overview of Paul's career, and some Paul McCartney stories.

Episode page with introduction transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rmH

Watch the conversation on YouTube https://youtu.be/fUZCqVm8d6g

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Talking to Antony Rotunno about a classic British comedy film which makes fun of the legend of King Arthur (and everything else!) Originally published by Antony on his Film Gold podcast earlier this year.

Episode page with links, video clips and more https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rmE

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An unedited ramble in which I talk without a specific plan, includes a recording of my daughter speaking English, and a few songs on the guitar.

Video version available.

Episode page with song lyrics 👉 https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rn5

Video version on YouTube 👉 https://youtu.be/r3dhUOnci7w

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Luke reads verses from a modernised version of this medieval poem, considered one of the masterpieces of Middle English literature.

Listen to hear the rhyme and rhythm of the poetry, the descriptive vocabulary and details of the story, with vocabulary explanations and comments from Luke.

This is part 2 of a double episode about this story. Video version available with on-screen text.

Episode page with intro transcript & video version https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rj8

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A conversation with my dad about a great medieval adventure story originally written in middle English and updated and translated into modern English by Simon Armitage. Dad talks about the origin of this story, its connection to the history of the English language, and the poetic devices used in the writing. In the second half I read a summarised version of the story and some verses from Armitage's modernised version.

👉 Episode page with intro & ending scripts, story summary & more information https://wp.me/p4IuUx-rhs

My dad talks about the latest news about Boris Johnson, who on Friday said the UK should now begin the process of finding a new Prime Minister. Why is Johnson going to step down? What scandals has he been involved in during his life? What might happen next? Listen to hear my dad's comments in plain English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-r95

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A free sample of LEP Premium, from Luke's English Podcast. This is a full English lesson with self-study techniques, an entertaining story about a bear, language exercises and pronunciation practice. Full PDF transcript & worksheet available 👇

LEP Premium is a series of bonus episodes from Luke's English Podcast in which I teach you vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. LEP Premium is now available on Acast+. Episodes are usually in audio format, and you can listen to them in any normal podcast app.

👉 Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

👉 Click here for more information about LEP Premium on Acast+ https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

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📄🎁 PDF with large text for your phone https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/P35-1_1-StoryTime_-Learn-English-with-Stories-free-LEP-Premium-Sample-THE-BEAR-STORY-PHONE-VERSION.pdf

📄🎁 PDF Bear Story Transcript https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/P35-The-Bear-Story-Transcript-COMPUTER-VERSION.pdf

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Update 24/06/2022 - problems are now fixed!Episodes of LEP have disappeared from podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play - sorry about this! I'm changing podcast host, and my podcast feed is being updated. This is causing a few technical issues, but they are being fixed. Details below 👇 I have moved to a new podcast host - one which is based in Europe and which just suits me much better * Cool things are: You’ll be able to get LEP Premium much more easily - in your podcast app of choice (details on the website - coming soon) * You can support the podcast a lot more easily, if you’d like to be a stakeholder in LEP. * This is all part of my attempt (over 13 years!) to become a self-sufficient podcaster who can devote more time and energy to this project, and make episodes better and more useful and entertaining for you * You will notice some ads in episodes, depending on where you are. Not every time. * Also you might hear me mentioning podcast sponsors at the start of episodes sometimes. * Previously I used to have sponsors, but the pandemic stopped that, basically. I used to talk about italki, spoken, audible, but those things stopped fully during the coronavirus pandemic. * But I have to find ways to keep the podcast going and so the new host I’m working with (Acast) gives the option to put some ads in my episodes and they might also let me read some sponsorship promos too. * This is the way podcasts are going, as the technology develops and the medium becomes more established, little automatic adverts and sponsorships are part and parcel of that. This is how an industry develops around this sort of thing. * Back when I started this in 2009 it just wasn’t possible because the technology wasn’t there but these days it’s normal to either have some advertising in the content or you have the option to pay for a subscription with more content and no ads. * Just like YouTube, you get some ads on that platform and it’s just normal. Some people get YouTube premium to go ad-free and get all the music and stuff. * Or Spotify - if you use the free version to listen to your music there are ads on that too, unless you pay for a subscription. * So that’s what’s happening with LEP. * It’s not going to make a huge difference to you, I have to say, but I thought I would at least mention it, just so I can be transparent. * So here’s how it’s going to work. * You’ll get all the free episodes as normal, and the whole episode archive will continue to be freely available as normal. * You’ll probably hear a few ads sometimes. They’ll be short - certainly shorter than if I did them myself! * If you want to remove those ads so you never hear them while listening to LEP you’ll also be able to sign up for ad-free episodes. That’ll cost about $2 per month. You’ll be supporting me too if you do that. * You’ll be able to access LEP Premium episodes more easily than before, and it should be a system that you all should have access to (unlike with my original system which seems or seemed to block certain credit cards from different countries - the Acast system should accept all of you) and you’ll be able to get your premium content in your normal podcast app - not just through the LEP App. And if you become a premium subscriber, that will also remove all the ads. And you’ll be supporting me too.*

This way I can keep the archive free, but also reward people who support me by giving them my premium content which I always work hard to produce.

For LEP Premium subscribers - keep an eye on your LEP subscription because I will be uploading an announcement about that too, and also some new premium content is in the pipeline.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sign up to LEP Premium on Acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Sign up to LEP Premium here https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

Sign up to LEP Premium here https://plus.acast.com/s/teacherluke.

What do British people think about The Queen and The Royal Family? (with James)

Luke and James discuss their feelings about the Royal Family, with some survey results about the popularity of royal family members among British people in general.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qMp

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

772. Rambling in the Podcastle (June 2022) News / Thoughts / Reflections

This is an unedited monologue in which I talk about some things which are on my mind at the moment, including how my hair is stopping me from learning French (and vice versa), virtuous and vicious circles, how English is like a shark (or a river - or maybe a shark in a river), some comments about recent episodes and a visit from a friendly bat at my podcastle.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qJQ

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Image by FunkyFocus from Pixabay

771. Sick In Japan (Recorded Live at the BC)

My story about how I ended up in a Japanese hospital bed, scared out of my brain. Recorded live in front of an audience at the British Council in Paris.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qC0

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts, Mugs & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

770. Boats & Murder (but mostly murder) with Moz

An episode with my friend Moz from the Murder Mile True Crime Podcast. Moz returns to tell us some true stories of crimes in the London area. Expect some smalltalk about living on a boat, some murder stories and an interactive detective game in which we have to solve a murder.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qm6

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Luke's stand up comedy at the English Comedy Night in Paris https://www.panameartcafe.com/shop/stand_up/paname-english-comedy-night/

Murder Mile Podcast https://www.murdermiletours.com/podcast.html

769. Film Club: This Is Spinal Tap (with James)

A return to Luke's Film Club with the classic comedy This Is Spinal Tap, a "mockumentary" about a fictitious rock band from the 1980s. This time I am joined by my brother James and we discuss what was once voted "Funniest comedy film of all time". Learn some famous quotes from the film, listen to some scenes and understand the comedy with help from James and me.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qwC

768. English Teaching Methodologies (with Gabriel Clark)

Gabriel Clark from clarkandmiller.com joins me to discuss a short history of teaching methodology in the world of TEFL. The direct method, the grammar translation method, The Audio Lingual Method, the Structural Approach, Suggestopedia, Total Physical Response, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), The Silent Way, Community Language Learning, Task Based Language Learning, The Lexical Approach and dogme style - all these get described and discussed. Learn how English teachers teach you English!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-quK

My talk at the British Council https://www.britishcouncil.fr/evenements/talks-english-comedie

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch etc https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

767. Amber & Paul in the Podcastle

Two hours of PodPal action for your enjoyment. This one has a bit of everything. Some audience questions, an idioms game, some dodgy jokes, accents, impressions and more.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qre

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-shirts, mugs etc https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Learning English with The News (with Stephen from SEND7 Podcast)

Talking to Stephen from the Simple English News Daily podcast about learning English with the news and whether BBC reporters actually speak like normal humans.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qm3

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-shirts, mugs, etc https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Learning English with The News (with Stephen from SEND7 Podcast)

Talking to Stephen from the Simple English News Daily podcast about learning English with the news and whether BBC reporters actually speak like normal humans.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qm3

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-shirts, mugs, etc https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

765. Travelling Stories / Reverse Culture Shock (with Martin Johnston from Rock n' Roll English)

Martin joins Luke to talk about moving back to the UK, his fundraiser for Ukrainian refugees and some funny stories about travelling experiences.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qkq

Martin's fundraiser www.rocknrollenglish.com/stories

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

764. 22 Funny Jokes, Explained

Learn English with 22 funny jokes with explanations of vocabulary, homophones, double meanings and pronunciation. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qhy

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

British Council English Score Tutors https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/english

LEP T-Shirts, Mugs, etc https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

764. 22 Funny Jokes, Explained

Learn English with 22 funny jokes with explanations of vocabulary, homophones, double meanings and pronunciation. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-qhy

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

British Council English Score Tutors https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/english

LEP T-Shirts, Mugs, etc https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

763. Rambling in the new Pod-Room / Choose The Adverb / Deal or No Deal This is a chance for me to just let loose and have a ramble while inviting you to this kind of housewarming party (or perhaps just the first part of the party) in my new pod-room. In this one I am going to welcome you into the new room and do a ramble challenge in which I am restricted to only talking about things inside the room, plus reading from some random books on my shelves. Grammar rules, adverbial collocations and a game show story.

Private Lessons with British Council English Score Tutors https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/english

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-q9b

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Rules of the Ramble

Welcome everyone to the pod-room. Give a tour. I’m restricted to only talking about things inside the room. Maybe describe some of the items on the walls and pictures. Include some descriptive language. Pick up a book and do a random exercise from it. Keep talking without pausing or saying “errr”.

762. Meditation & Learning English (with Antony Rotunno)

Discussing meditation, meditation techniques, how it can help in our lives and improve us as language learners. Antony Rotunno is my guest and listen out for stories, advice, tangents and maybe one or two revelations.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-q99

Private Lessons https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/english

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts, Mugs & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Luke & Antony discuss Monty Python & The Holy Grail https://youtu.be/YMtOOBpRBaA

Antony's Meditation episodes from Life & Life Only

https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/e/episode-4-the-joys-and-wonders-of-meditation-part-1-of-2/

https://lifeandlifeonly.podbean.com/e/episode-5-the-joys-and-wonders-of-meditation-part-2-of-2/

Antony's Podcasts

Life & Life Only https://plinkhq.com/i/1549021296?to=page
Glass Onion: On John Lennon https://plinkhq.com/i/1473867166?to=page
Film Gold https://plinkhq.com/i/1544641271?to=page

761. Why we love The Beatles (Recorded Live at The British Council) + Public Speaking Tips

This is a presentation I did at the British Council in Paris recently, in front of a live audience. First I talk about public speaking and my approach to doing presentations and then you can hear the recording of my talk. The Beatles were a global phenomenon when they first appeared in the 1960s and their appeal continues to this day. The world still loves The Beatles. But why is this? Join me as I take a deeper look at the social, cultural and psychological factors that make The Beatles story so compelling even after all these years.

Episode page with intro & ending transcripts https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pXd

Private Lessons with British Council English Score Tutors https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/english

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

760. The Rick Thompson Report: Ukraine

Talking to my dad about the situation in Ukraine on 28 February 2022.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pZ0

759. Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans

Join me as I walk around my local streets in Paris, go to the laundrette and ramble about what's going on in LEPland at the moment and why there haven't been any new episodes for a while.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2022/02/23/759-life-is-what-happens-when-youre-busy-making-other-plans/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

758. Pub Quiz Trivia with Sarah The Paris Quiz Mistress

Chatting to pub quiz host Sarah Toporoff about her love of trivia, and asking each other quiz questions about history, geography, literature, language & pop culture. Can you answer the questions and follow the conversation?

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pSp

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

757. Setting up my new Pod-Room / DIY (Do It Yourself) Vocabulary & Expressions

Describing how I am setting up my new pod-room with a couple of stories and plenty of vocabulary for talking about DIY and doing improvements to your home. Vocabulary list available.

Episode page with vocabulary list https://teacherluke.co.uk/2022/01/22/757-setting-up-my-new-pod-room-diy-do-it-yourself-vocabulary-expressions/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

756. Learn English with LEP in 2022 / A New Year Ramble

In this episode I’m going to wish you a Happy New Year, ramble a little bit about what’s going on in LEPland, restate some of my aims and objectives for this podcast, and give a few comments on how you can use the podcast to improve your English, with reference to some recommended episodes from the archive.

Episode page with links and notes https://teacherluke.co.uk/2022/01/05/756-learn-english-with-lep-in-2022-a-new-year-ramble

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

755. FUNNY RUSSIAN CITIZENSHIP TEST with Amber & Paul

Can Luke, Amber & Paul pass this funny Russian citizenship test which was written and sent in by a Russian LEPster? Join us as we attempt to answer questions which (apparently) every Russian person would know. This could be embarrassing!
P.S. I am 99% sure that this really is the final episode of 2021.

Episode page (download the audio & read the full citizenship test from Vadim) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pPY

LEP Premium (vocabulary, grammar & pronunciation lessons) https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-shirts & merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

754. Learning & Teaching English in The Metaverse / The Mandalorian (with Andy Johnson)

Andy Johnson returns to talk about more “M” words - this time it’s The Metaverse and The Mandalorian. The Metaverse is an immersive and interactive 3D online environment. How can it be used for learning and teaching English? Andy’s new job is with a company that offers English learning in the metaverse, so let’s chat about it. Also, we finally talk about The Mandalorian on LEP after waiting nearly a year! This is probably the last episode of LEP in 2021 - so Merry Christmas everyone and I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pLR

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Fluent Worlds Academy (Learn English in The Metaverse) https://academy.fluentworlds.com/

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

753. Visiting the Louvre Museum with Amber & Paul

Join Amber, Paul and me as we take a tour of the famous Louvre Museum in Paris and describe some of the world's most amazing artwork and artefacts, including stunning Greek sculptures like Venus de Milo, fascinating renaissance paintings by Leonardo da Vinci such as the Mona Lisa and many more incredible pieces. The video version has photos of all the work being described. Photos are also shown on the website page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pLe

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-Shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Creating Award-Winning Books for Children (with Penny Dale)

Author and illustrator Penny Dale talks about the process of creating successful books for children, including some of her most popular books such as Ten In The Bed and the Dinosaur series. Video version available. Audio version has 30mins extra rambling.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pJd

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP T-shirts & Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

Penny Dale www.pennydale.co.uk

751. Bath Arts Workshop: Counterculture in the 1970s (with Penny Dale)

Chatting to English author & illustrator Penny Dale about her involvement in a counterculture arts movement from the 1970s, the Bath Arts Workshop.

Episode page with vocabulary notes https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pIT

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

More information about BAW and the new book https://www.bathartsworkshop.org/

More about Penny Dale http://www.pennydale.co.uk/about.html

Credit for Phil Shepherd interview clip - Richard Wyatt www.bathnewseum.com

750. An Unedited Ramble / How to talk about Being Busy in English

In this unedited episode I share some of the thoughts that have been running through my head, talk about being busy and look at some vocabulary to describe busy times in your life. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pIz

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

LEP DESIGN COMPETITION 2021: Discussing the Entries & Choosing the Winners with James James and Luke discuss designs sent in by listeners, and choose the winner(s). The prize: to have your design featured in the LEP Merch Store, plus an £80 reward! Listen for plenty of descriptive language, diplomatic language and ways of giving positive and feedback in English. Video version also available (with all the designs on screen) on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pFU

LEP Merch store www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

James' music www.jimthompson.bandcamp.com

James on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/VideoDaze

EPISODE CONTENTS with time codes

00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:34 Hello James
00:10:31 Judging Criteria
00:11:20 English to look out for
00:12:05 1. Iwona - "We're gonna have a good time"
00:16:41 2. Kyoungjin - LEP Logo with Black Circle
00:20:57 3. Francisca - "Stop Rambling Luke!"
00:27:17 4. Silvia & Sara - LEP Ninjas / Gill's Book Club
00:37:49 5. Giuliana - Frog Ninja
00:41:19 6. Adel - LEPland / Luke Dissecting a Frog
00:44:28 7. Lenka - Ramblecast t-shirt
00:47:07 8. Evgeniya - LEPland Citizen
00:50:37 9. Alyona - Cryptic LEP logo / It's my cup of tea
00:55:44 10. Denis - Russian Joke
1:02:38 11. Jakub - A range of LEP designs
1:06:48 13. All4Band.com team - "A particular set of skills"
1:13:20 14. Sia - Prawn man, Luke and Batman
1:17:03 15. Andrey - LEP X-Ray
1:20:40 16. Max - Luke's head
1:23:42 17. Sofia - All calm in LEPland
1:25:33 18. Julia - Pink Gorilla says Nice One ;)
1:29:05 THE WINNERS
1:37:02 Ending Monologue (Hedging & diplomatic language, James' music)

I couldn't post all the images here I'm afraid. But you can see them on YouTube (link above) or the episode page (link also above).

🎧

748. Karl Pilkington's 3-Minute Wonders / Manchester Accent [Part 2]

Understand more of Karl Pilkington's rambling as we learn about the Manchester accent and pick up vocabulary along the way. Video version available on YouTube.

Episode page with transcript & video https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pyE

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

747. Social Awkwardness / Very British Problems (with Michael Lavers from Level Up English)

Talking to Michael Lavers from the Level Up English Podcast about learning Japanese, embarrassing moments in language learning, social awkwardness and some "very British problems". Are you as socially awkward as a British person? Let's see how you and Michael would respond to some quiz questions that will test your British awkwardness to the max. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pxs

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

746. Karl Pilkington's 3-Minute Wonders / Manchester Accent

Understand English as it is spoken by native speakers. Let's listen to Karl Pilkington rambling about life, the universe & everything, and see what we can understand and learn. Karl is from Manchester, so we'll be looking at some features of his accent, picking up plenty of vocabulary and having a bit of a laugh along the way. Video version available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pwg

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

745. Mental Factors in Learning English (with Ray Addam) [English with Ray SwapCast]

Talking to English teacher Ray Addam from Glasgow in Scotland about mental factors in learning English, such as anxiety, confidence, stress and motivation. Video version available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pve

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

744. The Rick Thompson Report: Fuel Crisis / Brexit Rant (Autumn 2021)

Talking to my dad about the latest in the Brexit saga, including the current fuel crisis due to lack of lorry drivers and other problems which were predicted in the run up to the Brexit referendum in 2016. Video version available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pv0

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

LEP Merch https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

743. Give me Tea, Please - Practical Ingredients for Tasteful Language (with Natasha V Broodie) + ramble / song

Talking to author Natasha V Broodie who has written a book which aims to help learners of English understand the subtle codes of polite language when making requests and giving information in professional and personal contexts. In the conversation we explore the topic and consider some tips for making your language more culturally appropriate.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pt3

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

742. NEW LEP T-SHIRTS & MERCH + LEP DESIGN COMPETITION 2021 with James

New LEP Merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, etc) is now available at https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/merch

And I am launching a design competition to give you a chance to get your design in the merch store and win £80.

Listen to Luke & James describing the designs, the merch stores and the details of the competition.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2021/09/22/742-new-lep-t-shirts-merch-lep-design-competition-2021-with-james/

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

👕

741. Top Jokes from Edinburgh Fringe 2021, Explained

Learn English from some jokes in this episode as we go through 9 jokes chosen as the best of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe stand up comedy scene this year (2021). Let me tell you the jokes, see if you understand them, and then I will break them down for language learning opportunities. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ppd

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

740. Are native English speakers bad communicators? (The Travel Adapter with Matt Halsdorff)

Talking to English teacher Matt Halsdorff about a project to train native English speakers how to communicate better with non-natives. We talk about the reasons why native speakers are often bad at communicating with non-natives, what they should do to fix this and the wider issues relating to this topic. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ppi

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

739. The Escaped Man by CT Platt (Learn English with Short Stories)

Reading a short story presented on Commaful.com. The Escaped Man is a mystery full of tension and intrigue. Listen closely as I break it all down and explain the vocabulary fully. YouTube video version also available.

Episode page with transcript links https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pol

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Chatting to my family about some old anecdotes and stories from the past. Listen for some enjoyable chat, memories, descriptions and tales from days gone by.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-plu

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

737. A Summer Ramble 2 (Late August 2021)

I'm back in the podcast-zone after my holiday so I thought I would do another rambling episode before getting down to work on other content to be released soon. Video version also available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pls

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

736. The War of the Worlds [Part 3] Learn English with Stories

The final part of this series in which I am reading from the classic story The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, while explaining and clarifying the English which comes up. Full transcript available and YouTube video version too.

Episode page with YouTube version, full transcript and links to parts 1 & 2 https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oZB

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

735. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells [Part 2] Learn English with Stories

Continuing to read extracts from this fantastic science fiction story from the 19th century. Follow the plot and pick up some English in the process. Full transcript available, and a YouTube version too.

Episode page with full transcript, YouTube version and links for parts 1 & 3 https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oZl

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

734. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells [Part 1] Learn English with Stories

Luke reads extracts from The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.

This is a classic bit of science fiction writing from the Victorian era, with some thrilling passages and scary descriptions. It's one of my favourite books of all time and I hope you enjoy it too and learn some English from it. Full transcript available and YouTube version too.

Episode page with links for parts 2& 3, YouTube version and transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oZd

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

733. A Summer Ramble (Early August 2021)

A pre-holiday ramble in which I talk about learning English, moving to a new flat, the podcast over the next few months, football, being on Other People's Podcasts, a recording of my daughter speaking English and a couple of songs. Video version also available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-peO

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

732. Christian from Canguro English returns

Talking to Christian again about some of the themes and controversial opinions he talks about in his YouTube videos, plus some bits about men wearing thongs on the beach, an obsession with rabbits and if Christian was the Donald Trump of English teaching. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pb6

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

731. Beatles Song Lyrics / Idioms & Expressions (with Antony Rotunno)

Learn English with The Beatles as we explore lyrics from Beatles songs and pick out some idioms, descriptive language and other vocabulary for you to learn. Featuring Antony Rotunno from the Glass Onion: On John Lennon podcast.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oYM

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

730. Marie Connolly Returns (+ 2 songs)

Talking to author Marie Connolly about her new books for children, plus a story about how Jerry Seinfeld came to one of our comedy shows, with two songs on guitar at the end.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-pb4

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Links for Marie's book https://books2read.com/Dudesgottasnowboard?fbclid=IwAR0AxrM9MubGXRUcDWvNd0VfuKDKQAInkyKrehmVQ_JWklucjIZoKceogVo

729. TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test (with Josh MacPherson from TSTPrep.com)

Talking to Josh MacPherson about tips and advice for taking TOEFL and the Duolingo English Test. YouTube version also available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oYm

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Josh's website https://www.tstprep.com

BONUS: [2/2] EURO2020 Swapcast with Martin Johnston (RnR) & Zdenek Lukas (ZEP) + COMPETITION WINNERS

Part 2 of this swapcast about the UEFA Euro2020 football championship with Luke Thompson (Luke's English Podcast), Martin Johnston (Rock N' Roll English) and Zdenek Lukas (Zdenek's English Podcast), with details of the winners of our competition giveaway.

The two semi finals have been played, and this coming Sunday the 11 July, it’s the final between Italy and England. We’re going to talk about that a bit and we’re going to reveal the winners of our giveaway competition.

⚽️

728. English with Rob / Games, Music & Jingles

My guest today is Rob from English with Rob (podcast/YouTube). Rob is an English teacher, musician from England, and my former colleague. This episode includes lots of musical fun, some chatting about how we make our podcasts, fun word games and much more. Video version also available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oYk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Describing John Lennon / Adjectives of Personality J-Z (with Antony Rotunno)

The second part of my conversation with Antony Rotunno (John Lennon podcaster, English teacher) in which we discuss adjectives of personality, with John Lennon as a case study. Vocabulary list available.

Episode page with vocabulary list https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oYi

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Glass Onion: On John Lennon (Antony's Podcast) https://plinkhq.com/i/1473867166?to=page

726. Describing John Lennon / Adjectives of Personality A-I (with Antony Rotunno)

Learn useful adjectives for describing personality traits, with John Lennon as a case study. This is episode 3/5 in my series about The Beatles, with returning guest Antony Rotunno from the podcast "Glass Onion: On John Lennon".

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oXK

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Antony's John Lennon podcast https://plinkhq.com/i/1473867166?to=page

BONUS: [1/2] EURO2020 Swapcast with Martin Johnston (RnR) & Zdenek Lukas (ZEP)

A fun chat about the UEFA Euro2020 Football Championship, with Luke Thompson (Luke's English Podcast), Martin Johnston (Rock N' Roll English) and Zdenek Lukas (Zdenek's English Podcast), with a special prize giveaway in which you can win prizes from all 3 of us. Non-football fans, feel free to skip this, of course! Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-p2M

Video version on YouTube https://youtu.be/D1uq__bSbgg

Giveaway Competition details. Prizes to be won! To enter the giveaway competition just enter your email address using the Google form (link below). We'll randomly pick 3 email addresses. Those 3 people will be the winners, and each person will receive a prize from Martin, Zdenek and Luke. Deadline for entries: 12pm CET 6 July 2021. Google form to enter the competition https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZ_R5SGjo-EVrUX9ke5tPehdJtBokCoMyzJRaAAPKbrfLd4Q/viewform

We will only use your email addresses for this competition, and not for any marketing or any other purpose.

The prizes
Martin's prize: Free access to the Rock & Roll English Family for 1 month.
Zdenek's prize: Free entry to Zdenek's English through Role Plays course.
Luke's prize: An LEP Mug, signed by Luke.

Find out more details about Martin, Zdenek and their podcasts here https://wp.me/p4IuUx-p2M

725. Fun & Games for Learning English with Vickie Kelty

Playing word games with English teacher Vickie Kelty and talking about how to use these games in learning and teaching English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oXq

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Vicky Kelty's Website https://www.vickiekelty.com/

BONUS: Unboxing my Shiny YouTube Award (Audio Version)

Just the audio track for my YouTube live video in which I unboxed my nice shiny award for reaching 100,000 subscribers, with some audience questions and a song at the end.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-p1C

Video version on YouTube https://youtu.be/KYm4KjB7F0E

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

724. The Mountain (Short Story) + Video

Reading an emotional short story, with vocabulary explanations and differences between British and American English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oXm

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

I'm unboxing my YouTube shiny thing on Thursday 10 June at 3PM Paris time (CET). Come and join me! Link here https://youtu.be/mYAYWs06HeI

723. Bahar from Iran 🇮🇷 (WISBOLEP Runner-Up)

This is the final episode in the WISBOLEP competition series, speaking to Bahar from Iran about the 7-step method she used to improve her English and develop a British-sounding accent. Bahar used to be a terrible student who hated English, but then she made a decision to focus on her English in her own way. Listen to her explain how she did it.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oX1

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

722. Discussing John Lennon with Antony Rotunno

The second in a short series about The Beatles, this one focuses on the life of John Lennon, with an overview of his life story, some thoughts about his psychology and some rambling discussion questions about this iconic British musician, with podcaster, English teacher and musician Antony Rotunno

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oY0

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

721. Collins Dictionary Word Quizzes / Confusing Words with Fred Eyangoh

This is the second part of my recent conversation with Fred Eyangoh about learning new vocabulary. This one includes a word quiz with homophones and commonly confused words from the Collins Dictionary website.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oVJ

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

720. How Fred Learns Vocabulary with the New York Times Spelling Bee (with Fred Eyangoh)

Fred often plays spelling games on his phone during his lunch break, and he has discovered lots of new words as a result. In this episode I talk to Fred about his process of discovering and understanding new words and I talk about learning vocabulary with online dictionaries.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oTV

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

719. Amber & Paul are on the Podcast

Talking to pod-pals Amber & Paul about diverse topics including organ harvesting (yes), favourite fruits (exciting), accent challenges, guess the punchline, British Citizenship tests, What the "great" in Great Britain really means, and Amber's son Hugo's astonishing fluency in English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oTL

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

718. Michael the Shaman 🇵🇱 (WISBLOEP Runner-Up)

Talking to competition runner-up Michael from Poland about two top English learning tips, scary hitch-hiking stories and the practice of shamanism using psychoactive substances.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oPQ

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

717. Gill's Book Club: "One Two Three Four - The Beatles In Time" by Craig Brown

Talking to my mum about a book which you could read as part of your English learning routine. The book tells the story of The Beatles and their impact on society. We review the book and then discuss many aspects of The Beatles story, especially the four Beatles themselves.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oRi

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

716. Interview with a Pop Star from the 1960s - Megan Brady from The Applejacks

An interview with Megan Brady, who was the bass guitar player in The Applejacks - a pop band from Birmingham in the 1960s who had a top 5 record, met The Beatles and performed on TV shows and at concerts in the UK.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oJn

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

715. Catching up with Craig Wealand [LEP/AIRC Swapcast]

Exchanging questions with English teacher Craig Wealand from "Apprender Ingles con Resa y Craig" about COVID-19, living in Europe post-Brexit, my daughter's English, getting proper tea in France and Spain, teaching English on Zoom, the worst jobs we've ever had + more, with a song on the guitar at the end.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oOG

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Apprender Ingles con Resa y Craig www.inglespodcast.com

714. Robin from Hamburg 🇩🇪 (WISBOLEP Runner-Up)

Talking to another runner-up from last year's listener competition. Robin from Hamburg had a big setback in his learning of English, but worked hard to overcome it. We talk about his English learning trajectory, and ramble about German language & culture, his podcast for learners of German, podcasting microphones and then Robin teaches me some German words which are difficult to pronounce.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oNC

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

713. Lucky Dip with Paul Taylor

More random questions, talking points, accent challenges and "guess the idiom" with pod-pal Paul Taylor. Includes discussion of accents in English, cancel culture in comedy, some rude Spanish phrases and more. Video version available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oLA

Video Version on YouTube https://youtu.be/3M47zI3PPho

Luke on Paul Taylor's Happy Hour (5 April 2021) https://youtu.be/msSIeSSLPRs

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

712. A Chat with Charlie Baxter

Chatting with Charlie from The British English Podcast and Real English with Real Teachers on YouTube. We talk about the north/south divide in England, Charlie's background in psychology & NLP, his decision to become an online English teacher and his travelling experiences in Chile, Germany and Australia. Video version available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oJp

Video version on YouTube https://youtu.be/Lqcvk1ptXD0

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Links for The British English Podcast

Website: http://thebritishenglishpodcast.com/
Podcast links: https://plinkhq.com/i/1533216336
Charlie's interview with me https://thebritishenglishpodcast.com/blog/s2-e4

711. William from France 🇫🇷 (WISBOLEP Runner-UP)

William started learning English at 12 years old and continued at university and beyond, spending a couple of years in England as a teaching assistant and then returning to France to work as a school teacher, in some pretty tough classrooms and less-than-perfect teaching conditions. William talks about how he continues to maintain his English, the importance of finding good language exchange partners, and more.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oJw

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

710. The Umbrella Man by Roald Dahl (Short Story)

In this episode I read out a short story written by Roald Dahl and then comment on the style, language and plot. Enjoy some storytelling and learn some English in the process. Video version available.

Episode page (with link for the PDF) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oFb

Video version on YouTube https://youtu.be/Fxm1vTW5jdg

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

709. The Stoicism of Groundhog Day (with Mum)

This is a conversation with my mum about philosophy, how the film Groundhog Day can help us understand the principles of stoicism, and how this can all help us to feel a bit better about the world.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oDi

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

The Stoicism of Groundhog Day by Tim LeBon https://modernstoicism.com/the-stoicism-of-groundhog-dayby-tim-lebon/

708. Tasha Liu from China (WISBOLEP Runner-Up)

This conversation with competition runner-up Tasha Liu is a way to get to know Chinese culture in a personal way including the story of how Tasha's father gave up drinking alcohol, and other interesting details about real life in the world's most populated country.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oC7

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

707. [2/2] Let's Play Another Text Adventure Game - "Zombolocaust" by Peter Carlson

[Part 2] Playing the rest of a text adventure game about the zombie apocalypse, with text on the screen so you can read with me while you listen. Works best on full-screen mode.

Episode page with video & notes https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oBv

YouTube video version https://youtu.be/6SsQYURFdvo

Play "Zombolocaust" by Peter Carlson (play along while you listen, or play later) https://textadventures.co.uk/games/view/5kjlubyvzuitox6z52xipq/zombolocaust

Text Adventures website http://www.textadventures.co.uk

Luke's English Podcast website with full episode archive https://www.teacherluke.co.uk

Download Luke's English Podcast app to get all the episodes on your phone
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lukes-english-podcast-app/id1293261868?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teacherluke.android.english&hl=en

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

🎧

706. [1/2] Let's Play Another Text Adventure Game - "Zombolocaust" by Peter Carlson

[Part 1] Playing a text adventure game about the zombie apocalypse, with text on the screen so you can read with me while you listen. Works best on full-screen mode.

Episode page with video & notes https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oBr

YouTube video version https://youtu.be/YCPwEDlzmOo

Part 2 on YouTube https://youtu.be/6SsQYURFdvo

Play "Zombolocaust" by Peter Carlson (play along while you listen, or play later) https://textadventures.co.uk/games/view/5kjlubyvzuitox6z52xipq/zombolocaust

Text Adventures website http://www.textadventures.co.uk

Luke's English Podcast website with full episode archive https://www.teacherluke.co.uk

Download Luke's English Podcast app to get all the episodes on your phone
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lukes-english-podcast-app/id1293261868?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teacherluke.android.english&hl=en

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

🎧

705. Kate Billington Returns (and she brought cake)

Listen to another natural conversation with Kate Billington about some listener comments, Chinese New Year, English festivals & food in February, sports day traditions, more cake recipes, various bits of vocabulary and more.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oAC

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

704. The Rick Thompson Report: Brexit Update (February 2021)

Talking again to my dad about UK politics and current affairs, focusing on the latest developments in Brexit, plus a bit of weather and sport. Listen to hear my dad explain complex things in plain English.

Download the audio, get the full transcript and access the full episode archive 👉 https://wp.me/p4IuUx-oxp

LEP Premium 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Get the LEP App to listen to all the audio episodes on your phone. iOS 👉 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lukes-english-podcast-app/id1293261868?mt=8

Android 👉 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teacherluke.android.english&hl=en

703. Walaa from Syria - WISBOLEP Competition Winner 🏆

Walaa Mouma from Syria has an amazing and inspiring story for all learners of English around the world, and some specific tips on how to improve your English long-term. Listen to this episode to hear all about it. Transcript and text video available.

Episode page (download the transcript, download the mp3, comment section, etc) https://wp.me/p4IuUx-npA

Text Video Version on YouTube (Don't forget to like & subscribe of course) https://youtu.be/w9ythdvbKKM

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

702. Emergency Questions (with James)

Listen to Luke and James talking about various topics as we answer questions from the book "Emergency Questions" by comedian Richard Herring. Text video and full transcript available.

Episode page with full transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-l5P

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Text video coming soon here https://www.youtube.com/lukesenglishpodcast

701. Legal English with Louise Kulbicki

Discussing some of the most important terms and concepts in legal English, while also learning about key cases through some amusing stories, with legal English trainer Louise Kulbicki.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-kKI

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Text video on YouTube (currently uploading here www.youtube.com/lukesenglishpodcast )

Marooned With My Music: Luke Thompson

Marking episode 700 with a special episode. Guest host Oli Thompson interviews Luke using a classic format from BBC Radio. Luke is going to be marooned on a desert island but he is allowed to bring 8 pieces of music, one book and a luxury item. For episode 700 this is a chance to get to know Luke and his musical choices a little better. (Transcript and text video versions available)

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-klK

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Text video version on YouTube (currently uploading)

699. Welcome (back) to Luke's English Podcast / FAQ (January 2021)

Wishing everyone a happy new year and taking stock of the main aims and methods of this podcast, plus some frequently asked questions. Video version available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-jW0

YouTube video version https://youtu.be/b476zEQ1e7I

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

698. Paul is on the Podcast / Random Questions with Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor joins me for some random questions and challenges, including various little discussion points, accents, citizenship test questions, idioms, jokes and more.

*697. 11 Christmas Cracker Jokes for 2020, Explained*

Going through 11 topical Christmas jokes for 2020, then a ramble about podcast statistics for 2020 and more... Merry Christmas everyone!

696. WISBOLEP Competition Results + RAMBLE

Join me as I potter around my flat and give the results of the WISBOLEP competition then make a cup of tea and have a ramble about things like listening to non-native English speakers, reducing clutter in your home, renting vs owning a property, what it must be like to have only one hand, Zatoichi the blind swordsman, The Mandalorian TV series, Christmas plans and more. Includes a song on the guitar at the end.

695. Pronunciation, Pragmatics & Procrastination with Emma

Talking to Emma from YouTube channel Pronunciation with Emma about accents, improving your pronunciation, understanding pragmatics in English, and learning English through video games.

694. The Crown / The Royal Family (A Royal Ramble with My Wife)

Talking to my wife about the latest season of the Netflix TV drama The Crown, which follows the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II and her family. We talk about Charles & Diana, Margaret Thatcher, The Queen's accent, Prince Andrew's BBC interview and more.

693. English With Lucy / A Conversation with Lucy Earl

Chatting to Lucy Earl from the English with Lucy channel on YouTube.

View the video on YouTube https://youtu.be/OUtpjZEIXr8

692. WISBOLEP Competition Entries - Listen & Vote!

Listen to recordings sent in by listeners and vote for who you think should be on LEP.

Listen to the 16 competition entries again https://youtu.be/8rKRcVzo-w0

Listen to the other 85 LEPsters who are still worthy of your attention, with sumptuous video footage of the UK and other locations https://youtu.be/rsBttoN1UHA

691. Jerome Butler - Dialect Coach

How do professional actors change the way they speak for different acting roles? What can learners of English take from the way actors do this, in order to apply it to their language learning? In this conversation I speak to Jerome Butler who is a very experienced dialect coach working in the TV and film industry in the USA, and we discuss these questions.

Photo by Alison Cohen Rosa https://www.alisoncohenrosa.com/

690. Urban vs Rural / Living Abroad / Cultural Differences (with Cara Leopold)

A conversation with Cara Leopold about the differences between life in Paris and life in provincial France, plus how it feels to live abroad away from your home country.

689. Baking Cakes, Telling Jokes & Speaking Chinese with Kate Billington

A funny chat with Kate who speaks multiple languages, makes delicious cakes, teaches English and does stand-up comedy. Enjoy!

689. Sean Connery

I recorded an episode about Sean Connery, who died yesterday. I didn’t expect to get emotional, but I did. Here it is. Hope you like it.

687. WISBOLEP Problem / Polite Requests / An Inspiring Email / Fly Me To the Moon

A rambling episode with some news about a problem I have with the WISBOLEP competition (ooh!), some tips on making polite requests, an inspiring email from a LEPster and a song on guitar at the end.

686. Christian from Canguro English

A conversation with YouTube English teacher Christian Saunders from Canguro English about the realities of learning and teaching English, motivation and goal-setting in language learning, Paul McCartney recording an album in his kitchen and plenty more. Video version also available on YouTube.

685. Raising Bilingual Children [1] Alex and his daughter Alice, in Moscow

An episode exploring the subject of how to raise a child to speak English. I speak to Alex, an English teacher from Moscow about how he has been speaking exclusively in English to his 4-year-old daughter Alice since she was born. Let's find out how it's going.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-hdK

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

684. Chasing the Tangent Train with Elspeth Graty

A conversation with English-teaching stand-up comedian Elspeth Graty, which covers lots of different topics including Elspeth's background in England, teaching English, cultural differences, "French-bashing", old-fashioned telephones and The Tellytubbies. Enjoy!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-h0M

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Feelgood Stories of Flirting with Marie Connolly

Marie Connolly is an Australian stand-up comedian and TEFL teacher who has written a book of short stories about times when men (from various countries) have flirted with her. In this episode Marie shares some of those stories, tells us about English men vs French men vs Australian men and much more.

Episode page with transcripts and vocabulary list https://wp.me/p4IuUx-gNR

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

682. Key Features of English Accents, Explained

Exploring the main differences between standard English pronunciation (RP) and non-standard regional or colloquial accents. How do people really speak in different parts of England, and how does this accent differ from the accent you probably hear in English language course books and dictionaries? Notes & videos available on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-gkM

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

681. New Competition: Why I Should Be On LEP (WISBOLEP) / Story: The First Time I Said F*ck

Announcing a new LEP competition which everyone is welcome to enter, plus an anecdote about the first time I said a rude word in front of my parents.

Send your competition entries to podcastcomp@gmail.com

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-g1m

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

680. Park Life - A Year in The Wildlife Of An Urban Park (by Rick Thompson) / Animal Collective Nouns

My dad has written a book and it's all about the wildlife you can find in an urban English park. He's on the podcast to tell us all about it, and there are some collective nouns for animals too, plus some bonus stand up comedy at the end.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-fPp

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

679. Gill's Book Club: A Gentleman In Moscow

Talking to my mum about her latest book recommendation. A Gentleman In Moscow is about a Russian Count who is put under house arrest in 1922 in the beautiful Metropol Hotel in Moscow.

Check the episode page for some notes and transcripts.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ftr

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

678. The Vintage Furniture Trade in London (with Howard Roach)

Talking to my old teaching colleague Howard Roach about his furniture business in South London.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-fkL

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

A Post-Holiday Ramble / Holiday Vocab / Stories

I've come back from my holiday so it's time to ramble on about some holiday stories, holiday vocabulary, podcast stats and other bits and pieces including an appearance by my daughter.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-eZ2

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

676. David Crystal: Let's Talk - How English Conversation Works

Professor David Crystal returns to talk about his latest books, and more. The first book is all about the art of conversation in English, and the second one is a spy thriller inspired by real events.

David Crystal is one of the world's leading linguists and an expert on the English language. He is also a national treasure and it's a treat to be able to talk to him in this episode. Video version also available on YouTube.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-cEY

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

YouTube version https://youtu.be/-YZiWvdQ76Q

Let’s Talk - How English Conversation Works (OUP) by David Crystal https://global.oup.com/academic/product/lets-talk-9780198850694?cc=fr⟨=en&

The Encyclopedia Codes by David Crystal https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Codes-David-Crystal-ebook/dp/B08DDL8N3C/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=david+crystal+the+encyclopedia+codes&qid=1596307248&sr=8-1

Sign up to LEP Premium to improve your vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Previous Episodes with David Crystal

Episode 454 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2017/05/31/454-david-crystal-interview-part-1-professor-of-linguistics/

Episode 455 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2017/06/06/455-david-crystal-interview-part-2-questions-from-listeners/

The Encyclopedia Codes

675. An Unplanned Pre-Holiday Ramble (July 2020)

This episode is unedited and contains all my pauses, mistakes and thoughts while I attempt to talk about what’s coming up on LEP, my recent appearances on other people’s podcasts, comments and emails of the week and a couple of songs on the guitar.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bYP

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Links to my appearances on other people's podcasts The Real English Conversations podcast with Amy Whitney https://realenglishconversations.com/english-lessons-learning-tips/

Instant Feedback podcast with Markus Keeley

https://instant-feedback.pinecast.co/episode/ffccfed122c9438c/32-luke-thompson

674. 19 Amusing Insurance Claims / Car Crash Vocab

Listen to some funny extracts from genuine insurance claims and learn some vocabulary to describe car crashes and driving (badly).

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-boa

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Conspiracies / UFOs / Life Hacks (with James)

Talking to my brother about some click-bait topics, with stories, beliefs and a few celebrity impressions. Links, transcripts and videos available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bqb

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

672. The Rick Thompson Report: COVID / BREXIT / BLM (July 2020)

Talking to my dad about recent developments in the UK relating to coronavirus & Brexit with a cameo appearance by Gill Thompson talking about statues.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bpr

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

671. Aussie English with Pete Smissen

A conversation with genuine Aussie Pete Smissen, about differences and similarities between the UK and Australia, cultural and historical details, language similarities, and more. Check YouTube for the video version.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bmv

YouTube video version https://youtu.be/yHFo9PaJQLQ

Luke's interview on Aussie English https://youtu.be/q3bj7Cey5ns

670. Language Learning with James Harris

Talking to writer and comedian James Harris about life as a writer, going to Oxford Uni, being an international Brit and learning German, French and Chinese as an adult.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bkc

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

669. How to Learn English

Giving you as advice about learning English across the four skills of reading, listening, writing and speaking. Full transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-blK

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

668. LEP LIVE! Ask Me Anything / Hang Out With Luke (AUDIO VERSION)

Listen to the audio version of the recent LEP Live Stream on YouTube including an audience Q&A, learning English tips, some crap 'Dad Jokes' and 3 songs on the guitar.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bkd

Watch the video on YouTube https://youtu.be/QZTm-a4S4C0

LEP Premium info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

667. Four Way Call (with Alex, Moz & Paul)

A lockdown Zoom call with my friends Alex, Paul and Moz which should be a fun but challenging listening exercise. Intro & ending transcripts available.

Jump to 00:22:00 to skip the intro (at your own risk)

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bj2

YouTube Live Stream Weds 10 June 3PM CET https://youtu.be/QZTm-a4S4C0

LEP Premium info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

Moz's Murder Mile True Crime Podcast https://www.murdermiletours.com/podcast.html

Murder Mile Tours https://www.murdermiletours.com/

Announcement: I’m doing a YouTube Live Stream on Wednesday 10 June at 3PM CET.

Topic: Ask Me Anything / Hang Out with Luke

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/QZTm-a4S4C0

Episode page for this announcement https://wp.me/p4IuUx-biw

Last Wednesday's unplanned YouTube live stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyX7y7RqCXc&feature=youtu.be

LEP Premium info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

666. [Part 3] Favourite Scary Films (with James)

James and Luke talk about some of their favourite scary films, and more. This is the 3rd and final part of episode 666.

Bonus audio available in the LEP App and on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bgp

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

666. [Part 2] Frightening Experiences (with James)

James and I share some stories of genuinely scary and disturbing experiences which we've had in our lives.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bfK

LEP Premium info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

666. [Part 1] The Number of the Beast / Scary Music / Black Sabbath (with James)

Talking to my brother James about the significance of the number 666, and then some scary music including 'The Devil's Interval', Black Sabbath and more...

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bdG

LEP Premium info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Kate Arnold's music https://katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/

665. A Chinwag with Sebastian Marx / 18+ British slang phrases that Americans don’t understand

Chatting to Sebastian Marx from New York and testing his knowledge of British English slang phrases. Slang vocabulary list available on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-bdi

LEP Premium Info https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo

664. Lockdown Ramble with My Wife

Chatting with my wife late one evening last week about what it's like to be with an English guy, raising our daughter to be bilingual and more...

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-baB

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

663. The Lockdown Lying Game with Amber & Paul

Listen to three more stories told by Amber, Paul and Luke - can you guess if they are true or lies?

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-b7K

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

662. Catching Up with Amber & Paul #10 (Surviving Lockdown with Kids)

Chatting to Amber Minogue & Paul Taylor about dealing with confinement at home with children, the birth of Amber's baby, tongue twisters, weird children's TV series and more.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-b7i

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Free 30 day trial with Audible + one free audiobook of your choice www.audibletrial.com/teacherluke

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

660. Using TV Series & Films to Improve Your English

Lots of practical advice and comments about how you can use films and TV series to work on your English. This episode is a recap of some advice in episode 523 with Cara Leopold. Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-b2u

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

659. Lockdown Chat with Cara Leopold

Chatting to Cara Leopold about living in self isolation, the global coronavirus lockdown and how you can work on your English at home using TV shows and films.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-b0g

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

italki offer (buy some talking time with a teacher and get a voucher worth a free lesson) https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

658. [2/2] Why do Brits sing with American accents?

This is part 2 of a double episode exploring the question of why British people often change their accent when they sing. This episode contains more examples, including some (dodgy) singing from me in order to hear how it sounds when different songs are sung in different accents. Notes, lyrics and transcriptions available on the page below.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aYO

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

657. [1/2] Why do Brits sing with American accents?

Have you ever wondered why British people sometimes change their accent when they sing? This episode explores the question of why this happens, with various examples and some (dodgy) singing by me. Notes, videos and transcripts available on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aWM

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

656. British Comedy: Karl Pilkington’s Monkey News / The Ricky Gervais Show

Listen to a funny story told in a Manchester accent, and learn various bits of English in the process including vocabulary and pronunciation. Improve your understanding of regional British accents. Story transcript & vocabulary notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aW3

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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Coping with Isolation / Describing Feelings and Emotions - Vocabulary & Experiences

A vocabulary episode with lots of phrases for describing the experience of living in self-isolation. It also includes a bit of a ramble about the situation in the UK, my personal experiences of living in Paris during the lockdown and a song at the end.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aUg

italki offer for one-to-one lessons https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

654. Computer-based IELTS / The First Time… (with Jessica Beck from IELTS Energy Podcast)

A chat with Jessica Beck from the IELTS Energy Podcast about the new computer-based IELTS test, plus some funny stories about doing things for the first time, motivation in language learning, dealing with the stress of public speaking and seeing "The Fonz" on a ski slope.

Get a $50 discount on Jessica's new IELTS online course by going to www.teacherluke.co.uk/3keys

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aTf

653. Gill’s Book Club “The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper” by Hallie Rubenhold / How to read books to improve your English

Talking to my mum about a good book she read recently; a social history about 5 women who were all murdered by Jack The Ripper in 1888. Also includes some advice and comments about reading books to learn English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aRg

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

652. The Rick Thompson Report: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Talking to my dad about what’s happening in the UK at the moment, how serious this pandemic is, what the consequences might be and how the UK’s government is responding to it.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aRI

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

651. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vocabulary

Explaining key vocabulary about the coronavirus (COVID-19) to help you talk about this global pandemic in English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aR2

Vocabulary List from EnglishClub.com https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/coronavirus-covid19.php

650. British Music: Jungle (with James)

An in-depth episode all about an innovative British form of dance music from the 90s: Jungle (aka Drum & Bass). Includes discussion with James about the origins of the music, how it sounds, its position in UK culture, some bits of music on vinyl and a few anecdotes too. Notes & music playlists available on the website.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aIz

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

649. An Unedited Ramble (March 2020) Never Explain, Never Apologise? / No Stress / Method To The Madness / 3 Songs on Guitar

Luke talks on his own without stopping, restarting or editing, including responses to comments about recent episodes, thoughts on the methodology behind this podcast, some vocabulary teaching, a few songs on the guitar and more. This is no-stress episode, and a chance for me to just check in on you and make sure you're all doing ok out there in the world! 😉

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aP1

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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648. Ian Moore Returns

Talking again to comedian Ian Moore about favourite films, a trip to New York, British & American audiences, how to iron a shirt, and funny stories about taking the language test to qualify for French citizenship.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aH7

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

647. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 6)

The final part in this little series following Alan Partridge through a day in his life, and breaking it down for language. Alan is not for everyone, but I hope you've enjoyed this series and learned some English from it.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aH5

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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646. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 5)

What did Alan do on Valentine's Day? Listen to find out, as we break down some more clips of this award-winning comedy and use them to learn English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aH3

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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645. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 4)

Listening to some more classic British comedy and dissecting it for language. This time we're listening to some more clips of Alan Partridge, a comedy character played by Steve Coogan. This is part 4 of a series I started in 2018.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aGc

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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644. The Rick Thompson Report: Is Brexit Done?

Talking to my dad about the latest in the Brexit saga including the general election result, Brexit day on 31 January 2020 and the latest government shenanigans by PM Boris Johnson and co.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aIa

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

643. The Intercultural Communication Dance with Sherwood Fleming

Talking to Sherwood Fleming, author of "Dance of Opinions" about intercultural communication, including common problems and the solutions to help us learn to communicate more effectively across cultures.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aHl

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

The Lying Game Returns (with Amber & Paul)

This should make you laugh out loud on the bus - it's the return of the Lying Game with Amber & Paul. Listen to our 3 stories. Do you think they are true, or lies?

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-azw

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Catching Up with Amber & Paul #9

The pod-pals are back on the podcast and it's time for the usual catching up session in which we talk about how very-pregnant Amber has moved to the suburbs of Paris, the difference between a terrace, veranda, porch and conservatory, the difference between a cave and a basement, Paul's showbiz news, the ongoing joys and struggles of parenthood, the strikes in France, raising bilingual children and more.

P20 parts 4 & 5 will be released next week.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aB9

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

640. IELTS Speaking Success with Keith O’Hare

Talking to IELTS speaking coach Keith O'Hare about how to get your best score in the IELTS speaking test, plus some chat about the right approach to learning English.

Luke takes the IELTS Speaking Test (YouTube) https://youtu.be/9Sp-_Uj6gUM

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ayz

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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639. 3 Quintessentially British Books (that you might not know about) with Mum

Talking to my mum about some examples of quintessentially British things, in this case it's 3 British books that she particularly likes.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ax8

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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638. 3 Quintessentially British Things (that you might not know about) with Dad

Dad picks his 3 British things to talk about in this episode which covers things like ancient history, British northern landscapes and the canal system which built the industrial revolution and changed Britain forever.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aw5

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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637. 5 Quintessentially English Things (that you might not know about) with James

Talking with James about 5 typically English things, including conversation about pop culture, writers, TV shows, British humour and more...

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-avN

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

636. James & Luke Discuss Star Wars IX (SPOILERS) Final Star Wars Episode Ever?

James and Luke ramble about Star Wars IX one more time. This episode is full of little jokes, sketches, voices and full spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-avd

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

635. A New Year Ramble for 2020 (Part 2) Motivation / New Year’s Rules / Bilingual Daughter / Neil Innes

Luke rambles some more at the start of 2020 about new year's resolutions, holiday stories, raising his daughter to be bilingual and a tribute to Neil Innes (with a song or two). Notes available below.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aun

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

634. A New Year Ramble for 2020 (Part 1) Pod Stats / Welcome to LEP / Travelling with a Toddler

Luke wishes you a Happy New year and rambles about recent podcast statistics, new year in the UK, welcoming new listeners to the podcast, and some stories about travelling to the UK with a toddler by plane. Transcript available below.

Episode page with transcript https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aun

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

633. Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker (SPOILER REVIEW)

I've seen The Rise of Skywalker - here are my comments and thoughts. Please be aware that this episode is full of SPOILERS!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ap9

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

632. Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker (No Spoilers!)

A new Film Club episode in which Luke does a spoiler-free ramble about Star Wars IX, including various speculations and theories.

NO SPOILERS.

Transcript/Notes available below.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aoV

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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631. 29 Awful Christmas Jokes, Explained

The annual Christmas episode of LEP is here! Explaining 29 truly awful jokes that you might get in a Christmas cracker this year. Enjoy! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-anA

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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630. The English Guy with a Sitcom on Japanese TV (with BJ Fox)

A conversation with English comedian BJ Fox, who performs stand-up in Japan and has his own TV show on NHK. Our conversation includes the story of how BJ managed to pitch the show to Japanese producers, how he learnt Japanese to a proficient level, doing stand-up in a different culture and much more.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-anu

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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629. Do you ever ... ? (with James) Strange Habits & Funny Observations

A funny conversation about strange habits that we don't often talk about, with my brother James. Notes & scripts available on the website.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-akj

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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628. OASIS (with James)

A conversation with James about the English rock band Oasis, including details about their story, music, lyrics and the sibling rivalry between Noel and Liam Gallagher.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ajt

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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Image: Champagne Supernova by Oasis, record cover. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Champagne_Supernova_sleeve_cover.jpg Fair use summary: Content is for educational purposes and the image represents the subject matter of the episode.

627. Emina's Long Journey to English Proficiency

My friend Emina Tuzovic has learned English to a proficient level as a non-native speaker of the language. She says it has been "a long journey". Let's find out all about that journey of English learning in this conversation, recorded in London just a couple of days ago.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ajY

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

626. The Rick Thompson Report: Boris Johnson's Brexit Deal / General Election / Football

An update from my dad about Brexit, including details about Boris Johnson's deal, the shutting down of Parliament, the upcoming general election and more. Includes some chat about Premiership football at the end.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ajb

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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625. 88 English expressions that will confuse everyone (Part 2)

Let's continue going through this list of words from an article I found in The Independent. Here is another list of 30 items of British English slang. Word list, notes and links available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aix

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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624. 88 English expressions that will confuse everyone (Part 1)

An episode about British English slang and culture, featuring expressions that Brits know but everyone else finds confusing. Here are the first 30 expressions in a list of 88 that I found on independent.co.uk. Includes plenty of funny improvised examples to make you laugh out loud on the bus.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-ahL

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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623. 13 Terrible Jokes, Explained

Actually, it's 17 jokes, including some simple one-liners and a few longer story-based jokes for you to remember and practise telling yourself. Listen to Luke read out and explain some pretty awful but enjoyable word puns and shaggy dog stories, and learn some English in the process.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-agc

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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622. General Ramble (Oct 2019) Learning English / Politics / Recording Setup / Book Recommendation / Beatles / Star Wars / Bill Bailey

Rambling on my own about all sorts of things including Brexit news, describing my recording setup and microphones, a book recommendation for you, comments about the Beatles Abbey Road 50th Anniversary, the latest Star Wars Episode 9 trailer and Bill Bailey dissecting music in a brilliant way.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-aeX

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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621. British TV: Dragons’ Den (Part 3) Discord in the Den

One more episode about this TV series involving entrepreneurs getting investment for their business startups. In this one there's plenty of disagreement and some strong feedback from the Dragons.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-adX

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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620. British TV: Dragons' Den (Part 2) Negotiation

Listen to a real business negotiation and learn loads of English in the process. Vocabulary, scripts and notes available below.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-adk

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

619. British TV: Dragons’ Den (Part 1) Business Vocabulary

Learn tons of business vocabulary in context in this episode all about a TV show about entrepreneurs negotiating investment for their business startups.

This episode contains a business ramble about things like equity investments, financial projections, manufacturing, distribution, logistics chains and marketing. Part 2 contains a real negotiation with plenty of emotional moments.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-acI

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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618. The Climate Crisis Explained in 10 Charts (with Cara Leopold)

A conversation with Cara Leopold about the climate crisis including descriptions of key charts, graphs and data. Notes and transcripts available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a8R

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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617. Sales and Advertising (with Paul Taylor)

A language-focused episode looking at words and phrases that you often see and hear in advertising and sales situations. Also includes discussion of sales techniques, Apple's sales and marketing strategy and also a classic bit of stand-up by the late great George Carlin.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a7R

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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616. Can you find the 15 idioms? (with Paul Taylor)

Listen to Luke and Paul play a conversation game and try to spot 15 common idioms. All idioms are demonstrated, explained and listed on the website.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a7C

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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615. Paul Taylor Became a Dad, and you won't believe what happened next

How is Paul getting on as a new dad? How is everything going? What's he angry about this time?

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a7G

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

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614. Another Murder Mystery Detective Story (Part 3)

Here's the conclusion of this online murder mystery text adventure game. Vocabulary is reviewed at the end. Video available for premium subscribers.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a4K

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613. Another Murder Mystery Detective Story (Part 2)

Here is part 2 of this text adventure game. There's also a video for premium subscribers.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a4G

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612. Another Murder Mystery Detective Story (Part 1)

Listen to Luke investigating a 'choose-your-own-adventure' detective story and read along if you like! Learn English in fun ways with stories on Luke's English Podcast. Video available for premium subscribers.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a3W

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

611. Top 10 Jokes from Edinburgh Fringe 2019

Listen to 10 jokes from this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedy shows. Understand the jokes and listen to Luke break them down to help you learn more English.

Video version available in the LEP App for Premium subscribers.

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a3e

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

610. British Comedy: James Acaster

Listen to a bit of stand up comedy that will require quite a lot of breaking down in order for you to understand all the jokes like a native speaker, but there’s lots to learn in the way of language and culture in the process.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a24

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

LEP App https://teacherluke.co.uk/how-to-download/get-the-lep-app/

609. The LEP MeetUp in London / Brexit / Talking to my Daughter

Here's an end-of-summer ramble, including details of what happened at the LEP meetup in London in July and some recordings of LEPsters who attended the event. There's also talk of Brexit and some interviews with my daughter who is beginning to speak.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-a1h

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

608. The Mass Observation (with Mum)

Listen to my mum talk about a social history project focusing on the lives of everyday people in the UK. Includes discussion of things like protests, plastic, identity, sex education, loneliness, and milk!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9XW

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

607. The Rick Thompson Report: Boris Johnson PM / No Deal Brexit?

Talking to my dad again about Brexit, this time including our thoughts on Boris Johnson as the new Prime Minister and the possibility of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October.

Episode page with transcripts https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9Ww

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

606. The English Seaside (with James)

Explaining and describing the culture of the English seaside experience, with James.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9T6

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

I'm coming to the LEPster meetup on Sunday 28 July 2019. See you there? Where? The Fitzroy Tavern near Oxford Street & Tottenham Court Road. Full address is 16 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2LY. Put the postcode into your google maps app (or equivalent) and it should direct you there.
When - 2PM on Sunday 28 July (that’s this coming Sunday)
The host is Zdenek Lukas - you’ll recognise him in the pub because he will be the guy with the board games. If you’re coming please just send Zdenek an email to let him know you’ll be there so he has an idea of how many people to expect. teacherzdenek@gmail.com

605. Unexpected Road Trip (with James)

James and Luke go on an accidental road trip in the south west of England and record a rambling podcast, while slowly going a bit mad. Will they make it to their destination before sunset? Listen to find out what happens and to learn some words and culture in the process.

LEPSTER MEETUP IN LONDON (details)

Where? The Fitzroy Tavern, 16 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2LY (near Oxford Street/Tottenham Court Road)
When? Sunday 28 July 2019 from 2PM (and probably continuing into the afternoon)
Who? English teacher Zdenek Lukas is the host and all LEPsters (and non-LEPsters) are welcome! Also, Luke might be there with his brother and friends.
Email teacherzdenek@gmail.com to let him know you're coming.
Come to chat, meet people, play board games in English and have fun!

Episode page with photos https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9RM

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

604. London Native Speaker Interviews REVISITED Part 2

Listening to the audio from another old YouTube video of mine, and then exploring it for new vocabulary and English learning opportunities.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9OC

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

603. Queen / Freddie Mercury / Bohemian Rhapsody (with Alex Love)

Talking to Queen fan Alex Love about this classic British rock band, their legendary singer Freddie Mercury and what Alex thought of the recent film Bohemian Rhapsody.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9Nu

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

602. British Comedy: The Day Today (Part 2)

The Day Today is an award-winning parody of news and current affairs TV programmes. Let's listen to some more clips, understand the humour and learn some English in the process.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9My

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

601. British Comedy: The Day Today (Part 1)

Let's investigate a brilliant British comedy TV show and use it to learn English.

The Day Today was originally broadcast on the BBC in the mid-90s and is now considered a groundbreaking parody of news programmes and launched the careers of various comedians, including Steve Coogan.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9LX

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

:)

Quick Hello / OPP / Living Through Comedy / Somewhere Else Dreamin’

Just a quick "hello" to let you know about some other things you could listen to this month, including my appearances on some other people's podcasts.

Transcript & Links

Hello folks, how are you doing? How’s your English coming along?

This is not a full episode, more of an update and a chance to tell you about some things you could listen to, specifically a couple of appearances I made on other people’s podcasts recently.

I’ve been preparing lots of premium episodes for this month. I’m halfway through series 13. Parts 1 and 2 of this series have been published and they deal with lots of expressions with prepositions, specifically prepositions of place and movement combined with little verbs like get. As usual there are tests and pronunciation drills. Parts 3 and 4 will arrive this week.

If you want to hear all the premium stuff, get the LEP App from the app store then go to www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium to sign up and get started, use your details to sign into the app to access the premium content. PDF worksheets are all available too.

Other People’s Podcasts

Now then, if you’re looking for stuff to listen to other than the podcast episodes in the archive and the premium content, here are a couple of things you could listen to in the meantime. Here are my recent appearances on other people’s podcasts.

I was interviewed on my brother’s podcast. It’s called Living Through Comedy and it’s all about my time as a comedian, including how I got into stand up, what my influences were, my experience of developing my act and also some stories of good and bad gigs.

There are several other episodes of Living Through Comedy too that you might like. Both feature conversations about comedy, doing stand up and life in general. You should be able to find Living Through Comedy on iTunes, but if you can’t you can listen to it on the page for this episode.

You could also visit www.livingthroughcomedy.libsyn.com and listen there, on a mobile.

So that’s nice. About an hour of conversation between James and me, on his new podcast.

I was interviewed by Noman Hosni for Somewhere Else Dreamin’, his new YouTube series which is all about interviewing people (comedians usually) about their experiences as an ExPat - that means someone who is living in another country. I suppose it’s a nice way to say “immigrant”. And because I am an immigrant, living here in France and I’ve spent time in Japan too, Noman decided I would be a good person to interview.

Noman Hosni is a very funny professional stand up comedian here in France. I interviewed him on the podcast once. He is doing very well as a comedian in France, but he has decided to move to LA in order to pursue his career there. Before going he is working on his English and also finding out about people’s experiences of moving to different countries.

I love hanging out with Noman and in this interview I tell a few stories including the time I got sick in Japan (which I spoke about in a podcast a few years ago) and my experiences of English teaching and moving to France. Check it out!

It’s available on YouTube “somewhere else dreamin luke thompson” and embedded on the website here, but also it’s on Spotify in audio format. It’s a YouTube video and you’ll see me and Noman talking, but Spotify has the audio version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwI0OeixLoo

I’m doing a lot of premium content this month, but I also have some free episodes in the pipeline including some more stuff about British comedy and an episode about Queen, the rock band, which has been requested many times by listeners, so it’s nice to finally be getting around to talking about Queen on the podcast after 600 episodes. There are still many more topics and things to talk about on this podcast.

:)

600. Episode 600 Livestream Ask Me Anything Audio

Here's the audio for the YouTube livestream "Ask Me Anything" for episode 600. Enjoy!

The video is available on YouTube and in the LEP App.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9Iw

Premium episodes arriving during June!

599. Oliver Gee Returns with Stories to Tell

Australian journalist and podcaster Oliver Gee returns to LEP to tell us some stories about the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, meeting famous comedians as a journalist, learning Swedish and French and his honeymoon tour of France on a 50cc Vespa scooter.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9H5

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

598. The Rick Thompson Report: EU Elections / Theresa May / Brexit / Football

Talking to my dad about the EU election results, Theresa May resigning as Prime Minister, Brexit and English football teams in Europe. Notes, transcripts and videos available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9wc

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

[AUDIO] Hello! Here are the details of the Episode 600 YouTube live stream

Just a quick announcement about the episode 600 live stream, happening on Friday 7 June at 3pm Paris time. Links below.

Episode 600 Live Stream link on YouTube https://youtu.be/kHVwBLdo7-s

LEPsters meetup in Prague on 7 June at 5pm. Facebook link here https://www.facebook.com/events/429311391196900/

Episode page on teacherluke.co.uk https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9vy

597. Growing Up / Getting Older / Becoming a Father (with Paul Taylor)

In this conversation Paul and I get a bit deep & meaningful and talk about where Paul is in his life at this point, including our thoughts about becoming a father, getting older and growing up.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9sP

Spoken offer http://www.getspoken.com/lep

🍾🍾

596. SLEEP with Amber & Paul

All about the subject of SLEEP, with Amber & Paul, including insomnia, sleepwalking, falling asleep on public transport, snoring cats, Paul learning Arabic in his sleep & more, including some slightly disgusting stories, which is nice!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9ri

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

595. Andy Johnson Returns (Part 2) Eating / TV Series / Football / Music

Asking Andy questions from a speaking task in the English File Intermediate course book and chatting about eating habits, TV series, Liverpool & Tottenham in the European Champions' League and music we've been listening to recently including some stories about Steely Dan and The Beatles. Intro & ending transcripts + Videos available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9pW

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

594. Andy Johnson Returns (Part 1) Moving House / London vs Canterbury / English Teaching

Chatting to friend of the podcast Andy Johnson about moving house, comparisons between London and Canterbury and different approaches to teaching English. Intro & outtro transcripts available. Part 2 coming soon.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9pT

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

593. Going through pages in an old diary

Listen to me reading out some pages from a diary which I wrote when I was 16 years old. Join me as I take a trip down memory lane and find out what I was doing, thinking and feeling 25 years ago. Some language is explained along the way. Vocabulary notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9p6

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

592. It always seems impossible until it's done

An unedited ramble about motivation for language learning, dealing with challenges, getting started on a task, getting work done and my process for making episodes of the podcast. There’s also some news, some OPP and a couple of songs on the guitar at the end. Vocabulary notes, links, videos and song lyrics are available on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9o9

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

591. London Native Speaker Interviews REVISITED (Part 1)

Revisiting a video I made for YouTube in 2009 and teaching you some descriptive and idiomatic vocabulary in the process.

Episode page with video, transcript and vocabulary notes https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9lZ

English lessons on Cambly + 10 free minutes www.teacherluke.co.uk/cambly

590. [2/2] Film Club: Avengers Endgame / Marvel Cinematic Universe (with Fred Eyangoh)

Part 2 of this film club episode, including the rest of my chat with Fred Eyangoh and then a monologue from me. This one contains predictions for Avengers Endgame, the future of Marvel Studios and some other film franchises including Star Wars. No spoilers given! Notes, scripts and videos available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9jQ

Check out "The Wrong Man" by Spoken - free audio, English study guides and transcripts here http://www.getspoken.com/lep

589. [1/2] Film Club: Avengers Endgame / Marvel Cinematic Universe (with Fred Eyangoh)

Part 1 of a big ramble about Avengers Endgame, Marvel Studios and comic book movies in general with my friend, comedian Fred Eyangoh. No spoilers! Part 2 coming soon...

Episode page with scripts, notes and videos https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9iw

Check out "The Wrong Man" by Spoken - free audio, English study guides and transcripts here http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Punctuation Rules / Book Review (Part 2) Apostrophe, Full Stop, Comma

Part 2 of my episode about punctuation. This one covers punctuation rules for apostrophe, full stop and comma. Also you can hear the rest of my book review of Punctuation..? by User Design. Transcript available.

English lessons on Cambly + 10 free minutes www.teacherluke.co.uk/cambly

Episode page with transcript and pictures https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9ih

Punctuation..? by User Design - available from various bookshops https://www.userdesignillustrationandtypesetting.com/books/punctuation/index.html

587. Punctuation Rules / Book Review (Part 1)

This episode is about the importance of punctuation in writing. I'll teach you the names of various punctuation symbols and review a cool punctuation reference book that someone sent me recently, and yes I do think it is possible to have a cool book about punctuation! Transcript available.

English lessons on Cambly + 10 free minutes www.teacherluke.co.uk/cambly

Episode page with transcript and pictures https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9i9

Punctuation..? by User Design - available from various bookshops https://www.userdesignillustrationandtypesetting.com/books/punctuation/index.html

10 years ago to this day I published the first episode of LEP.

10 years later I can now say that I'm making a living from doing what I love.

Thank you for listening and making my podcast what it is today!

586. The Importance of Listening

Recently I was reading a book about listening and learning English. This episode is a summary of what I read, including details of how listening fits in with learning English, some considerations of the importance of listening and also some tips for how to improve your English with audio.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9eg

Check out Cambly for 10 free mins of conversation with a native speaker www.teacherluke.co.uk/cambly Ambassador code: teacherluke

585. Alternative British Citizenship Tests with Paul Taylor

Testing Paul again on his knowledge of Britishness with several alternative British citizenship tests and some very British problems.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9dd

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

584. Posh or not posh? (Part 3) with Amber & Paul

Amber & Paul join me to talk again about poshness, posh accents and posh celebrities. This episode is full of different British accents - posh, RP and regional differences. It's also full of comedy and I found myself laughing out loud while editing this, especially the interview with the football player that Paul tells us about. I hope you enjoy it.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9bL

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

584. Posh or not posh? (Part 3) with Amber & Paul

Amber & Paul join me to talk again about poshness, posh accents and posh celebrities. This episode is full of different British accents - posh, RP and regional differences. It's also full of comedy and I found myself laughing out loud while editing this, especially the interview with the football player that Paul tells us about. I hope you enjoy it.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9bL

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

583. British Comedy: The Dirty Fork / Restaurant Sketch (Monty Python)

Analysing the English in a comedy sketch by Monty Python's Flying Circus, and considering British communication style relating to apologising, making complaints and minimising language.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-6CE

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

582. Posh or not posh? (Part 2) Guess the Posh British Celebrities

Can you identify which UK celebrities are posh and which are not? Let's listen to some British celebrities speaking, check their Wikipedia pages and work out of these people are truly posh or not. You'll hear samples of lots of spoken English in this episode and we'll focus on accent and pronunciation.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9bx

Spoken Mystery Story offer www.getspoken.com/lep

581. Posh or not posh? (Part 1) Understanding Posh People and Posh Accents

Everything you always wanted to know about posh people, but were afraid to ask. This episode is all about poshness in people, posh accents and what it really means to be posh.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-87O

Spoken Mystery Story www.getspoken.com/lep

580. Ramble / Listener Comments / Robots / Vampires / Two Taps in the Bathroom

A rambling episode with responses to listener comments, LEPster meetups, English Robot 3000 & 5000, vampires leaving comments on my website and the continuing mystery of two taps in the bathroom.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-9aO

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

579. [2/2] IELTS Q&A with Ben Worthington from IELTS Podcast

More conversation with Ben Worthington from IELTSPodcast.com, talking about English skills and exam skills, considering the whole approach and mindset that you need to succeed in IELTS. Includes questions from listeners.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-99N

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

578. [1/2] IELTS Q&A with Ben Worthington from IELTS Podcast

A conversation with IELTS teacher Ben Worthington about the IELTS test, with advice for getting your best score in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Includes questions from listeners. Part 1 of 2.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-99K

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

577. UK vs US Slang Game (with Jennifer from English Across the Pond)

In this episode I'm joined by Jennifer - a podcaster from the USA, and we test each other on our knowledge of slang from our countries. Listen and learn some informal words from British and American English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-96Z

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

English Across the Pond Special Membership Offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/eatp

576. Talking about Comedy, Books, Films & Music with James

My brother James is back on the podcast for a 90min+ mega-ramble about things like: taking sick days from work, snowboarding, doing stand-up for the first time, the new film about Laurel & Hardy, Steve Coogan / Alan Partridge, The Beastie Boys and making mix tapes on cassette tapes in the 1990s. Intro transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-90U

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

575. British Comedy: Paul Chowdhry

Understand a stand-up comedy routine by Paul Chowdhry, a British comedian of Indian descent. We'll break down his comedy bit by bit, understand each line and learn some English in the process.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-90J

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

574. [2/2] The Rick Thompson Report: Brexit Q&A (January 2019)

My dad answers some questions from listeners about Brexit. Includes conversation about Theresa May's deal, the prospect of a 'no-deal' Brexit, Parliamentary democracy, the possible reactions to revoking Article 50 or cancelling Brexit altogether, chances of a second referendum, Scottish independence, the sensitive Northern Ireland situation, consequences for EU nationals in the UK and the question of trading on WTO rules. Almost everything, basically!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Ya

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

573. [1/2] The Rick Thompson Report: Brexit Update (January 2019)

Part 1 of a double episode of the Rick Thompson Report, talking to my dad about the latest developments in the shambolic Brexit story.

This time we're focusing on what happened in last week's Parliamentary vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal, what the situation is now, and what might happen in the future.

We talk about no-deal Brexit, the possibility of a 2nd referendum, postponing Article 50 and more.

Part 2 contains questions from listeners and will be available soon.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Y0

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

572. Worst Stand-up Gig Experiences (with Amber & Paul)

Amber, Paul and Luke tell some stories of their worst ever stand-up comedy gigs. Expect some anecdotes about embarrassing and humiliating experiences on stage, and "dying on your arse". Intro & outtro transcripts available + bonus audio in the LEP app.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Vz

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Understand a funny anecdote by comedian Bill Burr. In this episode we’re going to do some intensive listening practice using the true story of a bizarre encounter with a man on a plane.

Look out for language for travelling by plane, some American English and A LOT of swearing, particularly the F word.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8T1

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

570. Learning & Teaching English with Zdenek Lukas (Part 2)

Part 2 of my chat with Zdenek from the Czech Republic. In this one we talk about becoming an English teacher, taking the infamous DELTA teaching course, Zdenek's podcast and board game, and some long-lost (and embarrassing) comedy YouTube videos I made in the pre-podcast days.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8P3

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

569. Learning & Teaching English with Zdenek Lukas (Part 1)

Talking to English teacher & podcaster Zdenek Lukas from the Czech Republic about various things, including how he learned English by working on a building site in East London with a team of cockneys who couldn't pronounce his name properly.

Also includes tangents about football commentators, climate change denial, flat earth conspiracy theorists and more. [Part 1 of 2] Intro & outro transcripts available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8OZ

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

568. What is Luke's English Podcast, and how can it help you with your English?

What are the aims & objectives for this podcast? How can you use it to improve your English?

This episode is an introduction for new listeners and a reminder for long-term listeners: This is a podcast all about learning English through listening, while having some fun in the process. Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8NS

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

567. Alternative Christmas Stories & Poems / Beatles / Happy New Year from LEP!

This is the last episode of LEP before the end of 2018.

It's Christmas and New Years Eve is approaching, so it's time for the traditional Christmas episode of LEP! In this one I'm going to read some Christmas stories and a couple of poems which are a bit different to the normal stuff you get at this time of year. Also, keep listening for a funny appearance by The Beatles.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Fk

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

566. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 6) 2018 with Amber Minogue

Here's the final part of this series about trending words and issues in 2018, this time with friend of the podcast Amber Minogue. Join us as we talk about jogging, picking up litter, bird watching, VAR & football, veganism, ethnic diversity in Hollywood and more. Notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Et

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

565. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 5) 2018 with Amber Minogue

Talking to my friend Amber about some trending vocabulary and hot topics from 2018, like plastic pollution, dance crazes and the Brexit backstop. Includes discussion, language explanations, David Attenborough impressions and more. Notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8DR

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

564. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 4)

More trending vocabulary and issues of the moment, this time focusing on topics like working conditions in the gig economy, the pros and cons of instagram and a true story about a unicorn riding a bike in London. Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Dr

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LONDON LEPsters! I am performing stand-up comedy in London on Saturday 15 December in the afternoon.
This is a very late-notice announcement!

Come to the Comedy Store on Oxenden Street in Leicester Square to see me perform stand-up with Paul Taylor. The show is FREE. No reservations. Showtime at 4pm but arrive at 3.30pm to queue like British people. First come, first served. https://thecomedystore.co.uk/london/contact-us/

563. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 3)

Continuing this episode series with vocabulary explanations and discussions of big issues from the last couple of years.

Includes talk of how social media affects the way we see the world, the pros and cons of fidget spinners, and current debates about gender identity, including my thoughts on the new female Doctor in the classic British TV series, Doctor Who. Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8CU

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

562. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 2)

Vocabulary explanations and discussions of hot topics from the last couple of years. Talking about some controversial political stuff like the rise of fascism and anti-fascism, the relative popularity of UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, and how the winter season changes people's feelings about romance and relationships. Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Cl

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

561. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 1)

The first part of an episode series about trending vocabulary - words which have been used a lot in the last couple of years. Listen to me talk about words chosen by Collins Dictionaries as their "Words of the Year". This first episode focuses on how publishers use big data and then lots of discussion about the 2017 word of the year, which was fake news.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8pk

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to comedian Sarah Donnelly about how she writes her jokes, advice on public speaking and how to avoid nerves and negative feelings, performing stand-up comedy in another language, and more. Sarah is a comedian and language teacher from the US, now living in France.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Bz

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

559. The Rick Thompson Report: Brexit Chaos (November 2018)

Talking to my dad, Rick Thompson, about recent developments in the story of Brexit - Britain's exit from the European Union. Recorded on 18 November 2018.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8z2

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

558. Rambling in the new Sky-Pod

Another solo episode recorded in the new sky-pod. Talking about moving to the new flat, some podcast news, meeting Louis CK, WW1 remembrance, rock climbing and more... Some vocab is explained during the episode.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8xQ

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

557. I'm a Rambling Guy (Monologue - Autumn 2018)

A rambling monologue about my recent French test, a duck-related error, responses to the Alan Partridge episodes and the Russian comedy club video, moving out of the sky-pod, and life with my wife and daughter. A video version of this episode is available for Premium subscribers in the LEP app and online. www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Yes, this episode is long… but you don’t have to listen to it in one sitting. Listen to a bit, then stop and go to work/college, then listen to the rest later. This is much more convenient if you are using a podcast app, like the LEP app (available in the app store on your phone of course!) because it will remember where you stopped listening.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2018/10/29/557-im-a-rambling-guy-monologue-autumn-2018/

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

:)

A Phrasal Verb a Day #142 - TO POTTER AROUND/ABOUT

To spend time in a relaxed way doing pleasant things which are not very important. Relaxing by doing little things and taking your time.

We spent our Sunday just pottering about in the garden.

A Phrasal Verb a Day #141 - TO POSE AS

To pretend to be someone else in order to trick someone.

Posing as security guards, the bank robbers entered the building through the back door.

#140 - POP IN / OUT / OFF / ON / UP (A Phrasal Verb a Day is back)

A Phrasal Verb a Day is back. In this episode I'll give you an update about this podcast and teach you phrasal verbs with POP.

Episode Transcript

Hello everyone,

This is Luke Thompson and you’re listening to A Phrasal Verb a Day. This is where I attempt to teach you a phrasal verb every day for a year. Yes, this project is still ongoing.

APVAD is back! In this episode I’m going to teach you some more common phrasal verbs as we continue on this mission to get to 365 days of phrasal verbs.

Now I’m going to talk to you about phrasal verbs with the word pop and there are a lot.

Also I want to say that APVAD will continue after this, but not here at this RSS feed - all the new episodes will appear in the LEP App and online at www.teacherluke.co.uk/pv

Over the next days or weeks, 10 more episodes of a phrasal verb a day will appear in the app.

I’ll talk to you more about that in a moment. First let me just remind you of this project.

This is where I teach you phrasal verbs - these essential bits of natural English. Originally I planned to do one of these every day but after a couple of months it became impossible! I’ve added more episodes over the years and we’re currently on #139 I think. Well, it’s time to revive this series and do so in the LEP app which I expect is where you are listening to this.

So what I do in these episodes is explain and demonstrate various phrasal verbs. I think the best way to learn vocab is to hear it being used in context with vivid examples and I always try to do this, sometimes having a bit of fun with some scenarios. All of it is designed to help you learn these crucial bits of English. Phrasal verbs are crucial because this is exactly the way native speakers use the language but learners of English have trouble with them because they are idiomatic, tricky in structure and don’t exist as grammatical forms in their languages.

Let’s carry on, with a big one.

“POP”

Phrasal verbs with pop.

This is extremely common and quite versatile. It’s absolutely one of the most common little phrases used every day all over the country. It’s informal but polite and let’s hear about it.

Pop on, pop in, pop out, pop off, pop up and more.

---Teach POP phrasal verbs---

Listen for full examples and definitions.

Pop in = go somewhere quickly for a short visit

Pop on = put an object somewhere, or wear some clothes

Pop out = to leave quickly or for a short time

Pop over / pop round = visit someone quickly for a short time

Pop up = appear quickly or suddenly

a pop-up ad

SO there you go.

Normally these episodes are shorter than this.

As I said earlier, there will be about 10 more of these phrasal verb episodes arriving soon, but they won’t arrive here in the APVAD podcast feed. They’ll arrive in the LEP App. So get the LEP App for your smartphone, you can find it in the app store for iOS and Android. Then in the app use the side menu to find the Phrasal Verb category. All the episodes will be there.

You can also access and download the episodes from www.teacherluke.co.uk/pv

The transcript collaboration for these episodes is still going, so if you’d like to contribute a transcript to an APVAD episode, go to my website and then Episodes, then hover over “Phrasal verb podcast” and click transcript collaboration.

Have a good day!

:)

Talking to English teacher Jessica Beck about her new website, "Honestly English" and some typical topics she talks about and teaches, including the #MeToo movement and our favourite female superheroes and comedians. Videos and links available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8uH

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

555. Raphael Miller's Summer School Report

Raphael Miller is back on the podcast to tell us about his experience of running a summer school for international teenagers in Liverpool.

The conversation includes lots of stories and descriptions of what happened at the school this summer, including things like teenage sleeping habits, a Chinese celebrity teenager, the proper way to eat a pizza, piano-playing Italian wonder-kids, making tie-dye t-shirts, riding roller-coasters, and blossoming friendships across national borders.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8us

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

554. ODD NEWS STORIES (with Mum & Dad)

Discussing some strange and funny news stories with my parents. Thanks to my Mum & Dad for their contribution to this episode. Transcripts and notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8u1

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Sign up for LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

553. Fighting Wildland Fires with Benny the Russian Firefighter

Talking to firefighter Anton Beneslavsky (aka "Benny") who works as the leader of an international fire fighting project. We talk about becoming a firefighter, the work that he’s doing with Greenpeace around the world and the very serious threat of climate change.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8tv

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

552. Discussing Comedy & Culture (with Amber & Paul)

Amber, Paul and I listen to a comedy video which is often sent to me by listeners to this podcast. The video is about the experience of trying to understand people when they speak English. Let's see what the pod-pals think of this comedy from another country. The conversation then turns to comedy, culture, language and some more Alan Partridge. I read out some listener comments at the end of the episode. Notes, transcripts and links available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8sS

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

551. Catching Up with Amber & Paul #8 - Stereotypes

Chatting to the pod-pals Amber & Paul again and this time the conversation turns to the subject of national stereotypes, and why Paul has bleached his hair blond. Notes & transcripts on the website.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8sg

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

550. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 3)

This episode is long, but stick with it! This is the final part of this trilogy of British Comedy episodes about Alan Partridge, analysing some of the quieter and darker moments in Alan's life. Expect analysis of both the comedy and the language. Vocabulary lists and transcript available. Vocabulary lists and transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8s9

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

549. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 2)

Building on the previous episode, this time we're looking at how Alan Partridge interacts with people in his every day life and how this results in some classic moments of British TV comedy. All the material is explained with plenty of vocabulary to learn.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8rP

italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

548. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 1)

Continuing the comedy theme by analysing a character that most British people know but learners of English find difficult to understand.

Check the page for the episode for transcripts, notes and videos.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8rv

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

547. Best Jokes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Studying some jokes told by stand-up comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe comedy festival, and dissecting them for vocabulary. Learn English with some jokes and find out about typical joke structures used by stand-up comedians. Transcripts and jokes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8rf

Spoken offer http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Death by Meteor

This episode is called Death By Meteor and it’s all about asteroids, space, science, maths, astrophysics and the end of the world! Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8qA

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

545. The Hitchhiker by Roald Dahl (Short Story)

Learn English with this short story by British writer Roald Dahl.

Introduction transcript and short story link available on the episode page, here https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8qm

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

:)

544. The Rick Thompson Report: No Deal Brexit

Talking to my dad about the current Brexit situation, including what could actually happen in the UK if we leave the EU with no deal. Expect language relating to politics, economics and the big issues of the day. Intro and outtro transcripts available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8pp

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

Talking about the creepy subject of eating insects, which might be the solution to many of the problems that humans face as a species. This episode includes discussion of eating habits, environmental issues and some insect-related idioms and expressions. Transcripts and vocabulary lists available. Bon appetit!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8nD

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

:)

542. Talking Rubbish & Just Having Fun with The Thompsons

Talking to my dad, mum and brother about all manner of topics, including: Space, climbing mountains, British comedy, fishing, earworms, tattoos, David Beckham, jokes, citizenship tests, baby monkeys, ghosts and celebrity impressions. Intro and outtro transcripts available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8oV

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

541. What British People Say vs What They Mean

Examining British communication style and debunking a few myths about how British people communicate.

This episode is based on a famous infographic called "What British People Say vs What They Really Mean" or "The Anglo-EU Translation Guide".

It contains lots of thoughts about how direct and indirect cultures communicate with each other, and some samples of business English, with a few improvised scenarios too! Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8nF

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

540. What’s Up? Post World Cup / News / LEP Meetup London / Super Mario Earworms

Giving some news, summing up the World Cup, England out, France win, and some chat about music that gets stuck in your head. Get some English stuck in your head with this episode. Transcript available!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8mW

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

More football episodes - but it won't last forever! In this one I'm in England talking to my Dad and my brother about the world cup so far including England's performances, World Cup songs, diving, VAR and predictions for the semi finals. Enjoy!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8kI

italic offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking about the second round of the World Cup in Russia, including comments about the teams, the games, the issues, England's penalties vs Colombia and the way football commentators speak. Listener comments are read out. Notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8la

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

How Olly Richards Learns a Language (Part 2) Intermediate Plateau / The Magic of Story / Pronunciation & Personality / Classroom vs Self-Guided Learning

The rest of my conversation with polyglot Olly Richards, talking about how to overcome the intermediate plateau, the magic of story, pronunciation and identity issues, and self-guided learning.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8kw

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

536. How Olly Richards Learns a Language (Part 1) Compelling Material / Input-based Learning

Talking to polyglot Olly Richards about the benefits of listening, reading and using stories to learn English. Full of insights and strategies for effective language learning. Transcripts and notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8k5

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

535. World Cup 2018 [1]

Talking about the World Cup 2018 in Russia, including comments about the teams, players, groups, VAR and England's performances. Notes & transcripts available.

Episode page

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

LEP Premium is ready - www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

This is an announcement to let you know that LEP Premium is now ready to go.

If you want to superpower your English into the 9th dimension, then you can get started by signing up for LEP Premium. Let me tell you about it.

I’m about to upload some premium episodes into the app. They’ll also be available online if you don’t have the app - but the app is going to be the most convenient way to listen to these episodes in the normal way, when you’re out and about or when you’re at home studying. There will be about 3 episodes coming - probably already there by now, and then more episodes + bonuses every month after that.

The way this works is that you’ll need to just create a profile online with my host, sign into the app with that profile and you’ll get access to all the premium episodes I’ve uploaded and am going to upload.

www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium to get started. Then Get Access to Premium Episodes. Complete the details and get your login codes and then bob’s your uncle. In the app the login is in the settings menu.

Make sure your version of the LEP app is updated.

Check the PREMIUM category and that’s where you’ll find the episodes. There will be episodes coming regularly and I’ll also upload other things for premium subscribers, including pdfs, shorter episodes, phrasal verbs and videos. There will be quite a lot of content for the premium subscribers - in the app and online.

Yep - you will also have to pay for the premium episodes, but it will be a small amount - just a few dollars - like the price of a coffee, and finally this is a way for me to monetise my online work, and for you to support this whole project.

PREMIUM DEAL

All the usual episodes of LEP, sometimes with bonuses if you’re using the app, (obviously).
Minimum 2 premium episodes per month (MINIMUM - probably more) + various bonuses
Premium episodes will be primarily focused on teaching you language. Helping you to develop your vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with a special interest in looking at how English really sounds vs how it is written. It’s all about decoding language, helping you realise how it really sounds as well as how it is structured.
Pdfs with transcripts, vocab lists and notes for each P episode - available in the app or downloadable online.
More phrasal verb episodes - New ones :)
Video versions of LEP Episodes sometimes (not every single episode, but when possible)
Invitations to live YouTube streaming events - e.g. live podcast recordings or online workshops & Q&A sessions - only for premium subscribers (arrange a date, tell them you’ll send the email 30 mins before the live stream, set up the live stream as unlisted, send the email with link, start)
All content in the app and online

So the podcast will continue as normal with normal episodes being free, but premium subscribers can access all this other stuff too.

Premium Episode content

Every premium episode will primarily be about teaching language to you. Grammar, vocab or pron.

Episodes will be either:

Language Reviews focusing on English which has come up naturally in normal episodes of LEP (e.g. unpacking the grammar, vocab or pron in conversations or monologues). Learn real English as it is spoken by my friends and guests.
Language Lessons focusing on grammar, vocab or pronunciation (similar to recent grammar lessons). I’ll pick useful, important or requested areas of language and analyse + explain them in proper detail.

You might think - what’s the difference between premium and normal?

Normal LEP episodes can be divided into 2 functions:

To give you listening practice. Exposure to plenty of spoken English is vital for developing proper English skills. Listen a lot and you learn language as a consequence. Sometimes I explain things as I go in order to help make things clear and because as a teacher for over 16 years, I’m always teaching you language, even if that’s not the primary aim of the episode. The primary aim of episodes like this is to explain a topic to you, to teach you about culture, tell you stories, make you laugh, interview people and generally encourage you to listen to English as it is spoken naturally. Language learning happens as a consequence, and you can push it further and more effectively by using the transcripts and notes that I publish free on my website.
To teach you language directly, rather than just giving you listening practice. I pick certain language points and explain them explicitly with definitions and made up examples. Or I pick out language that has come up in conversation and teach it back to you, helping you to notice features of natural speech. I’ve been teaching English for over 16 years. I’m well-qualified and experienced. I have a particular set of skills for teaching. I can use those skills to explain, define and demonstrate aspects of English directly to help you learn directly. This is about focusing on language from the bottom up.

Putting it simply, Type 1 = topic episodes. Type 2 = language episodes.

Most episodes deal with the first option, with a bit of the second option thrown in too.

E.g. the recent episodes with Andy or other conversations in which I explain the vocab and language afterwards.

Some episodes deal with the second option, with a bit of 1 thrown in.

E.g. language focused episodes, like the recent Grammar Questions, or ones about phrases with GET or plenty of episodes in the archive in which I teach idioms, verb tenses, connected speech, etc.

Type 2 episodes often take a long time to prepare. They also involve me using professional skills that at this point in my career should come with a fee

Premium episodes will primarily be type 2 episodes.

I’ve decided that I need to try and monetise some of my podcast work.

I’ve been doing it for 9 years. This April was the 9 year anniversary of LEP.

Doing the podcast is my part-time job. I teach at the BC and I do my podcast.

I really want to continue doing it, I want to support your English, but I also need to support my family!

I think you understand.

I want the podcast to remain free, and that will happen. Normal episodes of LEP will still be free. There might be slightly less of them, but so be it. But they will be free.

If you want to support LEP after all these years you can by becoming a premium member and you’ll get a bunch of serious bonus content too.

Jack

I remember listening to the pink gorilla episode about a year ago and during the episode you said "OK, never mind". Same thing happened again and when it happened the second time I thought : Why does King say "OK, never mind" why doesn't he just say "OK" ? What does "never mind" mean? And that curiosity led me to google and that's how I learned that word :) So with LEP Premium episodes you are essentially explaining the listeners all the language without them having to do any hard work :P they just have to listen to that episode everyday until it clicks.

Your vocabulary is going to get so good

This is a double whammy of just absorbing English through exposure and having things carefully pointed out and clarified, explained

How do teachers choose what English to teach you? It’s based on general corpora of English. With this method the corpora is LEP. Learn the English you hear on the podcast.

So, not only will you be hearing a lot of vocabulary just coming up naturally in context in normal episodes (which is a really solid way to build awareness of English into your life steadily, bit by bit) but also you’ll regularly have things clarified and taught to you by me afterwards. I think it should be a powerful combination of natural exposure to English in full context and also good old fashioned language teaching from me - all based on the same language.

I think to get this full LEP experience you’ll need to be a premium subscriber.

It’ll also help you to understand and appreciate the normal episodes of the podcast that much more. For example, imagine hearing a conversation with Amber & Paul - you might enjoy it because of the fun vibe we have between us, but there’s bound to be loads of things you’ll miss. Then you can hear a premium episode which clarifies so much of what we said. You could then go back and listen to the original episode again, armed with so much more understanding - you’d understand much much more of it and as a result a lot of that language is going to stick with you.

It’s the ideal combination I reckon.

Also, your grammar is going to get more and more solid as I will make a point of highlighting features of grammar, as well as vocabulary as we go.

LEPP episodes won’t just be about explaining vocab and grammar you’ve heard. Some episodes will be lessons that just focus on important bits of language that you need to know anyway, even if they haven’t come up specifically in other episodes.

It’s all about language - raising awareness, raising your understanding, improving your accuracy so you avoid common errors, making you more confident with the language but not in an abstract way - in a way that connects it to how the language is actually used and has actually been used in conversations you’ve already heard on the podcast.

That’s the thinking behind LEP Premium. I hope you jump on for the ride.

Now, there are 3 premium episodes recorded and ready to go and they’ll be available to you almost immediately.

Remember, they’ll be in the LEP App in the premium category, and on the LEP Premium page at teacherluke.co.uk/premium

That’s where you’ll find the episodes and you’ll be able to get the pdfs in those places too.

Use the website teacherluke.co.uk/premium to set up your premium profile with a login code and password.

Then you can sign into the app and gain access to premium content there, and also sign in online and get episodes there, including any premium players on my website which will be locked unless you’re a subscriber.

Choose your payment plan. This is where you are going to help me out with a contribution each month.

Price

How much do you reckon you’d expect to pay for all this stuff? Think of it as a contribution towards helping the podcast.

$3.99 per month = Buy me a pint of beer in a pub

$19.99 every six months ($3.29 per month) Buy me a Big coffee - 15% discount

$34.99 per year ($2.89 per month) Buy me a Small coffee - 30% discount

Remember all the stuff you’ll be able to get:

Minimum 2 premium episodes per month (MINIMUM - probably more)

Pdfs with transcripts, vocab lists and notes for each P episode - available in the app or downloadable online.

More phrasal verb episodes

Video versions of LEP Episodes (not every single episode, but when possible)

Invitations to live YouTube streaming events - e.g. live podcast recordings or online workshops & Q&A sessions (arrange a date, tell them you’ll send the email 30 mins before the live stream, set up the live stream as unlisted, send the email with link, start)

All content in the app and online

Any questions, let me know at luketeacher@hotmail.com

There will also be at least one page on the website where you can leave comments for premium content.

First thing, get your premium profile set up and get access to about 3 episodes which will be available in the next couple of days.

Then look forward to regular content coming in - language reviews of conversations with guests, grammar and pronunciation lessons - all the things you need to progress in your English with Luke’s English Podcast.

www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium to get started

In the app you sign in in the settings page.

I hope you’re as excited as me to really dig deep into British English and learn the same stuff that people actually say on a daily basis, rather than just some words on paper or in a book which look nothing like the way they sound when people speak.

www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium to get started

Speak to you again soon.

Bye

534. Sugar Sammy Interview (Part 2) Language & Comedy

Part 2 of my chat with Canadian stand-up comedian Sugar Sammy, talking about his 4 languages, TV shows from our childhood, copying Indian accents, language-related controversy in Quebec, Sammy’s crowd-work skills, stories of difficult gigs in the UK, and our thoughts on recent Star Wars films. At the end of the episode you can hear my spoiler-free review of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. Transcriptions and notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8jK

Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep

Sugar Sammy is a very popular and famous comedian from Canada. He's often described as Montreal's #1 stand up comedian. He speaks 4 languages, he has performed comedy in lots of countries. He might be coming to your country soon to make you laugh. Ladies and gentlemen - meet the wonderful Sugar Sammy!

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8jD

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

This episode is a history of The World Cup. You’ll see that it’s very long! I didn’t expect it to be this long. I hope you enjoy it! I covers all the World Cups we’ve had since 1930, focusing on the key events with a few dodgy jokes along the way. You can read 99% of the transcript on the page for this episode.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8jl

Test yourself and learn various verbs and nouns related to crime. Features some amusing chat and anecdotes with Moz from the Murder Mile True Crime Podcast. Transcripts and vocabulary available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8iF

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

My friend Moz (Michael J. Buchanan-Dunne) from the Murder Mile True Crime Podcast tells us some more true stories about murders from London's past. Contains some gruesome details and explicit descriptions, and some fascinating and unbelievable true stories! Intro and outtro transcripts available.

Adults Only: This episode contains gory details and explicit violent descriptions

Spoken offer http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8iD

529. The "M" Word (with Andy Johnson)

Friend of the podcast Andy Johnson returns to give us some news and tell some stories all related to things that begin with the letter "M". Intro & outtro transcripts available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8ir

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

528. The Royal Wedding (with Mum)

Talking to my mum about the royal wedding between Prince Harry & Meghan Markle. Describing the ceremony, the guests and the dress, and discussing the place of the monarchy in modern British life. Some transcriptions and vocabulary available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8i2

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Image linked via Telegraph.co.uk https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/20/cutest-royal-wedding-pictures-prince-george-princess-charlotte/

527. Can Paul Taylor Pass The UK Citizenship Test?

Testing Paul Taylor's knowledge of British life, history and culture and discussing the "Life in the UK" citizenship test. Practise listening to British English natural speech, learn facts about the UK and have a laugh as Paul gets angry about this test for people who want to become UK citizens. Will Paul actually pass the test? Listen to find out what happens.

Take the same test https://lifeintheuktestweb.co.uk/test-1/

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8hD

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk

[Audio version] Catching up with Paul Taylor and talking about his recent trips to Japan & Barcelona, the pros and cons of being a tourist and some recommendations for people visiting London and Paris as tourists. Video available on the website and in the LEP app.

For LEP App users - find the video in the Videos category.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8h9

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

VOTE FOR LEP in the British Podcast Awards http://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Help me build my pod-castle! Vote here:

http://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Click the link and search for "luke's english podcast"

Thank you to everyone who's already voted.

Fingers crossed! 🤞🤞🤞

Vocabulary in this Mini Episode

to be in with a chance (of doing something)
you need to achieve certain milestones
it shows that you're getting somewhere, you're making progress
it's a flag you can wave or a banner you can show to people
you need flags you can fly from the top of the castle
to fly the flag of victory
I'm asking you to do me a favour in return for the free things I've been giving to you
"I can't be bothered"
"I think I'll just not bother"
it would mean the world to me
it's up to you whether I actually get this or not
I'm hoping, praying, wondering whether or not it's actually possible
listen to me begging!
that would be a nice birthday present, wouldn't it?
get your skates on
don't hang around
don't put it off, it's not the washing up!
you need to do it sooner rather than later
don't leave it until the last minute
men, women and any other denomination you choose to respect
I didn't video the second one because I'd run out of memory on my camera-thing
I was up for about an hour and a half at a very ungodly hour
she got a bit over-excited
I've got a dry, painful, sore throat and I've got a blocked-up nose
it's raining and its a bit chilly

Ninja August / Podcast Corrections / Useful Japanese Cat (Listener Comments & Questions)

Responding to more comments and questions from listeners, including some rambling about public holidays in France, why May is like 'ninja August', some corrections to what I said about bats and Stephen Hawking on the podcast and the story of an amazing useful cat from Japan.

Vote for LEP in the British Podcast Awards http://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8gz

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Transcript Collaboration https://teacherluke.co.uk/episodes-with-transcripts/transcripts/

Talking about words which can be pronounced several ways, words which are often pronounced incorrectly by native speakers and the debates, arguments and frustration that arises between native speakers as a result. Includes the "You Say Tomato..." song and the Grammar Nazi sketch, explained. Transcript & notes available.

Vote for LEP in the British Podcast Awards! http://www.britishpodcastawards.com/vote

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8ge

italki offer http://teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to fellow English teacher Cara Leopold about advice for using TV shows and films to learn English, both with and without subtitles.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8fB

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to my ex-colleague Raphael Miller about his new summer school for teenagers + rambling about British social and communication culture, growing up in Liverpool, studying at Oxford University, the famous Star Wars actor Raphael knows and remembering some of the old-fashioned ways we used to describe computers and the internet. Transcripts and links below. 👨‍🎓🌞🇬🇧

www.yourenglishsummer.co.uk

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8ft

italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Usually when I talk to my brother on the podcast we talk about fairly obscure topics, like cult films, musical subcultures or skateboarding, but this time we chose a universal topic; pets. Listen to this conversation to hear James and me remembering the pets we had as children and discussing some issues related to keeping animals as pets.

Transcript for the introduction and ending available on the website.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8f4

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Check out the new episode in the LEP App to learn some really useful prepositional phrases & have some common doubts answered, like "on time vs in time vs at the beginning vs in the beginning vs at the end vs in the end" & more. Get the LEP App for your phone  iPhone/iPad – APPLE APP STORE 📱ANDROID – GOOGLE PLAY STORE Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8eW

The second part of my chat with Andy Johnson. Listen out for 18 more idioms which will be explained later. Topics include: Twitter abuse, the other Andy Johnson, training for the London Marathon + more.

Transcripts and vocabulary definitions available.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8dR

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A conversation with Andy Johnson including loads of idiomatic expressions and their explanations. First you can listen to a rambling chat with Andy and then I'll explain 25 idioms that came up during the conversation. Part 2 coming soon...

Transcriptions, Vocabulary list & Definitions available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8dL

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Answering grammar questions from listeners, with details about verb tenses (including present continuous vs present perfect continuous & future continuous vs going to) and the language of newspaper headlines. Includes references to The Queen, The Legend of Zelda and a lot of pizza. Transcriptions & grammar notes available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8cN

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk

I woke up this morning to the news that Stephen Hawking had died and I thought - I really must talk about this. He was a British scientist who must be considered one of the most significant people of recent years - a brilliant mind who contributed so much to our understanding of the nature of reality itself while also struggling against some extreme personal difficulties and for those reasons he’s a great inspiration to many people around the world.

In this episode I’m just going to talk about him, his life, his achievements, his sense of humour and how he will continue to be an inspiration to people for many years to come. Let's learn some English along the way.

Vocabulary list available

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8cy

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Learn English from an anecdote told by Sir Paul McCartney. Let's listen to Paul telling a sweet story about something funny that happened to him and George Harrison when they were teenagers, before they became world famous musicians in The Beatles. Let's listen to his story, do some intensive listening practice and then I'll help you understand everything. Also, let's have a laugh with some funny Paul McCartney impressions. Video and notes available below.

Episode page https://teacherluke.co.uk/2018/03/10/516-paul-mccartneys-spider-story/

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

In this episode I'm talking to friends of the podcast Amber Minogue and Sarah Donnelly about the subject of raising children in a foreign country - in this case, France. So this is an episode all about cross-cultural experiences, specifically relating to parenthood. It's also about a new podcast and stage show which Amber & Sarah have just started. Transcriptions, notes and links available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8aE

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

In this episode you can hear me chatting to Fred Eyangoh and Alex Quillian and discussing various topics including growing up in different countries, recognising different accents in English, religious backgrounds, movie re-boots, Arnold Shwartzenegger going "nyarrrgh" and more. Fred and Alex are both stand-up comedians living in Paris who perform in English.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8b4

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A general ramble about things like: dishwasher sounds, online clickbait, updates to the LEP app, my recent appearances on some OPP (other people's podcasts), LEPster meetups and some responses to recent comments on the website. Notes, links & videos available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8bt

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking more about my experiences as a student of French, this time reading from notes I took during my French lessons (when I should have been focusing on the class!) and some considerations about learning a language in a classroom and learning on your own. Notes & transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8ab

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Sharing my experiences of learning French (or not learning it). My French and Me - How I learned some French as a child and how I'm failing to learn it properly as an adult. Includes conclusions about language learning, immersion and the importance of motivation, habit and simply applying yourself. Notes & transcriptions available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-81p

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

In this episode you can listen to Amber, Paul and me as we take an online quiz and try to find out what school of philosophical thought we belong to. Are we empiricists, epicurianists, existentialists, hedonists, humanists, platonists, skeptics or stoicists? Listen on to find out more and to hear a full-on discussion of life, the universe and everything.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-88T

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PHILOSOPHY QUIZ LINK - CLICK HERE

This episode is all about philosophy and how this applies to language learning. Listen to me describing 8 different 'schools' of philosophical thought. Are hedonists good language learners? How do rationalists and empiricists disagree about how we learn languages? Is language learning an innate ability or just something that can only happen as a result of things we do after we're born? And, how does philosophy answer life's big questions such as, "What's life all about?" "What are we doing here?" and "What shall we have for dinner?" Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-88S

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Learn English by listening to Rick Thompson telling some true stories of petty crimes committed in an English town in 1851.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-88W

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Recommendations and descriptions of British comedy TV shows with some comments about how to use comedy TV shows to learn English. Transcript available on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-81r

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Listen to readings of "If—" by Rudyard Kipling, a popular poem from England. Includes analysis of the vocabulary and the themes in the poem and also a chance to enjoy the unique voice of Sir Michael Caine - with some funny impressions too. Transcript, vocabulary and videos available on the episode page.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-81n

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Transcripts and Vocabulary Lists for Episode 505

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-87u

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Intro Transcript

Here is the third and final part of this trilogy of episodes about the latest Star Wars film. In this one you'll hear a conversation between my Dad, my brother and me that I recorded just after we'd seen the film a couple of weeks ago. Now, I know that this is perhaps a bit too much Star Wars content on this podcast. Even if you are a fan it might seem like overkill. So let me emphasise the value of the conversation in this episode as an opportunity for you to learn some natural English in an authentic way. You'll hear us talking spontaneously and then in the second half of this episode I'll to explain some of the bits of language that come up in the conversation. So, this isn't just chat about a film, it's a way to present you with real British English as it is actually spoken.

When my family were staying with us for a few days during the Christmas holiday period, fairly soon after our daughter was born, Dad, James and I left my wife and my mum at home to look after the baby and we went off to see the new Star Wars film. This has become something of a Christmas tradition now.

After seeing the film we came home, drank some red wine and then recorded our thoughts and comments for the podcast. That is this conversation.

As you'd expect we were feeling quite excitable after having just sat through 2 and a half hours of intense Star Wars action and we were also slightly tipsy on French wine and so the conversation is quite animated and lively. You will hear us talking over each other a bit. Not every sentence is completed. Some words get cut off as we interrupt each other and although that's all completely normal in conversations like this, it might be difficult for you to understand everything, depending on your level of English, but watch out for various nice expressions that pop up during our chat. I'll be explaining some of them later in this episode.

Right then, let's hear that conversation now - and remember of course that this will contain lots of plot spoilers for Star Wars Episode 8 - so if you haven't seen it yet, please do so before you listen to this. This is your final warning - plot spoilers are coming - please do not let us spoil your enjoyment of the film. You could always come back to listen to this episode later if you want.

Outtro Transcript

Near the end of the conversation there you heard my dad and my brother expressing their doubts about whether this conversation might be either too difficult for you to follow or simply boring for you to hear because of the slightly geeky levels of detail about Star Wars. That's quite a frequent reaction from them, isn't it. It's a bit annoying when they say that kind of thing, but to be honest, I think they've both got a point, to a certain degree, and this shows that making podcast content for learners of English can be a bit of a tightrope. Episodes should be clear enough for learners of English to understand, but at the same time spoken at a natural speed to make them authentic. I want to be able to explore subjects in some depth and detail so that the content is original and insightful without episodes becoming too specific, too long or simply uninteresting for you to listen to. It can be tricky to walk that line. The fact is, it's probably impossible to get it 100% right every time and produce episodes that are popular and useful for absolutely everybody across the board.

But in the end I'm not going to worry about it too much. I expect I lost a few people with all this talk of Star Wars, but if that is the case - so be it. Looking on the bright side - maybe those of you who share my enthusiasm for these films have really enjoyed this trilogy.

In any case, that's it for Star Wars for a while.

Now, let's focus our attention on language - specifically vocabulary. What about some of the expressions, phrasal verbs and other bits of language that you heard?

I've been through the conversation again and made a list. It's quite a big list. I wonder how many of these phrases how many you noticed and how many passed you by. We'll see.

Let's go through them now. And this isn't Star Wars vocabulary - it's all English that you can use to talk about all manner of different things.

This is your chance to broaden your vocabulary, increasing your understanding of not just this conversation but native-level English in general.

Vocabulary (not just Star Wars related) Listen to the episode to hear my definitions and explanations.

Your daughter is gorgeous and all in one piece, and very healthy and alert. It's a wonderful thing and I'm now an uncle.
Dad: I'm wearing a flat cap, smoking a pipe, sitting by the fire and dozing. James: No change there then.
There's been a big backlash against this film from the die-hard fans.
Is there a theory that the score has been dragged down artificially?
The sequel trilogy is a return to form, you think?
The characters are running out of steam.
It doesn't have the same wow factor as before. So they're exaggerating everything to keep it going.
It didn't have the same feeling as the originals, that's what you can boil it down to.
They added new scenes. They added nothing. They detracted from the originals.
I was like you once. Full of beans and spunk!
I punched a bloke in the face once for saying Hawk The Slayer was rubbish.
I was defending the fantasy genre with terminal intensity when what I should have said is Dad, you're right, but let's give Krull a try and we'll discuss it later.
Jar Jar Binks makes the Ewoks look like... fcking... Shaft! (The Ewoks were annoying, but Jar Jar is so annoying and terrible that by comparison, the Ewoks look extremely cool, like Shaft. This does not mean that Shaft looks like an Ewok. It just means that Shaft is very cool and Jar Jar is very uncool*.)
Shaft (1971) Directed by Gordon Parks, Richard Roundtree (as John Shaft)
Tim, I'm going to have to let you go.
Phew! I thought you were going to fire me then!
I thought it went seriously downhill when they started to introduce teddy bears.
They used more animatronics and puppetry.
There are a number of set pieces. It moves from one set piece to another set piece.
I thought it was a little bit trying too hard. It was a little bit frenetic.
It does go on a bit.
I thought they could have done without the cute creatures. It's a bit of Ewokism here.
To be honest I kind of got over my star wars obsession when I was about 12.
I'm not one of these rabid fans.
I'm starting to warm to the new characters.
Dad said there were too many explosions. James: I know what you mean. It's the law of diminishing returns. You see one explosion and it's "ooh wow", and you see 100 explosions and it's like "meh".
I liked the bit when the guy got chucked into the extractor fan. It was like he got chucked into a lettuce shredder. Bits of him went flying out. That was cool.
The extractor fan/lettuce shredder - They should have a grill over that or some sort of guard rail. It's a health and safety issue. It's a health and safety nightmare.
To me, it needs a bit of lightening up. I don't want it to be like one of these superhero films like Batman where everything's deadly serious and shrouded in seriousness. Come on it's a kid's film - just lighten up!
On milking the sea alien - I thought that was wrong on many levels, but I laughed.
I liked Adrian Edmonson. Every moment he was on screen I was stoked.

The rest of this vocabulary is explained in the Luke's English Podcast App - Check the bonus content for episode 505 How to find bonus content for episodes in the app[/caption]

Snoke was a classic baddie. He looked horrible and it was lovely when he came to a sticky end.
Hang on, let me finish!
Were you disappointed that we didn't learn anything else about him, that he just died? James: No I was glad to see the back of him.
Some people feel disappointed that his character wasn't developed. Do you think he was killed too easily? Dad: Well, I think he was very cut up about it. (!!!)
He was just a really evil thing that had to be got rid of.
You take for granted the special effects involved.
On Luke throwing away the lightsabre. Dad: He didn't hurl it into the sea, he just tossed it over his shoulder.
Pronunciation: We've been to that island. We've been to those rocks. We've been into those huts. We've been there. /bin/ not /bi:n/
Maybe Chewie did eat the porg. Dad: I think, "Chewie" - the clue is in the name. He should have chewed into that porg.
Luke Skywalker was flawed.
He'd coached this trainee jedi, his nephew, who had perfect credentials, good bloodline.
He peaked too early.
You can see that we're running out of steam.
Did you like the new AT-AT walkers? I thought they were sick. I liked the way they walked on their knuckles. I thought it was funny the way they look like they're grumpily stomping along on their knuckles.
Gorilla walkers / guerrilla war in the forest
(There's a moment where we go from talking about gorilla walkers to guerrilla warfare (Ewoks vs Empire). These are two different words that sound the same.)
I was genuinely and generally interested.
It didn't feel like they jumped the shark.
Disney are going to milk this one dry.
Luke Skywalker brushing his shoulder / Obama brushing his shoulder.
He turned the tide against him by being too cool in the Whitehouse.
At least I didn't sigh in this episode.

Continuing to talk about the latest Star Wars film at length, going through the storyline and giving my thoughts on the characters, events and the audience backlash. Transcript available below.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-87j

Transcript (95% complete) OK, so if you check the length of this episode you’ll see it’s more than 2 hours long - Yes, this is definitely the longest episode of LEP I’ve ever done! And this is part 2 of a double episode. If you put parts 1 and 2 together that adds up to nearly 3.5 hours of me talking about Star Wars The Last Jedi. Added to that, the next episode will also be about Star Wars - and that will be a conversation between my dad, my brother and me. So, this has become something of a Star Wars marathon on Luke’s English Podcast. Those of you who are fans of Star Wars will probably be happy about that! Those of you who aren’t interested in Star Wars, or if you just think this film completely sucks - of course you could just skip this episode - I’ll be uploading more non-Star Wars episodes soon, I promise. OK, so strap in then, let’s embark on part 2 of this epic Star Wars themed episode.

Hi, welcome back to the podcast. This is part 2 of a double episode I’m doing about Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In this one I’m going to continue going through the storyline of the film and giving my thoughts and feelings about the characters and events. I thought I’d be able to do all of this in one episode but I have got a bit carried away so I’ve split it into 2 parts.

You should listen to part 1 before listening to this...

If you’re not a fan of Star Wars you could just skip this one. I’m recording it really for the people who’ve seen the film.

Spoiler alert - I’m revealing lots of details about the film, so you should wait until you have seen the film before you listen to this.

There is a script for most of what I’m saying on the episode page on my website so you can read along while listening, or just check for certain words and phrases that you’ll hear me use.

If you’re listening in the LEP app, just click the link for the episdoe page in the episode description - that will allow you to read the script while you’re listening.

After this episode there will be another one about Star Wars - and that will be a chat with my brother and my Dad that I recorded just after we all saw the film together about a week ago.

I realise I’m devoting quite a lot of podcast time to this new film - but I just really enjoy talking about it right at this moment

and as far as I’m concerned that’s enough of a reason for me to do this on the podcast.

Don’t worry, I won’t be doing Star Wars forever of course and we’ll get back to other topics and themes on the podcast soon.

OK then, so I expect the ones still listening to this are the Star Wars fans - so, let’s now continue where I left off.

I was describing that moment when General Leia gets blasted into space when the bridge of her ship gets blown up.

I said that this is quite a controversial scene...

I admit that this scene is weird and we’ve never seen this before in a Star Wars film, but I really don’t think it’s as bad or ridiculous as some people think.

So, Leia is hanging in space in zero gravity after the bridge of her ship has been blown up. She’s hanging in zero gravity. Apparently now we have zero gravity in space. Now - there is no consistency regarding the science in these films as we’ve seen already many times. This is not science fiction - there doesn’t need to be consistent, logical physics. This is a film series in which there are explosions in space, a huge planet sized space station that blows things up with lazers and a mystical force that allows people to control minds, lift objects and even project lightning from their fingers.

In this particular scene. The science serves the characters, the action and the plot, and it can be bent this way and that. We are supposed to just suspend our disbelief and go with the vague rules of this universe. In this case, in this scene, there is zero gravity in space and so Leia is just hanging there. It seems that her skin maybe beginning to freeze, which is what would happen in space I suppose.

She looks dead.

But then her fingers twitch and her eyelids open. When I saw this I immediately thought - she’s using the force to keep herself alive. It’s a survival thing. Then she extends her arm and floats back towards the ship.

Some people say she flies and they get very angry and upset saying “The force doesn’t let you fly”. Well - first of all, she’s not flying - she’s floating through zero gravity.

It wouldn’t require much force power to do that, right? There’s no atmosphere or gravity so it just requires a little bit of force power to pull herself back to the ship.

Also, we know that Leia is force sensitive but up until this point her power has just been to communicate with Luke through the force, to feel and sense things through the force and perhaps the suggestion that she’s been influencing events through the force for a while - like perhaps helping that bomber in the opening battle sequence, and influencing Kylo’s decision not to attack the fleet and so on.

So she has the force but she’s never used it to her full potential. It’s not hard to imagine that in a crucial moment like this that she’d be capable of keeping herself alive and pulling herself back to the ship through zero gravity.

We see this slightly odd, yet strangely beautiful image of Leia floating through space in the middle of a battle. It’s eerie and we’ve never seen anything like this before.

Again, a lot of people hate this scene, but I think they’re being a bit hysterical.

This has never happened before - it’s not consistent!

Yep, well a lot of people complained about episode 7 because it contained nothing new.

This is something new and it’s not completely far fetched. She’s not flying, she’s floating in zero gravity. Leia can’t fly ok? She’s not superwoman. It’s zero gravity. She’s just floating.

So, I’m fine with this scene, but only fine with it.

They could have done this differently.
Other criticisms of this scene include the fact that Leia uses the force here just to save herself, other characters die and she could have saved them.

Well, let’s face it - this film is all about breaking away from the old stuff and that means that some of the old characters have to die, and that includes someone like Admiral Akhbar- the guy who looks like a fish.

I’m not that bothered that Akbar is gone. I liked him - I had the Admiral Akbar toy when I was a child, but it’s fine - we can let him go. These are tragic events.

But maybe she could have used the force differently - like perhaps she could have somehow contained the explosion and held the bridge together - but that surely would have taken much more force strength and ability. I reckon keeping herself alive and then floating back to the ship is consistent with the fact that she’s never fully trained or developed her force abilities.

This moment is also weird and spooky considering the fact that we all know that Carrie Fisher died just after making this film. Here in the film we see her character apparently die, but then her eyes open and she makes a miraculous recovery. I find this spooky and odd, but it doesn’t make me angry or make me want to throw my toys out of the pram and weep for the death of Star Wars. That’s a bit hysterical.

Also, there’s a sense that in the negative reaction to this scene (and to quite a lot of the rest of the film) there’s a bit of sexism going on. Perhaps people just don’t like the idea of a woman flying. I know one person in particular who expressed this opinion - like “What, women can fly now?” “Women can do anything in movies now - this is ridiculous - it’s just rampant feminism”.

Again, that seems like a slightly hysterical reaction. How many times have we seen flying men in movies? How many times are male heroes celebrated by seeing them fly through the air? Tons of times. Superman, Batman (alright he doesn’t fly but almost) Iron Man, Spiderman, Thor and tons of others. Nobody complains about flying men, it happens all the time and it’s not going to stop happening. Then we get one flying woman (who isn’t even flying) and some people throw their toys out of the pram and start complaining about rampant feminism. It’s not the end of the world.

Some people might say - but it’s not consistent with the films. I’d say - yes it is consistent - she’s using her latent force abilities to briefly preserve her life and to pull herself back to the ship.

You might disagree with me on this one - because it’s a really divisive moment in the film and I think a lot of people just couldn’t handle it and this was the moment when they just gave up on the film. If that’s you - write your thoughts in the comment section. What exactly is wrong with this moment? Put your thoughts into words. I’ve given you my point of view, why not give me yours?

So, Leia gets back to the ship and is in a coma. She’s replaced by Vice Admiral Holdo.

Ahch-To - Luke & Rey

Words I used to describe Luke Skywalker:

grisled
haggard
he looks like a wizened old hermit

Luke chucks the lightsaber away.

I was really shocked - gobsmacked. My jaw dropped at this moment.

I was expecting him to refuse the lightsaber but I didn’t expect him to do that, but I went with it.

I was shocked but I went with it.

This is another one of those moments that’s a deal breaker for a lot of people. Some people see Luke throw the light sabre over his shoulder and they find it to be a fundamental problem.

I can understand that. I think it seems a bit dismissive and casual, but this is where Luke is as a character in the story. He has been on this island for god knows how long and he’s utterly lost faith in the Jedi and in the so-called myth of Luke Skywalker. He doesn’t believe in these symbols any more and he has no time for people who expect him to live up to the legend of Luke Skywalker and that’s because at one point he believed in his own legend himself and as a result of that he thought he could do more than he could and this ended in complete failure. He couldn’t live up to all the expectations that he even had of himself.

Some people say this is not consistent with Luke’s character, but I say - why not? Why can’t Luke have gone in this direction in the 30 years since Return of the Jedi?

I found it really interesting that Luke had undergone such dramatic and traumatic changes since episode 6.

Luke’s character in this film is about learning from failure, about being fallible, about struggling with expectations, about the legacy of the Jedi, about the heavy burden that is being the last jedi.

In this film they could have made Luke a massively powerful hero who takes on the First Order armed only with his laser sword, but instead they went for a more complex study of a man who has failed, isolated himself and then slowly comes to terms with what it means to be a myth and how he can use this to do powerful things.

Rey hangs around but Luke refuses to talk to her.

We get some scenes which show Luke’s weird and eccentric lifestyle on the island. He fishes for massive fish in the sea, he lives among the porgs, he even drinks milk from the breast of some kind of weird sea mammal. Not directly from the breast, but he fills a flask with green milk that he gets from the breast of a weird creature that looks a bit like a walrus or something. He then drinks the milk and it drips down his beard, and he stares at Rey while doing this, looking pleased with himself. He’s being purposefully disgusting, and Rey thinks it’s weird.

The green milk scene is another controversial one - controversial meaning that it has split opinions. Some people say this kind of thing has no place in Star Wars and that the humour didn’t really work.

Personally I was fine with it. Both times I saw this in the cinema I was one of the only ones laughing at this moment.

I don’t mind a bit of weird humour and I think Star Wars has always featured this kind of thing.

For example - Jabba The Hutt is a weird creepy slug which licks its slimy lips in a really creepy way when looking at female characters, and there are plenty of other weird moments in the original trilogy. None of them are as blatant as this, but it’s not a complete departure from the world of Star Wars in my opinion.

And just personally, I found it really funny. I also thought that this was Luke testing Rey a bit, in a similar way to how Yoda tested Luke in The Empire Strikes Back. When Luke first arrives on Degobah to meet Yoda (and he doesn’t know what Yoda looks like) Yoda meets him and makes him think he’s just a weird and annoying little creature. He pretends to fight with R2D2, steals Luke’s food and seems totally eccentric and strange. It’s only later that Yoda reveals himself to be a great master. It’s as if he needed to show Luke that you shouldn’t expect heroes to look like heroes and that true heroism is in your actions not in your appearance.

Also this is a trope in a lot of kung fu movies from the 70s. The kung fu master appears as a sort of crazy fool who tests the patience of the main apprentice, giving him lots of annoying tests - and secretly he’s training the apprentice without him realising it.

I like Luke’s grumpy, weird side in this and I found it to be a pleasant surprise.

Anyway, Rey tries unsuccessfully to persuade Luke to join the Resistance and Luke hides in his cabin.

Chewie smashes the door in.

Luke finds out that Han is dead. This doesn’t change his mind, but maybe a little bit.

He visits the Milennium Falcon - this is a big nostalgia moment. The first time we’ve seen Luke on the Falcon since Episode 5 maybe.

He finds R2D2 and the moment they reunite is pretty amazing. Luke removes his hood in order to see him and it reminded me of when Obiwan removed his hood to look at R2D2 in Episode 4.

Them reuniting made me well up...! I’m not ashamed to admit it. R2 is so important to Luke’s whole journey. He’s the whole reason he ended up on this adventure in the first place.

R2 seems to try and persuade Luke to join the Resistance but Luke says “no way”. R2’s response is brilliant. He just plays the hologram of Princess Leia from Episode 4. Luke says “that was a cheap move” or something - and it’s a bit true, this is a pretty cheap way for R2 to persuade Luke, but also a fairly cheap way for the film to make any Star Wars fan feel emotional.

R2D2 goes straight for the jugular (vein).

This was always one of the most magical moments in the original film. When he was a frustrated farmboy dreaming of having adventures, this hologram of a beautiful princess asking for help completely captured his imagination and catapulted him on this journey into adventure, heroism, the force and self-discovery. The function of it here is that it brings Luke one step further towards remembering who he was and it is a stark contrast to who he has become now.

But he’s still committed to the fact that he can’t be involved because he’s convinced that he’ll do more harm than good.

In fact Luke has cut himself off from the force completely. He’s lost faith in the Jedi order.

But you get the sense that he’s not a lost cause. He acts like he’s definitely against the idea of coming back, but we see that he is quite curious about Rey and there is still a spark of the old Luke Skywalker in there.

At one point Rey seems to be called to a big old tree on the island, which I think is the original Jedi temple - or a force tree - I’m not sure of it’s significance completely but I expect it is mentioned in one of the books or something. The tree also houses the sacred Jedi texts. Rey seems drawn to this place and Luke notices this and follows her from a distance.

That’s when he becomes curious about Rey - when he notices that she’s been drawn to this significant place and there’s an interesting exchange there where we see that Rey is confused and doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t understand how she has her force sensitivity and who her parents are (she’s feeling a bit force sensitive). She’s desperately looking for answers to the questions of her identity while also trying to get Luke to come and help the Resistance. She seems lost and is desperate for guidance.

No idea of how the time works here - all this is going on while the Resistance are battling against time up in space somewhere. Perhaps Ach-To runs on different time cycles. God knows. I don’t think it matters that much.

Luke finally agrees to train Rey a bit. “Tomorrow at dawn - 3 lessons”. Again this is like a kung fu movie or a samurai movie or something, and that is really cool.

3 lessons about the Jedi and why they have to end.

All the while, Rey and Kylo keep having weird force visions in which they are connected and they chat. It’s a bit like secret Skype or something. ForceTime.

She berates him for killing Han Solo and says he’s a monster.

He makes fun of the fact that she is looking for parental figures everywhere.

They grow strangely close, mainly because they’re in similar situations. She’s desperate for guidance. He’s curious about her force abilities, and perhaps is working out if she is an enemy or perhaps a potential ally. They both are alienated from their so-called mentors.

It’s weird and I didn’t know which way this would go. I expected that they’d join forces somehow and fight against both Snoke and Luke Skywalker, but I didn’t believe Luke Skywalker would be a real antagonist.

Like I said before - there’s nothing like watching a Star Wars film when you don’t know what is going to happen next.

Skywalker gives Rey some lessons in the force, but his intention is to break down her misconceptions about what it is, and what the Jedi really are. I could have had more of this to be honest, but then again in the original trilogy there wasn’t much detail about the force either.

With the force I think the more you explain it, the less interesting it becomes. In The Phantom Menace there were these things called midiclorians, which are living organisms that actually carry the force - and it was possible to measure, scientifically, how much force a person had based on their midichlorian count - and because this is physical that this could be genetic and handed down through family connections.

But midichloreans were never spoken of again because they took the magic out of the force. The version of the force we have here is back to how it was in Episode 4 - a mystical energy that binds the galaxy together.

Rey doesn’t understand the force at all - thinking it’s just about controlling people’s thoughts and about moving rocks. This is the childish version of the force. Skywalker tells her it’s a lot more than that, giving a similar version that Obiwan gave to him in episode 4 - that it’s a neutral natural power that exists in the balance between everything.

There are some funny moments where Luke makes fun of her and the way she misunderstands the nature of the force. Again, I’m not bothered by the jokey bits because this is Star Wars not Batman The Dark Knight.

One funny moment is when he tells her to ‘reach out’ and she takes it literally. He means that she should reach out with her feelings, but she reaches out with her arm and he tickles it with a piece of grass saying “can you feel that? That’s the force!” and then he slaps her hand and says “that’s not how the force works” or something. Again, this reminds me of training sequences from kung fu movies which have some humour in them and involve the pupil getting it wrong and the master teasing them.

Then Rey does reach out to the force with her feelings and Luke gives her a little lesson in what it is, and how to connect with it. He’s shocked that she immediately gets pulled towards the dark side, which is represented by a weird dark cave under the island. The rock under her cracks and she has a weird vision of being covered in water.

Luke is shocked that Rey didn’t resist the dark side and he refuses to train her any more because the last time this happened it all went horribly wrong.

He also attempts to explain to Rey how he has lost faith in the Jedi, how they were wrong and arrogant in assuming that they owned the force and how their legacy is failure. In the prequels the Jedi were blinded by their own arrogance - they didn’t see how a powerful sith was taking control of the senate right under their noses. Lack of vision etc. Again - more hubris. They were too sure of themselves and that’s why they failed.

I find this pretty interesting. A lot of that is true, right?

I’m not surprised that Luke has gone this way and I just find it interesting from a character point of view.

Later, I’m not sure when, we get more info about what happened between Luke and Ben Solo (Kylo Ren).

The story is told 3 times, and each time you get a slightly different version of events.

First time is what Luke says to Rey.

He tells her that he sensed growing darkness in Ben and he went to see him during the night to try and reason with him, but Ben flew into a rage and pulled down the building on top of his head, and then destroyed the temple.

The second version of the story is what Kylo tells Rey during one of their ForceTime sessions. He tells her that Luke didn’t give the complete story and that Luke had come with his lightsabre to murder Kylo in his sleep.

A lot of fans can’t handle this and just believe that Luke would never do this and that their childhood is ruined and all that, but it’s not the final version of events.

The third version of the story is the true one.

Luke explains to Rey that he had become aware of a growing darkness in Ben and that he struggled with what to do about it. He went to Ben’s room in the night to read Ben’s mind and was so shocked by the darkness inside him that in a moment of compulsion he ignited his lightsabre in order to kill him and rid the galaxy of another possible evil tyrant, but that as soon as he ignited his sabre, he regretted the decision and realised that this meant killing his nephew, one of his students in a cowardly way. So he immediately changed his mind when he realised what he was doing.

I think this just gives Luke’s character more depth. Remember that he was the last jedi and perhaps he’d taken on too much in agreeing to train these young students. That’s a big job and perhaps he wasn’t really capable of doing it all on his own.

Maybe Yoda and Obiwan’s force ghosts hadn’t visited him for ages so he hadn’t had guidance from them.

As he said - he believed in his own legend and this was his failing. He took on too much and ultimately wasn’t able to handle the task of restarting the jedi order on his own, taking on his sister’s troubled son who was also incredibly powerful in the force but touched by the dark side and was already being manipulated and controlled by Snoke through the force. It was all too much for one guy.

I think there is a lesson here and that is that success can be very dangerous - in this case Luke had success in the fact that he helped to redeem Darth Vader and kill the emperor. This can lead to a false sense of confidence which can lead ultimately to failure. There’s a lot of that in this film. It’s tragic, but at least there’s more depth to it than just gymnastic lightsabre duels and “being badass”.

Anyway, Luke tells his story - of how he immediately changed his mind and was not going to kill Ben, but then Ben woke up and saw Luke standing over him with his ignited lightsabre and that’s when he pulled down the building on top of Luke and destroyed the temple. It’s a sort of misunderstanding that makes Ben think Luke really was going to kill him. In any case, Ben rejects Luke and he then probably gave his allegiance to Snoke.

Luke again tells Rey to get off the island. He’s gone there to die, etc.

This pushes Rey closer to Kylo who is the only one who seems to understand her. Will she turn to the dark side to be with him? Will he turn good? No idea.

Not sure of the chronology here.

At one point Rey visits the dark cave, like Luke does in Empire Strikes Back. This is a really cool and spooky sequence where she seems to see herself trapped in a time line or perhaps it’s just her reflection repeated again and again. She follows this line of reflections until she’s face to face with a mirror and she’s convinced that this will reveal the truth she’s been looking for - her parents. A dark figure approaches her in the mirror. Who is it? Luke? Snoke? Han? Leia? Another figure from Star Wars lore? In the end, she finds herself staring at her own reflection.

What does this mean? I guess it means that she’s on her own and her parents just aren’t important.

Also, at some point here, Luke decides to reconnect with the force. He sits on the stone altar on the clifftop and meditates. I think he makes a connection with Leia, who is in her coma. I think this is where Luke realises a lot of things - but it’s not actually shown in the film. By reconnecting with the force here, I think he gets strength from his renewed connection with Leia, realises that there is something he can do. Basically, by reconnecting with the force he realises his power and perhaps his hope again, or realises the importance of Rey. I’m not sure.

Rey and Kylo have a Forcetime - again they’re getting closer to each other all the time. I think in this one Kylo is topless which kind of amps up the sexual tension between them. Rey seems to believe in Kylo more than she does in Luke at this point and she probably believes she can turn him to the light side of the force etc, but we still don’t really know how Kylo feels. He’s hard for us to read - he’s just blank and unreadable, which is a strength in terms of the acting performance. He could be a bit vulnerable, perhaps a bit lost, but possibly pure evil - we don’t really know!

They actually touch, and when they do Luke bursts into Rey’s hut and is shocked to discover them in contact, and he destroys the hut and breaks the connection.

Then there’s a sort of fight between Rey and Luke, where Rey demands to know if Luke really did try to kill Kylo, and she attacks him with her staff, and Luke defends himself with a stick and disarms her. To me this looks like he’s still training her. When he disarms her, she force grabs the blue lightsabre and appears to have beaten Luke who kind of falls to the ground and gives up - but if you watch closely we see his hand is raised and I’m sure that he could have summoned his green lightsabre whenever he wanted in order to defend himself. I think he let Rey get the better of him.

This is when he confesses that he did momentarily contemplate killing Ben, but that he instantly changed his mind. So - just to set the record straight on this, Luke was not going to kill Ben in his sleep. The idea flashed across his mind when he saw that Snoke had turned him to the dark side, but he instantly changed his mind. I say that because a lot of the hardcore fans have lost faith in this film because they thought Luke was going to murder a child in his sleep - he wasn’t.

Rey then decides to leave the island in order to go to Kylo because she believes she can turn him. Luke says “No, it won’t go the way you think”. It’s a bit like that moment in Empire Strikes Back when Luke goes to confront Vader but Yoda tells him he’s not ready yet.

Rey is delivered to Kylo Ren in an escape pod from the Millenium Falcon and then we get one of my favourite moments in the film. Kylo puts Rey in handcuffs and on the way to Snoke’s throne room they have a conversation.

She explains that she’s confident Kylo will turn to the light because she’s had a vision.

But Kylo explains that he’s also had a vision that Rey will turn to the dark.

I suspected that Kylo would turn to the light, because there was more evidence for it.
I didn’t really believe Rey would turn to the dark side, but there were a few things that suggested that she could - e.g. she was drawn to the dark side during her vision while training with Luke.

She is pretty impulsive and often strikes out in anger, it seems - and that’s often the way towards the dark side.

Then the doors open and Rey meets Snoke for the first time.

Meanwhile, Luke goes to destroy the Force Tree and the ancient Jedi texts.

Yoda appears and stops him.

It’s wonderful to see Yoda again.

He’s not CGI Yoda, it’s puppet Yoda.

They actually used the original mould from Return of the Jedi.

It works.

Basically, he tells Luke that this is all a lesson and that Luke is a good master because he is teaching Rey the value of failure.

“The greatest teacher, failure is.” - he says. Apparently Yoda still hasn’t perfected his grammar, despite failing to speak it correctly for probably about 900 years or something.

Anyway, it’s a good lesson and it brings some redemption to Luke - who feels like he’s a lost cause. Everyone has to fail and it’s your failures that help you to improve. Success brings over-confidence and arrogance sometimes, whereas failure and accepting your failures brings us opportunities to learn.

It’s true for learning English too - our failures are great learning opportunities. We have to say something wrong a few times before we can say it correctly. Expecting to get everything right first time is just unrealistic. Accept failure as the best way to learn, and not something to be ashamed of, you can overcome your problems and learn to be really strong.

Yoda then destroys the force tree and (apparently) the sacred Jedi texts, as if to say to Luke - yes, you’re right - let’s destroy the past and start again. Luke is shocked that Yoda has done this (and apparently force ghosts can summon lightning now in Star Wars - fair enough, we were looking for some new force abilities, right? Apparently force ghosts can interact with the real world now - ok, fine)

The tree burns, containing the books - and Luke says “But the sacred jedi texts!” and Yoda says “Read them have you? Page turners, they are not.” I laughed out loud at this line.

Yoda’s two lessons for Luke:

Failures are valuable learning experiences.
Students always grow beyond their masters.

Back to Snoke’s room.

Snoke reads Rey’s mind, plays around with her - she attempts to fight back several times - grabs her light sabre but snoke makes it fly around the room - she grabs Kylo’s light sabre and Snoke flings her around the room. He seems impressed with her tenacity and he actually says “such spunk!” which made me laugh, because… well the word “spunk”. Do you know what that means?

It’s a bit rude. Here are the two definitions.

Courage, bravery, strength of character.
Semen (offensive)

He means defintion 1, but still - it’s a bit creepy that Snoke gleefully talks about “spunk”. Snoke is a horrible, creepy old git.

He’s also really arrogant and wealthy - he wears a gold robe a bit like Hugh Hefner the playboy guy. He’s horrible. But the CGI motion capture is brilliant. He looks really realistic. Good job Andy Serkis and the special effects team.

Snoke then reads Rey’s mind. I think he was considering whether she could be turned to the dark side, perhaps to become his apprentice and replacement for Kylo. That’s often the way it goes - but he summarises that she’s too pure or can’t be turned or something. So, he decides that Kylo should kill her, perhaps to complete his training.

Meanwhile Kylo looks at the situation quite blankly except for subtle reactions and the movement of his eyes. It reminds me of how Vader observed the Emperor when he was attempting to turn Luke to the dark side. We suspected that Vader was loyal in his heart to Luke. Similarly, I suspect that Kylo hates Snoke and feels resentment towards how manipulative he is, and we suspect that Kylo has feelings for Rey or at least believes that Rey might join him somehow. I wonder if this is a romantic feeling or a strategic one.

Snoke orders Kylo to kill Rey, and we still don’t know what Kylo is thinking. Rey looks up at him and simply says “Ben” - appealing to his good side.

At this point Snoke gets really carried away, proclaiming that he can see Kylo’s thoughts and that Kylo is turning his lightsabre and is going to ignite it in order to kill his true enemy.

But secretly Kylo is using the force to turn Luke Skywalker’s lightsabre which is sitting on the table next to Snoke, and as Snoke is convinced that he’s seeing Kylo’s intentions to kill Rey, perhaps he’s not seeing it clearly and in fact Kylo ignites Luke’s lightsabre killing Snoke.

I found this really surprising and satisfying. The look on Snoke’s face - he’s so shocked! It’s also a really well-directed sequence.

The lightsabre stabs Snoke in the side and then we see the scene from Kylo’s point of view, and Kylo pulls the sabre towards him, cutting Snoke in half! The ignited sabre flies through the air and Rey’s hand comes up to grab it.

Rey stands and for a moment Kylo and her face each other and we wonder whether Kylo is going to attack her, or what will happen...

Then everything goes in slow motion as Rey and Kylo, are attacked by 8 Praetorian guards and they fight back to back on the same side against the guards.

This is an absolutely wicked sequence. The guards are fantastic. They wear this weird red armour which appears to be able to deflect some lightsabre blows. They also have different weapons - swords, staffs, a sort of whip that becomes a sword. It all happens incredibly quickly and the screen is filled with several fights at the same time. Sparks fly, Rey screams and roars as she fights, Kylo’s fighting style is brutal and sketchy. It’s raw power.

At one point the wall catches fire and in the middle of the fight the room starts buring down. One of the guards gets thrown into some kind of fan unit and gets chopped into pieces. It all happens incredibly quickly and intensely.

Rey also has some good moves. Again - I don’t know how she learned to fight like this. Let’s just say that growing up on a rough junk planet like Jakku meant that she had to learn how to defend herself, add to that the fact that she’s obviously gifted with force abilities and has had some light sabre fighting experience now - she’s also brave and intelligent.

The two of them manage to fight off the guards and defeat them, but it’s not easy. At one point it looks like they’ve been beaten. Kylo is unarmed, Rey is held by one of the guards, but she manages to get out of it by dropping her lightsabre, getting out of the guard’s grip and then catching the sabre again in mid air before dispatching the guard.

Kylo is still being held by the last guard, who is kind of strangling him. Rey quickly throws her sabre to Kylo who catches it and ignites it instantly, sending the beam through the guards face, who drops away, dead.

What I like about this moment is that Kylo catches the lightsabre, ignites it, lets the guard drop and steps forward and he never takes his eyes of Rey at any point, and never blinks.

Then, still staring intensely at Rey he steps forward. Rey tells him there’s still time and that they can save the Resistance. She assumes he’s turned good, but he hasn’t.

He tells Rey they should let the past die and start anew - kill Snoke, kill Skywalker, let the Resistance die.

Rey is sort of heartbroken and just says “Ben, don’t do this”.

He also tells her who her parents are - I guess he saw it in a vision or something. He says that they were junk traders who just sold her off as a slave for money and that now they’re dead and buried in the desert. “You’re nobody, nothing…” “but not to me”.

He begs Rey to join her, but she’s heartbroken and won’t do it.

She sees that Kylo is beyond redemption at this point. I think Kylo has crossed a line and he’s the new Snoke. All these changes of position happen really fast. Surely, this is the interesting part of this film - what is really going on in Kylo’s head? Will he go good or bad? In Return of the Jedi we have similar questions about Darth Vader and ultimately he turns good, but in this one Kylo doesn’t. He’s the bad guy. He wants to kill her friends and he’s being very manipulative. He might be lying about her parents, even though she says she’s always known deep down that they abandoned her. But maybe he’s lying or something. Perhaps we’ll see.

Or perhaps her lineage isn’t important and it doesn't matter what your family connections are. Anyone can be strong in the force.

She goes to grab Luke’s lightsaber from Kylo and it ends up suspended mid air between them as they both struggle to grab it. The lightsabre explodes.

In the film this part of the story is told in parallel with the other parts which I haven’t mentioned yet - namely the Finn and Rose storyline and the Poe/Admiral Holdo storyline.

Finn and Rose storyline.

Finn is going to escape and find Rey. Rose stops him. They work out together (cheesily) that the hyperspace tracking can be stopped if they disarm it from the lead ship. Finn has intel on the location of the tracker and they work out that they can get in and disable it, and save the Resistance. It’s surely a suicide mission.

Poe agrees, and they call Maz Kanata for info.

Maz Kanata is a crap character, isn’t she? A sort of vague orange Yoda who isn’t as interesting as Yoda.

A complex and contrived plot is set up where Finn and Rose have to meet a code breaker who can help them access Snoke’s ship (is it Snoke’s ship or another ship - not sure).

So they head to Canto Bite.

“The worst type of people”

Just park on the beach - bad move. But these kids don’t really know what they’re doing.

A bit like the Cantina Bar but everyone’s rich.

Weird horse things on a racetrack, they’re looked after by slave kids.

Rose hates the town.

Little drunk creature putting coins inside BB8.

They get caught and thrown in jail. Pretty rubbish.

Then Benicio Del Toro’s character turns up in the film.

He’s great. I’ve always liked him in films. He’s an “engaging screen presence” to quote Mark Kermode.

He overhears them discussing their plan and says he can get them in the room on the FO ship.

Somehow he has a way to pick the lock and get out, and with BB8’s help they get away, so do Finn and Rose who escape on the horses, which smash up the casino resort before being released into the forest. This is a bit cheesy and feels a bit like a “message” about animal cruelty.

I love animals, so fair enough - but it’s a very Disney moment. Anyway, DJ turns up in a ship with BB8 and they get rescued, and the fly towards the FO ship for their mission, which is to go undercover and turn off the hyperspace tracking, while the Resistance are still running away from the FO and slowly running out of fuel.

DJ is an interesting character. He’s one of those ones who exists in the moral grey area between the good and bad sides, a bit like Boba Fett and even Han Solo at the start of Episode 4.

I think this gives some much needed moral ambiguity.

Also, he shows us that the rich people on Canto Bite make their money making and selling weapons to the FO and the Resistance. This adds a bit of complexity to the whole “intergalactic war thing” which underpins this whole series of films, and just shows that there’s more to this than just good guys vs bad guys - there’s a whole industry behind these wars that makes some people really rich. I think for some fans this is a bit too political for Star Wars, which is ironic considering how politics were involved so much in the prequel films.

They make it onto the Supremacy (I think) and go undercover.

BB8 disguises himself as one of those little black droids - a “mouse” droid I think they’re called.

He’s disguised as one of them by hiding under a black dustbin as far as I can see.

Amazingly nobody really notices them, including Finn who surely is a famous traitor by now …

I say nobody notices them, actually an evil black version of BB8 does notice them. I love this evil BB8. He’s actually called BB9-E and it’s interesting how just a few changes in design makes this little droid instantly evil looking. I think I heard Mark Hamill talking about this in an interview - just a few changes - make the droid black, with a different shaped head and it just screams “Nazi!” It does look like a nazi version of BB8. Also, they manage to endow him with a lot of menace and malice. His red eye narrows with suspicion when he sees Rose, Finn, DJ and BB8.

Long story short - they get to the tracker and it turns out that DJ has set them up - he betrayed them and he betrays the whole Resistance and their plan to escape to Crait because the FO offered him loads of money. Finn gets angry and calls him a traitor I think, or says something like “They’re the bad guys” - and DJ says something along the lines of “Good guys, bad guys, what’s the difference. They blow you up today, you blow them up next time…”

I find his cynicism and pragmatism to be refreshing and interesting in the context of this binary good guys vs bad guys conflict. This is a really enjoyable bit of ambiguity and I really hope we see Benicio Del Toro’s character again.

Perhaps the most interesting moments in all of Star Wars are the moments when there’s moral ambiguity - like the character of Boba Fett who is only interested in self-preservation and money, or the moments when Luke Skywalker appears to drift towards the dark side slightly in order to achieve things - specifically when defeating Darth Vader, or when Anakin/Vader goes dark and then light at the end. These are the interesting moments and DJ is an example of that.

So, Finn & Rose are caught, The Resistance are screwed…

Some people complain that the Finn and Rose storyline doesn’t achieve anything. But that’s the whole point - it’s another lesson in failure. Sometimes characters fail in films - it’s boring if they just succeed every single time - and anyway the Resistance were always the underdogs and Finn and Rose were never going to succeed with this plan anyway - it’s was a suicide mission. They’re lucky that they got this far.

Back to what’s happening with The Resistance fleet.

Leia is in a coma, Holdo takes over. Poe disagrees with her strategy - which appears to be just to jump ship and escape the fleet. He thinks it won’t work and it’s cowardly. He attempts a mutiny but gets stunned by Leia who she comes back.

She uses a blaster set to stun. We haven’t seen this since episode 4 - blue rings firing out, rather than red or green laser blasts.

It turns out that Holdo’s plan is not to just escape the ship, but to evacuate to a nearby planet that they’ve been heading for.

Poe wasn’t aware of this because he was demoted.

They plan to escape to Crait where there’s an old rebel base. They can use that as a defensive fortress and can call for support from around the galaxy.

Just as well really, because Finn and Rose’s mission has failed.

Then we discover that DJ has told the FO about this plan to evacuate to Crait and the FO begin attacking the escape vehicles as they head towards Crait. The Resistance is screwed now.

Finn and Rose’s mission to stop the hyperspace tracking has failed and now the FO know about the other plan to escape to Crait and are blowing up the escape transports. Also, at this moment it looks like Rey is about to be executed by Kylo Ren.

Finn and Rose are about to be executed.

Oh yeah and Captain Phasma has turned up too - apparently she didn’t die in Episode 7.

She doesn’t really do much, except being Finn’s nemesis.

Leia and the rest of the Resistance have boarded the escape transports to Crait, but Holdo stays with the main fleet, and when she realises that the escape transports are being attacked she suddenly decides to sacrifice herself and aims the Raddus at The Supremacy (Snoke’s ship) and goes into hyperspace.

WOW - a really mind blowing moment and done really well because the Raddus enters hyperspace and flies at lightspeed through the Supremacy and a bunch of other FO ships causing massive damage and a huge explosion and it’s all done instantly and in total silence, followed by a really cool sound effect.

Silence used to great effect.

The explosion on The Supremacy gives Finn and Rose the chance to avoid being executed and they fight back against Captain Phasma and the storm troopers while the whole hangar bay explodes around them. There are tie fighters falling on the floor and blowing up, AT-AT walkers crashing here and there.

In the midst of all this chaos, Finn and Phasma have a battle and Finn fights with a lot of spirit. Rose shoots Phasma but the blast deflects off her armour. Cool moment.

Phasma appears to have the upper hand in the fight and knocks Finn into a lift shaft, but clearly Phasma hasn’t seen the Original Trilogy - we know that there are moving platforms that go up and down in these shafts and of course Finn hasn’t fallen to his death, he reappears and smashes Phasma in the face, cracking her mask. She says “You’ll always be scum” before falling into an explosion. I doubt that she’s dead. She’s bound to come back next time.

“Rebel scum” - this is the default insult for Rebels or Resistance fighters it seems. Scum is a bit like a dirty layer that floats on the top of old water or something. It’s just a generic insult, but it was used once in Return of the Jedi when an imperial officer said it to Han Solo and it sounded cool - so now the word is used a lot.

These films still trade a lot on nostalgia for the old films, and it works.

Finn and Rose manage to escape the burning ship - how? They’re rescued by BB8 driving a AT-ST “scout walker” thing, which made me go “Yeah, right?!” out loud in the cinema when I first saw it.

People complain that Rey’s character is too perfect and that she can do anything and that this is unrealistic and unfair and some sort of feminist agenda or something, but BB8 (and R2D2 for that matter) is also a perfect character who seems to be able to do anything. He takes out FO guards, he can pilot an AT-ST walker, he can get blown up and assemble himself again, he can fix any problem on an X-Wing - but nobody complains about that.

OK, so now the storylines come together.

The Resistance (Leia, Poe and the few remaining other people) make it to Crait and set up their base there. God knows why it takes the FO so long to attack them here, but it does. Maybe they needed a bit of time to set up all the awesome weaponry that they’re going to use to smash through this big door to this old Rebel base where The Resistance are hiding.

Finn and Rose escape The Supremacy with BB8 and join the Resistance on Crait.

The idea is that The Resistance can defend themselves here, call for help and then wait for the help to arrive.

The thing is, no help comes. None of their allies out in space care. No Lando Calrissian or anyone like that - nobody’s coming to help them. So it’s about a couple of hundred REsistance members vs the FO with their huge AT-M6 walkers.

They have trenches, with some defensive weapons and this huge reinforced door protecting them, and a few very sketchy looking ground fighters, and that’s it.

The FO have a massive battering ram cannon which is “Death Star technology” - basically a smaller version of the Death Star’s big green laser that can blow up planets. This is what they’ll use to break through the door.

The idea is that The Resistance need to somehow destroy the cannon if they stand a chance of surviving.

Now, what about Rey.

Last time we saw her she was locked in a tug of war with Kylo over Luke’s blue lightsabre, which caught in the middle between the two of them, explodes.

Apparently Kylo was knocked out by the explosion and Rey managed to escape in Snoke’s personal ship, and she took the fragments of the light sabre with her.

We see Snoke’s dead body, his tongue sticking out, lying on the floor. Also both his hands were severed when Kylo killed him - this is pretty neat because someone always gets their hand or hands removed in Star Wars films, in this case it was Snoke, but he also lost the whole top half of his body. I wonder if we’ll ever find out Snoke’s back story, but I guess we never learned The Emperor’s backstory in the original films, he was just a powerful old dark side user and that’s it. I think we probably knew more about him than Snoke though, and I admit that we could have used just a little bit more exposition about Snoke - just a bit of detail. I think the hardcore fans are very upset about this, because they spent 2 years coming up with very elaborate theories about his origin - like, he’s Mace Windu, or he’s Darth Plageius (The Emperor’s old master). It seems he’s not that important, and anyway we don’t need an origin story for everyone, do we? I expect there will be a book about him coming out or whatever.

Then General Hux comes into the room and can’t believe what he’s seeing - Snoke is dead, his tongue sticking out and everything. Kylo is still unconscious and Hux actually goes for his gun - he would have killed Kylo in his sleep probably - because they don’t like each other and Hux would probably like to take control of the FO, but Kylo wakes up. They argue and then Kylo force chokes Hux, which is very reminiscent of Darth Vader. Hux capitulates and calls Kylo “Supreme Leader” - “The Supreme Leader is dead - long live The Supreme Leader!” So, Kylo is in charge of the FO now.

So, the confrontation on Crait.

The FO approach the base with the big gun.

The Resistance launch a counter attack with these beaten up old speeder things. There’s almost no way they can win.

The Millennium Falcon turns up at the last minute and helps out by making all the Tie Fighters chase it. This is another big emotional moment, when the Falcon turns up to save the day - or save that particular moment anyway - the music swells (John Williams’ score is brilliant again) - there are some stunning visuals as the Falcon is chased by Tie Fighters through these crystal caves and tunnels under the surface of Crait.

But ultimately, the Resistance mission to destroy the battering ram cannon can’t win and Poe calls it off. This shows us that he’s learned something about leadership and strategy from the beginning of the film.

But Finn doesn’t want to give up and he’s about to sacrifice himself for the Resistance by flying his ship into the cannon in a suicide mission. I was convinced he was going to do it, but at the last minute Rose crashes into him and saves him.

This is a really cheesy moment I have to say.

First of all, you can see from the wide shots as Finn is flying that Rose is nowhere near him - but again, this is a bit like that moment with the detonator button that gets caught by Rose’s sister at the start of the film - movies often break the rules of physics like this - so I’m willing to let it slide. And then there’s the moment where after Rose saves Finn she gives a little speech saying “We don’t do this to destroy the things we hate, we do it to protect the ones we love,” and then she kisses him. So this is a slightly forced romantic moment first of all, but the sentiment is nice. We should protect the things we love rather than destroy the things we hate - and it’s all sweet and good and nice, but I thought about a moment from Episode 3 - a crucial moment when Anakin turns to the dark side. He decides to join Emperor Palpatine precisely because he thinks this is how he’s going to save the one he loves - Padme. He is seduced by the dark side because he wants to prevent Padme from dying. So, it’s all about point of view isn’t it.

Protecting what you love, destroying what you hate - they’re sort of two sides of the same coin aren’t they?

Still, I think the basic message is nice - love conquers hate. I do agree with that. Be careful of doing things for hateful reasons. We should be motivated by love, basically.

But isn’t this a slightly selfish thing for Rose to do? She stopped Finn from potentially saving the entire Resistance just because she personally loves him.

But maybe The Resistance were screwed anyway. I think the point is - we shouldn’t think about this toooooo much. We shouldn’t expect Star Wars to be this perfect flawless thing. As I said before, I think the good things in this film outweigh the bad things

But then again - if you’re angry about this Star Wars film, that’s fine - it’s up to you. I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong. Everyone has their own subjective reaction to the film.

So it looks like The Resistance are screwed then.

Somehow Finn manages to fly back to the base or perhaps even drag Rose back there - I’m not sure how, but I dunno, maybe he used some of those trenches or something, or maybe one of the crashed speeders still worked.

Leia looks defeated. She says that hope is lost.

But then Luke Skywalker turns up. There’s an emotional moment when he speaks to Leia - they agree that Kylo wasn’t Luke’s fault, and Luke comforts Leia by giving her a memento of Han Solo - a pair of dice that used to hang in the Millenium Falcon.

Luke then goes out to face the First Order armed with his Light Sabre.

When I saw this I was really excited and yet didn’t know what to expect. Luke said it himself that he couldn’t face the entire FO armed only with a laser sword.

Kylo, in his command ship, orders everyone to fire on Luke, using all their weapons.

The AT-M6 walkers all fire on Luke.

Kylo is enraged - shouting for more more more!

This really is overkill. There’s just a huge cloud of red dust where the lasers are firing.

Hux says “that’s enough” and the guns stop.

Kylo slumps in a seat. He should be satisfied, but he’s not. He’ll probably never be satisfied.

We’re all thinking - surely Luke isn’t dead! And of course he isn’t. He steps out of the cloud of red dust, unscathed. He looks up at Kylo’s ship and even brushes his shoulder dismissively, which is pretty cool.

There’s something strange about Luke. He looks younger. His beard and hair are shorter. He has no dust on him.

Kylo is furious again and instructs his soldiers to take him down to the surface to face Luke.

Kylo says “I suppose you’ve come here to save my soul”
Luke: No.

This was awesome, I can’t really explain why. Also, Mark Hamill in this film is absolutely brilliant. He’s really developed as an actor since the original trilogy.

He ignites his light sabre - and it’s the blue one. Weird, I thought the blue one got split in two when Kylo and Rey were fighting earlier. Kylo doesn’t seem to notice this because he’s in a rage.

He ignites his crackling red light sabre. I love Kylo’s brutal style and the way he stands sort of hunched over. Luke looks really cool in his classic Jedi clothing. Kylo runs at Luke and attacks him but Luke manages to avoid all his attacks. He does some pretty cool moves where he kind of rolls out of the way, making Kylo really angry.

This is not the epic gymnastic light sabre combat from the prequels. This is a lot more about the drama between the two characters. There’s a lot more emotion and feeling in this than in watching Anakin and Obiwan jumping from object to object swinging their lightsabres again and again until you’re emotionally uninvested in the action.

This is much more like a Japanese samurai movie, where the swordplay is brief but intense. In fact Luke looks a lot like a samurai in this scene and that is fantastic. So atmospheric and powerful.

An interesting detail in this fight is that Kylo’s feet leave red marks on the floor where the salt gets disturbed, but Luke’s feet make no impressions on the floor at all. Apparently you can also see salt particles falling from Kylo during the fight, but nothing falling from Luke. Only later do we realise that Luke isn’t really there at all - he’s doing a force projection from Ahch-to and it’s all part of a plan to mentally defeat Kylo while giving the remaining members of the Resistance a chance to escape.

Luke tells Kylo - “today the Resistance is reborn and you can never defeat me.”

He also does some Obiwan Kenobi stuff to him, saying “If you strike me down in anger I’ll always be with you, just like your father.” That’s got to hurt!

Kylo angrily charges at him and swipes his lightsabre at Luke but the blade passes straight through his body.

At the time I was thinking - wow, has Luke been hiding his power all this time? Is he immune to lightsabres? Then I thought, oh wow he’s a force ghost!

Then it’s revealed that the real Luke is meditating on a rock in Ach-to. This whole thing is a force projection!

Luke then says to Kylo - “see you around kid.” and disappears. That’s a Han Solo quote too!

I think what this means is that Luke is going to haunt Kylo as a force ghost - he’s always going to be there and Kylo will never have peace, he’ll always be reminded of how he murdered his own father.

Then Luke disappears and Kylo is in a rage again.

What I like about this:

We don’t get a big light sabre duel, but that makes a change - at least we have some really interesting character-based interaction.
Luke manages to teach Kylo a lesson without using violence.
He only uses defence.
He defeats Kylo mentally.
He sacrifices himself to save the Resistance.
He shows Rey that the force isn’t just about lifting rocks, controlling people’s actions or being really good with a lightsabre - it’s also about introspection and peace.
Also, I like the fact that in the midst of all this fighting, explosions - Luke has learned how to win a battle without using violence.
In fact, I respect Luke’s decision to just go on an island to live like a hermit. At least he’s decided that he’s fed up with the incessant fighting and war. He’s perhaps the only character to say that he’s had enough of the fighting - and isn’t this a sort of logical progression of what he learned while facing the emperor in Episode 6. He threw his lightsabre away and refused to fight or give in to his anger because he is a Jedi.
Don’t blame Luke for choosing to go to that island and for feeling like a failure - he was actually just trying his best to prevent any further catastrophe.
This feels like the true way of the Jedi - from a certain point of view.

Also, he’s demonstrating incredible force power by doing this projection. This is something new that we haven’t seen before. Again, some people are pissed off with this saying “That’s not how the force works!” but honestly I’m glad that we’re seeing some new force powers in this film. It’s about time we had some slightly new things.

By doing this, Luke also manages to create the myth of Luke Skywalker, which will no-doubt be told again and again. He’s accepted his place as a myth and how important and powerful this can be as a way of inspiring new generations to have hope. This is beautiful. Luke has always been a symbol of hope, but he’s a fallible human who couldn’t always live up to his own myth, but he manages at the end to do it in his own way according to how he understands the light side of the force - using defence not attack, without using violence, fighting a mental battle.

Then on Ach-To we see Luke collapse from the strain of doing this massive force projection. He climbs back up onto the rock and stares out across the ocean at the sunset, and it’s two suns.

This made me cry! I couldn’t help it. It just took me straight back to the moment in Episode 4 when Luke was not much more than a boy staring across the desert at the dual sunset - full of aspiration and dreaming of adventure, and that’s how he ends his life. I can’t put it into words really, but this got me right in the feelings. It’s pretty ridiculous I know, but there it is.

Luke then disappears in the same way Obiwan did and Yoda did. He becomes one with the force.

I guess this means that he’ll be back as a force ghost in episode 9. Good - I really like Mark Hamill and I hope to see more from him.

Meanwhile, the last remaining members of the Resistance have worked out that there must be a way to get out through the back of the caves by following the crystal foxes that live there. There’s quite a magical moment where one of the beautiful crystal foxes leads them to a gap at the back, but it’s filled with boulders.

Rey is on the other side - she’s used the tracking device to follow their position from the surface, in the Falcon with Chewie.

She works out that the pile of boulders is blocking them from escaping and she’s going to need to use the force to move them all.

This is a bit ironic because earlier in the film Luke told her that the force isn’t about lifting rocks! But apparently sometimes it is! Of course she manages to lift all the rocks, freeing the last remaining members of the Resistance and they escape in the Falcon. There must be just about 10 people left! But Leia says they have all they need to start again. They’re the spark that will light the fire to burn the First Order down, etc.

We see also that Rey has managed to keep the sacred jedi texts - they’re in a drawer on the falcon. So I suppose this means she can learn the ways of the Jedi properly and maybe she’ll get some help from Luke’s force ghost.

Kylo and Rey have one more force vision before the Falcon leaves. They stare at each other and Rey closes the door - signifying that she’s closing herself off from him, I suppose. But surely the interesting thing going forward will be their relationship. Will she be able to turn him back to the light, or defeat him somehow? Will Kylo turn her to the dark somehow? What’s going to happen to Kylo? I quite like the idea that he’ll be haunted by Luke - a bit like the way Macbeth is haunted by his friend Banquo in the Shakespeare play Macbeth.

In the final scene of the film we see some of the slave kids on Canto Bight - one of them is telling the others the legend of Luke Skywalker - him standing up against the entire First Order. It reminds me of how C3P0 tells the Ewoks the story of the rebellion. The other children are enthralled by the story and seem genuinely inspired. This shows that the legend of Luke Skywalker gives hope to the next generation.

Then the kids are told off by their cruel slave owner boss type guy and one of the kids goes out to sweep the yard. He grabs the broom using a force pull - showing that he is force sensitive, and then he looks up at the stars and sees a distant spacecraft fly across the sky. The End!

I suppose this scene means that:
Anyone can be strong in the force - you don’t have to be part of a specific bloodline
Luke’s legend is an inspiration to the poor, lost or forgotten people
The Resistance is not dead and there’s still hope left in the galaxy
That’s a nice message isn’t it?

So in summary, I found The Last Jedi to be bold in the way it refuses to pander to the fan theories and expectations, brave in the way it pushes the saga forwards by doing some new things and letting some old things die, nuanced in the way it allowed the characters to develop in complex and quite flawed ways, fun in how it included some pretty weird comic moments and just awesome in the way it dealt with several key moments of action that were fuelled more by emotion than by technical skill. I think it’s an intelligent film, a surprising film, it’s one of my favourite Star Wars episodes and I’m looking forward to seeing it again so I can pick up on some more of the subtle details that made it enjoyable.

I have no idea how episode 9 is going to carry on - and I like that feeling.

Apparently JJ Abrams is going to conclude the saga by directing episode 9. JJ is obviously a very competent filmmaker and someone who understands the core appeal of Star Wars but I’m also a little bit worried because JJ has an approach to making films that involves posing lots of mysterious open ended questions rather than by providing satisfying resolutions. Think of Lost, the TV show - it was brilliant at setting up lots of questions and mysteries that kept the audience guessing, but none of those questions and mysteries were adequately explained in the end. I just hope that episode 9 can at least bring some resolution to the story, rather than just leaving it all open to the interpretations of the slightly unhinged fanbase.

I look forward to reading your opinions if you have them.

Talking about the new Star Wars film including the audience reaction, English accents you can hear in Star Wars, and a run-through of the plot with my thoughts about the events and characters. Plot spoilers throughout the episode! Transcript available (below).

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-87f

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Transcript (95% complete) This episode is all about Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Some of this stuff that I’m saying is scripted, some parts are not - but if you want to read along with me while I’m talking, which can be a great way to work on your English, see specific phrases I’m using and so on - if you want to read along with me, check out the page for this episode on my website.

In fact there will be two episodes about Star Wars. This one, which is just me talking about the film, going through the plot, giving my thoughts and discussing the audience reactions to the film, and also the next one, which will be a conversation about the film with my brother and my dad. We went to see the film together while they were here at Christmas time and afterwards I managed to record a conversation with the them and you can hear their reactions and some general rambling about it - that’ll be in the next episode.

So, at least 2 episodes about Star Wars. I was wondering if I should devote so much time to this, especially considering that some of you probably aren’t into Star Wars at all. Then I thought to myself - “Well, how do I choose my topics when I know that I can’t please everyone?” Often the deciding factor is - do I want to talk about it myself? Would I want to listen to it? The answer to those questions is yes. When I came out of the cinema in December having just seen this film I just wanted to hear other people’s comments about the film, and I looked for podcasts about it and youtube videos and stuff, and if I was learning English I would definitely like to hear someone talking about this film in English. Certainly for my ideal learning French podcast I would want to hear someone discussing the film in some depth in clear French - I am still yet to find this elusive perfect French version of Luke’s English podcast! And also, you know what? I just really want to talk about Star Wars for a while just because it pleases me to do it. So there you go, that’s my justification for doing these episodes.

SPOILERS There are spoilers for the film throughout this episode - so if you haven’t seen The Last Jedi yet, you might want to wait before you listen to this. I’m pretty sure the film has been out for a while in most places. I understand that it came out in China on 5 January - a bit later than in other countries. So I think there’s been enough time now for me to do some spoilers.
If you’re not a fan of Star Wars (which is totally fine of course), I understand that this might not be for you. I don’t expect everyone to be into Star Wars - it’s just something I’ve always enjoyed since childhood. So if you’re just not a Star Wars fan - I totally understand, but you’ll just have to put up with an episode or two about Star Wars this time, or you can just skip them - it’s totally up to you.

If you want to listen to something else from me, like perhaps an episode about vocabulary, or an episode with various jokes, an episode with a mystery adventure story or an episode with grammar and pronunciation questions answered - let me remind you that you can download the LEP App completely free and there you will find at least 7 exclusive app-only episodes that deal with those things specifically.

Just check out the app store, download the LEP app, check the App-Only Episodes category and away you go.

And of course you have the entire episode archive there which you can peruse at your leisure.
But for this one and the next one, it’s all about Star Wars - and if you are a fan, I hope you will enjoy being immersed in the world of Star Wars The Last Jedi for a couple of episodes.
Let me say again very clearly there will be spoilers coming as I am going to talk about exactly what happens in The Last Jedi in quite a lot of detail. Please don’t let me spoil this film for you - even if you’re keen to listen to this new episode I strongly recommend that you wait until you’ve seen the film first.

So, perhaps the people I have left with me now are:
Fans of Star Wars who have already seen the film.
And maybe some other LEPsters who might not be big fans of Star Wars but are just happy to listen to me talking about it, even if it includes plot spoilers.

I should also say that I might lose some more of you when I say that I really liked Star Wars The Last Jedi - not everything, but on the whole I really enjoyed the film and I feel like the good things definitely outweigh the bad things.

I have seen it twice now, and so there’s always a chance that I might change my opinion after seeing it a third time, but I don’t think so.

I said I might lose some more of you when I say that I enjoyed this film and that is because the response to this film has been very divided. Plenty of people like it a lot but having said that plenty of people dislike and even hate this film.

This reaction mainly comes from so-called “hardcore fans” online who are posting very negative reviews on YouTube as well as on film review websites like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.
But I’m quite a hardcore fan and I loved it.

In terms of my fandom, here is a summary. I grew up with the films. Watched the original trilogy over and over again throughout my life. Watched ROTJ in the cinema. As a teenager I used to have lots of fun speculating about the backstory of certain characters and so on. As a child I used to think I was Luke Skywalker, as I’ve said in previous episodes. I was quite obsessive about it growing up. In the 90s and 2000s I saw the prequel films and was disappointed by them. I found them to be badly written and directed, with pretty bland characters and too much CGI. Not everything was bad about the prequels - I like the Darth Maul scenes, the pod-race, the scenes between Obi Wan Kenobi and Jango Fett but that might be it I think. I found the rest of it to be more like a Saturday morning cartoon in places.

More recently I saw reviews of the prequel trilogy on YouTube that cemented my opinion of those films as being rubbish. I’m talking about Mr Plinkett’s reviews, by RedLetterMedia.

Very astute criticisms of the prequels, with some twisted humour thrown in.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the prequel trilogy “ruined my childhood” as some fans have said (and are also saying about The Last Jedi). I think if your childhood can be ruined by a fantasy film that you watch as an adult, then perhaps your childhood was already quite flimsy in the first place. What this phrase really means is that the films spoil the Star Wars franchise, which was such a key part of your upbringing… Anyway, the prequels didn’t ruin my childhood but they did disappoint me a bit.

Then it was announced that more Star Wars movies would be released, after Lucasfilm was taken over by Disney. 2 years ago The Force Awakens was released and I really enjoyed it, even if it was very derivative of the original Star Wars films (episode 4). It basically copied the plot of Episode 4 - but I’m alright with that. I thought it was done in a way that was far closer to the original spirit and aesthetic of Star Wars and that was really pleasing. Also they introduced a few new characters that was interesting.

Also, in 2015 Rogue One was released - a film set just before Episode 4. This was a sort of war movie inspired episode that didn’t have any Jedi or lightsabers, but told the story of how the rebels managed to get the plans to destroy the Death Star. I really enjoyed that too! It feels like Star Wars is good again.

I love reading about fan theories and speculations on forums (like Star Wars Leaks on Reddit) and I do watch lots of dumb YouTube speculation videos about Star Wars, and there were a lot of them released onto YouTube before The Last Jedi came out.
But I like to think that I have my fandom under control. I love the world of Star Wars and I feel invested in the stories, but I try not to expect too much from the films. I remember the prequel trilogy - I used to get my hopes up really high before each film was released and I was disappointed each time.

Also, I know that your enjoyment of these films is largely a question of taste and a question of subjective experience. What makes a bad film for some people makes a good film for others.

The relationship between the fans of Star Wars and the films is very complicated. A lot of people feel very personally invested in this franchise. The fans feel that they own the franchise or that it represents their own personal life, childhood, dreams, imagination and everything.

It’s strange how Star Wars can do that. When it is at its best it manages to touch people in the most personal and profound ways. Also, the level of speculation and theorising among the fans has created such massive expectation from the films that it’s almost impossible to please everyone now, and when a film fails to meet people’s specific vision for the story and characters it can feel like a very personal disappointment.

But I think some fans are expecting too much from Star Wars now. They’ve put it on a pedestal - which is a way of saying that they expect it to be perfect and to live up to their highest expectations all the time. But it’s just a movie franchise and to an extent it’s a children’s movie franchise. I think some people just need to chill out a bit and stop expecting so much from the films. Saying that, there is bound to be someone out there listening to me who disagrees, who says I’m being an apologist, who says there’s no excuse for what they’ve done.
When I read some of the negative reactions, I honestly think - “did we see the same film?” Some people are so angry! It makes me wonder if perhaps there are other things going on, like that these people are not just angry with the film, but they’re angry with what they see as a certain political agenda being expressed through the film. This probably feeds into the ongoing saga of the war between right-wing people (who don’t say they’re right wing) and what they describe as liberal social justice warriors. I see these arguments all the time online in comments sections and so on. The angry ones (whatever their political position) get furious when there’s a suggestion that a film is being used to promote feminism, or to promote ethnic diversity or perhaps animal welfare or environmental issues. A hint of this in a film makes some people really mad. There’s a bit of this in The Last Jedi - some strong female characters, black, asian and hispanic actors in prominent roles, a storyline about animal cruelty… Part of the hatred aimed at SW is fuelled by this stuff.

But also, some people don’t like it because they think it’s bad storytelling, and because of the way some characters are dealt with - particularly Luke Skywalker. A lot of people can’t stand the way he is represented in the film.

Added to that, there’s the humour. Some people have really taken against the moments of humour which they think don’t fit in with the tone of the film as a whole or the whole franchise in general.

I’m talking there about some reasons why the film is disliked by some people - but not everyone of course. Plenty of people like or love this film too although it’s hard to tell what the overall audience reaction has been. I think it’s fair to say that the film is dividing people, particularly the more serious fans.

I don’t know what you thought of The Last Jedi. There are some pretty strong feelings out there. You might disagree with me when I say I like it, but I hope you hear me out on this. Of course the film is not 100% perfect or anything but generally I think there is a great deal to be enjoyed about it.

Story recap I’d like to now go through the film from start to finish, describe what happens and give my thoughts on each part.
You remember the numbers don’t you?
OT - Original Trilogy (4, 5, 6)
PT - Prequel Trilogy (1, 2, 3)
ST - Sequel Trilogy (7, 8, 9)
Also Rogue One that fits in before episode 4.

The Force Awakens
The Resistance are searching for Luke Skywalker because they need his help. There’s a missing piece of a map hidden inside the droid BB8.
A scavenger girl called Rey finds the droid.
Han Solo and Princess Leia had a son who turned to the dark side.

The Last Jedi - Opening Crawl

How did it feel in the cinema at this point?
I was trying to keep my expectations realistic. I thought - if I expect too much from this I might be disappointed. It’s just a film and ultimately it’s just a space fantasy. It seems silly to invest so much into it.

Having said that, I was really looking forward to getting stuck into some new Star Wars and I had no idea what was coming.

The Lucasfilm logo appeared and I was really trying to just stay calm but I have to admit it was difficult. I felt really nervous.

Star Wars logo + music and I was already getting chills and started welling up. I know it’s a bit pathetic or something, but there it is. Somehow these films just take me directly back to my childhood. It’s like stepping back in time and going straight back to my living room when I was 7 years old and my Dad was younger than I am now and I’d never had any real experiences, I’d never left home, never had my heart broken, never fallen in love…
I was a bit emotional during this film. I just can’t help it. Also bear in mind that I was watching this while fully expecting my wife to give birth to our baby at any moment. I literally had my phone in my hand and every single vibration I expected was a text from my wife saying that her water had broken. Anyway, I was feeling very emotionally susceptible while watching the film, which is fine - I’m in touch with my feelings, there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?
The opening crawl started and it’s impossible not to get excited by this, if you’re a Star Wars fan. For some reason I can never really read it and take it in.

Episode VIII
THE LAST JEDI
The FIRST ORDER reigns.
Having decimated the peaceful
Republic, Supreme Leader Snoke
now deploys his merciless
legions to seize military
control of the galaxy.

Only General Leia Organa's
band of RESISTANCE fighters
stand against the rising
tyranny, certain that Jedi
Master Luke Skywalker will
return and restore a spark of
hope to the fight.

But the Resistance has been
exposed. As the First Order
speeds toward the Rebel base,
the brave heroes mount a
desperate escape....

The First Order are now in complete control of the galaxy after having blown up the republic with Starkiller Base.

The Resistance are on the run, escaping from their base. The First Order are closing in, with vastly superior weaponry, ships, and so on.
They blow up the base as remaining resistance ships escape, but they’re being pursued by a First Order fleet.

In an effective but costly counterattack led by Poe Dameron, Resistance fighters manage to destroy a First Order dreadnought.
One of the FO officers is played by Ade Edmondson, and all the Brits are delighted.

Admiral Hux is played by Domhnall Gleeson, Irish actor. He really “hams it up”.

First bit of controversial humour. “Holding for Admiral Hugs” etc.
FO officers are pretty incompetent and Gleeson plays a lot of his scenes for laughs - it’s a completely over the top performance. Old fashioned RP, and general frothing at the mouth.

A note about accents:
In SW almost all the Imperial Officers have old fashioned heightened RP accents. This is because this is the accent that Americans associate with an evil old empire - because the British Empire was an evil old empire for the USA. This association still exists - more so in the 70s but still today. Also, it means stuffy formality.
Obi Wan Kenobi also had an old school English accent, but that was to suggest that he came from an era that no longer exists - the old republic. It just fits the character. His British accent gives him class, dignity and suggests that he is more than just a “crazy old man”.
Vader also had a bit of an RP British accent, but this gradually changed into a trans-atlantic American accent. Still old fashioned and formal in tone, but a bit American. That’s just because the voice actor - James Earl Jones - was a classically trained American actor. These great actors really brought a lot of weight and class to the original films and this was repeated in the prequel trilogy. They chose more well trained British actors because they have class. This includes people like Terence Stamp.

In this sequel trilogy (ST), accents are also used to create certain feelings and associations with the characters. The FO officers still speak in old fashioned RP in order to give that sense of old empire (think of the naval officers in Pirates of the Caribbean who speak in a similarly old fashioned way). Supreme Leader Snoke speaks in formal British RP. We don’t know much about him (and I’ll come to that in a bit) but basically he’s a bit like the Emperor - probably very old and powerful and he is the Supreme Leader of the First Order so of course he has the old fashioned English RP accent.

Most of the other characters speak American English though, and this seems to be the default accent for “ordinary person” in the Star Wars universe. This includes Han Solo - a kind of cowboy smuggler flyboy kind of guy, and Luke Skywalker- just a farmer from a desert planet. Nobody special (or at least that is the background he has come from).
Also, most of the new characters speak with standard American accents - Finn is just an ordinary guy - quite a low level person since he used to be just a stormtrooper and he speaks with an American accent, although the actor is actually from Peckham in South London. Apparently he auditioned in his normal voice but it just didn’t feel right. He auditioned in an American accent and it just fit the character better. Poe Dameron also has a standard American accent. As I said - ordinary people, rebels, not part of the empire.

But then there’s Rey. She speaks with quite a posh English accent, although not in the formal way that the FO officers speak. She is definitely just a normal person too, and according to this film she is nobody special (unless this is just a trick and in episode 9 they will reveal something special about her, but I don’t think so - again, more on this later). So why does she have this English RP accent? I don’t really know! Perhaps the actress doesn’t do a very good American accent and this is just her normal voice. Perhaps they just wanted to arouse our interest in this character by giving her a distinctive and classy voice, like Obi Wan Kenobi. The fans certainly took this point as a big clue about her origins. A lot of people believed that because she is force sensitive and speaks in a posh English accent that she must be related to other force users with this accent like Obi Wan Kenobi or perhaps even Emperor Palpatine. There are other details that support these fan theories. But apparently her accent doesn’t mean this. But still, it’s interesting to note that although she grew up on an insignificant planet and lived as a scavenger for all her life, she still speaks with quite a posh English accent, when all the people around her on her home planet of Jakku don’t have the same accent. Her slave owner for example (because in TFA she appears to be basically a slave or at least someone who works for food rations rather than money) - her master or boss speaks with a working class cockney English accent.

Just a note on accents there. Next time you watch these films in English, think about that.

Back to the plot.

The Resistance avoid getting blown up by the First Order ships - massive battleships called Dreadnaughts.
Poe Dameron bravely and recklessly flies right up to the FO dreadnaught and does some Top Gun style maverick moves, taking out lots of gun turrets and generally being a brilliant pilot. He clears the way for the Resistance bombers.
WW2 style bombers.
Star Wars always took inspiration from WW2 films.
The bombers are laden with cool-looking round black bombs.
Some people say “but there’s no gravity in space!” - but this is Star Wars not Star Trek. It’s fantasy, not science fiction. If your argument is that it doesn’t make scientific sense then sorry, that’s a bit invalid considering Star Wars has never stood up to scientific scrutiny. It’s an emotional character driven fable set in space in a galaxy far far away a long time ago. It’s more like a greek myth or an episode of Flash Gordon than 2001 A Space Odyssey.
There are some classic moments of Star Wars fighter combat in space, including a fat guy with a beard who instantly dies. This is something that happens in so many Star Wars films, beginning with Episode 4 when a fat bearded pilot called Porkins dies, and it happens again in Episode 7 I think, and then here we go again - a fat bearded pilot buys the farm almost instantly. It’s a running joke. I wonder how the fat bearded guy community feels about this.
Poe is an awesome pilot but an incredible risk taker and he ends up getting most of the Resistance fleet destroyed, except for one lone bomber which somehow manages to get through the FO defences.
Super-dramatic sequence with the last remaining bomber.
This feels like the ending sequence of the film rather than the start.
How could anyone not find this exciting and brilliant?
This is Rose’s sister. She’s a gunner on the bomber. All the other crew have been killed. It’s up to her to drop the bombs. Very dramatic stuff with the trigger button. She falls and the button is on a ledge above her. There’s a suggestion that Leia uses the force to help her. She also holds onto a necklace - the other half belongs to her sister Rose. The button drops down but she seems to miss it. This is executed in a slightly cheesy and cliched way by Rian Johnson. The button clearly drops past her and out of reach but in slow motion we see the button dropping from another angle and her hand comes from nowhere to grab it.
It’s exactly the same thing that happens in Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise when he is in a high security room trying to steal some classified information or something. He’s suspended from the ceiling and a bead of sweat drops from his forehead. If it touches the floor, he’s dead basically. The bead of sweat falls and is definitely going to land on the floor but his hand comes in and stops it at the last minute. The magic of the movies, right?
Some people probably found that annoying, but it’s just a trick that’s been used in countless other movies. Movies always play with time, they slow it down, speed it up, use different angles and so on in order to raise the tension. The worst you can say about this sequence is that it’s a cliche. I personally found it to be good old fashioned dramatic tension and the moment when she presses the button and the bombs drop onto the dreadnaught very satisfying. Massive explosion and the dreadnaught is destroyed, although at great cost to the Resistance.
That was a really exciting sequence. I didn’t mind the jokey dialogue between Poe and Hux. I love the way the FO officers are quite ridiculous. I always found that funny in Star Wars anyway.
But there is a hell of a lot of war in this film. Of course - it’s Star Wars. But I remember James saying in another episode that we did about Star Wars once - will this war ever end? Probably not. It’s going to go on and on forever. It’s a pity that this is all about war and that this is great entertainment for us. War as entertainment. That’s a bit of a pity. You see it a lot in other films too, like Avengers Infinity War for example. War war war - explosions and explosions.
The Resistance fleet jumps into hyperspace and escapes, for now.
Poe gets told off by General Leia who demotes him.
Poe’s character arc in this film is that he has to learn how to develop from a reckless if brilliant fighter pilot to a strategic and inspiring leader of the Resistance.
One of the complaints about the film is that none of the characters develop. I disagree. Most of the characters have clear character arcs.
Hux gets told off by Supreme Leader Snoke who throws him around the room and drags him across the floor using the force.
So, I think Hux is summoned to Snoke’s throne room along with Kylo Ren.
Snoke is really pissed off but Hux reveals that they are actually tracking the Resistance through hyperspace - something that wasn’t possible before - hyperspace tracking.
Some fans are pissed off about this - that it’s a new thing that’s come from nowhere but this was mentioned v quickly in Rogue One, so there it is - it’s not completely out of the blue that this is possible.
This kind of gets him off the hook with Snoke.
Then Hux leaves Snoke alone with Kylo Ren who is still wearing his mask from episode 7.
This is a cool scene.
Snoke bullies Kylo - explains how he’s disappointed, how he’s lost faith in him, how he is still conflicted despite having killed Solo. He said when he found him he thought he had so much potential and raw power and that he could be the new Darth Vader but he’s just a boy in a mask who got beaten by a girl. To be fair to Kylo he had been shot when he took on Rey, but still. Snoke really makes him feel small and useless. Snoke is manipulating him but in a very cruel way.
He basically slaps him down. In fact he gives him a jolt of force lightning. Kylo stands up defiantly and Snoke shocks him quickly sending him flying backwards. I suppose to teach him a lesson - like a cruel parent or something. When this happens we see Snoke’s power used casually and also his guards quickly adopt fighting positions when Kylo stands and then return to their original positions after a couple of seconds. These guards look badass and cool, and better than the Imperial Guards that (badly) protected Emperor Palpatine in the original films.
Snoke looks amazing.
Kylo feels utterly humiliated and furious at this point.
Adam Driver’s performance is great.
It’s understated, except for the moments when he flies into a rage. We don’t quite know what’s going on inside him, except for subtle looks he gives, subtle changes in his expression which suggest that he’s feeling hurt, angry, determined, impatient, calculating. He’s a bit of an enigma. He never blinks in the film, I think. He never quite reveals his hand.
I feel sympathy towards him, considering how Snoke bullies him, builds him up and knocks him down.
I actually think he’s a bit more interesting than just a guy in a mask. Vader is of course a brilliant villain, but he’s also really ridiculous. The helmet is a bit over the top.
Kylo removes the mask and this is a good idea - in terms of the film making. It allows us to see Adam Driver’s performance. I like the way he is mostly quite blank in his expression - it’s hard to read him. Then at certain key moments we see the conflict inside him.
I like the fact that we never really know which way he is going. Is he turning good or bad? Or is it possible that he’s going in a completely new direction - against The Resistance & Luke Skywalker but also against Snoke who is using and abusing him?
Kylo is upset and very angry - not only does he remove the mask but he destroys it against the wall of the lift. He smashes it to pieces. This guy is calm and expressionless one minute and completely unhinged the next minute and I love that.
He orders his ship to be made ready.
The Resistance are just licking their wounds from the bomber run on the dreadnaught. Poe is feeling gutted that he’s been demoted.
Finn wakes up inside his bacta tank thing - some sort of medical body suit he’s been wearing while recovering. There’s a bit of comedy when he walks out of the medical ward wearing this ridiculous suit with pipes sticking out of it and liquid going everywhere. It looks pretty dumb, but it doesn’t really do any harm to the film or to Finn. Just a slightly goofy moment. Poe sees him and kind of fills him in on the plot.
I think at this point the First Order ships suddenly jump out of hyperspace right behind the Resistance and The Resistance are shocked to discover that the First Order have somehow tracked them through hyperspace.
The thing is, The Resistance are a certain distance ahead of the First Order ships - just out of range of the FO’s big weapons. I admit that this part of the plot is quite contrived. We now have a sort of standoff, or a low-speed chase in which the FO can’t get any closer because their big ships aren’t quite fast enough and The REsistance ships are relying on their shields and their mobility to keep out of range of the FO’s guns.
I don’t know why the FO can’t just do a really quick hyperspace jump so they’re immediately behind The Resistance ships and then use their big weapons. I don’t really understand why the FO ships aren’t faster and why their big weapons have such a short range - but honestly, I don’t really care. It doesn’t matter that much to me. The situation is this - the FO decide to play the long game. They’re convinced that eventually The Resistance will run out of fuel and then their shields will fail and they’ll fall within range and the FO will be able to destroy them. They also know that The Resistance can’t escape through hyperspeed. So they wait. That’s good enough for me! It shows the arrogance and cruelty of the FO - enjoying the feeling that they have the upper hand and perhaps even relishing the dominance of their position.
In terms of the film it allows other things to happen in the meantime and works as a kind of ticking clock device, which is really common in many films. A ticking clock or ultimatum which gives a sense of urgency to everything that happens. The protagonists have to hurry because they’re running out of time.
Kylo then goes out on an attack run against The Resistance with a few other FO fighters.
First time we’ve seen Kylo in his own Tie Fighter. It’s a bit like Vader’s tie fighter or perhaps the fighter flown by Anakin Skywalker in the prequels. Kylo also does some spinning, which is something Anakin was known for doing in the prequels. It’s quite a nice touch since Kylo is Anakin’s grandson.
Kylo destroys a lot of The Resistance x-wing fighters in the hanger on their ship The Raddus.
Loads of Resistance pilots die.
Kylo is a badass pilot. He flies past the bridge of The Raddus, where his mother Admiral Leia is situated. There’s a cool moment when the two of them obviously become aware of each other through the force. Kylo is planning to blow up the bridge, killing everyone, including his mother, but he pauses and seems to be wrestling with inner conflict. We see Leia perhaps reaching out using the force. This is a great emotional moment and really good performances by both Adam Driver and Carrie Fisher. A lot of emotion is shown in their faces. Kylo doesn’t shoot his missiles into the bridge. He can’t kill his mother, apparently. Maybe Leia is using the force to control his mind or something, or perhaps Kylo hasn’t become completely dark yet and the light part of him has mercy on her. It’s interesting anyway - to see his conflict and to consider where his loyalties really lie - with Snoke or with Leia. We don’t really know, but he doesn’t launch his missiles in any case. However, the two tie-fighters by his side do shoot their missiles and the bridge is blown up - sending everyone hurtling out into space, including Leia.
Kylo is then told to return to the FO fleet and he seems frustrated - perhaps because his mother has just been blown up, or because he resents being given orders by General Hux. At this moment I feel like he’s going to turn back to the light side, or at least that he’s not completely loyal to Snoke and the FO. This conflict is really interesting and I don’t see why some people don’t see this as a really positive point about the film. Trying to work out Kylo Ren is fascinating.
I reckon the best things about this film are the inner conflicts in the main characters. There is depth, contradiction, failure, confusion and pain in these characters, and the film shows this to the audience, rather than explaining it in really clumsy dialogue like you get in the prequel films.
Kylo flies back to the FO fleet.
Then perhaps the most controversial and weird moment in this film happens. This is the one that a lot of people really don’t like.
This is the end of part 1.
Part 2 - coming soon.

Talking about the birth of my baby daughter, including accounts of the main events and how it all felt. Listen carefully for descriptive vocabulary for describing emotions and feelings as well as the language of childbirth previously explained in episodes 491 and 492.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-86Q

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, giving some news and responding to some messages from listeners about vocabulary lists, pronouncing "can't" without sounding rude and more...

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-86o

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Celebrating 500 episodes of LEP with a mega-ramble featuring lots of messages from listeners, expressions of gratitude, a cool announcement for all my listeners, some singing, some talk of becoming a dad, the future of the podcast, Star Wars, and loads of fun and good times. Thank you for listening!

italki offer - http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page - https://wp.me/p4IuUx-85J

GET THE LEP APP! https://wp.me/P4IuUx-82H

Celebrating 500 episodes of LEP with a mega-ramble featuring lots of messages from listeners, expressions of gratitude, a cool announcement for all my listeners, some singing, some talk of becoming a dad, the future of the podcast, Star Wars, and loads of fun and good times. Thank you for listening! Parts 1 & 2 are both available on this page.

italki offer - http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page - https://wp.me/p4IuUx-85J

GET THE LEP APP! https://wp.me/P4IuUx-82H

Talking to Amber about the UK's Royal Family, including our thoughts on the upcoming wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, some royal gossip & rumours, and also a Royal Family Quiz with questions about the monarchy today and in history. So, expect to hear our thoughts and some facts about this very traitional British institution. Notes available.

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-856

Talking to my Dad about the current situation with the UK's Brexit negotiations with the EU. Listen to hear explanations of what is going on with Brexit, how Northern Ireland is involved, what motivates Brexiters and some comments about other bits of international news - all delivered by my Dad with his clear and coherent English. Notes and transcriptions available.

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-85g

Talking about a classic British film which not many learners of English know about. Listen for explanations of the film, its appeal, descriptions of the characters and events, the type of people who like the film and a few bits of dialogue too. Notes and videos available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-84m

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Rambling about life, learning English, Star Wars, screwing up paper into a ball and more...

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-84F

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Discussing stereotypes and cliches about Australia with podcaster Oliver Gee who comes from a land down under. Learn about Australian English, Aussie accent, Aussie slang and exactly what you should say whenever you meet a true blue Aussie, mate! Vocabulary list available. Hooroo.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-84d

Spoken offer http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Testing my Dad on his knowledge of English, using words that are frequently confused by native English speakers. Will my dad be able to identify the words, spell them and explain the differences? Listen to learn 20 words and phrases which native English speakers often get wrong. You will also hear Dad and me discussing topics such as catching a squirrel, what he would say to Donald Trump and Paul McCartney if he met them, stories of police drug busts at university, how my dad would deal with a zombie apocalypse, and which one is worse - Brexit or Yoko Ono's 'singing'? Vocabulary list with definitions and examples available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-82g

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Amber and Paul are back on the podcast as we catch up with their recent news and the conversation goes off on many tangents covering subjects such as: pollution and fog in Paris, a possible new word - 'pog', other potential new words of the year, Harvey Weinstein, wanking in the office, 'human pollution in the swimming pool', Paul's recent showbiz news, seeing The Rolling Stones on stage and a slightly worrying email from a LEPster. Includes a cameo appearance by young Hugo, saying his first words on the podcast.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-83f

Spoken offer http://www.getspoken.com/lep

The second part of this conversation with Andy Johnson and Ben Butler, and we talk about the moment of childbirth and take a quiz about becoming a father. Vocabulary is explained in the second part of the episode. Vocabulary list available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-83a

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A conversation and vocabulary lesson about childbirth and becoming a father, with Andy Johnson and Ben Butler from The London School of English. Listen to Andy and Ben talking about their experiences of becoming parents, how their babies were born and more. Vocabulary is explained in the second half of the episode. Vocabulary list available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-838

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Hello! In this episode of the podcast I am talking to Martin Johnston and his mate Dan The Man from the Rock n Roll English Podcast and we're going to teach you some phrasal verbs and other expressions relating to friendship, while also putting their friendship to the test. Martin and Dan are lifelong friends. They know each other very well but they spend a lot of their time bickering and getting at each other. What's going on in this friendship? Do they really like each other or not? Let's find out in this episode and you can learn lots of vocabulary while we're doing it.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-820

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Here's part 2 of this conversation with my Mum in which you can hear us wittering on about the bookshop where Mum works, some of the books she's read recently, and some of her podcast and film recommendations. Vocabulary is explained at the end, and there's a vocabulary list with definitions available.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-81N

italki offer: http://teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A conversation with my (lovely) mum in which we generally witter on about a number of different things including some British history, ways of describing rain, different expressions for talking (like rambling and wittering), my mum's accent, what she thinks of this podcast and some of her podcast recommendations. Vocabulary is explained after the conversation and there is a vocabulary list available.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-81a

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A conversation about travelling and learning languages with Ethan from RealLife English. Ethan is very well-travelled, having lived in at least 6 different countries. He's also learned a few different languages to a good level as an adult. Let's talk about his advice for adapting to new cultures and learning languages in adulthood. Vocabulary notes and language test available below.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-800

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

With this one you can continue to listen to Paul Taylor and me discussing the tricky relationship between spelling and pronunciation. There are lots of jokes, impressions, funny accents and useful comments about this important area of the English language. Use this episode to avoid some very common mistakes in English pronunciation, and try not to laugh on the bus while you're listening!

Check the episode page for word lists, transcriptions and my video of 40+ difficult words to pronounce in English.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Z6

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Listen to Paul Taylor and me discussing the tricky relationship between spelling and pronunciation. There are lots of jokes, impressions, funny accents and useful comments about this important area of the English language. Use this episode to avoid some very common mistakes in English pronunciation, and try not to laugh on the bus while you're listening!

Check the episode page for word lists, transcriptions and my video of 40+ difficult words to pronounce in English.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Z6

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A conversation with Paul Taylor involving several cups of tea, recipes for French crepes, our terrible rap skills, a funny old comedy song about English workmen drinking tea, some improvised comedy role plays and a very angry Paul ranting about bad customer service in France! Your challenge is to listen to this episode in public without laughing out loud, especially in the second half of the episode. Good luck, may the force be with you. Vocabulary list, song lyrics, definitions and a quiz available (link below).

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Zb

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

The second part of my conversation with my friend Moz, this time covering subjects such as podcasting vs YouTube, bathing naked in a Japanese spa, sharing personal information online (like a story of bathing naked in a Japanese spa), the role of artificial intelligence & social media, murdering mosquitoes and meeting a crack addict on the streets of London. Vocabulary list and quiz available.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Yo

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

My friend Moz, who runs a murder-themed tour company in London, is back on the podcast to talk about some more creepy stories of crimes from London's history and his new podcast. Vocabulary list available on the website.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Yh

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

The final part of the holiday diary series. This one is about visiting the Navajo Nation, meeting some Navajo people, seeing more natural wonders at Monument Valley and The Grand Canyon, a couple of film recommendations our experience of the solar eclipse and a few more anecdotes about the rest of our road trip. Transcript + more on the episode page.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7WS

Spoken voice calls: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

In this episode I'm going to continue telling you stories of my recent holiday and there will be descriptions of impressive rocky landscapes, a sort of geology lesson and a brief history of planet earth. Expect plenty of solid descriptive chunks of vocabulary as this holiday diary continues.

Spoken calls: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Wc

This episode includes anecdotes and descriptions of our short visit to Las Vegas, including stories of more rental car issues, Las Vegas craziness, winning and losing $$$ and 11 common English idioms that come from the world of gambling.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7W2

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

More thoughts and comments inspired by things that happened during my recent holiday. In this one I'm discussing stories about the Church of Scientology and the claims that it is a cult. Listen to find out what happened in this part of my trip. Check the episode page for the vocabulary list with definitions.

Episode page: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2017/09/12/478-holiday-diary-part-5-an-encounter-with-the-church-of-scientology/

The holiday diary continues and in this chapter we visited Bel Air in L.A. and so here is an analysis of the lyrics to Will Smith's rap from "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", a famous TV show (and a very serious piece of work, haha) from the 90s which was set in Bel Air itself. Topics covered: TV pop culture, racial politics, slang English.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7V2

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

In this episode I talk about visiting the fantastic Griffith Observatory and then ramble about Astronomy vs Astrology and ludicrous flat earth conspiracy theories. Includes various bits of vocabulary throughout the episode.

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7UR

Talking about some modern art which I saw while visiting several galleries in Los Angeles. Includes descriptions of different movements in modern art, details about some famous artists and their work, some thoughts about whether modern art is really amazing, or maybe just a load of pretentious rubbish! (Spoiler alert: it depends)

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7UQ

Hi everyone, I'm back from my holiday so here's a new episode of the podcast. In this one you'll hear me talking about some recent news (including quite a big announcement) and then an account of what we did on holiday including some descriptions, opinions and stories. There's talk of disturbing political events, dodgy car rental experiences, and a couple of beautiful cities where urban life meets wild nature. Enjoy!

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2017/08/31/474-holiday-diary-part-1/

Everything you need to know about the world's 2nd most popular spectator sport, cricket. I'm joined by my Dad, Rick Thompson and we describe the rules, the appeal of the game and also some expressions in English that come from cricket.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Tr

This episode was originally recorded in February 2017 and is being uploaded in August 2017. In this episode I’m going to answer several questions from listeners about accents, including how regional accents occur in the UK and why there are so many accents there. Video available.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Ty

Talking to Andy about why he runs marathons, including vocabulary relating to doing exercise, health, fitness, technique, injuries and medical care.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Ti

Talking to Andy about stepping on Lego, Andy's job, self-directed language learning, accent, and British/American English.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Tc

I'm going on holiday until the end of the month, so I'm going to disappear for a while.

Listen to this message because it has a few announcements about what's happening with the podcast while I'm gone. Transcript available.

Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7T5

Helping you to understand and appreciate the Liverpool accent and Scouse English, featuring clips of comedy a short history of Liverpool and interviews with famous footballers, actors and musicians.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7SN

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Helping you to understand a comedian with a Liverpool accent - learn vocabulary, culture and accents in English.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7SJ

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A bit of pop culture history in this episode, talking about the musical movement of punk and the social situation in which it happened. With James Thompson

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7HN

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Rambling (in my sweltering hot flat) about the benefits of playing football, giving encouragement to a shy new listener, some prepositions with transport, comparing formal and informal styles and commenting on the risks of using humour in emails.

Episode page with notes and transcriptions: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7S4

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Highlighting and clarifying vocabulary that you heard in episodes 464 and 465, with a focus on phrases and uses of the word get.

Episode page: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7QV

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking about the technical side of making podcast episodes, including fascinating insights about my recording equipment and an exciting anecdote game. Includes upbeat music to absolutely guarantee** that you will not be bored during the episode!

insights may not actually be fascinating
management holds no liability for any lack of excitement experienced
**not actually a legally binding guarantee

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Episode page for notes: https://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Rg

Talking about the creative side of making podcast episodes, including some thoughts on how to come up with ideas and how to speak in front of an audience. Watch out for various phrases with 'get' during the episode.

Episode page on teacherluke.co.uk http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7QS

Spoken - 2 free lessons & 20% discount: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Giving some news, responding to comments & questions, rambling about new shoes and getting lost in the jungle.

Episode page with links etc: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7QI

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

In this episode I talk to you about one of my favourite stand up comedians from the UK. We’re going to hear some of his comedy and use it to learn English.

Episode page for scripts, videos, notes: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7PU

Spoken offer: http://www.getspsoken.com/lep

An episode about the tricky little questions that we use when socialising. What are the appropriate answers? What are the subtle differences? How do native speakers use these questions? Can you take the test and get all the right responses to my list of deceptively difficult questions?

Episode page: http://teacherluke.co.uk/2017/06/24/461-25-deceptively-difficult-questions-with-amber-paul-sarah/

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

25 Deceptively Difficult Questions - Proper Introduction Transcript! Hi everyone, This is an episode about social English, the kind of English you use when you’re socialising, particularly the little things you say when you greet someone or at the beginning of a conversation. There are many ways to say “hi” and also lots of ways to say “how are you?” or “what are you doing?” The tricky thing is being able to judge the subtle differences in the questions with the presence of auxiliary verbs or modals which change the meaning slightly from the past, to the present to the future or with slightly different levels of formality. I’d like to do a test in this episode today. I am going to test you, so get ready.

A Test Here’s what’s going to happen. I’ve prepared a list of 25 questions. I’m going to read them to you in a moment. As I say each question, what I want you to do is to think really quickly and really naturally about the first thing you would normally say when you hear that question. What’s the first answer that comes into your mind? Let’s see if you answer correctly. To find out the proper answers we’re going to listen to me directing those questions at Amber, Paul and Sarah. Then you can listen out for how they answer them and the comments we make afterwards, which should explain these tricky little bits of English. Not only can you learn some essential social English in this episode, you can also hear plenty of humorous conversation between the four of us. Sarah’s baby is also there in the background. I’m sorry if this bothers anyone. I’ve removed some of those noises but a few are still there. I think it sounds fine and adds a bit of atmosphere and after all she is a very cute baby.

So, the test. Let’s get started. Are you ready? Just give the first answer that comes to mind. Also, you should know that some of the questions are intentionally incorrect. So, if you hear a question which is grammatically wrong or just not used ever, you can say “wrong”. Ok, so, your quick answer to the question, or “wrong” if it’s incorrect. I’ll say the question once quickly, once slowly and once again quickly. Some of these questions may seem extremely simple - the point of this is the pragmatics of social English and how you should give certain stock answers to some questions. They get a bit harder as they go along. Also, you can try to repeat the questions too. They’re going to come pretty quick, so use the pause button if you want. Here we go. You might think these are easy, but that's why this is called 'deceptively' difficult questions. *4 questions are intentionally incorrect. Can you spot them?

What are you doing?
How are you doing?
How’s it going?
How are you going?
What’s happening?
What’s going on?
What’s going down?
What’s going up?
What’s up?
How do you do?
How are you?
How have you been?
How have you been up to?
What are you up to?
What have you been up to?
How long has it been?
Can I use your phone?
I can’t use your phone, can I?
Do you mind if I open the window?
You don’t mind if I open the window, do you?
What are your plans for later?
What are you up to later?
Can you tell me where is the best bar in town?
Do you know how long is it going to be?
Would you be prepared to give me a 5% discount?

Ta = thanks You’re now going to hear all those questions and how Amber, Paul and Sarah will respond to them. See if you got them right or wrong! I’ll go through them again quickly at the end.

Listen to the whole episode for all the correct answers and explanations. Don't be a ninja! Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Cheers! Luke

Conversation and language analysis with the podpals and guest Sarah. Hear some conversation about being married to a foreign person, bringing up kids to be bilingual, and learn some slang in Australian and Northern Irish English. Vocabulary is explained at the end.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7PL

Text also reproduced below (including vocabulary lists)

Introduction This episode is choc-a-block with natural conversation and language. Yesterday I had Amber and Paul over to the flat, and I also invited Sarah Donnelly, a friend of the podcast. Sarah also brought her baby who she had since she was last on the podcast. There’s no relation by the way between her being on the podcast and having a baby. Purely coincidental. Anyway, the four of us sat around the table yesterday in the blistering heat to record some podcast material and that’s what you’re going to hear. Sometimes you can hear the baby screaming and gurgling in the background but I don’t think it spoils the recording really.

She hasn’t learned to talk yet, but who knows being on the podcast might help a little bit in some way. The conversation is a bit chaotic because there are 4 people, sometimes talking over each other. If you like you can imagine you’re in a business meeting. A business meeting in which no business actually takes place, nobody observes the rules of formality and where the participants just chat with each other. So, not much like a business meeting really, but anyway a meeting of sorts, and this is the kind of thing you might have to deal with in the future if you go to a meeting in English and there are a number of people discussing things and you have to keep up. It’s good practice to listen to this kind of thing to help you prepare for that kind of situation.

This recording was slightly shorter than the usual full-on ramble that we have together. But I’m going to do a bit of language analysis at the end. I’ll pick out a few words and phrases and will clarify them after the conversation has finished. Also there’s another language-related episode coming soon with Amber, Paul and Sarah.

Here now is a discussion between podpals Amber and Paul, also featuring Sarah Donnelly the American with Irish roots who has been on this podcast before, most recently talking about the US Presidential Elections with Sebastian Marx.

Things we all have in common:

We’re all English speaking expats in France
We are all with French partners, either married or “paxed”
We’re all comedians on the stand up scene too

In this chat we discuss a few things, such as the complexities of being with a foreign partner, bringing up a child in a foreign country to be fully bilingual, getting married and what it feels like for the bride and groom on the big day, Amber’s podcast which was recently released online, Paul’s upcoming gig in Australia, Sarah’s Irish roots and some English slang from New Zealand, Australia and Northern Ireland.

Questions Here are some questions for you to consider as you listen. This can help you to focus on the content.

Are you or have you ever been with a foreign person in a relationship? What are the difficulties of that?
What’s the best way to bring up a child to be bilingual? Is it possible to raise a bilingual child when only one of you speaks one of the target languages to the child?
Are you married? How did it feel for you on the big day? Did you cry? Have you ever been a guest at a wedding, and did you cry?
Have you heard Amber’s podcast, which is called Paname? It’s now available at panamepodcast.com
Can you identify different English accents and dialects from around the world? How about American vs British, or different areas of the UK? How about Ireland and Northern Ireland? What about Australia and New Zealand? Do you know what their English sounds like?

Right. Consider those questions as you listen to this conversation and hold on until later when I’ll explain some of the vocabulary and some cultural stuff too, maybe touching on different accents, wedding vocabulary and more. But now you can listen to Amber, Paul, Sarah and me, melting in my boiling hot apartment.

Vocabulary and other language points - Explained It's really hot It’s hot as hell It’s boiling It’s sweltering It’s baking It’s blisteringly hot
Being partnered with a French person is hard work. I have one hour’s worth of material on this.
One hour’s worth of something 5 minutes’ worth of something We’ve got 3 days’ worth of food left I’ve got about 10 minutes’ worth of battery left
Bringing Up Children
Bringing up a baby in a foreign country with a foreign partner - will they speak English?

Bring up a baby
Raise a child
Be raised in / to Grow up Do you have experience of bringing up a baby to be bilingual? Let us know. If just one parent speaks English, and the rest of the time it’s French with school, friends and everything else - will the kid be bilingual?
Anglophone
Francophone
Condone/Condemn I don’t condone the hitting of a child (stupid thing to say actually - but that’s what happens when you joke - sometimes you go over the line a bit - obvs I didn’t mean it)
Condone / condemn
Paul's Wedding
An out of body experience
We were so stressed out
Crying To cry
To be in tears
To well up
To choke up
Neither of us cried
I thought everybody would be in tears
I welled up a bit
I was choking up
Walk down the aisle
The altar
Her parents aren’t with her any more. They passed away.
Paul’s dad gave her away. “It was so sweet that it was your dad that was giving her away.”
I’m left-handed
I can’t grip it like I like to grip it. (innuendo)
He’s jumped ahead. (he’s gone to the innuendo before we realised it)
Some ninjas came out of the woodwork. (to come out of the woodwork) to appear after having been hidden or not active for a long time: After you've been in a relationship for a while all sorts of little secrets start to come out of the woodwork. Mildly disapproving. From Cambridge Dictionary Online.
They feel like they’re going to do mistakes. Make mistakes.
Aussie slang http://mentalfloss.com/article/61847/25-awesome-australian-slang-terms
G’day mate, how are you going?
Arvo: afternoon
Barbie: barbeque
Bogan
Chockers
Fair Dinkum
Fuckin’ oath!
Sweet as
Strewth! (Cliche)
Kiwi slang The slang is pretty similar to Aussie or UK slang, but the accent is different. For years I couldn’t differentiate it from Aussie, but the more you hear the more you realise how different it is. Watch Flight of the Conchords to hear lots of it. Episode in the pipeline.

Rambling on about so-called "facts" I found on the internet, while sitting in direct sunshine wishing I had beer.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Pz

Audible audiobook offer: http://www.audibletrial.com/teacherluke

Talking to my Dad about the results of the UK's general election on 8 June 2017.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Ph

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A follow-up to episode 455 consolidating the insights of Professor David Crystal including various pearls of wisdom about language learning.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7OS

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Discussing and clarifying what David Crystal said in episode 454. Conclusions about language learning and linguistics.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7OB

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to the world's top writer and lecturer on the English language, Professor David Crystal. In this episode, David answers questions from listeners.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Od

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Hi everyone, this is just a quick 3min episode with a message from Amber about her podcast. Details below.

Amber's podcast is now on iTunes and on her website http://www.panamepodcast.com

Check it out!

Luke

Talking about language with one of the world's top linguists, Professor David Crystal.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7NH

Listen to Amber, Paul and me answering questions designed by psychologists to help couples or friends become closer and more intimate.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7NW

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Discussing language with Amber & Paul, including issues such as errors made by native speakers, language change, whether language standards are declining, the effects of technology on language and how to cut an avocado without injuring yourself.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7No

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Another film club episode, this time about the Alien franchise and a review of the new film "Alien: Covenant". The film is in the cinemas now and you could watch the other films at home (with or without subtitles) for some more English listening practice.

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Ni

In this episode I’m going to go through some questions from the comment section and give a bit of news. There will be some grammar, some vocab, some reactions to recent episodes and some bits relating to how you can continue to push your English with this podcast.

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7MU

Part 2 of this Film Club episode looking at the award-winning documentary "Touching the Void" which tells the story of a mountain climbing expedition which goes wrong. Listen to this episode and then watch the film on Netflix or DVD for that extra bit of English input.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7DO

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A film club episode about the award-winning documentary film "Touching the Void" about a mountain climbing expedition which goes wrong. It's an amazing true story and there are lots of things to learn from it, including lessons about motivation and attitude towards any challenge. The film is available on Netflix and DVD. Check it out and use this episode to help you understand it all.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7DM

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

What is British Humour? Is it funny? Does it even exist? How does it relate to our communication style and culture? In this episode I go through the main points of my British Council Teacher Talk about British Humour. Amber and I discuss the definition of British humour, the way it works, how it's different or similar to other humour in other places, and some examples of typical humour in the UK.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7E8

Spoken offer: www.getspoken.com/lep

Talking about one of the UK's most popular television programmes, Top Gear. This episode features lots of vocabulary related to cars, but a lot more too including your guide to how to speak like Jeremy Clarkson.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7DS

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

In this episode I’m going to talk a little bit about the results of the British Podcast Awards and also do a sort of introduction to the podcast for new people who might be listening for the first time. I’m going to bring you up to speed on what this podcast is all about and also recommend a few episodes from the archive that you could listen to. Also - for the dedicated language learners, at the end of the episode I’m going to explain 17 expressions which you’ll hear as I’m talking. Which expressions will they be? You’ll have to wait and see.

Episode page - http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7DA

italki offer - http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Politics is back on LEP as I talk to my Dad about recent developments in the UK, specifically the General Election which is due to take place on 8 June.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7C6

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Describing my recent trip to Japan and exploring the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7C4 Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Describing my recent trip to Japan and exploring the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7BQ

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

A conversation with Andy Johnson, talking about the IATEFL teaching conference, millennials, more tales of Andy's appearance and the possibility of a WWE wrestling match between Andy and me.

Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7BO

10% off all courses at London School Online - use offer code LUKE10 http://www.londonschoolonline.com

In this episode I just want to talk to you about this pile of 16 books I have on my desk. These are (mostly) books I haven't read yet but which I picked up recently. I have lots of piles of books like this lying around and I must read them all but I can't find the time! Anyway, I think they're really interesting. I either received them as presents, was recommended them by friends and family or I bought them for myself when visiting book shops over the last year or two. I love books, and browsing bookshops is one of my favourite things. If only I was a faster reader!

Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Bk

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

This episode is all about books. I’m going to recommend some self-study books for learning English, talk about the value of reading books in English and then go through some of the books which I have in a pile on my desk and talk to you about them - just to inspire you to do some more reading this year, in English of course!

Epsiode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Bh

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Here’s another episode done in a similar style to the last one, with some news, some rambling and some questions and comments from the website. Topics in this episode will include: My live comedy show in Tokyo on 13 April, LEPster meetups, humour, grammar, understanding TV and Movies, Breaking Bad, Logan and more...

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7B8

Spoken: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

A rambly episode with some news from the UK, some comments, some questions, some updates about LEPster meetups in Moscow, Tokyo and London and more.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Ad

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Amber, Paul and I play another round of The Lying Game, in which we each tell a story and the others have to guess if it's true or a lie. Listen for story telling, questions and general fun, plus some jokes at the end of the episode. Video available.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Av

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Amber & Paul are back on the podcast in this episode as we respond to some questions and comments from the website and social media. Video available.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7Aa

Spoken: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Interviewing Paul Taylor about his comedy projects, including "What the Fck France" on Canal+ / Youtube and his stand-up shows #Franglais and The Paul Taylor Comedy Night. Video available.*

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7zC

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Learn more authentic English directly from the mouths of these native speakers in an episode of the popular British TV show "Kitchen Nightmares" with famous chef Gordon Ramsay. Videos and vocabulary lists available.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7zA

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking about restaurant culture in the UK, an introduction to one of the UK's most famous chefs and a chance to learn some authentic English from a popular British TV show featuring Gordon Ramsay. Video available.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7zy

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to Amber about our experiences in restaurants & hotels and some truly bizarre TripAdvisor reviews.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7yz

Spoken promo: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Talking to Fred about history, geography, comedy, learning English and cutlery.

Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7wb

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

[Yes, that is a lizard in an aquarium - listen to the episode to find out more] This is an episode with some rambling about recent news, LEPster meetups, transcript project team, listener comments & questions, teaching phrasal verbs with 'in on' and some music. This episode is also available as a video.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7yk

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Analysis of another sketch from Limmy's Show. Listen to informal English spoken in a Glasgow accent, and understand it. Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7xO

An episode analysing more British comedy, this time focusing on a couple of sketches from Limmy's Show, an award-winning TV comedy produced by BBC Scotland. See link for transcriptions, notes and videos.

Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7xc

Listen to the conclusion of this mystery story in which Amber, Paul and I attempt to solve a series of kidnappings in Victorian London.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7wS

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Join Amber, Paul and me as we attempt to solve a series of mysterious kidnappings in Victorian London. Full story text available.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7vz

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to Andy Johnson and Ben Butler about teaching English to millennials, cross-cultural experiences we've had as English teachers and some funny stories about Andy.

Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7vS

London School Online (use offer code LUKE10) for a 10% discount http://www.londonschoolonline.com

Talking to Andy Johnson and Ben Butler from The London School of English about many things including teaching English for specific purposes and some old anecdotes.

Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7vH

Talking to Billy from Korea about his videos about regional British dialects and accents.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7t5

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

A new episode with James about Skateboarding, which will be a new event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. James has been a skater for most of his life and used to write articles for a skateboarding magazine, so he's exactly the right person to talk to about this.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7ur

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Everything you need to know about the culture of tea-drinking in the UK, including a full guide to how to make a nice cup of tea, English style.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5c9

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Talking to my brother about the latest Star Wars film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. SPOILER ALERT!

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7ua

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Talking to my Dad about developments in technology in the future. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7u4

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Let’s look towards the coming year and talk about new years resolutions for language learning in 2017. I talk about the UK's most common new year's resolutions, my resolutions for improving my French and then talk about ways we can work on our language learning this year. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7tf

Here is an overview of how 2016 was for Luke's English Podcast including some details about the top 5 episodes, the top 20 countries, and more statistics for the last 12 months. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7t6

Here's the final part in this trilogy of episodes recorded at my parents' house on Boxing Day. In this one my mum, dad and brother tell us a few more anecdotes about their encounters with some well-known people. Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7sg

Listen to my uncle Nic telling some stories about British rock stars he has met over the years, including an encounter with one of the most famous musicians in the world! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7qD

Happy New Year! This new episode features a conversation I recorded during the Christmas holiday with my mum and my uncle Nic about how to cook a great Turkey dinner. Listen for some family conversation and then vocabulary explanations. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7pU

Here's part 2 of this episode all about special days and celebrations in the UK throughout the year. Transcript and videos here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7nA

Here's an episode all about special days and celebrations in the British calendar. You'll hear cultural information about holidays and customs, and some pronunciation work on how to say dates and the months of the year. Transcript and videos here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Hr

This is a quick message not a full episode and I just wanted to say a few words about donations, essentially this: If you’re thinking of sending me a donation this Christmas, you could instead consider sending your donation to a charity in order to help people who are in need of our assistance at the moment. So, rather than sending something to me, send it to others, by using a reputable charity like Doctors Without Borders, or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) by going to http://www.msf.org/en/donate

Episode page: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/12/22/a-quick-message-about-donations-please-consider-donating-to-doctors-without-borders-to-help-people-in-need/

Amber & I teach you 12 idiomatic English phrases while attending the filming of an episode of Paul's TV show on the street in Paris. Click the link below for videos and photos, and a list of the idioms with definitions - http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7n8

A rambling conversation with Amber about Christmas and more! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7ld

Amber & Paul are back on the podcast and we do the usual catching-up session and go off on a few tangents about Amber's play, Paul's showbiz life, marshmallows, microphones, tea & coffee, accents and more... Visit the page for this episode to see a couple of videos - link coming soon. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/12/13/408-catching-up-with-amber-paul-4-videos/

In this episode you'll hear me talking to Kristina from Russia, the winner of the LEP anecdote competition this year. We talk about her work as a translator and interpreter, her reflections on language learning, how she learned English to a good level and some other bits and pieces! Click here for more info http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7ht

More responses to questions and comments from listeners, including a comparison of past continuous & past simple verb tenses, comments about bias in the UK's media, the BBC, the newspapers, the Chapecoense Plane Crash in Colombia, and more. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/12/04/406-grammar-past-continuous-tense-uk-media-bias-brazil-football-tragedy/

In this episode we continue to analyse the various British accents that you can hear in the film version of The Lord of the Rings. Let's consider the accents of some of the main characters, such as Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, Treebeard, Elrond, Boromir, Gandalf, Saruman, Legolas, Gimli and the orcs. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7fL

Talking about the different British accents you can hear in the Lord of the Rings movies. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7fu

The final results of the LEP Anecdote Competition, some podcast admin and responses to some comments & emails from listeners including a war story, some grammar (noun phrases, possessives & apostrophes) and a question about my Dad's accent. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-7es

Talking to my Dad about recent news, and we talked about Brexit, post-truth politics, the US election, the right-wing press in the UK, the political landscape in the EU, the rules of international cricket and the music from Tetris. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-75O

Welcome back to the podcast. This is episode 401 and it’s about developing your fluency in English. I’m going to talk about creativity, open and closed thinking and about how turning off your internal editor can help you to make more progress in your language learning.

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/11/21/401-switch-off-your-editor-to-improve-your-fluency-in-english/

I've decided to celebrate the 400th episode of LEP by making up an improvised comedy story, just for fun. In fact, this is the long-awaited sequel to The Pink Gorilla Story from episode 125. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-78D

Talking with two American friends about journalism, how the internet works, the US presidential election results, California's new marijuana laws and puffins. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-776

In this episode I want to talk about two things: My first impressions of the US Presidential election result, and then some things I said in the last episode of this podcast. I just want to clear up some comments I made last time. I just want to get straight into it. So here we go. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-73G

Talking spontaneously about gloves, mittens, OO7, Bob Dylan, an LEP app, The Walking Dead, Oasis, Black Mirror, The Crown, a bit of politics and some 10-year cave-aged cheddar cheese. Click here for the page for this episode http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/11/07/397-ramble-on/ ‎

This episode is round 2 of the LEP anecdote competition. You'll be able to hear the 10 anecdotes that got the most votes from round one and some language feedback afterwards. Click here to vote for your favourite stories in the poll http://wp.me/p4IuUx-72K

In this episode I'm joined by Paul Taylor and Robert Hoehn and we do a speaking exercise that I often use in my classes to help my students to practise using different grammatical structures in their speaking. I thought it would be interesting to record some native speakers doing the exercise too, so that's what you'll hear in this episode, as well as various little anecdotes, a few jokes and general chat. The conversation contains swearing and a few humourous comments which shouldn't be taken too seriously. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-71a

Here are some more of my favourite podcasts. You might like to listen to them too, even if they're difficult to understand because they're not specifically for learners of English. It's good to challenge yourself sometimes, so why not try listening to these. If I like them, you might like them too. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-70z

In this episode I'm going to recommend some other people's podcasts that you might also enjoy. Last time, in episodes 236 and 237 I recommended some of my favourite podcasts. I recommended a mix of British and American podcasts. This time I'm going to tell you about some more but we're focusing only on British podcasts this time - ones that are produced in the UK and on which you can listen to British voices. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5gQ

This episode is full of what I hope will be more useful insight and advice on how to learn English as an adult so that you don't end up sounding like a robot, because you're learning English or at least maintaining your English and it's a long-term process, there are right and wrong ways of doing it and I want to support you along the way. The main aim of this podcast is to help you stay on track as you continue to develop your English, trying to find new ways and improving the old ways so that you get a grip on this language. This episode represents not just my ideas but also the thoughts, conclusions and recommendations of plenty of other linguists and polyglots who certainly should know what they're talking about because they've either studied the process of language acquisition or they've learned multiple languages themselves. Contained in this episode is a distillation of lots of experiences, research and common knowledge about language learning, including my own thoughts and practical tips which I've picked up after 15 years of teaching English as a foreign language. I hope this will be a motivating, inspiring and interesting episode for you to listen to as part of your English learning journey. So, let's go. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2NT

Here's a conversation with a friend of mine who originally comes from the Netherlands but he has lived all over the world. You're going to hear us talking about cultural differences, Dutch stereotypes, doing business in France, the UK and the USA, the different communication styles in those places, doing stand up comedy and getting Darth Vader's signature. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it. Click here for the episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6YN

This is a conversation with my dad about recent news, including a Brexit update, the US presidential election, Obama's plans to send people to Mars and back and more... Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6YS

Here is part two of my conversation with Sarah and Sebastian from the USA about the upcoming presidential election. In this episode we turn our attention to Hillary Clinton. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Yd

The presidential election in the USA is about a month away and I've been meaning to talk about this subject on the podcast for ages. So in this episode you're going to hear me in conversation with a couple of American friends of mine who you might already know from their previous appearances on this podcast - Sarah Donnelly and Sebastian Marx. We sat down in my flat today to talk about the elections, Hillary Clinton, DonaldTrump, their thoughts, feelings, opinions and predictions on the whole thing. Click here for the page for this episode http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/10/11/388-us-presidential-election-2016-trump-vs-clinton-with-sarah-and-sebastian/

Voting is now open in the first round of the LEP Anecdote Competition. You can listen to all the anecdotes on the page for this episode and vote for your favourites using a simple poll. I'll give you the full details and instructions in this episode. I'm also going to talk about the results of the podcast survey I did recently and a couple of other things, including the top countries for LEP this week. Click here for this episode's page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6W3

Here's part 2 of this episode about ways you can push your English to higher levels even if you feel that your progress is stuck or moving very slowly. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6WB

This episode is about ways you can push your English to higher levels even if you feel that your progress is stuck or moving very slowly. I'm talking about a very common phenomenon in English learning called the intermediate plateau. This is where you seem to stop making progress and can't reach and advanced level. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Wl

In this episode I'm talking about recent things I’ve been teaching in my classes including some grammar and some social English. There's an absolultely massive amount of grammar crammed into this epsiode and quite a lot of silly improvisation too! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Vm

In this episode you are going to hear part 2 of my conversation with Ian Moore and I've decided to call this one "More Ian Moore" - do you see what I've done there? "more Ian Moore" I bet nobody has ever made that joke about his name before, right? Before we listen to Ian Moore, I just want to mention a few things...

Click here for the page for this episode: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Tj

This is just a 'quick' message from me to you about a podcast survey on the website, a reminder of the anecdote competition, a new video I've made about the Russian joke and some more rambling about things like The Beatles and conspiracy theories. The next 'proper' episode will be uploaded in a few days.

Click here for the page for this episode to take the survey: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6U5

Today on the podcast I'm talking to Ian Moore, who is a professional stand up comedian, published author and mod from London. Ian is probably the best dressed man ever to appear on this podcast. He is also a professional talker with many things to say. In this part we talk mainly about mod culture.

http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6RQ

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In this episode I'm talking to my friends Amber and Paul about cultural differences, particularly in the ways we communicate with each other in different countries.

Details: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5wO

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

In this episode the PODPALS Amber and Paul are back and we're going to have the normal catching up session in which they talk about what they have been up to recently. As usual we sit on the terrace and get interrupted by insects, the sun, neighbours on their balconies around us (including a naked man eating his lunch) and the inevitable references to a certain Russian joke that always comes up in our conversations.

Episode page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Qk

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Details of a new LEP competition / Competition rules / Advice & Tips / Inspiration / Some Funny Anecdotes

Transcript & videos here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Pr

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Here is part 2 of this description of my recent holiday in Thailand. In this one you can hear more stories and descriptions about different parts of the country, learning how to cook, a conversation with a monk, doing yoga every day, a couple of messages from listeners and some reflections on gratitude, forgiveness and guidance.

Transcript and notes here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Ol

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

This episode contains stories and descriptions of my recent holiday in Thailand. You'll hear some facts about Thailand, some descriptions of Bangkok and a few stories about funny experiences that happened while we were there. Part 2 is coming soon. More details and transcriptions below.

Enjoy! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6O7

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

This is not a full episode of the podcast - I'm just letting you know that I'm going away for a few weeks so there will be no podcasts for a little while. We're getting away from it all for a few weeks. I probably won't be online much, perhaps not at all. A couple of places we're going to don't have any internet at all. It's going to be a bit of a digital detox. So, I won't be uploading episodes for a while, and I won't be responding to comments and stuff, but I look forward to reading your comments when I get back.

More details here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Me

In this episode my brother James and I go for a game of mini golf in the local park, and then head to the pub for a pint of beer. While doing that we have a discussion about English history, life in the countryside vs life in the city, the London riots of 2011 and how James feels about being a guest on my podcast. I've uploaded a lot of new episodes recently but that's going to stop soon when I go away on holiday for a few weeks.

Click here for more details and a transcript of some sections of the episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Mh

Audible offer http://www.audibletrial.com/teacherluke

In this conversation Alex is in Edinburgh in Scotland and I'm in Warwick in England. In the previous episode we talked about pub quizzes and how they're a common part of pub culture in the UK, so I thought we would play a kind of pub quiz with each other. The only problem is that neither of us are in a pub, but that doesn't matter - this is a podcast and you can use your imagination.

Details here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6M2

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In this episode I talk to Alex Love in Edinburgh about his show, some details about the culture of pub quizzes in the UK and we go off on several quite instructive tangents about stag and hen parties, male strippers, The Smurfs and the anatomy of giant squid, which are large sea creatures with tentacles. That sounds quite random but it's not really. It's actually perfectly logical and it will all become clear as you listen to the conversation, and I think there's quite a lot to learn about British culture in this episode as you'll see. I've also highlighted a lot of vocabulary for you to watch out for.

Click here for the details http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Ls

Audible offer http://www.audibletrial.com/teacherluke

This episode is a game show hosted by my Dad, with me as the contestant. The aim of the game is to see how many words I know. My Dad designed this quiz for his students of journalism at the university where he works sometimes. The quiz is specifically designed to highlight what he considers to be common misuses and misunderstandings of words. His opinion is that journalists writing and presenting on television should use words in exactly the right way, even if many people use those words to mean different things in general everyday use.

http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6LA

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This episode of the podcast is all about telling anecdotes in English. Anecdotes are little stories about our experiences that we share while socialising. It's important to have a few anecdotes of your own and to know how to tell them properly. In this episode I'm going to give you some advice for how to tell an anecdote and then you're going to listen to some true anecdotes told by members of my family that I recorded yesterday evening during dinner.

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italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

This is part 2 of my conversation with Rob Ager from Liverpool, who makes documentaries about films and publishes them himself on his website Collative Learning. If you haven't heard part 1 yet, you should check that out before listening to part 2. In this conversation we talk about Rob's approach to film analysis, hidden meanings in films, the work of Stanley Kubrick and the conspiracy theory about the moon landing.

More details here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6Ji

italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Today on the podcast I'm talking to Rob Ager from Liverpool, who is probably best known for his film analysis videos on YouTube in which he discusses classic Hollywood thrillers, sci-fi and action movies in quite astonishing levels of detail, often focusing on deep psychological and political themes and hidden messages that most viewers probably wouldn't even notice. His videos are carefully constructed documentaries, made for educational purposes and all of them feature a voice-over commentary by Rob in which he analyses the film and gives his observations.

http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6J3

italki offer: Http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Today I'm talking about Pokemon Go. It's a global phenomenon and there are lots of things to say about it. It's not just a stupid game, there's a lot more to it than that. So, in this episode I'm going to describe Pokemon the game, then talk about Pokemon GO, including what it is, how it works, what people are saying about it, why it's so significant, what some of the good points and bad points are, and what this might mean for the future.

Notes & transcript here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6IB

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk

Welcome to the LEP Annual Meeting 2016, which actually doesn't take place on an annual basis. In this meeting I'm going to deal with various points of admin (including a language point about words like 'annual', 'biannual', 'biennial' etc, Pokemon Go, Transcript Collaboration, LEP Meet-Ups, Comedy shows, music, torrent sites and a comment from a vampire) and I'm going to ask you various questions during the episode.

Please give your answers to the questions (any of them) on the page for the episode here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6FP

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Hello and welcome to part 2 of this conversation with my friend Alex Love. If you haven't already heard part 1, I suggest you go back and listen to that. I've divided this episode into two parts just because I thought it was a bit long and that it would be easier for you to deal with two slightly shorter episodes than one epically long one.

Click here for the episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6HQ

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On the podcast today I am in conversation with Alex Love, who you might remember from some previous episodes of this podcast. Alex Love regularly performs stand-up comedy gigs in London and in Manchester where he now lives. At this moment he's preparing for the Edinburgh Festival where he will be performing a one-hour show which he has written himself, called "How to Win a Pub Quiz". The show is a mix of stand-up comedy and pub quiz trivia and it has had some good reviews at previous festivals. If you're in Edinburgh this August you can see Alex's show at a venue called The Stand in rooms 5 & 6 (venue 319) at 12 o'clock midday from 4 to 14 August. Click here to visit the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6FV
italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Hi everyone, in this episode I'm just letting you know that I'm very busy at the moment, which is why I haven't uploaded an episode for a while. Normal podcasting will resume soon. In the meantime, you can listen to the audio track from a video I did in 2009 at the Notting Hill Carnival. There are 40 phrasal verbs in the video. Can you find them? You can see the video below, with a full transcript and all the phrasal verbs in a list + definitions. You're welcome! Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6FH

In this episode I finish the series I've been doing about Brexit in the same way that I started it, by having a conversation with my Dad. First I'll highlight some vocabulary and phrases, then you can hear my Dad giving his comments about what has happened since the UK voted to leave the EU three weeks ago. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6DX

LEP is back after a two-week absence. This episode is about top tips for learning English. Here are some ideas about learning English that have occurred to me in the last couple of weeks of teaching intensive general English classes at school. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6D2

This is a special episode about Muhammad Ali and the story of one of his most famous fights, "The Rumble in the Jungle". In the episode you'll hear me give a biography of Ali and then I go into lots of descriptive detail about the fight, exploring exactly what happened in and out of the ring and why he is now considered not only one of the greatest boxers but one of the most outstanding people of recent times. The episode is almost 100% transcribed. See below for details http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6pv

Hello, welcome back to the podcast. This is part 2 of a fairly long rant I recorded today about the Brexit situation and England's awful performance in the football yesterday. There might be some strong language and swearing. There will also be lots of fairly strong political points of view from me. Please listen to the whole thing and try to avoid knee jerk reactions. If you disagree with me please feel free to leave a comment because I am open to other points of view - but I encourage you to fully flesh out your opinion, don't just give your knee-jerk reaction without backing it up with some evidence or justification. Click here for a transcript http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6vf

Here's another episode about what's going on in the UK at the moment - in politics and in football. I know I am talking about this subject a lot at the moment, but I just can't help it - it's too big. Too many things are happening! So there will be more Brexit & football in this episode and then it'll be back to podcasting as usual. Oh and by the way there will be some swearing in this episode because I'll be sharing some comments from some angry people online and generally there has been quite a lot of swearing and kicking of furniture all across the country since Friday - especially yesterday while watching England get knocked out of the Euros. Swearing is rarely appropriate - remember that. Only at the right time in the right place. E.g. when watching England play football, or while thinking for two seconds or more about the EU referendum. Also, another preface here - you'll notice that I'm pretty unhappy about things at the moment, but don't worry I'll bounce back, and Luke's English Podcast will continue with the usual sort of episodes soon. I just have to get some things off my chest about what's been going on. Click here for a transcript: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6uU

The UK has voted to leave the EU. Here are my thoughts and feelings. http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/06/24/360-the-day-after-brexit-thoughts-and-feelings/

It's referendum night and I've decided to share my stand-up comedy material about the EU referendum in this episode of the podcast, because after today I might not be able to use these jokes ever again! This works much better in front of a live audience of course - so you'll have to imagine that! Anyway, I hope you enjoy listening to some of my 'jokes' and humorous comments about this big moment in UK history. By the way, when I recorded this I didn't know the result of the referendum. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/06/24/359-brexit-jokes-eu-referendum-night/#disqus_thread

Join my wife and *me as we walk around the streets of Paris during the annual World Music Festival. You'll hear live music, descriptions of the scene, a couple of conversations with people we met, and the sounds of this amazing evening in the city of light. It's another long episode, but I hope you listen to all of it because I just really want to share the atmosphere and moments of this special event. Check here for photos http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6rx

In this episode I'm talking to Olly Richards the polyglot from England. Our conversation covers points about what accent you should learn to speak with, the importance of developing clear pronunciation and effective communication in English, using Periscope to listen to native English speakers and the physical side of learning a language. See below for a transcript to the introduction, more information and links to Olly's work. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6pI

Hello welcome to this LEP meeting. I've called this meeting in order to deal with some stuff that's going on at the moment. On the agenda for today we have some news, some football updates including the England vs Wales game from yesterday, some more Brexit chat and then at the I'll talk a bit about the incident that happened yesterday involving a British MP called Jo Cox, which is a pretty tragic story. That's still developing and we don't know the full facts yet. It just happened yesterday and by the time you listen to this it might have developed further. Click here for the page for this episode http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/06/17/356-lep-meeting-football-brexit-events-in-the-uk-jo-cox/

In this episode I talk about the EUROs including how it feels having the championship here in France, the violence in Marseille that occurred between English fans, Russian fans, local French fans and the French police this weekend, and the England vs Russia game that happened on Saturday. I welcome your comment on this subject so please share your thoughts under the page for this episode. A transcript is available for 95% of this episode. Click here to visit the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6qp Image: UEFA.com

aka "The Accordion Legs Episode" Listen to Amber, Paul, James Simpson and me as we play a light-hearted speaking game called "Would you rather...?" and hear about having accordions for legs, being stuck in a lift with a pair of wet dogs and living on a desert island with a mermaid (or merman). You'll also hear the results of the interactive lying game from episode 343. There are notes and some transcriptions below. Share your comments on the page for this episode. How would you answer these 'would you rather' questions? Notes and transcriptions here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-wF

This episode started with no title and no particular aim, but I ended up chatting about walking the red carpet at the ELTon awards, the rain and floods in Paris, getting struck by lightning, the revolution of fibre optic internet at home and a crazy idea about doing live podcast recordings around the world. Listen up! More details here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6pp Buy English lessons on italki and get a 100ITC discount here http://teacherluke.co.uk/talk

This is a vocabulary episode about the language of BREXIT. Click this link for all the vocabulary http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6ma

Hello everyone, I hope you're well. Here is an episode featuring a conversation with my Dad about Brexit - The UK's referendum on the EU. Finally! I've been mentioning this for a while so here it is. You've seen it in the news, you've read it in the papers - the UK is having a referendum on membership of the European Union and who knows, we might end up leaving. It's all over the news and the internet in the UK at the moment, everyone's talking about it - you can't escape it and it's going to get more and more intense the closer we get to 23 June, the date of the referendum. I've had plenty of messages from listeners asking me to talk about this on the podcast, so here we go. Click here for the LEP Brexit poll and more http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6kQ #brexit #eureferendum #english #language #learning

This is the final episode in this superhero series and simply put, I'm going to make fun of the latest X-Men movie. Now, you might not be into the superhero stuff and I totally understand, but let me give you a heads up about this episode. Basically, I didn't like the film and so I'm more interested in poking fun at it than talking about it seriously. So, that might make it more fun to listen to than the other superhero ones I've done lately. You can just kick back and enjoy me taking the mickey out of this film. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6kE

More movie-relating talking in this episode as I speak to my friend Paul Langton. Expect plenty of very descriptive vocabulary about different characters, backstories, abilities and weaknesses. Click here for notes and transcripts http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6jC

Hi listeners - this is just a 15 minute episode. I just want to have a quick word with you. The thing is, I'm worried about a few things and I wanted to talk to you about them. Have a listen to this episode or read the notes below. Let me know what you think about what I'm saying in the comment section. Thanks! Luke :) http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/05/23/can-i-have-a-quick-word-with-you-itll-only-take-about-15-minutes/

Here is part 2 of this episode about superhero films and the Marvel cinematic universe. Before you listen to this I suggest that you listen to part 1. Where was I at the end of the last episode? I was giving you my history of superhero movies over the last 30-40 years, and the plan is to go into more detail about the recent Marvel films and then review the new Captain America movie. *No spoilers * So, let's continue. Click here for transcript/notes http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6jE

In this episode I'm talking about superheroes, Marvel movies and the latest Captain America film. By the way, I will do my best to avoid spoilers. I am only going to mention information which is basically common knowledge. I don't think listening to this will really spoil your enjoyment of any of the films in the marvel universe. So, you shouldn't worry about spoilers. Click here for transcript / notes http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6hU

Phrasal Verbs & Idioms / More NY Stories / Politics / Leicester City / Google Adverts Welcome back to another podcast episode. It's nice to be back in your headphones or speakers. In the last episode of this podcast I talked to you about some recent bits and pieces such as the ELTon award nomination, my recent trip to New York and some other stuff. I also gave you a language task to keep you on your toes. I'm going to continue along the same lines in this episode and I have a list of things here to talk about and we're going to continue with the language spotting exercise. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6h0

Breaking News! LEP Nominated for a British Council ELTon Award for Digital Innovation. In this episode you'll hear me talking about what's been going on since I recorded the last episode, including: LEP's nomination in the British Council ELTon awards, Leonardo DiCaprio fighting a bear in The Revenant, my adventure to the American Museum of Natural History and more. Also - for all the vocab hunters out there - watch out for some phrasal verbs and idioms. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-6bT

What? Another new episode? Slow down Luke! We can't keep up! OK I will slow down, I promise. I am going on holiday tomorrow and I will be quiet for a couple of weeks so I just wanted to upload another podcast before I go. While I'm away you'll have a chance to catch up with all these new episodes. This is #344 and it's another rambling conversation with podcast PALS Amber & Paul, but this time we're joined by a fourth member of the team. Could this be The Fantastic Four that LEPster Olga mentioned in a recent comment? Only you can decide... Topics of conversation in this totally tangential talk on the terrace include: jingles, voice overs, the Queen's birthday, the monarchy, Princess Diana and more... Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-63l Groovy background music c/o http://www.bensound.com Photos (clockwise - left to right) Princess Diana, a ladybird, Fantastic Four logo, The Queen, Tim Curry, Dave Grohl, LEP logo)

In this episode I'm joined by podcast pals Amber & Paul and we're playing the Lying Game again, but this is a special version because this is The Interactive Lying Game. I know - it's exciting. Try to control yourself. Find details, adjectives, nicknames, polls and links to song lyrics on the page for this episode here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Y9

In this episode I'm joined by podcast pals Amber & Paul and we talk about Paul's hit youtube video about French kissing habits, his newfound success as a stand-up (he's the hottest kid in town), some online abuse he's had and then an anecdote about an audition that we attended recently, which involved a surprising misunderstanding about accents. There's also a brief language focus on using relative clauses with 'which' to extend your sentences when speaking. Enjoy! Click here for the page for this episode and to watch Paul's video http://wp.me/p4IuUx-62J Image: c/o Robert Hoehn / French Fried TV

Amber & Paul are back on the podcast after a 4 month absence. What have they been doing? Let's catch up with them again, and respond to some comments from listeners. This episode was recorded in the open air, up on the terrace of my flat in the April sunshine. Click here to find the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Zj

Results & winners of the LEP photo competition announced, and - it's the 7th birthday of Luke's English Podcast! This episode is long but you don't have to listen to it in one go. You can listen, pause, do something else, listen later and so on. Click here for the page for this episode to see photos and vote in a poll about names: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Yb

Here is the concluding part of this detective story, which is based on a text adventure by Peter Carlson on www.textadventures.co.uk. In the first part you heard me playing an adventure game in which I have to analyse clues and choose the right options to continue a story and solve a murder. Before listening to this episode you should listen to part 1 of the story. Click here here to listen to part 1: http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/03/31/338-a-murder-mystery-detective-story/ In this episode (part 2) you'll hear the rest of the story, and if you don't understand what's going on - don't worry, I'll explain it at the end and you can read a summary of the story below. Enjoy! Visit the page for this episode here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Wc

In this episode I'm going to read through an interactive text-based adventure story. The story takes place in Victorian-era London (19th century) and we'll play the part of an expert detective who, like Sherlock Holmes, tries to solve a complex murder mystery. Follow me as I read through the story and attempt to solve the crime in the process. Can you understand the evidence and make the right decisions to solve the case? You can read the text-based adventure story and play the game yourself at textadventures.co.uk For all the relevant details, click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5W6

In this episode I'm talking to Moz on his canal boat in London. We talk first about issues relating to swearing on television, and then Moz tells us some true stories about murder on the streets of London. Moz has recently launched several walking tours of Soho in central London and over the last year or two he has been researching local court records in order to tell these true stories in full detail. CAUTION: this episode contains some explicit content including descriptions of violence and horror. There is also some strong language and swearing at the end of the episode. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Re

This episode features another natural conversation with a native English speaker. This time I'm talking to my mate Carrick, who I've known for about 10 years now. He is a teacher who used to work in the same school as me, back in London. We have a few things in common, like the fact that we've both had a few strange travelling experiences as English teachers, including the time when he once attended a meeting in Germany that involved not only the usual business work but also the drinking of some very rare and expensive scotch whiskies, which meant that the meeting turned into a kind of musical party with guitar and flute playing, quite a lot of whisky drinking, a late night and then, unsurprisingly, a bit of a hangover the next day. Listen to hear a few anecdotes, some authentic English conversation and more. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Qg

This episode is a chance to review and explain some of the vocabulary that you heard in my interview with Craig Wealand. Download the episode and read the list of words in this episode here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5LB

This episode features an interview with English teacher and podcaster Craig Wealand from InglesPodcast.com Craig is originally from Essex in England, but now lives in Valencia in Spain where he works as an English teacher and Cambridge examiner for the British Council. Craig has been an English teacher for over 20 years, and for the last few years he has also been producing episodes of his learning English podcast, which won the award for Best Educational Podcast in the UK Podcaster awards last year. In the episode we find out about Craig, talk about his career, his teaching experiences, his podcasting and also I ask him some random "quick fire" questions, just like he does with guests on his podcast. The page for this episode: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5La

OK, the last misheard lyrics episode was pretty popular and I've had several shouts of "more!" from the LEP community, so here we go again! What's this all about? Well, first of all it's a sequel to a previous episode of LEP. That's #281 "Misheard Lyrics" so you could listen to that before you listen to this. Basically, this episode is all about those moments when you mishear song lyrics. Let's have some fun listening to some songs, while trying to understand the lyrics! Click here for song titles and show notes http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4Cl

This episode could make a huge difference to your English learning. So listen up and get ready for a motivational boost! Joining me on the podcast today is Olly Richards - a polyglot who speaks 8 languages. Olly has some very motivating and practical advice on how to learn languages as an adult. There's so much to learn from Olly in this episode, so I really want you to pay attention and have a proper think about the ways in which you are learning English. (I really sound like a teacher, don't I? - or your Dad or something - "Now pay attention! Sit up straight! Put that down! Stop fidgeting. Listen to the man! This is very important for your English in the future!) Click here for all the info http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5oz

Hi listeners, I've got a big big slice of podcast pie for you in this episode because I'm going to talk to you about some important considerations for language learning, some ways that you can push your English to new levels with LEP, and I'm going to talk about italki, which is a really great service that you can use to arrange conversations with native English speakers online from the comfort of your own home, and why as a listener to this podcast, you should check it out. There is also a transcript for this episode already available at teacherluke.co.uk so check that out too. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Gf

Hi listeners - this is a multitasking episode in which I record a podcast while doing something else at the same time. In this case I'm playing the classic computer game "Grand Theft Auto 5". Listen to hear some general discussion of the game, descriptions of what's happening while playing and some other bits and pieces. Transcript for the introduction available here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5Gj

My brother has been visiting me in Paris this week and so just the other day I made him a cup of tea and got him on the podcast for a rambling chat. In this episode you'll hear us discussing these things: What we've been up to in Paris this week Jim's first stand up comedy performance Last Thursday's performance of "Sorry, we're English" with Paul Taylor Differences between Paris and London Some UK politics about the EU referendum Some USA politics about the presidential elections and candidates like Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Other news stories about drones, eagles, mosquitos and why women yawn more than men Jim's 'talking dog' joke Jim's dog anecdote That's it! There will be more language-oriented episodes of the podcast coming soon. Thanks for listening! Click here for the show notes http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5H8

I've been quite busy marking exams recently and haven't had a chance to upload any episodes for a few weeks, but today I managed to record this episode while preparing dinner. So in this one you'll hear me in the kitchen, multitasking - cooking a chicken dinner (recipe below) while describing everything that I'm doing. In this episode you'll learn some verbs for preparing food, words to describe different kitchen utensils and other language related to food and eating. Also, I ramble on about a few other things, as usual! Expect more podcasts to arrive in the near-ish future when I have a bit more time. Thanks for listening! Episode page http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5EM

Hello listeners - this episode is all about the Luke's English Podcast photo competition which I launched in December in episode 313. I've received loads of photos from listeners and they're now presented on the page for this episode on my website, and they look fantastic, so please do have a look at them! In this episode I'm going to tell you how you can vote in the competition, and I'm also going to teach you some specific vocabulary and expressions for describing photographs, which is particularly useful if you're taking a Cambridge exam like FCE or CAE. That's what's going to to happen in this episode, so let's go! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5zO

Here's the second part of the recent chat I had with my cousin Oliver. In this one we talk about becoming a Dad and predictions for the future. What will society be like in the next 10-20 years? What changes will we see in communication, technology, travel and other areas? What kind of world will Oliver's daughter grow up in? These are all questions we discuss in the episode. Watch out for language related to the future, technology, communication and childcare. Also, listen until the end to hear Oli play a nice tune on the guitar. Click here to go to the page for this episode on teacherluke.co.uk http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5yK

Here's a 2-part episode featuring a conversation with my cousin Oliver in which we talk about first some challenges he faced over the last few years (including dramatic things like a scooter crash, a tropical disease, a burglary and how he completely flooded his own house) and then some more positive things about being a father and predictions for how society will be different in the future. Also, listen for some general news and announcements about Luke's English Podcast. http://teacherluke.co.uk/2016/01/18/325-catching-up-with-oli-future-predictions/

Hello, welcome to Luke's English Podcast, which is a podcast for learners of English around the world. You are now listening to part 2 of a special episode about English musician David Bowie who died just a few days ago on 10 January 2016. The aim of this episode is to talk about David Bowie's significance as an artist, to consider some of the themes of his work and to look at why so many people had such a strong emotional attachment to him. Hopefully after listening to this episode you'll be better able to have conversations about David Bowie, but also about art and culture in general. You can find almost everything I'm saying transcribed on the page for this episode. Click here to read it and to access other content http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5yd

This episode is all about the life and work of David Bowie, the English musician who died just a couple of days ago. In the episode you'll hear me talk about the cultural significance of Bowie as an artist, why he is such a legend of British music, and what his music means to me personally. I hope you can use this episode as a way to learn more about British culture. Almost 100% of the episode is transcribed on the page for this episode - click here to read it http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5xQ

Hello again, how are you? Welcome back to the podcast. Here's a new episode for your listening pleasure. This one is a rambling conversation with my parents and my brother about everything and nothing. Click here for notes and ting http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5vv

Welcome back to Luke's English Podcast. Happy New Year. This is an episode of Luke's Film Club, and this time I'm joined by my brother James as we talk about the new Star Wars film in full detail including our thoughts, theories, favourite bits and memorable characters. This episode is full of SPOILERS, so be warned if you haven't already seen the film. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5vt

In this episode I'm going to read you a classic Christmas story - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. You can read the story as well as listen because the whole thing is included on the page for this episode. Click here for a transcript http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5s8

I saw Star Wars today VII and here's my response. No spoilers. :)

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2015/12/16/319-star-wars-vii-the-force-awakens-reaction-no-spoilers/

Welcome back to The Lying Game 2: The Rematch (Part 2). In this episode you can hear Amber, Paul and me continue our competitive game. Who's going to win this time? Will it be Paul, finally? Listen to find out what happens, and for details of the next version of the lying game which will be interactive. Click here for notes and more: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5pJ

This episode is called "The Rematch". It's one of those episodes that involves a competitive game between Amber, Paul and me. In the last one of these, called The Lying Game, this happened: The scores were level between me and Paul. Even stevens. We then played a tie-breaker. I told a story about the tooth fairy. Paul talked about burning down his house. I identified it as true. Since then, it has come to light that I may have cheated. I swear that I didn't, but some clever listeners noted that a story Paul told in The Lying Game was one he'd already told on the podcast before. So, I admit that a rematch is necessary, and here it is. This is The Lying Game 2: The Rematch. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5pg

Listen to Luke explain the rest of Tim Vine's stand up routine from the video "One Night Stand". Learn some natural phrases and bridge the linguistic and cultural gap between you and native speakers of English. Click here for notes and to see the video: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5nA

Hello listeners, this episode of the podcast is entitled: Do me a favour - Take my business English survey! It's called that because I'd like to invite you to take a very quick survey on my website. You can find the survey at http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/businessenglishsurvey. Please do take the survey. It'll just take you a couple of minutes, but it will be extremely helpful for me because I'm planning new ways to help you. So, do me a favour and take the survey! Listen to this whole episode to find out all the details. There's a transcript available too. Click here for the transcript & survey http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5hc

Fancy brushing up your grammar while getting a really good night's sleep? Yes? Well, this episode is for you. It's a guided sleep meditation to make you feel all drowsy and relaxed with added hypnopedia - that's hypnosis and sleep learning both at the same time. So, kick off your shoes, turn down the lights, lie back, relax and drift off into an ambient dream state, while learning some English in the process. Don't listen to this while driving. Transcript here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5a1 zzzzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzz

In this episode we're going to listen to some stand-up comedy by a popular British comedian called Tim Vine, which should be pretty challenging because he tells lots of puns and fast jokes. Send me your photos: podcastcomp@gmail.com But before that, I just want to tell you about a new competition that I'm launching today for listeners to this podcast. This is the Luke's English Podcast photo competition. For all the details, to download this episode and to watch a video of Tim Vine, click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5iJ

Here's the third part in this series about the Collins Dictionary Words of the Year 2015. Listen to the episode to hear Amber, Paul and me discuss the rest of the words in the list. I'll also explain and clarify some vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation from our discussion. There are vocabulary notes and more information here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5fy

Welcome to part 2 of this series about the Collins Dictionary Words of the year 2015. In this episode you'll hear me discuss these new words with Amber and Paul. I'll also explain and clarify a lot of the things you'll hear in our conversation. This episode contains some rude language and explicit content. Click here to read vocabulary notes and more http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5fx

In this series of three new episodes Amber, Paul and I talk about a list of the 10 Words of the Year which have been added to the Collins English Dictionary. We're going to explain the words and discuss the issues behind them and I'll also explain and clarify a lot of the language you're going to hear in our conversation. For a transcript of the introduction and vocabulary notes click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5es

Hi listeners, this episode of LEP is all about the terrorist attacks which happened here last Friday evening. I'm joined by Paul Taylor and we're just going to try to talk about what we saw, what happened and what's going on. Click here for a transcript of some parts of this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5g0 #eyewitness #parisattacks #report

Welcome back to the second part of this double episode. In part 1 you heard me playing a speaking game with Paul & Amber. Go back to part 1 for the details of the game, including the rules. Part 1 ended on a cliffhanger, with the scores even at 2-2-2. Even stevens! Listen to this episode to find out more. TEACHERS: At the end there's a 15 minute section in which I explain exactly how to use this game in your English classes. You can download a simple .pdf worksheet (below) which you can use in your classes (just tell your students about LEP, or send me a little donation). Listen until the end of the episode to get my full instructions on how to use this awesome game to teach your students grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary and speaking skills in a really awesome way. Click here for more information and to download a .pdf of classroom material for teachers http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5bI

Hello, welcome back to LEP. This episode is called the lying game, and it's one of those ones in which I play a speaking game with my friends Amber and Paul. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-59z. A transcript for the first 15-20 minutes is available, just click the link given above. In the introduction you'll hear me welcome new listeners, talk a bit about my speaking speed on the podcast, mention the importance of listening to native speakers of English (even if it's a bit difficult to understand every word) and explain some of the content of the conversation you'll hear between Amber, Paul and me. Then, the speaking game begins properly. I really hope you have as much fun listening to this as we did recording it, because we really enjoyed ourselves! In part 2 (coming soon) you'll hear the conclusion of the game and I'll explain how I use this activity with my students in my English classes. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-59z

'Peeling back the onion' on management speak and corporate jargon. This episode focuses on defining and explaining the examples of language you heard at the beginning of the last episode. You'll hear Paul and me going through all the phrases and by the end you should be able to understand it all, and you could create your own version of bullsht bingo! Click here to read definitions and to print some bullst bingo cards http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5cf

Why do people in meetings at work keep talking about "thinking outside the box"? Why does my boss say we need to "get all our ducks in a row"? And why does my project manager want to "touch base with me offline"? If it's all a mystery to you, don't worry - LEP is here to decode all this weird language. If you work in an office in an English-speaking country I'm sure you'll have heard of 'corporate jargon' or 'management speak'. This is one of the things that people complain about the most, in offices all around the UK. It seems that managers, bosses, project managers, corporate leaders all speak a strange version of English full of bizarre idioms, over-complicated metaphors and unnecessarily big words. But what is 'management speak', why do people use it, and why do people find it so annoying? In this episode I'm joined by former Apple employee Paul Taylor as we 'peel back the onion' and decode the phenomenon of management speak. Listen to find out all the details and to learn some management speak in the process. Click here for transcripts and notes http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5aE

In this episode I'm going to talk about: lessons we can learn from the story, a few fun facts, the 2015 predictions, how the DeLorean works, theories about time travel and some temporal paradoxes in the story. So strap in, let's go back to the future again. Click here for a transcript & more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5bi #backtothefuture #timetravel #2015predictions

Hello listeners, welcome to Luke's Film Club, this is one of those episodes of Luke's English podcast in which we focus on a classic moment from the movies. This one is an episode about Back to the Future, which is one of my all time favourite films and I'm not alone because it's one of the most popular films of the last few decades, all over the world. It's a really entertaining and fun film, which also contains some sub-texts related to the complexities of time travel as well as a few visions of the future. Also, in the film's sequel, the main characters Marty McFly and Doc Brown end up travelling into the future - and to what date? October 21, 2015. That's today (when recording this). So it seems to be the perfect moment to do an episode of Luke's Film Club, devoted to this modern classic. This is basically international Back to the Future day, and there's only one! So, this has to be the day on which I record this episode. This episode mainly deals with the plot of the 3 Back To The Future films. The next episode will deal with other stuff like future predictions, time travel and technical details of the DeLorean. Click here for a transcript: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-5at

This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Battle of Britain, and since this is such a pivotal moment in British history, I thought it would be appropriate to cover it in some way in an episode of this podcast. Also, I was asked recently by a listener in the comments section of my website to talk about the story of the Battle of Britain, specifically the role of one particular group of Polish pilots known as Squadron #303. So, here it is - the story of one of the most important moments in modern British history - The Battle of Britain, and the contribution made by a small group of pilots from Poland. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-528

Hi, this is the second part of a two part episode in which I'm telling you a few things about recent trending news stories, some anecdotes and other things that are in my head at the moment. There's no specific language focus this time. Instead I'm focusing on general cultural information. Last time I talked about David Cameron and the pig, a story of a bad gig, and who the hell is Ronnie Pickering? In this one I'm going to ramble on about a bad trip to the dentist, some rising excitement about the new Star Wars film, Adam Buxton's new podcast, some music that has been bouncing around inside my head, some news about a new jingle which is in the pipeline and how I want to hunt Jarvis Cocker for my podcast but I don't know how to do it! If you don't really understand those things, then listen on! All will be explained! All you have to do is listen. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-59J

In this episode I'm going to have a bit of a ramble about some stuff that's in the news at the moment and a few other things that have come into my brain. I'm not going to teach you anything specific in this one, no language anyway - just some bits and pieces about modern day British life. So generally I'm just going to keep you company for a while and talk to you one to one for the duration of the episode. Just you and me, and perhaps a bus load of commuters. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-59H

Welcome back to this landmark episode of the podcast. In this one we're going to carry on listening to messages from guests I've featured on the podcast over the years, then we'll hear messages from some extra-special celebrity fans, as well as some of imitations of me sent in by lepsters. Click here for more information and to make a donation http://wp.me/p4IuUx-58u

Here it is - Episode 300. This is quite a landmark episode for me. I've been doing the podcast for 6.5 years now, and I've uploaded about 300 hours of content for you to listen to. In this episode I talk about the significance of the number 300 in history, and then we take a trip down memory lane and hear messages from people I've spoken to on this podcast over the years. Click here for more information and to make a donation http://wp.me/p4IuUx-57C

Welcome back to this special double episode in which we are planning a bank robbery as part of a communication game. I strongly recommend that you listen to the previous episode because it will help to make this one much easier to understand. In part 1 I explained the rules of this communication game, which involves a team coming up with a plan to rob a bank. I gave you all the key information which the team has to share, I clarified some useful language that you'll hear and then we listened to the first part of the bank robbery meeting, with our team of Amber, Paul and Sebastian. In this episode you're going to hear the rest of the meeting, and then we'll find out exactly what happens to them, and the full solution to the whole puzzle. Click here for lots of information and transcripts http://wp.me/p4IuUx-57f

In this episode you’re going to hear a group of my friends do a communication game in which they have to plan a bank robbery. We’ll listen to the whole meeting, hear their plan come together and then find out what happens in their version of the robbery. We’ll also consider some of the language used in the planning process. If it makes it more exciting, let me tell you that the stakes are very high in this episode – the team could get away with about £200 million in gold, cash and diamonds, or die trying. This is the bank robbery episode. As ever, you can leave your comments on the page for this episode and read transcripts and more http://wp.me/p4IuUx-575

On the podcast today I'm talking to Jessica Beck who has been working in English language teaching for over 10 years. She is an instructor, a teacher trainer and an author of 14 textbooks for learning English. You may also know Jessica from her work on the IELTS Energy Podcast (www.ielts.allearsenglish.com), which is part of the All Ears English. I talked to Gabby and Lindsay from AEE on LEP last year about culture shock, remember that? Well, Jessica is part of the All Ears English team, and is known there as the "Examiner of Excellence". So, she knows a lot about the IELTS test, and he's got some good advice for any of my listeners who plan to take the test, including how you can improve your speaking score if you have a good sense of humour. If you're not planning to take the test, these skills can also be applied to your use of English in general life too. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-54f

This episode features a conversation with my friend Paul Taylor, who you already know from previous episodes of LEP. Paul is back from the Edinburgh fringe, where he was performing for the whole of August in a comedy show, and a couple of days ago he came over to the flat for a cup of tea and a bit of a chat. We started talking about the Edinburgh fringe and how it went for him. It was his first time and I think he found it very challenging because the audiences were hard to please, apparently they had some tough shows where nobody laughed, and he realised that the standard of stand-up comedy in the UK is much higher than he expected, but it was a learning experience. Then we ended up talking about the similarity between learning how to do stand-up comedy and learning a language. During the conversation I quickly decided to record our thoughts so that I could make it into an episode of my podcast. We wrote down a few brief ideas and then went upstairs to start recording. You can now listen to that conversation here in full. Also, listen to the end to hear some funny out-takes from this episode. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-53R #language #learning #english #comedy #Edinburgh #fringe

Hi and welcome back to LEP. This is episode 295, and it will be the final part of this 8-part series which is inspired by my trip to the west coast of the US recently. I'm going to talk about the final part of our journey from San Francisco, down the coast via Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo and back to LA. I'll also talk some more about customer service and give you some tips on how to make complaints in English and how to talk to strangers in slightly sensitive situations, like when you want a person sitting behind you to stop talking because you can't sleep. You can expect to hear those things and more in this episode. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-53v

Hello listeners and welcome back. This is part 7 in this series which is based on my recent trip to California. I didn't expect this to be a 7-part series, but it just keeps going because I've found more and more things to talk to you about! It's like the podcast episode that refuses to die, it keeps coming back for more! It's like the Lambton Worm or something - just when I think I've finished it off, it gets longer! I think this will be the last episode, but who knows. Time seems to shrink when I'm recording episodes of this podcast. An hour seems to disappear in just a few minutes because I get really involved in what I'm saying. I wonder if it's the same experience for you. I hope so. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-53o

Welcome to episode 293, which is in fact part 6 in this mini series based around my recent trip to California. There's still a lot to talk about, and in this episode I'll tell you about our time spent in San Francisco and that's going to include these things - my interview with AJ Hoge the well-known online English teacher, more British and American English, earthquakes, a short biography of Robin Williams, a history of the peace & love movement in San Francisco, more descriptions of our trip down the west coast of California, and some more tips about how to talk to waiters and customer service staff. It seems pretty obvious to me that that is too much for one episode, so I think there will probably be a part 7 to this series, and after that we'll return to normal podcasting and English teaching, with perhaps some more UK oriented topics in future episodes, and more episodes featuring authentic unscripted conversations with my friends Amber and Paul. Click here to visit the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-53e

Hi listeners, I hope all's well. Here's part 5 in this series which I'm doing about my California road trip. In this episode I'm hoping to talk about these things: TThe Church of Scientology, Yosemite National Park and our slightly dramatic adventure there, more British and American English, and if time I'll talk to you about San Francisco, where among other things I met and interviewed AJ Hoge. So let's get started. [In fact I only managed to talk about Scientology and the Yosemite experience - British & American English, and AJ Hoge will be in the next episode]. Click here for more information and a transcript http://wp.me/p4IuUx-52G

Hi everyone, here's part 4 in this road trip mini-series. How are you? Are you keeping up with all these new episodes? I suppose if you're listening to this it means you are keeping up, but don't feel rushed. Take your time, listen to them at your leisure, in your own time and at your own speed. I hope you're finding this series interesting. In this one I'm planning to cover these things: Hollywood Boulevard and celebrity culture, an analysis of the mysterious lyrics to Hotel California by The Eagles, a visit to the extremely wealthy area of Beverley Hills and some more differences between American and British English vocabulary. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-52w

This is part 3 in what could turn out to be quite a long series about my recent trip around California. In this episode I'm hoping to talk about Venice Beach, Baywatch, Segways, the grammar of telling stories and anecdotes in English, some facts about the Hollywood sign, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and British & American English vocabulary related to driving. That's a lot of subjects to cover, so let's get started right away! Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-520

Here's the next part of my description of my recent trip around California. This is a description of my honeymoon, but I'm also going to tell you about the cultural, geographical and historical context of the places we went to, and I'll give you some practical tips and teach you some British and American English too. This is part 2 of the California series. Let's carry on. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2015/08/26/289-california-road-trip-part-2/

This is a sort of diary or report of what happened on my honeymoon in California, but it's not just a description of a honeymoon. It's more than that, because not only am I going to tell you a few stories about what happened and what we did, but I'll also explain a bit of cultural and historical information, as well as give you some practical tips, including ways of communicating effectively in various situations. Click here for the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4U7

a.k.a "Vocabulary Game with Amber & Paul" or "Fifteen Fixed Expressions" (less exciting titles) Learn more English expressions in this episode by listening to another vocabulary game with Amber Minogue and Paul Taylor. Click here to visit the page for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4VL

Hi everyone, how are you? As you know I got married a couple of weeks ago (applause & congratulations) and in this episode I'm going to tell you about my wedding day, including the preparation, the thoughts, the feelings, the emotions, and what happened on the day itself. I'm planning another episode in the future about the vocabulary of weddings. Click here to visit the page for this episode on my website: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4Je

The next episode of LEP is here at last, after a one month absence. In this episode I'm joined again by Paul Taylor as we play another vocabulary game. Can you beat Paul, a native speaker of English, in this vocabulary guessing game? Listen to find out. Click here to visit the page for this episode: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4Vd

Hi listeners, in this episode I go through some more of the questions sent to me by readers of Tea4er.ru. All the questions and most of my answers are added on the page for this episode, so you can read and listen at the same time if you want to. Access the page here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4yU

Listen to Paul and me play a guessing game involving ten fixed expressions. Can you beat Paul Taylor in this game in which you have to identify the expression being described by Luke? Listen and leave your comments here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4vS

You can listen to an article about LEP and some Q&A from readers of Tea4er.ru all read out by Luke in this episode. Click here to read a transcript http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4yP

Do you ever listen to songs and completely mishear the lyrics? I do it all the time. In fact, everybody does! Let's listen to some song extracts in which the lyrics don't quite sound as the singer intended. Click here for the page for this episode http://teacherluke.co.uk/2015/06/17/281-misheard-lyrics/

What are the most common superstitions in the UK? What are the origins of these superstitions? Why do we believe these things? Are there any particular phrases in our language that relate to these superstitions? Listen to the episode to find out more and click here for a transcript: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-28K

Welcome back to part 3 of this short series. In parts 1 and 2 we got to know my guest a bit, and talked about Northern Ireland. Now in part 3 we are going to have a good listen to Marcus's Northern Irish accent, compare the way he and I speak, and also learn a few common phrases and slang from Northern Ireland. Enjoy! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4hx

In part 1 of this episode we met Marcus Keeley. In part 2 we are going to talk specifically about Northern Ireland, its culture, the atmosphere there and things you can do if you visit as a tourist. There will be a part 3 of this conversation, which will focus on the accents and dialects in Northern Ireland. Click here for more details http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4hk

This episode is the first part of a conversation I had recently with a friend from Northern Ireland. It's the first time I've had someone from that part of the UK before so it's a chance to get to know him, his country and the accents you find there. In this one we get to know Marcus and give you a chance to hear his accent. There will be two more parts to this episode. Enjoy! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-4df

Please click here to take my survey. It'll just take you a couple of minutes and I don't need your name or email address. Thanks! Link here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-48e

In this episode I'm responding to more questions from my listeners. These are all questions that found their way to me via the discussion forum or as comments or emails. This one is Q&A Session #5. Click here to read all the questions and some transcripts of my answers http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3XU To download a free audiobook go to http://www.audibletrial.com/teacherluke

100 episodes ago I recorded The Phrasal Verb Chronicles #1 - remember that? The point of that episode was to improvise a made-up story as a way of reviewing the first 50 phrasal verbs from my other podcast which is called A Phrasal Verb A Day. I had to just come up with a random story, and add in a load of phrasal verbs. Your task was to try and spot the phrasal verbs as I used them, while also following the story. It's time to do it again because I've done over 100 episodes of A Phrasal Verb A Day. So now, in this episode I'm going to attempt to improvise another story using phrasal verbs #51-100. Click here for the full list of phrasal verbs, with their mini podcast episodes from "A Phrasal Verb a Day" http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3Ue

In this episode I'm going to respond to questions that my listeners have asked me in the teacherluke.co.uk discussion forum. I'll also deal with some other questions I've received from listeners in different ways, either on Facebook, twitter, email or as comments posted on my website. This is the 4th time I've done a Q&A session on the podcast like this, and I plan to do more! To send me your questions and to read a transcript for this episode, click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3oL

(Longest title ever?) In the last episode, Amber, Paul and I talked about giving compliments, sharing bad news, and generally saying negative things in a careful and diplomatic way. We then did a couple of role play improvisations to help you notice specific language. In this episode we continue with the improvisations and some language feedback. You can see some samples of the language used in those improvisations by clicking here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3uQ Enjoy!

In this episode we're going to look at how to deal with sensitive situations in English, and that includes ways of delivering bad news or saying negative things. We're going to consider ways of using language carefully in order to avoid upsetting people or making them angry. You'll hear a discussion on this topic between Amber, Paul and me and then a few role plays in which we have to deal with some sensitive situations. Watch out for the specific language that we use. Click here for all the details on teacherluke.co.uk http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3s9

Today I'm joined by my mates Paul Taylor and Amber Minogue, both of whom have been on the podcast before. Let's catch up with them and see what they've been doing. Listen to the episode to hear a completely unscripted and authentic chat between 3 native speakers from England, as we talk about having babies, pedestrian crossings, having ginger hair, the difficulties of being English in the sunshine, and some of our favourite TV shows and films. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.co.uk/2015/05/17/catching-up-with-amber-and-paul/

This is a summary of the results of the UK's general election which took place on May 7. What happened? Who won? What were the main events? What does this mean for the future of the UK over the next 5 years? To read a script and for more information click here to visit the page on the website for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3P0

Welcome back to Part 2 of this episode which is all about the UK general election which is taking place in a couple of days on Thursday 7 May 2015. In this part we'll hear statements by 7 leaders from 7 of the main parties in this election, we'll consider exactly what they said, understand some of the vocabulary and key issues, and then look at the possible outcomes and predictions for the result of the election. Click here for a transcript and more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3GN

This podcast contains everything you should know about the general election which is happening across the UK this Thursday 7 May 2015. To read a transcript click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3FA

This episode is mainly about the recent earthquake in Nepal. Please consider donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee at www.dec.org.uk I'm also going to mention a couple of other news stories that are worth talking about, including the UK's general election which is happening at the end of next week, and the fact that Kate Middleton has just given birth to a baby girl. It's all over the internet and on TV now - but how important is it really, considering so many people's lives are in jeopardy in Nepal at the moment? https://teacherluke.co.uk/2015/05/02/267-earthquake-in-nepal-other-news/

This is the third and final episode in this series on jokes. In this one we're going to consider the psychology of puns, hear an old tape recording of my brother and me telling jokes when we were children, and you'll also get lots more gags and their explanations. Click here for a transcript and to download http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3t3

In this one we're going to look at some typical joke structures, consider what makes a joke funny, and then I'm going to tell you lots of jokes and explain the vocabulary you need to understand them. Click here to read a transcript and to download the episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3rs

Everything you need to know about when, why and how to tell jokes in English. We'll look at the cultural and linguistic considerations that relate to telling jokes in social settings. Also, you'll hear a few jokes in the process! For a transcript and to download the episode click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3qZ

LEP is back! You might be wondering where I've been, or what's going on at LEP headquarters. In this episode I'm going to explain my absence, fill you in on what's going on at the moment, and also talk a bit about what's coming up in the future. The language focus is on ways of talking about the past, present and future. Click here for notes, transcriptions and to download the episode: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-3jx

Welcome back to part 2 of this episode in which we are exploring the subject of Britishness. In this one we are looking at how the Brits define and understand their own national identity. For a transcription and to download click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2SX Image: Gene Bible http://www.genebible.co.uk

In this episode I'm going to explore the notion of "Britishness", including the stereotypes, the reality and the complexity of defining Britishness, or any other national identity. For a transcription and to download click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2Ey Image: Gene Bible http://www.genebible.co.uk

Some feedback on poems written by LEPsters in response to episode 258, and then a film review of Kingsman: The Secret Service - a new spy film set in the UK. For more details click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2JX

This episode is devoted to the memory of my Grandfather Dennis, who died at the end of December last year. For more information and a transcript of this episode click here: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2015/02/24/259-eulogy-for-dennis/

This is a very short podcast episode because I don't have much time, but I just wanted to say a very sincere THANK YOU to everyone who voted for me in the 2014 Macmillan Love English Awards. I've written a poem to express my gratitude. Listen to the episode to hear it. Why not write your own poem in the comment section of my website? Click here to visit the relevant page: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2JN You'll also hear a short extract from an interview with Eminem in this episode.

This improvised and unscripted episode has no specific agenda or language focus, but contains some news, some philosophical conundrums, a few film reviews as well as the usual spoken English and natural phrases. The overall theme which emerged during the recording was that of being positive and making the most of what you've got. Click here to visit the page for this episode: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2DH

This is an episode all about the benefits of reading books and listening to audiobooks in English. It contains lots of advice for using books for improving your English, and several lists of recommended books too. Also, claim your free audiobook from Audible.com - click here for details: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2lr Claim your free audiobook here: http://www.audible.com/t1/30trial_at?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R

My response to the film Taken 3, plus 12 expressions which use the word 'take'. Click here for vocabulary notes and more: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2tb #Taken3 #film #english #tefl

In this one I’m going to go through all parts of the IELTS test, giving you some tips and general advice. I’m recording this because it is one of the most commonly requested episodes. People are always asking me to do episodes about IELTS and I have never done one until now. So here it is, the eagerly awaited IELTS episode. Loads of people around the world take the IELTS test to get a grade of their English. More and more it is becoming the world’s #1 test of English level. It is a notoriously tough test which challenges many people aroudn the world every day, so what wisdom can I impart to my loyal LEPsters who are hoping to prove themselves in the IELTS challenge? Well, quite a lot I hope. Click here for a transcript, links and more http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2k6

Chatting and rapping with Jason R. Levine aka Fluency MC! Click here for more information including YouTube videos and lyrics of our rapping http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2bD I'm feeling pretty excited today because I've got a bit of a celebrity on the podcast. Jason R. Levine, also known as Fluency MC is something of a legend in the world of online English language teaching. He's become pretty well known on YouTube in particular for his videos in which he uses hip hop to bring a fresh approach to teaching English. Jason raps his English lessons, and many of those raps have become YouTube sensations - for example "Stick stuck stuck" the past participle rap (over 2.5million views on Youtube), and the present perfect rap which is a full on explanation of the grammar rules for the present perfect tense, delivered in rhyme. But, Jason is not only a teacher who raps - a look at Jason's CV shows that he is involved in a number of very interesting English teaching projects - he leads workshops, has published material and is an English specialist for the US department of State - which makes him sound like a government agent, and he has a very interesting academic and personal background which has led him to take this fresh new approach to language teaching. On the musical side, Jason raps but he also plays the drums like me, and he DJs and produces his own tunes. There's so much to ask him and so much to talk about, and hopefully Jason will do some rapping on Luke's English Podcast too, and who knows - I might even get involved in that as well. You can look forward to all of it in this episode. (In fact, if you listen to the whole episode you will hear both Jason and me rapping on some of my brother's music). #hiphop #rap #rapping #rhyme #english #tefl #learning #teaching

Welcome to Luke's English Podcast and this special series, called Marooned With My Music. My castaway today is my brother James Thompson. Click here for a song list and more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2ip

The podcast has been nominated in the Macmillan Dictionary Award and the voting is now open here http://www.macmillandictionary.com/love-english-awards/voting-blog-2014.html This episode is a chance for me to say "HI" to any new visitors to my website, and to tell you 16 things that you should know about LEP. For more info click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2lh

Welcome to Luke's English Podcast and this special series, called Marooned With My Music. My castaway today is my Mum, Gill Thompson. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2im

This episode is just a chance for me to talk to you about these things: - Yesterday's violent attack at the Charlie Hebdo magazine office in Paris - New LEP merchandise - Messages from Listeners at podcastreply@gmail.com For more info click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2jF To buy LEP merchandise, visit the LEP shop here: http://www.cafepress.co.uk/teacherluke

"Marooned with my Music" is an interview concept based on a popular and long-running BBC Radio programme called "Desert Island Discs". In that BBC programme, celebrities and noteworthy people are invited onto the show for an interview. They imagine that they have been stranded on a remote desert island and are only allowed to take certain items with them, namely: 8 pieces of music, one book and one luxury item. During the programme, the interviewee is asked about their life and their musical choices. Desert Island Discs remains one of the BBC's most beloved radio programmes and has been broadcast on the radio for many years. In my version, "Marooned with my Music" I have decided to interview members of my family: My Dad, my Mum and my Brother. Click here for more information and song titles: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2ha

This episode is an attempt to understand The USA in more detail, getting beyond the made-up version that we see in movies and on TV in order to get a proper understanding of the country, its culture and its people. I'm joined by an American friend of mine called Sebastian Marx, and during our conversation we go through most of the main events in the history of the USA and discuss some of the most important principles in the story of the country. The ultimate aim: to understand The United States of America. For more information click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1ZX

Listen to some stand-up comedy and true stories about flying experiences, learn some vocabulary and consider what makes these comedy routines funny. For transcripts and videos, click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2dE

This is just a chance to wish you all a Merry Christmas and to give you a bit of news. There is a video for this episode, featuring 15 minutes of extra footage which I filmed before recording the audio part. You can watch it by going to teacherluke.co.uk here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2eA

This episode is all about urban myths. Get your thinking hat on because it's time to evaluate a few stories and beliefs and decide if they are based in reality or if they're just the product of an overactive imagination, or rumours, or just plain old fashioned bullcr*p! I will also teach you some very useful language connected to expressing if you think something is true or not. For vocabulary notes, transcriptions and much more, click here to visit the page for this episode on teacherluke.co.uk - http://wp.me/p4IuUx-28t

Hello and welcome to another episode of Luke's English Podcast! In this episode I'm going to interview my friend Mike Bruce about his recent teaching experience in Ghana in West Africa. Mike is an old friend and colleague of mine, he's originally from Scotland, although he doesn't have a particularly strong accent, and he has lived and worked in places all over the world. I've known him for about 13 years and he was one of the first people I ever worked with as a language teacher in Japan. Mike has an amazing CV. He's taught in lots of countries around the world. He's very highly qualified, and as well as teaching students of English as a second language he also teaches teachers how to teach. So, he's pretty much a Jedi Master of English teaching in my opinion. Mike recently came back from a teaching mission in Ghana, and judging by the Facebook photos and statuses, it was quite an epic experience for him. I thought it would be interesting to talk to him about it on Luke's English Podcast. My aim for this interview is to have a bit of a chat with Mike, just a bit of a chat, introduce him to the LEPsters? LEPans? LEPians?LEPenese? LEPlanders? LEPish? LEPaholics? and then find out about his African teaching experience. Click here to visit the page on teacherluke.co.uk for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2c2

This is a slightly rambling and unprepared episode which I made up as I went along, and in the end I talked about a page I found on MatadorNetwork.com called "11 Idioms Only Brits Understand". I don't think that these are exclusively used by Brits, but nevertheless they are some pretty commonly used idioms, so I decided to talk to you about them in this episode. After that I ended up clicking on a few random YouTube videos, playing around with the cockney accent and listening to some music. Enjoy! Click here for the full list and more http://wp.me/p4IuUx-28w

"Luke's Film Club" continues with one of my all-time favourites: Star Wars! In this episode I'm going to ramble on about the Star Wars franchise, including the original trilogy (episodes 4-6), the prequel trilogy (episodes 1-3) and the upcoming new trilogy (episodes 7-9). If you're a Star Wars fan, this one's for you! If you don't like Star Wars, I hope this episode will give you some idea of why people are so crazy about these movies. Click here to visit this page on teacherluke.co.uk http://wp.me/p4IuUx-2ba

In this episode we're going to look at the way politicians deal with tough and challenging questions from TV and radio interviewers. We'll listen to some examples of politicians avoiding questions in interviews and examine some of the ways they get themselves out of tight situations while also promoting their ideas. For a transcript and more details, click here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-tK

In the last episode I attempted to explain ways that prepositions are used in English, and I failed because I wasn't prepared. I managed to get across the idea that prepositions are complicated because they're used in combination with other words, and that you have to remember vocabulary in 'chunks' but the idea was also to present you with some useful lists of preposition collocations. This time around I've done some more preparation. I've spent a bit more time on it and so for round 2 I think we should get a proper grip on the subject, while also having some fun noticing prepositions in an improvised story. Click here for a list of the collocations in this episode, and more http://wp.me/p4IuUx-29v

In this episode I decided to teach you about prepositions! Yes! Everyone's favourite words in English! (Sarcasm - most learners find them frustrating and confusing) However, the episode didn't quite go as planned and I didn't manage to deal with the subject as I had intended. Nevertheless, this episode contains some comments and information about prepositions, which works as an introduction to other episodes on the subject. Listen to this one before you listen episode 240, which deals with the subject in more depth. Click the link for all the necessary notes and comments http://wp.me/p4IuUx-29l

Here are more of my favourite podcasts that I love to listen to every day when I am out and about. For all the relevant links and information visit teacherluke.co.uk by clicking here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-22D

As well as making podcasts of my own, I love to listen to podcasts made by other people. In fact, I think podcasting is one of the coolest mediums around these days, and there are so many great things to listen to in English. This episode is about other people's podcasts that I enjoy and that I'd like to share with you. For more detailed information click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Yg

Here's the final part in the series about British colloquial language. Please be aware that this episode contains some rude language and explicit content. Click here for the list of words in this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-24z

My brother Jim Thompson has been making music on an Akai MPC2000 for a few years now, and he has finally released an album of tracks on bandcamp (click here to listen or download his music http://jt2000.bandcamp.com/releases). In this episode I spoked to my bro about his influences, his inspiration and the creative process of making music from an idea to a finished track. For more info click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Xi

My conversation with the overall YEP competition winner, Edgar Hernandez, aka "Bono Chimp" :) http://wp.me/p4IuUx-25z

More runners up from the YEP competition. Enjoy! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-25v

Interviews with runners up from the YEP competition. http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/11/06/231-yep-runners-up-part-1/

This episode is based on a TEDx presentation by Chris Lonsdale, who claims that any normal adult can learn a language within 6 months. Is that really possible? How method of learning does Chris propose? How does this relate to listening to Luke's English Podcast? You can see the video of Chris Lonsdale's talk, with a transcript by clicking here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-22i

This is the second in a 2-part series all about zombies. In part 1 I talked about the zombie in popular culture, analysis of the zombie as a metaphor and then some rules for surviving the zombie apocalypse. In episode 2 I'm going to take a couple of zombie survival quizzes and then do a language focus on conditionals. Click here for more information and links http://wp.me/p4IuUx-24e

This episode is all about zombies - the undead, flesh eaters, walkers, biters, the infected.

Click here for a transcript and other links http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Su

whatever you want to call them, zombies have become an indelible part of our popular culture now. There are zombies in the cinemas, zombies on TV in shows like AMC's The Walking Dead, zombies in computer games, zombies online, even zombie walks in which people get together in large groups in order to dress up like zombies and walk around going "uhhhhh". We're pretty obsessed by zombies, and I am too. I love zombies and zombie films. Maybe that makes me some kind of sick and twisted individual, but I'm not alone. In fact, I think that zombies are perhaps as popular and present in our culture as vampires and ghosts. But, what is some of the history behind the zombie phenomenon? Where do they come from? What do they want? Why are we obsessed by zombies? How can you survive if zombies really attack? And, how do we talk about zombies in English? That's the focus of this extra-special and extra-creepy episode of Luke's English Podcast. In the first part we're going to examine the zombie as a popular cultural phenomenon, then in the second part I'm going to test my survival skills by taking a zombie survival quiz. You can join me as I make various decisions that will affect my chances of surviving the zombie apocalypse. In the next episode we're going to consider some conditional structures. That's 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and mixed conditionals. #zombies #learning #english #podcast

This is one of those episodes in which I set myself a 30 minute challenge. Can I talk for 30 minutes without pausing or repeating myself, and with absolutely nothing prepared in advance? Listen to the episode to find out. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-22X #sausages #applewatch #barcodes #cheese #pizza #religion #humour #english #listening #natural #nativespeaker #ramble

aka "The Boat that Rocked" or "The Drunk Episode 2". In this episode I spent the evening on a narrowboat on a canal in a part of North London known as Little Venice, with my friends Alex, Paul, Moz and Dave. Join us as we talk about life on the canal boat, the first jobs we ever had, answers to a few questions sent in by a long-term listener called Hiroshi, and explanations of various rude expressions and jokes which came up spontaneously during the conversation. Please be aware that this episode contains strong language, rude & explicit content and plenty of bad 'jokes'. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Te

This episode is all about the film "Taken" starring Liam Neeson as an ex-CIA agent who uses his 'particular set of skills' to save his daughter who is kidnapped while on a trip to Paris. I'm slightly obsessed by this film - I find it gripping and exciting, but also quite ridiculous. In this episode I'd like to play you a classic moment from this film, and then talk about how I feel about the movie as a whole. For more information, click here http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Wh

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

This episode focuses on how sentences are pronounced quickly by native speakers. This is invaluable knowledge which will help you to take your listening and your pronunciation to the next level! Click here for example sentences and more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-211

YEP Competition Results, news and some rambling about mosquitoes and TV documentaries about ghosts. For all the details click here: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-20o

Take a musical trip through Luke's hard-drive, in the middle of the night. Late one night recently, I decided to record a podcast while randomly picking some pieces of music from my hard-drive and talking to you at the same time. This is the result. Click here for lyrics and more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1YW

Here's part 2 of my conversation with "The Son of the Dragon Tamer" in which we talk about these things: - The difference “pleasshure” and “pleasure”, “bio” and “B.O.” - The importance of ‘passion’ in France - Jamie Oliver’s (fake?) cockney accent - British & American English - Corneliu’s experiences in America, his acting and his accent - Corneliu’s learning experiences with a great teacher when he was a child - The interesting course-book which Corneliu used in his English lessons - The myth of ‘the English gentleman’ - Depictions of Englishness in films - Stereotypes of Romania - Romania & Bulgaria’s entry into the EU and the media panic related to migrant workers - Vampires, Dracula and Romania Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Z0

aka "The Son of the Dragon Tamer!" or "The guy with the longest name ever on LEP". The conversation starts at 11.39 - so please skip my introduction if you like Let me tell you a bit about Corneliu. He is a film maker and comedian originally from Romania. He lives in France now where he writes, directs, produces and acts in films and television projects. Corneliu is a polyglot (he speaks Romanian, French and English), he's a movie-buff and an he's an all-round great conversationalist and therefore is the perfect guest for another episode of LEP. Click here for more information: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Yj

On 18th September the people of Scotland will vote in a referendum to decide if Scotland should remain a part of the UK or become independent. If they vote "yes" and Scotland does become independent from the UK it would cause massive changes to the way the UK is organised. It would be the biggest change in UK history for hundreds of years. It could change everything - not only the lives of the Scottish people, but also the lives of the English, the Welsh and the people of Northern Ireland. In short - this is a massive story for the UK. Let's look at the background, the arguments for & against, and the possible outcomes of independence. Click here for notes and transcriptions: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1XK

The final episode of "Your English Podcast" - Please vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight, Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WP

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight, Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WN

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight, Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WL

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight, Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WJ

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight, Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WG

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight, Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WE

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight - Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1WB

Vote for your favourite competition entry by visiting teacherluke.co.uk . Voting closes on September 30th 2014 at 12 midnight - Paris time. Click here to cast your vote for this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1V0

Conversation & language feedback with comedian Noman Hosni. Click here for a part-transcript and language feedback notes. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1W9

Part 2 of my account of my travelling experience in Indonesia. Please listen to part 1 before listening to this one. Click here for notes and transcripts http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1V5 #travel #indonesia #english #listening

I just came back from a 2 week holiday in Indonesia. Let me tell you about it in this episode. Click here for notes and transcripts http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1UH #travel #english #indonesia

This is another 'quick' podcast to let you know that I'm on holiday for a couple of weeks, and also to give you some inspiration for your entries to my competition, called "Your English Podcast". 1. I'm going on holiday so I will be away from teacherluke.co.uk for a while. This means I might not be able to respond to comments or messages, and there won't be any uploads for a while. I think you have enough new material to keep you busy until I get back, right? I'll be back in a couple of weeks. 2. Competition: I get the impression that a lot of people out there are scratching their heads, thinking "I'd like to take part in Luke's competition, but what shall I talk about?" All the details of the competition are in episode 200. Here are some questions as inspiration for you. Send your audio responses to podcastcomp@gmail.com http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Th

Hi and welcome back to this special episode of LEP in which you join me on a walk through central London. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1S4

In this episode you can listen to me walking through central London and talking to you along the way. I really enjoyed recording this episode and I think you're going to enjoy listening to it too because it'll be like you're actually there with me, strolling around some of my favourite parts of town, hearing all the sounds of London around you as we go. I think it's going to be great, but before we start I'd just like to mention a couple of things as a preface to the episode... Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1RP

Yes, my definition of 'quick' = over 20 minutes! I'm uploading lots of episodes at the moment - you'll be able to catch up with them all soon! This episode is just a quick "hello" and a chance for me to give you some information and make a couple of announcements. Click here for more information and to see a video of me recording this episode http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1SA

a.k.a. "A Cup of Tea with Peter Sidell" English teacher, travel writer, stand-up comic, learner of Japanese, DJ, native English speaker, Machester City fan and former flatmate of Luke from Luke's English Podcast - Peter Sidell is a guy who keeps himself busy! I lived with Peter in Tsujidou, Japan for nearly a year. I left at the end of 2003 and he stayed there and I hadn't seen him for about 11 years until he recently visited Paris and we got the chance to catch up with each other again. Of course I jumped at the chance to interview Peter for LEP, and you can now listen to our conversation here, now. Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Ss

[The Constitutional Peasants Scene] Here's another episode about Monty Python's Flying Circus, and in this one we're going to be covering some very interesting topics, such as medieval history, old myths legends & folklore, the British monarchy, marxism and radical politics. In terms of language we're going to look at some old fashioned formal poetic language, some political vocabulary and also some intonation and sentence stress, and we'll be doing all of that while understanding and hopefully enjoying a funny scene from a classic British comedy film. So, you really are getting everything in this episode (well, maybe not everything but you know what I mean). A lot of this is transcribed at teacherluke.co.uk. If you find this episode on the website you'll also see a video, a script for that video and more information. So let's get started. Click here for transcripts & videos http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Og

Nikolai Kulikov is an award-winning Russian screenwriter and stand-up comedian. This year he spent a couple of months living in London (and also briefly in Dublin) performing stand-up comedy. I saw one of his performances in English on video and thought he was very funny! So, I decided to contact him for an interview to find out more about him, his experiences learning English, his views on performing to British & Irish people, and how he feels about life in Russia these days. I hope you enjoy the episode! Please be aware that this episode features some rude language and swearing Click here for more information http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Kw

In this episode: Details of a new competition for you to enter, how it feels to complete 200 episodes of the podcast, jingles, a message from Alex & Paul, and more! Click here to read all the details of this competition: http://wp.me/p4IuUx-Fc

Molly and I ask each other general knowledge questions about the USA and the UK. How much do we know about each other's countries? How much do you know about the USA and the UK? Listen and find out! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1Q6

My friend Molly joins me for a cup of Japanese green tea and a bit of a chat. Molly is a graduate of journalism and is a very funny comedian and writer. First of all you'll hear me interviewing Molly about her life, her American/Mexican roots and her plans for the future, and then Molly interviews me with some random yet revealing questions. http://wp.me/p4IuUx-JE

Here is the third and final podcast in which I read out your comments from the World Cup forum thread on teacherluke.co.uk. Comments written in the forum have been corrected by me and now I am going to read them out to you. I will also respond to some of the things listeners have said. I hope you can tell when it's me giving my opinion and when it's the comments of a listener. Leave your comments below as usual! http://wp.me/p4IuUx-1PD #football #worldcup #english

Almost exactly one year ago, Ben Fisher was on the podcast telling us about his cycling trip from London to Paris. Now he's back to tell us about his latest cycling adventure. Last time he cycled a total of 484.7km. This time he more than doubled that distance cycling 1223.42km from the north coast of France all the way down to the south coast. It was a much longer and more difficult trip and he's here on the podcast to tell us all about it! Click here for links & other information http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/07/07/196-cycling-from-coast-to-coast/ #cycling #english

The series about British Comedy continues with everything you need to know about Monty Python's Flying Circus and an analysis of The (Dead) Parrot Sketch. Click here for a transcript, videos and more: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/07/04/195-british-comedy-monty-pythons-flying-circus/

Luke reads out more comments from listeners about Brazil 2014 from the World Cup Comments Thread #2 on the teacherluke.co.uk discussion forum. These are all comments which have been sent in by listeners from around the world. Click here to read all the comments https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/07/01/world-cup-2014-part-5-more-forum-comments/

[2/2] The series on culture shock continues with more explanations of some common complaints about life in London. For more information, click here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/30/193-culture-shock-life-in-london-pt-2/

[1/2] This episode is all about common complaints made by foreign students living in London. It's common to experience some level of culture shock when dealing with the realities of living in the capital city as a foreign visitor. In this episode I'll try and clarify some of the confusions and frustrations relating to every day life in London. For more information click here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/30/192-culture-shock-life-in-london-part-1/

Are you living in a foreign country, or planning to live abroad for a while? This episode will be vital listening for you! Listen for some key bits of wisdom to avoid being affected by cultural differences. In this episode I talk about 4 common phases of culture shock that anyone could experience when living in a new environment, and how to make sure you get the best out of a cross-cultural experience. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/25/191-culture-shock-the-4-stages/

In this episode I was planning to give you my 'brief History of the World Cup' but I abandoned that idea because I decided it was too boring! Instead I've decided to just play you a recorded conversation I had with my Dad about his experience at the 1966 World Cup in London. I hope you find it interesting. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/23/190-world-cup-2014-part-4-some-history/

In this episode I'm going to read out comments you've added so far on my World Cup 2014 forum. To read all the comments in this episode click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/20/189-world-cup-2014-part-3-your-comments/

In this second World Cup episode we focus on England, and then the dark side of The World Cup including the allegations of corruption and the civil unrest in Brazil. Click here for more information: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/18/188-world-cup-2014-part-2-england-the-dark-side-of-the-world-cup/

Lots of people want me to talk about the World Cup, so here we go! This is the first in a series of episodes about World Cup 2014. We start with a general look at the tournament, the groups and the teams. Consider this to be your basic guide to World Cup 2014. Click here for transcriptions and notes: http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/18/187-world-cup-2014-part-1/ ‎

This episode is all about culture shock and culture shock experiences and I'm glad to be joined by Lindsay & Gabby from the All Ears English podcast. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/16/understanding-culture-shock/ #english #learning #culture #shock

As promised, here is a description of my holiday in The Big Apple! In this episode I tell you what I did, what I saw and what it was like for me. Click here for vocabulary notes, photos and more information: http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/13/the-trip-to-new-york/

This is the second part of my account of going to Normandy to remember the brave actions of my Grandfather and other soldiers who took part in the D-Day fighting on 6 June 1944. You can also listen to me describe how it felt to meet one of my heroes, the comedian Eddie Izzard. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/10/184-lukes-d-day-diary-part-2/

Friday 6 June this year was the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. My Grandad Dennis was one of the soldiers who landed on the beach that day. Along with thousands of other men he risked his life to fight the Nazis in the 2nd World War. Many of his fellow soldiers did not survive. Last Friday I went to Caen in Northern France to take part in the D-Day commemorations and to see my comedy hero Eddie Izzard performing stand-up in 3 languages. I recorded a podcast during my trip, and some unexpected things happened! Listen to the episode to join me on my adventure. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/06/10/183-lukes-d-day-diary/

This episode is all about the relationship between language, successful communication, stand-up comedy and learning English! It features an interview with the one-and-only Yacine Belhousse, who is a professional stand-up comedian in his native language and now in English too. A year and a half ago, Yacine hardly spoke any English. Now he regularly performs in English and this year he is doing a 1 hour stand-up comedy show at the Edinburgh fringe festival. How does he do it? How does he deal with the challenges of learning English while also making people laugh in English too? Listen and find out! Click here for more information: http://wp.me/pG0VZ-JP #comedy #english #learn #learning #communication #eddieizzard #edinburgh #fringe #listening #advice #humour

Did you have trouble understanding the interview from the previous episode? Let me help by explaining some of the vocabulary for you. Listen and you'll pick up vocabulary relating to injuries, hospital and skateboarding. For a vocabulary list & more, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/181-vocabulary-expressions-from-episode-180/

Two days ago my brother fell off his skateboard and dislocated his shoulder. In this episode he tells us all about what happened. We also chat about how he still loves skateboarding after 30 years and lots of injuries. Click here for vocabulary, videos and my brother's selfie in hospital. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/05/20/180-dislocated-shoulder/

Last night I couldn't sleep, and so today my mind has turned into jelly. Let me tell you all about how it feels.

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/05/15/179-the-ramblings-of-an-exhausted-teacher/

In this episode I talk to you, in a rambling way, about diverse topics such as:

Dwayne's English Podcast
Being kidnapped by aliens from Mars
Exam fatigue
Trouble sleeping last night
English at 7.30AM!
The rotten contents of my brain!
Selling Luke's English Podcast
Saying "Hello" to you
Having a conversation with you
"The best laid plans of mice & men"
The university course I've been teaching
Sleep (high energy bit)
What are you doing?
On a bus Signalling to another person that you're a LEPer (secret codes)
Giving a wink to a stranger
On a train
Trains and lifts in movies (Bruce Willis)
THANK YOU! (Transcripts, donations, reviews)
A special hello to the NSA secret agents
Hello to Yannick
Twitter - it's what you make of it
Whatever
Normally on Luke's English Podcast
BBC meeting: Prioritising Luke's English Podcast
This really is the end
Be nice to each other ;)
Lovely to talk to you,
Goodnight

Luke

This episode is just a chance for me to say "hi" and to inform you that I'm still here and that normal podcasting will continue soon. In this episode I give you some news, and then you can listen to a conversation I had with my friend David. Enjoy! http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/178-im-still-here/

This podcast is based on an article from the trendy/hipster website "Buzzfeed". It's about some common things that Londoners say, and what they really mean. It'll not only teach you some vocabulary, but will allow you to get under the skin of London and find out some real inside knowledge of what it's like to live there for real. I'll go through the list and explain everything for you. For more information click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/177-what-londoners-say-vs-what-they-mean/‎ Article originally published on BuzzFeed here http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukelewis/what-londoners-say-vs-what-they-mean . Photo illustration by Matt Tucker, Dan Kitwood / Getty/paulprescott72/Thinkstock

This episode is all about grammar, specifically verb tenses such as: present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple, present perfect continuous, past perfect, past perfect continuous and different future forms. Part of this episode is transcribed, and part of it is spontaneous. Click here for more information and a transcript: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/176-grammar-verb-tense-review/

This is both a phrasal verb review, and a random made-up story. I decided to do this episode as a way to remind you of the first 50 phrasal verbs I've taught you in my Phrasal Verb a Day series of mini-episodes. When I've reached 100 phrasal verb episodes, I'll do another episode of The Phrasal Verb Chronicles, to help you remember #51-100. For more information, and links to the individual phrasal verb episodes, click here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/03/18/175-the-phrasal-verb-chronicles-1/

Plenty of advice on how to improve your listening, speaking, reading and writing by listening to this podcast. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/174-how-to-learn-english-with-lukes-english-podcast/

Listen to a disturbing story from English folklore about a horrendous and mysterious worm. Click here for more information http://wp.me/pG0VZ-Ap Illustration by John Dickson Batten from More English Fairy Tales. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Page_facing_202_illustration_in_More_English_Fairy_Tales.png

Listen to two comedy sketches from the 1960s, learn some popular cultural history, pick up some vocabulary and hear some posh English accents. For more information and transcripts click here http://wp.me/pG0VZ-xz (Episode page)

Click here to buy the BBC DVD "The Best of Peter Cook & Dudley Moore" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Peter-Cook-Dudley-Moore/dp/B0000AISIV

The Best of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore [DVD]

[2/2] Here's the second part of my conversation with Daniel Burt, who is a journalist, comedy writer and performer from Melbourne, Australia. Click here for more information https://teacherluke.co.uk/2014/02/21/171-a-cup-of-tea-with-daniel-burt-part-2/

I won the competition again! I got a hat-trick! Thanks for your votes. I'd like to teach you some expressions related to success and failure in this episode. In this episode I'm just going to talk about it for a little bit, but I'm not just going to bask in this moment of glory, I'm also going to present and then teach some phrases to you. The phrases are all associated with success and failure. I'll also teach you some really common things you can say to someone who has won, or lost something. For more information including vocabulary and definitions, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/02/19/170-basking-in-my-moment-of-glory/

[1/2] Daniel Burt is a journalist, comedy writer and performer from Melbourne, Australia. He writes for two big newspapers in Australia, he worked as an intern at Late Night with David Letterman, he has his own page on Wikipedia and in his work he has interviewed Matt Smith, David Tennant, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, which means he has met 2 Doctor Whos Sherlock Holmes, Dr Watson and The Hobbit! Wow. For more information click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/danielburt/

Please vote for me in the Macmillan Dictionary Awards. Voting closes at midnight GMT on 14 February - so you only have a couple of days! Click here to vote for me. http://www.macmillandictionary.com/love-english-awards/voting-blog-2013.html Thanks! If you've already voted - thanks a lot! I shut up about the competition after 9 minutes, and then just improvise, while using the words 'stuff' and 'thing' as much as possible. For more information click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/02/11/168-please-vote-and-stuff-like-that/

How to improve your memory and learn English more effectively with memory techniques & mnemonics. Click here for a full transcript and more useful information: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/167-memory-mnemonics-learning-english/

An undersea tale of identity loss, and shrimp; this is one of those rather ridiculous improvised stories which is loosely based on an old joke. This kind of episode is for listeners who just enjoy listening to some silly fun. Normal educational podcasting will be resumed in due course. Have a good day! More details here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/166-the-prawn-story/

A discussion about football with a focus on the basic things you need to know about the Premier League and being a footy fan in England. For more information click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/english-premier-league-football/ #english #football #premier #league #premiership

Join in the transcript collaboration in order to do some intensive listening, help others improve their English, and do me a little favour in return for the hard work I've been doing on the podcast over the years! ;) Here's the transcript collaboration page: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/episodes-with-transcripts/transcripts/ A transcript of this episode will be available online here soon: http://www.teacherluke.wordpress.com

A conversation with my brother James over Skype in which we catch up with each other, and recommend some of our favourite British films for you to watch. For more information, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/163-skype-chat-with-my-brother/

Transcript available below This is a follow up to the previous episode in which I interviewed my friend Amber, who is pregnant. In this episode I explain some key vocabulary to you, and discuss the issue of childbirth from a man's point of view. Click here for a transcript and more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/162-having-babies-vocabulary-a-male-perspective/

aka. "A Cup of Tea with... Amber Minogue" My friend Amber is pregnant and she's due to give birth in just a couple of weeks. In this episode, we talk about what it's like to be pregnant - the challenges, the benefits, the social changes. We also discuss the things you should and shouldn't say/do when you meet a pregnant woman. Listen and you'll find out everything you need to know about interacting with a pregnant woman. The episode contains lots of vocabulary and expressions related to being pregnant and having a baby. I've made a list of vocabulary on this subject, and I intend to record a podcast soon in which I explain all these things, so you will know all the relevant words and phrases related to pregnancy. For the vocabulary list and other notes. Click here to visit my website http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/161-shes-having-a-baby/

Everything you need to know about a typical English Christmas in one episode of the podcast. In this one, I'm joined by my mate Raphael as we chat about all things Christmas, going through a list of Chrimbo related words from A to Z. Get in the festive mood with this special yuletide edition. HO HO HO MEEEERY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!! Click here to read all the words in our Christmas A to Z. http://teacherluke.co.uk/2013/12/24/160-the-a-to-z-of-christmas/

Here is part 2 of this Christmas episode with Paul Taylor. Paul is not your typical English guy because he is fluent in several other languages. In this episode we talk about his experiences of living in different countries, share some Christmas memories, and have fun speaking in different accents. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/158-159-a-cup-of-christmas-tea-with-paul-taylor/

Paul Taylor is my guest in this Christmas episode. Paul is not your typical English guy because he can speak lots of other languages. In this episode we talk about his experiences of living in different countries, and some Christmas memories as well. Continues in part 2... Click here for more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/158-159-a-cup-of-christmas-tea-with-paul-taylor/

Here's the rest of my conversation with Sarah Donnelly. In this one we continue to answer questions from listeners and discuss a variety of topics, particularly learning languages and teaching English. For more information click this link here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/157-a-cup-of-coffee-with-sarah-donnelly-part-2/

This is the first in a series of episodes about British comedy. This one is all about Ali G. First you'll find out everything you need to know about him, then we will listen to a clip from one of his comedy shows and I will explain everything that you hear so that you can understand it to the same level as a native speaker. You'll learn plenty of slang vocab, some features of a London dialect and more vocabulary relating to the theme of education. Please be aware that there is some explicit language and content in this episode, including adult themes such as sex and drugs. Click this link for vocabulary definitions, links and to watch the video of Ali G from this episode of the podcast. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/12/12/156-british-comedy-ali-g Thanks for listening ;)

In this episode I am joined by the lovely Sarah Donnelly, as we respond to questions sent to Luke's English Podcast via the Facebook page. Sarah is an English teacher and a very funny stand-up comedian. She comes from the USA but she now lives in France. In this episode we talk about learning another language, teaching English and some cross-cultural experience. For more information and some links, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/155-a-cup-of-coffee-with-sarah-donnelly/

The series on informal British English continues here. *Caution - there is some rude language in this episode. Click the following link to read notes and definitions for all the words mentioned in this episode. Thanks for listening http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/154-british-slang-h-to-m/

Here's another improvised story, this time about a dog that can speak perfect English. For more information click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/153-the-talking-dog-story/

In this episode I give you a news update about how Luke's English Podcast is moving to a new host, www.audioboo.fm You can find the relevant details here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/152-im-leaving-podomatic-and-moving-to-audioboo-fm/

Luke answers some common auto-completed questions from Google. Hi listeners. Do you know what "Google auto-complete" is? You know when you start to google something, like maybe 'why is Luke's English Podcast so awesome?' and when you type 'why is', Google completes your question with lots of options? Those options are 'auto-completes'. It's when Google predicts your search based on frequently asked searches. Try typing "why is" into Google. It will give you some options, like "why is the sky blue?" Some auto-completes are quite fascinating, because they make you think "why are people asking these crazy questions?" or "that's a good question - what's the answer?"

Episode page: https://teacherluke.co.uk/2013/10/25/151-google-questions/

Some Google auto-completes are really deep, if you take the time to consider them. Have a look at this graphic, which was produced by xkcd http://xkcd.com/1256/ It is a montage of auto-completed questions from Google. I also posted the image on Facebook recently, herehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153357182265508&set=pb.227129545507.-2207520000.1383244673.&type=3&theater Here's a link to the Adweek.com article about women's rights I mentioned too http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/powerful-ads-use-real-google-searches-show-scope-sexism-worldwide-153235 In this episode I decided to try giving my answers to these Google auto-complete questions. You can listen to my answers in this episode, but I'm also interested in your opinions and your findings from google searches. Your task while listening to this is to Google the questions and check the results. Are my answers correct? Leave a comment below to give me your opnions. I hope you enjoy the episode. Cheers, Luke

More informal English for you to pick up in this episode as we continue the series on British slang words. Click the following link to read more information, and the list of slang words I talk about in this episode with some definitions. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/150-british-slang-d-to-g (thanks to http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml)

Hello Dear Listeners, I've been a little bit quiet recently but I'm still here. This episode is a chance to explain what's been going on recently, and to answer some of your questions and comments from Facebook and Twitter. To read more information, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/149-backing-up-into-the-cloud/

Part 1 in a series about informal British English words and expressions. Slang basically means informal language which is used among friends, and which isn't really appropriate at work or in other formal situations. This podcast is devoted to teaching you some of the most common and well-known bits of British slang. Click below for more information and to read a vocabulary list for this episode http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/148-british-slang-a-to-c/

Explanations, examples and definitions of idioms and natural expressions which you heard in the last two episodes of this double award-winning podcast for learners of English. You can read all the phrases, definitions and examples by clicking here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/09/08/147-idioms-and-expressions-from-episodes-145-146/

The continuation of this two part episode about being an English language teacher, and some of the difficult experiences that involves. A transcript is available for this episode here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/146-nightmare-teaching-experiences-part-2/

This episode is all about English teaching, some stories of bad classroom experiences and what I learned from them. A full transcript to this episode is available. You can read it by clicking this link http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/145-nightmare-teaching-experiences-part-1/

3 poems that demonstrate some difficulties with English spelling and pronunciation. To read the 3 poems that you can hear in this podcast episode click this link http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/144-the-chaos-of-english-pronunciation/

Some ironic conversation with actor, clown and comedian Robert Hoehn. Click here to a transcript to some of this episode, and more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/143-a-cup-of-tea-with-robert-hoehn/

Here is the second part of the AGM. For more information, see episode 141. To read the agenda for this episode, click the following link http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/142-the-annual-general-meeting-part-2/

You are formally invited to attend The LEP AGM (Luke's English Podcast Annual General Meeting) which will take place during the recording of this episode. CLICK HERE to read the agenda for this episode. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/141-the-annual-general-meeting-part-1/ Your donations make this podcast possible

Keep cool in the hot summer weather with some chilling stories.

TRANSCRIPT available here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/140-ghost-stories/

italki offer: http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk

Spoken offer: http://www.getspoken.com/lep

Audible: http://www.audibletrial.com/teacherluke

One Man. One Car. One Destination. Transcript now available In this episode you join me in a BMW Mini as I attempt to drive across Paris, through some of Europe's busiest streets, on a very hot July afternoon. My mission is to deliver the car to a car-park while avoiding angry Parisian drivers, pedestrians with prams, and busses full of Japanese tourists. The ultimate goal - a glass of cold beer on the terrace of a cafe, and to save the world through another episode of Luke's English Podcast, of course. Do I manage to complete my mission? And what driving-related vocabulary can you learn during this episode? Listen, and you will find out... CLICK HERE TO READ A TRANSCRIPT FOR THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.co.uk/2013/07/09/139-hard-driving/

This is the second in a 2-part series all about films. In this one, Henry and I answer listeners' questions from Facebook. See below for more details. Click here to read more information, including a list of questions from Facebook and the names of movies we mention in this episode http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/138-discussing-movies-part-2/

Henry Dean joins me for a cup of tea and a chat about movies. In this episode, I talk to Henry about his background, his university course, his writing work and his interest in film and movies in general. We also explain and discuss various items of vocabulary related to film. We'll teach you various words and phrases that you can use to talk about films with your friends. We also begin to answer questions which were sent in to us via Facebook. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/137-discussing-movies-part-1/ #comment-3723

What is the longest bike trip you've ever done? Have you ever run a marathon or walked a very long distance? In this episode, I speak to Ben Fisher, who just this weekend cycled all the way from The River Thames in London to La Seine in Paris, covering a distance of over 460km.Listen to the podcast as Ben and I discuss the trip, the challenges, the pain, the blood, the sweat, the tears and the joy of this journey by bicycle. In our discussion you will hear lots of vocabulary relating to cycling and transport in general. Click here for more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/136-clycling-from-london-to-paris/

"It's raining cats and dogs" - Do native speakers of English often use this idiom to describe heavy rain or do they use different expressions? Click here to read vocabulary notes and other information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/135-raining-animals/

This episode is all about the story of a hardcore punk rock band from London. Listen, and you'll hear an interview with the band members as they talk about how the band started, their influences, and what caused the band to end. CLICK HERE TO READ A TRANSCRIPT FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND MORE INFORMATION http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/134-the-story-of-salvo/

A look at hip-hop culture and analysis of the lyrics to a classic rap song. CLICK HERE TO READ A FULL TRANSCRIPT TO THIS EPISODE and for other useful and interesting links. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/133-hip-hop-lyric-analysis/ PEACE.

Some pronunciation, some vocabulary, some romance and a little bit of horror-movie gore in this episode. For vocabulary notes and more information, click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/132-pronouncing-ed-endings-with-added-romance-and-horror/

A conversation with my Dad, Rick Thompson. In this episode I ask my Dad various questions which were sent in by fans of Luke's English Podcast on Facebook. To visit and like the facebook page, click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lukes-English-Podcast/227129545507?ref=ts&fref=ts What do you think of my Dad's answers? Leave your comments below. For more information and a transcript, click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/131-rickipedia/

Conversation with a real American person from New York! Sebastian Marx was born in New York and went to Boston University. He is a stand-up comedian in Paris and regularly performs in English and in French. You can visit his website here http://www.sebmarx.com and find out about his comedy shows! In this episode I invited Sebastian to my flat where we had some tea and some chocolate brownies. Listen to the episode as I ask questions which were suggested by listeners from the Luke's English Podcast Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lukes-English-Podcast/227129545507 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/130-a-cup-of-tea-with-sebastian-marx/

Pierre Gaspard is a French actor and comedian who performs comedy in English. His English is really good. In this episode I invited Pierre to my flat for a cup of tea and some biscuits, and to talk to him about learning English, doing comedy and life in Canada, France and the UK. I also teach Pierre how to speak using a few British accents - including Manchester, Cockney and a kind of Scottish accent. There is SOME RUDE LANGUAGE in this episode, so watch out if you're offended easily, or if you're a teacher and you're using this in the classroom. CLICK HERE TO READ VOCABULARY NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE AND WATCH A VIDEO http://teacherluke.co.uk/2013/04/10/129-a-cup-of-tea-with-pierre-gaspard/

In this episode you can listen to 30 minutes of my stand-up comedy performance from last Friday in Paris. To watch a video of the performance, click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/795/

*I'm afraid this episode is no longer available.

To get information about my upcoming stand up shows, click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/luke/live-dates/

This episode is all about computer games or video games, from the early days of PONG, Space Invaders and Pac-Man to the multi-billion dollar industry that we have today. CLICK HERE FOR VOCABULARY AND VIDEOS RELATED TO THIS EPISODE: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/127-computer-games/

Thank you very much for your emails and comments over the last few months! I am going to reply to some of them here. CLICK HERE TO READ ALL TEXT AND NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/126-your-emails-comments-and-questions/

Listen to Luke tell you a rather bizarre story about an adventure involving a pink gorilla and a number of other characters. I recommend that you listen to the story several times as a way of enjoying and understanding it more. There is a rambling introduction, then the story begins at about 17minutes. There is a transcript available here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/125-the-pink-gorilla-story/

This episode is all about the history of James Bond. You can also learn how to speak like Sean Connery or Roger Moore :) CLICK HERE TO READ A TRANSCRIPT, DEFINITIONS AND VIDEO FOR THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/124-james-bond/

In this episode I let you know what's been happening recently and look at some recent news stories. There is a sound quality problem with this episode. It's recorded very quietly. Apologies for this. The next episode is better. Click here to read the news stories which I talk about in this episode: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/123-whats-been-going-on/

Do you believe all the theories that the world is going to end tomorrow? In this episode I discuss some of the 2012 End of the World theories and tell you what I think. We will also hear the opinion of a NASA scientist. You can read some of those theories and more information here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/122-the-end-of-the-world/

Hi listeners, and welcome back to Luke's English Podcast. This episode is the continuation of the last one which was all about Americanisms. For a full transcript and more information, click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/121-americanisms-part-2/

This one is all about Americanisms, and is a response to a list of the UK's 50 most hated Americanisms in English. For a full transcript and more information click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/120-americanisms/

How's life in Paris? Find out in this episode. There is a transcript to all of this episode. Click here to read it http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/119-first-impressions-of-life-in-paris/

In this episode I will tell you the story of how I ended up in a Japanese hospital for two weeks. To read vocabulary notes and phrases click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/118-sick-in-japan/

Listen to Luke explain the previous episode of the podcast, and how that relates to psychic readings and so-called 'Barnum statements'. CLICK HERE TO READ A FULL TRANSCRIPT AND TO WATCH SOME VIDEOS: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/117-psychics-cold-reading-barnum-statements/

Please let me know if you feel like the personality profile in this episode relates to you in particular... Welcome to episode number 116 of Luke's English Podcast. This episode features an experiment into the linguistic tricks that are used in mind reading and fortune telling. I must say at the beginning that I do not really believe that psychic powers exist. I think mind reading looks like a magic power but actually it is just a trick. This episode and the next one, are about this subject. There is a full tapescript for this episode available here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/116-could-it-be-you/ #mindreading #psychics #derrenbrown #barnum #statements #english

Listen to a chat with my brother James about music. We interview each other about our musical memories. I've written a list of some phrases and sentences that we use in the conversation. You can check them out here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/115-a-chat-about-music/

Learn 12 very common expressions by listening to this authentic and unscripted conversation. In this episode I am joined by Kate again, and her friend Mark. We teach you some natural expressions and get to know Mark a little bit. CLICK HERE TO READ THE EXPRESSIONS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/693/

What does this expression mean? Well, according to the Macmillan dictionary it means "to have a conversation with someone in which you exchange opinions on a range of subjects, especially opinions on how to solve society's problems". That's exactly what I did in this episode. Listen and you'll hear me engaging in conversation with a colleague of mine named Eamon. We went to the pub for a quick pint and ended up setting the world to rights. Eamon is a very intelligent and interesting guy and I'm sure you'll enjoy listening in on our conversation. I've decided it will help you immensely if you can read some of the phrases we use in this episode, and so I've written many of those things in a list below. You can use it to learn more vocabulary, understand the episode better, and generally become a more wonderful human being in the process. You're welcome! CLICK HERE TO READ THE LIST OF EXPRESSIONS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/09/27/113-setting-the-world-to-rights/

Refresh your vocabulary from the first eleven episodes of Luke's English Podcast. Everyone knows it's vital to review vocabulary you have learned. If you don't review it then you're likely to forget it! So, in this episode I will help you to remember some of the expressions I taught you in the early days of Luke's English Podcast. Of course, we will be doing this in a natrual way by demonstrating the way these expressions can be used in an authentic and unscripted conversation. All you have to do is notice the expressions, remember them and then try and pick them up yourself. TO READ MORE, INCLUDING VOCABULARY NOTES AND DEFINITIONS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/vocabulary-review-episodes-1-11/

I'm joined by Alex, Paul and Moz as we have a few drinks and talk general nonsense. Enjoy! CLICK HERE TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/friday-night-banter-aka-the-slightly-drunk-episode/

Hello! In this episode I give you some latest news and talk about these things: The London Olympics, My holiday in Barcelona, The BESIG Presentation award, A recent comedy gig I did, My kitchen, Learning French and The new Batman movie. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SEE THE VIDEO OF MY BESIG PRESENTATION Your donations make this podcast possible. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2012/08/06/in-bed-with-luke/

Improve your understanding of different accents and voices in English. In this episode I am joined by my friend Kate and we play around and speak in lots of different accents and voices. Click here to read more information about this episode. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/messing-around-with-accents-and-voices/

Part 3 of the Brighton Trilogy. In this episode I ask Paul, Alex and Moz some very stupid questions, with some revealing results. Listen to the previous two episodes to find out more about The Brighton Fringe and my comedy counterparts. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/brighton-fringe-festival-3/

The second podcast from the Brighton Fringe 2012. CLICK HERE TO READ NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/06/17/brighton-fringe-festival-2/

Hello Listeners! This is the first of three podcast episodes recorded with comedians Alex Love, Paul Langton and Moz at the Brighton Fringe Festival last month. In this episode I introduce Alex, Paul and Moz and we discuss a number of topics including: British accents, experiences in foreign countries, comedy shows and a mysterious character called Luke Johnson. Listen to the episode to find out more, and please feel free to leave comments and questions below. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/brighton-fringe-festival-1/

Opinions, facts and gossip about The Royal Family, as The Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee this weekend. Listen to Luke have a conversation with English Robot 4000 about The Royal Family, including some surprising rumours about Prince Harry (lsten to find out more). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND TO WATCH A COUPLE OF VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/06/04/the-queen-and-the-royal-family/ Thanks for listening, and remember your donations make this podcast possible. Luke

Hi, I've got loads of things to tell you. So, in this episode you will hear about: -Competition results and winners (woo) -See below for the winner and 2 runners up. -New website information www.teacherluke.wordpress.com (check it out) -News about me moving to Paris for a while (ooh la la) -News about the Queen's Jubilee and other things happening in London (it's an exciting time) -A new comedian/musician who I recently discovered (see the video below) CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION Thanks for donations. They make this podcast possible. https://teacherluke.co.uk/2012/05/30/competition-winners/

This is your 100% guide to how to go to the pub in the UK. In this episode you'll learn everything you need to know about going to the pub in English. CLICK HERE TO FOR NOTES AND VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/going-to-the-pub/

Why is it called The Rotary Sushi Bar of English? Listen to the whole episode to find out. To read notes for this episode, click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/the-rotary-sushi-bar-of-english/ Your donations make this podcast possible.

We continue our discussion of various 'vs battles' in this episode. Listen, and add your comments below! CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME VOCABULARY NOTES AND VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/luke-vs-oliver-part-2/

Listen to Luke and Oli as they discuss a variety of different topics, ideas, themes and people. The idea behind this episode is to compare and contrast different pairs of things, not only to decide which is the best, but also to explore them in great depth. CLICK HERE FOR VOCABULARY NOTES AND VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/luke-vs-oliver-part-1/

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS FOR YOUR VOTES EVERYONE. Hi there. I forgot to add this competition entry to the last episode, so please listen to it and if you like it, vote! http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/competition-entries/ This entry is from Vagner in Brazil.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS FOR YOUR VOTES EVERYONE. To read more about this episode, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/competition-entries/

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED. To read more about this episode, click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/competition-entries/

This episode is all about cultural differences. I talk to my brother James and our friend Aaron about customs, culture and behaviour from around the world and discuss the question: Is it weird, or is it just different? CLICK HERE TO READ A TRANSCRIPT AND VOCABULARY NOTES https://teacherluke.co.uk/2012/04/11/weird-or-just-different/

This is probably the most random episode of the podcast so far, and certainly the longest. It's about the same length as a football match, in fact, why not listen to this while watching an actual football match. It might make it more interesting. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE NOTES AND A LIST OF THE A-Z WORDS I MENTION http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/the-a-to-z-of-random-thoughts/

Enter the competition to win the phrasal verbs dictionary. Details of the competition below. I also teach you loads of useful phrasal verbs that begin with the letters A, B and C. CLICK HERE TO READ VOCABULARY NOTES, DEFINITIONS AND MORE INFORMATION! :) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/04/10/competition-phrasal-verbs-a-b-c/

A vocabulary episode in which I explain all the actions in a normal day. I got an email today from a woman in Russia. She said it can be easy to talk about big topics like politics but what's hard is explaining simple actions in detail. So I'm going to describe a typical day in my life, in great detail. This episode features a lot of specific vocabulary. Click here to read this vocabulary and other notes. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/a-day-in-the-life/

Learn how to be a rock star in this episode. I'll teach you a bit about music and about how to play the drums. Also you can listen to various famous drummers talking about their technique. See below for some vocab. CLICK HERE TO READ VOCABULARY NOTES AND TRANSCRIPTS FOR THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/03/12/how-to-play-the-drums/

I chat to Oli about the news and teach you 6 idioms and 6 phrasal verbs. FOR A FULL LIST OF THE IDIOMS AND PHRASAL VERBS, WITH DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES - CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/6-idioms-and-6-phrasal-verbs/

Join my cousin Oli and me as we discuss an interesting legal case. This is quite a well known case which involves some quite dark themes such as murder and suicide. CLICK HERE FOR VOCABULARY AND A TRANSCRIPT OF THE STORY http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/criminal-law

Listen to one of Luke's stand-up gigs. First I talk about stand-up comedy and tell you some common expressions to describe comedy performances (see below). Then listen to me describing how I feel before a comedy gig, then listen to a recording of a recent gig. Finally I describe how I feel after the gig. There is some explicit content in this episode. Please don't listen if you are offended easily. CLICK HERE TO SEE VOCABULARY FROM THIS EPISODE, AND TO WATCH SOME STAND-UP VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/a-stand-up-comedy-gig/

Why is it called Luke's English Braincast? Listen to the episode until the end to find out. What's been going on? What's been happening? In this episode, Luke and James talk about recent news stories and current affairs including: -The London Olympic Games -The Queen's Diamond Jubilee -The Superbowl -Charles Dickens 200th Anniversary -The Oscars 2012 -Women drivers and a number of other fascinating topics. CLICK HERE TO READ VOCABULARY NOTES AND MORE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/03/06/lukes-english-braincast/

From the LEP archives - Episode 83. How to Swear in British EnglishAll British Swear Words - Explained.Download the audio here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/how-to-swear-in-british-english-very-rude-content/

Get the free LEP App in the App store for iOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lukes-english-podcast-app/id1293261868?mt=8
For Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teacherluke.android.english&hl=en_US
Become a premium LEP subscriber https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

Warning: Explicit Content

Do not listen to this if you are easily offended. This episode contains lots of very rude words and offensive content. This is an overview of all the swear words in British English. The aim of this episode is to explain how to swear. Please remember that swearing is very offensive and is almost always inapporopriate. Please do not swear regularly! In this episode I am joined by my brother James and we explain all the main swear words in English, their meaning, their use and how offensive they are. You can read the list of swear words below. Please remember that they are very rude indeed!

Click here for more information http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/how-to-swear-in-british-english-very-rude-content/

I do not intend to cause offence with this episode, just to educate people about language.

#swearing #vocabulary #english

In this episode I teach you lots of vocabulary for talking about voting, elections, government and politics. This episode contains some seriously useful and important terms about politics and the way the government runs here in the UK. CLICK HERE TO READ ALL THE VOCABULARY ITEMS IN THIS EPISODE AND FOR A TRANSCRIPT TO THE COMEDY SKETCH http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/voting-elections-politics-government/

Some of the most important phrases, responses and common expressions used in English every day. These are sets of phrases that always go together. Some people call them adjacency pairs. Learn many of these vital expressions in this episode of Luke's English Podcast, one of the fastest growing English language learning podcasts online. CLICK HERE TO READ ALL THE PHRASES I TEACH IN THIS EPISODE AND TO WATCH SOME FUNNY VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/essential-social-english/

Listen to the family discussing issues, debating questions and doing speaking challenges in this episode. This episode is filled with useful vocabulary and expressions. Listen to hear people expressing their opinions, arguing and debating various important and entertaining issues. I also talk about New Year, Christmas and the view from my living room window. TO READ NOTES AND VOCABULARY FOR THIS EPISODE - CLICK HERE https://teacherluke.co.uk/2012/01/23/family-arguments-and-debates/

This episode is all about Christmas. Learn plenty of general English vocabulary and culture. CLICK HERE TO READ A FULL LIST OF VOCABULARY WITH DEFINITIONS FROM THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/christmas-its-all-about-family/

Who would win in a fight between a bear and a shark? TO READ NOTES AND TRANSCRIPTS FOR THIS EPISODE - CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/bear-vs-shark/

Are you the right kind of tourist in London? Listen to this advice for travellers using the tube and you'll know all the ins and outs of London's most famous transport system. CLICK HERE FOR A (partly completed) TRANSCRIPT AND MORE INFORMATION ;) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/mind-the-gap-how-to-use-the-london-underground/

Unlike many things on the internet, Luke's English Podcast is not a distraction! For tapescripts, video and more information - CLICK HERE In this episode I tell you some news, share some comments from listeners, share an amusing audio clip about a driving instructor and eat some chocolate! Stay tuned for more useful and entertaining episodes soon ;) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/258/

A tribute to Steve Jobs who died yesterday. Listen to Steve Jobs' famous speech to graduates of Stanford University, read the transcript, notice some useful features of English, and learn some important lessons about life.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO READ A FULL TRANSCRIPT (WITH VIDEO) OF THE STEVE JOBS SPEECH http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/steve-jobs/

Why is it called The Cheese Episode? Listen to the whole thing to find out. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EPISODE. I decided to set myself a challenge in this one. Click here to read the rules of the challenge. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/the-cheese-episode/

Why is this one called The Ice Cream Episode? You'll have to listen to the whole thing to find out. FULL TRANSCRIPT NOW AVAILABLE BELOW! In this episode I decided I'd give myself a challenge: could I just talk non-stop for 45 minutes without planning anything in advance, and keep it interesting? You can decide for yourself if I was successful. CLICK HERE TO READ A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THIS EPISODE (Thanks to Bettina from France again) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/the-ice-cream-episode/

Learning English and learning music are quite similar actually. In this episode I talk to a great musician and English teacher about how learning English is similar to learning to play music. CLICK HERE TO READ VOCABULARY NOTES AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EPISODE https://teacherluke.co.uk/2011/10/14/language-and-music/

Correct your mistakes! This episode is about typical mistakes that learners of English make when they speak. I've been teaching for 10 years and I've been listening to learners of English making mistakes for a long time. Recently I made a list of some of the most common mistakes I hear. Here they are, with corrections. This is a really useful episode, I am sure you will agree! CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK TO READ A LIST OF THE COMMON MISTAKES AND THEIR CORRECTIONS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/common-errors-typical-mistakes/

Plenty of good vocabulary for describing your childhood days. Here you will find lots and lots of really natural and common expressions for describing your childhood and plenty of other things too. Listen to the podcast a few times to get the most benefit. Feel free to make a donation by clicking the donate button below. Thanks! CLICK HERE TO READ A LIST OF THE EXPRESSIONS AND PHRASAL VERBS IN THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/childhood-growing-up-school-days-phrasal-verbs-and-expressions/

Listen to an interview with Ray Winstone who is a genuine Londoner with a 'cockney' accent. Pick up some new expressions and learn how to recognise a London accent. TO READ A TRANSCRIPT OF THE INTERVIEW WITH RAY WINSTONE, CLICK HERE :) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/cockney-london-accent/

Listen to some good advice for anyone learning English or taking a Cambridge exam such as IELTS, CAE or FCE. Also in this podcast you'll learn some idioms with the word 'say', and listen to Luke talking about culture shock. There's a bonus comedy audio bit at the end too so listen to the whole thing. FULL TRANSCRIPT NOW AVAILABLE BELOW (Thanks again to Bettina from France)CLICK HERE TO READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND TO READ THE IDIOMS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/top-advice-for-learning-english-idioms-with-say-culture-shock/

Just the audio track from this video. For people who like to listen on-the-go, without watching the video at the same time. For a transcript and to see the video for this episode click here: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/london-video-interviews-pt-5/ Luke

This is the continuation of my interview with the German comedian Paco Erhard. Visit Paco's website here: http://www.germancomedy.com http://www.pacoerhard.com Click here for more info http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/german-and-british-cultural-identity-paco-erhard-interview-part-2/ Cheers! Luke

This is the first in a series of 2 interviews with the comedian Paco Erhard. Paco is originally from Germany but he has lived in America and Spain and he currently lives in London. He speaks 4 languages and is a proficient speaker of English. He is a performer of stand up comedy in both English and German. His show was a big success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PACO ERHARD click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/learning-english-advice-from-a-german-comedian-living-in-london/

Listen to an interview with Aaron Ralston and learn some useful idioms with the word 'hand'. Luke's English Podcast is completely free and a great way to improve your English. Luke focusses on British English, specifically on natural language which is really used by people in Britain every day. You can learn vocabulary and cultural information. CLICK HERE FOR VOCABULARY/IDIOM DEFINITIONS, LISTENING EXERCISES AND VIDEOS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/127-hours-hand-idioms/

Hi! Learn some really useful idioms and listen to an authentic interview with a native speaker in this episode of Luke's English Podcast. This episode is about The King's Speech - an excellent film which recently won 4 Academy Awards at The Oscars, including the award for Best Actor for Colin Firth. FOR VOCABULARY NOTES & DEFINITIONS, LISTENING EXERCISES AND VIDEOS CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/the-kings-speech-mouth-idioms/

An interview with comedian, actor and musician Billy Connelly who comes from Scotland. FOR NOTES, LINKS AND TRANSCRIPT DETAILS, PLEASE CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/billy-connolly-interview-more-scottish-accent/

An interview with a native speaker from Scotland. We talk about Scottish culture and stereotypes, and features of scottish accents. Use this episode to develop your cultural understanding of the English language, and to practise identifying and understanding different accents. FOR A FULL TRANSCRIPT FOR THIS EPISODE, CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/scotland-scottish-accent/

I'm joined by my old college friend Neil Waters in this episode. First we talk about the Birmingham accent, and then we teach you some useful phrasal verbs. FOR A (KIND OF) TRANSCRIPT AND PHRASAL VERB DEFINITIONS, PLEASE CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/birmingham-accent-12-phrasal-verbs-with-the-letter-a/

First in a series of episodes about accents. Learn differences between accents from the UK. This is information that all learners of English need to know! http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/british-accents-and-dialects/

My first 7 mini podcasts in one full length episode. Idioms with 'about', politics, how to make a perfect cup of tea, a comedy song about badgers and some sentence stress and intonation practice. You can find my Mini Podcast page on Audioboo by clicking here. I am also on Facebook and Twitter. CLICK HERE FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/mini-podcasts-collection-1/

English cultural information and expressions about Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night (Nov 5th), some entertaining stand up comedy about halloween and all the usual useful bits of language and vocabulary. CLICK HERE FOR TRANSCRIPTS, LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/halloween-guy-fawkes-night/

Can an ordinary native speaker of English (my brother) explain the rules of English grammar? That's the question in this interview. I wanted to know how much my brother James knows about the rules of grammar which learners of English study every day. The results are quite revealing.CLICK HERE FOR A TRANSCRIPT (UNFINISHED) AND OTHER NOTES http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/discussing-grammar-with-my-brother/

It's back! The return of Luke's English Podcast. Responses to the comments and questions I have received over the last few months. I haven't done a podcast for quite a long time, so here it is! CLICK HERE TO READ NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/luke-answers-your-emails-and-questions/

Useful and natural vocabulary and expressions on the subject of Waiting and Being Patient. Good Things Come To Those Who Wait. FOR VOCABULARY NOTES AND DEFINITIONS PLEASE CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/good-things-come-to-those-who-wait/

Guest presenter Claudia Edwards interviews Luke about Stand Up Comedy. Vocabulary notes are included below. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/stand-up-comedy/

Really useful vocabulary and pronunciation practise for you. Learn and use natural expressions for making conversations when travelling or on holiday. FOR VOCABULARY NOTES PLEASE CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/useful-expressions-for-travelling/

An interview with me about my holiday in Vietnam. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/travelling-in-vietnam/

I had a great Christmas with my family, and now I'm flying to Vietnam to get some sunshine, do some travelling and have a good time. I'm coming back to the UK in the middle of January, and I'll tell you all about my holiday when I get back. Happy New Year!

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2011/10/11/46-im-on-holiday-ill-be-back-in-a-couple-of-weeks/

A conversation with my friend Andy. We share some anecdotes. Following on from episode 44 they're also about petty crime. Some samples of vocabulary and expressions are listed below. I give definitions in the podcast - so listen to check the meaning. FOR VOCABULARY NOTES, PHOTOS AND OTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/luke-andys-crime-stories/

Improve your speaking by telling interesting and amusing anecdotes. In this episode you'll learn about anecdotes, listen to a couple of stories told by some BBC radio DJs and learn some new vocabulary. Good extended listening practice. Enjoy! FOR A TRANSCRIPT, A GRAMMAR EXERCISE AND OTHER INFORMATION click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/telling-anecdotes/

For a transcript, and to watch the video click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/london-video-interviews-pt-3/

This episode is filled with vocabulary relating to health, feeling ill, catching a cold and common symptoms. To read vocabulary notes (including lists of the phrasal verbs and expressions in this episode), click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2010/03/26/health-feeling-ill-phrasal-verbs-expressions/

Luke's English Podcast is a free service for people who are learning English as a foreign language. Download each episode free. Subscribe to the podcast using iTunes. Use it to practise listening, develop vocabulary and learn about the culture of the English language. Luke is well qualified and has lots of experience of teaching English for general life and for business/legal purposes. This podcast is designed to be useful, but also entertaining and fun.

Just the audio track from the second video of interviews with native speakers in London. This is for people who like to listen to the podcast while they do something else with their eyes (e.g. drive, eat, look out of the window). To read transcripts and definitions for this episode, check the previous episode "London Video Interviews Pt. 2". Have fun! https://teacherluke.co.uk/2010/03/26/116/

Just the audio track from the first video of interviews in the centre of London. Click here to read a full transcript for this episode, and to watch the video http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/london-video-interviews-pt-1/

Vocabulary and listening on the subject of money and the economy. Transcript & notes here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/15/money-money-money-12-phrasal-verbs-more/

Luke's English Podcast is a free service for learners of English. Use this podcast to get exposure to natural British English. Listen to it wherever and whenever you want to. Luke is a well experienced and qualified English teacher, with plenty of other interests. Improve your English with this podcast, and have fun! www.teacherluke.co.uk

Authentic listening practice. Transcript available below. Luke's English Podcast is a free service for people who are learning English as a foreign language. Luke is a well qualified teacher of English with over 12 years' experience in Japan, the UK and France. You can use this podcast to get exposure to native speakers using natural English. Learn phrasal verbs, idioms, useful expressions, linkers, etc. Find Luke on Facebook (search for Luke's English Podcast) or Twitter (@EnglishPodcast). Cheers! To read a full transcript and language analysis by Richard Gallen (useful for teachers wanting to adapt this interview for the classroom), click here to visit Luke's English Blog: http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/doctor-who/

Some vocabulary and a listening transcript for the argument sketch are provided below. Learn English vocabulary (phrasal verbs, natural expressions, idioms, commonly used British English) and grammar (hopefully not boring) by listening to this podcast. Practise listening by playing the podcast on your iPod or computer. Develop awareness of pronunciation by repeating what you hear and recording yourself. Listening regularly is vital for the development of your English - so listen to Luke's English Podcast, enjoy yourself and have fun! To read a transcript and definitions, click here to visit Luke's English Blog. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/hello-argument-sketch/

Part 2 of the strange story from the last episode. Use this podcast to improve your listening, reading, vocabulary and pronunciation. You should listen to it after listening to the previous episode "Mystery Story / Narrative Tenses". To read a full transcript of the story and advice on how to use this episode to improve your English - click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/14/the-mystery-continues/

This podcast is about narrative tenses (past simple, past continous, past perfect - see details below). We use these tenses to sequence stories about the past. To master the use of these tenses you have to deal with their form, their use and their pronunciation - both for listening and speaking. Use this podcast to help you deal with all of those things, and then start using narrative tenses fluently whenever you describe something. Make your descriptions more detailed and colourful! A full transcript, pronunciation drills, grammar notes and advice are all available for this episode. Click here http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/mystery-story-narrative-tenses/

I talk to Chris from Ladbroke Grove about the British weather, and why he thinks foreigners should stop complaining about it!

Click here for notes and a transcript of the interview http://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/12/interview-with-a-native-speaker-the-weather/

Luke's English Podcast is a free service for people who want to improve their English. Learn real english with this podcast. Natural expressions, phrasal verbs, idioms and more vocabulary. Good listening practice. Join the growing community of listeners around the world who use this podcast every day. A full transcript of this interview is available. To read it, click here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/12/interview-with-a-native-speaker-the-weather/

Lots of weather vocabulary and natural expressions to describe the weather. To read notes, vocabulary and definitions for this episode, click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/10/british-weather-lots-of-exciting-vocabulary/

The weather is one of the most common topics of conversation. Imagine you're doing business with someone from another country, and you have to make smalltalk. What can you possibly talk about? THE WEATHER OF COURSE! Learn some natural expressions to describe the weather and practise your listening at the same time.

This episode is about having the right attitude to learning English. Use the statements in this podcast to help you stay positive and motivated. Luke's English Podcast is a free service for people all over the world who are learning English. Luke is a DELTA qualified teacher with over 12 years of experience
To see notes and transcripts for this episode, click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/10/are-you-a-good-learner-of-english/

Learn some English music idioms in this funny episode. Transcript and vocabulary available here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/11/07/music-idioms/

Luke's English Podcast is a free service for everyone in the whole world to use. Download the podcast, listen, laugh and learn. Get new vocabulary, listening practice, pronunciation drills for speaking and some interesting cultural information.

Summer Music Festivals in the UK

Luke's English Podcast is free and available to download as often as you like. It is designed to help learners of English with their vocabulary, listening and pronunciation. Also, Luke's English Podcast aims to introduce you to unique aspects of the British cultural experience.

This podcast is about music festivals during the summer months in The UK. To read vocabulary notes for this episode, click here to go to Luke's English Blog.

https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/20/summer-music-festivals/

Luke's English Podcast is for learners of English as a foreign language. Use it to improve your listening, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and cultural awareness. Luke is a teacher at The London School of English, but this is a completely independent free podcast for everyone. Email me: luketeacher@hotmail.com http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/full-interview-with-vicky-from-china/ To read notes for this episode, click the link above .

To read a full transcript for this episode, click here to visit Luke's English Blog. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/learning-english-with-podcasts-advice-from-a-chinese-student-at-oxford-university/

This is a podcast for learners of English as a second language. Use it to improve your vocabulary, listening, pronunciation, idioms and cultural awareness. To read notes for this episode, Click here to visit Luke's English Blog. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/beware-of-bad-pronunciation/

Luke's English Podcast is for people learning English as a foreign language. This episode is about the grammar of passive verb forms, their use and pronunciation. For a transcript, and detailed grammar & pronunciation notes, click here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/passive-verb-forms/

More phrasal verbs for you today. These ones are all particularly useful in business English when you have meetings. For a complete transcript for this episode, click here to visit Luke's English Blog. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/46/

17. Hello To My Listeners Around The World

Here are some messages from me to you. This podcast is produced to help people to learn English as a foreign language. It is good listening practice and contains lessons on vocabulary and grammar for general English. To read notes for this podcast episode, click here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/hello-to-my-listeners-around-the-world/

16. Michael Jackson

This podcast is about the life and death of Michael Jackson, and is produced to help people learn English by practising their listening skills and developing their vocabulary. Luke's English Podcast is a free audio programme for learners of English. To read a full transcript, watch videos and see photographs, click here http://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/episode-11-michael-jackson/

15. Extra Podcast - 12 Useful Phrasal Verbs

Just a quick podcast today. 12 useful phrasal verbs. To read a full transcript and vocabulary notes, click here to visit the website https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/extra-podcast-12-phrasal-verbs/

14. English Mania / British & American Pronunciation

This full length podcast is about international English and pronunciation differences between American and British English. It includes audio from a TED Talk by Jay Walker https://www.ted.com/talks/jay_walker_the_world_s_english_mania

For a transcript, vocabulary notes and a video for this podcast, click here to visit Luke's website. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/episode-10-british-and-american-pronunciation/

New video on YouTube - Luke's English Podcast - I Like It! To read vocabulary notes and to see photos and a video for this podcast, click here to visit Luke's English Blog. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/video-podcast-i-like-it/

To read a transcript for this episode, visit Luke's English Blog here. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/extra-podcast-quick-hello-3/

11. Men vs Women

This episode is all about men & women. Are they different? Do they communicate differently? It is inspired by a book called “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus”, which is a very popular and successful guide to help men and women understand each other.

I talk to 2 male friends, and then 2 female friends. There is lots of useful natural English for you to study, remember and copy – and become a more advanced speaker of English! I hope you enjoy the podcast…

Click here for transcripts & vocabulary notes for this episode https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/episode-9-men-vs-women/

Image by Pixel2013 on Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/man-woman-composing-dispute-2933991/

To read notes and a transcript for this episode, click here to go to Luke's English Blog. http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/extra-podcast-quick-hello-2/

9. Travelling to India (with Ben Butler) / Social English

An episode with my friend and colleague Ben, with common social english questions, a conversation about going travelling in India and some useful vocabulary explained at the end.

Vocabulary definitions and notes available here https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/episode-8-travelling-in-india

Dating & Relationships / Words & Expressions

Part 1 – I talk about what I’ve been doing recently, and talk about the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Part 2 – This is the feature section which is about dating & relationships. I play you a BBC TV comedy sketch about a blind date.
Part 3 – I teach you some of the most common words and expressions that English people use when they talk about dating & relationships.

Click here for a transcript and word lists https://teacherluke.co.uk/2009/10/19/episode-7-dating-and-relationships/

This podcast is about Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer who recently became very famous all over the world on YouTube.

The feature section is about her and her performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Miserables. Why was it so special? Why have so many people in the world seen it? Why has she become so famous? Why do the Americans love her?

The language section is about idioms to describe personality.

CLICK HERE TO READ A TRANSCRIPT AND FOR DEFINITIONS OF IDIOMS IN THIS EPISODE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/episode-6-susan-boyle/

This podcast episode today is about vampires! It includes a lecture on the myth of the vampire in modern popular culture, with a language focus on really useful vocabulary and expressions to describe feelings and emotions. CLICK HERE TO READ A TRANSCRIPT AND VOCABULARY DEFINITIONS http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/episode-5-vampires/

This episode is all about the strange career of Hollywood actor Joaquin Phoenix. Listen to Luke talk to his friend Howard about Joaquin's career. Learn some really natural vocabulary and expressions. For vocabulary, definitions and other notes - CLICK HERE ;) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/episode-4-joaquin-phoenix/

Hi, this is just a quick extra podcast to say hello and to let you know there are more podcasts coming soon. Also in this episode you can listen to a comedy sketch about speaking English. CLICK HERE FOR MORE NOTES AND A TRANSCRIPT FOR THE COMEDY SKETCH http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/extra-podcast-quick-hello/

Luke is still at his parents' house, and this time he's chatting to his Mum, who used to be a massive Beatles fan in the 1960s. She talks about how she first found out about them, why she liked them, and which one was her favourite. The language section is about good ways to describe past habits. Enjoy! CLICK HERE TO READ A FULL TRANSCRIPT FOR THIS EPISODE :) http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/episode-3-musicthe-beatles/

It's Easter, so Luke has travelled back to his Mum & Dad's house in the Warwickshire countryside. In this show, Luke talks to his Dad about Easter celebrations, rolling eggs down hills and the dangers of rabbits on the road. Luke also teaches some useful adverbs. Enjoy! FULL TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/episode-2-easter/

This is the first episode of Luke's English Podcast. In this episode Luke introduces himself to the world, and talks about what to expect from the podcast in the future.

FULL TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE HERE http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2009/04/12/episode-1-introduction/

Don't forget to visit http://teacherluke.co.uk for more information and all the other episodes of this podcast.