Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson

Life, Death & Mario Kart [1008] A Rambling Challenge 🗣️ Nov 4, 2026 1:13:09 Join me for a completely spontaneous "rambling challenge" in which I attempt to talk without stopping for at least 45 minutes. I end up discussing the benefits of talking to yourself for English fluency, the ideas of "practice makes perfect" and "practice makes permanent", the best advice Tom Hiddleston ever got, what it means to "seize the day", how thinkin

A Big Talk about Small Talk 🗣️ (with Ray Addam) Improve your Speaking Skills in English [1007] Oct 20, 2026 2:13:53 Small talk is not just a pointless way to fill silence in social situations, it is an opportunity to make great social connections, build your network and just have an interesting conversation with someone new, but how do we do it successfully? How can you develop your confidence, and take the right approach to making good connections with people you meet? That’s what this episode is all about, as

9 True Ghost Stories & Unexplained Mysteries from Listeners 👀🕯️ LEPster Writing Competition [1006] Oct 13, 2026 1:34:42 Listen to a selection of 9 fascinating stories written by listeners, one of which will win the competition which I launched earlier this year. Finally, the wait is over and the creepy story competition episode is here. I had to work very hard to narrow down the entries from 74 to only 9. Anna Brooke and I chose our favourite, as you will hear.These are extremely mysterious and extraordinary storie

Sir David Attenborough 🌍 Britain's #1 National Treasure [1005] Oct 7, 2026 1:35:48 This episode is a celebration of a living-legend of British life & culture - Sir David Attenborough, who is best known for making documentaries on the BBC about the natural world. Listen as I give an overview of his life and career, explain why he is so loved by people, share anecdotes from people who have met him, describe memorable animal moments from his documentaries, and do a few impressi

Luke’s Improvised Storytelling: Jurassic Park 🦖 [1004] Listen & Learn English Sep 28, 2026 2:06:03 Retelling the story of your favourite film, or book, can be a great way to practise your speaking skills in English. It can help you focus on narrative tenses, vocabulary recall and spoken fluency, while having fun reliving some great moments from cinema or literature. In this episode I demonstrate this, while giving you an entertaining re-telling of Steven Spielberg's classic dinosaur adventu

Testing My Friends on English Grammar / Irregular Verbs with Amber & Paul 🎯 [1003] Sep 22, 2026 2:38:51 Following a challenge from the comment section, I decided to see if it was possible to make an entire episode with my friends Amber and Paul based on the table of irregular verbs. This is the result. I decided to test the POD-PALS on their grammatical knowledge, and to see what anecdotes and funny comments I could get from them. The result is both a classic Amber & Paul episode, and quite a re

Neuroscience & Learning English 🧠 11 Surprising Facts [1002] Sep 14, 2026 1:28:55 This episode is full of fascinating science-backed insights into how the brain processes language. I read an article, and then explain various conclusions about the best way to learn English, with a lot of practical tips for speaking, listening, grammar and vocabulary. What does neuroscience tell us about the best way to learn a language?Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/09/14/neurosci

Real English Learning Stories from Around the World 🌏 Listener Comments & Questions [1001] Sep 3, 2026 2:45:28 LEP is back after a summer break, and in this episode you can hear messages and questions from listeners, including stories of English learning, and testimonials from LEPsters who have made a significant improvement to their English after listening to this podcast long-term. Also included are some philosophical musings about life & death, an update on the plants in my pod-room, and some resear

Episode 1000! 🎉 Aug 12, 2026 3:36:54 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

Sherlock Holmes & The Adventure of the Man with the Twisted Lip 🕵 [999] Jul 29, 2026 3:14:49 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 pa

Rambling in the Countryside 🏡 (feat. my daughter) [998] Jul 21, 2026 58:25 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 th

WORLD CUP RAMBLE #4 ⚽️ FIFA 2026 England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 vs Argentina 🇦🇷 and more... (with Zdenek) [BONUS] Jul 16, 2026 2:05:41 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 pas

Funny Childhood Memories & Stories ⚡️👦 (with Martin) [997] Jul 13, 2026 1:48:29 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-Ch

WORLD CUP RAMBLE 3 ⚽️ FIFA 2026 with Fred [BONUS] Jul 8, 2026 1:15:09 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 Eyan

Debating Skills in English 🗣️ (with Ray Addam) [996] Jul 6, 2026 2:31:43 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

WORLD CUP RAMBLE #2 ⚽️ FIFA 2026 with Zdenek [BONUS] Jun 30, 2026 2:10:05 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

How to talk about HEATWAVES like a (sweaty) British man 🥵 [995] Jun 26, 2026 1:47:39 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 document

London Accents & Study Tips with Patricio Languages 🗣️🇬🇧 [994] Jun 22, 2026 1:31:11 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 a

Music, Marketing & Memories with Jez Booker 🥁 [993] Jun 15, 2026 2:03:17 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 enjoyin

Vietnam Travelling Diary 🇻🇳 [992] Jun 8, 2026 3:07:54 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 transcri

[BONUS] FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 PREVIEW MEGARAMBLE ⚽ Jun 4, 2026 1:50:42 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 h

Coffee, Cats & Conversation ☕️ Kate Billington’s 900-Day Streak in Taiwan [991] Jun 1, 2026 1:41:22 [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 Engli

RAMBLEMAN: Into the Ramble-zone 🌀 [990] May 25, 2026 3:41:35 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.pdfEpisode page on my website

Crazy Questions with my daughter 👧✨ [989] May 17, 2026 1:03:44 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 learne

Is the AI Bubble Bursting? 🤖🫧 (Technology & Discussion) with James [988] May 10, 2026 1:46:52 [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 comprehensio

Insane Facts 🤯 True or False? with Amber & Paul [987] May 4, 2026 2:11:16 [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 b*llocks?) The episode is long, the English is fast, but the jokes come regularly and I promise that you wil

The Bad Room 👞 (Learn English with a Short Story) [986] Apr 27, 2026 1:04:52 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

10 Questions about Food 🍲 with Martin [985] Apr 20, 2026 1:33:19 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

Paranormal Experiences 👻📘 with Anna Brooke [984] Apr 13, 2026 1:19:23 [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

English Language Haiku Master John Stevenson ✍️ (Interview) [983] Apr 6, 2026 1:32:04 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

Haiku in English 2 🍂✍️ [982] Mar 30, 2026 1:11:31 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

Is the glass half empty, or half full? 🥃 (Vocabulary & Discussion) [981] Mar 23, 2026 1:41:20 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

Room 101🚪with Charlie Baxter 🇬🇧 Funny British English Listening Practice [980] Mar 16, 2026 1:29:27 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 fo

The Lumber Room (Learn English with a Short Story) [979] Mar 9, 2026 1:54:28 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? Ge

My Dad talks about his life [978] Mar 2, 2026 1:33:27 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

My Mum talks about her life [977] Feb 22, 2026 1:10:56 [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 liste

RAMBLEMANIA 🗣️ 3+ Hours of English Listening & Learning with Luke [976] Feb 16, 2026 3:33:59 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 #britishe

How to write well in English ✍️ (with Fabio Cerpelloni) [975] Feb 9, 2026 1:19:47 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 ep

Haiku in English 📖 🍃 [974] Feb 2, 2026 1:47:24 [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

Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb 👍🔪 (Learn English with a Short Story) [973] Jan 26, 2026 1:34:50 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

Identity, Mindset, Accents & Learning English with Multilingual Actor Ivan Doan [972] Jan 19, 2026 1:38:17 [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 e

[Part 2] 9 Science-based Life Hacks to Improve your English Learning Potential in 2026 🧠 [971] Jan 12, 2026 2:00:09 [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 avail

[Part 1] 9 Science-based Life Hacks to Improve your English Learning Potential in 2026 🧠 [970] Jan 5, 2026 1:32:57 [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 b

WORLD NEWS QUIZ 2025 🌍 with Stephen from SEND7 Podcast [969] Dec 29, 2025 2:01:31 [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.do

The Words of the Year 2025 📖 with Amber & Paul [968] Dec 25, 2025 1:46:47 [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 beh

Robbing the Louvre 👑 Escaping to Nigeria 🏃‍♂️ with Amber & Paul [967] Catching Up #16 Dec 22, 2025 1:20:25 [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

The Ramble Before Christmas 🎄 [966] Listen & Learn English with Luke Dec 15, 2025 2:55:27 [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/202

The Kit-Bag (Learn English with a Short Story) [965] Dec 8, 2025 1:51:13 [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

A Cosy Rambling Episode at Home [964] Dec 1, 2025 1:10:27 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 bur

Talking Therapy, Mental Health & Counselling with Emma Camara Ortega [963] Nov 24, 2025 1:24:37 [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

The Door in the Wall 🚪 (Learn English with a Short Story) [962] Nov 17, 2025 1:59:51 [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

Emma from MmmEnglish and Hey Lady! [961] Nov 10, 2025 1:18:44 [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 phob

Fine Distinctions & Subtle Shades of Meaning 📖 (with Eli Burnstein) [960] Nov 3, 2025 1:58:47 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,

How to Learn English with my podcast 🎧 [959] Oct 27, 2025 1:09:54 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 PD

A Free Sample of LEP Premium Series 71 🏆 Vocabulary & Pronunciation [958] Oct 20, 2025 46:21 Sign up to LEP Premium here 👉 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiumIf 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

More Questions of English & Listener Comments 🙋🏽‍♀️ Bits & Bobs 5 [957] Oct 13, 2025 1:32:36 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 shadow

Thompson Originals 💿 (A Chat with My Brother) [956] Oct 6, 2025 1:35:14 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 vin

Let’s do a REAL C1 English Test! 🙇‍♂️ (CAE Use of English) [955] Sep 29, 2025 1:14:34 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

Holiday Hell 🔥 Serious Sandcastles 🏰 & AI Inbreeding 🤖 with Amber & Paul [954] Catching Up #15 Sep 22, 2025 56:39 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

A game of “Would You Rather?” with my daughter 👧 [953] Sep 15, 2025 1:20:55 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://teac

The Trip to Norway 🇳🇴 Learn Vocabulary in Context [952] Sep 8, 2025 1:27:46 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 Ja

Questions of English & Listener Comments 🙋Bits & Bobs 4 [951] Sep 1, 2025 1:21:41 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 groundb

The Flatmate from Japan Returns🚶‍♂️Travelling Tales & More [950] Aug 25, 2025 1:45:07 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, a

Let’s Take a C1 Grammar Test 📋 and critique it [949] Aug 18, 2025 2:06:15 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/20

Workplace Scenarios 👷 Role Plays for Practical English [948] Aug 11, 2025 1:00:59 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

Technology in Everyday Life [Part 2] 👨‍💻 The Choices We Make / Topic Discussion & Vocabulary [947] Aug 4, 2025 1:27:28 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 abo

Technology in Everyday Life [Part 1] 👨‍💻 The Choices We Make / Topic Discussion & Vocabulary Jul 28, 2025 1:54:15 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

Funny English Errors, Corrected ✍️ [945] Jul 21, 2025 59:01 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

Listen & Learn English with Luke 🎧 This is SOMETHING! [944] Jul 14, 2025 2:30:20 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

943. Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of SILVER BLAZE 🐎 (Learn English with a Short Story) Jul 7, 2025 2:20:39 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

942. The ASMR Zen School of English ☁️🧘 Learn English and Relax Jun 30, 2025 1:28:56 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

941. The Man Who Could Work Miracles ✨ (Learn English with a Short Story) Jun 23, 2025 2:03:04 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

940. Our favourite things to do in London 🇬🇧 (Part 2) Jun 9, 2025 1:49:26 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/uplo

939. Our favourite things to do in London 🇬🇧 (Part 1) Jun 9, 2025 1:32:01 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/w

938. Film Club: Monty Python’s Life of Brian (with Antony Rotunno) Jun 3, 2025 1:58:39 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-conten

937. A Birthday Ramble / The Spinning Wheel of Random Questions May 27, 2025 1:40:56 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 learn

936. How AI can Boost your English with Podcasts ✨🎧 (feat. Alastair Budge) May 19, 2025 2:04:22 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 techni

935. Terrible Traffic Jams & Self-Driving Cars 🚗 (Topic & Vocabulary) May 12, 2025 1:42:22 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 plent

934. Sign Language is Fascinating 👋 with Siobhan Dodd May 6, 2025 1:24:47 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 de

933. The Best Expressions in English are from Shakespeare ✍️ Learn English Vocabulary Apr 29, 2025 1:29:48 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 exam

Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson

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