Weird Google Questions, Answered (Topics + Vocabulary) – 😿 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 Man Who Could Work Miracles ✨ (Learn English with a Short Story) – Learn English with a short story on LEP.
Sophie Turner has late-night meeting with a thug on a moped as she films new heist thriller series Haven
Includes some vocabulary explanations, differences between British & American English and some very dodgy jokes. Video version available with on-screen text. DOPPELGANGER (Learn English with a Short Story) – Learn English with another short story. In fact, this episode contains two stories.
Madeleine McCann live: Animal bones among findings as police hunt ends
A Conversation with Clare Whitmell – A conversation 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.
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 project.
Sophie Turner enters talks to star as iconic Lara Croft in Prime Video’s Tomb Raider TV series
The story shows what it is like to live with dysfluency – a condition which makes it difficult to produce 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. Animal Vocabulary Quiz (with my daughter) – Do you know more animal vocabulary than my 6-year-old daughter?
First came the £3m museum heist, then the murder plot, court hears
We also discuss the wonders of fish & chips and deep fried Mars bars which you can buy on the streets of Edinburgh. PDF available. FUNNY ENGLISH SIGNS 🪧 Explained (Part 1) – 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. FUNNY ENGLISH SIGNS 🪧 Explained (Part 2) – (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.
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I speak to Alex, an English teacher from Moscow about how he has been speaking exclusively in English to his 4-year-old aristocrat pokie machines daughter Alice since she was born. Let’s find out how it’s going. 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. 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.
Criminals who refuse to attend sentencing to face longer jail time
My Experiences of (not) Learning French Part 1 – 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. What’s on the table? Fred and Alex are both stand-up comedians living in Paris who perform in English. Includes references to The Queen, The Legend of Zelda and a lot of pizza.
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. Learning English in 2025 with Luke’s English Podcast – 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. 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.
– 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.
Sophie Turner – Latest News and Updates
Vocabulary list and memory quiz available. Becoming a Dad (with Andy & Ben) Part 2 – 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. Who Wants to be Good at English? (The Rematch) with Rick Thompson – Testing my Dad on his knowledge of English, using words that are frequently confused by native English speakers.
Girl, 17, shot day after rapper suffered online humiliation, jury told
I didn’t expect to get emotional, but I did (a bit). Here it is. Hope you like it. WISBOLEP Competition Entries – Listen & Vote!
Parson’s Pleasure by Roald Dahl (Learn English with a Short Story) – 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 at the end. Learn vocabulary while you enjoy a fascinating story.
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. Vocabulary list with definitions and examples available.
Mother and three children die in house fire in London as man arrested
- Listen for another deep and humorous conversation with lots of cultural reference points.
- Video version available.
- Includes intensive listening, a couple of Beatle stories with vocabulary and pronunciation explained and some funny McCartney impressions.
- 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.
- Days later, she was out walking her dog on a coastal path when she thought she saw the couple from the news.
- English with Rob / Games, Music & Jingles – Talking to Rob from English with Rob (podcast/YouTube).
- 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.
- In this conversation I speak to Siobhan Dodd who is a sign language interpreter between English and BSL (British Sign Language).
Advanced level listening practice with the POD-PALs. Turkey & Syria Earthquake Appeal / What is happening in Iran? (Articles & Vocabulary) – 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.
Holiday Diary (Part 1) New Arrival, New Destinations – 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. Notes and vocabulary available on the page.
- James reads several passages from the book during the episode.
- It’s Christmas and New Years Eve is approaching, so it’s time for the traditional Christmas episode of LEP!
- In addition to the Indian casino games we mentioned, there is almost nothing safer.
- 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.
- Vocabulary notes, song lyrics and videos available.
- Animal Vocabulary Quiz (with my daughter) – Do you know more animal vocabulary than my 6-year-old daughter?
UK politics live: Badenoch blasts Starmer and Farage in benefits row
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. Previously, which the game designers does. Personally, you already know theres a right way and wrong way to play blackjack.
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. 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. 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.
- Hadar describes her own experiences of learning English and mastering pronunciation.
- The result is an engaging and intellectually light-hearted discussion involving the usual mix of rambling, and English teaching.
- And to think that most online casinos carry just one basic keno game and call it a day, and a few will even allow you to double down for less than your original bet.
- YouTube video version also available.
- Ian talks about ending his stand-up career, being the terrible host of a guesthouse in the French countryside, writing books on trains, and why his COVID lockdown was actually great.
- In this episode I read from my diaries, share my personal experience with you and explain a few bits of vocabulary.
- A conversation with Joe Dale (modern foreign language teaching consultant, EdTech guru) about the use of ChatGPT in English teaching and learning.
- 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.
Features a conversation with a German student currently studying a master’s in clinical neuropsychology at UCL in London. ChatGPT & Learning English PART 3 – 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. Time-Travel Story, English Immersions in Malta & Playing the Bagpipes (with Alastair Budge) – Is that a confusing title? Hopefully not. As you might expect, it’s a little summary of what’s included in the episode.
Joe Jonas reveals what he REALLY thought about the infamous South Park episode poking fun at him
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. 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. 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.
Includes a song on the guitar at the end. 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. William talks about how he continues to maintain his English, the importance of finding good language exchange partners, and more. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. “A Year on the Fosse” by Rick Thompson (English History & Wildlife) Dad’s New Book 📕 Out Now – 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.
Language & Local British Identity with MARK STEEL – 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. The Unopened Safe (Learn English with a Text Adventure Story) by Peter Carlson – Let’s do another text adventure mystery story by Peter Carlson. Listen to me read the story and make choices to solve the mystery.
Joe Jonas cozies up to mystery brunette at a bar in Paris four months after his split from Stormi Bree
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 this episode page for word lists, transcriptions and my video of 40+ difficult words to pronounce in English. Vocabulary is explained after the conversation and there is a vocabulary list available below. 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.
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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. From Comedy to Cosy Crime (with Ian Moore) – Ian Moore returns to talk about his career shift from stand-up comedy to writing “cosy” crime novels.
Recorded live in front of an audience at the British Council in Paris. 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.
– Listen to recordings sent in by listeners and vote for who you think should be on LEP. 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. NEW LEP T-SHIRTS & MERCH + LEP DESIGN COMPETITION 2021 with James – LEP merch is now available, including t-shirts, mugs and more featuring special LEP designs made by James Thompson. Luke and James discuss the new designs and launch a new design competition to give you the chance to get your design in my merch store and a cash prize of £80. 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.
Why does the UK have so many accents? (Recorded February 2017) – This episode was originally recorded in February 2017 and is being uploaded in August 2017. In this episode I 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. Vocabulary list and definitions available. Holiday Diary (Part 7) BIG ROCKS!
