Category Archives: Entertainment

Listen & Learn English with Luke / This is SOMETHING! [944]

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.

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Get the PDF Transcript 👇


943. Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of SILVER BLAZE (Learn English with a Short Story)

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 📄.

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https://youtu.be/49wmajcf6-k

Get the episode PDF 👇


941. The Man Who Could Work Miracles (Learn English with a Short Story)

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.

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Get the episode PDF with story text here 👇


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

938. Film Club: Monty Python’s Life of Brian (with Antony Rotunno)

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.

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Get the full episode transcript here 👇

Links for Antony’s Podcasts 👇

Previous episodes about Monty Python’s Flying Circus 👇

937. A Birthday Ramble / The Spinning Wheel of Random Questions

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 📄.

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Get the PDF with speaking questions, and full transcript 👇

933. The Best English Expressions are from Shakespeare / Learn English Vocabulary

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.

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Get the PDF here with notes, vocabulary quiz, memory exercise, discussion questions and full episode transcript 👇

Sign up to LEP Premium here 👇 for more episodes in this series

932. What is so great about Shakespeare? (with Mum & Dad)

In this episode I talk to my parents about the topic of William Shakespeare. Enjoy a conversation about this important figure in English language and culture, with two other important figures – my mum and dad!

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.

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.

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https://youtu.be/cGid3C2AfuY

Get the PDF with full transcript, vocabulary list & vocabulary quiz 👇

Coming soon to LEP Premium 👇

A new series of episodes – “Learn English with Shakespeare”, including:

  • A vocabulary review for LEP 932 with my parents
  • The best idioms and expressions from Shakespeare’s work
  • Learn English with Sonnets & Verses + pronunciation practice

Sign up to LEP Premium here and access 200+ episodes about vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, and all new premium episodes which arrive every month.

931. Overcoming Fears (with Zdenek)

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. 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 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.

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https://youtu.be/_0yTntyjeA4?si=S0A_8s7agzO3Z69N

📄 Get the PDF here (lucky you – it’s very expensive but you can have it completely free) 👇

  • Detailed vocabulary list
  • Vocabulary quiz
  • Full episode transcript

Other links 👇

⚽️ The Footglish Podcast (Learn English with Football)

💬 Zdenek’s Discord server “The Achiever’s Chamber”

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

930. Can I eat my cat? 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 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 big vocabulary list.

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https://youtu.be/pf-zTmM8-H4

Get the episode PDF with full transcript, big vocabulary list & more 👇

Express yourself in English! Don’t be a ninja 🥷Leave a comment below 👇

929. Sarah Donnelly: The Only American In Paris + UK vs US Accent Quiz

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.

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https://youtu.be/2iLkgCv5984?si=3TB9SqiCQZymt1Ob

Get the episode PDF👇 (pronunciation quiz and full transcript)