Category Archives: History

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

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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.

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

933. The Best English Expressions are from Shakespeare _ Learn English VocabularyDownload

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

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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 👇

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

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.

927. Walk & Talk: Medieval Museum (with Amber, Paul & Kyle)

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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.

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https://youtu.be/OVyAGFojRaw?si=FCj6eIwhOnvItHu7

The audio and video versions are slightly different. The audio version has more content recorded in the studio, with lessons about the historical context of the middle ages and an overview of the main historical periods in European history.

925. Walaa’s Experience in Syria / Walaa Mouma Returns (Part 2)

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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.

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Links for English with Walaa

Listen to Part 1 👇 (Walaa talks about her academic studies in Wales)

Walaa’s previous appearance on LEP (episode 703) 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9ythdvbKKM&t=1s&ab_channel=Luke%27sEnglishPodcast

Episode Transcript

925. Walaa’s Experience in Syria Walaa Mouma Returns (Part 2)Download

914. A Midwinter Ramble ❅ Luke’s English Podcast

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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.

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Get the PDF with vocabulary quiz 👇

914. A Midwinter Ramble ❅ Luke’s English PodcastDownload

902. “A Year on the Fosse” by Rick Thompson (English History & Wildlife) Dad’s New Book – Out Now

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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.

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https://youtu.be/MvO0edpmFvE?si=a-tzy_W8f3I0-xli

👉 GET THE BOOK ON AMAZON HERE 📖

893. The Mystery of Lord Lucan (with Alastair Budge)

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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.

Lord Lucan’s disappearance followed the brutal murder of his children’s nanny, Sandra Rivett, and the attempted murder of his wife, Lady Lucan, for which he became the prime suspect. The case captivated the public’s imagination, blending elements of scandal, wealth, and the darker side of aristocratic life. Despite numerous alleged sightings and theories over the decades, Lord Lucan’s fate remains one of Britain’s most enduring enigmas. This episode covers the details of his life, the night of the crime, and the subsequent police investigation, offering insights into how a man of such high social standing could vanish so completely.

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Links

English Learning for Curious Minds

The Lord Lucan episode of ELfCM

Pioneers of the Continuum – A Time-Travelling Story for English Learners

884. British Music: Madness (with James)

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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!

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Check out this playlist of our favourite Madness music videos 👇

Watch “Take It Or Leave It” – The Madness film 👇

James wearing his old Madness t-shirt (probably in about 1984) 👇

Luke & James 👇

Ambient Anthology (by James)

875. Aepyornis Island by HG Wells (Learn English with a Short Story)

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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. PDF available below.

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https://youtu.be/u3pUtHNX7YQ

Get the full episode PDF here 👇 

875.-Aepyornis-Island-by-HG-Wells-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story-Lukes-English-PodcastDownload

851. Rambling about The Beatles “Now and Then” 🎸

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

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https://youtu.be/HodVrx34ihQ