Category Archives: Interview

936. How AI Can Boost Your English with LEP (feat. Alastair Budge)

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/68ECoRwRkrA

Get the PDF with all prompts, and a full episode transcript 👇

936. How AI Can Boost Your English with LEP (feat. Alastair Budge)Download


934. Sign Language is Fascinating (with Siobhan Dodd)

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/OwOdynFdDYg

Get the episode transcript here 👇

934. Sign Language is Fascinating (with Siobhan Dodd)Download

Siobhan’s Links

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

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

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

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

929. Sarah Donnelly_ The Only American In Paris US vs UK Accent QuizDownload

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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

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

924. Walaa Mouma Returns (Part 1) PhD Studies in Wales & Teaching English for Refugees

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/G8S29ICPKVM

Links for English with Walaa

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9ythdvbKKM&t=1s&ab_channel=Luke%27sEnglishPodcast
924. Walaa Mouma Returns (Part 1) PhD Studies in Wales & Teaching English for RefugeesDownload

921. From Comedy to Cosy Crime (with Ian Moore)

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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 in the French countryside, writing books on trains, and why his COVID lockdown was actually great. Includes comprehension questions and a PDF transcript.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/0iitR4Ve3XU?si=Vx_Y8NiOJpMeSkbN

Get the PDF transcript here 👇

921. From Comedy to Cosy Crime (with Ian Moore)Download

909. The Existential Threat of AI to Human Civilisation (Topic & Vocabulary)

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YgV55DZPQ0&ab_channel=Luke%27sEnglishPodcast

Episode PDF (with detailed vocabulary list at the bottom)

909. The Existential Threat of AI to Human CivilisationDownload

Vocabulary List (check the PDF for definitions, examples and comments)

  • deeply profound
  • to exceed human intelligence
  • raising concerns
  • potential
  • to pose existential threats
  • autonomous lethal actions
  • significant
  • regulation
  • applications
  • lacking
  • widen
  • the wealth gap
  • plumbing
  • statistical tricks
  • competent
  • neural network
  • massively exceed
  • be in doubt 
  • subservient to 
  • given
  • spectrum
  • legislation
  • clause
  • military applications
  • willing to
  • restrict
  • the thin end of the wedge
  • autonomously
  • the like
  • restrain
  • from
  • well ahead of
  • slightly ahead of
  • distinguish
  • go rogue
  • take over
  • be putting huge resources into
  • mundane
  • productivity
  • wealth
  • equally distributed
  • the gap between rich and poor
  • right-wing populists
  • starving
  • the rent
  • stand back
  • consulted
  • Downing Street
  • Confront
  • To rein something in
  • have no teeth
  • reputation
  • my best bet
  • plumbing
  • physical manipulation
  • hopeless

What do you think? Leave your comments below 👇

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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

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

👉 GET THE BOOK ON AMAZON HERE 📖

891. The Bilingual Journalist (with Charles Pellegrin)

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

My guest today is Charles Pellegrin, a bilingual (English & French) journalist working for the TV channel France 24. Charles currently works as the presenter of a morning business program, but used to be based in China, where he lived in Beijing for 3 years. Charles also does stand-up comedy in English, which is how I know him, and we are doing a 2-man show together this Friday, 19 July 2024 (details below).

In this conversation we talk about why reporters speak in a certain way when they read the news, how the conventions of broadcast journalism influence the way the English is used, how Charles started as a journalist, the challenge of making TV news reports, our experiences at university, the Olympics in Paris and whether it will be beneficial for France, and Charles’ experiences of living and working in China.

Links

Luke & Charles’ stand-up comedy show in Paris on 19 July

Charles on Instagram & X
https://www.instagram.com/chpilgrim/
https://www.x.com/chpilgrim/ https://www.instagram.com/charles_pellegrinf24/

889. Job Interview Swagger (with Natasha V. Broodie)

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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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

Links 👇

📖 Click here to get Natasha’s book “Swaggart” on Amazon.

✨ More information about Natasha’s book, on her website here.

Luke’s stand-up comedy in Paris on 19 July. Reserve your seat here (choose 19 July)