Category Archives: language

Luke’s Improvised Storytelling: Jurassic Park 🦖 [1004] Listen & Learn English

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 adventure, Jurassic Park (the original and best in the franchise).

Listen as I tell the story from the point of view of one of the main characters. Notice the phrases and descriptive words I use, and check the PDF transcript later to reinforce your learning through reading. In the second half of the episode to hear my own self-corrections and feedback, focusing on better vocabulary and scientific terms I could have used in the episode.

Improvising this version of the story was both a challenge, and a lot of fun for me! You can try it too. No need to use the original plot – feel free to get creative and just have fun telling your own version of a story you know well.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

Get the PDF transcript here 👇

For my premium series based on this episode (coming soon) with vocabulary review and pronunciation practice (chunking) sign up to LEP Premium here 👇

Luke’s English Podcast Premium


Other episodes with improvised stories like this one

Testing My Friends on English Grammar / Irregular Verbs with Amber & Paul 🎯 [1003]

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 revealing demonstration of how English native speakers process grammar in their first language.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/3Y5KpLXsMSQ


Neuroscience & Learning English 🧠 11 Surprising Facts [1002]

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?

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/5skWbChJy-8?si=tJNMrbJc8LusFp7C

Get all my PDF notes here 👇


Real English Learning Stories from Around the World 🌏 Listener Comments & Questions [1001]

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 research-backed insights into the language learning benefits of listening to my rambling episodes.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/a5lYa-U2fX4?si=vQRQrwl2zSPYm9Rx

Get the PDF here with all my notes 👇

Episode 1000! 🎉

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 years. Also, regular interruptions from my daughter and all sorts of other random moments such as the sounds of dogs, woodpeckers, neighbours, and more! Thank you to all the LEPsters around the world and my guests for helping to make this achievement possible! ❤️

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/7PH5cAxtF3A

Get the PDF transcript here 👇


Debating Skills in English (with Ray Addam) [996]

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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

Get the PDF transcript 👇

Links for Ray

Ray’s Preply profile, where students can book one-to-one English tuition with him 👇

Ray’s school website, where students can access his courses and join live group sessions to practise English together, as well as develop soft skills such as debating and public speaking 👇


London Accents & Study Tips with Patricio Languages 🗣️🇬🇧 [994]

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 also chat about Patricio’s study routines for learning Spanish and Portuguese. So, plenty of insights about British English pronunciation, how to understand native English speakers, and some tips for language learning. Perfect topics for another episode of LEP, right? Full transcript available, and listen all the way to the end to hear me turn into a proper cockney geezer.

[DOWNLOAD]

Get the episode PDF 👇

Check out Patricio’s channel on YouTube 📺

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MHhqByqYiw

And why not go for a trip up north to Manchester?

And this is an interesting look at how Patricio studies Brazilian Portuguese 👇

Some more episodes about accents that I have done

This one isn’t about accents specifically, but Paul does some funny cockney impressions – “It is baking Dave” etc

Music, Marketing & Memories with Jez Booker [993]

In this episode I reconnect with an old friend after 25+ years of not seeing each other. Expect a chat full of natural English expressions and slang, plus some marketing vocabulary, as Jez and I reminisce and jog each other’s memories of things we did together years ago, and talk about Jez’s career and recent projects.  Check out the premium episode accompanying this conversation: P82 Vocabulary Quiz for LEP992.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

Check out Jez’s channel “Get Out” 👇

https://www.youtube.com/@getoutfilms

Get the PDF transcript 👇

Check out the vocabulary preview/review for this episode in P82 Vocabualry Quiz for LEP993 with Jez Booker – available now with LEP Premium.


Is the glass half empty, or half full? (Vocabulary & Discussion) [981]

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.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVUXSK5Wamw

Get the episode PDF with all my notes and questions 👇


RAMBLEMANIA: 3+ Hours of English Listening & Learning with Luke [976]

[976] Here’s an epic rambling episode in which I talk about learning English with BBC Radio and TV 📻 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 from me to you.

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/P5YtZLwCGoE

A Phrasal Verb a Day Podcast 👉 https://apvad.libsyn.com

Get the episode PDF here 👇