Category Archives: Vocabulary

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.

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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 👇

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Other episodes with improvised stories like this one

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?

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

Get all my PDF notes here 👇


How to talk about HEATWAVES like a (sweaty) British man [995]

There has been an awful heatwave in Europe recently, with really high temperatures and a humid, sticky atmosphere. In this episode I ramble about the conditions, explore vocabulary with the words “hot” and “heat” and show the typical things British people say when the weather is boiling. Expect various funny tangents, anecdotes and improvisations, including a David Attenborough BBC nature documentary about Luke trying to buy lunch on a red-hot Paris boulevard, and plenty more. PDF notes available.

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https://youtu.be/cJniaswOsRs

Get the episode PDF with notes and full transcript 👇


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.

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https://youtu.be/P5YtZLwCGoE

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

Get the episode PDF here 👇


Haiku in English [974]

[974] In this episode I read out lots of haiku poems, explain their meaning, discuss what they make me think and feel, and use them to teach you some vocabulary. The haikus I read include some traditional Japanese ones translated into English, plus more modern ones written in English by writers from around the world. Some of these haikus are meditative, some are sad, some are funny and some find a way to capture feelings that are otherwise difficult to put into words.

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https://youtu.be/ChBppeQcLdY?si=udXCJ_a–0TpnEsO

Get the PDF here 👇


The Ramble Before Christmas [966] Listen & Learn English with Luke

Here is a super-long seasonal rambling episode to listen to while wrapping presents, finishing some last-minute gift shopping, or (if you don’t celebrate Christmas) just doing whatever you normally do in December. It’s long, but the more you listen, the more it will help your English 💪🎅.

I chat to you about LEPster listening habits in 2025 (Spotify Wrapped) 🎧, funny messages and emails from listeners📧, bits of grammar & vocab teaching ✍️, ChatGPT’s questionable teaching skills 🤖🤔, AI hallucinations, dreaming in English, responses to recent episodes, twelve jokes in the Comedy Corner, more funny comments from my daughter 👧, and another dramatic Hollywood-style action movie screenplay 🎥 Plus it all finishes with a vocabulary quiz covering the whole episode. Think of this as a Christmas stocking full of English practice, complete with cosy log-fire sounds 🔥 in the background.

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https://youtu.be/cZITWG6fgaU

Get the PDF with all my notes, the vocabualry quiz and vocabulary list 👇

LEP Premium – 20% off this December and January 👇


Luke on Other People’s Podcasts recently 👇

The Kit-Bag (Learn English with a Short Story) [965]

[965] It is traditional to tell a scary story at Christmas time, so here is one for this year’s festive season. The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood is a classic scary tale which will give you a chill, while you stay cosy and warm indoors this winter. Listen and I will explain a lot of vocabulary which comes up in the story.

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Get the episode PDF with story text and vocabulary list 👇

LEP Premium – 20% off this December and January 👇


The Door in the Wall (Learn English with a Short Story) [962]

[962] Time for another short story on LEP. This one is about a man who has a wondrous experience as a child, which then haunts him for the rest of his adult life. Listen as I read the story to you, and then ramble about its meaning, interpretations and how it evoked some strong memories and strange feelings in me. Then there is a vocabulary review which will continue in an upcoming premium series.

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Get the PDF with story script, notes and vocabulary list 👇


How to learn English with my podcast [959]

People keep asking me in comments, “How can I learn English with your podcast?” so in this episode I am answering that question as simply, directly and efficiently as possible. Expect advice about improving your English across the 4 skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing, and the language systems of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and discourse management. PDF available.

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Get the PDF with all my notes 👇


A Free Sample of LEP Premium Series 71 / Vocabulary & Pronunciation [958]

If you have ever wondered what happens in premium episodes, this episode will show you. I’ll play you some clips from the latest series (P71) including some vocabulary explanations, memory quiz questions, pronunciation practice and discussion questions for speaking practice. For the rest of the series, and all the other episodes of LEP Premium (now over 250, each with PDF worksheets and video versions) sign up and become a Premium LEPster today 🏆 https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium

[DOWNLOAD AUDIO]

https://youtu.be/gSgXzFH-olQ

Get the episode PDF 👇