[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.
What skills are involved in being a good writer? What makes a good piece of writing? How is writing different to speaking? What are the challenges faced by learners of English who want to write well, and what are some solutions to these challenges? How can AI help develop writing skills? And, what does it take to write your own book in English? These are all questions which I talk about in this episode, with the help of professional writer and returning guest Fabio Cerpelloni.
Unlike speaking, writing doesn’t disappear. Once it’s written, it’s there.
That can make learners nervous, but it’s also what makes writing powerful: you have time to shape, revise, and improve your message.
A good piece of writing:
Grammar and vocabulary matter, but effect on the reader matters more than sounding impressive or “advanced”.
Using complex vocabulary, idioms, or “advanced” expressions just to sound native can:
Clear, simple language often has more impact than complicated language.
Beyond exams and emails, writing is a powerful tool for:
Even imperfect English can work well if the message connects emotionally.
Good writing:
Organisation, coherence, and clarity all serve the reader — and improve impact.
Writing isn’t just about communicating ideas — it creates ideas.
If something feels hard to write, it often means the idea isn’t clear yet.
The struggle is part of the thinking process.
Strong writing often comes from removing, not adding:
“Less is more” — especially in emails and practical writing.
As Stephen King famously said:
“If you want to be a good writer, you must read a lot and write a lot.”
Reading helps you:
If you want to write emails, read emails.
If you want to write stories, read stories.
You don’t need to publish or be famous to be a writer.
Writing for yourself:
A writer is simply someone who writes.
In exams like Cambridge English, accuracy is only one criterion.
Higher priorities include:
Everything in your writing should serve the purpose of the task.
AI tools are useful for:
But they shouldn’t replace your thinking or your voice. Beware of letting AI do your writing for you – your own skills will not develop, and you will come across as unoriginal, indistinct and probably even lazy. Often, your reader wants to get the sense there is a person on the other side. Don’t be seduced by the dark side of the force. Sorry. I mean, don’t be seduced by the fact that ChatGPT will write flawlessly – with no errors. People can usually tell when something has been written by AI, and it doesn’t give a good impression of you.
Also, you need to question and evaluate what AI produces.
AI can make mistakes.
A reliable dictionary — like the Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries — remains the final authority for:
Writing doesn’t have to mean a 300-page book.
Small, achievable projects (emails, blog posts, short texts, “tiny books”) build:
Success encourages more writing. If you want to write well, write regularly.
Struggling with a paragraph doesn’t mean you’re bad at writing.
It usually means:
Difficulty is normal and productive.
Before writing, ask:
When purpose is clear, language choices become much easier.
[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.
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.
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.
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.
(Part 2 of 2) Let’s continue where we stopped in the last episode, by going through the rest of my list of funny English signs 🪧 from around the world. These signs are badly-written and have unintentionally funny double meanings. I will read out the signs, then explain what is funny and offer corrections to make the signs clearer. I will also explain vocabulary in the process. PDF available.
Let’s look at some funny examples of badly-worded signs from around the world (including UK & USA), which show the ambiguity and unintended consequences of unclear English. I analyse lots of signs, explaining the errors and offering improved versions, using them as teaching moments to illustrate grammatical and vocabulary points. The episode also features vocabulary explanations and corrections for the poorly written signs.
This is the first part of a series in which I share various little things which I have collected over the years for this podcast, including questions about English, some interesting talking points and some general motivation and inspiration for your English learning journey.
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.