562. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 2) Vocabulary explanations and discussions of hot topics from the last couple of years. Talking about some controversial political stuff like the rise of fascism and anti-fascism, the relative popularity of UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, and how the winter season changes people's feelings about romance and relationships. Transcript available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Cl italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Dec 10, 2018•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 562
561. The Collins Words of the Year (Part 1) The first part of an episode series about trending vocabulary - words which have been used a lot in the last couple of years. Listen to me talk about words chosen by Collins Dictionaries as their "Words of the Year". This first episode focuses on how publishers use big data and then lots of discussion about the 2017 word of the year, which was fake news . Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8pk italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Dec 07, 2018•1 hr 19 min
Talking to comedian Sarah Donnelly about how she writes her jokes, advice on public speaking and how to avoid nerves and negative feelings, performing stand-up comedy in another language, and more. Sarah is a comedian and language teacher from the US, now living in France. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8Bz italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Dec 03, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 560
559. The Rick Thompson Report: Brexit Chaos (November 2018) Talking to my dad, Rick Thompson, about recent developments in the story of Brexit - Britain's exit from the European Union. Recorded on 18 November 2018. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8z2 italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Nov 19, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 559
558. Rambling in the new Sky-Pod Another solo episode recorded in the new sky-pod. Talking about moving to the new flat, some podcast news, meeting Louis CK, WW1 remembrance, rock climbing and more... Some vocab is explained during the episode. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8xQ italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Nov 14, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 558
557. I'm a Rambling Guy (Monologue - Autumn 2018) A rambling monologue about my recent French test, a duck-related error, responses to the Alan Partridge episodes and the Russian comedy club video, moving out of the sky-pod, and life with my wife and daughter. A video version of this episode is available for Premium subscribers in the LEP app and online. www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium Yes, this episode is long… but you don’t have to listen to it in one sitting. Listen to a bit, then stop and go t...
Nov 01, 2018•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 557
Talking to English teacher Jessica Beck about her new website, "Honestly English" and some typical topics she talks about and teaches, including the #MeToo movement and our favourite female superheroes and comedians. Videos and links available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8uH italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Oct 24, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 556
555. Raphael Miller's Summer School Report Raphael Miller is back on the podcast to tell us about his experience of running a summer school for international teenagers in Liverpool. The conversation includes lots of stories and descriptions of what happened at the school this summer, including things like teenage sleeping habits, a Chinese celebrity teenager, the proper way to eat a pizza, piano-playing Italian wonder-kids, making tie-dye t-shirts, riding roller-coasters, and blossoming friendsh...
Oct 22, 2018•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 555
554. ODD NEWS STORIES (with Mum & Dad) Discussing some strange and funny news stories with my parents. Thanks to my Mum & Dad for their contribution to this episode. Transcripts and notes available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8u1 italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk Sign up for LEP Premium https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium...
Oct 18, 2018•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 554
553. Fighting Wildland Fires with Benny the Russian Firefighter Talking to firefighter Anton Beneslavsky (aka "Benny") who works as the leader of an international fire fighting project. We talk about becoming a firefighter, the work that he’s doing with Greenpeace around the world and the very serious threat of climate change. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8tv italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Oct 15, 2018•52 min•Ep. 553
552. Discussing Comedy & Culture (with Amber & Paul) Amber, Paul and I listen to a comedy video which is often sent to me by listeners to this podcast. The video is about the experience of trying to understand people when they speak English. Let's see what the pod-pals think of this comedy from another country. The conversation then turns to comedy, culture, language and some more Alan Partridge. I read out some listener comments at the end of the episode. Notes, transcripts and links av...
Oct 05, 2018•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 552
551. Catching Up with Amber & Paul #8 - Stereotypes Chatting to the pod-pals Amber & Paul again and this time the conversation turns to the subject of national stereotypes, and why Paul has bleached his hair blond. Notes & transcripts on the website. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8sg Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep
Oct 01, 2018•48 min•Ep. 551
550. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 3) This episode is long, but stick with it! This is the final part of this trilogy of British Comedy episodes about Alan Partridge, analysing some of the quieter and darker moments in Alan's life. Expect analysis of both the comedy and the language. Vocabulary lists and transcript available. Vocabulary lists and transcript available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8s9 italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Sep 28, 2018•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 550
549. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 2) Building on the previous episode, this time we're looking at how Alan Partridge interacts with people in his every day life and how this results in some classic moments of British TV comedy. All the material is explained with plenty of vocabulary to learn. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8rP italki offer https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Sep 26, 2018•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 549
548. British Comedy: Alan Partridge (Part 1) Continuing the comedy theme by analysing a character that most British people know but learners of English find difficult to understand. Check the page for the episode for transcripts, notes and videos. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8rv italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Sep 25, 2018•56 min•Ep. 548
Studying some jokes told by stand-up comedians at the Edinburgh Fringe comedy festival, and dissecting them for vocabulary. Learn English with some jokes and find out about typical joke structures used by stand-up comedians. Transcripts and jokes available. https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8rf
Sep 19, 2018•43 min•Ep. 547
546. Death by Meteor This episode is called Death By Meteor and it’s all about asteroids, space, science, maths, astrophysics and the end of the world! Transcript available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8qA italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Sep 11, 2018•56 min•Ep. 546
545. The Hitchhiker by Roald Dahl (Short Story) Learn English with this short story by British writer Roald Dahl. Introduction transcript and short story link available on the episode page, here https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8qm italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk :)
Sep 07, 2018•44 min•Ep. 545
544. The Rick Thompson Report: No Deal Brexit Talking to my dad about the current Brexit situation, including what could actually happen in the UK if we leave the EU with no deal. Expect language relating to politics, economics and the big issues of the day. Intro and outtro transcripts available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8pp Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep
Aug 27, 2018•49 min•Ep. 544
Talking about the creepy subject of eating insects, which might be the solution to many of the problems that humans face as a species. This episode includes discussion of eating habits, environmental issues and some insect-related idioms and expressions. Transcripts and vocabulary lists available. Bon appetit! Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8nD italki offer http://www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk :)...
Aug 23, 2018•57 min•Ep. 543
542. Talking Rubbish & Just Having Fun with The Thompsons Talking to my dad, mum and brother about all manner of topics, including: Space, climbing mountains, British comedy, fishing, earworms, tattoos, David Beckham, jokes, citizenship tests, baby monkeys, ghosts and celebrity impressions. Intro and outtro transcripts available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8oV italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Aug 21, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 542
541. What British People Say vs What They Mean Examining British communication style and debunking a few myths about how British people communicate. This episode is based on a famous infographic called "What British People Say vs What They Really Mean" or "The Anglo-EU Translation Guide". It contains lots of thoughts about how direct and indirect cultures communicate with each other, and some samples of business English, with a few improvised scenarios too! Transcript available. Episode page htt...
Jul 31, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 541
540. What’s Up? Post World Cup / News / LEP Meetup London / Super Mario Earworms Giving some news, summing up the World Cup, England out, France win, and some chat about music that gets stuck in your head. Get some English stuck in your head with this episode. Transcript available! Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8mW italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Jul 21, 2018•55 min•Ep. 540
More football episodes - but it won't last forever! In this one I'm in England talking to my Dad and my brother about the world cup so far including England's performances, World Cup songs, diving, VAR and predictions for the semi finals. Enjoy! Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8kI italic offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Jul 09, 2018•59 min•Ep. 539
Talking about the second round of the World Cup in Russia, including comments about the teams, the games, the issues, England's penalties vs Colombia and the way football commentators speak. Listener comments are read out. Notes available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8la Spoken offer www.getspoken.com/lep
Jul 05, 2018•57 min•Ep. 538
537. How Olly Richards Learns a Language (Part 2) Intermediate Plateau / The Magic of Story / Pronunciation & Personality / Classroom vs Self-Guided Learning The rest of my conversation with polyglot Olly Richards, talking about how to overcome the intermediate plateau, the magic of story, pronunciation and identity issues, and self-guided learning. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8kw italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Jul 02, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 537
536. How Olly Richards Learns a Language (Part 1) Compelling Material / Input-based Learning Talking to polyglot Olly Richards about the benefits of listening, reading and using stories to learn English. Full of insights and strategies for effective language learning. Transcripts and notes available. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-8k5 italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk...
Jun 29, 2018•58 min•Ep. 536
535. World Cup 2018 [1] Talking about the World Cup 2018 in Russia, including comments about the teams, players, groups, VAR and England's performances. Notes & transcripts available. Episode page italki offer www.teacherluke.co.uk/talk
Jun 26, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 535
LEP Premium is ready - www.teacherluke.co.uk/premium This is an announcement to let you know that LEP Premium is now ready to go.
Jun 22, 2018•19 min
534. Sugar Sammy Interview (Part 2) Language & Comedy Part 2 of my chat with Canadian stand-up comedian Sugar Sammy, talking about his 4 languages, TV shows from our childhood, copying Indian accents, language-related controversy in Quebec, Sammy’s crowd-work skills, stories of difficult gigs in the UK, and our thoughts on recent Star Wars films. At the end of the episode you can hear my spoiler-free review of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. Transcriptions and notes available. Episode page https:...
Jun 15, 2018•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 534
