Luke's English Podcast is an award-winning podcast for learners of English. Listen, learn and have fun while picking up natural British English as it really is spoken. http://teacherluke.co.uk
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In 2009 I did a solo travelling experience around Vietnam, and I wrote a diary while I was there. In this episode, over 16 years later, I read out the diary, follow my descriptions of each part of my trip, explore how I was feeling at that time of my life, go off on some comedy and English teaching tangents, and take a journey into the past, across a very different country. Get the episode transcript PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Vietnam-Travelling-Diary-992-Transcr...
A bonus mid-week episode previewing the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America. I'll be talking about all the teams, the favourites, the underdogs, the wild cards, the dark horse teams, England's chances, plus various issues and controversies both on and off the pitch. Comments are welcome! This is a bonus episode, and you will get another normal episode (no football) on Monday. Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/BONUS-FIFA-WORLD-CUP-2026-PREVIEW-MEGARAMBLE.pd...
[991] A conversation with English teacher / comedian / cake maker Kate Billington, talking about her academic qualifications, cutting edge subtitling technology for theatres, questions of teaching English including teaching in Taiwan vs in France, Kate's tips for language learning, a cat-village in Taiwan, traffic madness, earthquakes, signage in train stations, using flashcard apps to learn English, testing Kate's Chinese by making her translate jokes, and drinking coffee in Taipei! Just that! ...
An epic rambling episode packed with British humour, listener emails, anecdotes, English teaching, thoughts about AI, parenting, podcasting, language learning, YouTube comments, animals listening to LEP, British communication styles, and much more. Get the episode PDF 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/RAMBLEMAN_-Into-the-Ramble-zone-990_compressed.pdf Episode page on my website 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2026/05/25/rambleman-into-the-ramble-zone-990/ Sign up to LEP Premiu...
In this episode of Luke’s English Podcast, I chat with my 8-year-old daughter as we answer a series of absurd questions, including funny Would You Rather...? questions, imaginative What if...?questions, food questions, science questions, superpowers, animals, fairy tales and more. This is a natural, funny and heart-warming English conversation full of real spoken English, perfect for English learners who want to improve their listening skills, vocabulary, pronunciation and fluency. 📄 Get the PD...
This episode features Luke and James critically examining the current state of artificial intelligence. They delve into the concept of the "AI bubble," discussing whether the massive investments and futuristic predictions align with its real-world utility and profitability. The conversation covers personal experiences with AI tools like ChatGPT, the challenges of monetization and infrastructure, ethical concerns around deepfakes and job displacement, and the ultimate value of human creativity and connection against AI's imperfections.
[987] British English listening practice at a natural speed with surprising facts and lots of humour. Pod-pals Amber & Paul join me for an outlandish and outrageous "true or false" quiz 📝. Can Amber and Paul decide if these facts are true, or just total bulls#*t (or maybe that should be b*llocks ?) The episode is long, the English is fast, but the jokes come regularly and I promise that you will learn something new. ⚠️Warning: some topics are a bit disgusting, graphic or explicit and not fo...
Another short story on LEP to entertain you and help you learn some more English words and expressions. This one is a creepy tale about a room in a house with a strange, fatal attraction. People can't stop themselves going through the door, but then what happens to them? Follow along with me and try to understand the final, crucial line at the end. I will explain everything, analyse the vocabulary line by line and teach you plenty of useful English phrases. PDF available as usual! Get the episod...
A funny British English conversation about food, cooking & eating habits, with my friend Martin. Why is British food a bit of a joke? Do French people have the right to criticise British cuisine? What is marmite, and why don't Brits just throw it away? What did Luke eat for lunch every single day during secondary school? And, who would be Luke's dream dinner party guests? All that and more, in a conversation full of tangents, recipes, rants and apologies, and a nice range of vocabulary expre...
[984] English listening practice in the form of an authentic conversation about ghosts and the paranormal. Returning guest Anna Brooke returns to talk about her latest book "Death by Chocolate" which is inspired by various spooky and unexplained experiences she has had recently, including a suspected haunting of her apartment, poltergeist activity, cold and creepy atmospheres, sightings of spirits and more strange encounters. Anna describes these experiences and we have a discussion about the pa...
Practise your listening in English with a fascinating conversation with a writer of haiku poetry in English. John Stevenson is one of the world's leading English language haiku poets, and in this episode I had the pleasure of talking to him for an hour. John taught me more about haiku and senryu poetry, revealed how he first became interested in haiku, and then was willing to discuss various haiku poems he has written over the years, giving details of what real events inspired them, what they me...
Haiku poems communicate a lot of ideas, thoughts and feelings into just a few simple words. They can be moving, humourous or meditative, and reading haiku in English allows you to learn vocabulary in a very interesting way. In part 1 I talked about the form and history of haiku, and read out various short poems in English from both Japanese writers and modern English ones. In part 2 here I finish reading my haiku selection, including many written by English-language haiku master John Stevenson. ...
Luke discusses the classic "glass half empty or full" dilemma, examining scientific research on what makes us optimistic or pessimistic, its impact on health, and how these outlooks are expressed in English. He provides a wealth of vocabulary and phrases, then focuses on how an optimistic yet realistic mindset can significantly improve language learning by enhancing persistence, reducing anxiety, and fostering a growth mindset.
Practise listening to British English conversation and enjoy some complaining, ranting and funny anecdotes in this episode based on the concept of a popular BBC TV chat show. My guest is Charlie Baxter from The British English Podcast. Charlie has chosen 3 things which he wants to be locked inside the mythical "Room 101" 🚪 an imaginary place where all the things you hate in the world are stored forever. What would Charlie like to remove from the world to be kept inside this room? And what is th...
Time to learn English with another short story on Luke's English Podcast. Listen to the story and my comments, then learn vocabulary as I break down the text line by line and teach you English in context. This time it is a funny little tale written by Saki - the English author and master of the short story. A mischievous lad is punished by his strict aunt, but who ends up having the last laugh? Get the episode PDF with story text 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Lumber...
Following my chat with my mum last week, now it's my dad's turn! In this episode my plan was to ask my dad lots of questions about his life, and to listen to him talking about the various choices he has made, and experiences he has had, as well as details about his parents. The result is another deep chat about family history, and my dad's life story. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. Full transcript available. Get the episode transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.c...
Luke interviews his mum about her life story and family history, covering topics like her childhood, growing up in post-war Britain, her early career as a secretary, and her experience with motherhood. They discuss the importance of asking parents about their lives, the generational divide, and the evolving expectations for women and parenting. This conversation offers a personal look into family dynamics and societal changes.
Here's an epic rambling episode in which I talk about learning English with BBC Radio and TV 📻 vocabulary 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 listening and learning from me to you. #learnenglish #britishenglish #englishlistening 👉 Get the episode PDF https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/20...
Luke and Fabio Cerpelloni explore what makes good writing, emphasizing reader impact and emotional connection over mere accuracy. They delve into common struggles for English learners, such as over-reliance on 'advanced' vocabulary, and provide solutions like extensive reading and cutting 'fluff.' The conversation also examines how AI can serve as a powerful assistant for language questions, advocating for its wise and critical use in developing writing skills.
In this episode, Luke introduces listeners to haiku, exploring its Japanese origins, structure, and modern adaptations. He reads and analyzes numerous haiku poems, from traditional Japanese translations to contemporary English ones, discussing their imagery, emotional depth, and vocabulary. The episode also highlights a listener's personal journey, demonstrating how a passion for haiku can significantly inspire English language development, despite an abrupt ending due to unforeseen circumstances.
Back by popular demand, here is another Sherlock Holmes short story on LEP. This one tells the suspenseful tale of a young engineer 👷 who accepts a well-paid but mysterious job. In classic horror movie style, he ignores so many red flags 🚩 and warnings ⚠️ and ends up paying the price for it! But, can Holmes and Watson make sure that justice is served? I tell the story and explain some details and words along the way. Story text and summaries available on the episode PDF. Get the PDF with story...
[972] I talk with multilingual actor Ivan Doan about his multicultural background, his learning of languages and his work as an actor. Ivan shares his insights and experiences of learning English, dealing with different accents in film & TV roles, and the importance of mindset and discipline in his life. There are plenty of language learning insights in this episode, which I summarise at the end. Full transcript available. Get the episode PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-conten...
[971] Part 2 of 2. Here is the continuation of last week's episode about changes you can make to your lifestyle, mindset and habits in order to become a better learner of English in 2026. Each of these tips is backed up by scientific research from the fields of psychology and psycholinguistics, with insights into human behaviour and thinking processes that result in better learning. Full PDF available. Get the episode PDF here 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/9-Science-bas...
[970] Part 1 of 2. An English podcast about simple habits you can introduce in your life, to be in top condition for learning English all year long. This is all backed up by scientific research into how our brains work, how we learn language, and how little changes in our behaviour can help us perform better and achieve more in the time we are given. Includes top advice for preparing yourself to be a great learner of English in 2026. Part 2 will be available next week. Get the episode PDF 👉 htt...
[969] It's time for the annual World News Quiz with 20 questions about some of the curious news stories of 2025. Stephen Devincenzi from the SEND7 podcast is the quizmaster. Can you I improve on my poor performance from last year? Can you beat me? Take a trip through some news highlights from this year. Full transcript available as usual. ⛑️ Donate to MSF today to help people in need https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ 📄 Get the PDF transcript 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/...
Luke, Amber, and Paul delve into Collins Dictionary's Words of the Year 2025, exploring terms like "vibe coding," "aura farming," and "biohacking." The discussion touches on the profound impact of AI, the evolving nature of online identity, and the commercialization of health and personal lives. They also examine the precariousness of influencer careers and the ethical implications of extreme wealth.
[967] A conversation in the podcastle with my pals Amber & Paul. In this one we chat about Paul's ambitious international marathon plans (what is he running from exactly?) what Amber knows about the famous robbery of the Louvre this year, and Paul's dramatic "Jason Bourne" situation which he faced in West Africa recently. Listen to some spontaneous conversation between friends in English. Full transcript available. 🔗 Episode page 👉 https://teacherluke.co.uk/2025/12/22/robbing-the-louvre-es...
[966] Here is a super-long seasonal rambling episode, which you can 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. This is a long one, but the more you listen, the more it will help your English! 💪🎅 📄 Get the PDF with all my notes here https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Ramble-Before-Christmas-966-Episode-PDF.pdf 🔗 Episode page on my website https://teach...
Luke shares Algernon Blackwood's classic ghost story, "The Kit-Bag," traditionally told at Christmas, where a man is haunted by the specter of a recently acquitted murderer and a sinister piece of luggage. Following the gripping tale, Luke provides an extensive breakdown of key vocabulary and phrases, offering a comprehensive English learning experience.
In this audio-only episode today you can join me at home as I potter around, and take time to relax while recording a rambling episode for you to enjoy. Enjoy the sounds of street noise outside, and my attempts to find the most comfortable spot in my flat where I can ramble about various things, including several robberies in Paris - one of which is the famous heist at the Louvre museum, where burglars broke in and stole precious jewels worth millions, in broad daylight. The other robbery was mo...
