This episode of Luke's English Podcast focuses on how to effectively improve English language skills in 2025 by leveraging podcasts, particularly his own, emphasizing consistent listening and active engagement.
Mind Map
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hello happy New Year it's 2025 can you
believe it
2025 it's crazy isn't it science fiction
stuff anyway in this episode I'll be
talking about learning English with my
podcast if you're considering listening
to a podcast this year to improve your
English then I think this is an
excellent idea of course and I'll tell
you exactly why during the episode and
exactly how you can do it so loads of
advice and motivation to pump you up for
the year ahead learning English Eng yes
you've probably noticed that this
episode is quite long compared to other
podcasts because I just have a habit of
talking a lot which hopefully is what
you wanted anyway when you press play on
this episode but anyway I promise that
if you just start listening and you
follow my words then you will find that
the time goes by very quickly and before
you know it you will have listened to
the entire thing which by the way is
about 16,000 words in English all in
sentences all with correct grammar and
pronunciation all of that English will
go directly into your brain and will
have an immensely positive and
beneficial effect on your ability to use
this language yourself later don't feel
you need to listen to the entire thing
in one go you can just listen to it in
stages if you prefer just pause and come
back later to continue There are useful
things to learn all the way through the
episode plus plus some special things at
the end there's a PDF for this episode
by the way with a full transcript more
or less you can use it to check what
you've heard and to note down vocabulary
items check spelling and do other types
of studying if you look at the PDF
you'll see some bits of English
highlighted in a lurid orange color
these are just some bits of vocabulary
that you could notice and perhaps try to
pick up from the episode they're all
multi-word phrases rather than just
single items of vocabulary and at the
end of the PDF you'll find all of those
highlighted phrases in a list there's
about 18 of them so not too many they're
all in a list with example sentences and
definitions and you'll also find a
vocabulary quiz and some other exercises
to help you remember those phrases and
check that you've really understood them
you'll also find some discussion
questions at the end of the PDF which
you can use to practice your speaking
with all of this vocabulary how can you
get the PDF you might be ask in well
you'll just find a link for it in the
episode show notes and also on the page
for this episode on my website the links
are in the description and it's all
free you're welcome also if you listen
until the end of the entire episode uh
you can get a special certificate of
achievement with 100 bonus points and a
shiny gold medal from me to you as a
special reward for being so wonderful
all of that is waiting for you at the
end of the PDF but you can only claim it
if you listen to the entire thing so I
hope you enjoy episode 916 of my
podcast and that it helps you make
progress with your English in 2025 and
Beyond so now let's start as we mean to
continue and begin this episode properly
and I'm now going to start reading from
the PDF okay so you can get it ready if
you want um and we're going to do that
right now so here we go Pew right so
hello happy New Year this is my first
episode of 2025 let's hope this is going
to be a good year a productive year a
positive year and a generally fantastic
year for you and your English let's
start 2025 on a positive note by putting
our best foot forward in this new year
period what I usually do on my podcast
is record an episode like this to
welcome new listeners who might have
recently discovered the show hello to
welcome back old listen listeners hello
again to reestablish the main aims of
this podcast and to talk about how this
podcast can help you with your English
so I'm going to talk about the
importance of listening um in your
learning of English how podcasts can
help with that and specifically how you
can use my podcast to improve your
English in various ways over the next 12
months and Beyond I will also share some
comments and testimonials from people
who listen to this podcast in 2024 and
whose English English definitely
improved as a result lots of listeners
have written to me over the last few
weeks and describ their experiences of
improving their English with this
podcast and I would like to share their
experiences and tips with
you so this is episode 916 learning
English in 2025 with Luke's English
podcast I'm Luke Thompson hello and this
is my podcast for Learners of English
around the world just in case you're new
to the show let me introduce myself so
you know who you're listening to and
learning English with so um yeah I'm
Luke and that's Luke not luck not look
not Luke's not Luca not Lucas no it's
Luke uh like Luke Skywalker from Star
Wars so I'm from England in the UK so I
speak British English that's what you're
hearing right now I come from both West
London and the West Midlands if that is
possible which it is um so two parts of
England I spent time in both places
growing up as a child um I lived in eing
in West London until the age of nine and
then my family moved to a small village
in the middle of nowhere in the
countryside near
Birmingham in the center of England not
far from Stratford upon aen where
Shakespeare was born and also not far
from wari which has one of the country's
most impressive medieval castles you
might have been there so those are the
two places I'm from West London and the
West Midlands so I'm both a city boy and
a country
boy in terms of my accent I don't have a
particularly strong Regional British
accent you could say that I speak with a
standard British accent which is
generally called modern RP that's
received pronunciation which is the
general name for the accent that you
often hear on the BBC or which is
associated with the pheic chart in
English as presented in Oxford or
Cambridge dictionaries
I spent half my upbringing in the
Midlands so you might notice occasional
traces of that accent in my voice but
not much really and another half of my
upbringing in London so you might also
be able to hear a bit of London possibly
but basically I speak modern received
pronunciation from the southern half of
England I pronounce bath grass path
laugh and podcast with an a sound and
not an a sound
so that would be bath grass path laugh
podcast so I say uh bath grass path
laugh podcast this distinction is a is a
general indication of whether you're
from the North or the south of England
right so um in the South it's podcast
podcast right uh I'm going to have a
bath and listen to a
podcast that would be in the south of
England and generally speaking in the
sort of northern half of England it it
would be I'm going to have a bath and
listen to a podcast anyway so I speak
modern Southern British English receive
pronunciation that's my accent so I've
been teaching English for nearly 25
years now in classrooms with groups of
adults from all over the world uh I
started doing that in 2001 and have
never left the classroom since except to
go to the toilet obviously but what I
mean is that I have never stopped being
a teacher um I first became an English
teacher when I did my Sela that's the
certificate the Cambridge certificate in
English language teaching to adults in
2001 and later I did the Delta as well
that's the diploma in English language
teaching to adults in my time as a
teacher I've met thousands of Learners
of English from different countries and
help them to improve their English I've
always made the same amount of effort
with all my students I just try to teach
English to whoever is in front of me but
the ones who made the most progress were
the ones who had the right approach and
the right mindset
because you can lead a horse to water
but you can't make it drink I don't know
if you know this saying you can lead a
horse to water but you can't make it
drink I've always felt as a teacher that
there's only so much I can do for you I
might be responsible for about 50% of
the learning you can do which is
obviously a lot isn't it I mean it's not
everything it's half isn't it obviously
you're responsible for the other 50%
maybe more in fact maybe it's more like
2080 sort of 20% me 80% you but
basically I can't learn English for you
I can help but ultimately only you can
learn English for yourself so the old
saying goes you can lead a horse to
water but you can't make it drink that's
a bit like how it is for me as an
English teacher obviously in this in
this analogy you're the
horse right I'm leading you to water and
water in this case is English so I can
provide the conditions for your learning
facilitate it as best I can encourage
you provide you with English input
answer your questions about the language
give you words you need correct your
pronunciation and grammar and also
Entertain You while doing it but
ultimately the responsibility to take
control of your learning and make sure
it actually happens that responsibility
lies with you and it's always worth
remembering that what you're going to
see on the PDF next is a picture to
represent the expression you could lead
a horse to water but you can't make it
drink and you can see a picture there of
a a man who's obviously led a horse to
some water and he's pointing at the
horse saying and now drink this and as I
said before I'm the man right who's LED
you to the water you're the horse and
the water is English and I I made this
uh image you can see it on the PDF if
you're listening to this you can you can
just check it out for yourself I made
this using uh generative Ai and it's
amazing what you can do with AI these
days obviously um but sometimes when it
does make these images they do end up
being a bit weird if you look carefully
you can see strange details like for
example in this one the man here has got
three arms and this is obviously me in
the picture right so I don't know why I
have three arms in this picture uh
that's just one of those weird things
that uh like chat GPT does when it makes
images so that's a bit weird anyway does
that help would that help me be a better
teacher I suppose so I could kind of
point at something with one hand write
something with another hand and um I
don't know gesticulate with the with a
third hand I suppose so this is one of
the reasons why you know I'm considered
to be such a a a fantastic teacher is
because I have three arms most teachers
only have two but I've got three if
you're watching the video version my
third arm is just it's just having a
little nap at the moment anyway in my
experience the students who know this
you know that that they have to take
responsibility for their for their
learning and that they can't shift the
responsibility to someone else like a
teacher that they're paying to do uh a
lot of work the students who know this
and really apply themselves to their
learning actively and actually love it
these are the ones who have the most
success and who make my job a genuine
pleasure so feeding your love and
enthusiasm for learning English in any
way you can is a very healthy thing to
do and if you if you are a horse and I
lead you to some lovely fresh water
drink it or if you're not a horse and
you're in fact a human who wants to
learn English and I lead you to where
all the nice English is then just go
ahead and learn it over the years I've
taught countless General English classes
but also business English legal English
exam courses for IELTS and other
Cambridge tests as well as some slightly
more specialized and specific
what happened what happened to his voice
I don't know as well as some slightly
more specialized and specific English
courses which were really interesting
including deep breath English for
doctors English for journalists English
for ministers and state secretaries in
the Norwegian and Swedish governments
bit random English for waiters English
for the oil and gas Industries lot of
people from Kazakhstan on that one
English for airport staff English for
French uh French train drivers and all
manner of other people in different
walks of life so I guess what I'm trying
to say is that I'm a qualified and
experienced teacher with a particular
set of skills and three arms so don't
worry you're in safe hands with me three
of them in fact three safe
hands um I have other things I would
love to bore you with about me and my
career and stuff but I want to make sure
I stick to the point here which is all
about you and your learning of English
in 2025 so let let me now move on to
talk about making a fresh start with
your English and New Year's
resolutions so at this time of year a
lot of people choose to turn over a new
Leaf make a fresh start and brush up on
their English maybe that's you is that
you are you making a fresh start with
your English at this
moment Maybe not maybe maybe just one
year kind of just Blends in with another
year and it's more of the same thing
just under a different name I don't know
but maybe you've made a New Year's
resolution to improve your English
skills and you're determined to stick to
it this year if that is the case
fantastic that's great The Next Step
though is actually to make it happen and
this is all about building good habits
into your daily life that will make it
easier for you to achieve your goal and
then keep going every day long term all
through the year it seems to me of
course that subscribing to a podcast and
listening to new episodes when they
arrive has to be one of the best ways to
help you to do this listening to
podcasts in English on a regular basis
is a relatively new thing podcasts
didn't exist until fairly recently and
we should all feel lucky about that we
live at a time when technology makes it
easier than ever to learn a language
podcasts and other Tech are quietly
revolutionizing the way people learn
English years ago people never had
access to this kind of Lively fresh
audio English content now you have all
sorts of interesting things to listen to
in English which are made specifically
for you a learner of English to listen
to so do it listen to this stuff it can
make a huge difference to your English
longterm and I'll talk about why and how
later in this episode so most people
give up their New Year's resolutions
right now do you make New Year's
resolutions have you made one this year
most people give up after a few weeks
don't they we've all done it whether
it's going on a diet stopping
smoking cutting down on your drinking
eating more healthily reading a book
every evening trying not to pick your
nose so much or something else we all
start with the best of intentions but
then somewhere along the line maybe in
March you just lose that sense of
self-discipline and let things slide and
eventually you're back to your old
habits this happens to most of us why
well I expect it's because of one or all
of the following reasons and I'm now
going to go through some reasons why
people give up their New Year's
resolutions and I think this also
applies to learning English and why some
people give up doing that too so
basically watch out for these things so
you might give up your New Year's
resolution because a the thing you're
trying to do is actually quite boring
and not particularly enjoyable so
perhaps you just know it's important to
do it or someone is imposing it on you
but there's no real motivation from
within you uh to do it and you just
don't find it personally enjoyable or
stimulating it's like an external
obligation rather than an internal
desire or
drive for example I know it's important
to keep fit and I tried signing up to a
gym a few years ago and I used to go
every week but frankly I hated it and as
as a result I just quit going I didn't
like spending time around the people
there I didn't like the look of the
place I didn't enjoy any of the
exercises and simply doing it because it
was healthy was not enough of a
motivation for me signing up to the gym
was not the right way for me to keep fit
and so that particular New Year's
resolution died after a few months so
when it comes to doing exercise for me
there needs to be more fun involved or
some other reason for doing it and the
exercise ends up happening as a
consequence like playing football I know
why I'm doing that to win the game or to
score a goal or whatever or just to
enjoy playing I like the game and
exercise happens as a consequence going
for a long walk is similar I know why
I'm doing it because I get to see
interesting things and I can clear my
head the exercise happens as a
consequence going to the gym though I
didn't find it it enjoyable in and of
itself I just used to look around and
think this is ridiculous everyone is
just crowded into this dark room running
on the spot and not going anywhere it
doesn't make much sense to me now maybe
the gym works for you but it's it's not
for me so my point is what you're trying
to do has got to be an enjoyable
entertaining experience or at least
something that you are happy to do I
mean the way you're choosing to do it
you have to find the way that works for
you or that suits you it's the same with
learning English it doesn't have to be a
chore uh there are various ways you can
do this so you can explore different
ideas until you find something that
clicks listening to interesting and
entertaining podcasts is one of those
things and I get quite a lot of messages
from people who say they've become
addicted to the show largely because
it's a pleasant stimulating cozy
experience and this is actually a
surprise because previously learning
English was something that felt like
homework now self-discipline is also
important it's not all a walk in the
park though I know that self-discipline
is important too it's not all about just
being passive and making no effort and
learning English the easy way
self-discipline and making deliberate
conscious actions do come into it just
like with anything else that requires
some effort but you have to search
around for the way that works for you
some people seem to thrive on the
disciplined hardworking no pain no gain
approach they seem to get a big buzz
from having some kind of punishing
exercise routine or study routine like
those people who get up at 5:00 a.m. to
hit the gym or to memorize word lists
while everyone else is sleeping but
those people they're not really normal
humans are they I don't think so no
they're not and I'm assuming that you
are a normal human who would much rather
just be in bed sleeping at 5:00 a.m.
thanks very much however self-discipline
is part of this a little bit of
self-discipline goes a long way and
maybe that's the point you don't have to
have a mad full-on study routine that
makes that takes over your life because
frankly who can keep that up but you
might need to push yourself just a
little bit more than normal it's like
that comment from Arnold Schwarzenegger
in a recent episode and no I didn't
interview him unfortunately but I did
read some quotes from him so the episode
was number 94 bits and Bobs number one
he was talking about finding motivation
to hit the gym and I paraphrase
sometimes you just don't feel like doing
it but it's important to drag yourself
out of bed and just do one thing even
one little thing is better than doing
nothing also doing just one thing even
if it doesn't feel like enough is much
much better than doing nothing and then
criticizing yourself and feeling bad
about it so basically a little bit of
self-discipline is important especially
in those moments when you feel you don't
have the energy to do anything like for
example on a miserable gray and cold
Tuesday Morning in February when you'd
rather crawl into a hole in the ground
and stay there if you could actually be
bothered to do that because obviously in
order to crawl into that hole in the
ground you'd need to get out of bed and
probably get dressed first and then
leave the house but anyway uh just force
yourself to do a little bit because even
a little bit is better than nothing and
when I say a little bit I mean more than
just listening to the podcast there are
some other little things you can do and
beating yourself up about not studying
or practicing English is one of the
worst things you can do the end result
of that is that you can get into a
negative spiral which can be very
damaging to your self-esteem your
confidence and the time you spend
practicing English so avoid avoid avoid
negative spirals right positive spirals
they're wonderful oh so much fun
spinning around a positive spiral but
negative ones M no bad bad bad avoid
them uh so my Specific Instructions to
you are this take it easy on yourself
relax chill have a cup of tea maybe a
biscuit just one and listen to my
podcast you don't have to climb a
mountain for this just relax and listen
to an episode you can even do that in
bed if you like no need to get up and
crawl into a hole or anything
see uh but consider doing doing one or
two other things which will be outlined
later in the episode we'll get there
we'll get there pretty soon it helps if
you subscribe to the podcast in a
podcast app on your phone so you can
listen to the audio while you do something
something
else okay so you can kind of Stack your
habits you can be listening to the
podcast while you're doing something
else that helps another reason why
people might give up their New Year's
resolutions is that this even with the
best willing the world your New Year's
resolution just doesn't become a habit
or part of the routine it just doesn't
stick because there's too much effort
involved as I said or it's too
inconvenient it's basically the oh I
can't be bothered Factor podcasts seem
to solve this because they're extremely
convenient and if you're subscribed to a
podcast each new episode just Bing
arrives in your phone right there in the
palm of your hand you don't need to
travel anywhere you don't need to devote
specific time to it you get a
notification and all you have to do is
press play and then listen and enjoy
even while doing other things like that
other New Year's resolution which was to
go running or something of course you
could do more than just listen but you'd
be surprised at what can happen if you
take the pressure off yourself and
choose to do just a little bit and over
time that ends up being quite a lot
another reason people quit their New
Year's resolution is that the goal
you've set is unrealistic IC or badly
defined and as soon as the challenge
sets in it becomes demotivating and in
fact just makes you feel bad about
yourself because you're not sticking to
your own self-imposed standards also you
didn't actually Define how you were
going to do it the problem here is about
setting unrealistic massive goals for
yourself and not defining the specific
actions you will take to do them so just
chill out keep it simple and achievable
try to set a resolution that is an
action not the result of an action does
that make sense try to set a resolution
that is an actual action not the result
of one for example instead of saying I
will improve my accent you could say I
will do 10 minutes of shadowing every
day or instead of just saying I will
improve my vocabulary you could say I'll
read these graphic novels and keep some
notes of words and phrases or instead of
saying I will improve my pronunciation
you could say I'll learn to transcribe
words in the pH script and then do five
sentences a day or I'll listen to two
episodes of Luke's English podcast a
week the latest one and another one from
the archive or I'll complete a page in
my learning diary every time I listen to
an episode those sorts of actionable
resolutions are probably more effective
and more you know more achievable so my
most basic advice to you is obviously
just listen to this podcast and I'll
explain all my good reasons for that
later and and that's it just press play
and get carried away like you're
relaxing on a boat on a river on a
summer's day in Oxfordshire or something
nothing else to worry about and I've
generated another AI image of you lying
on a boat uh on a summer's day in
Oxfordshire relaxing and listening to a
podcast and you can see in the image
you're lying there in the boat your
hands behind your head as you lie down
in the boat but weirdly again there's a
third there appears to be a third hand
in this picture cuz you're lying there
with both hands behind your head
relaxing and then
somehow your phone is being held and I'm
assuming this is your hand that's
holding the phone unless it's another
part of your body but that's probably
best not to think about that right now
anyway so you can do plenty of other
things to improve your English as you
will hear later but at the very least
just relax give yourself a break and
listen to a podcast which one well mine
of course what else other podcasts are
available though as I'm sure you are
aware another reason is this you haven't
actually planned how to achieve what you
want to achieve maybe you just said lose
weight but the hard part is knowing
exactly how to do it feels like I've
already said this doesn't it by the way
for some specific advice on specific
things you could do to improve your
English keep listening and also check
out some other episodes from my archive
two which come to mind would be number
669 called how to to learn English and
number 723 called Baha from Iran who was
a a runner up in my competition I did a
few years ago and she described her
seven-step method for improving her
English um another reason is that you
get frustrated because you don't see
immediate results often it takes a long
time to get measurable results and so a
lot of people just give up but long-term
practice pays off in the end especially
with English so keep going even when
you're unaware of any difference in your
English and then one day after you've
done hours of listening in this case
you'll suddenly be aware of the
difference it's made just listen to some
of the stories of my listeners in the
next episode and you will see so
sometimes progress is being made under
the surface you don't notice it at first
but it's a long-term thing another
reason is that your life just gets in
the way so the new year period is often
quite quiet and so you have time to
introduce new habits into your life we
and try to start new ambitious projects
at this time but you forget how busy
life can get during the rest of the year
which is when you end up stopping the
new habit when things kick off again in
March or something so this happened to
me a few years ago when I decided to
launch a daily phrasal verb podcast in
January the plan was to do a mini
phrasal verb episode every day for a
year and I called it a phrasal verb a
day I managed to do a phrasal verb a day
for about 3 months but then normal life
really kicked in around March with new
work commitments and just loads of other
life related things including Easter
holidays and I couldn't keep up the
routine it was over ambitious and I
forgot how life has a habit of getting
busy after the relative quietness of
January and February so you can still
listen to my phrasal verb podcast though
despite the fact that I didn't get to
365 episodes there are about 150
episodes available free with a different
phrasal verb in each one and each
episode is only a few minutes long just
to prove that I can make short episodes
when I really want to so just search
your podcast app for a phrasal verb a
day or click the link in the description
and that's how you can find my phrasal
verb podcast so we're still talking
about why people don't stick to their
New Year's resolutions by the way
another reason is perfectionism so
people quit because they expect to be
perfect and anything less than that is
considered a failure which is
unrealistic so learning a language is
hard and it requires humility because
you know because you're constantly
reminded how imperfect you are but you
have to carry on anyway um so you can
never feel too pleased with yourself and
you're often humiliated by errors or
moments when you can't do it but you
also have to be stubborn in that you you
keep keep going anyway despite the
setbacks often the thing that helps you
carry on is that you simply enjoy the
process and it is a process it's about
the journey not the destination because
your English will never be perfect your
English will never be perfect and
neither will mine either so get over it
never mind Perfection it doesn't exist
Focus instead on using language to make
effective connections with people and to
enjoy it when it happens successfully
and listen to Luke's English podcast did
I mention that before another reason is
overwhelm overwhelm the whole thing
becomes overwhelming so this is when you
try to do too much and it gets
impossible and you feel exhausted but
it's okay just relax and listen to
Luke's English podcast of course yes so
anyway that was a list of reasons why
most Ordinary People don't stick to
their New Year's resolutions obviously
the solutions to all these problems as I
have firmly established now is just to
subscribe to my podcast and listen to
new episodes when they arrive and Brew
yourself a lovely cup of tea and just
enjoy the time you have on Earth which
is as far as we know the most wonderful
planet in the universe and I know Earth
can sometimes be absolutely bloody awful
but I still think it is by far the best
planet in the universe because right as
far as we know none of the other planets
have a breathable atmosphere water and
an internet connection so consider
yourself lucky that you live here anyway
most people on Earth give up their New
Year's resolutions within a few weeks of
setting them but of course you will not
be one of those people you won't have to
worry about not sticking to your New
Year's resolution because my advice to
you is quite simple really just don't
make a New Year's resolution there it's
easy oh that and just listen to my
podcast right but anyway if you've
already made a resolution and it is to
improve your English then I am sure that
you won't give up and in fact you will
develop some very beneficial habits that
will see your English improve steadily
step by step bit by bit as the year
progresses um now at this point I want
to briefly mention some of the things my
audience said about this about how to
how they improve their English with this
podcast last year so I want to mention
some of the things my audience said
about this so that you can take some
inspiration and encouragement from it
so at the beginning of episode 900 and
was it 912 yes published at the end of the
the
9912 uh I'm confused by numbers I might
have got all the episode numbers wrong
in in this one uh which episode is this
this is episode what all right okay okay
yeah I did get confused it at the
beginning of episode
94 which was published at the end of the
year I asked my audience for their
responses to two questions first
question was how has your English
improved with this podcast meaning um in
in what ways has your English improved
by listening to this podcast and
secondly can you give any
recommendations for how to improve your
English with this podcast and I was
looking for tips that you could share
with other listeners who want to find
new ways to improve their English with
this podcast right I got loads of
responses to these questions and it was
great to read them despite the fact that
about 50% of people completely
misunderstood the second question and
assumed I was looking for
recommendations for how I could improve
this podcast and then they sent me loads
of advice for how I should make my
episodes shorter and yet always include
vocabulary explanations a vocabulary
quiz at the end a short story
pronunciation practice a conversation
with my dad and clips of native speakers
talking in different accents but make
the episode shorter and keep them the
same length too because long episodes
are awesome but not too long but
definitely not too short either so
somewhere in the middle which is more or
less exactly as they are now but
different but still the same anyway
despite that misunderstanding the
responses from listeners were very
enthusiastic and useful so thank you for
taking the time to write to me if you
did in fact I was overwhelmed by
responses to be honest for some reason I
thought I wouldn't get that many but
every day since I uploaded that episode
I got more and more comments and emails
from listeners who were gladly writing
about how Luke's English podcast has
helped them improve their English and
also quite a lot of specific tips for
how they actually did it the responses
are still arriving in fact so thank you
very much for your comments I will give
an overview of the main points in a
second and we'll respond with my
comments too also I will read out some
specific messages from listeners in the
next episode of this podcast which will
be dedicated to listener success stories
episode 918 the one after will be a
Sherlock Holmes Story by the way so
here's a brief digest of some of the
comments I received and I'll get more
specific about all of this later in the
episode and certainly in the next
episode so here's the comments digest
from episode
914 so in terms of General feedback uh
listeners raised the podcast's quality
diversity and educational value a lot of
people commented on my clear
pronunciation the sound of my voice my
Good Vibes and my humor the most popular
episodes are the short story episodes
especially on YouTube the spontaneous
rambling episodes and guest appearances
particularly family members and the podp
pal Amber and Paul in terms of impact on
your English skills improved listening
comprehension was a common benefit
unsurprisingly with listeners better
understanding all spoken English
including native speakers plenty of
people described how they struggled to
understand the podcast at first but then
persevered the result was that gradually
their listening skills improved and they
were able to understand almost
everything in my episodes and this
opened up a whole new world of English
for them that was a very common story
many people reported enhanced speaking
skills too citing improvements in their
pronunciation accent vocabulary fluency
and overall confidence because improved
listening skills transfer to your speaking
speaking
skills some people achieved exam success
for example ielt toic and other
Cambridge exams attributing a lot of
their progress to the podcast which is
amazing um thirdly uh some tips for
using the podcast from listeners who
actually understood the question um so
suggested methods included listening to
episodes more than once and lots of
people said that checking transcripts to
confirm and reinforce understanding
actively taking vocabulary notes using
PDFs and shadowing for pronunciation
practice listeners recommended focused
vocabulary exercises engaging in
discussions based on uh on podcast
episodes and using Luke's English
podcast premium episodes for faster
progress and I'll give more specifics on
this stuff later so that was a brief
overview of some of the responses I got
but there is a lot more for me to share
so I will be coming back to that in some
detail later in fact there was so much
to share including quite a few personal
stories that as I've said the next
episode will be completely based on
those messages and that will arrive next
week so you might have to wait a bit
longer for that Sherlock Holmes story
which which I promised would come in
episode 9917 I think that story will end
up being episode 918 instead sorry about
that but you know you understand don't
you yes you do of course you do good so
let me now get back to talking about
this podcast and what this is all about
again just reestablishing my intentions
and showing that there is method to my
madness so what am I trying to do with
this podcast what are the aims of the
podcast basically my main aim has always
been the same and that is to help people
do more English listening on a regular
basis for longer periods of time long
term because I really believe that doing
plenty of listening to authentic spoken
English is a vital part of the process
of learning to be a better user of
English especially in terms of your
direct listening skills but also across
the board in all other areas of your
English too so let's talk about learning through
through
listening right because first and
foremost this is all about learning
learning English through listening now I
think there are many ways you can and
should improve your English there are
various factors to think about right
you've got the four skills listening
speaking Reading Writing and different
language systems grammar vocabulary
pronunciation and you should find ways
to work on all of those things English
is quite a complex machine it's a sort
of process which involves all of these
different skills and systems all working
together so you have to pay attention to
all of them there's also the issue of
memory of forming the right habits and
the hugely important issue of mindset so
how do you get into it all where do you
actually start how do you actually learn
English this is obviously a huge
question actually three questions if you
noticed which people talk about all the
time and never really work out a single
answer to I think there are lots of ways
to approach learning English the main
thing is that you actively engage with
English in a meaningful way on a regular
basis so this means using the language
rather than just studying it like it's a
set of rules you need to learn English
is something you can do not just
something you know so use it regularly
this could mean listening to it reading
it speaking it and writing it of course
there's more to it than that because you
might need your English to be corrected
you might need to make shortcuts in your
learning by explicitly studying the
grammar rules or get vocabulary input or
work on specific aspects of
pronunciation but you definitely need to
be connecting with English in a
meaningful way on a regular basis let me
talk about passive and active practice
there is also the important distinction
between passive and active practice and
you should try to be active in your
learning rather than just passive so
passive learning is
important in order to absorb language
naturally you have to do a lot of it but
you can accelerate everything by being
more active applying yourself to the
learning process it's also worth making
a distinction between receptive and productive
productive
skills um so try to practice those
productive skills the writing and
speaking as well as the receptive skills
the reading and listening so there's a
lot to deal with and quite a lot of ways
to approach it I've never thought that
this podcast was the only thing you you
need to learn English I've always said
that this podcast works best when it's
part of a balanced approach to learning
English so that means that you should
also do other things like speaking
practice some study and practice of
grammar memorizing vocabulary working on
pronunciation Reading Writing and so on
but having said that we need to see that
podcasts can be a surprisingly powerful
resource for your English learning
podcasts essentially are a delivery
system which allows you to get English
listening Direct directly into your life
in a way that's never before been
possible in the history of human
civilization Listening to English in
such a convenient way on a regular basis
for slightly longer periods can be
immensely impactful on your English and
you should not underestimate its
importance so just in case you're not
convinced here are some reasons why it's
important to do plenty of listening in
English and by the way this is all
backed up by the comments that were made
by my listeners a lot of research and
academic commentary about listening that
I've read over the years and also just
the things I've observed about learning
English during my very long career a
career in which I've developed a very
particular set of skills um so the
impact of listening practice on your
English first of all improved listening
comprehension this seems obvious but
it's probably worth saying listening to
plenty of English on a regular basis
helps you understand natural speech
including variations in accents
intonation and
Rhythm I'm still often amazed at how my
students that I meet in classrooms just
never listen to English outside of class
and as a result they are often
completely confused by natural spoken
English they can't deal with different
accents or even connected speech and
have no real grasp of what spoken
English actually sounds like everything
has to be written down for them
Listening to English regularly also
allows you to become familiar with
spoken English and how can you expect to
speak this language properly if you
don't know how it even sounds now you
might think you know what English sounds
like but do you really know the only way
to be sure is to listen to it regularly
a lot and really become familiar with
the sound the rhythm of spoken English
and the way all the words can be
connected listening practice develops
your ability to grasp meaning from
Context even when unfamiliar words or
expressions are used and as as far as
I'm concerned this is a vital skill for
being able to effectively communicate in
English when you first begin Listening
to English it's confusing and a lot of
it is invisible to you right when you
listen you don't know or can't identify
a lot of the words being
used right and so they're invisible to
you it's not like writing or reading
right where you can see words that you
don't know you can actually see all the
words and the ones you don't know really
stick out to you it's it's not like that
when you're listening because when
you're listening those words are just
sort of formless noises and your first
instinct is to ignore them but with
practice you learn to fill in the gaps
and the world of English oral English
opens up to you as you understand more
and more and this helps you to gain the
ability to work out what you are
hearing secondly you've got exposure to
real life language listening a lot
introduces you to authentic language as
it's used by native speakers or fluent
speakers I should add right so learn how
learn how English is actually spoken not
how you expect it to be spoken based on
the rules you've learned or what you see
when you read written English everyone
has an idea of what English sounds like
based on what they expect and that
expectation is probably built up
by um the way the language looks and the
way English looks and the way it sounds
are two different things um also
listening helps you with understanding
idiomatic expressions phrasal verbs and
slang spoken English is a different
Beast to written English it's often more
informal it breaks grammar rules and it
involves certain phrases which you might
not get in more formal written English
or even in textbooks but this is the
real living language and obviously
listening to a lot of it means that you
will come across
idioms phrasal verbs and loads of other
expressions and vocabulary you will just
meet them on a regular
basis thirdly vocabulary acquisition
listening reinforces vocabulary you have
already learned and you learn new
stuff okay so but in terms of
reinforcing what you've already learned
this is very important because you get a
sense of the frequency of certain
vocabulary you know that you certain
vocab becomes more important because you
hear it more and more regularly doing
this also introduces new words in
context making them easier to remember
you learn words when you understand them
and you naturally understand them when
they are presented in context the
context provides you with a lot of the
time a lot of the information you need
to know in order to kind of work out
what new words mean um listening shows
you how words are used in different
situations and in collocations so you
don't just learn words on their own
right but you start to notice how
they're used in combination with other
words and also how different situations
involve different phrases as you notice
the way the tone shifts and how the
situation or tone can change the wording
of something for example in episode number
number
837 in which I showed how English
changes depending on the situation that
one was called what was it describing a
car accident in 50 styles of English and
it was all about how different
situations or different
purposes affect the wording and grammar
of English completely and I looked at
describing the same events but in
different modes for example there was
just someone describing an accident in
the form of an anecdote a police report
a formal letter an informal letter even
like a standup comedy routine a news
report um a movie script all those
different things all describing the same
events but we noticed how the English
changed depending on the um mode of
communication the fourth point is
improved pronunciation listening enables
you to hear and then to copy natural
pronunciation and interation patterns so
this is the same point I made before to
learn to speak English you need to know
what spoken English actually sounds like
and I've met countless Learners of
English who were speaking a form of
English that was completely influenced
by a comination of written English how
they expected English to sound based on
its spelling and how their first
language Works listening to plenty of
spoken English just shows you what you
should be aiming for listening increases
your familiarity with sound patterns
which helps with speaking and
understanding so this includes things
like connected speech how words blend
together and also the subtle art of
sentence stress how meaning is
interpreted by emphasizing different
parts of sentence that's really hard to
learn on paper it has to be done in
practice fifth is better grammar
awareness listening to hours of
meaningful spoken English provides you
with exposure to correct grammatical
structures in context helping you
internalize grammar naturally there are
entire approaches to language learning
which state that exposure is all you
need to gain a natural insight into to
the structure of a language just listen
to what Steven crashion has to say on
the subject now some people disagree
with this approach but I think there has
to be a lot of truth to it studying
grammar is important and obviously it
helps if you enjoy it because it can
give you a shortcut to understanding how
a language operates but actually
noticing how grammar is applied when a
language is used in a meaningful way is
absolutely vital I think um it's
important to develop a certain instinct
for grammar based on what you have
already heard because when you speak you
don't have time to process grammar it
has to happen spontaneously and
listening to English exposing yourself
to a lot of English really helps to
develop that sense of
instinct as a result listening reduces
your Reliance on explicit grammar rules
by offering you real life examples so
you can kind of liberate yourself from
the grammar focused book oriented rule
obsessed mindset of learning a language
and instead listen to how English is
used again and again and again imagine
learning to play tennis by studying the
rules of physics as they apply to the
way a ball bounces and how the position
of your legs arms and body influence the
way the ball hits the
racket just play tennis every day and
watch other people play it right that
would be better so that's just an
analogy of course because tennis and
English are not the same but you get my
point listening a lot is a way of
learning grammar by observing how it
actually applies to English in
action uh sixth point is cultural
understanding so listening to my
episodes gives you insights into
cultural nuances humor and social norms
and these things are super important
when you're using English socially again
English is not just the words and
structures but how they are applied
socially again listening to English
being used helps you understand how
language use varies in different
contexts such as formal versus informal
settings seventh Point increased fluency
listening can definitely help you think
in English by immersing you in the
language I think Listening to English
leaves an imprint of spoken English on
you which then comes out when you speak
it right listening a lot leaves a sort
of imprint on you now I listen to some
French podcasts sometimes and I find
that the first things the host says at
the beginning of his episodes stick with
me and I'm able to replicate them more
easily okay so listening leaves an
imprint on you which comes out when you
speak this seems obvious to me really so
I'll make the point again how can
someone expect to produce fluent spoken
English when they don't really know how
it sounds or what the rhythms are Etc
they will just end up producing a form
of English which is basically just the
same as their first language but with
with English words and that never sounds
right so speak English as it is spoken
and do it according to the conventions
of English as a system you become
familiar with that system by hearing it
a lot hopefully this all happens easily
by the way when you just listen for the
pleasure of doing it it's a bit like me
going to the gym which is unpleasant but
if I go out and play football I end up
doing a lot of exercise just as a
consequence of doing something that I
enjoy similarly if you find something
you enjoy listening to just enjoy
listening to it and a lot of this stuff
will happen as a kind of natural
consequence and you'll end up doing a
lot more of it than you would do if you
were kind of seeing English as a
homework task so I'm sure I'm certain
that listening a lot improves the speed
and confidence with which you can
process English in your mind and produce
English and I've noticed this plenty of
times in my students in my experience
the ones who do plenty of listening just
tend to be able to process English more
quickly and with more of an instinct for
it than the ones who don't so as a
teacher right imagine being a teacher so
as a teacher you look at your class of
students let's say there's 12 people I
look at my class of students and there
are some students who are just switched
on and reactive and then there are other
students in front of you who appear to
be sort of behind some kind of invisible wall
wall
and you have
to break down that wall every time you
interact with them for example at the
start of class I often just engage each
person in a mini conversation like hi
how was your journey to school today or
did you sleep well last night or do you
feel ready for class today and some of
them need to have the question given to
them several times or perhaps they need
it to be written down and they don't
really have the skills to negotiate the
situation where when they don't
understand for example simply by saying
sorry what what did you say or something
similar they just kind of sit like a
rabbit in the
headlights and bear in mind that all the
students in the class are at the same
level right they've all been placed into
this class so they all technically have
the same level but not perhaps not
across the all the skills so you might
have some students who have a really
good level on paper but when it comes to
the actual
um Act of processing and producing
language in the moment they struggle so
right so these students might be good at
writing or a grammar test they might
have a decent level of vocabulary but
they can't handle this kind of instant spoken
spoken
interaction then there are others in the
class who are switched on they're on the
ball and English comes to them more
quickly they can follow what you're
doing when you talk to them they're able
to process and produce language more
quickly in my experience these are the
often the ones who have certain habits
including listen listening to things in
English and yes that includes my podcast
I do have students in my classes who
listen to my podcasts and every time I
have a student in my class who listens
to my podcast they are always in that second
second
category in my experience they're more
reactive and just able to process and
produce English more quickly now maybe
it's a coincidence right maybe it's not
maybe they're like that already and in
fact that's why they listen to the
podcast because they are that kind of
person who engages with English on a
personal level so it's it might not be
that my podcast is causing them to be
like that in fact it might be the other
way around I don't know so maybe it's a
coincidence or maybe these people listen
to podcasts because they have a natural
inclination towards spoken English or
maybe their English has been improved by
the podcast I'm not sure what the
relationship is but it's interesting
that there is a definite correlation
between people who listen to my podcast
or other similar things and people who
can deal with spontaneous conversation
in English it's interesting don't you
think that those two things are in the same
same
category another thing I've noticed is
my student ability to deal with a
certain task in class and that is a
simple listen and repeat exercise which
I think I think probably uh demonstrates
that ability to process and produce
language so a simple listen and repeat
exercise I think the ones who do
listening practice outside class are
better at this than others the exercise
is simple but it involves quite a lot of
complex language processing all at the
same time and I'm sure that regularly
Listening to English helps to develop
this so at first this is a basic
listening repeat exercise where I say a
sentence and the learner has to repeat
it without
pausing for example I will say do you
know if there's a news agents around
here somewhere or do you know if there's
a news agent somewhere around here right
do you do you know if there's a news
agents somewhere around here do you know
if there's a news agent somewhere around
here so I have to say I say that they
have to repeat it and it's not written
down now that or you can see already
that that that poses a lot of challenges
because it's you got to understand all
the words you got to you know You' got
to identify every part of the sentence
and then you've got to be able to
remember it and reproduce it it's
actually a really difficult task do you
know if there's a news agent somewhere
around here and you're like a news agent
what's a news agent that's just a shop
where you can buy newspapers
milk you know bits and pieces do you
know if there's a news agent around here
somewhere now I might extend it too I
might extend the sentence after they've
done it once I might add things to it I
might say excuse me do you know if
there's a news agent somewhere around
here I'm trying to top up my travel
card okay and so they've got to you as I
extend it they've got to
repeat all of it with the extensions now
this is quite difficult because the
student has to understand what is said
remember it hold it in their mind rep
produce it accurac
accurately pronounce the whole thing
like me and not pause at all and that
involves a lot of language
systems right uh there's listening
there's vocabulary there's pronunciation
there's probably a bit of grammar maybe
as they have to try and crunch the
sentence in their minds it helps if they
know all the words they're hearing it
all involves a certain amount of
processing and production of English and
it has to be instant again the ones who
listen to podcasts are usually the ones
who deal with this better it's no
surprise really because listening to
podcasts you are constantly processing
information delivered in spoken English
in words phrases and sentences your mind
becomes far more capable of
understanding and holding entire
sentences in your short-term memory at a
time because this is what we naturally
do when we listen to language being spoken
spoken
um another Point engagement and motivation so listening to content that
motivation so listening to content that interests you such as podcasts songs or
interests you such as podcasts songs or films keeps you motivated this is again
films keeps you motivated this is again quite obvious really if you enjoy what
quite obvious really if you enjoy what you listen to you're much more likely to
you listen to you're much more likely to listen to it more and the benefits are
listen to it more and the benefits are clear listening provides a sense of
clear listening provides a sense of achievement because you notice gradual
achievement because you notice gradual improvement over time this is one of the
improvement over time this is one of the most common comments I got from my
most common comments I got from my audience who responded to my question
audience who responded to my question questions in episode 914 the sense of
questions in episode 914 the sense of gradual improvement from not really
gradual improvement from not really understanding
understanding everything then persevering and feeling
everything then persevering and feeling fantastic because they understand so
fantastic because they understand so much more after a few months o of
much more after a few months o of regular listening
regular listening um surely feeding your English through
um surely feeding your English through listening like this ends up feeding all
listening like this ends up feeding all the other aspects of your English
the other aspects of your English because they're all connected especially
because they're all connected especially listening and speaking so that's the
listening and speaking so that's the oral side of things and number nine
oral side of things and number nine number nine improved speaking skills
number nine improved speaking skills listening to spoken English serves as a
listening to spoken English serves as a model for you to replicate in your own
model for you to replicate in your own speaking as I've mentioned it also
speaking as I've mentioned it also teaches very important conversational
teaches very important conversational Norms such as
Norms such as turnt um and responding appropriately so
turnt um and responding appropriately so these are the social dynamics of using
these are the social dynamics of using English with other people and you don't
English with other people and you don't really get it from a grammar book the
really get it from a grammar book the best way to learn how to converse with
best way to learn how to converse with people is to observe it happening and to
people is to observe it happening and to practice doing it yourself of course and
practice doing it yourself of course and point number 10 which I think is
point number 10 which I think is probably the last one is it maybe not
probably the last one is it maybe not enhanced listening strategies so
enhanced listening strategies so listening trains you to listen for key
listening trains you to listen for key information main ideas and details these
information main ideas and details these are basic listening skills when you take
are basic listening skills when you take an English course these basic listening
an English course these basic listening skills are taught to you explicitly
skills are taught to you explicitly through certain tasks which focus on
through certain tasks which focus on those skills for example listening to an
those skills for example listening to an audio recording and doing asks like
audio recording and doing asks like answering questions that require you to
answering questions that require you to get the main idea of what was said or to
get the main idea of what was said or to get specific
get specific details or to understand ideas that were
details or to understand ideas that were not explicitly stated right so these are
not explicitly stated right so these are specific skills and these these skills
specific skills and these these skills are um defined in test criteria for
are um defined in test criteria for IELTS and stuff you know those listening
IELTS and stuff you know those listening exercises you have to do they test th
exercises you have to do they test th these specific listening skills but in
these specific listening skills but in my experience and un you make it
my experience and un you make it explicitly
explicitly obvious right so if if I'm doing this in
obvious right so if if I'm doing this in class if I'm teaching these skills by
class if I'm teaching these skills by doing these exercises in class unless
doing these exercises in class unless you make it explicitly obvious the
you make it explicitly obvious the Learners don't even realize this is what
Learners don't even realize this is what is being worked
is being worked on it all seems a bit
on it all seems a bit forced to teach these otherwise
forced to teach these otherwise intuitive listening skills by focusing
intuitive listening skills by focusing on them so
on them so explicitly perhaps it makes more sense
explicitly perhaps it makes more sense to develop these different listening
to develop these different listening skills by by just listening to plenty of
skills by by just listening to plenty of English and focusing on just enjoying it
English and focusing on just enjoying it and gaining information from it you know
and gaining information from it you know when you do an English course the amount
when you do an English course the amount of actual listening practice you do in
of actual listening practice you do in class is pretty minimal really of course
class is pretty minimal really of course you listen to the teacher at times but
you listen to the teacher at times but you know in classrooms the teachers
you know in classrooms the teachers generally are trying not to speak too
generally are trying not to speak too much and so you do listening practice by
much and so you do listening practice by playing you know recordings and
playing you know recordings and listening to the recordings but it's
listening to the recordings but it's rare that those recordings are anything
rare that those recordings are anything more than just a few minutes at a time
more than just a few minutes at a time and you're always focusing on certain
and you're always focusing on certain specific tasks which are supposed to
specific tasks which are supposed to support your development of these
support your development of these listening skills but it all seems a bit
listening skills but it all seems a bit kind of like
kind of like um I don't know just seems a bit sort of
um I don't know just seems a bit sort of uh um contrived you know um as You
uh um contrived you know um as You Follow the flow of a conversation or a
Follow the flow of a conversation or a monologue you naturally start to
monologue you naturally start to practice and develop these different
practice and develop these different skills as a consequence of getting into
skills as a consequence of getting into a kind of Flow State
a kind of Flow State again you do you you know you get fit
again you do you you know you get fit playing football as a
playing football as a consequence similarly you learn
consequence similarly you learn listening skills by listening to a
listening skills by listening to a podcast just as a consequence of trying
podcast just as a consequence of trying to understand what what is Luke trying
to understand what what is Luke trying to say or what is this person actually
to say or what is this person actually getting at what is the funny side of
getting at what is the funny side of this story that's being told what's
this story that's being told what's really
really being uh explained here how does the
being uh explained here how does the person feel you know all these things
person feel you know all these things are kind of intuitive to an
are kind of intuitive to an extent listening a lot helps you to
extent listening a lot helps you to develop the ability to cope with
develop the ability to cope with incomplete understanding and still
incomplete understanding and still follow the conversation now this is
follow the conversation now this is actually a massive thing being able to
actually a massive thing being able to being able to cope with a listening
being able to cope with a listening situation when you don't understand
situation when you don't understand everything when you listen to English a
everything when you listen to English a lot of the time there are things which
lot of the time there are things which you simply don't understand what do you
you simply don't understand what do you do in that situation now some people
do in that situation now some people can't handle it they need to understand
can't handle it they need to understand 100% all the time and anything less is a
100% all the time and anything less is a failure and so they don't listen because
failure and so they don't listen because they don't understand but if you
they don't understand but if you persevere and keep listening even when
persevere and keep listening even when you don't really understand 100% you
you don't really understand 100% you slowly develop the ability to fill the
slowly develop the ability to fill the gaps in what you are hearing you do
gaps in what you are hearing you do start to understand more and more but
start to understand more and more but that only happens if you tolerate that
that only happens if you tolerate that sense of confusion or of getting a bit
sense of confusion or of getting a bit lost listening a lot and continuing is a
lost listening a lot and continuing is a great way of training yourself to deal
great way of training yourself to deal with the bits you don't understand
with the bits you don't understand rather than just stopping remember you
rather than just stopping remember you have to be like a shark just keep moving
have to be like a shark just keep moving forwards all the time keep the English
forwards all the time keep the English flowing through you always sounds a bit
flowing through you always sounds a bit like Star Wars as well you have to be a
like Star Wars as well you have to be a Star Wars
Star Wars shark and number 11 preparation for real
shark and number 11 preparation for real life situations listening to real
life situations listening to real English builds confidence for
English builds confidence for interacting in English in real life it's
interacting in English in real life it's just slightly less daunting when your
just slightly less daunting when your brain is already filled with spoken
brain is already filled with spoken English I mean it's less daunting to
English I mean it's less daunting to have that conversation to do that that
have that conversation to do that that job interview when you're already doing
job interview when you're already doing half of the work all the time anyway by
half of the work all the time anyway by listening it simulates realworld
listening it simulates realworld listening scenarios such as
listening scenarios such as understanding announcements
understanding announcements conversations lectures or one half of a
conversations lectures or one half of a conversation this is a no-brainer isn't
conversation this is a no-brainer isn't it
it really accessibility and flexibility so
really accessibility and flexibility so listening can be done anytime anywhere
listening can be done anytime anywhere with minimal resources thanks to
with minimal resources thanks to technology yes you can add listening
technology yes you can add listening practice into any part of your day just
practice into any part of your day just stick on stick in the headphones and
stick on stick in the headphones and switch on a podcast while you're walking
switch on a podcast while you're walking on the train doing the washing up this
on the train doing the washing up this is why podcasts are so great and I would
is why podcasts are so great and I would say even better than YouTube in my
say even better than YouTube in my opinion because you can squeeze English
opinion because you can squeeze English into every part of your day and you can
into every part of your day and you can listen while you do something else
listen while you do something else whereas on YouTube you end up just kind
whereas on YouTube you end up just kind of looking at the screen although
of looking at the screen although apparently seeing me talking has its
apparently seeing me talking has its benefits as well listening to podcasts
benefits as well listening to podcasts Learners of English makes the listening
Learners of English makes the listening experience more adaptable to different
experience more adaptable to different proficiency levels because the episodes
proficiency levels because the episodes are usually more graded for Learners of
are usually more graded for Learners of English so my episodes are supposed to
English so my episodes are supposed to be natural I try to speak more or less
be natural I try to speak more or less the same as in my normal life but I do
the same as in my normal life but I do provide certain kinds of support to you
provide certain kinds of support to you as you
as you listen and I should say that this is
listen and I should say that this is what makes a distinction between
what makes a distinction between podcasts like mine and just like
podcasts like mine and just like listening to any other podcasts or
listening to any other podcasts or watching movies or Netflix or things
watching movies or Netflix or things like that so I do provide certain kinds
like that so I do provide certain kinds of support to you as I'm talking to you
of support to you as I'm talking to you I'm a teacher right and I never stop
I'm a teacher right and I never stop teaching even in little
teaching even in little ways and this includes repeating certain
ways and this includes repeating certain things explaining certain things very
things explaining certain things very slightly adapting my pronunciation
slightly adapting my pronunciation sometimes to avoid connected speech in
sometimes to avoid connected speech in certain things basically just speaking
certain things basically just speaking more clearly sometimes but I mix this up
more clearly sometimes but I mix this up a lot okay most of the time I speak at a
a lot okay most of the time I speak at a totally normal spee
totally normal spee but when I think it's necessary when my
but when I think it's necessary when my inbuilt teacher sense starts tingling
inbuilt teacher sense starts tingling when I feel like oh they're going to
when I feel like oh they're going to find this bit difficult then I make
find this bit difficult then I make things clearer now this might be why you
things clearer now this might be why you can understand me easily but still find
can understand me easily but still find it hard to understand other native
it hard to understand other native speakers this is another question for
speakers this is another question for another time by the way but basically my
another time by the way but basically my show is supposed to be a bit of a set a
show is supposed to be a bit of a set a stepping stone to understanding other
stepping stone to understanding other things like content for native speakers
things like content for native speakers which might will be too
which might will be too difficult the English in my episodes is
difficult the English in my episodes is graded in very subtle ways but I think I
graded in very subtle ways but I think I managed to do this without it being
managed to do this without it being patronizing and without it being
patronizing and without it being annoyingly slow or simple it is just
annoyingly slow or simple it is just slightly adapted for Learners of English
slightly adapted for Learners of English and this is done on purpose and in order
and this is done on purpose and in order to make English comprehensible which in
to make English comprehensible which in turn ensures that you are always
turn ensures that you are always learning from it sometimes my episodes
learning from it sometimes my episodes are easier to follow and sometimes
are easier to follow and sometimes they're more complicated like when I
they're more complicated like when I have guests and things move more quickly
have guests and things move more quickly hopefully the end result when you listen
hopefully the end result when you listen to all the episodes is the right
to all the episodes is the right balance um and point 13 cognitive
balance um and point 13 cognitive benefits cognitive means relating to
benefits cognitive means relating to thinking processes listening regularly
thinking processes listening regularly enhances your memory and concentration
enhances your memory and concentration as you naturally focus on understanding
as you naturally focus on understanding what you are hearing it's good for your
what you are hearing it's good for your brain basically this is an argument for
brain basically this is an argument for longer episodes too in my opinion um my
longer episodes too in my opinion um my episodes are long but I think that is
episodes are long but I think that is actually very good Training for you
actually very good Training for you sometimes my episodes are over 2 hours
sometimes my episodes are over 2 hours long and that is a lot I know but then
long and that is a lot I know but then I'll publish a 1-hour episode and when
I'll publish a 1-hour episode and when that
that happens it will suddenly seem like
happens it will suddenly seem like listening to one hour of English is
listening to one hour of English is totally fine and easy right if you if
totally fine and easy right if you if I've published like really long episodes
I've published like really long episodes and then I do one that's about 55
and then I do one that's about 55 minutes or something I'm sure that you
minutes or something I'm sure that you you will listen to that and think wow
you will listen to that and think wow that went really quickly it's really
that went really quickly it's really easy to focus on an hour of English
easy to focus on an hour of English after having dealt with these longer
after having dealt with these longer episodes this is because I've trained
episodes this is because I've trained you you see it's there's method to the
you you see it's there's method to the madness I've trained you to focus on
madness I've trained you to focus on listening for longer periods of time
listening for longer periods of time it's good for your English and it's good
it's good for your English and it's good for your brain eventually focusing on
for your brain eventually focusing on your IELTS test for two and a half hours
your IELTS test for two and a half hours is not so bad when you've been in
is not so bad when you've been in training with Luke's English podcasts um
training with Luke's English podcasts um listening to the audio podcast can
listening to the audio podcast can really develop your multitasking skills
really develop your multitasking skills when combining listening with other
when combining listening with other activities for example with commuting or
activities for example with commuting or exercising remember listening to audio
exercising remember listening to audio exercises in English lessons remember
exercises in English lessons remember that remember being in a classroom and
that remember being in a classroom and listening to audio exercises in English
listening to audio exercises in English sometimes you had to close your eyes and
sometimes you had to close your eyes and focus only on what you were hearing you
focus only on what you were hearing you just focusing so hard with all your
just focusing so hard with all your attention it was horrible so this sort
attention it was horrible so this sort of thing becomes a of the past when
of thing becomes a of the past when listening becomes more commonplace and
listening becomes more commonplace and casual and you will find that you can do
casual and you will find that you can do other things while you listen to English
other things while you listen to English so that was a list of the importance of
so that was a list of the importance of listening in uh learning English and I
listening in uh learning English and I want to move on immediately now to talk
want to move on immediately now to talk about how to learn English with Luke's
about how to learn English with Luke's English podcast so I've said countless
English podcast so I've said countless times already in the episode that you
times already in the episode that you have to just listen right that's the
have to just listen right that's the first thing just listen that's it that's
first thing just listen that's it that's all you have to do just listen and try
all you have to do just listen and try to follow what you're hearing ing
to follow what you're hearing ing hopefully this just happens smoothly as
hopefully this just happens smoothly as you listen to my episodes I do it like
you listen to my episodes I do it like that on purpose the idea is that you
that on purpose the idea is that you press play and off we go you drift along
press play and off we go you drift along a little river with me let the current
a little river with me let the current pull you along and enjoy the ride just
pull you along and enjoy the ride just listen and follow my thoughts as we go
listen and follow my thoughts as we go from one thing to another and try to
from one thing to another and try to listen to the entire episode I'm always
listen to the entire episode I'm always teaching you language even when it's not
teaching you language even when it's not obvious and I do this with my choice of
obvious and I do this with my choice of words the way I might repeat something
words the way I might repeat something with a few synonyms the way I Define
with a few synonyms the way I Define certain things as I go or explain some
certain things as I go or explain some details I think you might have missed
details I think you might have missed but it's all supposed to be a fairly
but it's all supposed to be a fairly easy going
easy going experience you don't have to listen to
experience you don't have to listen to episodes in one go have I made this
episodes in one go have I made this point a million times before I think I
point a million times before I think I have you can stop anytime you like and
have you can stop anytime you like and continue later if you're listening in a
continue later if you're listening in a podcast app like apple podcasts
podcast app like apple podcasts pocketcasts Spotify Etc then your app
pocketcasts Spotify Etc then your app will remember where you stopped and you
will remember where you stopped and you can just carry on later I probably don't
can just carry on later I probably don't need to say this to to you if you've got
need to say this to to you if you've got this far into the episode even if you
this far into the episode even if you switch off your phone when you come back
switch off your phone when you come back to the episode it will exact it will be
to the episode it will exact it will be exactly where you stopped actually with
exactly where you stopped actually with Pocket Casts it skips back a few seconds
Pocket Casts it skips back a few seconds which really helps on YouTube the same
which really helps on YouTube the same thing happens if you're signed in with
thing happens if you're signed in with your Google account uh you can watch an
your Google account uh you can watch an episode for a while and then stop
episode for a while and then stop whenever is convenient then when you
whenever is convenient then when you return to the episode you can continue
return to the episode you can continue from where you stopped before if you
from where you stopped before if you can't find the episode consider adding
can't find the episode consider adding it to a playlist on YouTube you can just
it to a playlist on YouTube you can just create playlists you can create a
create playlists you can create a playlist called LEP and add episodes
playlist called LEP and add episodes there so you can find them easily easily
there so you can find them easily easily alternatively just go to my channel
alternatively just go to my channel select videos and you can find all my
select videos and you can find all my episodes including the one you're
episodes including the one you're looking for also most podcast apps allow
looking for also most podcast apps allow you to create playlists or maybe to save
you to create playlists or maybe to save or favorite episodes so you can easily
or favorite episodes so you can easily find them later so try to listen to an
find them later so try to listen to an entire episode Until the End even if it
entire episode Until the End even if it takes you a while to do it so that's the
takes you a while to do it so that's the main thing just listen to the podcast
main thing just listen to the podcast and I could stop here but I won't
and I could stop here but I won't because Beyond listening there are also
because Beyond listening there are also plenty of other things that you could do
plenty of other things that you could do in order to enhance or emphasize the
in order to enhance or emphasize the learning experience with my podcast and
learning experience with my podcast and this is where I'm talking about Active
this is where I'm talking about Active Learning so here are some other things
Learning so here are some other things you can do Beyond just listening so
you can do Beyond just listening so first of all focus on understanding most
first of all focus on understanding most of the time you'll be listening to the
of the time you'll be listening to the entire episode and trying to follow it
entire episode and trying to follow it but you could choose to listen to a
but you could choose to listen to a certain short segment and focus on it
certain short segment and focus on it more directly zero in on it it could be
more directly zero in on it it could be a bit that you found particularly
a bit that you found particularly interesting or perhaps a bit that you
interesting or perhaps a bit that you didn't understand but were curious about
didn't understand but were curious about so if you found a segment of an episode
so if you found a segment of an episode you could listen to it several times use
you could listen to it several times use the skip back button you could take
the skip back button you could take notes on the things you heard you could
notes on the things you heard you could consider um transcribing it and if there
consider um transcribing it and if there is a transcript for it already you could
is a transcript for it already you could compare your transcript to the original
compare your transcript to the original you could use use AI to transcribe that
you could use use AI to transcribe that section because some AI transcribes
section because some AI transcribes audio automatically and it might be free
audio automatically and it might be free if it's a short section uh transcribing
if it's a short section uh transcribing whole episodes is is more costly and
whole episodes is is more costly and complicated but if you take a little
complicated but if you take a little section AI could probably transcribe
section AI could probably transcribe that free of charge also you could find
that free of charge also you could find the automatic subtitles on YouTube if
the automatic subtitles on YouTube if you're watching on YouTube you can see
you're watching on YouTube you can see that you can switch the subtitles on and
that you can switch the subtitles on and off and they are surprisingly accurate
off and they are surprisingly accurate especially when I'm on my own um it's
especially when I'm on my own um it's like 98% accurate I think uh you can
like 98% accurate I think uh you can also actually find the transcript on
also actually find the transcript on YouTube which is essentially all of the
YouTube which is essentially all of the subtitles in a text look in the episode
subtitles in a text look in the episode description and it says show transcript
description and it says show transcript you can get it you can look at it you
you can get it you can look at it you can read it you can click on it it takes
can read it you can click on it it takes you to that part of the episode you can
you to that part of the episode you can highlight all of the words in the
highlight all of the words in the transcript and copy paste them into a
transcript and copy paste them into a document or into some AI or something
document or into some AI or something and play around with it there check my
and play around with it there check my website to see if there's a
website to see if there's a transcription for an episode uh you
transcription for an episode uh you could then work with the specific words
could then work with the specific words and phrases or other details check them
and phrases or other details check them in dictionaries or a or a GPT like chat
in dictionaries or a or a GPT like chat GPT uh take notes write down new words
GPT uh take notes write down new words or expressions and look them up later
or expressions and look them up later I'll refer you back to that episode I
I'll refer you back to that episode I did last year which was called how to
did last year which was called how to learn vocabulary and not just stare up
learn vocabulary and not just stare up word lists there's loads of stuff in
word lists there's loads of stuff in there loads of advice about exactly how
there loads of advice about exactly how to record words remember them and so on
to record words remember them and so on shadowing so this means that you should
shadowing so this means that you should pause after each sentence and try to
pause after each sentence and try to repeat it out loud imitating uh the
repeat it out loud imitating uh the speaker's pronunciation and intonation
speaker's pronunciation and intonation I'll go into more details about
I'll go into more details about shadowing later on maybe not in this
shadowing later on maybe not in this episode probably in the next one
episode probably in the next one dictation practice you could write down
dictation practice you could write down what you hear then compare it to a
what you hear then compare it to a transcript if it's available try to S
transcript if it's available try to S shift receptive practice to productive
shift receptive practice to productive practice so convert listening and
practice so convert listening and reading to speaking and
reading to speaking and writing often I provide you with
writing often I provide you with discussion questions or at least you
discussion questions or at least you could just write down your thoughts
could just write down your thoughts write down your responses or say them
write down your responses or say them out loud you could record yourself doing
out loud you could record yourself doing that if you want or just do it without
that if you want or just do it without recording yourself on your own or with
recording yourself on your own or with someone else you know even if you can't
someone else you know even if you can't speak out loud because there's people
speak out loud because there's people around you you could even just sort of
around you you could even just sort of like pretend in your head even that is
like pretend in your head even that is better than nothing right that's a way
better than nothing right that's a way of shifting things into a more
of shifting things into a more productive active form of practice
productive active form of practice summarize after listening summarize the
summarize after listening summarize the episode in your in your own words either
episode in your in your own words either written or
written or spoken use AI okay use artificial
spoken use AI okay use artificial intelligence it is incredible what AI
intelligence it is incredible what AI can do for us and it's not cheating if
can do for us and it's not cheating if you use it in the clever way you can you
you use it in the clever way you can you can chat to chat GPT and ask it to
can chat to chat GPT and ask it to correct your errors if you're using the
correct your errors if you're using the mobile phone version of chat GPT you can
mobile phone version of chat GPT you can just talk talk to it and it will talk
just talk talk to it and it will talk back to you um ask it to correct your
back to you um ask it to correct your errors or just respond to you in
errors or just respond to you in conversation it's it's got a lot better
conversation it's it's got a lot better over the last 12 months or so you could
over the last 12 months or so you could share your thoughts on the subject of
share your thoughts on the subject of the episode or just try to use certain
the episode or just try to use certain bits of English in a successful and
bits of English in a successful and meaningful way I chat to chat GPT in
meaningful way I chat to chat GPT in French sometimes and one of the things I
French sometimes and one of the things I like about it is there is no stress
like about it is there is no stress involved because I'm not being judged by
involved because I'm not being judged by someone it's just a chat bot so I have
someone it's just a chat bot so I have some confidence issues with my French to
some confidence issues with my French to be honest and I feel quite easily
be honest and I feel quite easily ashamed when my French isn't as good as
ashamed when my French isn't as good as it should be which makes talking to
it should be which makes talking to people kind of a bit
people kind of a bit uh stressful and unpleasant for me and
uh stressful and unpleasant for me and it's hard for me to find exactly the
it's hard for me to find exactly the right person to talk to because everyone
right person to talk to because everyone I know is
I know is like not quite the right person to be
like not quite the right person to be talking to because I don't want to
talking to because I don't want to anyway you know I could pay someone to
anyway you know I could pay someone to have onetoone conversations with me but
have onetoone conversations with me but chat GPT is obviously
chat GPT is obviously free if you're using the free version
free if you're using the free version and it's it's not judging you which does
and it's it's not judging you which does remove a lot of the stress um you could
remove a lot of the stress um you could use transcripts or other peripheral
use transcripts or other peripheral materials uh many podcasts like mine
materials uh many podcasts like mine provide transcripts quizzes or
provide transcripts quizzes or vocabulary lists use these to reinforce
vocabulary lists use these to reinforce your learning so my episodes often have
your learning so my episodes often have a PDF check it and use it there are
a PDF check it and use it there are often vocabulary lists and quizzes you
often vocabulary lists and quizzes you can use my premium episodes always have
can use my premium episodes always have PDFs with memory exercises vocabulary
PDFs with memory exercises vocabulary exercises quizzes and discussion
exercises quizzes and discussion questions I haven't talked about LEP
questions I haven't talked about LEP premium but you can find out more
premium but you can find out more information at teacher luke. co.uk
information at teacher luke. co.uk premium
premium info um discuss with others so you could
info um discuss with others so you could join online communities or forums to
join online communities or forums to discuss podcast episodes actually
discuss podcast episodes actually um I was going to recommend an online
um I was going to recommend an online community there's a um there's a Discord
community there's a um there's a Discord server that I know of that is run by zck
server that I know of that is run by zck Lucas from Zex English podcast and the
Lucas from Zex English podcast and the foot glit podcast he's been running it
foot glit podcast he's been running it for some time it's a nice community of
for some time it's a nice community of um language learn English Learners and
um language learn English Learners and some english teachers from all over the
some english teachers from all over the world and they get together it's a place
world and they get together it's a place where you can chat to people share ideas
where you can chat to people share ideas is it's just a nice Community being part
is it's just a nice Community being part of a community of other Learners of
of a community of other Learners of English can be a really good healthy
English can be a really good healthy useful thing to do so his Discord server
useful thing to do so his Discord server is called the Achievers chamber let me
is called the Achievers chamber let me just get the details of that okay so you
just get the details of that okay so you can get the details on zek's website um
can get the details on zek's website um which is teacher.com zek zde NE K the
which is teacher.com zek zde NE K the Achievers chamber you can find the
Achievers chamber you can find the details um the ultimate solution to
details um the ultimate solution to English Mastery without living in an
English Mastery without living in an english- speaking country without
english- speaking country without working with English speaking people
working with English speaking people without having lots of English-speaking
without having lots of English-speaking friends it's an International Community
friends it's an International Community for high level Learners of English who
for high level Learners of English who are ready to take their English to the
are ready to take their English to the next level who can join so um there's
next level who can join so um there's all the information here but basically
all the information here but basically it's for uh B2 level and above and at
it's for uh B2 level and above and at least 18 years old and they want people
least 18 years old and they want people who are friendly and willing to
who are friendly and willing to participate okay um so you can find find
participate okay um so you can find find out all the information on Zex website
out all the information on Zex website there's a link um on the PDF here but
there's a link um on the PDF here but otherwise just go to
teacher.com um and that's where you would find the
um and that's where you would find the details the Achievers chamber um
details the Achievers chamber um basically um you have to read everything
basically um you have to read everything to understand what it is and to fill out
to understand what it is and to fill out a form on the website okay all right
a form on the website okay all right other things you can do you can ask
other things you can do you can ask questions if if the podcast Creator me
questions if if the podcast Creator me in this case offers Q&A episodes submit
in this case offers Q&A episodes submit your questions ask questions in comments
your questions ask questions in comments I might reply or um one of the other
I might reply or um one of the other listeners will you know uh try to make
listeners will you know uh try to make your question specific so I don't have
your question specific so I don't have to write an essay in response I haven't
to write an essay in response I haven't done a Q&A episode for a long time maybe
done a Q&A episode for a long time maybe that's something I need to do at some
that's something I need to do at some point also some listeners asked if I
point also some listeners asked if I could do some sort of interactive
could do some sort of interactive thing where I talk to my listeners
thing where I talk to my listeners that's very
that's very complicated uh I think I'm going to talk
complicated uh I think I'm going to talk about it later um we need to get moving
about it later um we need to get moving I didn't want this episode to become
I didn't want this episode to become incredibly long in fact I never want my
incredibly long in fact I never want my episodes to become ridiculously long it
episodes to become ridiculously long it just kind of happens because I've got
just kind of happens because I've got loads of things I want to say and I'm
loads of things I want to say and I'm trying to even trying to speak quickly
trying to even trying to speak quickly and fly through this in this one uh
and fly through this in this one uh other things you can do you can dedicate
other things you can do you can dedicate a specific time to listening daily or
a specific time to listening daily or weekly for example you could listen
weekly for example you could listen during your commute while exercising or
during your commute while exercising or before bed make sure you're subscribed
before bed make sure you're subscribed to the podcast in a podcast app and that
to the podcast in a podcast app and that notifications are turned
notifications are turned on
on um it could be a could be great for your
um it could be a could be great for your listening habits if you listen on a
listening habits if you listen on a weekly basis and getting a push
weekly basis and getting a push notification makes sure this happens
notification makes sure this happens basically when I publish an episode your
basically when I publish an episode your podcast app will go Bing Luke's
podcast app will go Bing Luke's published a new episode and then you
published a new episode and then you will you'll never miss an episode this
will you'll never miss an episode this is great for making listening part of
is great for making listening part of your routine which is so important keep
your routine which is so important keep a journal to Note new vocabulary
a journal to Note new vocabulary expressions and improvements in
expressions and improvements in comprehension so to get my specific
comprehension so to get my specific advice about this listen to my episode
advice about this listen to my episode um
um 898 which was my workshop about how to
898 which was my workshop about how to learn vocabulary as I mentioned earlier
learn vocabulary as I mentioned earlier it's full of specific advice about
it's full of specific advice about learning vocabulary and keeping a
learning vocabulary and keeping a vocabulary notebook so that was um how
vocabulary notebook so that was um how to learn vocabulary and not just stare
to learn vocabulary and not just stare at word lists the main thing right the
at word lists the main thing right the main thing is that you should record
main thing is that you should record vocabulary with plenty of examples and
vocabulary with plenty of examples and test yourself so that you practice
test yourself so that you practice recalling vocabulary regularly
recalling vocabulary regularly personalized examples also help use
personalized examples also help use flash cards spaced repetition is
flash cards spaced repetition is effective right so with flash cards and
effective right so with flash cards and flash card apps you put vocab on one
flash card apps you put vocab on one side some sort of memory prompt or
side some sort of memory prompt or something on the other side uh the idea
something on the other side uh the idea is that you have to try to re you know
is that you have to try to re you know you have to try and recall meaning
you have to try and recall meaning actually produce say the word on the
actually produce say the word on the other side of the card it helps even
other side of the card it helps even more if you put that word into a little
more if you put that word into a little sentence so use flash cards spaced
sentence so use flash cards spaced repetition is effective spaced
repetition is effective spaced repetition basically means reviewing
repetition basically means reviewing vocabulary
vocabulary um at different intervals of time so you
um at different intervals of time so you you review vocab after a day or two then
you review vocab after a day or two then at increasingly longer intervals so you
at increasingly longer intervals so you revise it after a day revise it after 3
revise it after a day revise it after 3 days r it after a week revise it after
days r it after a week revise it after two weeks this is spaced repetition it's
two weeks this is spaced repetition it's a known method for helping you remember
a known method for helping you remember things flashcards with self-generated
things flashcards with self-generated answers as well as flash card apps like
answers as well as flash card apps like anky can really help you to do this you
anky can really help you to do this you can create your own flash cards based on
can create your own flash cards based on my vocabulary notes you could
my vocabulary notes you could periodically revisit older episodes to
periodically revisit older episodes to measure how much your understanding has
measure how much your understanding has improved and you will find when you
improved and you will find when you listen to an episode again and again
listen to an episode again and again you'll find that you understand more
you'll find that you understand more details and nuances with each listening
details and nuances with each listening with each listen and the English will
with each listen and the English will stick in your head more I promise this
stick in your head more I promise this is one of the most frequently
is one of the most frequently recommended things from my listeners
recommended things from my listeners listen to episodes more than once again
listen to episodes more than once again try to flip your learning from passive
try to flip your learning from passive to active applying yourself to actively
to active applying yourself to actively remembering recalling and reproducing
remembering recalling and reproducing the English that you're hearing this
the English that you're hearing this speeds up the process massively Luke's
speeds up the process massively Luke's English podcast premium can help because
English podcast premium can help because it is designed specifically to help you
it is designed specifically to help you do all of those things remember that
do all of those things remember that English is about what you can do not
English is about what you can do not just about what you know so focus on
just about what you know so focus on testing Yourself by trying to use
testing Yourself by trying to use English to express yourself always
English to express yourself always measure your success by whether you can
measure your success by whether you can use the English to do something not just
use the English to do something not just whether you know it whether you
whether you know it whether you recognize it but can you actually use it
recognize it but can you actually use it consider keeping a
consider keeping a diary this isn't just a vocab Journal
diary this isn't just a vocab Journal but this is just where you write your
but this is just where you write your thoughts and things
thoughts and things you can reflect on things you've learned
you can reflect on things you've learned but also just describe your day
but also just describe your day including how you felt about things try
including how you felt about things try to use language you've picked up from
to use language you've picked up from the podcast or use different online
the podcast or use different online tools to help you find the words you
tools to help you find the words you need you could keep a Luke's English
need you could keep a Luke's English podcast diary where you write things
podcast diary where you write things after listening to each episode right
after listening to each episode right could be your thoughts and feelings
could be your thoughts and feelings could be you
could be you retelling uh redescribing things I've
retelling uh redescribing things I've said um even writing just a few lines
said um even writing just a few lines each time is great after a year of
each time is great after a year of writing just a couple of lines each time
writing just a couple of lines each time you will have plenty of stuff written
you will have plenty of stuff written down and you can go back and read it
down and you can go back and read it again and let me tell you that will be
again and let me tell you that will be great it will be a great experience we
great it will be a great experience we build things bit by bit little bit by
build things bit by bit little bit by little bit remember Learning Happens
little bit remember Learning Happens best when you feel relaxed and positive
best when you feel relaxed and positive about it and I hope my podcast helps
about it and I hope my podcast helps with this be good to yourself when
with this be good to yourself when you're learning English celebrate the
you're learning English celebrate the small victories don't worry too much
small victories don't worry too much about those failures which happen
about those failures which happen constantly it's all part of the process
constantly it's all part of the process don't beat yourself up just enjoy it all
don't beat yourself up just enjoy it all if you can don't criticize yourself it
if you can don't criticize yourself it doesn't actually help instead just
doesn't actually help instead just ignore that critical editor in your head
ignore that critical editor in your head and free yourself from self-judgment if
and free yourself from self-judgment if you learn to do this it is incredibly
you learn to do this it is incredibly liberating and wonderful language
liberating and wonderful language learning should be fun but it does
learning should be fun but it does require active engagement and consistent
require active engagement and consistent effort listening to my podcast every
effort listening to my podcast every week can definitely send you on the
week can definitely send you on the right track but try to activate your
right track but try to activate your learning in other ways celebrate your
learning in other ways celebrate your progress don't be encouraged uh don't be
progress don't be encouraged uh don't be encouraged no don't be discouraged by
encouraged no don't be discouraged by setbacks or things you don't understand
setbacks or things you don't understand and enjoy being part of my wonderful
and enjoy being part of my wonderful community of listeners from around the
community of listeners from around the world give your English a chance this
world give your English a chance this year and listen to my podcasts have I
year and listen to my podcasts have I said that before in this episode no I
said that before in this episode no I usually publish a minimum of 50 free
usually publish a minimum of 50 free episodes a year and more premium ones so
episodes a year and more premium ones so if you own listen to them even if you
if you own listen to them even if you don't do any extra studying just think
don't do any extra studying just think how much better your English can be 12
how much better your English can be 12 months from
months from now um so I wanted to revisit some of
now um so I wanted to revisit some of those comments testimonials and bits of
those comments testimonials and bits of advice from my listeners um the ones I
advice from my listeners um the ones I summarized briefly earlier on I just
summarized briefly earlier on I just want to revisit some of those things so
want to revisit some of those things so here's here's the that comment digest
here's here's the that comment digest from episode
from episode 914 um after 4 days this is these are
914 um after 4 days this is these are the comments that came in 4 days after
the comments that came in 4 days after the episode was published so here's a
the episode was published so here's a more a slightly more detailed digest of
more a slightly more detailed digest of the comments I received under episode
the comments I received under episode 914 in the first 4 days after it was
914 in the first 4 days after it was published so what I did with this was I
published so what I did with this was I actually gathered all the comments I
actually gathered all the comments I copy pasted I copied all of the comments
copy pasted I copied all of the comments from
from YouTube and then I used AI to generate a
YouTube and then I used AI to generate a summary of the main points that were
summary of the main points that were made now since then loads of other
made now since then loads of other comments have been made but they broadly
comments have been made but they broadly made the same points as here so these
made the same points as here so these are more or less the same points I
are more or less the same points I summarized earlier in the episode but
summarized earlier in the episode but I'm going to include some of my own
I'm going to include some of my own responses and comments here too as I
responses and comments here too as I said before I got so many great messages
said before I got so many great messages from listeners and some of them
from listeners and some of them definitely need to be read out on the
definitely need to be read out on the podcast so I'll I will do an entire
podcast so I'll I will do an entire episode dedicated to that which will
episode dedicated to that which will probably be the next episode so that 917
probably be the next episode so that 917 will be listeners stories I also need to
will be listeners stories I also need to do a Q&A episode in which I respond to
do a Q&A episode in which I respond to some questions that people keep asking
some questions that people keep asking me so will do that too somewhere down
me so will do that too somewhere down the line it's only the first week of
the line it's only the first week of January and already I have three or four
January and already I have three or four episodes lined up plus all the other
episodes lined up plus all the other ones in the pipeline so expect some
ones in the pipeline so expect some listener comments in the next episode at
listener comments in the next episode at um yeah also a Q&A at some point and
um yeah also a Q&A at some point and also the Sherlock Holmes story which I
also the Sherlock Holmes story which I promised I would do as well anyway so
promised I would do as well anyway so going back to listener my digest of
going back to listener my digest of listener feedback so General thoughts
listener feedback so General thoughts and feedack back about the podcast plus
and feedack back about the podcast plus my comments so many listeners again
my comments so many listeners again expressed appreciation for the podcast
expressed appreciation for the podcast and my teaching style some described my
and my teaching style some described my voice as attractive peaceful and quiet
voice as attractive peaceful and quiet quiet um turn up the volume or like a
quiet um turn up the volume or like a beautiful song that's nice isn't it
beautiful song that's nice isn't it others commented uh on others commended
others commented uh on others commended in fact they commended the meaning they
in fact they commended the meaning they said it was good it praised my clear
said it was good it praised my clear pronunciation Good Vibes and sense of
pronunciation Good Vibes and sense of humor many listeners also praise the
humor many listeners also praise the high quality of the content noting its
high quality of the content noting its diversity and educational value so my
diversity and educational value so my comment on that is great that's nice I
comment on that is great that's nice I want to make this process Pleasant and
want to make this process Pleasant and enjoyable to listen to I'm glad if my
enjoyable to listen to I'm glad if my voice helps a good microphone also makes
voice helps a good microphone also makes a difference I
a difference I use a very very well-known microphone
use a very very well-known microphone that lots of people doing podcasts use
that lots of people doing podcasts use it's a kind of industry standard
it's a kind of industry standard microphone I use the shore sm7 be
microphone I use the shore sm7 be plugged into various other bits and
plugged into various other bits and pieces but basically the microphone is a
pieces but basically the microphone is a is a good one it it creates a nice warm
is a good one it it creates a nice warm kind of satisfying sound I think so the
kind of satisfying sound I think so the good microphone makes a difference but
good microphone makes a difference but also I just enjoy what I do and I think
also I just enjoy what I do and I think my enthusiasm must come through surely
my enthusiasm must come through surely everything is better when you can put
everything is better when you can put some of your soul into it right whatever
some of your soul into it right whatever you do put some enthusiasm in it it
you do put some enthusiasm in it it really it really makes a big difference
really it really makes a big difference several listeners specifically mentioned
several listeners specifically mentioned the rambling episodes where I speak
the rambling episodes where I speak spontaneously about various topics they
spontaneously about various topics they appreciated the natural flow and
appreciated the natural flow and unscripted nature of these episodes and
unscripted nature of these episodes and how they were engaging to listen to
how they were engaging to listen to while also presenting English in a
while also presenting English in a natural way others enjoyed episodes with
natural way others enjoyed episodes with guests particularly my father my brother
guests particularly my father my brother and pod Pals Amber and Paul so my
and pod Pals Amber and Paul so my comment here is that I will keep doing
comment here is that I will keep doing episodes like that I'm also lining up
episodes like that I'm also lining up guests to appear the podcast over the
guests to appear the podcast over the next few weeks including some returning
next few weeks including some returning favorites as well as some new
favorites as well as some new ones um here are some comments
ones um here are some comments describing how the podcast has helped
describing how the podcast has helped listeners with their English the most
listeners with their English the most common benefit mentioned was improved
common benefit mentioned was improved listening comprehension surprise
listening comprehension surprise surprise many listeners reported being
surprise many listeners reported being able to understand better uh to
able to understand better uh to understand English better after
understand English better after listening to the podcast including
listening to the podcast including native speakers from different regions
native speakers from different regions listeners also mentioned improvements in
listeners also mentioned improvements in their speaking skills some attributed
their speaking skills some attributed this to the podcast's influence on their
this to the podcast's influence on their pronunciation and accent or to the
pronunciation and accent or to the expanded vocabulary and expressions they
expanded vocabulary and expressions they had learned others found that the
had learned others found that the podcast helped them develop fluency and
podcast helped them develop fluency and confidence in speaking some listeners
confidence in speaking some listeners mentioned that other people had made
mentioned that other people had made positive comments about their accent
positive comments about their accent saying it sounded British and even in
saying it sounded British and even in some cases asking if they were born in
some cases asking if they were born in the UK imagine that some listeners
the UK imagine that some listeners specifically refer to exam successes
specifically refer to exam successes thanking me for the positive influence
thanking me for the positive influence the podcast
the podcast had had on their skills allowing them to
had had on their skills allowing them to get a better score in IELTS or one of
get a better score in IELTS or one of the other Cambridge exams so this at
the other Cambridge exams so this at this point I would like to
this point I would like to go this makes me very proud and gives me
go this makes me very proud and gives me no end of encouragement imagine this
no end of encouragement imagine this actually
actually works sometimes as a teacher it's
works sometimes as a teacher it's frustrating like as a teacher in
frustrating like as a teacher in classrooms it can be frustrating because
classrooms it can be frustrating because you only spend a relatively short time
you only spend a relatively short time with your learners it might just be few
with your learners it might just be few weeks and you try your best to help them
weeks and you try your best to help them with their English in that time you can
with their English in that time you can help for sure but you don't get to see
help for sure but you don't get to see the long-term progression of their
the long-term progression of their English skills as they take what they've
English skills as they take what they've learned and apply it over time but with
learned and apply it over time but with this podcast it is a more long-term
this podcast it is a more long-term thing and I do get these testimonials
thing and I do get these testimonials from listeners who describe the long
from listeners who describe the long journey they've gone on from a
journey they've gone on from a relatively low level to something much
relatively low level to something much more fluent how
more fluent how satisfying third advice on how other
satisfying third advice on how other listeners can use the podcast to improve
listeners can use the podcast to improve their English repetition and active
their English repetition and active listener
listener act repetition and active listening were
act repetition and active listening were common suggestions some listeners
common suggestions some listeners recommended listening to episodes
recommended listening to episodes multiple times using transcripts to Aid
multiple times using transcripts to Aid comprehension and noting down unfamiliar
comprehension and noting down unfamiliar words and phrases shadowing repeating
words and phrases shadowing repeating after me was also recommended as a way
after me was also recommended as a way to improve pronunciation and fluency
to improve pronunciation and fluency other suggestions including using the
other suggestions including using the podcast for focused vocabulary practice
podcast for focused vocabulary practice printing out PDFs when available and
printing out PDFs when available and engaging in speaking practice by pausing
engaging in speaking practice by pausing the video to answer questions or
the video to answer questions or discussing the content with others uh
discussing the content with others uh some listeners mentioned LEP premium
some listeners mentioned LEP premium specifically saying that following the
specifically saying that following the premium episodes and doing all the PDF
premium episodes and doing all the PDF exercises had given their English a very
exercises had given their English a very noticeable boost and that if listeners
noticeable boost and that if listeners have enough time to devote to this it
have enough time to devote to this it can be a it can be a way to make much
can be a it can be a way to make much more rapid progress teacher luke. co.uk
more rapid progress teacher luke. co.uk premium
premium info um and suggestions for how I can
info um and suggestions for how I can improve the show although I didn't
improve the show although I didn't actually ask for these suggestions here
actually ask for these suggestions here is a digest of what some listeners said
is a digest of what some listeners said with a few responses from me so the most
with a few responses from me so the most frequent suggestion was to read more
frequent suggestion was to read more short stories on the podcast some
short stories on the podcast some listeners specified a preference for non
listeners specified a preference for non AI generated stories or more modern
AI generated stories or more modern stories other suggestions included
stories other suggestions included inviting more guests especially my dad
inviting more guests especially my dad uh featuring more content on specific
uh featuring more content on specific topics such as vocabulary and grammar or
topics such as vocabulary and grammar or academic subjects like science medicine
academic subjects like science medicine and Engineering including written
and Engineering including written formats like short stories or articles
formats like short stories or articles which can be read from and then analyzed
which can be read from and then analyzed for language reading and analyzing books
for language reading and analyzing books creating episodes about English tenses
creating episodes about English tenses playing music from my repertoire on the
playing music from my repertoire on the guitar uh discussing contemporary
guitar uh discussing contemporary English Proverbs etiquette and Behavior
English Proverbs etiquette and Behavior playing short clips of people speaking
playing short clips of people speaking in various accents providing longer
in various accents providing longer explanations with collocations and
explanations with collocations and examples for vocabulary in premium
examples for vocabulary in premium episodes I always do um adding
episodes I always do um adding vocabulary phrasal verbs and idioms
vocabulary phrasal verbs and idioms during the podcast yep always do that
during the podcast yep always do that too setting goals for English language
too setting goals for English language students of different levels having a a
students of different levels having a a live online chat with listeners and
live online chat with listeners and giving a room tour so lots of different
giving a room tour so lots of different suggestions actually in episode 917 I'm
suggestions actually in episode 917 I'm going to respond directly to a lot of
going to respond directly to a lot of those things but let me continue um some
those things but let me continue um some people suggested that I could offer
people suggested that I could offer shorter more frequent episodes to cater
shorter more frequent episodes to cater to listeners with different preferences
to listeners with different preferences however actually more listeners Express
however actually more listeners Express their enjoyment of the longer episodes
their enjoyment of the longer episodes urging me to continue with the current
urging me to continue with the current format so there was a bit of a debate
format so there was a bit of a debate about shorter episodes versus longer
about shorter episodes versus longer episodes here are the main arguments in
episodes here are the main arguments in favor of shorter episodes with some
favor of shorter episodes with some responses by me so long episodes this is
responses by me so long episodes this is what some people think long episodes are
what some people think long episodes are intimidating and sometimes I choose not
intimidating and sometimes I choose not to listen to them because of the length
to listen to them because of the length so my response to that is actually I
so my response to that is actually I totally understand this although I think
totally understand this although I think the platform you're using makes a
the platform you're using makes a difference when I'm looking at podcast
difference when I'm looking at podcast episodes in audio format in a podcast
episodes in audio format in a podcast app on my phone right when I'm a
app on my phone right when I'm a listener I like long episodes in audio
listener I like long episodes in audio format when my favorite podcasts publish
format when my favorite podcasts publish long episodes I'm very happy to consume
long episodes I'm very happy to consume that over a few days but when I'm
that over a few days but when I'm casually browsing on YouTube in the
casually browsing on YouTube in the evening instead of watching TV I tend to
evening instead of watching TV I tend to prefer shorter episodes because I feel
prefer shorter episodes because I feel that long episodes are too much of a
that long episodes are too much of a commitment so I think it depends on the
commitment so I think it depends on the platform and since this show is first
platform and since this show is first and foremost an audio podcast it always
and foremost an audio podcast it always has been then I tend to make my content
has been then I tend to make my content decisions based on that but I do
decisions based on that but I do understand how long episodes can seem a
understand how long episodes can seem a bit overwhelming but I also believe that
bit overwhelming but I also believe that when you actually listen to the episodes
when you actually listen to the episodes the time flies and it's not a problem
the time flies and it's not a problem also you can listen in sections uh as
also you can listen in sections uh as I've already
I've already explained uh so another comment is this
explained uh so another comment is this my commute to work is 30 minutes so
my commute to work is 30 minutes so longer episodes are less convenient and
longer episodes are less convenient and I lose focus after a certain amount of
I lose focus after a certain amount of time over one hour is too much for most
time over one hour is too much for most Learners to be able to focus So my
Learners to be able to focus So my answer to these two comments is that you
answer to these two comments is that you don't have to listen to the episodes in
don't have to listen to the episodes in one single go you can listen to them in
one single go you can listen to them in ctions I've already said all that um
ctions I've already said all that um another thing also my episodes often
another thing also my episodes often have chapter markers to help you
have chapter markers to help you navigate the episodes on
navigate the episodes on YouTube um right so don't feel you have
YouTube um right so don't feel you have to listen to it in one go it's not live
to listen to it in one go it's not live you can pause it come back to finish the
you can pause it come back to finish the episode later um I generally don't set
episode later um I generally don't set out to make long episodes I don't think
out to make long episodes I don't think right today I'm going to make a 2-hour
right today I'm going to make a 2-hour episode instead I just just um try to
episode instead I just just um try to say all the things I want to say and
say all the things I want to say and cover all the points I want to cover and
cover all the points I want to cover and I don't plan for a specific episode
I don't plan for a specific episode length ideally all my episodes would be
length ideally all my episodes would be about 1 hour long that's usually what
about 1 hour long that's usually what I'm going for but sometimes it just
I'm going for but sometimes it just takes longer than that for me to achieve
takes longer than that for me to achieve everything this is particularly true
everything this is particularly true when I'm doing vocabulary explanations
when I'm doing vocabulary explanations for example short story episodes often
for example short story episodes often end up being long mainly because I'm
end up being long mainly because I'm going into so much detail in the
going into so much detail in the vocabulary explanations afterwards so
vocabulary explanations afterwards so the story might just be 20 minutes long
the story might just be 20 minutes long and the vocabulary explanations end up
and the vocabulary explanations end up being over an hour long which extends
being over an hour long which extends the episode and then people write learn
the episode and then people write learn English with a short story but it's 2
English with a short story but it's 2 hours
hours long um yeah cuz it's a short story but
long um yeah cuz it's a short story but a long episode anyway I don't consider
a long episode anyway I don't consider it to be a problem because so many
it to be a problem because so many people tell me they love the longer
people tell me they love the longer episodes it gives them something to sink
episodes it gives them something to sink their teeth into I feel like I can
their teeth into I feel like I can achieve a lot more in a longer episode
achieve a lot more in a longer episode I feel like people can listen to them in
I feel like people can listen to them in sections if they need to also not many
sections if they need to also not many other English teachers uh make episodes
other English teachers uh make episodes as long as mine I don't think there are
as long as mine I don't think there are any are
any are there um and so I think it this makes me
there um and so I think it this makes me distinctive in the world of you know
distinctive in the world of you know content creation for Learners of English
content creation for Learners of English I think it's a mistake to try to copy
I think it's a mistake to try to copy the standards which are set by other
the standards which are set by other people like I did read a comment a while
people like I did read a comment a while ago saying all the other all the other
ago saying all the other all the other podcasts as all the other YouTube
podcasts as all the other YouTube channels do episodes that are no longer
channels do episodes that are no longer than 30 minutes
than 30 minutes um but you know I want to do things my
um but you know I want to do things my way and this is the way that works for
way and this is the way that works for me so I'm sticking with it also to be
me so I'm sticking with it also to be honest I think um making much shorter
honest I think um making much shorter episodes might fundamentally change the
episodes might fundamentally change the way I do this for example if I did a
way I do this for example if I did a short story episode I wouldn't really
short story episode I wouldn't really have time to do the language review or
have time to do the language review or analysis of the story it would just be
analysis of the story it would just be the story um one idea is to do the
the story um one idea is to do the language analysis
language analysis part in a premium episode so I would
part in a premium episode so I would essentially cut the episode off about
essentially cut the episode off about halfway through and say if you want to
halfway through and say if you want to listen to the rest of this you need to
listen to the rest of this you need to sign up to LP premium but I think to be
sign up to LP premium but I think to be honest people would be even more unhappy
honest people would be even more unhappy about that except maybe the premium
about that except maybe the premium subscribers so basically it is
subscribers so basically it is impossible to do anything and put your
impossible to do anything and put your heart into it which means doing it in a
heart into it which means doing it in a slightly original or different way it's
slightly original or different way it's impossible to do that without some
impossible to do that without some people disliking what you do you can't
people disliking what you do you can't please all the people all the time and
please all the people all the time and you shouldn't try so I will do things my
you shouldn't try so I will do things my way understanding that whatever I do
way understanding that whatever I do there will always be room for
there will always be room for improvement I don't aim to make very
improvement I don't aim to make very long episodes but the episodes will be
long episodes but the episodes will be long if they have to be I might
long if they have to be I might experiment with different formats and
experiment with different formats and ideas I keep all my options open when it
ideas I keep all my options open when it comes to making this content another
comes to making this content another thought and this is the final thought on
thought and this is the final thought on this English lessons in class are almost
this English lessons in class are almost never less than an hour and a half and I
never less than an hour and a half and I kind of think my podcast episodes I
kind of think my podcast episodes I think of my podcast episodes a bit like
think of my podcast episodes a bit like English lessons it seems odd to do just
English lessons it seems odd to do just 30 minutes what can you achieve in 30
30 minutes what can you achieve in 30 minutes I think I'm naturally tuned to
minutes I think I'm naturally tuned to teaching for a certain amount of time
teaching for a certain amount of time either 90 minutes or or 3 hours
either 90 minutes or or 3 hours classes and this is the influence of
classes and this is the influence of teaching in classrooms where lessons are
teaching in classrooms where lessons are usually 90 minutes or 3 hours long my
usually 90 minutes or 3 hours long my episodes just end up being about the
episodes just end up being about the same length as my English lessons I
same length as my English lessons I think I have some kind of internal clock
think I have some kind of internal clock for this after teaching in classrooms
for this after teaching in classrooms for about 25 years a lot of what I do on
for about 25 years a lot of what I do on the podcast is informed by a sort of
the podcast is informed by a sort of intuitive sense of teaching so I think
intuitive sense of teaching so I think it's wise to follow that sense if
it's wise to follow that sense if anything guides me in the way I make my
anything guides me in the way I make my episodes it is an intuitive sense of
episodes it is an intuitive sense of what is working based on the years of
what is working based on the years of teaching experience I have under my belt
teaching experience I have under my belt so this is the way this is the way I do
so this is the way this is the way I do things so to sum up okay this episode
things so to sum up okay this episode has explored why Listening to English is
has explored why Listening to English is important for your Learning and
important for your Learning and Development and how this podcast can
Development and how this podcast can help you achieve that all important
help you achieve that all important regular listening practice Listening to
regular listening practice Listening to English improves your comprehension
English improves your comprehension exposes you to real life English and
exposes you to real life English and vocabulary helps your pronunciation and
vocabulary helps your pronunciation and grammar provides cultural insights
grammar provides cultural insights increases fluency and boosts your
increases fluency and boosts your confidence in this episode also I also
confidence in this episode also I also shared feedback from listeners who have
shared feedback from listeners who have seen seen significant improvements in
seen seen significant improvements in their English thanks to this podcast so
their English thanks to this podcast so the conclusion is clear isn't it make
the conclusion is clear isn't it make this podcast a regular part of your
this podcast a regular part of your English learning routine and I thought I
English learning routine and I thought I think you'll be amazed at the progress
think you'll be amazed at the progress you make over the coming year thank you
you make over the coming year thank you for listening to this episode I hope you
for listening to this episode I hope you didn't become a skeleton while
didn't become a skeleton while listening so to prove that you made it
listening so to prove that you made it to the end of the episode why not write
to the end of the episode why not write a comment with some of your own thoughts
a comment with some of your own thoughts that you had while listening and I hope
that you had while listening and I hope you had thoughts or you can somehow
you had thoughts or you can somehow mention the word in your comment I
mention the word in your comment I haven't decided what this word will be
haven't decided what this word will be yet so you got which word should I ask
yet so you got which word should I ask you to use at the end of this maybe
you to use at the end of this maybe let's use the word brain okay try to use
let's use the word brain okay try to use the word brain in your comment because
the word brain in your comment because we've been using our brains all the way
we've been using our brains all the way through this so let's see if you can
through this so let's see if you can somehow use the word brain in your
somehow use the word brain in your comment okay just to prove you got to
comment okay just to prove you got to the end of the episode
the end of the episode um there are there are there's more
um there are there are there's more things on the PDF which I'm going to
things on the PDF which I'm going to skip
skip past um there was more stuff about
past um there was more stuff about um my podcast and like my podcast logo
um my podcast and like my podcast logo the fact I live in France I've got a
the fact I live in France I've got a French wife to kids uh I struggle with
French wife to kids uh I struggle with French so I know what it's like to try
French so I know what it's like to try to speak another language uh my kids are
to speak another language uh my kids are bilingual my daughter is seven now she's
bilingual my daughter is seven now she's been on the show a few times my son is
been on the show a few times my son is now 18 months old uh he started speaking
now 18 months old uh he started speaking a bit in both languages he mainly in
a bit in both languages he mainly in French and English He mainly shouts his
French and English He mainly shouts his sister's name as loud as possible and he
sister's name as loud as possible and he also says poo poo quite a lot actually
also says poo poo quite a lot actually uh so his English is a work in progress
uh so his English is a work in progress to be honest um so there was some other
to be honest um so there was some other stuff about about things like that as
stuff about about things like that as well which um I am not going to read out
well which um I am not going to read out because uh there isn't enough time but
because uh there isn't enough time but I'll leave it in the PDF I talked about
I'll leave it in the PDF I talked about monetizing the podcast and some other
monetizing the podcast and some other things that people ask me about I talked
things that people ask me about I talked about free episodes and premium episodes
about free episodes and premium episodes well I didn't talk about it I wrote
well I didn't talk about it I wrote about it um and but I'm not going to
about it um and but I'm not going to talk about that now uh but you can find
talk about that now uh but you can find all the stuff on the PDF okay so this
all the stuff on the PDF okay so this really is the end of the episode now but
really is the end of the episode now but on the PDF you will find some more
on the PDF you will find some more things including a vocabulary list with
things including a vocabulary list with definitions that's all of those
definitions that's all of those highlighted phrases the ones that were
highlighted phrases the ones that were in that lurid orange color so you'll
in that lurid orange color so you'll find a full vocabulary list of those
find a full vocabulary list of those things there's a vocabulary quiz with
things there's a vocabulary quiz with answers so you can check your
answers so you can check your understanding and some discussion
understanding and some discussion questions to help you practice using the
questions to help you practice using the vocabulary in that list and that's all
vocabulary in that list and that's all there on the PDF you just have to go
there on the PDF you just have to go through it you'll see all the vocab in
through it you'll see all the vocab in the list to help you remember it all of
the list to help you remember it all of it is there and there's a vocab quiz to
it is there and there's a vocab quiz to help you remember and test yourself okay
help you remember and test yourself okay all of those different expressions s are
all of those different expressions s are all dealt with there's an answer key for
all dealt with there's an answer key for the quiz uh discussions for speaking
the quiz uh discussions for speaking practice for all 18 items of
practice for all 18 items of vocab right for example what's been a
vocab right for example what's been a stepping stone in your life that helped
stepping stone in your life that helped you achieve something bigger what
you achieve something bigger what decision in your life was a
decision in your life was a no-brainer why was it so obvious and so
no-brainer why was it so obvious and so on and then finally when you get to the
on and then finally when you get to the end you will find your certificate of
end you will find your certificate of achievement as promised your certificate
achievement as promised your certificate of achievement with 100 points point and
of achievement with 100 points point and your medal for listening all the way to
your medal for listening all the way to the end of the episode this certifies
the end of the episode this certifies that I have listened to this entire
that I have listened to this entire episode of Luke's English podcast and I
episode of Luke's English podcast and I have the right to claim my 100 points
have the right to claim my 100 points signed Luke Thompson podcast
signed Luke Thompson podcast man congratulations you made it all the
man congratulations you made it all the way until the end and that is the end of
way until the end and that is the end of this episode thank you so much for
this episode thank you so much for listening all the way through uh wow
listening all the way through uh wow that was a bit of a roller coaster um
that was a bit of a roller coaster um wasn't it quite a roll coaster an of an
wasn't it quite a roll coaster an of an episode I Tred to go through it as
episode I Tred to go through it as quickly as I could um I hope you're all
quickly as I could um I hope you're all right out there in podcast land and
right out there in podcast land and you're not a skeleton that your brain
you're not a skeleton that your brain has been filled up with English leave a
has been filled up with English leave a comment in the comments section to prove
comment in the comments section to prove that you've made it all the way until
that you've made it all the way until this point and I'll speak to you in the
this point and I'll speak to you in the next episode which will be all about
next episode which will be all about listener stories of success in their
listener stories of success in their learning of English okay I can't wait to
learning of English okay I can't wait to do more episodes of this podcast in 2025
do more episodes of this podcast in 2025 got loads of other ideas I love doing
got loads of other ideas I love doing this podcast that's hopefully you love
this podcast that's hopefully you love listening to it too thank you so much
listening to it too thank you so much for listening um and I'll speak to you
for listening um and I'll speak to you in the next part but for now it's time
in the next part but for now it's time to say goodbye bye bye Bo Bo Bo
