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916. Learning English in 2025 📈 with Luke’s English Podcast

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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.

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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

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

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YouTube Transcript:916. Learning English in 2025 📈 with Luke’s English Podcast