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Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson
807. Dylan, Lennon, Marx & God (with Jon Stewart PhD)
A conversation about two legends of contemporary popular culture - Bob Dylan and John Lennon, with pop-star academic Jon Stewart (guitarist in The Wedding Present and Sleeper).
π Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sJE
π Get Jon's book here https://a.co/d/fPBgTel (other bookshops are available)
Jon Stewart is an interesting mix. He is both a university lecturer and a pop star. He runs a Masters Degree course in Music Business and Popular Music Practice at the BIMM Institute in London and he also plays guitar for legendary British group The Wedding Present, AND classic 'Britpop' band Sleeper. So, Jon knows all about the music business from both a personal and academic point of view.
In this conversation I ask Jon about his new book "Dylan, Lennon, Marx and God" which is an amazing dual-biography of John Lennon and Bob Dylan, two of the most significant figures in contemporary popular culture.
Jon talks about the way Dylan and Lennon used language in their work, the references they make to the culture they grew up in, including their spiritual and political views.
Jon also talks about his time as a musician, including working with Elvis Costello and George Michael, and a funny story about John Lennon's "Imagine piano".
I hope you find this conversation as fascinating as I did. If you like it, consider getting a copy of Jon's book!
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915. The World News Quiz 2024 π with Stephen from SEND7 Podcast
01:57:02|Join me for a quiz about some curious stories from the news this year (2024). Stephen Devincenzi from the SEND7 Podcast is the quizmaster for the third year running, and has prepared questions that will test my knowledge of some of the slightly less serious global news stories this year. Can you beat me in the quiz? Listen to find out.π Episode page (with quiz questions) π https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/29/915-the-world-news-quiz-2024-with-stephen-from-send7-podcast/π§ Listen to SEND7 Podcast π https://pod.link/1505603790βοΈ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Consider donating to help people in need of medical aid this yearΒ π https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/914. A Midwinter Ramble βοΈ Lukeβs English Podcast
02:18:40|An end-of-year rambling episode with some seasonal good wishes π, comments on recent episodes π§, an update about upcoming content π², anecdotes about seeing Paul McCartney live in concert πΈ, playing music at the British Ambassador's residence π¬π§ and visiting the British Library in London π, lots of library jokes (explained) π and a vocabulary review at the end πββοΈ. PDF available. Send your answers to my questions here luketeacher@hotmail.com (1. How has LEP helped your English? 2. Do you have any tips for improving your English with LEP?)π Get the PDF here π https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/914.-A-Midwinter-Ramble-β -Lukes-English-Podcast.pdfπ Episode page on my website π https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/24/914-a-midwinter-ramble-lukes-english-podcast/π» Sign into your Acast+ account (LEP Premium) π https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/accountβοΈ LEP Premium info π https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo913. The Snowman βοΈ (Learn English with a Short Story)
01:42:22|Listen to a short story and learn some useful English vocabulary in the process. This one is called The Snowman - a mysterious winter tale about a creepy snowman which appears outside a cabin in a remote forest. Follow the story, and learn plenty of descriptive vocabulary.π Get the PDF (story text, vocabulary notes, vocabulary list) π https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/913.-The-Snowman-βοΈ-Learn-English-with-a-Short-Story.pdfπ Episode page on my website π https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/17/913-the-snowman-learn-english-with-a-short-storyπΌ Animated Horror Flicks on YouTube π https://www.youtube.com/@AnimatedHorrorFlicksπ LEP Premium info π www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfoP65 (Part 4) From the Bookshelf π Story Pronunciation βThe Office Ghostβ
01:17:50|The aim in this episode is to let you practise your pronunciation of the vocabulary in this series. So, here is a story which contains almost all the phrases. Listen to me read the story, then repeat it after me line by line. Also includes 2 bonus stories at the end!π Get the PDF in normal text size https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-4-Story-Pronunciation-The-Office-Ghost.pdfπ Get the PDF in large text size for your phone https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-4-Story-Pronunciation-The-Office-Ghost-Phone-Version.pdfπΌ Video version https://youtu.be/PhefPXU96YEP65 (Part 3) From the Bookshelf π Vocabulary Review 15-25
56:50|(Part 3 of 4) Reviewing more vocabulary which I used in part 1 of this series. This review covers various natural and useful expressions in English including phrasal verbs and idioms. The PDF includes detailed vocabulary notes, memory prompts, discussion questions and a vocabulary quiz, all to help you learn this vocabulary more effectively.π Get the PDF with normal text size https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-3-From-The-Bookshelf_-Vocabulary-Review-15-25.pdfπ Get the PDF with large text size (for your phone) https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-3-From-The-Bookshelf_-Vocabulary-Review-15-25-Phone-Version.pdfπΌ Video version https://youtu.be/tktvu7i49KwP65 (Part 2) From the Bookshelf π Vocabulary Review 1-14
01:01:33|(Part 2 of 4) Let's review some of the vocabulary that came up during my ramble in part 1 of this series. This includes a lot of common, natural phrases and idioms. The PDF has detailed vocabulary notes, memory prompts, quizzes and discussion questions.π Get the PDF in normal text size https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-2-From-The-Bookshelf_-Vocabulary-Review-1-14.pdfπ Get the PDF in large text size (for your phone) https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-2-From-The-Bookshelf_-Vocabulary-Review-1-14-Phone-Version.pdfπΌ Video version https://youtu.be/mbuZsVGGUQwP65 (Part 1) From the Bookshelf π Flirting, Advertising, Lennon Letter
01:23:02|Here is the first part of another premium series in which I pick some random books from my bookshelf, read out a few pages, ramble about what I find and then teach you some English in the process. This time I end up reading a short story about flirting at work, a chapter about how advertising works and a letter written by John Lennon, plus some idioms from the Oxford Idioms Dictionary. Story texts, notes and transcript available on the PDF. Parts 2-3 include a vocabulary review and part 4 includes some pronunciation practice with a couple of stories.π Get the PDF in normal text size https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-1-From-The-Bookshelf_-Flirting-Advertising-Lennon-Letter.pdfπ Get the PDF in large text size https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/P65-Part-1-From-The-Bookshelf_-Flirting-Advertising-Lennon-Letter-Phone-version.pdfπΌ Video version https://youtu.be/c3gVo3tUZoM912. Bits & Bobs 3 π Questions of English (Part 3) More Listener Comments
01:05:25|Part three of a series featuring collected bits & bobs for the podcast, with mini-lessons on vocabulary and grammar. Topics include listener comments on listening twice, a joke about double negatives & sarcasm, staying safe while listening to LEP in the car, the phrase "don't be shy, give it a try," fun facts about Paraguay, and a Quentin Tarantino eggcorn. Learn English with LEP!π Get the PDF π https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/912.-Bits-Bobs-3-Questions-of-English-Part-3-More-Listener-Comments.pdfπ Episode page on my website π https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/10/912-bits-bobs-3-questions-of-english-part-3-more-listener-commentsπ LEP Premium info π https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo911. FUNNY ENGLISH SIGNS πͺ§ Explained (Part 2)
58:41|(Part 2 of 2) Let's continue where we stopped in the last episode, by going through the rest of my list of funny English signs πͺ§ from around the world. These signs are badly-written and have unintentionally funny double meanings. I will read out the signs, then explain what is funny and offer corrections to make the signs clearer. I will also explain vocabulary in the process. PDF available.Β π Get the PDF here π https://teacherluke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/911.-FUNNY-ENGLISH-SIGNS-Explained-Part-2.pdfπ Episode page on my website π https://teacherluke.co.uk/2024/12/03/911-funny-english-signs-explained-part-2π LEP Premium info π https://www.teacherluke.co.uk/premiuminfo