The Clark and Miller English Podcast
Episodes
Episode 46 - Create "A-ha" Moments in your Classroom with Simple Drawings
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I look at how you can use images effectively in the classroom and give your students more of those "a-ha" moments. Through a job post...
Episode 45 - The Wizard of Oz, Ingroups and Outgroups, and How Language Reveals What We Really Think
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever really thought about how some words you use to describe others are a bit ... rude? Have you ever noticed the words you use to describe ...
Episode 44 - The Quest for the Holy Grail of English Grammar | An Interview with Christopher Walker
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, I talk to Chris Walker, a long-serving teacher at International House and author of English is a Simple Language. Join us on our q...
Episode 43 - Some, Any, Metal Bands and Why You’re Not Talking To Someone’s Leg
03 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
They lied! They all lied to you! Well, some of them did. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the people who told you that “We use ‘so...
Episode 42 - When is a Mistake a Mistake? Errors, Innovations And Angloversals
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever corrected your student for making a "mistake" that you make yourself? In that case, is it a mistake? Are they mistakes when the same f...
Episode 41 - ’90s Slang vs ’40s Slang | A Chat With My Dad in the Garden
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk to my dad, Peter, about slang. We also play a game where I try to guess the meaning of slang terms from the ’40s (his gener...
Episode 40 - 2 English teachers, 10 phrasal verbs. English with Rob Interview
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A very phrasal verby chat with Rob from English with Rob. We talk about: - the best way to learn phrasal verbs; - our favourite bands and whether au...
Episode 39 - The Cat and the Cornflakes - 5 English Pronunciation Hacks
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Free eBook "Learn New Words 5 Times Faster": https://www.clarkandmiller.com/learn-english-fast/ ______ Improve your pronunciation AND your listenin...
Episode 38 - Tithead! Swearing with Emma from the Procrastination Podcast
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk to the super-thoughtful Emma from The Procrastination Podcast and Pronunciation with Emma. And, yes! We talk about swearing i...
Episode 37 - Three Hot Takes About English (And Why We Use "Some")
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I share three of my "hot takes" about English. - Do we ever use "will" with "if" (e.g. “If I will be at the party …”)? When? And when ca...
Episode 36 - 10 English Proverbs
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I take a dive into 10 common English proverbs. Wait! What’s a proverb? A proverb is basically an idiom you use to give advice or ...
Episode 35 - A chat with Zdenek from Zdenek's English Podcast | DELTA, Native Speakerism & Dogme
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should we use L1 in the English classroom? Is there a problem with discrimination against non-native English teachers? Is taking the Cambridge DELTA a...
Episode 34 - Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears and Pattern Grammar
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's always the same: The same mistakes. Again and again. Mistakes like: “We’ve got more five tickets left.” “We work four days in a week i...
Episode 33 - Reported Speech, True Love and Why Lawyers Speak Trashy English
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever walked away from an English lesson saying, “What?! How?! Why does this language have to be so complicated?!” If you’ve felt like ...
Episode 32 - Schrödinger’s Adjective and Three Other Pieces of Grammar Philosophy
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is the past tense not the past tense? Why are "done," "swum" and "gone" just adjectives dressing up as verbs so they can get into a "verbs only" ...
Episode 31 - Cooking Verbs in English
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you're anything like me, then you love cooking. Also, if you're anything like me, you have a weird fear of frogs and a passion for experimental mu...
Episode 30 - Do You Need Grammar to Understand What People Are Saying?
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a question for you: Do you need grammar to understand what people are saying? Really? What about this sign I saw in a posh restaurant? "No sh...
Episode 29 - I'll have a beer and a wife, please.
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A mad, mad story about a live sex show, uncomfortable bars and an elephant walking down the street. In this podcast episode, I talk to Martin from Ro...
Episode 28 - Talking about Comedy with Luke from Luke’s English Podcast
07 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I talk to Luke from Luke’s English Podcast – one of the longest-running ESL podcasts – about one of our favourite topics: comedy. We discuss ou...
Episode 27 - Why Pragmatics Gives You Superpowers - An Interview with Andreas Grundtvig
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, I discuss pragmatics and pragmatic competence with Andreas Grundtvig, author of "English is Context," a new book for teachers and l...
Episode 26 - The Beatles and Your English Learning Journey
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here's why your English learning journey is just like the Beatles' career. Except without the millions of dollars. Sorry about that! :) In this epis...
Episode 25 - Actionable English Mindset Advice with Krisia Justesen
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with the awesome Krisia Justesen from Lightning English on how you can change your learning mindset. OK, OK ... I know that sounds like ...
Episode 24 - International Communication in English with Chia Suan Chong
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever had problems communicating with people from different cultures? Have you ever felt that your English is good, but you're still not gett...
Episode 23 - Why You’re Not Free in English (and How This Can Help You)
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are not free! And that's a good thing! When we speak English, we're not completely free to choose what we say. However, this lack of freedom can ...
Episode 22 - Grammar, Perception and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever seen Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Remember that part when Charlie and Grandpa drink some magic soda and start floating towards a ...
Episode 21 - Watch Movies and Improve Your Listening in English - An Interview with Cara Leopold
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Want to improve your listening skills AND enjoy movies? Want to join a community of other English learners who love films and TV series? Then Cara's...
Episode 20 - What Should I Read in English?
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let me ask you two questions: How many books have you started to read in English? And how many books have you finished in English? I bet the answer...
Episode 19 - The Back of 2020: A New Year's Ramble
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A New Year's ramble and 10 natural English expressions. This episode is in two parts: In part one, I talk naturally and without a script. This is ...
Episode 18 - Grammar for a Full Life - A Wonderful Interview with Professor Lawrence Weinstein
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A conversation with former Harvard professor Lawrence Weinstein about how the future can limit our power, how using the active can empower us, how the...
Episode 17 - Don't Destroy the Universe! Word Order in English
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Here's something you might be doing without realising it: You might be putting too many flashing lights and flags in your English sentences. But how...
Episode 16 - Does Business English really exist? - An interview with Shanthi Cumaraswamy Streat
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the point of Business English? What is Business English? Does it even exist? In this fascinating chat with Shanthi Cumaraswamy Streat, you ca...
Episode 15 - English Articles and the Stock Market Dance
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why are "a" and "the" like a stock market dance? What are "the cat rules"? Join me on my "hot take" on English articles and how we use them to invite ...
Episode 14 - Teaching English Through Storytelling - An Interview with Ariel Goodbody
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A fascinating conversation with the wonderfully engaging and enthusiastic Ariel Goodbody, teaching expert and presenter of the Easy Stories in English...
Episode 13 - Tips From A Polyglot - Interview with Lindsay From Lindsay Does Languages
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with the amazing polyglot Lindsay from Lindsay Does Languages. I talk to Lindsay about: - How she got into learning languages; How food ...
Episode 12 - How Not to Die in an English Conversation
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Conversations can be hard sometimes – even in your first language. In this episode, I take a look at strategies to start, finish and keep alive a c...
Episode 11 - Three Things That Surprised Me About The UK
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes your own culture can surprise you. After a couple of years away from the UK, I got some serious culture shock when I came back to visit. P...
Episode 10 - Interview - Christian from Canguro English - The Paint is Still Wet
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I chat with Christian Saunders from Canguro English about language teaching methods, including: - Some obscure methods from the 19th...
Episode 9 - Enjoy Studying Again with the Self-Study Menu
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Remember when studying was fun? When things were new and interesting? Well, you CAN enjoy studying again. The trick is NOT to make a study plan. ...
Episode 8 - Grice's Maxims
31 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sure, it's important to tell the truth and to make yourself clear, right? But what about comedy and sarcasm? What about using language to form close...
Episode 7 - How to Sound Smart (and Witty) in English
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we explore the world of auxiliary verbs and how high-level English speakers use them all the time. Sometimes they make the language m...
Episode 6 - The English Verb
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Quick – answer this question: Why do we use the past simple tense? Did you say, “Er … to talk about the past, obviously”? Then how do you e...
Episode 5 - Cambridge Cambridge Cambridge
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Some places can definitely surprise you. And Cambridge was no exception for me. In this podcast I describe my experience going to Cambridge for the ...
Episode 4 - Interview: Hugh Dellar - "One phrase at a time"
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I have a very involved chat with Hugh Dellar, coursebook writer, teacher trainer, teacher and all-round nice guy. We cover a lot of g...
Episode 3 - What on Earth Is an Ergative Verb?
22 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What on Earth is an ergative verb? How can I recognize one? Do I need them? There are some verbs in English that don't work in way you might think....
Episode 2 - Buffalo Buffalo
22 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Impress your friends at parties with these WEIRD but totally grammatically correct sentences. Even better, learn how they work and get a better insi...
Episode 1 - Say vs Tell ... What's the difference?
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
"Say" and "Tell" are not all they seem to be! Join Gabriel with an interesting look at the very different personalities behind these two simple, every...