Culips Everyday English Podcast

In this episode, you’ll be introduced to Culips Discord moderator and study guide writer Alina Morozova! She shares the story of how she became fluent in English, how she met her husband and moved to Ireland, and her personal tips and recommendations for learning English. Fun facts Alina’s hometown, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, used to be a part of China during its last imperial dynasty (the Qing dynasty). It was ceded to Russia in 1858. Expressions included in the study guide * To throw shade * To click (with/for) * To light a fire under [somebody] * Aha moment * To have egg on [one’s] face * With [one’s] eyes closed Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Photo: Alina

Bonus episode #086 - Worlds collide Episode description In this episode, Andrew shares a story about his podcasting and personal lives colliding. He describes a lunch meeting that highlights the smallness of our world. Listen, learn, and improve your English fluency with this real-life story. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here

Were you a good student in school, or a badly behaved one? In this episode, Andrew and Kassy discuss ways to discipline and punish school students. They share stories from their own school days and their time as teachers. They also discuss how punishment in schools has changed over time.  Listen to learn more and improve your English fluency. Fun facts Interestingly, in the past, one form of punishment involved students memorizing and repeating lengthy texts and lists containing irrelevant and impractical data. Most people would agree that studying random information without context and practical examples indeed sounds like a punishment! Expressions included in the study guide * To goof off * To rough up * To burst into * To be frowned upon * To mock * Eye-opening Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Photo: Monstera Production (Pexels.com)

Bonus episode #085 - Bonked and zonked Episode description In this episode, Andrew shares a story about a physical challenge he completed with his friend Jimmy to start off the new year. He shares all the details, including how a planning mistake made the challenge more difficult than expected. Listen, learn, and improve your English fluency with this real-life story. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here

Andrew and Anna discuss trend predictions for 2024 in South Korea.They share their thoughts and talk about if these trends might apply to other parts of the world as well. Join in to practice your listening skills, improve your vocabulary, and learn something new along the way! Fun facts Have you ever heard about fads? Unlike a trend, a fad is something that’s very fashionable and popular, but only for a short period of time. For example, fidget spinners: they were so big about 10 years ago, but then everyone just forgot about them. Check out our Chatterbox episode #139 – Fads and trends to learn a bit more about fads! Articles referenced in this episode: * Key consumer trends for 2024 * Trend Korea 2024 Expressions included in the study guide * My take on it * To make the most of [something] * Each to their own * To take off * A foot in the door * Don't quote me on that Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Photo: Mikael Blomkvist (Pexels.com)

Bonus episode #084 - Random rules Episode description In this episode, Andrew talks about how a surprise change in his plans led him to a wonderful discovery. He explains how sometimes, when things don't go as expected, it can turn out to be a good thing. Join Andrew to improve your English fluency with this real-life story. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here

In this episode of Catch Word, hosts Andrew and Kassy explore the idioms "to cave" and "to fold." In short, “to cave” means to give in to pressure and “to fold” means to give up when you feel defeated. They sound pretty alike, right? Using several example scenarios and dialogues, Andrew and Kassy explain the differences between these two similar verbs, so you don’t mix them up! Fun facts The verb “to fold” originates from the popular card game poker. There are actually a lot of other expressions that originate in this classic game! For instance, “poker face” – this refers to a facial expression that doesn’t reveal any emotion or reaction. Similarly, “calling one’s bluff” means deciding that the cards someone has aren’t as good as they’re pretending. In everyday use, when you "call someone's bluff," it means you suspect they are not being honest or exaggerating something, and you confront them to prove if what they're saying is true or not. Essentially, it's like saying, "I don't believe you. Prove it!" Expressions included in the study guide * To cave * To fold * To guilt trip [someone] * To call [someone] out * To cut one’s losses * To throw in the towel Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Photo: Kohji Asakawa (Pixabay.com)

Bonus episode #083 - New year, new you Episode description In this episode, Andrew talks about his New Year's experiences. He shares stories about the holidays, a big snowfall, and fun moments with his wife. Andrew also describes their New Year's Eve celebration at home with music and dancing. Listen to this episode to enjoy a holiday story and improve your English fluency! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here

In this special episode of Simplified Speech, Andrew and Kassy reflect on the highlights of 2023 and share their exciting plans for 2024. Plus, they talk about some of the exciting new things happening at Culips in the new year. Join them for a heartfelt and forward-looking conversation as they say goodbye to 2023 and look ahead to a promising 2024. Happy new year, everyone! Fun facts Did you know that New Year's resolutions date back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon? The Babylonians would make promises to the gods at the start of each year, hoping to earn favor for the year ahead. So, if you're making resolutions for the New Year, you're continuing a tradition that's been going strong for millennia! Expressions included in the study guide * To put out feelers * To get a competitive edge * To throw a number out there * To be stuck in the groove * Cup of tea * To brave [something] Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Photo: Mikael Blomkvist (Pixabay.com)

[Classic Bonus] Simplified Speech #168 - The ballet Episode description Do you like ballet? In this episode, Andrew and Suzanne talk about this unique style of dancing. They discuss its origins and characteristics, and explain some specific vocabulary along the way. Suzanne, a former professional dancer, shares her own story and what ballet means to her. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Fun facts In this episode, Suzanne mentions breaking new ballet shoes. The process can include soaking them in water, pounding them with a hammer, and shaving the sole with a razor. However, despite all the effort, ballet shoes don’t last long before they need to be replaced: they lose their shape and wear out within a few weeks or sometimes even days! Expressions included in the study guide * Intricate * To eat, breathe, and sleep [something] * To get sucked into [something] * I’ll tell you what * To break in [something] * To dig deep

Christmas is coming! In this festive episode, Andrew and Kassy discuss Christmas preparations and traditions. Join our hosts as they share their childhood memories, discuss gifts, and explore how Christmas is celebrated in different countries. Get into the Christmas spirit and take your English fluency to the next level! Fun facts In this episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about Christmas lights. Interesting fact: the world record for the most lights on a house was set on November 28, 2014. This happened in LaGrangeville, New York, USA. A family - Tim, Grace, Emily, Daniel, and John Gay - decorated their home with 601,736 lights. That's a lot of Christmas spirit! Expressions included in the study guide * To get into the spirit * Is that the case? * To follow in [someone's] footsteps * To stick with [something] * Decked out * To go hard Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Photo: Brett Sayles (Pexels.com)

Bonus episode #081 - Gabby Girl Episode description In this episode, Andrew tells a story about receiving a sudden and mysterious DM on Instagram, which led to him and his wife agreeing to watch a dog named Gabby for five days. Listen in to hear all the details while improving your English fluency in a fun and effective way! Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here December live stream: click here

Have you ever had to ask for a recommendation letter? In this episode, Andrew and Kassy teach you many useful expressions that are helpful not only in that situation but also in many other everyday scenarios. This episode is designed to improve your vocabulary and boost your confidence in English. You don’t want to miss it! Fun facts Did you know that recommendation letters have been around for a long time? In ancient Rome, people used recommendation letters to obtain jobs or positions of influence. During the Renaissance era, students began using these letters for admission to universities or higher education institutions. Even today, the purpose of recommendation letters remains the same, providing a personal endorsement of someone’s skills and character, just as it did hundreds of years ago. Expressions included in the study guide * Are you available to talk one on one? * Undecided * To major in [something] * What extracurriculars are you involved in? * Is there a deadline? * With a fine-tooth comb Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free

Bonus episode #080 - Christmas market chaos Episode description Join Andrew as he talks about unseasonably warm weather, the challenge of running down stairs, overheating, a chaotic Christmas market, Glühwein, and a winning hockey team! Improve your English fluency with these entertaining stories. Study with the interactive transcript: click here Become a Culips member: click here Join the Culips Discord server: click here Bonus 31 - A sweet mystery: click here

Have you ever heard the term “gaslighting”? The verb “to gaslight” has become a very popular word over the past several years. Gaslighting is a manipulation tactic where someone makes another person doubt their own experiences and memories. In this episode, Andrew and Anna have a thought-provoking discussion about this concept. They introduce the definition of the term, its history, and their personal thoughts and experiences with gaslighting in their own lives. It’s a great episode for Culips listeners who are interested in psychology! Fun facts The word has become so popular that online dictionary Merriam-Webster announced that “gaslighting” was its word of the year in 2022! According to its search data, searches for the term “gaslighting” increased 1,740% from the year before. Expressions included in the study guide * A dark place * To take credit for [something] * More than [adjective] to * To go back on [something] * To second-guess oneself * To butter [somebody] up Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free Image: Photo by RDNE Stock project