Culips Everyday English Podcast

Welcome to another Simplified Speech episode where hosts Andrew and Kassy catch up on recent news. They always have a lot to share with each other, so give it a listen! It’s Kassy’s birthday in a couple of days! Happy birthday, Kassy! Of course, by the time you listen to this episode, it will have already happened. In that case, you can say, “Happy belated birthday, Kassy!” Also in this episode, you will hear about Andrew’s wedding plans and how inundated he is with preparations. As always, he’s so busy! But he’s not too busy to have a nice chat with cohost Kassy once again. Fun facts In this episode, Kassy talks about her upcoming birthday. Did you know that on any given day, about 20 million people throughout the world will be celebrating a birthday? Expressions included in the study guide * Happy belated [something] * To uphold [something] * To be inundated * To give it [one’s] all * To belt [something] out * A bad look Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Luís Perdigão (Unsplash)

Animal lovers gather around! Whether you have a fur baby of your own or just love pets, you’ll enjoy listening to Andrew and Kassy talk about Pinky, Andrew’s new dog. In this episode, two native English speakers talk about owning a pet. This English audio lesson is designed to help you improve your vocabulary with everyday words and conversations. It’s the best way to learn English, so you can become fluent in English. And you might just want to adopt a pet of your own! Fun facts It’s believed that dogs can tell time, especially if you have developed a set routine. Dogs will know when it’s time to go for a walk or when you’ll get home from work, which is why you’ll find them waiting for you at the door! Expressions included in the study guide * To come up in conversation * To get the wheels spinning in [one’s] head * The beginning of the end * Foster failure * Pet baby * Zoo Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Luís Perdigão (Unsplash)

Hmm, what’s today’s topic? Oh, that’s right! In today’s useful Catch Word episode, Andrew and Jeremy will teach you some helpful phrases to use when talking about memory and remembering something. So, before you forget, click that play button and get listening! Listening to the Culips Catch Word series is a perfect way to learn new English phrases used in common English conversations. Tune in to boost your English skills to the next level by listening to example dialogues chock-full of helpful phrases about remembering things you’ve forgotten. Fun facts Have you ever wished you had a better memory? Then you should research the memory palace technique. The memory palace technique has been used for thousands of years to store vast amounts of information inside the mind. To build a memory palace, think of a place that is very familiar to you. As you mentally walk through that place, add details that you don’t want to forget to the surroundings. For example, if you want to remember that your mother’s birthday is on December 16th, 1957, then imagine that one room in your memory palace has a calendar of the year 1957 with your mom’s picture on it; the calendar is turned to the December page and the 16th is circled in red ink. There you have it! Every time you mentally visit that room in your memory palace, you will see that calendar and recall your mother’s birthday. Expressions included in the study guide * It rings a bell * To run into [someone] * A beast at [something] * To come back to [someone] * To jog [someone]’s memory * To rub [something] in [someone]’s face Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit: Luís Perdigão (Unsplash)

Grab your popcorn and get comfortable. Listen as Andrew and Kassy talk about a few of the movies that changed how people think and that inspired a whole generation. In this episode, you’ll hear how two native English speakers talk about the movies. Listening to conversations about everyday topics is one of the best ways to learn English. You’ll improve your grammar and language skills and be entertained at the same time. How cool! This episode is perfect for intermediate level English learners who want to be fluent. Fun facts The average person goes to the cinema about five times a year (according to UNESCO data from 2015). And, recent statistics from Netflix show that people watch on average two hours of streaming video content – like movies – per day. Expressions included in the study guide * Housekeeping * Valley girl * Out of sight, out of mind * To put [oneself] in [someone else’s] shoes * To be open [about something] * To scratch the surface Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar Photo Credit:Sean Benesh and Krists Luhaers (Unsplash)

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy decide to catch up and share recent news about their personal lives. Andrew is on his way to getting his Korean driver’s licence, and Kassy is going to supervise the SATs—an exam she took not too long ago—as a teacher! In this episode, our hosts discuss the importance of pulling it together during moments of stress, of keeping at a task until you succeed, and of reading as many books as you can. Join Andrew and Kassy as they chew the fat! Fun facts In this episode, Kassy says she will soon supervise the SAT for Korean students. Have you heard of this exam? Have you taken it? The SAT is a standardized test used in the United States to assess how ready high school students are for college. It is very influential. Every year, more than 2.19 million high school graduates choose to take this exam! Expressions included in the study guide * To catch up with [someone] * To chew the fat * A big ask * To have [something] in the bag * Third time’s a charm * To pull it together Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Have you ever thought about what your favourite word is in the English language? In this interesting Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about their favourite and least favourite English words. Tune in to find out what they are. This episode is full of interesting English phrases and slang words that are sure to boost your English speaking fluency. Our Simplified Speech series is perfect for intermediate English language learners looking to take their speaking and listening skills to the next level. Fun facts In 2016, Oxford University Press ran a survey to find the most hated word in the English language. More than 10,000 people were surveyed, and the word moist was voted the least-liked English word in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Expressions included in the study guide * Onomatopoeia * Bookworm * Zany/wacky * To make a comeback * A bunch of malarkey * Noob Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Life is full of important decisions, and some of them cannot be undone. You have to carefully navigate the world of decisions. In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Jeremy discuss expressions that revolve around the major choices we make. In this episode, our hosts talk about life-altering decisions, like marriage and when to change jobs, as well as those really uncomfortable ones, like euthanizing an animal. So get ready to take the plunge and work your butt off while studying with us! Fun facts To bite the bullet is one of the expressions studied in this episode. Andrew’s description of the visual image in his head is pretty close to the original imagery of the expression. The expression was coined by Rudyard Kipling in his novel The Light That Failed, and it describes someone having to bite down on an ammunitions cartridge to help deal with the pain of a difficult medical procedure. Expressions included in the study guide * To take the plunge * To take [something] lightly * To pop the question * To put [an animal] down * To bite the bullet * To work [one’s] butt off Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Be careful where you step! If you’re injury-prone, you might just twist an ankle. In this episode of Simplified Speech, Andrew and Jeremy talk about their worst injuries. In this episode, you’ll hear how native English speakers talk about accidents and injuries. Along the way, you’ll hear useful idiomatic expressions used when talking about physically painful experiences. This episode is perfect for intermediate level English learners who want to improve their English and become fluent. their listening and speaking fluency. Without further ado, let’s get crackin’ on this episode! Fun facts One of the key words our hosts frequently use in this episode is prone. Prone comes from the Latin word pronus, which means physically bent forward or inclined to. So when someone is injury-prone, they’re inclined to be injured! Expressions included in the study guide * To be prone to * To mangle * To shove [something] back into place * To draw out * To come back from Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Here’s another brand-new Catch Word episode for our listeners! Tune in with Andrew and Jeremy to learn some useful English phrases you can use when you want to hurry up and do something quickly. There’s no better way to improve your English than learning English phrases encountered in natural conversations. This episode is perfect for advanced beginners or intermediate learners looking to improve their listening and speaking fluency. Without further ado, let’s get crackin’ on this episode! Fun facts One of the key phrases we will talk about in this episode is get the show on the road. The exact origin of this phrase is unknown, but people say it refers to travelling circuses and fairs as far back as the early 1900s. Back then, circuses and fairs travelled from city to city, entertaining people along the way. Each time the entertainers packed up their gear and prepared to travel to the next destination, they would literally be getting the show on the road—transporting the show to its next location. Expressions included in the study guide * Get the show on the road * Or what? * To bicker * Get crackin’ * Fired up * Suck it up Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Brrrriiinggg! There goes the school bell. In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy look back on their high school days to talk about all of the interesting high school electives available in their schools in Canada and the U.S. This episode is chock-full of natural English expressions to boost your English fluency to the next level. Tune in to not only improve your English listening skills, but also to learn about some of the interesting classes available in Canadian and U.S. school systems. Fun facts High school electives, classes that students choose outside their core curriculum, help students find hidden talents or passions that might otherwise have gone undiscovered. Being able to choose which classes they want to take gives students more autonomy over their learning, making them more motivated to succeed in the classroom and more interested in the class material. Electives offer students the ability to seek out interests that will help them decide what career goals they want to pursue after graduation.. Expressions included in the study guide * The sky’s the limit * Packed * Well-rounded * To set foot in * Girlygirl * Gifted * To run [something] by [someone] Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

How’s your English learning these days? Are you getting into the groove of things? In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Jeremy give you some useful expressions to use when talking about a project or job that you are about to finish. Fun facts Did you know that the act of procrastination has increased significantly in the last few decades? This is due to the fact that there are so many more interesting temptations that are available to distract us from doing our work, like cell phones, TV, internet, and video games. Expressions included in the study guide * Downhill from here * Half the battle * To get into the groove * To get [something] out of the way * Over the hill * Hump day * To call it a day Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

You’re driving down the street and notice the police car behind you has just turned on its siren and flashing lights. You need to pull over. What do you do? What should you say? Getting pulled over by the police while driving can often be a stressful situation, even if you haven’t done anything wrong. In this Real Talk episode, Andrew and Kassy gives you some key English expressions to help you deal with getting pulled over. You will hear what it means to dispute a ticket, to grab your registration, and to write someone up. Fun facts Even though traffic stops occur on a daily basis, Stanford University’s Open Policing project has found that the average driver has about a 1% chance of getting pulled over in a year. Expressions included in the study guide * To act rashly * To get pulled over * To grab your registration * To weasel [one’s] way out of [something] * To dispute a ticket * To write [someone] up Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Do you love making or fixing things on your own? You’re probably a DIY enthusiast! You’ll enjoy today’s edition of Simplified Speech, where Andrew and Jeremy talk about do-it-yourself projects and whether or not it really is a good idea to do it yourself. Listen and improve your English skills! You’ll hear a conversation between two native English speakers as they discuss DIY projects. You’ll also learn useful idiomatic expressions and phrases. This audio lesson is perfect for intermediate level English learners who want to improve and practice their English listening and comprehension. Fun facts Small DIY projects are a great way to relax after a stressful day of work. Many people make these little projects their hobbies, spending their evenings embroidering, knitting, painting or crocheting. Expressions included in the study guide * Underground * DIYer * Live with [something] * Leave [something] in the hands of [someone] * Learning curve Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Grab a spoon and a tub of ice cream and dig in while listening to today’s Simplified Speech episode. In this episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about popular desserts from their home countries and their favourites. Fun facts October 14th is designated as National Dessert Day in the United States. Another fun fact: people get paid to taste test different candies for the market. The average salary for a chocolate taste tester is 20,000 dollars, but the most sought after chocolate tasters can make as much as 100,000 dollars annually. Sounds like a dream come true! Expressions included in the study guide * Happy to oblige * As American as apple pie * To instill a love of [something] * Detox * A sweet tooth * To treat [someone] Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

In the last year, online learning has become one of the most convenient ways to learn a new skill or teach a class. In this episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about the advantages and disadvantages to online learning and share what they’ve been studying online. . This episode is a Simplified Speech episode. Simplified Speech is the Culips series that features completely 100% totally natural English conversations, the only difference being that they are slowed down just a little bit. And we hope that by listening to the slowed-down conversation, you can really focus and hone in on the vocabulary and sentence patterns that you will hear Kassy and Andrew use today. Fun facts In 1986, before the internet, the Electronic University Network (EUN) offered the first so‑called “online” course; students ran EUN software on their computers and spoke with each other over the phone. It wasn’t until 1994 that the world saw the first truly online course run by the Computer Assisted Learning Center (CALCampus). Expressions included in the study guide * At [one’s] own pace * Keep on track * Rock star * Think lightly of [something] * Hash out * Fly by night Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar