Culips Everyday English Podcast

It’s hard to share your thoughts and feelings in a different language. Sometimes you don’t have the words! In this episode, Andrew and Jeremy share their four tips for talking about art, films, and literature in English. Fun facts Vincent van Gogh, one of history’s greatest painters, only officially sold one painting while he was alive. He sold it to his fellow painter Anna Boch in early 1890, and it’s his only painting with documentation showing that he sold it. Expressions included in the study guide * On the right track * You can say that again * It’s hard to say * People/person behind the [something] * Pick up [something] * Expose yourself to [something] Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Arts and crafts are popular all over the world. Some people paint, knit, or sew as a hobby. Some do arts and crafts as a job. In this Simplified Speech episode, host Andrew and Kassy talk about their relationship with arts and crafts. Fun facts In this episode, Kassy talks about attending Paint and Sip parties. These are gatherings where people paint while drinking wine or other beverages. This concept really took off—there are an estimated 1000 Paint and Sip groups throughout North America! Expressions included in the study guide * On another level * To sip * To bitch * To let off some steam * To settle down * Doing it for the Gram Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Episode description In this episode, we’re going to be talking about discourse markers. All right, let’s jump right in. So what is a discourse marker? Well, a discourse marker, or discourse markers are those little words like, first, second, third, however, or finally that helped us to clarify or categorize our thoughts. Quick tip takeaways * Discourse markers are words or phrases, usually at the beginning of a sentence, that help us organize and categorize our thoughts. * Discourse markers are used in written English, as well as in spoken English. * Discourse markers help the listener to follow your story in a more organized way. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.

Episode description The expression for this episode is: to make a long story short. To make a long story short. I use this one a lot whenever I want to summarize something that would take too long to explain in full detail. Usually, this is used when there is a time limit on the discussion. So let’s jump right into our first situation here to help this one make sense. Example sentences To make a long story short, the reason I’m late is there was a traffic accident on the highway. You’re probably wondering why I’m not at work. Well, long story short, I quit. To make a long story short, Jessica didn’t get home until 4AM! I know you have to go soon, so anyway long story short, the repair shop said my computer can’t be fixed and I’ll have to buy a new one. To make a long story short, they decided not to sell their house and are just going to keep living in Seattle. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.

Life isn’t perfect. No matter how hard we try, sometimes things just go terribly. In this Catch Word episode, hosts Andrew and Kassy discuss two expressions you can use when that happens: to go south and to go haywire. Give it a listen! Fun facts Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. It is the southernmost national capital in the world. Here’s another interesting thing about this country in the Southern Hemisphere: New Zealand is thought to be the last major land mass settled by humans. It is thought that Polynesians began settling there only about 750 years ago. Expressions included in the study guide * To go south * To shed some light * To go sour * A one-off * To spot [someone] * To go haywire Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Good news, everybody! In this Real Talk episode, our hosts Andrew and Kassy discuss the many ways you can respond in English when you hear good news. Fun facts In this episode, our hosts talk about having drinks to celebrate good news. Apparently, after winning the US Open, famed tennis player Andy Murray treated his entourage to $9000 worth of food and drinks in one night. What did Mr. Murray have? One lemon soda—for $6! Expressions included in the study guide * A sidenote * For real? * A celebration is in order * I’m so happy for you * [One’s] hard work pays off * Drinks on me Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Kassy are back to answer some more questions submitted by Culips listeners. Don’t be afraid to submit your own questions after listening to this episode! Fun facts Humans learn about life by asking questions. From the time they can talk, children are naturally learning about the world through observation, testing, and questioning. According to The Miniature Guide to the Art of Asking Essential Questions, “Questions are the engine, the driving force behind thinking.” Expressions included in the study guide * To pick things up where [one] left off * In one ear and out the other * I’ve got to say * A bygone era * The butterfly effect * A tough one Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

We love hearing from our listeners! We also love it when our listeners ask questions about how to improve their English. In Part 1 of this episode, Andrew and Kassy answer four listener questions. There are more answers to come in Part 2! Fun facts A new English word is added to the dictionary every 2 hours, with almost 4000 words added every year. For example, 2020’s new words include stan, peoplekind, and carbon sink, among others. Expressions included in the study guide * Mouthful * To coin * Surface level * Get down to business * Ease into * Thrilling conclusion Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Swimming is an activity with worldwide appeal. Some people see it as a fun activity. For others, it’s a competitive sport. Join hosts Andrew and Kassy in this Simplified Speech episode as they discuss their relationship with swimming. Dive right into it! Fun facts Swimming is one of the most popular Olympic sports. There were 34 swimming events at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Amazingly, the United States won gold medals in 16 of those events! Expressions included in the study guide * To dive into [something] * Iconic * That’s wild * Avid * That’s not too shabby * Fashion statement Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Episode description In this episode of Jeremy’s English Tips, we are going to be talking about your comfort zone. Now, there is a very commonly used expression in English and it goes: to step outside of one’s comfort zone. Key points covered in this lesson: * “To step outside of one’s comfort zone” is a commonly used expression meaning that someone is doing something they are not yet comfortable doing. It doesn’t come easily to them yet. * Your “English comfort zone” is the collection of topics that you feel comfortable talking about in English. *  Identify the holes and fill them. In other words, figure out what topics, sentence forms, or pronunciation points are difficult for you and fix them by exposing yourself to content that includes those things. *  Practice with a language exchange partner by talking about what your weaknesses are and sharing how you are going about strengthening them. *  Make repetitive listening a major part of your study routine and choose your listening content wisely so as to help expand your comfort zone. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.

Super! Really! Very! Extremely! There are many ways to add emphasis to your conversation and show the intensity of a feeling or situation. In today’s episode, Andrew and Jeremy share two catch words that native English speakers use every day. Fun facts Intensifiers are adverbs used to give force or emphasis. These parts of speech have a variety of rules and guidelines that native English speakers know instinctively but that require some research to fully understand. Expressions included in the study guide * So [adjective], it hurts * Hella * [Something] nerd * Secondhand embarrassment * Breeding ground * Getting into [something] territory Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Sometimes things go missing. Whether you’ve lost an item, a person, or an idea, there are unique phrases to fit the situation. In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Kassy explain two phrases you can use to say that something has disappeared. Fun facts The Bermuda Triangle is famous for making planes and ships disappear. This area, also known as the Devil’s Triangle, is between Bermuda, Florida, and Puerto Rico; while there are many theories as to why ships disappear here, no one has been able to properly explain it. Expressions included in the study guide * Out the window * Vanish into thin air * Big time * Lost for good * Goner * In my books Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Most of us can’t afford to recklessly spend money. So when it comes to making big purchases, we’re forced to make big decisions. In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about some of the big purchases they have made. Fun facts The most expensive private home in the world is called Antilia. It is in Mumbai and currently owned by Mukesh Ambani. It cost approximately $2 billion to build. While that might sound like a lot of money to us, Mr. Ambani can more than afford it. He’s worth $81 billion! Expressions included in the study guide * To shop around * Buyer’s remorse * To splurge * Flimsy * To get scammed * To pull the trigger Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

There are so many ways to tell people that you’re thinking. In this episode, Andrew and Kassy cover two expressions that you can use to tell someone just how hard you’re thinking about something. Fun facts Naps can improve your memory. German researchers at the University of Lübeck asked study participants to do some tasks; half of them had to stay awake while the other half got to nap. The group that napped was able to remember more than the group that stayed awake. Expressions included in the study guide * To rack your brain * To chew on [something] * To throw out ideas * Draining * To talk [something] over * To gloss over [something] Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Episode description Today’s topic is breath support. Sometimes when we’re in an important meeting, an interview or maybe a class presentation, we might find that we’re kind of nervous, right? Our nerves go up, our body temperature goes up. Our breathing starts getting shallow. And we tend not to have a lot of what we call vocal presence and breath support. Quick tip takeaways * Breath support is using our lungs and diaphragm efficiently so that we don’t damage our vocal folds and so that we have vocal presence. * Vocal presence is having a loud enough, yet supported enough voice that fills the room and feels relaxed and at ease when you are speaking. * Remember to try stretching your back body when filling up your lungs so that you use the full capacity of your inhalation. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.