Culips Everyday English Podcast

Are you a sports fan? What is your favourite sport to watch? In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Jeremy introduce some useful phrases and idioms that are often heard at sporting events and that can also be used in a variety of other situations. Fun facts Boxing was first introduced in ancient Greece. It became an event in the Olympic Games in 688 BC. Expressions included in the study guide * The nitty-gritty * Down for the count * Knock out * To pass out * Blow-by-blow * Back in the day 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 episode, Suzanne and Andrew introduce intonation, describe what it is, and explain how it’s essential for mastering English pronunciation. Note English speakers use intonation for a variety of different reasons. Some of these include expressing emotion, conveying a grammatical function, and marking their social identities! Material included in the study guide * Transcript * Practice exercises * Bonus audio download * Quiz * Writing and discussion questions Note: Download the study guide for this episode on culips.com Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Let It Go by Scott Dugdale

Do you know what a weekend warrior is? Maybe you are one and you don’t even know it! In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Jeremy explore two expressions that go well with sports and hobbies: a weekend warrior and a newbie. Fun facts Andrew and Jeremy reference the song Grenade by Bruno Mars. Give it a listen to hear some of the expressions from this episode used in a real-life context! Expressions included in the study guide * Newbie * Weekend warrior * Rush * To smoke [someone] * To go hard * To tone it down 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 we’re talking about stress, word stress. So in a sentence when you’re trying to put emphasis on a word, it can be a little confusing, it can be a little jarring. A little confusing right in the moment when you’re trying to communicate. Well, have you ever been caught stressing an adjective more than a noun? Like, maybe RED car or LARGE jacket. Quick tip takeaways * In a noun phrase, for example, red car, the noun will usually be more stressed or emphasized. In this case, the word car. * In a compound noun that contains an adjective, for example, blackboard or black box, the adjective or the first word is usually stressed. * The only time you stress an adjective more than a noun in a noun phrase is when you are clarifying or comparing. For example: I don’t like the RED jacket, I prefer the BLACK one. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.

If you had to pick the cutest animal, which would you choose? Andrew and Suzanne talk about the animals they think are the cutest and the ones they find scary in this episode of Simplified Speech. Fun facts There are between 17 and 20 different types of penguins. Most of them live in the Southern Hemisphere; the Galapagos penguin is the only species that lives north of the equator. No penguin species live in the North Pole. Expressions included in the study guide * Long story short * Tried and true * Can’t handle it * Opposite side of the spectrum * As [something] as you can get * Kicker 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 What have you usually done when you didn’t understand something that was said to you? Today, I will share my opinion about what to do if you didn’t understand what someone said to you. So, I’m sure all of us language learners have found ourselves in this kind of situation before. My opinion is that forming relationships through conversation requires a balance of effort on both sides. And asking someone to slow down their speech, or repeat what they already said, can disrupt that balance. Take a listen for more useful tips. Key Points * Jeremy believes that it is more important to keep the conversation flowing than to try to understand everything. * Forming relationships through conversation requires a balance of effort on both sides. Asking someone to slow down their speech or repeat what they already said disrupts that balance. * Use simple questions to keep the conversation flowing. * If you are really stuck, ask a question about a single word that was said, even if you know it. * Trust that with time, exposure, and practice things will get easier and easier. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Jeremy continue their discussion about raising a bilingual child. Tune in to learn some useful tips on how to raise a bilingual child in your own household. Fun facts Even monolingual parents can raise bilingual children! It’s important that they set clear goals and dedicate time and energy to exposing their children to the language, and that they give their children plenty of opportunities to communicate with fluent or native speakers of the language. Expressions included in the study guide * A follow-up * Recap * Revive * To come at [someone] from all sides * To pick up on [something] * To clarify 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 many ways to tell someone you love them. Jeremy and Andrew look at two curious expressions that mean “I love you” or “I care about you.” Fun facts Andrew and Jeremy reference the song Grenade by Bruno Mars. Give it a listen to hear some of the expressions from this episode used in a real-life context! Expressions included in the study guide * Speaking of * To take a bullet for someone * To take * To question someone’s sanity * To throw yourself in front of a train or bus for someone * In a bind * Loaded 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 This episode will be helpful for people who are having conversations in English but want to sound more natural. That means that this episode will be helpful for people who want to sound more like a native English speaker when they’re speaking English. And you can do that by utilizing filler words. Key Points * Filler words are words or sounds that fill the gaps in speech * Native speakers use filler words all the time without knowing it * English learners can use filler words to “buy time” * Some examples of filler words in English include: uhh, umm, ahh, OK, you know * These words at NOT used in writing and, if possible, should be avoided in formal speaking Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.

Here’s Part 2 of Suzanne’s amazing engagement story! Find out about the funny and touching experience in this Chatterbox episode with hosts Andrew and Suzanne. Fun facts Pop star Mariah Carey was once given an engagement ring reportedly worth $10 million by her then-boyfriend. Unfortunately, they did not end up getting married, although she did keep the ring after their breakup. Expressions included in the study guide * Speaking of * To keep in touch * To parley * To sidetrack [someone] * Been through a lot * On the spot * A touch 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 Andrew and Suzanne talk about COVID-19, the situation in North America, and English expressions that are used to talk about the pandemic in part 2 of this special Chatterbox episode. Andrew: Hey everyone, Andrew here. In this Chatterbox episode Suzanne and I continue our talk about the COVID19 pandemic and the current situation in North America. And because we wanted to release this episodes to you as soon as possible, we decided to not make a study guide for it. However, the transcript is available on our website culips.com so make sure to check that out. And also this is part 2 of our talk. So if you didn’t listen to part 1 yet, make sure to do that first. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Hey everyone, Andrew here. In this Chatterbox episode and in the next one too, Suzanne and I talk about the COVID-19 pandemic and the current situation in North America. Now, because we wanted to release these episodes to you as soon as possible, we decided to not make study guides for them. However, there are still transcripts available on Culips.com, our website, for all Culips members and we hope that you’ll find them helpful. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com. Credit: Something Elated by Broke For Free, Step On by Jahzzar

Exciting news for the Culips team! In this episode of Chatterbox, Andrew and Suzanne discuss Suzanne’s recent engagement. Tune in to hear all about Suzanne’s amazing news and how she first met her future husband. This is Part 1 of a two-part story. Fun facts Only 34% of people over the age of 15 living in Quebec are married, while another 20% are living with a common-law partner. Expressions included in the study guide * Touristy * To keep in touch * To hit on [someone] * On the hot seat * Long-distance relationship * Common-law marriage * Juicy 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 wondered what it’s like to study in another country? Andrew and Suzanne answer a listener’s question about what universities are like in North America. Fun facts The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States are the top four countries for international students. These four countries take in 40% of all people who study in a different country. Expressions included in the study guide * Hitch a ride * The take-home * Under the microscope * On the hot seat * Mesh with [someone or something] * Tight with [someone] 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 we’re going to cover a Quick Tip and we’re going to be talking about adding articulation in your speech. Something really simple, but something that many people forget to do. Quick tip takeaways * Adding articulation relates to increasing the movement of your moveable articulators like the lower jaw, the tongue, and the soft palette. * It’s important to know the manner of articulation of the sounds you want to increase effort on. In other words, are you adding more explosion of air, or are you adding more vibration? * Diphthongs are two vowels or sounds that come together to create one longer sound. These are like moving vowels. Copyright: Culips.com For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.