Culips Everyday English Podcast

Some people have a lot of money and some people have only a little bit. This episode focuses on expressions that people use when they are talking about trying not to spend money, often because they don’t have very much. There are people who pinch pennies all the time, and others who only tighten their belts when they have to. Listen to this episode to learn about making ends meet. Maura: This expression is usually used when someone doesn't have very much money. So if we continue with the example that you gave, Harp, if someone makes $500 a week, and it's just enough money for them to be able to survive, to be able to pay their bills, like their rent of their food. Harp: Yeah. They're not buying a lot of fancy clothes or going on any trips. They're just making enough money to meet their basic needs. Maura: That's right. So, the expression itself isn't actually negative, but it's often used in a situation where someone doesn't have very much money or they're trying to make ends meet. They're trying to find a way to make enough money that they're able to pay their bills. Harp: Yeah. It's used when people are having trouble making ends meet, usually. Maura: That's right. This expression, too, has a few interesting origins. And if you're interested in those, we'll tell you about them in our Learning Materials, which comes when you become a member. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To feel down To make ends meet Instant noodles A shower To start someone off To get by As long as Minimum wage To get back on your feet To pinch pennies To tighten your belt Broke To cut costs Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Rap Genius

Over the years, some friends come and go, but others last a lifetime. This week at Culips, we’re talking about friends. First, we talk about childhood friendships and what that can be like, and we also talk about making friends as an adult, which can be much more complicated! Harp and Maura also talk aboutRead More

Over the years, some friends come and go, but others last a lifetime. This week at Culips, we’re talking about friends. First, we talk about childhood friendships and what that can be like, and we also talk about making friends as an adult, which can be much more complicated! Harp and Maura also talk about a current topic: the effect of technology on friendships. If you’re online a lot, you might already have noticed how the Internet and social networking has changed some of your friendships. Do you still have a BFF? Harp: I think the negative side of Facebook is that there are people who I didn't want to be their friend back then, and then they find me on Facebook and I feel kind of rude not accepting their friend invitation, so sometimes I'll accept it and then delete them a little bit later. Maura: That's true. The word friend has kind of changed, because you used to just have a friend in your life. And then you have a friend on Facebook, which isn't really the same. And the word friend has almost become a verb. People talk about going on Facebook and friending a person, which means that you click that you want to be friends with them. It doesn't mean that you have any special bond or that you have anything in common. It just means that you've made that friend connection on Facebook. Harp: Yeah. Before I used to have a lot of friends on Facebook. But recently, in the last year or so, I've really cut back and deleted a lot of friends because I just want people there who I would want in my life even if Facebook didn't exist. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: Better and better Slowly but surely To block something out To count on someone Barbie To be set Drama To make a mountain out of a molehill A segue A drawback A downfall On the other side of the globe To friend someone To go out of your way To not be going anywhere Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Boots

At Culips, we always try to focus on the details and get everything right for you! The expressions in this episode are used to talk about analyzing and examining things, checking for information, or making sure that everything is perfect. Of course, at Culips, we like to dot our i’s and cross our t’s! ListenRead More

At Culips, we always try to focus on the details and get everything right for you! The expressions in this episode are used to talk about analyzing and examining things, checking for information, or making sure that everything is perfect. Of course, at Culips, we like to dot our i’s and cross our t’s! Listen to this episode to learn about this expression and others that mean to look very carefully at something. If you’re a member, you can also go over this episode with a fine-tooth comb by reviewing the transcript! Maura: The first thing that's worth mentioning about this expression is that when we say i's, we're not talking about the word that's spelled E-Y-E-S, like the two eyes in your head. It’s the plural of the letter i. And when we talk about t's, we're not talking about that great drink, a cup of tea. We're actually talking about the letter t, and that is also plural, when we say t's. Harp: Yes, so to dot your i's and cross your t's; we're talking about the letters i and t. Maura: This expression means to review something carefully, to go over something in a very detailed way in order to make sure that you don't have any mistakes. So with this expression, you're checking something carefully to make sure that there isn't an error and to make sure that you finished it well. Harp: Yes. So when you say to dot your i's and cross your t's, you're carefully going over your work to make sure that there are no mistakes, there are no errors, everything is perfect. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: Sugar cream pie Original and unique You can’t complain To dot your i’s and cross your t’s Handwriting To double-check A CEO To go over something with a fine-tooth comb Comb Lice To bring something home To dissect something Dissections in biology class Metaphors and stanzas Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

A big thank you to Carlos for asking us about education in Canada! This episode is all about that very subject. Harp and Maura talk about the Canadian public school system, and outline what college and university are in Canada. They also talk about the programs you can take and the degrees you can earn. Then they share their own experiences in school all the way from kindergarten to university and beyond! Harp: People in Canada are very proud of the free public system that exists all across Canada, and they like to support it. There are very few people I know who have been to private school. Maura: Yeah, me too. There have been a lot of laws and regulations and politicians who have worked to keep the public system good and to encourage people to send their children there. Harp: Yeah. That's true. Because private school is very expensive and we really love our public school system here. Maura: Yeah. It is usually the upper class, or the very rich Canadians, who go to private school. Harp: Yeah. Now let's talk about our next topic, which is post-secondary education. Maura: Right. And this is just a fancy way of saying education after high school, which is also called secondary school. And post- means something that happens after. So when we talk about university or college or any other kind of degree that happens after high school, we can say post-secondary education. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To take advantage of something A lucky duck The Canadian education system vs. the Quebec education system Vice versa Post- The difference between university and college in Canada A handful To maintain a certain average A PhD Specialized university degrees To be a baby A good route To go away to school Never say never Only time will tell Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Canadian Education Centre

A big thank you to Carlos for asking us about education in Canada! This episode is all about that very subject. Harp and Maura talk about the Canadian public school system, and outline what college and university are in Canada. They also talk about the programs you can take and the degrees you can earn.Read More

What goes up must come down! Things are always changing in today’s world, and that’s why we decided to make an episode about things going up and going down. Especially in the news, we often hear about increases and decreases, and they use lots of different expressions to talk about this. This time, we’re talkingRead More

What goes up must come down! Things are always changing in today’s world, and that’s why we decided to make an episode about things going up and going down. Especially in the news, we often hear about increases and decreases, and they use lots of different expressions to talk about this. This time, we’re talking about numbers, such as prices, statistics, and other amounts. Listen to this episode and we’ll see if our numbers start to soar! Maura: These expressions are often used in business, especially talking about money or amounts of things. To be honest, when I got the idea for this episode, Harp, I was listening to the news. I heard a bunch of these expressions used on the news, and that’s what inspired this episode. Harp: Oh, I like it. Yeah, you’re right. They use these expression a lot in the news to talk about things like the price of stocks going up or going down. Maura: Right. They might use these expression to talk about statistics, too, like “35% of people believe this.” So that’s the kind of stuff that you hear on the news. Harp: Yeah. These expressions are always about an amount. Maura: All right. Let’s get to the first expression. The first expression is to skyrocket. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: A cottage The great outdoors To skyrocket To soar A homonym To be liking – Is this correct? What does up must come down To nosedive Back to the subject At any rate To hold off To jump at the chance To sink A start-up Other expressions to talk about decreasing and increasing Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

Everyone likes to get good customer service, but we don’t always get it. In this episode, we talk about tipping (where, when, and how much), and about how to handle a situation when the service was not so good. Harp and Maura also share their own perspectives of what it’s like to work in customerRead More

Everyone likes to get good customer service, but we don’t always get it. In this episode, we talk about tipping (where, when, and how much), and about how to handle a situation when the service was not so good. Harp and Maura also share their own perspectives of what it’s like to work in customer service. Is the customer realty always right? Maura: When you go to a restaurant and you sit down, when someone takes your order and brings you your food, you should be giving them a tip at the end. Now, the amount that you tip is really up to you. Harp: Yeah, it varies. And this is where the quality of service can definitely come in, because you can leave 10% if it was bad service, or if it was really good service, you can leave 20%. Maura: Or even more. Now, when Harp says 10%, she means 10% of your bill. So, for example, if you bought a meal and it cost $10, then a 10% tip is one dollar. Harp: Now I have a question for you, Maura. Maura: I hope it’s not a more difficult math question, because I won’t be able to do it. Harp: Nope. But I’ve had this discussion with my friends. Do you tip on the amount before taxes or after taxes? Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: That very thing How much and whom to tip in Canada The bill A grey area To swear Interac and the tip function What to do when you get bad customer service To be taken advantage of The squeaky wheel gets the oil On the other end of the line Across the board The customer is always right The other side of the coin Minimum wage Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

When someone says something negative or critical about you, sometimes it can bother or upset you. But it’s important not to take things like this too personally, just like this week’s expression: like water off a duck’s back. In this episode, we look at idioms that mean that you don’t let someone’s negative comments affectRead More

When someone says something negative or critical about you, sometimes it can bother or upset you. But it’s important not to take things like this too personally, just like this week’s expression: like water off a duck’s back. In this episode, we look at idioms that mean that you don’t let someone’s negative comments affect you. We think that’s good advice. Check out this episode to hear about brushing things off and constructive criticism. Maura: In this example, someone was really upset about getting in trouble with her boss, about not meeting deadlines, and she talked about another colleague, Sheila, who didn’t get upset. Sheila treated the boss’s comments like water off a duck’s back. They didn’t bother her and she didn’t get upset. Harp: Yeah. Sheila didn’t let the boss get to her. She didn’t let his negative comments and his yelling at her get her upset. Maura: And that is important. Sometimes you should listen to criticism. This is actually called constructive criticism, when someone is just trying to give you advice so you can improve yourself and be better. That’s important, but it’s also important that if someone is saying something negative to you, you don’t take it too personally, either. Harp: Yeah. It’s important to not be too sensitive when people are trying to give you constructive criticism, or even when they’re just criticizing. It’s important to just not let it affect you too much. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To get the hang of something To let something get to you Like water off a duck’s back Constructive criticism To nag To brush something off Right off the bat To suck To put your nose to the grindstone To laugh something off To get under your skin Cool Not to sweat something Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

Many cultures around the world have traditional stories that have been told for many years. We were recently asked whether Canada has any interesting myths, so here’s an episode all about our some of our stories. We talk about Canada’s Bigfoot, a flaming ghost ship, and our lost mines.You’ll have to judge for yourself whetherRead More

Many cultures around the world have traditional stories that have been told for many years. We were recently asked whether Canada has any interesting myths, so here’s an episode all about our some of our stories. We talk about Canada’s Bigfoot, a flaming ghost ship, and our lost mines. You’ll have to judge for yourself whether you think these myths are true or not. Thanks to our listeners for suggesting such great topics! Maura: So Canadians have their own Bigfoot. Interesting. Now, are there any other myths that you heard out West? Harp: Yes. The other one—I love this one because I love his name—the Ogopogo. Maura: OK. The Ogopogo. I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that. What is it? Harp: You’ve never heard of the Ogopogo? Maura: No, tell me about it. Harp: Well, the Ogopogo is a lake monster, and he exists in the Okanogan Lake. Maura: OK. So, I have heard of the Loch Ness Monster, which is a really famous kind of thing—monster—that lives in Scotland. It’s the same idea then, right? Harp: Exactly. The Ogopogo is similar to the Loch Ness Monster. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To see something through another person’s eyes Word of mouth That’s just a myth Long-standing Do tell Bigfoot/sasquatc That’s the thing A hoax The Ogopogo and other Canadian lake monsters To give someone the benefit of the doubt The Ghost Ship of Northumberland Strait Lost mines Fishy To lose track of something Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Canada Post