Culips Everyday English Podcast show

Culips Everyday English Podcast

Summary: Learning English is tough stuff, but we're here to help every step of the way. This podcast is for English language learners who want to improve their lives by becoming fluent in English. Our high-quality lessons are free, fun and taught by our expert hosts. Listening to Culips is like sitting in on an interesting chat between good friends. Your fluency, listening skills, vocabulary, and pronunciation will improve naturally as you get to know our hosts and learn about interesting topics and trends in Canada and around the world. Get awesome at English, with Culips!

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Podcasts:

 Chatterbox #101 – What’s your personality? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:31

In this episode, we talk about personality! Harp and Maura start by talking about introverts and extroverts, and the positive and negative qualities of both. They also discuss astrological signs. Do you think that when someone is born can determine their personality? Can a person’s personality change over their lifetime? Listen to this episode toRead More

 What’s your personality? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:31

In this episode, we talk about personality! Harp and Maura start by talking about introverts and extroverts, and the positive and negative qualities of both. They also discuss astrological signs. Do you think that when someone is born can determine their personality? Can a person’s personality change over their lifetime? Listen to this episode to hear what Harp and Maura have to say about it. Harp: If we talk about extroverted people, they’re very outgoing. They’re usually telling jokes or stories, and people are listening to them. They really like being the centre of attention. They like other people’s attention to be on them. Maura: Yeah. These kinds of people are the life of the party. They’re friendly. They don’t feel shy about striking up conversation with a complete stranger. Harp: Sometimes they can come off as a little bit of a show-off, ’cause they always want to talk about themselves and their stories. Maura: Yeah. There are really pros and cons to both of these personality types. If you’re extroverted, you’re very friendly, but you can also seem, maybe, loud- mouthed or arrogant. And introverted people are thought to be more intellectual, but you could also seem, maybe, rude because you’re quiet all the time, or people might think you’re a hermit because you stay in and don’t go out very much. Harp: Yeah. And oftentimes, with introverted people, you might think they’re cold because they don’t show their feelings as much. Maura: Yeah. That’s true. But I think you really hit the nail on the head earlier, Harp, when you said that some people can be introverted and extroverted in different situations. It’s not so fixed to say that one person is always introverted and one person is always extroverted. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: Cut and dried The Perks of Being a Wallflower To strike up a conversation To come off as something A hermit To hit the nail on the head The Myers-Briggs personality test Technically Zodiac signs, astrology, and horoscopes Blood type It goes to show Like It’s not an exact science To come out of your shell Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

 Catch Word #134 – Let’s put it on the shelf for now | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 17:28

Sometimes we don’t want to discuss something right now. We want to discuss it later instead, because it is not immediately important. In this case, we can put something on the shelf and talk about it again in the future. This week’s episode is about putting those kinds of things on the shelf. You don’tRead More

 Let’s put it on the shelf for now | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 17:28

Sometimes we don't want to discuss something right now. We want to discuss it later instead, because it is not immediately important. In this case, we can put something on the shelf and talk about it again in the future. This week’s episode is about putting those kinds of things on the shelf. You don’t want to forget about something completely, but it just doesn’t have priority. Don’t put listening to this episode on the shelf! Listen and start using the expressions right away. Maura: The beginning of this expression sounds just like the first expression, but it’s different at the end. To put something on the back burner. Harp: Yes. To put something on the back burner. Maura: And this means just the same as to put something on the shelf. When you put something on the back burner, you are not going to deal with it right now, you’re going to temporarily put it on hold. And at some time in the future, you will deal with it. Harp: Yeah. You’re not gonna give it immediate action or thought, you’re gonna let it go for a little bit and not think about, and later you’re gonna deal with it. Maura: Right. It’s something that doesn’t need to be discussed right now. Now, a back burner is actually part of a stove. And when you put something on the back burner, it’s not something that needs your immediate attention while cooking. You can kind of put it on the back and just let it simmer on its own; you don’t need to pay close attention to it. The same goes for whatever you’re dealing with. If you’re not going to give it full attention right now, you can say you put it on the back burner. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To do your own thing To put something on the shelf A secretary To deal with something Funny story To find common ground Extra hands To put something on the back burner A lemon To put something on ice A city councillor A time frame Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

 Chatterbox #100 – The corporate world | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:58

Work! Love it or hate it, most of us have to do it. In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about the corporate world and what it’s like nowadays. Almost everyone hopes to make as much money as they can, and some people work to climb the corporate ladder in order to get prestige asRead More

 The corporate world | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:58

Work! Love it or hate it, most of us have to do it. In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about the corporate world and what it’s like nowadays. Almost everyone hopes to make as much money as they can, and some people work to climb the corporate ladder in order to get prestige as well. Harp and Maura also talk about the latest interview trends and discuss what the job market currently looks like. This is a super-informative episode, and some of the ideas in this episode were suggested by two Culips listeners! Harp: It seems that more and more people are working around the clock because of things like smart phones and laptops at home. People are always connected so they feel like they have to respond to emails, they have to answer calls. Maura: That is definitely true. The idea of working just 9 to 5 doesn’t really exist if you’re in the corporate world and you’re trying to climb the corporate ladder. Now, another part of working and living in the corporate world is the rat race. Harp: The rat race. Maura: And we want to give a very special thank you to one of our Culips listeners, who suggested that we talk about the rat race, on Facebook. Harp: Yeah. Thanks, Ehsanaagha. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To climb the corporate ladder On the other hand A go-getter A career path VP and CEO The glass ceiling To take something To work around the clock To get around something A workaholic The rat race A shout-out A split-second decision The STAR approach to answering behavioural questions Baby boomers Booming Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

 Catch Word #133 – Let bygones be bygones | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:08

This episode is all about forgetting the negative things that happened to us in the past and moving forward with our lives. This is always a good idea, so we’ve got a few expressions to remind us of this. If you had an argument with someone, or if something didn’t happen the way you wantedRead More

 Let bygones be bygones | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 18:08

This episode is all about forgetting the negative things that happened to us in the past and moving forward with our lives. This is always a good idea, so we’ve got a few expressions to remind us of this. If you had an argument with someone, or if something didn’t happen the way you wanted it to, it may be better not to think about it anymore. Put the past behind you and listen to this episode. Maura: This expression sounds very repetitive because it repeats the same word twice—bygones. So the expression is let bygones be bygones. Harp: Yeah. And bygones mean something from the past, something that happened at an earlier time. And so this expression, to let bygones be bygones, it means to let unpleasant things that have happened in the past stay in the past. You forget about them. You don’t bring them up again. You just let it go. Maura: Right. It’s like saying something that happened in the past happened in the past, not the present, so don’t think about it now. Harp: For example, if you had an argument or a fight with someone in the past, don’t bring it up again. Don’t think about it. Let bygones be bygones. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To let bygones be bygones To bring something up Miffed To put something behind you To flare up To get down on yourself To let sleeping dogs lie Split infinitives To be around To be on someone An old flame To go down that road (again) To come to your senses To be right around the corner Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo eHow

 Catch Word #132 – It’s in mint condition | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 17:48

When buying or selling used items, it’s important to know what condition the items are in. In this episode, we talk about some expressions that are used to describe an item’s condition. We look at expressions to say that something is in excellent condition, bad condition, or somewhere in the middle. If you like lookingRead More

 It’s in mint condition | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 17:48

When buying or selling used items, it’s important to know what condition the items are in. In this episode, we talk about some expressions that are used to describe an item’s condition. We look at expressions to say that something is in excellent condition, bad condition, or somewhere in the middle. If you like looking for deals online from people selling their stuff, or if you’re a second-hand shopper, then this episode is worth a listen! Harp: These expressions are often used when you're buying or selling something. Maura: All right. So, first we're going to talk about an expression that means something is in very, very good condition; that it's like brand new. Harp: Yeah. This expression is mint condition. Maura: You know, I really like this expression. It is mint condition. Harp: Yeah. Mint condition. Maura: Now, you know, I kind of remember when I was a kid and hearing this expression for the first time, and thinking that it was so strange. I didn't understand, because I was thinking of mint, you know? Like the herb or, like, you have a mint after dinner. And I did not understand how mint condition could mean very good condition. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: Mint condition Brand new New to someone Or anything Wear and tear To see something for yourself Craigslist To keep on an eye on something To have seen better days Up close To keep an eye out for something To be in good shape Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

 Chatterbox #99 – Commuting | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:07

Most of us travel to work many times in one week. Some of us have a quick little trip and others spend hours on public transportation. This episode is all about that—travelling to and from work. Harp and Maura talk about what commuting is like in Canada, how people get to work, and how longRead More

 Commuting | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 21:07

Most of us travel to work many times in one week. Some of us have a quick little trip and others spend hours on public transportation. This episode is all about that—travelling to and from work. Harp and Maura talk about what commuting is like in Canada, how people get to work, and how long it usually takes them. They also share their own experiences of getting to work every day. If you’re a commuter, listen to this episode on your way to work. Harp: And then we're gonna talk about our some of our own personal experiences with commuting. Maura: You know, it is something very personal. Sometimes people love their commute, or they hate their commute. So people really have a strong feeling about it. Harp: Yes. I definitely agree with you. Maura: OK. So let's start by talking about how people get to work in Canada. Harp: Well, I have to be honest; most people get to work by car. Maura: That is definitely true. I think, internationally, Canada and the US are known for drivers. People really like to drive around here. Harp: Yeah. People love their cars and they love driving to work, or anywhere. Maura: And most of the time, people are alone in their cars. So you have a car with one person driving to their workplace. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To commute/a commute A carpool/to carpool To take turns Hardcore A traffic jam Right off the bat The metro No problem To hold back To see where this is going To jaywalk I don’t blame you Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Culips

 Catch Word #131 – Slowpoke | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:45

Some people like to move slowly and never rush, and we’ve got special names for these people. This episode focuses on the funny little names that we use to talk about this kind of person. Do you have a slowpoke in your life? Or are you a lollygagger yourself? Don’t be a dawdler—hurry up andRead More

 Slowpoke | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:45

Some people like to move slowly and never rush, and we’ve got special names for these people. This episode focuses on the funny little names that we use to talk about this kind of person. Do you have a slowpoke in your life? Or are you a lollygagger yourself? Don’t be a dawdler—hurry up and listen to this episode! Harp: They're walking really slowly. They're taking their time. They're a slowpoke. Maura: Yeah. You know, I'm usually not a slowpoke, and when I really want to get somewhere, slowpokes kind of bug me a little bit. It's like, “Hurry up! Let's go! Come on!” Harp: I know. It's funny because I work downtown and often, on the main streets, so many people are slowpokes. And it's because they're on vacation, they're taking it easy, while I'm in work mode and I'm trying to get somewhere really quickly and they're just slowpokes. Maura: Yeah. But at the same time, slowpokes are normally laid back, they're not stressed, they're not in a rush. So I guess that's the upside to being a slowpoke. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To be up to something To get down to business A slowpoke To bug someone To be in work mode The upside To take your time To take time to smell the roses What can you do? To dillydally A dawdler To go from point A to point B To have a look A lollygagger Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo Imgur

 Chatterbox #98 – Media, advertising, and celebrity gossip | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 24:53

Nowadays, people are constantly in contact with media, and advertising is everywhere! This inspired us to make a Culips episode talking all about it. Do you still read the newspaper? Do commercials bother you as much as they bother Maura and Harp? Celebrity gossip is something that has become quite mainstream in Canada and theRead More

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