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 #77 – Who wants to eat out tonight? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:53

Here’s another episode suggested by one of our awesome listeners! Going out to restaurants is pretty simple, but there are so many details to consider, like how to order exactly what you want, where to sit, and how to pay. Harp and Maura love going out to eat, and in this episode they share someRead More

 Who wants to eat out tonight? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 22:53

Here’s another episode suggested by one of our awesome listeners! Going out to restaurants is pretty simple, but there are so many details to consider, like how to order exactly what you want, where to sit, and how to pay. Harp and Maura love going out to eat, and in this episode they share some popular restaurant expressions and talk about what to do in different restaurant situations. You can take this episode to go! Maura: You know, I’m sure by the end of this episode, I’m gonna be really hungry. Harp: I’m sure as well. Maura: Even though I just ate dinner, but I’ll be hungry again. Harp: That's what happens when we talk about food. Maura: That's it. So, let's get started with the restaurant experience. Harp: All right. Well, I guess it starts when you walk in and you’re waiting to be seated. Maura: Right. Now sometimes when you walk in, it's not even clear if you should wait to be seated or you should seat yourself. Sometimes there's a sign that says “Wait to be seated” or “Seat yourself,” but sometimes you’re kind of standing there and you’re not sure what to do. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: What are you waiting for? To eat out The best bet A booth A bring-your-own-wine restaurantI’ll have, I’d like, and other ways to order The bill or the cheque Tipping To punch something in A sweet tooth Popular option with main dishesTypes of eggs and other breakfast choices A fave A guilty pleasure To take it to go or to get take-awayA waitress or a waiter Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: ©iFood

 Chatterbox #76 – Maura’s road trip | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:01

Have you ever gone on a long trip in the car? If you have, you’ve been on a road trip! This summer, Maura is going on a road trip across Canada and the United States. In this episode, Harp interviews Maura about the upcoming trip. Listen to find out where Maura plans to go andRead More

 Maura’s road trip | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 20:01

Have you ever gone on a long trip in the car? If you have, you’ve been on a road trip! This summer, Maura is going on a road trip across Canada and the United States. In this episode, Harp interviews Maura about the upcoming trip. Listen to find out where Maura plans to go and what she plans to do. And remember, it’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey. Harp: Today, I’m going to interview someone. Maura: Who are you going to interview, Harp? Harp: I’m going to interview you! Yes, I’m going to interview you, Maura, because you're about to start a big road trip. Maura: Yes, and I'm so excited. This summer, I've planned to go on a really big road trip, about 3 of 4 weeks, across the United States and then back to Montreal through Canada. Harp: Wow! So you're driving across the country, basically? Maura: Pretty much, right. Our trip is starting in Montreal, of course, where Culips broadcasts from, and that is located kind of in the centre, but more eastern side of Canada. And then visit my family. And I'm from Kitchener, Ontario, which is not very far from Toronto. After that we're going to drive down into the United States, west. And then we're going to come back up into Canada, into Alberta and the Rocky Mountains, which is really our destination. Spend some time there, and then drive back to Montreal, through Canada. Harp: That sounds like a really long trip and a lot of driving. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: A road trip A round trip It’s not about the destination Any day The Rocky MountainsA short cut The Windy CityYogi Bear A bed and breakfastTo fly by the seat of your pants BootleggingThe Prairies A back-up planThe pronunciation of route A cat sitterBon voyage Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Image: Global Road Trips

 Catch Word #120 – Try not to step on anyone’s toes | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:52

Most people don’t like to be bothered or to disturb other people, but sometimes we do it anyway. In this episode, we look at expressions describing when someone is disturbed by another person. It could be something said or done that upsets this person, and it could be intentional or unintentional. We don’t want toRead More

 Try not to step on anyone’s toes | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:52

Most people don’t like to be bothered or to disturb other people, but sometimes we do it anyway. In this episode, we look at expressions describing when someone is disturbed by another person. It could be something said or done that upsets this person, and it could be intentional or unintentional. We don't want to ruffle any feathers with this episode, but these are good expressions to know. Maura: If you imagine an animal that is in a cage, so they have bars around them, they’re trapped inside. If you come around and start shaking the cage and banging on it, that bothers the animal inside. They don't like the noise and they don't like to feel disturbed. Harp: Exactly. If you think about a little bunny or a hamster in the cage and you shake the cage, you're gonna bother the animal. Maura: Right. It makes noise and it moves around. It’s the same idea, except this time you're bothering a person. So, in other words, you’re rattling someone’s cage. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To rattle someone’s cage To snap To be up to someone To start from square one Constructive criticismTo be off base To ruffle someone’s feathersTo step on someone’s toes To get over something Touchy To stand out Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Image: Smart Sayings for Today

 Catch Word #119 – We all have to settle down someday | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16:10

Here’s an episode all about growing up. We all have to do it one day, don’t we? To settle down and to lay down some roots are expressions that we can use to talk about a time in a person’s life when they begin to do more adult things. There’s also often a time inRead More

 We all have to settle down someday | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16:10

Here’s an episode all about growing up. We all have to do it one day, don’t we? To settle down and to lay down some roots are expressions that we can use to talk about a time in a person’s life when they begin to do more adult things. There’s also often a time in a person’s life when they want to be little bit irresponsible and maybe do something a little bit crazy. We’ve got an expression for that too! Maura: So, we could say that someone is settling down and buying a house or someone is settling down and beginning their career. So you can really be specific about how that person is settling down. Harp: Yeah. Because a person doesn't need to do all of these. They don't need to have a serious job, get married, have a family, all of them at the same time. You can do just one and be settling down. Maura: Imagine doing them all at the same time? I’m tired just thinking about that. OK. So our first expression then was to settle down. So we're going to now look at another expression with a similar meaning. Harp: Yes. Our next expression is to lay down some roots. Maura: Right. To lay down some roots. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: To take something on To act your age To settle down Mommy and daddy One dayTo get hitched To lay down some rootsTo build a life To sow your wild oats Sow, so, and sew Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: ©icanhascheezburger.com

 Chatterbox #75 – Let’s go to the movies | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 19:43

Movies are an important part of almost every culture on the planet. They’re made for entertainment, but we can also learn about languages and cultures from them. In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about famous movie quotations that are part of pop culture and may be used in regular conversation. They also talk aboutRead More

 Let’s go to the movies | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 19:43

Movies are an important part of almost every culture on the planet. They’re made for entertainment, but we can also learn about languages and cultures from them. In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about famous movie quotations that are part of pop culture and may be used in regular conversation. They also talk about some of their own favourite movie memories. Which of the movies talked about in this episode have you seen? Maura: Sometimes people might even use a movie quotation that’s not really well known or is more obscure and you're like “What are you saying?” and they're like “Oh, it's from this movie.” But there are some that almost everyone does know, and so when you use one of these lines, people know that you’re referencing that movie and you’re kind of making a joke. Harp: Exactly. And the one that I always think of is “I'll be back.” Maura: I love that one. So, the movie line “I'll be back” is from The Terminator. And it was Arnold Schwarzenegger in that movie who says, “I'll be back.” So that's why when we say it we put a little accent on it. Harp: Yeah, definitely. If you can hear both of us when we're saying this, we’re definitely trying to have an accent. Maura: So, this one I think is really popular because it can be used so easily, any time that you’re meeting with people. It could be at work—only if you’re with close colleagues that know you very well—or it could be at a party. But for whatever reason, you leave the room and you're going to come back in a few minutes, you can use this line. You can say, “I'll be back.” Harp: I love the way you say it. It’s so funny. Maura: See, I also like to use this line with a very straight, serious face like Arnold Schwarzenegger did in The Terminator. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: Mmhmm A fuzzy memory Back in the day La-Z-Boy To curl up To go to the movies Quote vs. quotation A line The Princess Bride Dumb and Dumber A flashbackLet’s put another shrimp on the barbie I’ll give you thatTo laugh your head off Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast,Image: Irene Haider

 Catch Word #118 – She has a bun in the oven | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15:56

In this episode, Maura’s friend Melanie visits to talk about slang terms for being pregnant. Melanie is a bit of an expert on this topic, because she’s pregnant herself! There are tons of expressions to talk about being pregnant. Some of them are polite and some of them are a little bit rude. But don’tRead More

 She has a bun in the oven | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 15:56

In this episode, Maura’s friend Melanie visits to talk about slang terms for being pregnant. Melanie is a bit of an expert on this topic, because she’s pregnant herself! There are tons of expressions to talk about being pregnant. Some of them are polite and some of them are a little bit rude. But don’t worry; Maura and Melanie will explain which are which. If you’re in the family way, you’ll especially enjoy listening to this episode. Maura: So the first one is to have a bun in the oven. Melanie: To have a bun in the oven. Maura: Right. To have a bun in the oven. And this expression means that someone is pregnant. If you think of it this way, the bun is the baby and the oven is the womb, or the woman’s body. And, so, if someone has a bun in the oven, this means that they’re pregnant. Melanie: It's kind of a cute expression. I can picture the little bun in the oven getting bigger and bigger and growing to a full-sized bun. Maura: Right, just like a baby. Right now it's still kind of small in your belly I’m sure and it will continue to grow. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: A giveaway Morning sickness Nesting To glow To have a bun in the oven The womb Preggers Magazines at the supermarket To put two and two together To be knocked up To be in the family way; to be with child; to be expectingWhat to Expect When You’re Expecting Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: ©Culips

 Catch Word #117 – This episode’s a nail-biter | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:41

Some movies and television shows can be very tense and dramatic, and we’ve got a handful of expressions to talk about them. This episode’s all about the exciting things we see on screen or read in books that keep us wanting to know more and make us anxious to find out the results. Check outRead More

 This episode’s a nail-biter | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:41

Some movies and television shows can be very tense and dramatic, and we’ve got a handful of expressions to talk about them. This episode’s all about the exciting things we see on screen or read in books that keep us wanting to know more and make us anxious to find out the results. Check out this episode and we promise that we won’t leave you hanging! Harp: And this expression comes from this, because people usually bite their nails when they're nervous or they’re anxious, so that's where this expression comes from. So you don't actually need to bite your nails to use this expression. Maura: Right. We can call anything that makes us nervous or anxious a nail-biter, something that we want to see the results of. Harp: Yeah. So if you're reading a book and you really wanna know what the ending is, it’s a nail-biter. Or if you're watching a competition and you wanna know who wins, it’s a nail-biter. Maura: Right. Especially when it's very exciting and we can't wait to see what the resolution is going to be. Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials: A nail-biter To be tied A cliff-hanger A soap opera A trilogy/a sequel Closure A page-turner I got you a little something You shouldn’t have A bookworm To not want to put a book down Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: ©BetaCup

 Chatterbox #74 – At the workplace | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 16:13

Let’s go to work! You can listen and relax while Harp and Maura talk about trends in the workplace in Canada and the US. You’ll learn about things like casual dress at the office, free gym memberships, and other perks. They also talk about current trends in changing jobs and going back to school. ThisRead More

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