Free ESL podcast
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NATURAL— Learn natural English, the way it’s actually spoken by native speakers. - FUN— Learning a language should be fun! We make fun episodes
- CULTURE— Through our podcast, you will learn about North American customs and culture.
- CONVENIENT— Play it on your computer, or download it onto your iPod, iPhone, or other MP3 players anytime, anywhere you want.
Fears—Culips English Podcast
Jan 21st
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As promised in our New Year’s episode, here is our episode about fears. No matter where we live or what language we speak, we’re all afraid of something! In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about a few expressions you might use when you feel scared. They also talk about how to get over your fears, and they share some of their own. What are you afraid of?
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 What is a Member? |
| Maura: | We can say, when you feel afraid, that you have shivers down your spine. |
| Harp: | Yes, shivers down your spine. |
| Maura: | And a shiver is usually something that you feel from cold air and you kind of, you move around and it’s like a cold feeling that comes over you. |
| Harp: | Yeah, it’s a little bit like you’re body’s shaking a little bit because of something surprising. |
| Maura: | Yeah, and your spine is down your back, so you feel a cold breeze and you kind of get goose bumps all down your back. |
| Harp: | Yeah. So shivers down your spine is the same idea as heebie-jeebies. It’s when you get this feeling that you’re scared or that you’re uncomfortable. It’s just not pleasant. |
| Maura: | Yeah. I think the idea of having shivers down your spine comes from thinking that you’ve seen a ghost or had an experience like that because sometimes we associate, especially in the dark, a sudden cold breeze that comes from nowhere and passes by you is possibly a spirit in front of you, so then you get shivers down your spine. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| The heebie-jeebies | To have shivers down your spine |
| Goose bumps | To have the creeps/to give someone the creeps |
| Chicken | To outgrow |
| To have a wild/overactive imagination | A phobia |
| Arachnophobia and claustrophobia |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: Matthew J.
Blah blah blah—Culips English Podcast
Jan 14th
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Here’s an episode for you about slang that should only be spoken in casual conversations, not spoken or written in more formal situations. These slang expressions replace real words. Blah blah blah and yadda yadda yadda are fun words that people use to fill in information when they are telling a story. In this episode, we also teach you about slang you can use when you don’t know or can’t remember a word. This is especially interesting for English learners. Check it out and listen to Harp and Maura blah blah blah in this episode!
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What is a Member? |
| Maura: | It sounds so simple. It sounds like nothing, but it really is something that we use when we’re talking, blah blah blah, and we usually say it fast, blah blah blah. |
| Harp: | Yeah, blah blah blah. |
| Maura: | And blah blah blah is the slang term that we might use when someone is telling a story and they don’t want to give all the details, so instead of all of these details, they say blah blah blah. |
| Harp: | Yeah, it’s when you’re telling a story and you’re trying to give a little bit of context but you don’t want to give all the little details in the story, you just wanna kind of shorten it to get to the important, the juicy, part of the story. So you say blah blah blah. |
| Maura: | Right. When you say blah blah blah, it means that some things were still happening, time was still passing, maybe someone was still talking, but the details of what was actually going on aren’t important so you can just pass over it. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| To bear with someone | Blah blah blah |
| Juicy | Out of nowhere |
| Who cares | Yadda yadda yadda |
| To go on and on | Whatchamacallit |
| Other words used similarly to whatchamacallit | A brain fart |
| Whatshername/whatshisname |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: Adikos, Edited by Culips English Podcast
To stick out like a sore thumb—Culips English Podcast
Jan 7th
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Nobody wants to stick out like a sore thumb, but sometimes it happens. In this episode, we look at expressions that describe people and things that are different from the rest, often in a negative way. We also focus on to be out of place and to be the odd one out. Listen to our examples of when people might feel strange and uncomfortable for being different and learn how to put these expressions to use!
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What is a Member? |
| Maura: | So, to stick out like a sore thumb means that a person is different from everybody else and so they have a lot of attention on them and, like we said, it’s not positive attention. |
| Harp: | So maybe they’re wearing different clothes than everyone else or maybe someone speaks a language that not everyone else there speaks. |
| Maura: | Yeah. There are so many different ways that you can feel different from a group of people. It could be because everyone has a certain kind of job and you don’t, or everyone knows each other but you don’t know the people very well. |
| Harp: | Or everyone has the same style and you have a completely different style of clothing. |
| Maura: | Yeah. So, it could be physical, by looking at someone, but it also could be something different from the inside, maybe. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| To stick out like a sore thumb | Pronounciation of thumb |
| And? | Did I ever… |
| Dress code | Undergrad |
| To be out of place | To stand out |
| To be lost | Uh oh |
| To be the odd one out | To throw a tantrum |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: Sarah Reid, Edited by Culips English Podcast
A light bulb moment—Culips English Podcast
Dec 31st
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We hope that everyone has some bright ideas in 2012! This episode it about coming up with new ideas and having realizations, and the expressions we can use to talk about this. Of course, we’re always brainstorming at Culips to come up with new ideas for episodes, and now you can learn about expressions like a light bulb moment, to dawn on someone, and to have a brainwave. Maybe you’ll even find some inspiration in this episode!
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What is a Member? |
| Maura: | So first we had a light bulb moment, and now what’s the second expression? |
| Harp: | The next expression is to dawn on. |
| Maura: | Right. To dawn on. And usually, you talk about something dawning on me or you, or a person. It dawns on someone. |
| Harp: | Yes. And dawn is the time of day when the sun is about to rise and the sun starts rising for a new day. |
| Maura: | So, it’s the same idea as a light bulb moment because there’s a sense of light. When the sun is rising, there’s a lot of sunlight and light really means knowledge or some brilliant idea. So when something dawns on you, it means that you have a new understanding or a new idea about something. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| (From) out of nowhere | Bright/light expressions |
| To have a light bulb moment | To come up with something |
| To brainstorm | To come to you |
| To dawn on someone | To get gouged at the pump |
| To carpool | To have a brainwave |
| To take forever | Out of the way |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Satoru Kikuchi
Looking back – 2011 —Culips English Podcast
Dec 25th
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Happy New Year! Today we’re bringing you an episode where we look back at the past year at Culips and also forward into 2012. (The year 2012 can be said as two thousand and twelve or twenty-twelve.) In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about changes in their lives this year and their plans for the future. It’s the right time of year! They also reveal some of their favourite episodes and talk about what’s in store in Culips’ future. Keep listening and learning with us in 2012. And thanks for your support in 2011!
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| Harp: | What ideas are you the most excited about for next year? |
| Maura: | Well, one episode that I was really happy with and really excited to do was the episode about blah blah blah. |
| Harp: | Ha ha, yeah. The episode about blah blah blah. |
| Maura: | Yes. And if you’ve never heard that, it might sound very funny, but it’s actually how people talk sometimes. Just last week, actually at work, I heard someone telling a story and they said blah blah blah and then they told a little bit more of the story and again they said blah blah blah in the same story. And I thought, “Great!” Because this is actually being used and we’re going to do an episode on this. |
| Harp: | Yes, definitely. So stay tuned next year to hear this episode. |
| Maura: | Yeah. This episode actually has blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda, whatshername and whatshisname, and whatchamacallit. So it’s a really good one. |
| Harp: | Whatchamacallit. |
| Maura: | Yeah. What about you? What are you looking forward to in terms of Culips episodes? |
| Harp: | Well, there’s gonna be a super fun and interesting episode about fears and what we’re afraid of. |
| Maura: | I’m already scared for that one. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| To be in limbo | A big year |
| Our world | Fantabulous |
| To be someone’s rock | A pop quiz |
| To steal someone’s thunder | A back story |
| Garden-variety | Lucky you |
| ’Em | First of all, second of all |
| To go down south | To skyrocket |
| To be a chicken |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Camdiluv
Christmas – Culips English Podcast
Dec 17th
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Happy Holidays!!
Merry Christmas everyone! We know we’re early this year, but we wanted time to get you in the Christmas spirit. This holiday season, Harp and Maura look at Christmas over the years, talking about their own Christmas traditions and how things change as we grow up. They also talk about what’s new and happening this Christmas. Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, learn more about how it happens in Canada.
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| Maura: | First we’re gonna talk about Christmas past; then we’re gonna talk about the present, what’s happening right now; and the future, upcoming Christmases. |
| Harp: | Yes. So let’s get started, Maura. |
| Maura: | Oh, Christmas past. I like thinking about past Christmases; I feel so nostalgic. |
| Harp: | I know, me too. I love Christmas. I love the Christmas season. |
| Maura: | You know, it’s interesting, though, how things change as the years go by and things are different now from when we were young. Do you have any good Christmas stories from when you were younger, Harp? |
| Harp: | I just remember waking up on Christmas morning and my mom would never know what to get us when we were in our teenage years… |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| To wrap up | Mom’s territory |
| Christmas carols | The more…the less |
| Santa Claus and his other names | A trip down memory lane |
| To skip the malls | Canadian standards of Christmas |
| Gadgets | Home for the holidays |
| A gift exchange | Eggnog |
| To spice something up | The Christmas spirit |
| A Christmas Carol | Les Doux Cactus |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Luz Adriana Villa
Public Speaking – Culips ESL Podcast
Dec 10th
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Most people feel nervous about public speaking, and it’s a difficult thing to do in any language. Greta, one of our listeners, suggested this idea for an episode and we went with it! Harp and Maura talk about their own experiences with public speaking and also share some advice on how to do it well. Does imagining the audience naked really work?
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| Maura: | So, you can say that you’re going to give a talk. That’s one way of talking about public speaking. Another verb that you could use, another expression, is to make a speech. |
| Harp: | Yes. To make a speech. To give a speech and to make a speech—it’s the exact same thing; it means that you’re gonna go in front of people and you’re going to do some public speaking. |
| Maura: | Yeah. To make a speech is really when you’re speaking. If you’re preparing for the speech that would be you’re writing the speech or you’re practicing the speech. But if you make a speech, you’re actually speaking in front of people. |
| Harp: | So you could say to make a speech or to give a speech. And this is much more formal. When you talk about a speech, I imagine someone standing in front of an audience, maybe behind a podium, very formal and they have very specific things they want to say. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| To be fishy | A tip |
| To warm up | To give a talk |
| TED Talks | To make a speech/To give a speech |
| To speak | A talk vs. a speech |
| Practice makes perfect | A rant |
| Stressful, stressed, stressed out | Public speaking tips |
| A hook | To get past something |
| Cue cards/Index cards | The naked audience theory |
| There’s a method to your madness |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Brandon Atkinson
Starting from scratch – Culips English Podcast
Dec 3rd
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Here’s another Catch Word episode! This one focuses on expressions with the word scratch. We look at to start from scratch, to scratch the surface, and to make something from scratch. Scratch in these expressions talks about starting at the beginning, often when you don’t have much knowledge or many skills. This episode does more than just scratch the surface, so listen and learn!
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| Harp: | When I think of making something from scratch, I’m thinking of a nice soup or something good that’s homemade. |
| Maura: | Yeah, something delicious. |
| Harp: | Mmhmm. |
| Maura: | Food made from scratch is just so much better than pre-made stuff that you can buy in stores. |
| Harp: | I know. Stuff you buy in stores that’s already made before, it’s faster, but food definitely tastes better when it’s homemade, when it’s made from scratch. |
| Maura: | Oh, yeah. What’s the last thing that you made from scratch, Harp? |
| Harp: | You know, I actually made chicken stock this weekend from scratch. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| To start from scratch | To crash (a computer) |
| To take up something | To scratch the surface |
| To make something from scratch | To hold on |
| Stomach grumbling | To flip a house |
| Man as slang | To be hardcore |
| A potluck |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Jake and Lindsay Sherbert
Meet Kelly – Culips English Podcast
Nov 30th
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Here’s an interview with our friend Kelly. She helps out behind the scenes at Culips, so we thought we’d use an episode to introduce her to you! Like all of us at Culips, she’s not originally from Montreal. In this episode, we talk about her hometown, which is in the province of Saskatchewan. We also talk about Montreal and what makes it a place that people love! If you want to know more about Canada and hear a new voice, listen to this one!
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| Maura: | So first, let’s let everybody get to know you a little bit more. |
| Kelly: | OK. |
| Maura: | Tell us where you’re from. |
| Kelly: | I’m originally from a city called Regina, Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan is a Prairie province in the west of Canada. It’s very, very flat. I came to Montreal about four years ago and started teaching English at high schools here and I love it. |
| Maura: | Yeah, yeah. And I’m sure it’s very different from the flat place you’re from. |
| Kelly: | It is extremely different from the flat place that I’m from; flat in many senses of the word. It’s pretty boring, too. Here there are a lot more places to go, restaurants, people to see, concerts. I like it a lot. |
| Maura: | Yeah. So let’s talk a little bit about Regina, because Canada is such a big place and most of the time at Culips we talk about Montreal and what’s going on around here, which is exciting, but I’m sure many people listening don’t know much about Regina and that part of Canada. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| Chatterbox | The Prairies |
| Regina, Saskatchewan | Flat |
| Elbow, Eyebrow, and other crazy Saskatchewan town names | French words in English |
| Very, very | Montreal’s favourite foods |
| IMount Royal |
Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast
Tightwad—Culips English Podcast
Nov 19th
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No one likes to be thought of as cheap, but some of us just don’t like to spend money. Harp and Maura are two of these people! This is an episode about slang terms for people who are always saving their money. Most of these expressions are considered rude, so be careful how you use them. If you mean it as a compliment, you’d be better off to call a person frugal. Listen to this episode to hear all the slang terms for cheap and the meaning of frugal!
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| Harp: | So if someone is cheap and likes to save all their money, you could call them a tightwad. |
| Maura: | Yes. Now, let’s explain this word, tightwad. A wad is actually some small thing, like in the shape of a ball; it’s really not a specific thing. It’s just some small thing that’s in the shape of a ball. Now, if you imagine your money is all rolled up, tightly, it’s like a wad. And a tightwad means that you don’t wanna open it up, you don’t wanna take any money out, you don’t wanna spend it. |
| Harp: | Yes. So when you’re a tightwad, that means you’re cheap and you don’t want to spend all your money. And one thing we need to mention right away is that you would never say this to someone. It’s a very rude thing to call someone. So you could maybe say it behind their back… |
| Maura: | Yeah. The thing with being called a tightwad is that it’s never a compliment. No one really likes to be seen as someone who doesn’t wanna spend money. It’s not a positive thing. And so you might use it as a joke. That’s the only way you could use it, because it is rude. |
Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:
| A tightwad | A wad |
| To be tight on money & To be tight with money | To say/do something behind someone’s back |
| The office Christmas party | A penny pincher |
| A cheapskate | Cheap |
| It’s on me | To have a confession to make |
| Frugal | Other words for cheap |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Images Money
Hi there! How are you? I just wanted to thank you all for your efforts and energies you spend on this great website and sharing your magnificent knowledge with us.
I know how hard and time-taking such this activities would be and it won't happen without having strong motivation to the work.
And the best part is that i can feel that in each individual podcast.
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