Archive for July, 2008
Culips Recording
Jul 28th
Hey everyone,
We wanted to let you know what is new with Culips. You may have noticed that we are now posting one new episode a week. We used to (a habit in the past) post two a week.
Yoshi, Harp, Robin and I decided to post only one per week so we could take the time to improve (MAKE BETTER!) our podcasts for you. We will eventually return to two each week. In the meantime, (from now until we again post two episodes a week) please check out all our previous (or older) episodes.
In fact, we are going to stop making the Close Up podcast and replace it with Chatterbox, a podcast where we will talk about all things cultural (in North America, Canada and Montreal). Some topics we will talk about in Chatterbox are music, love, University life, and lots of other fun stuff. What do you all think of that decision?
I also included some pictures of us recording this past spring. This is what we look like when we are making your podcasts!
Vocabulary: Grumpy, Grouchy, Irritable…
Jul 26th
Podcast: Play in new window
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In this episode we talk about being grumpy and other words with the same meaning. We are not usually grumpy people, so we act out some examples for you. Here is one below:
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Maura: Meh, I’m all right.
Robin: Really? I heard that you just got accepted to the University of Toronto.
Maura: Yeah, yeah, a few weeks ago.
Robin: Really? Aren’t you happy?
Maura: Yeah…
Robin: You don’t look so happy, actually. You know, actually, you seem quite grumpy.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast
Classic Sesame Street – Oscar The Grouch sings “I Love Trash”
Making a scene!
Jul 23rd
Hello everyone,
I have quite a story to share with you all about my new neighbour. A neighbour is someone who lives in your neighbourhood, which is the area where you live. My new neighbour is a SKUNK. Last week, I was walking home with Craig when I saw something move. It was about 2 metres away from me and we both thought it was a cat. Slowly we came to the realization that what we were looking at was not a cat at all; it was a skunk!
In case some of you don’t know, a skunk is a small animal with a big tail. It is typically all black with a white stripe going down its back and tail. I have added a picture here of a skunk so you all will know what one looks like. When a skunk feels scared, it lets out a spray that is EXTREMELY smelly. I have never smelled anyone that has been sprayed by a skunk, but I have heard that it is impossible (very difficult) to get the smell out of your clothes. You cannot get rid of the smell by showering. The only thing that works to get rid of the bad smell is if you bathe with tomato soup. Sometimes even that does not work.
Back to the story, once Craig and I realized that it was a skunk, not a cat, neither of us could move. For a moment, we were both paralyzed with fear (couldn’t move because we were scared). Neither of us wanted to be sprayed. Craig came to his senses (was no longer in shock) and pushed me away from the skunk. We were both screaming “skunk!” at the top of our lungs (very loudly) and ran away from the skunk. We were about 20 metres away when we stopped to make sure we were safe. When we turned to look, we realized that a group of about 5 teenage (between the ages of 13-19) boys were pointing and laughing at us because we had made such a scene about the skunk. Craig and I both then burst out laughing (started laughing loudly) too. We must have looked very funny. Check out Close Up #7 Favour to learn more about making a scene.
After this incident, we have seen the skunk a couple of more times. Now that we know we have a skunk living in our neighbourhood, we can stay away from it. The skunk is not my favourite neighbour.
I want to hear your stories about making a scene because you were afraid of something. Send me an email at harp@culips.com or write a comment on this blog.
Have a good night everyone,
Harp
Culture: Living On Campus
Jul 19th
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This is the first of a new Culips podcast. Here we chat! This episode Harp and Maura chat about Living in residence in University. Let us know what you think!
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Maura : Yes, it wasn’t so long ago that Harp and I were in university.
Harp:Exactly, it just feels like yesterday.
Maura : Feels like yesterday. And I had a really fun experience.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: compscigrad
Moving Day in Quebec
Jul 15th
(I would have posted this earlier, but I wanted to give you a chance to look at Harp’s photos some more. I want to go to Boston now!)
I wanted to tell you about Moving Day in Quebec. This is the day when most people move into new apartments in this province. Over the July 1st (Canada Day) holiday, you can see lots of vans and trucks and furniture all over the streets. Moving Day has a history in this province.
July 1st is when my lease (the written legal agreement between the apartment owner and the renter) is expired. It is also when Yoshi’s lease was up (expired). Who’s Yoshi? Click here and scroll down the page!
This is another reason why we are busy and running around this summer. Yoshi was moving and we record at Yoshi’s place!
As Yoshi gets settled in (gets comfortable) at his new place, we will post some pictures of us recording in the Montreal heat.
Idiom: Watch out! Watch your lip!
Jul 12th
Podcast: Play in new window
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In this episode Robin and Maura look at the word watch. Watch can be a verb or a noun and is used in quite a few expressions. First we discuss how watch and look are different. Then we tell you how to watch out!
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Robin: Hey! That’s a pretty harsh expression!
Maura: So a lip is the part that makes up your mouth, that’s on the outside of your face, I guess. So when I say watch your lip Robin, what am I saying?
Robin: You’re basically telling me to shut up or basically, telling me to be a little bit careful about what I say to you.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast
Can you do me a favour?
Jul 9th
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Can you do me a favour?
Rich has had an accident and needs some help from a friend. In this episode, he calls Chris and asks him for a favour. (In Canada favour is spelled with a u. For other spelling differences, check out our glossary.) Rich and Chris use expressions like on my way and to drop by.
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Rick: Hey it’s Rick, how’s it going?
Chris: Ah, pretty good, pretty good, you?
Rick: Oh, not bad, but I’m calling to ask you for a favour.
Chris: OK.
Rick: I don’t want you to go out of your way, but would you mind helping me pick up some groceries?
Chris: Sure, but can I ask why?
Rick: Yeah, it’s just that, well, I broke my leg yesterday.
Chris: What? What happened?
Rick: Well, actually, I was on my way to get some groceries myself. I was in a bit of a rush and slipped on some ice right next to my car.
Chris: That must have been some fall!
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast
Boston
Jul 7th
Hi!
I hope you all have been having a great summer. I am loving the summer. In Montreal we have been very lucky to have some great weather, not too hot or muggy (hot and humid). The weekend before last I went to Boston with my boyfriend. One of my friends was driving there and we decided to carpool (share a car) together. Boston is about a 5-hour drive from Montreal.
We started the weekend very early (4:30am!!!) on Friday as we wanted to have as much time as possible in Boston. I had booked a B&B (Bed and Breakfast) through the Internet and when we finally arrived there Craig and I were both very happy. The B&B was in a cute neighbourhood on a street with beautiful brownstone buildings.
Craig and I spent the next 2 days discovering Boston. It is an amazing city! It was easy for us to walk around and see all the beautiful sites. Thankfully Craig is good at reading maps because I think we would have been lost otherwise. The highlights of the trip included the Mapparium (click for more information) and the Boston Public Library. This is by far the most beautiful library I have ever seen in my life. I fell in love with the building. I wanted to spend hours there. I have included some pictures.
We went to some great restaurants and had the famous Boston dish of clam chowder. Every single meal included various types of seafood but the best was when we had lobster at our friend’s house. It was delicious!
I am so happy I had the chance visit this beautiful city and if any of you are planning to visit North America it is definitely a city to see.
Bye everyone,
Harp
“Let’s…” and “Why don’t we…”
Jul 5th
Podcast: Play in new window
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Let’s listen to this Culips episode! This time we talk about the expressions beginning with “Let’s…” and “Why don’t we…”, give your examples and explain the differences between them. Why don’t you stop reading and listen to it now!
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Maura: What is the difference between “Let’s do…” and “Why don’t we do…”?
Harp: The answer is simple. There is really no difference in meaning or intention. They are essentially the same. In your standard ESL textbook these expressions are often taught together because they are used in the same way: to suggest something.
Maura: Let’s go see a movie. Why don’t we see a movie? In both cases I’m suggesting we see a movie.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: compscigrad
Happy Canada Day!
Jul 4th
Canada Day is July 1st. All of us at Culips were able to take a little holiday this past Tuesday. This year Canada is 141 years old. It is pretty young for a country!
Canada Day is usually celebrated by fireworks and barbecues (summer cooking outside). It is also often not celebrated at all. Lots of Canadians take the day to relax but don’t do anything to celebrate Canada. In some ways, Canadians are not very patriotic (passionate and proud of one’s country). We are generally humble (not proud or arrogant). I didn’t do anything to celebrate this Canada Day. I relaxed in the summer sun! That being said, there were many activities that people did participate in. Have a look here.
In the next few posts, you will hear about our summer vacations (you will hear about Harp’s trip to Boston soon) and next I will tell you about Quebec’s Moving Day.
We have been busy at Culips! We have been busy with recording and writing, and also taking little holidays (Yeah!). With all of the action this summer, we are doing our very best to keep bringing you our best podcasts!
Of all the podcasts with 'real world' English examples, I like yours the best. Maybe its the fun you put into the lessons. The students can here that in your voices. And they also feel your dedication to what you are doing - it's just not a job you do, but a gift you give to everyone who listens. And while the students like the Lipservice PDFs for all the information it contains, as a teacher I am impressed by the professional effort put into making them. I give the Culips podcast and the Culips crew my highest recommendation, both as a teacher, and a listener. 
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