Archive for August, 2008
Idiom: Are you eavesdropping?
Aug 30th
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When you listen to our Culips podcast, are you eavesdropping? No, you aren’t because that would be rude. What is eavesdropping? It is a special kind of listening. In this episode, we explain the word eavesdropping and overhearing. Listen here!
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Harp: I would say very public places. So, for example, I take public transportation, I take the metro and I take the bus in Montreal, and I love eavesdropping.
Maura: Here, because of the French, it’s a little like a listening comprehension exercise.
Harp:Exactly!
Maura: But, yeah, you can eavesdrop in restaurants or bars—you listen to what other people are talking about—especially if it starts to get interesting, right?
Harp: Exactly, exactly! Sometimes people have arguments or sometimes people are telling secrets that aren’t so secret if you’re listening.
Maura: So, we thought of this word “eavesdropping” because just a few minutes ago the phone rang and it was Harp’s boyfriend.
Harp:Everyone started eavesdropping in the room.
Maura: Well, what really happened is that Harp was talking and the rest of us were quiet.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Joe Howell
Easier said than done!
Aug 25th
Hey everyone!
Today I was thinking about everyone who is learning a new language. It can be so hard!
Right now I am in Beauceville, a small town in the province of Quebec. Everyone speaks French here. There is no English spoken here.
Even after some years learning French it can still be difficult! Last night I was out with my boyfriend’s friends and I couldn’t speak French fast enough to be part of the conversation. I could understand almost everything, but I could not talk fast enough. Has anyone had this experience before?
I always find that hard because in English I love to chat!
The best advice is to not be shy and always try to speak. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
That is easier said than done. This expression means that it is easy to SAY (Don’t be afraid to makes mistakes) but it is so much harder to DO it!
We can only keep practicing!
Culture: Living Off Campus
Aug 24th
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This is our new podcast – Chatterbox! Here we talk about everything cultural. This is Part 2 about University Life.
In this episode Harp talks about living off campus, what she liked and what she didn’t like. Harp liked her mom’s homecooking but she didn’t take naps like Maura did. To find out more about living off campus during University, listen to this episode.
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Harp:Yup, I stayed at home with my folks.
Maura: So did you want to do that?
Harp: I always wanted to go to dorms and rez but I had the advantages of my mom cooking me dinner and my mom helping clean the house and I didn’t have all those extra responsibilities, I could focus on school, but I always dreamed of living in dorms.
Maura: Yeah but as I said before the food wasn’t so great.
Harp: Yeah that is true I didn’t gain the freshman 15.
Maura: Yeah, I’m sure your dinners tasted a lot better than mine did.
Harp:Exactly, my mom is such a good cook. I miss my mom. She is such a good cook.
Maura: Yeah, was there anything else that you liked or didn’t like about living at home?
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Jasohill
Grammar: “As Well” vs “Too”
Aug 16th
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This question is about “as well”. Is it exactly the same as “too”? Can it also be used in another way? Check out this episode to find out! And check out our Lipservice as well.
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Maura: I would like some ice cream as well.
Harp: At the end of a sentence as well is just the same as too. The only small distinction is that as well is a bit more formal sounding than too. When speaking or writing in a more formal situation or just to sound a bit more polite, replace as well for too.
Maura: She wants to go to the park too. She wants to go to the park as well. She also wants to go to the park.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: g-mikee
Vocabulary: Whistleblower
Aug 9th
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You can blow a whistle and be a whistleblower, but we also used the expression “whistleblower” for a person who tells the authorities when a company is doing something illegal. This episode also includes explanations of a “tattletale” and “telling on” someone.
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Harp – Definitely, I say it takes a lot of strength of character to be a whistleblower.
Maura – For sure, and we also have another expression with a similar meaning but not so serious.
Harp – Definitely, definitely not as serious
Maura – Right, no companies
Harp – More for children. So this expression is “tattletale”.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Illust: hughelectronic
Come Party with Les Doux Cactus!
Aug 5th
Hey everyone!
Do you live in Montreal? If you do, you are invited to a party! This Friday there is going to be a Block Party (a party outside on the street) in Rosemont (a neighbourhood in Montreal).
Our friend Les Doux Cactus are going to be giving a show. Les Doux Cactuses is a music band from Montreal that sings only in Japanese! They really are a cross-cultural (different cultures coming together) experience. For more information go to http://www.lesdouxcactus.com or see the poster below.
They also did all the Culips music for us that plays at the beginning of our episodes. We thank them so much for their help.
Everyone from Culips will be at the party Friday. Come chat with us, we are friendly!
P.S. In English Les Doux Cactus means The Soft Cactuses. There is a picture of a cactus on the poster below. Check it out!
Idiom: Are we on for tonight?
Aug 2nd
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Are we on for tonight? Here we have a question about a casual expression for confirming plans. To find out exactly what it means, you’ll have to listen to this episode!
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Harp – No
Robin – No?
Harp – No, yes, yes of course. I’m just joking.
Robin – So when you want to be specific about making plans you can say “are we on for tonight?” or “are we on for Thursday at 6?”
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast
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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