Archive for September, 2009
Train rides
Sep 27th
I think every kid is fascinated with trains. My nephew loves taking the train and creating toy trains. Since I was young I have wanted to take the train, especially through the Rocky Mountains, from Edmonton to Vancouver, but I never had the chance.
When I started traveling overseas at the age of 21 I finally had the chance to take the train. I have taken the train in numerous countries and loved it every time.
I took the train across Europe and in Asia. I still remember the first time I took the train. It was an overnight train in China and it was so interesting. The train went from Beijing to Xi’an and it was quite cute with the fold up beds with pillows and blankets. The train in India on the other hand was much less fancy, with just a bare plastic bed, but it was still very fascinating to see the countryside roll by and even the traditions on the train, such as the chai (tea) vendors at every stop.
This past weekend I took the train for the first time in Canada. I went to Toronto to visit some of my family and decided that I should try taking the train. It was a very fun experience. The train ride from Montreal to Toronto is not very long (only about 5 hours) so it was not an overnight train but still very cool. The scenery was very beautiful. It was such a different perspective from driving. It was so relaxing, as it didn’t have the stress of traffic. I want to take the train again soon; maybe even an overnight train to Halifax in Nova Scotia or to Gaspésie in Quebec.
Do you like taking the train? Have you ever taken the train in Canada? If so what did you think?
To bite off more than you can chew
Sep 26th
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If you bite off more than you can chew things might be difficult for you. This expression might sound like it is talking about eating but – don’t be fooled – it is not. Another expression with a similar meaning is to get in over your head. You can use both of these expressions when you agree to do something and then find that it is too difficult.
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Maura: Right! So you get involved in something, but it’s more difficult than you realized and maybe too difficult for you.
Jessie: Right! Or maybe you take more responsibility than you can actually handle.
Maura: Right! So, if you imagine that you bite a piece of food and it’s a very, very big piece, it will be difficult to chew the food.
Jessie: Right! So, when we’re talking about this as an idiom, you can imagine that you’re agreeing to do something, but then you can’t actually do it. Just like you’re biting the food, but you can’t actually chew it.
Maura: Right, because it’s too much or too difficult.
Jessie: Exactly! So, for instance, if I agreed to arm wrestle Arnold Schwarzenegger, I would be biting off more than I can chew.
Maura: I think you would definitely be biting off more than you can chew because Arnold Schwarzenegger is pretty strong.
Jessie: Yeah, he’s probably a lot stronger than me.
Maura: And a lot stronger than me, too.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo credit: Dave 77459
No Matter What
Sep 25th
Hello everyone!
We are experiencing some delays uploading our next episode. We have some interesting ones coming up…including the expressions to be handy and to bite off more than you can chew. For those of you who wrote to us asking to know more about Canada, we also have an upcoming episode about Vancouver.
Here is a video that I wanted to post using the expression from the latest episode No Matter What. It a song called No matter what and the use the expression over and over again. The group is called Boy Zone and they are from the United Kingdom. I hope you enjoy it.
Marathon
Sep 18th
About 3 months ago a friend of mine decided to run a 10km race as part of the Montreal Marathon. After about a week of encouraging her, I decided that I too was going to run the 10km. I had NEVER ran in my life before. I am not a very athletic person but I work out semi-regularly but only ever in a gym. The first time I went out to practice for this race I was able to do 1.3km before feeling like I was dying. I was out of breath and sweating so much.
The more I trained for the race, the more I realized that I loved running. After a lot of training I finally competed in the 10km race last weekend. Even though this was a very competitive race I wasn’t running against people, but instead I was running against myself. This was a personal challenge for me. I went from running 1km on my first day to completing the 10km in my personal best time of 1:10:01. I am very proud of myself for this time even though most people in my category did much better. The race ended in the Olympic Stadium. It was an amazing thrill to run into the stadium with thousands of people cheering.
A full marathon is 42km and one day I might run one. It was an exhilarating race and I’m planning on doing another one in October with my running partner Julie. I have attached a picture of us with our medals (we didn’t win anything; everyone who finished the race got a medal).
I will give an update on my time when I finish my next 10km; I’m hoping to finish at least 5 minutes faster.
Has anyone out there run a 1/2 or full marathon? How was it? Where did you run it?
Harp
Photo by: Joanne and Matt
No matter what
Sep 13th
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| No matter what is a common expression used by English speakers. The question in this episode comes from Ae Sun who heard this expression used while she was watching TV. There are also other similar expressions like, no matter what happens and no matter who/when/why/where/which/how. Check out this episode to find out how to use this expression like a native speaker. |
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Harp: Yeah, it’s like saying that it isn’t important what happens. You will complete the action. So, it shows a strong feeling about the action. So even if something is difficult, or if you have to try really hard different ways, it’s still the same result.
Maura: Let’s give an example.
Harp: Hey, are you going to the party? Did your parents say you could go, or are you grounded?
Maura: I’m going to the party no matter what.
Harp: All right! See you there
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Video: No Matter What – Badfinger
Labour Day
Sep 5th
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Labour Day is the last holiday of summer in Canada and the US. Jessie and Maura talk about Labour Day and its origins, as well as what we now do on this holiday. Other topics in this episode include the rule of not wearing white after Labour Day, summer memories and Back to school. Help us celebrate the summer by listening to this episode!
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Jessie: Right! That makes sense because it is almost the end of summer.
Maura: Right! So, what is Labour Day?
Jessie: Well, Labour Day is a holiday in Canada and the US. It happens on the first Monday of September.
Maura: Exactly! So, it is a holiday in Canada and the US. And what do people normally do on Labour Day?
Jessie: Well, despite the name Labour Day—people actually do not do labour, they relax. They have a break from labour, or work.
Maura: Right, so they treat Labour Day as a regular holiday: people relax, they go to the beach, travel with family.
Jessie: Lots of people barbecue, eat outside.
Maura: Yeah, sometimes they have fireworks. So, the Labour Day is a fun day.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo credit: Mel
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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