Simplified Speech #197 – The rat race

In this episode, Andrew talks about his day exploring Seoul with his wife. He shares their experiences of finding something fun to do on a free Sunday. Andrew describes visiting a crowded restaurant, enjoying Korean rice cakes at a special cafe, and checking out outdoor reading spaces in the city. He talks about spontaneous plans, dealing with the summer heat, and the awesome surprises of big-city life. Enjoy the episode and happy English learning! This episode will help you improve your English in several ways: Listening skills: Practice understanding naturally spoken English through Andrew's storytelling about his day in Seoul. Vocabulary building: Learn new words and phrases related to city exploration and Korean culture. You will learn useful idioms like "jam-packed," "flash forward," and "something clicked." Pronunciation practice: Use the episode to shadow Andrew's pronunciation to become a clearer speaker. English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server Small-group discussion class schedule Chatterbox 318 - Digital modesty

In this Simplified Speech episode, hosts Andrew and Kassy talk about the "rat race." They discuss what it means, whether their jobs feel like a rat race, and how people might escape it. Kassy chose this topic because of a book she recently read called "Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop." The conversation turns into an interesting discussion about modern life, competition, goals, dreams, and personal happiness. What You Will Learn: What "rat race" means and how it relates to a busy life. How pressure from society makes people feel stuck in competition. Personal stories about being in or escaping the rat race. New words and expressions related to the topic. How This Episode Will Improve Your English: Learn vocabulary, expressions, and idioms about work-life balance and social pressure. Improve your listening skills with a natural conversation. Understand expressions like "to be in the thick of something" and "to be cut out for.” Practice your English speaking and communication skills by sharing your own experiences on our Discord server. The best way to learn with this lesson: Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, quiz, ad-free audio, and more for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Sign up and become a Culips member now! Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this episode, Andrew talks about his recent train journey from Boryeong to Seoul. He shares his experiences of traveling on a crowded train, where he came across a mother and her young children who brought unexpected chaos to the trip. Andrew describes how the children’s behavior affected the other passengers and the surprising reactions from everyone on board. He reflects on the importance of being polite in public places and the challenges of handling difficult situations while traveling. Enjoy the episode and happy learning! This episode will help you improve your English in several ways: Listening skills: Practice understanding spoken English through Andrew's storytelling about his train ride. Vocabulary building: Learn new words and phrases related to travel and public behavior. You will learn useful idioms like "stuffed/packed to the gills," "paint someone in a bad light," and "within earshot." Pronunciation practice: Use the episode to shadow Andrew's pronunciation to become a clearer speaker. English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server

In this special episode, Andrew is joined by Australian wildlife expert Joey Clarke, Senior Science Communicator at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. They talk about Australia's unique animals, conservation efforts, and fire management. Listen to hear fascinating stories about the wildlife of Australia and how it is being protected while improving your English skills! What You Will Learn in This Episode: The unique features of various Australian wildlife species, including tree kangaroos and numbats. The differences between marsupials and placental mammals and why marsupials are common in Australia. The major threats to Australian wildlife, such as habitat loss, feral animals, and invasive plants. The role of fire in the Australian ecosystem and traditional Indigenous fire management practices. Success stories of conservation efforts by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Tips for being a responsible tourist in Australia and supporting conservation efforts. How This Episode Will Improve Your English: Learn new vocabulary related to wildlife, conservation, and ecosystems. Hear both Australian and Canadian accents, helping you understand different ways of speaking English. Understand and discuss complex topics like conservation strategies and the impact of invasive species. Discuss the episode with other English learners on the Culips Discord Server. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 04:05 – Chapter 1: Introduction to Joey Clarke 07:19 – Chapter 2: The Australian bush 10:23 – Chapter 3: Unique Australian wildlife 15:33 – Chapter 4: Marsupials and Placental Mammals 20:28 – Chapter 5: Threats to wildlife 25:44 – Chapter 6: Fires in Australia 32:20 – Chapter 7: Conservation Success Stories 38:38 – Chapter 8: Responsible tourism 40:51 – Chapter 9: Learning more about the Australian Wildlife Conservancy 43:04 – Conclusion Links: Australian Wildlife Conservancy Australian Wildlife Conservancy on Instagram Australian Wildlife Conservancy on YouTube Donate to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy Culips Discord Server Become a Culips member: Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now! Members can access the ad-free version here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice.

In this episode, Andrew talks about his weekend trip to Boryeong, a small city on the west coast of South Korea. He shares his experiences of traveling by train, staying with friends, and participating in the Boryeong Half Marathon. Andrew describes the city's famous mud festival and the enjoyable moments he had running and spending time with his friends. He also discusses the challenges of the race and the satisfaction of achieving personal goals. This episode will help you improve your English in several ways: Listening skills: Practice understanding spoken English through Andrew's storytelling about his trip and race. Vocabulary building: Learn new words related to travel and cultural and sporting events. You will learn some useful idioms like "stand corrected," "infamous," "have your hands full," and "draw the shortest straw." Pronunciation practice: Use the episode to shadow Andrew's pronunciation to become a clearer speaker. English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. Enjoy the episode and happy learning! Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:28 - Announcement of the Culips small-group discussion classes 00:04:30 - Announcement of a meet-up in Japan 00:06:17 - Introduction to the "Weekend Away" story 00:13:48 - Arriving in Boryeong 00:16:36 - Nightmare train ride 00:18:54 - The night before the race 00:21:01 - The morning of the race 00:23:10 - Race report 00:32:15 - Conclusion Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server

Episode Description: In this episode, Andrew talks about following his favorite hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks, during the NHL playoffs. He shares his passion for the team and the highs and lows he felt throughout the season. Andrew also discusses the thrill of watching last-minute victories and the disappointment of their eventual elimination. This episode will help you improve your English in several ways: Vocabulary building: You'll expand your vocabulary with terms related to sports and everyday life. Idioms and expressions: You'll understand idiomatic expressions like "come full circle" and "live up to your potential" in context, making them easier to remember and use. Listening comprehension: You'll hear natural English conversation, helping you improve your listening skills and comprehension. Cultural insight: Gain a deeper understanding of personal celebrations and traditions. Pronunciation and intonation: Improve your pronunciation by listening to Andrew's natural speech patterns. English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. The best way to learn with this lesson: Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about dealing with extreme weather, such as heat waves and cold snaps. They discuss their favorite methods for staying cool during heat waves. Then, they share experiences about staying warm during cold snaps, including the use of heating gadgets. By listening to this episode, you will learn how to talk about weather and temperature. You’ll also pick up new vocabulary and learn about cultural differences in a fun and easy-to-follow discussion. Join Andrew and Kassy as they share stories and tips about coping with extreme temperatures, helping you improve your English skills along the way! What You Will Learn: Vocabulary related to weather and temperature, such as "heat wave," "cold snap," and more! Cultural differences in dealing with extreme weather conditions in countries like Canada, the USA, South Korea, Australia, and Thailand. Comparisons between Eastern and Western approaches to dealing with extreme temperatures. How You Will Improve Your English with This Episode: Expand your vocabulary with weather-related terms and expressions used in everyday conversations. Learn to describe personal experiences related to different weather conditions. Improve your listening skills by following a natural conversation between two native English speakers. Enhance your communication skills by sharing your own experiences with extreme weather on our Discord server. The best way to learn with this lesson: Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this episode, Andrew reflects on the busy month of May, and talks about personal celebrations like his birthday and anniversary, and describes how he and his wife celebrated these special occasions. Andrew also talks about buying a new espresso machine and the joys (and challenges) of perfecting his coffee-making skills. As you listen to Andrew's stories, you'll learn practical vocabulary and expressions that you can use in your daily English conversations. This episode will help you improve your English in several ways: Vocabulary building: Learn new words and phrases related to celebrations, coffee making, and daily activities. Listening comprehension: Enhance your ability to understand natural, conversational English. Cultural insight: Gain a deeper understanding of personal celebrations and traditions. Pronunciation and intonation: Improve your pronunciation by listening to Andrew's natural speech patterns. English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript: Join the Culips Discord server Simplified Speech #194 – Double birthday bash

In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Suzanne introduce two expressions to help you describe challenging situations in English: "To hit the fan" and "Everything's gone south." These phrases are helpful for expressing when things aren't going well. By listening to this episode, you’ll learn what they mean, how to use them, and where they come from. Join Andrew and Suzanne to master these expressions and boost your English skills! What You Will Learn What "To hit the fan" and "Everything's gone south" mean. How these expressions are used in everyday conversations, especially at work or in personal situations. Discover why English speakers use these expressions and how they reflect everyday experiences. Get advice on using these expressions correctly in your own English conversations. How This Episode Will Help You Add useful expressions to your English vocabulary. Practice using these idioms naturally, making your English sound more fluent. Understand the cultural context behind these expressions, helping you connect better with English speakers. Practice talking about these topics with our community on Discord. Use the study guide to learn even more related expressions, test your knowledge with a quiz, and practice using the new vocabulary in various contexts. The best way to learn with this lesson: Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member. Become a Culips member now: Click here. Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here. Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this episode, Andrew is interviewed about his life in South Korea by Alastair Budge, host of the English for Curious Minds podcast. Andrew discusses his journey from Canada to Korea, his initial experiences teaching English in a small mountain city, and how he handled cultural differences and embraced the unpredictability of life abroad. As you listen to Andrew's interview, you'll gain insights into South Korean culture and the challenges and rewards of living in a foreign country. This episode will help you improve your English in several ways: Vocabulary building: Learn new words and expressions related to interviews, cultural experiences, and teaching abroad. Listening comprehension: Practice understanding spoken English in a natural, conversational setting. Cultural insight: Gain a deeper understanding of South Korean culture and the life of a foreigner who lives there. Pronunciation and intonation: Improve your pronunciation by listening to Andrew's natural speech patterns. Interactive learning: Discuss the episode with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for speaking practice. Study with the interactive transcript: Join the Culips Discord server: Become a Culips member: Bonus episode 54: Click here. Listen to the full interview on Alastair’s Youtube channel: