Real Talk #063 – How to talk about being unemployed

In this episode of Simplified Speech, Andrew and Kassy share some exciting personal news as Kassy prepares to welcome her first baby. They talk about how she told her family, the prepa-rations she's making, and her experiences during pregnancy. They also discuss how different cultures announce baby news and the use of social media to share family moments. Join An-drew and Kassy as they celebrate this special time in Kassy’s life and help you improve your English skills along the way! ​​What you will learn: Vocabulary related to pregnancy, such as "gestational diabetes," "cloth diapering," and "gender reveal party." Insights into how different cultures celebrate and announce pregnancies. The pros and cons of using social media to share family news. This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Grow your vocabulary with common expressions about parenting and family life. Improve your listening skills by following a natural conversation between two native English speakers. Talk about this episode with other Culips listeners on our Discord server and speaking classes.  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! Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

In this episode, Andrew talks about exciting adventures from the final leg of his summer vacation in Banff, Alberta. He recounts the challenges of planning a trip to the Rocky Mountains, his awesome visits to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and a super-cool jazz concert. Plus, he shares a cute story about an impromptu photo session at Lake Louise! This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Listening practice: You'll hear a native English speaker tell a detailed story about travel planning, natural wonders, and cultural experiences. This will improve your understanding of spoken English in a real-life context. New vocabulary: Learn words and phrases related to travel, natural landscapes, and musical performances. Useful expressions: Understand common English idioms such as "smooth sailing," "go with the flow," "up another notch," and "compare notes" in real-life contexts. Canadian culture: Learn about famous Canadian natural attractions, the Banff Center for the Arts and Creativity, and the concept of garage sales in North America. Pronunciation: Listen to the correct pronunciation of place names, geographical features, and music-related terminology, which you can practice yourself. 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 (member only)

In this Chatterbox episode, Andrew and Anna discuss teen employment. They share their personal experiences and explore the reasons behind the increasing number of teen jobs in various countries. They talk about their first jobs, the wages they earned, and how these early work experiences influenced their lives. They also compare teen employment in different cultures and discuss how rising living costs affect young workers. What You'll Learn: Vocabulary related to teen employment and part-time jobs, such as "stock shelves," "wage," "spare,”, and "paper route/round." The reasons why teens start working, including gaining financial independence and helping with increasing living expenses. Personal stories about balancing school and work, and how early jobs can impact academic performance and personal growth. Cultural differences in teen employment between North America, Europe, and Asia. How This Episode Will Improve Your English: Expand your vocabulary with words and expressions used when discussing part-time work and employment. Improve your listening skills by following a natural conversation between two native English speakers. Increase your cultural knowledge about teen jobs in different countries and how these experiences can shape a person's future. Build confidence in discussing your own experiences and job-related topics in English, including how to describe various entry-level positions and their impact on personal development. Practice speaking English: 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 (member only)

In this episode, Andrew talks about his summer vacation to Kelowna, British Columbia, his hometown. He describes his adventurous flight on a small plane through stormy weather, his experiences staying at his brother's place near the beach, and family activities like mini-golfing. Plus he shares a story about a fun linguistic surprise at a sushi restaurant! This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Listening practice: You'll hear a native English speaker tell a detailed story about his travel experiences and family reunions. This improves your understanding of spoken English. New vocabulary: Learn words and phrases related to air travel, weather conditions, recreational activities, and family gatherings. Useful expressions: Understand common English idioms such as "par for the course," "white knuckling it," "show someone a thing or two," and "hit the spot" in a real-life context. Canadian culture: Learn about popular summer activities in a Canadian town, family recreation spots, and the issue of forest fires in Western Canada. Pronunciation: Listen to the correct pronunciation of everyday English words, place names, and activity-related vocabulary, which you can practice yourself. Travel English: Learn vocabulary and expressions useful for describing travel experiences, weather conditions, and leisure activities. 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 (member only)

In this Culips episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about audiobooks. They discuss how audiobooks have become more popular in recent years. Andrew shares his experience of listening to audiobooks while running, and Kassy talks about why she has limited experience with them. They also talk about the good and bad points of audiobooks compared to reading regular books. This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Listening practice: You'll hear two native English speakers have a natural conversation about audiobooks. This will help you get better at understanding spoken English. New vocabulary: Learn words and expressions related to books and technology. Everyday expressions: Hear common English idioms and expressions used in context, such as "Cringeworthy" and "Make it or break it." Cultural knowledge: Learn about how people in English-speaking countries enjoy books in different ways. Pronunciation: Listen to clear English pronunciation, which you can practice repeating. Conversation skills: Talk about this episode with other Culips listeners on our Discord server and speaking classes. 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! 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 trip to Canada, focusing on his visit to Victoria, British Columbia. He describes his journey from Vancouver to Victoria by ferry, a whale-watching adventure with his wife and an old friend, and a barbecue party with his former bandmates. Andrew shares details about seeing orca and humpback whales, visiting Race Rocks to observe sea lions and seals, and an unexpected change of plans due to COVID-19. This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Listening practice: You'll get to hear a native English speaker tell a detailed story about his travel experiences and reunions with friends. This helps improve your understanding of spoken English, especially in story form. New vocabulary: Learn words and phrases related to travel, marine life, and social gatherings. Useful expressions: Understand common English idioms and colloquialisms such as "hightail it," "spitting fire," "give someone their flowers," and "call it a night" in context. Canadian culture: Learn about popular tourist activities in British Columbia, Canadian wildlife, and social customs like summer barbecues. Pronunciation: Listen to the correct pronunciation of everyday English words, place names, and wildlife-related vocabulary, which you can practice yourself. 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 (member only)

In this episode of Catch Word, Andrew and Suzanne explore two strong English expressions that you can use when you want to say, "absolutely not!" or when something is completely impossible. They are "Over my dead body" and "When hell freezes over." These expressions are used to show firm refusal or to say that something will never happen. What you will learn in this episode: Understanding idioms: Learn how to use the expressions "Over my dead body" and "When hell freezes over" to show strong disagreement or to describe something that is impossible. Vocabulary in context: Learn the different contexts in which these expressions can be used, including both serious and playful situations. Cultural tips: Learn how these expressions are used in everyday conversations and when it is appropriate to use them. How you will improve your English with this episode: Expand your vocabulary: Learn and practice using new expressions that will help you sound more natural and fluent in English. Improve your listening: Build your skills so you can understand and follow native speakers discussing real-life situations. Boost your confidence: Feel more confident using strong language in English to express your opinions or stand your ground in conversations. Practice speaking English: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. Important links: 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. Join the Culips Discord server Small-group discussion class schedule (member only)

In this episode, Andrew tells a story about camping in British Columbia, Canada. He went with his brother and talks about their journey on logging roads, setting up camp in the rain, and enjoying a natural hot spring. Andrew also talks about an incident with his stolen sandals, describes the beautiful Kalamalka Lake, and explains why this trip was so special to him. This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Listening practice: You'll get to hear a native English speaker tell a detailed story about his outdoor experience. This helps improve your understanding of spoken English. New vocabulary: Learn words and phrases related to camping, nature, and travel, like "logging road," "raging river," and "hot spring." Useful expressions: Understand common English idioms such as "better safe than sorry," "stone's throw away," and "slept like a baby" in context. Canadian culture: Learn about outdoor activities in Canada, small-town experiences, and popular natural attractions. Pronunciation: Listen to the correct pronunciation of everyday English words and nature-related vocabulary, which you can practice yourself. 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 (member only)

In this Real Talk episode, Andrew and Kassy help you learn how to talk about being unemployed in an optimistic way. They teach you how to discuss your job status in a way that’s both positive and professional. You’ll learn how to have conversations about finding a new job or changing career with their helpful explanations! What you will learn in this episode: Positive talk: Learn how to talk about being unemployed in a positive way. Useful expressions: Discover useful expressions like “I’m in between jobs” and “I’m at a career crossroads.” Real-Life examples: Hear simple conversations that show how to use these phrases in everyday situations. How you will improve your English with this episode: New vocabulary: Build your English vocabulary with useful words and expressions for discussing unemployment. Better communication: Gain confidence in talking about your job status without feeling awkward or negative. Fluency in context: Practice using these expressions to make your English sound more fluent and natural in real-life conversations. Practice speaking English: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice. Important links: 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. Join the Culips Discord server Small-group discussion class schedule (member only)

Episode description: In this episode, Andrew recaps his recent 48-hour trip to Osaka, Japan. He shares his experiences from the first-ever Culips meetup, his shopping adventures for running shoes and vinyl records, and his nighttime run around Osaka Castle. Andrew also describes his encounters with local cuisine, an exceptional coffee shop, and the challenges of exercising in Japan's summer heat. This episode will help you improve your English in the following ways: Listening comprehension: Practice understanding a native English speaker as he gives a detailed account of his travel experiences. Vocabulary building: Learn new words and expressions related to travel, shopping, and running, such as "layover," "hustle and bustle," "tax-free plan," and "running crews." Idioms: Understand and learn useful English idioms like "put some faces to the community," "all set for," and "it is what it is" used in context. Pronunciation: Hear the correct pronunciation of everyday English, which you can then practice on your own. 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 (member only)