What is it like to travel to Japan for a quick getaway? In this week’s bonus episode, Andrew shares stories from his recent 4-day trip to Fukuoka, Japan with his wife. They explored record stores, enjoyed incredible food, and visited a beautiful art museum. Andrew also tells you about an unexpected running adventure at a local park that turned into a secret competition with a stranger. Listening to this story will help you improve your English fluency. You will also learn useful, everyday words about travel, shopping, food, and city life.

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In this Catch Word lesson, Andrew and Indiana teach you two useful English idioms: “stick to your guns” and “double down.” Both expressions describe a person who refuses to change their mind, even when they face pressure or criticism. They discuss the small differences between these idioms, explaining why one is often seen as a sign of respect while the other is usually considered stubborn.

By listening to their conversation, you will learn how to use these idioms naturally in your own everyday speaking. 

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Fan Fact:

Many popular English idioms actually come from the world of gambling and card games. For example, the phrase “double down” comes from the game of Blackjack, where a player can double their bet in exchange for one more card. Another common expression mentioned in this episode is “to fold,” which comes from Poker. In Poker, if you have a weak hand and don’t want to keep betting, you fold your cards and give up on that round.

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In this episode of Simplified Speech, Andrew and Indiana share their personal experiences as language learners. Even though they are English teachers, they also study second languages themselves. They talk about their history with languages like Japanese, German, and Korean, and discuss their favorite study methods and give advice on how to improve your skills. 

They chat about some of the different ways they remember new vocabulary and why spending time with the language every day is so important. Finally, they also share some funny and unusual tips for practicing speaking without feeling embarrassed. Listen to the episode to find out which daily habits might work best for you.

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Canada is famous for its cold winters, but what is it really like to visit in January? In this week’s bonus episode, Andrew shares stories about his recent trip back to his hometown in Canada. He traveled there to enjoy the snow and do some classic winter activities. However, the weather didn’t exactly match his plans! You will hear about his experience ice skating high up in the mountains and his trip to watch a local ice hockey game that had a very wild and surprising moment. Listening to this story will help you improve your English fluency. You will also learn useful, everyday words about winter weather, sports, and Canadian culture.

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In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Indiana discuss a difficult question: Can you separate the art from the artist? Sometimes, famous singers, writers, or actors do bad things or share opinions that hurt other people. Andrew and Indiana talk about if it is OK to still enjoy their music, books, or movies when this happens.

By listening to this conversation, you will learn useful vocabulary to talk about controversy and personal values. This lesson will help you practice listening to natural English conversations and express your own thoughts about famous people who make bad choices.

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Fun Fact

Did you know that the popular word “canceled” actually comes from a 1991 movie? In the film New Jack City, a gangster gets angry at his girlfriend and tells someone to “cancel” her. Years later, people on social media started using this exact word to say they will stop supporting famous people who make bad choices. It shows how a simple movie line can grow into a word that everyone uses to talk about problematic artists today.

Expression list

Traveling abroad is usually a fun adventure, but what happens when you get sick in a different country? In this week’s bonus episode, Andrew shares a story about his recent trip to Tokyo. He traveled there to see a concert and meet Culips listeners. However, a sudden illness almost ruined his plans. You will hear about how he tried to finish his trip and his long journey back to South Korea to find a doctor. Listening to this story will help you improve your English fluency. You will also learn useful, everyday words about traveling, being sick, and getting better.

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Can you keep a secret? In this episode, Andrew and Kassy talk about the difference between being an “open book” and a “closed book.” They discuss their own habits for keeping things private, share funny stories about childhood crushes, and debate whether it is harder to keep good news or bad news a secret.

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Fun Fact

Expression list

Join Andrew and Indiana for a conversation about their love for J-Pop. In this episode, the hosts discuss how they originally found this genre and why it has become so famous globally. They talk about the “City Pop” trend, the unexpected ways they stumbled upon their favorite bands, and why listening to 90s Japanese music makes them feel nostalgic. Finally, they share a list of albums and songs to help you start listening, too. Press play to practice your English and find some great new music!

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Here are the listening recommendations made by Andrew and Indiana:

Fun Fact

In this Catch Word episode, you will learn two useful English idioms that describe financial failure. Andrew and Indiana explain what it means “to lose your shirt” and “to go belly up.” These expressions are common in news stories, business conversations, and everyday talk about money problems. Your hosts share clear examples from investing, gambling, restaurants, and regular life so you can understand how native speakers use these idioms naturally.

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Fun Fact

Did you know that “lose your shirt” comes from old gambling slang in the 1800s, when people sometimes bet so much money that they literally walked home without their clothes? The image was so shocking and memorable that people began using “lose your shirt” to describe losing all your money, even when no clothing was actually involved.

How do you usually react when your plans suddenly fall apart? In this bonus episode, Andrew tells a story about his recent trip to Canada where a few small errors led to some big inconveniences. He describes how he coped with a lack of entertainment and how he navigated a socially awkward moment with a group of strangers. Tune into the story to boost your fluency and pick up some useful expressions for describing everyday challenges and how to overcome them.

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