Boxcar English
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Description
Boxcar English is a podcast for English learners.
It's one of the best and most pleasant ways to learn English.
A gentle, slow voice, with simple language, tells stories that deal with everyday life situations in sometimes dreamlike ways, so the listener engages with the meaning, rather than idea of learning English.
Listen to episode 050 for instructions on how to use the podcast!
The philosophy of the podcast is to provide the good, positive energy needed for learning a new language, with much of the content for free or low cost, and for all of it to be made by a human, and not impersonal AI-based creation. It's based on the language-learning theory of "Comprehensible and Compelling input," which says that you should listen and read to a lot of materials that are 1) Easy to understand (you know 95% of the vocabulary), and 2) Interesting to listen to.
Boxcar English is designed to be fun, welcoming, & refreshing to different levels of learners.
At Boxcar English, there's always room for you!
go to boxcarenglish.com for more information and lessons (written and via Signal)
Support the podcast and get the transcripts at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
It's one of the best and most pleasant ways to learn English.
A gentle, slow voice, with simple language, tells stories that deal with everyday life situations in sometimes dreamlike ways, so the listener engages with the meaning, rather than idea of learning English.
Listen to episode 050 for instructions on how to use the podcast!
The philosophy of the podcast is to provide the good, positive energy needed for learning a new language, with much of the content for free or low cost, and for all of it to be made by a human, and not impersonal AI-based creation. It's based on the language-learning theory of "Comprehensible and Compelling input," which says that you should listen and read to a lot of materials that are 1) Easy to understand (you know 95% of the vocabulary), and 2) Interesting to listen to.
Boxcar English is designed to be fun, welcoming, & refreshing to different levels of learners.
At Boxcar English, there's always room for you!
go to boxcarenglish.com for more information and lessons (written and via Signal)
Support the podcast and get the transcripts at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
67 Episodes
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[0:00] Welcome to Boxcar English, where there’s always room for you. My name is Karl. It’s good to see you. Get on this train, let’s ride. I’ve got another story to tell. [0:33] I woke up this morning, as usual, at 6 o’clock. I need to wake up at 6 to get to work at 7, so everything can be ready for school to start at 8. When I wake up now that it’s May, the sun is already almost out. The mornings are getting brighter. Birds are singing out there – I can hear them through the walls. I was […]
It’s impossible to know where you were born. Have you ever thought about that? Being born is something that nobody remembers. Well, everybody that I have ever asked has told me they don’t remember being born. And they always act like it’s a strange question to ask. I can tell because they laugh a little bit when they say, “No, I don’t remember being born.” It seems silly because it seems obvious. Everyone knows that no one remembers being born. But, at the same time, almost everyone believes they know where they were born. Really, the best we can do […]
This episode continues the story begun in episode 052: Postcards from Janet. In that episode, my cousin Janet sent me a postcard to tell me she was coming to visit in April. Well, it’s April now and Janet came with her two kids, Buddy and Eddie. I was going to take the kids to the playground, but it rained! I had to think of something — and I remembered something my Uncle Jerry — Janet’s dad — did with us on a rainy day a long time ago when we were kids. Transcript sample: ====== Welcome to Boxcar English Where […]
How do you feel? Read this as you listen: Welcome to Boxcar English Where there’s always room for you My name is Karl, but you know that. It’s good to see you again. Get on this train, let’s ride, old buddy! Let’s ride buddy! I’ve got another something to say for you … I’m happy right now. I feel happiness. Today, I am full of happiness. Happiness comes and happiness goes. I may not be happy tomorrow. I may not be happy in an hour. But I am happy now. Why am I happy? Why am I so happy, you […]
There’s a last time for everything… This is less of a story, and more thinking about that idea. Write me your thoughts, on last times… And don’t worry, my friends, we have a lot more good times together in Boxcar English! ============ Visit our website: boxcarenglish.com Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast — Your host, Karl, is also Big Kitty, a musician: alegendinthefieldofentertainment.com Write Karl a message at karl@boxcarenglish.com
Some things are easy to get used to — like sunny, warm weather. I got used to that kind of weather, then the weather changed. And so I have felt a little sad, a little down. But I know how that feeling works — because I’m used to it. Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com, and tell me about something you’re “used to.” Visit our website: boxcarenglish.com. Take conversation or writing lessons with me. (I’m really good at helping you edit papers) Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast — only €1 a month helps so much! Your host, Karl, is […]
I walked to the flea market — where people sell their old things. I was a little scared, because I thought ICE might be there. Spoiler: they weren’t! boxcarenglish.com patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
Bliss is a feeling that can come at any moment. And it doesn’t always make sense. This is my story of feeling bliss. Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com! Ask about my writing lessons! boxcarenglish.com patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
This is about odd jobs — little jobs to do here and there. Not a “full-time” job, but an odd job. It’s also about seeing someone who looks just like you. It feels strange, huh? See episode 050 for how to use this podcast to improve your English! Write me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com! Visit our website at boxcarenglish.com And support us on Patreon at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
About a car crash. I hate getting into a car crash. Vocabulary: Rattled! Write me at karl@boxcarenglish.com, about a time when you were scared, but you tried to make sure that another person was not scared. Visit the website at boxcarenglish.com and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
Sometimes, a road does not lead directly to a destination. I took a strange road that led me to a new appreciation of my health. Please contribute to our Patreon: patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast boxcarenglish.com
I found an old book called The Fabulous Adventure of Life. It’s true, this life is a fabulous adventure… Write me at karl@boxcarenglish.com. Tell me your story. Join my upcoming English writing class — more information soon. Visit our website: boxcarenglish.com Subscribe to our Patreon for only 3€ a month, chat with me (Karl), and have all the transcripts patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
I was enjoying the Winter birds so much I went to the library to find a book about them so I could learn their names. and I was thinking about the way those birds sound like the word “pink” not the color, but the way the word sounds how do you say “pink” in your language? WRITING EXERCISE: Take the phrase “I can’t help but feel…” and make sentences with it. If you start each line with this, “I can’t help but feel…” you can make a poem out of it. There are more instructions at the end of the […]
This is about Pink, my cute cat, who cut me… Tell me about your cat — send me a message, preferably a vocal message, to karl@boxcarenglish.com Please support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast. For just 3 euros a month you can get all the transcripts to all episodes and chat with me, Karl… and I’ll help you personally with your English. Send me your writing by email and I’ll correct it — first time’s for free. It helps!
What happened to me when ICE came to my door. Learn how to tell Knock-Knock jokes. And some practice with what to say to ICE agents if they come to your home. Please visit immigrantjustice.org if you need any help. And if you can donate some money to them, please do. (Just in case you aren’t sure, this is an entirely fictional podcast) boxcarenglish.com patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast (Transcript available here)
I received a postcard from my cousin, Janet. I hadn’t seen her in years, but she’s going to come visit me — with her two young children! Phrase to remember: by the way – use “by the way” when you want to say something that is not directly related to the conversation Go to boxcarenglish.com for more podcasts Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast ! (for 3€ a month you get all the transcripts and live chats with me!) Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com. Please send me a voice message that I will put in a future podcast!
Boxcar English! Learn English through stories… See episode 050 for ideas about how to use this podcast to improve your English. Write or send me a voice message to karl@boxcarenglish.com ! I’m working on a podcast with your voices in it. Support the podcast and get all the old transcripts, so you can read along — so helpful! — at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast And see boxcarenglish.com for more! Check out my music at alegendinthefieldofentertainment.com and bigkitty.bandcamp.com
This is a different kind of episode, where I talk about 4 (or 5) ways to use this podcast to learn English. (I give writing lessons! I also change my prices depending on what country you come from, because I know that money is not equal between all countries. So send me an email, let me know where you’re from, and we’ll work it out so you can afford it!) Also, I want to make an episode of Boxcar English with YOUR voices in it… so please send me an audio recording of yourself (you can just make this on […]
I spent Christmas alone this year… I was lonely, so I walked to a restaurant that is always open: the Waffle House. This is my story of Christmas at the Waffle House.
The last part of this everyday, yet strange, story… Spoiler: I survived! Otherwise, the whole series would be over, wouldn’t it? boxcarenglish.com patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
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