Extra English Podcast

What is Halloween really like in Canada? 🎃 In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa talk about one of Canada's most recognizable traditions: Halloween! We share childhood memories, talk about trick-or-treating and creative costumes, and discuss the little traditions that make Halloween special. Why did kids used to be afraid of finding razor blades in their Halloween candy? What were UNICEF boxes, and why don't we see them anymore? And what happens when you wear a costume that nobody understands? We also talk about Halloween as a community event, how Canadian families celebrate, and what it might feel like to experience Halloween for the first time in a new country. Whether you've celebrated Halloween for years or you're just curious about life in Canada, join us for a relaxed conversation full of stories, cultural insights, and useful everyday English. 🎧 Listen, learn, and enjoy real Canadian English with Misha and Larissa. Have you ever celebrated Halloween? What's the most memorable costume you've worn? Tell us about it! #ExtraEnglishPodcast #HalloweenInCanada #LearnEnglish Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Are neighbours in Canada friendly? In this episode, we share funny, awkward, and heartwarming stories about the people who live next door. From a giant dog mistaken for a cow to an ex you try to avoid in your own apartment building, we talk about childhood memories, neighbourhood gossip, unexpected friendships, and the small ways neighbours look out for each other. Plus, there's a little girl who thought she'd been invited to a cat pool . We also talk about getting to know your neighbours in Canada, whether you're living in an apartment building or a house, and why a friendly neighbourhood can make such a difference. Join Misha and Larissa for a relaxed conversation full of real Canadian English, everyday expressions, and stories from life in Canada. Enjoyed the episode? Follow Extra English Podcast and share it with a friend who wants to improve their English while listening to real conversations. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Why are some everyday things so much harder than they should be? In this episode of the Extra English Podcast, we're talking about the things we're surprisingly bad at. From parking and keeping houseplants alive to estimating quantities, remembering people's names, and somehow getting lost in a mall or on a road we've driven before, we've got a lot to confess. And then there's going to bed at a reasonable hour. We all know how that one goes. Join Misha and Larissa for a casual, honest, and hopefully reassuring conversation about everyday struggles, bad habits, and the things we probably should have figured out by now. If you're learning English, this is a chance to hear natural, everyday Canadian English in a real conversation, with personal stories, humour, and plenty of relatable moments. What are you surprisingly bad at? We'd love to hear! Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Travel doesn't always go according to plan! In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa share stories about some of their most memorable travel mishaps. Misha tells the story of missing a flight in India after a very late train, getting questioned about her visa, and eventually finding comfort in an unexpected moment of kindness. Larissa remembers waiting for hours for a bus in Zambia that apparently didn't leave until it was full, and another trip when she got to the border only to realize she'd left her passport at home! They also talk about a misleading taxi ride in Thailand, language mix-ups, cultural differences, sleepwalking in a hotel, and why sometimes you just have to be patient and see what happens. These stories didn't end in disaster, but they definitely didn't go according to plan! Listen for natural Canadian English, everyday expressions, and conversations about real-life experiences. If you've ever had a travel experience that went wrong (but not TOO wrong!), we'd love to hear your story too. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Do you like driving? Or would you rather take the bus, ride a bike, or let someone else drive? In this episode, we talk about learning to drive in Canada, getting a driver's licence, driving tests, driving overseas, and how our feelings about driving have changed over the years. We share stories about learning to drive in small towns, failing a written test, almost failing a road test, watching our kids learn to drive, driving in Qatar, getting around without a car in Laos, and even trying to figure out how to drive a motorbike without ever having driven one before! What about you? Do you enjoy driving? Is a car necessary for your everyday life? We'd love to hear your stories. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Fall has arrived in Canada! In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa talk about one of their favourite seasons: fall. We chat about classic fall things like apple and pumpkin farms, pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice, colourful leaves, and Thanksgiving. We also talk about a few unexpected things like the time Larissa turned orange, which months really count as "Fall", and how much the kids' play area at a pumpking patch is really worth. Plus, we get a little confused about the expression “to turn your nose up at something.” Even native speakers get things wrong sometimes! Extra English Podcast is a natural English conversation between two Canadian English teachers, Misha and Larissa. We talk about everyday life, Canadian culture and the things that interest us — without turning the conversation into a traditional English lesson. If you're learning English and want to hear natural Canadian English at a comfortable pace, you're in the right place. 🍁 What's your favourite thing about fall? Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

It’s back-to-school time in Canada! In this episode, Misha and Larissa talk about first-day-of-school memories, nervous students, emotional parents, and what it’s like to start a new school year. We share stories from our own childhoods, talk about the nerves of starting a new semester as teachers, and discuss what it was like when our own children started kindergarten. From planning the perfect first-day outfit to crying after drop-off, there’s a lot to remember! We also talk about how school has changed over the years, the excitement of making new friends, and the experience of starting school in Canada. What was your first day of school like? Tell us about your memories, or share what starting school is like where you grew up. We’d love to hear your stories! Listen to Extra English Podcast for natural conversations with two Canadian English teachers. Practise your listening, learn about life in Canada, and enjoy English as it’s really spoken. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

What little things make you happy? In this episode of Extra English Podcast, Misha and Larissa talk about the small, everyday joys that can make life feel a little better—from finding a surprise zucchini in the garden to waking up before your alarm, discovering your favourite potato chips, using the “good” fork, finding the perfect pen, and getting an unexpected cool breeze on a hot day. We also talk about spontaneous visits, hand-me-down clothes, favourite jackets, clean windows, organizing drawers, and why a cool night in late summer can feel so good. Along the way, we talk about Canadian life, food, weather, gardening, back-to-school season, and the little things that bring us happiness. As always, this is a natural conversation between two Canadian English teachers. Listen to hear everyday Canadian English spoken at a comfortable pace—and maybe discover a few small joys of your own. What are the little things that bring YOU joy? We'd love to hear about them! 🎧 Listen to Extra English Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. 📱 Want to practise your English with us? Check out the Extra English Podcast app for personalized speaking practice, vocabulary, and AI conversation. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

25 episodes! 🎉 In this episode, we take a little time to look back at what we've learned since we started Extra English Podcast. We talk about the challenge of making a podcast that sounds like natural conversation without turning it into a lesson (we're English teachers, after all!), the technical things we've had to learn, and some of the surprising things we've discovered about each other. We also talk about some of our favourite episodes, including the ones that surprised us, the ones that made us laugh, and the episodes we wish more people had discovered. Most of all, we talk about why we're enjoying this so much—and where the podcast might go from here. Maybe we'll do it for two years. Maybe six months. Maybe it'll lead to something completely different. We don't know yet! And yes, our companion app has just launched! If you'd like some extra practice with the English from our podcast, you can check it out through the link below. Thanks for being part of the Extra English Podcast, EEPers. ❤️ And if you have a favourite episode, we'd love to hear which one it is and why! Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

What exactly is a potluck, and why are they so popular? In this episode, we talk about one of our favourite Canadian ways to get together; everyone brings a dish, and together you make a meal! We share stories about potlucks with friends, neighbours, family, and even pre-pandemic classroom potlucks! We discuss potluck etiquette, dietary restrictions, what to bring, how much food is enough, and why Canadians often find it easier to share the cooking rather than have one person prepare an entire meal. Misha tells us about her cookbook club, where potlucks become a little more serious and there's maybe a little too much food. (Okay, there is definitely too much food.) And Larissa tells us about a few times when she attended potlucks that didn't quite turn out right but were fun anyway. You'll hear lots of natural Canadian English and useful vocabulary along the way, including words and phrases related to food, hosting, cooking, dietary restrictions, and social gatherings. So grab a plate and join us for a delicious conversation about Canadian potlucks! And stay tuned for the Extra English Podcast app! Launching this Tuesday, Septemeber 1st. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

What is summer camp like in Canada? In this episode, Misha and Larissa talk about the Canadian tradition of sleepaway camp. They share their own childhood experiences, including homesickness, bunk beds, camp counselors, swimming, campfires, and all the little traditions that make camp feel like its own world. They also talk about how summer camp has changed, why some parents are more hesitant to send their children away than they used to be, and the idea of “family camp,” where the whole family goes together. Along the way, you'll learn lots of useful Canadian English and hear a natural conversation about childhood, parenting, friendships, and life in Canada. Have you ever been to summer camp? What was it like? Let us know about your camp experiences! Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

In this episode of Extra English Podcast, we talk about chores and housework — the jobs we love, the jobs we hate, and the chores that never seem to end! We talk about vacuuming, sweeping, laundry, garbage and recycling, cleaning bathrooms, yard work, and the realities of keeping a house clean with children around. We also get into some interesting Canadian everyday life, including Repair Cafés, sharing things with neighbours, community recycling programs, and why having a housekeeper is considered a luxury for many people in Canada. Along the way, you'll hear useful everyday English, such as housework, clutter, and housekeeper, in context. You'll also hear a few expressions that we definitely DON'T recommend using — including “grass vacuum” and “haunted holes”! 😄 If you're learning English, listen for the way we naturally talk about everyday routines, preferences, frustrations, and experiences. Question for you: What chore do you like — and which one do you absolutely hate? Let us know in the comments! 🎧 Extra English Podcast is a conversation podcast for English learners who want to understand natural Canadian English and learn about everyday life in Canada. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Have you ever wondered why Canada has a beaver on the nickel, a caribou on the quarter, a loon on the loonie, and a polar bear on the toonie? In this episode, we talk about some of Canada's most iconic animals, share funny personal stories, explain where the words loonie and toonie come from, and share plenty of natural English vocabulary along the way. You'll learn why beavers are more dignified than they might first seem, why the loon's call is considered both beautiful and a little spooky, and which animal each of us thinks should appear on Canada's next coin! As always, expect natural Canadian English, lots of laughter, and a few moments where we admit we definitely aren't biologists. 🎧 Perfect for intermediate and advanced English learners who want to improve their listening while learning about Canadian culture. What animal would you put on a Canadian coin? Let us know! Loon / Diver call 3 by nicStage -- https://freesound.org/s/432603/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Loon photo by Paul Crook on Unsplash Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

What was your first job? In this episode, we take a trip back to our teenage years and talk about the first ways we earned money. From delivering newspapers as a child to babysitting at 12, working in libraries, and trying out jobs in the service industry, we share our own stories and memories from our early working lives. You’ll learn about the kinds of jobs teenagers often have in Canada, what those experiences teach us, and some of the funny (and sometimes challenging!) moments that come with your first job. Join us for a nostalgic conversation about first paycheques, childhood responsibilities, and the beginning of our working lives! As always, this episode is great for intermediate and advanced English learners who want to practice listening to natural Canadian English and learn about Canadian culture. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Last week, we introduced you to camping in Canada. This week, we're taking you deeper into the wilderness! In Part 2, you'll learn about portagining, which is one of the most unique and challenging parts of canoe camping. Larissa shares stories from her teenage son's recent backcountry adventure, while Misha talks about taking her toddler on his very first camping trip. We also chat about swimming in the beautiful rocky lakes of Ontario, and the episode ends with Larissa inviting herself on Misha's family's next camping trip! This episode is packed with natural Canadian English, real-life stories, and plenty of vocabulary to help you understand conversations about camping, travel, and the outdoors. Grab a coffee, put on your headphones, and join us around the campfire for Part 2 of our Canadian camping adventure! 🛶🏕️ Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Whether you're planning your first camping trip or you're just curious about Canadian outdoor culture, this episode is for you! 🏕️ Join us as we talk about the different ways Canadians camp—from rugged backwoods adventures where you carry everything on your back, to relaxing weekends at car campgrounds. We talk about tents, trailers, RVs and the pop-up campers that were everywhere when we were kids. Along the way, you'll learn vocabulary and hear natural English conversations about campfires, bugs, swimming in Canadian lakes and rocky shorelines on the Canadian shield. If you're learning English, this episode is a fun way to improve your listening while discovering an important part of Canadian culture. Grab a cup of coffee, imagine you're sitting around a campfire, and join us! 🎧 Perfect for intermediate English learners who want to build vocabulary, improve listening skills, and learn more about life in Canada. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

What does it feel like to leave the place where you grew up and start over somewhere completely different? In this episode, we look back on our first experiences living in big cities after growing up in small towns. We talk about the excitement, the surprises, the challenges, and the lessons we learned along the way. Misha shares the intimidating experiences she had in her first month in Montreal and a few tales from her time living in the Lao capital of Vientiane. Larissa talks about life in Doha, Qatar, including what it was like driving there and why she always felt much safer than many people expected. Along the way, we discuss culture shock, feeling out of your comfort zone, becoming more independent, and what it's like to go from being a "big fish in a small pond" to just another person in a much bigger world. If you're learning English, this episode is full of natural conversation, useful vocabulary, and authentic Canadian English. Whether you've moved across the world or are simply curious about life in other places, we hope you'll enjoy listening. 🎧 Grab a coffee, settle in, and join us for another relaxed conversation! Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

What makes a town "small"? We have a very Canadian answer: the number of Tim Hortons. One or none? That's a small town, just like the ones we grew up in. In this episode, we look back at what it was like growing up in small-town Ontario in the 80s and 90s. We share stories about the freedom kids had, the sense of community, and the moments that would probably never happen today. Misha tells the story of a strange encounter with two police officers who somehow knew her name without having to ask. Larissa remembers the time her dad was late to pick her little sister up from school, so the principal simply drove her home. We also talk about Block Parents, knowing your neighbours, and why so many kids spent their days outside until the streetlights came on. Of course, small-town life wasn't perfect. We discuss some of the downsides too, including the lack of diversity and the fact that you lose touch with peers when everyone moves away. Whether you grew up in a small town or are just curious about this part of Canadian culture, this episode offers a fun glimpse into everyday life in Ontario—complete with a healthy dose of nostalgia and a few surprising stories. 🎧 Perfect for English learners who want to learn natural Canadian English while exploring Canadian culture. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? In this episode, Misha and Larissa talk about their musical journeys, from childhood piano lessons and middle-school music classes to guitars, flutes, cellos, and even a Celtic harp. Along the way, they share stories about school bands, learning to read music, borrowing instruments from the library, and the surprising things that stay in your muscle memory long after you've stopped practicing. You'll also hear about a bird that got trapped inside a piano, a son who seems determined to learn every instrument in existence, and the unforgettable time a border guard asked for a harp performance during a vehicle inspection. This episode is full of natural English conversation, personal stories, and useful vocabulary related to music, learning, and hobbies. What instruments have you played? Let us know in the comments! Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.

A children's book can make you laugh, spark your imagination, or even bring you to tears years later. In this episode, we talk about the books we loved growing up, the stories we've read to our own children, and why picture books aren't just for kids. We mention some loved books by Canadian authors, both classic and modern. We also explore how children learn to read and how children's books can be useful for adult learners. Whether you're a parent, a book lover, or an English learner looking for reading inspiration, we think you'll enjoy this conversation. Send us Fan Mail Join the conversation! Try out our app to learn and practice your English skills with Misha and Larissa! Find us on Instagram and Youtube . Email us at extraenglishpractice@gmail.com Visit our website for the transcript, vocabulary list, and extra learning resources for each episode. Support us by leaving a rating and review! Thanks and we'll talk to you soon.