BOXCAR ENGLISH

One of the best and most pleasant ways to learn English, Boxcar English is a podcast for English learner spoken in warm, relaxed voice with a vocabulary range carefully chosen for English learners. A positive, uplifting podcast full of good energy and human experiences.

The series are designed for different levels of English learners. The podcast focuses on stories that are interesting, funny, sometimes beautiful, sometimes strange, so the listener engages with the meaning, rather than the surface level of the language. The “For beginners” podcast focus on basic phrases and vocabulary.

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!

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    046: Lake House Story, part 2
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    Here’s part 2 of this story!

    We take a ride on a boat on the lake… and I learn some history — there are entire towns under the water… I have to try to see them!

    If you’re new to Boxcar English, this podcast is easy to understand, if you’re learning English and have about a B1/B2 level.

    I speak clearly and slowly, and I use simple words, but the phrasing is authentic, American English. This is also a human experience, and at no point do I use Artificial Intelligence — in fact, I don’t use artificial intelligence for any purpose in my life. I like to keep it as far away as possible! So what you get with Boxcar English is a real person… me, Karl!

    And you can communicate with me. Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com, or join my Patreon (patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast) where I’m starting an ongoing chat with Boxcar Podcast listeners.

    And of course check out the Boxcar English website: boxcarenglish.com.

    Thanks for listening!

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    045: The Lake House Story, part 1
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    I went to a lake house over the weekend and it was very good, but also very, very bad…

    So much happened on the trip that I divided the story into four parts.

    If you’re new to Boxcar English, this podcast is easy to understand, if you’re learning English and have about a B1/B2 level.

    I speak clearly and slowly, and I use simple words, but the phrasing is authentic, American English. This is also a human experience, and at no point do I use Artificial Intelligence — in fact, I don’t use artificial intelligence for any purpose in my life. I like to keep it as far away as possible! So what you get with Boxcar English is a real person… me, Karl!

    And you can communicate with me. Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com, or join my Patreon (patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast) where I’m starting an ongoing chat with Boxcar Podcast listeners.

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    044: More than ever
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    I was feeling tired, so I slept longer than usual.

    I had a strange dream.

    Then I had to pee.

    Then I realized that I was sick…

    When I’m sick, I really miss being healthy.

    When I’m healthy, I don’t appreciate it enough.

    Please support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast

    Check out our website at boxcarenglish.com

    Karl also makes music. Check out bigkitty.bandcamp.com…

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    043: Thanksgiving
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    Here is the story of my Thanksgiving — for you.

    This year, I spent Thanksgiving with my grandmother at her retirement home. It was a funny, sweet, everyday type of moment. It was so beautiful.

    Please support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast. You can ask me, Karl, all the questions you want there, in the chat. And you get all the transcripts — and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’m going to post this one on my website. Then you can read along as you listen. It’s such a helpful way to learn a language. Click here to read the transcript online

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    042: November Wednesday
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    On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, school ends at 12 noon, and that gives an interesting feeling to the day.

    On this day, I felt like I did when I was a kid, and as I was cleaning up, I found a green magic marker. It made me really want to draw with markers like that…

    I’ll let you find out the rest by listening along…

    If it helps you to read along to the words, you can do that. I make a transcript for every episode and you can get those by supporting the podcast on Patreon for as little as 3 dollars a month. Check out my page at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast

    And go to boxcarenglish.com to book a lesson with me.

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    041: Grandmother in the hospital
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    Have you ever gotten a surprise call?

    I got one when I was at work telling me my Grandmother was in the hospital.

    I had to ask my boss to leave work to see her. She understood, and let me go.

    This is the story of what happened that day.

    It was almost like a dream, but there I was, in reality.

    Please visit boxcarenglish.com for more podcasts and lessons, and support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast for more human-centered, AI-free, gentle, supportive, and effective English-learning entertainment!

    Write to me at karl@boxcarenglish.com – I’d love to read some of your letters in a future episode.

    Karl

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    040: The Election
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    There’s an election, and the voting happened at the school where I work.

    This is about how I went to vote and what happened that day and the day after.

    Please check out our page at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast

    And do leave us a review on the podcasting service you use.

    Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    039: Sunglasses
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    I found some sunglasses on a sunny day… and they made me think.

    Go to Patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast to support us.

    And Boxcarenglish.com for more!

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    038: Grandpa in Haytown (Part 3)
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    The final installment of grandpa’s visit to Haytown.

    An ending, but a new beginning as well.

    Thanks for listening! Let me know how your English is coming.

    Check out the website for more: boxcarenglish.com


    Join our Patreon to chat with me and get transcripts: patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    037: Grandpa in Haytown (Part 2, Fortune Cookies)
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    The weekend is here!

    I take my Grandpa to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate.

    Visit boxcarenglish.com for more podcasts and lessons

    Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast