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
    064: I feel happy
    Loading
    /

    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 ask? Well, I don’t know. I think I’m happy, though, because of you.

    You see, I just wanted to make some coffee. Just one cup. I just wanted one cup of coffee. I made the coffee. The coffee was hot and smelled good…

    …To read the rest go to Patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcasts — as little as €1 / $1 per month gets you all the transcripts, and other perks…

    ============

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    063: Last Pants
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    062: Used to it
    Loading
    /

    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 also Big Kitty, a musician: alegendinthefieldofentertainment.com

    Write Karl a message at karl@boxcarenglish.com

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    061: A Walk to the Flea Market
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    060: Bliss
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    059: Odd Jobs
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    058: Car crash
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    057: Learning to appreciate my health
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    056: The Fabulous Adventure of Life
    Loading
    /

    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

  • Boxcar English
    Boxcar English
    055: Pink Birds of Winter
    Loading
    /

    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 podcast — and in the transcript, which I’ll make free for this episode!

    Visit the Boxcar English website: boxcarenglish.com

    and support us on Patreon, (patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast) and get all the transcripts for just 3€ a month!