The CELPIP Success Podcast

Mastering vocabulary for CELPIP speaking task 3 or 4 can be tough especially because you have no way to know BEFORE your exam what you will need to talk about. So how do you prepare? You can prepare yourself by digging into your everyday situations! Just by paying attention to your surroundings, whether you're at a grocery store, a coffee shop, or even filling up your gas tank, you can practice de...

Life has a sneaky and sometimes in your face way of derailing your focus! Recognizing that this is true and that it happens is vital! Today, I take a look at how these distractions, whether gradual or abrupt, can throw you off course, especially when prepping for something important like the CELPIP exam, and more importantly, what to do about it when you do realize you're not on track anymore. I s...

Feeling like a failure is something we all grapple with at times, especially when it comes to learning English or preparing for the CELPIP exam. In this episode, I dive into that heavy feeling of defeat and how it can trick us into thinking we’re not making any progress. I want to remind you that real failure isn’t about stumbling over words or not hitting that elusive score; it’s about stopping a...

Staying focused is a real struggle for many of us, especially when tackling CELPIP speaking tasks three and four. In this episode, we dive into practical strategies to help you keep your mind on track while describing images and making logical predictions about them. I will talk about Using a notebook to jot down stray thoughts that pop into your head, so they don’t distract you during your practi...

Increasing the frequency of your English practice is the key to improving your language skills. Instead of getting caught up in lengthy sessions, I encourage you to focus on using your English in small, daily interactions. This episode dives into how you can leverage your personality, especially if you're an introvert, to make those interactions more comfortable and effective. I'll share personal...

Scripture passage for today: Proverbs 4:20-23 - "My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Navigating the journey of immigration can be an uphill battle, filled with cha...

The use of AI is happening and spreading all around us, and language learning is not immune to its influence. Maybe you're even using to help you as you work towards your CELPIP and English learning goals. But AI raises some serious questions for me that I want to wrestle with, and share with you. The first: can (should) AI take the place of teachers and actually interacting with other people as y...

This is the first of hopefully many spiritual care focused episodes. I'm not going to be talking about learning English or prepping for the CELPIP in these episodes. Instead, my focus is going to be on encouraging you to have and grow in your relationship with God - spiritual care. I'm not coming at this as someone who 'has arrived' or is somehow an expert. I'm not either of those things. My hope...

Ever been caught in a conversation where your English just up and disappears? It’s a terrible feeling isn't it? You’re chatting away, and then—poof!—your English words vanish when you need them most. If that's happened to you, trust me, you’re not alone in feeling that frustration. In this episode, I dive into the shared experience of language learners who find themselves tongue-tied at the worst...

Getting ready for the CELPIP exam can really mess with your head, right? Let's dive into the common struggle of feeling like you need perfect conditions to practice, because guess what? That’s a total myth. I share how I turned an everyday routine—like grinding my morning coffee—into an effective practice opportunity without needing hours of uninterrupted time. We will explore how even the smalles...

Finding time to work on English skills can feel like an impossible challenge, especially when juggling multiple jobs and family commitments. I totally get it; it’s exhausting just thinking about squeezing English practice into an already packed schedule. Instead of piling more onto your plate, I encourage you to integrate English into what you’re already doing—think of it as transforming your dail...

Effective CELPIP speaking task practice for busy introverts revolves around one-on-one conversations with native English speakers. Instead of getting lost in course books or spending endless hours on YouTube, we need to focus on real-life speaking interactions. It’s all about stepping out of our comfort zones, even if it’s just for a couple of minutes at a time. I totally understand the urge to st...

Struggling to nail that CELPIP score? It can feel like a tough grind, right? And if you're struggling with multiple attempts at getting the CELPIP score you need, but you just can't seem to nail it, well...that can be downright discouraging! But here’s the deal: if you keep doing the same thing, expecting different results, you're probably just going to wind up in the same stuck spot where you are...

Struggling with the reading task 3 of the CELPIP exam? You're not alone—many test takers say time management is their biggest hurdle. We dive deep into actionable strategies today that will help you tackle this challenging section of the CELPIP. Let's make sure you never run out of time again! Today you'll learn how to build a quick map of the text using skimming and scanning techniques, which wil...

Let’s dive right into the essentials for acing your CELPIP speaking test. The first and foremost takeaway is to nail your timing—finish your responses in the last 10 seconds of the allotted time. I’ve seen countless students either ramble on too long or wrap up their answers too quickly, and both can cost you points. It's crucial to practice with a voice memo app on your phone to get a feel for pa...

Ever had one of those moments where you’re convinced you bought something, but it just vanishes into thin air? I found myself in that exact situation with juice, thinking I had purchased some on my last grocery trip. But when I went to get it for breakfast a day later...it was nowhere to be found! Turns out, my juice was merely hiding in plain sight, just like the information you may need for Read...

Improving your speaking skills in English can feel like a daunting task, especially when preparing for the CELPIP exam. I’ve spent years sticking to scripted, well planned episodes for this podcast, but I’ve realized that this comfort zone has kept me from growing. I’ve decided to challenge myself by ditching the script and embracing a more spontaneous approach. By using bullet points instead and...

Life can throw some serious curveballs at us, and sometimes it feels like we’re running on empty. I just had a wild night dealing with car troubles, helping my son jump-start his dead battery, only to find my own vehicle signalling trouble shortly after. It got me thinking about those warning signs we often ignore in our lives—just like I ignored the alarm on my dashboard. I realized that burnout...

Struggling with speaking skills? You’re definitely not alone, and that’s where we kick things off. I dive into the common frustrations we face when trying to express ourselves in English, especially when nerves kick in or when we feel our vocabulary isn’t quite up to par. I share how to shake things up and move beyond those surface-level conversations we often get stuck in, which is what will real...

If you're aiming for a CLB 7 on the CELPIP exam, knowing whether you're ready before stepping into the test room is crucial. We dive into how you can assess your English proficiency and boost your confidence, potentially saving you time, money, and stress. Achieving that coveted score isn't a mystery if you've got a solid intermediate level of English, so we outline what that really means and how...

Feeling like your motivation just up and vanished? Trust me, I get it. I'm struggling with that too! Today, I’m diving into how to keep your motivational fires burning when all you want to do is hide under a blanket and binge-watch your favourite shows. I'm going to be sharing some insightful strategies to tackle those low-energy days, with a focus on the fact that motivation isn’t a magical feeli...

Stuck at an 8 on the CELPIP speaking section? You're not alone, and today we’re diving into how to break through that barrier. We'll explore some ideas to help Kitchenbaby8812, who’s been grappling with the same issue—despite strong scores in other areas, their speaking has plateaued. The key takeaway? It's all about shaking things up in your conversations. We’ll discuss actionable strategies like...

Dealing with clock anxiety and distractions during the CELPIP speaking exam can feel like navigating through a maze, but today I'll dive into practical strategies to conquer these challenges. First up, let's tackle clock anxiety, that nerve-wracking moment when the timer starts and your mind goes blank. I suggest a simple yet effective practice routine: time yourself as you respond to speaking tas...

Takeaways: The lesson from the photography experiment emphasizes quantity over perfection when learning English. Frequent practice and making mistakes lead to improved skills in speaking English effectively. Understanding and following task instructions is crucial for achieving high scores on the CELPIP exam. Avoid unnecessary introductions in your responses; get straight to the point to save time...

If you're stuck getting sixes or sevens on the CELPIP exam, don’t stress; you're not failing. It’s a clear sign that your English proficiency is at an intermediate level and it’s crucial to acknowledge that. Instead of just grinding away at studying harder or repeatedly taking the exam, we need to shift our focus to improving our overall English skills over time. I share five practical tips to hel...