The CELPIP Success Podcast

3 Lessons I Learned from 3 Mistakes in front of 230 people. In this episode of the Speak English Fearlessly podcast, we'll dive into mistake making and how mistakes can be powerful learning opportunities if you see them in the right way. We'll also talk together about how to develop a healthier mindset toward mistake-making: embracing errors, rather than avoiding them, can help you make faster pro...

How To Stop Overusing Words and Phrases in English To Get A Higher CELPIP Score This episode discusses the importance of avoiding repeated words and phrases in your CELPIP answers and provides practical strategies on how to break this habit. Key takeaways: You will learn about the listability and vocabulary filters used by CELPIP raters to score your answers. How and why you should be recording yo...

If you struggle with just getting your CELPIP Speaking task answers started, you need today's episode. Spending too much time on polite, flowery introductions with your speaking task answers will steal valuable time from you - and they are just not necessary! Instead, you need to do what I share in today's episode! Get straight into the main content of your answer! You'll also learn about Why buil...

Have you been wondering why your English skills are not developing as quickly as you'd like them to be? It might just be because you're not using one or all of these three simple, but not always easy, strategies. 1) Going where the action is, 2) Engage! 3) Put in the reps. I will tell you an inspiring story that has been happening at my workplace that will help you see how you can apply these thre...

Don't Try To Set More Goals To Improve Your English. Do This Instead! If you know you are working hard to improve your English skills, but you're still not getting the results you want to be getting, then this episode is for you. Together we're going to talk about the power of systems and specifically, we're going to talk about how your system is the problem AND your system is the solution to help...

Are you struggling to just get started with your CELPIP Speaking practice? Then this episode is for you! If you know that you need to be practicing for the Speaking section of the CELPIP exam, but you have no idea how to even get started, then listen closely and follow along with this episode. My personal guarantee for you is if you follow these four simple steps, you'll find yourself actually sta...

How To Master CELPIP Speaking Task 2: Tips and Strategies In this episode, you will get a walk through of CELPIP Speaking Task 2, which involves sharing a personal experience. You'll learn about the importance of brainstorming, we'll focus on the past tense, as well as practical tips for practicing the past tense which include journaling and discussing daily activities with family. I also discuss...

In this episode, I'm talking about how you can improve your brainstorming skills. If brainstorming is hard for you, know that you're not alone! Many test takers report this as being one of their pain points! The episode revisits key concepts from a previous discussion on mindset and creativity and offers practical tips to improve brainstorming under pressure. We'll also cover the importance of gen...

Why You Should Avoid Using Templates for CELPIP Preparation This episode of the Speak English Fearlessly podcast discusses the pitfalls of using templates for CELPIP exam preparation. You've likely heard or read about templates before - they are easily available online. But just because you can easily get one, does that mean you should use it? NO! Templates may offer an easy way out, but they are...

In this episode of the Speak English Fearlessly podcast, you will learn a practical process for self-study that will transform the way you prep for the CELPIP! Key strategies include: Using a voice recorder to review and critique performance, Understanding the timing for brainstorming and recording responses, and creating outlines for answers. I'll also talk about the importance of using varied vo...

Do you struggle with saying "Um" and "Uh" too much? If so, listen to today's episode where you'll learn 3 strategies that will help you kick these pesky filler words out of your vocabulary! "Um" and "Uh" can seriously hurt your CELPIP scores if you use them too much. Don't let that happen to you! 00:00 Frustration with Filler Words 01:58 Introduction to the Podcast 03:14 Understandi...

Struggling with note-taking on the CELPIP exam? This episode dives into practical strategies to enhance your note-taking skills. Learn the importance of practicing with the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why) while watching English TV shows and listening to various audio content. Discover how to set yourself up for success by paying attention to the intro sections of each listening task. The...

If you've ever wondered if you're doing the right thing...the real right thing... to be preparing for the CELPIP exam, then this episode is for you. I'll be sharing one of the most important things you need to be doing to prepare for the exam. We all tend to avoid doing it because we're kind of hard wired in this way, but it's seriously a mistake to leave this out of your practice. To find out, li...

Why listen today: If you struggle with the clock as you brainstorm, then you absolutely need to listen to today's podcast. The dreaded clock - that timer that ticks away at you as you frantically try to develop your answer before the recording begins on the speaking section of the CELIP - is one of the most feared aspects of the exam. Many fear it, and many avoid using the clock as a tool to help...

If you are short on time, but still need to prepare for the Speaking section of the CELPIP, then listen to today's episode. What you'll learn today: Brainstorming is a tool for creating a 'map' to organize your thoughts efficiently under exam conditions. I'm going to challenge you to practice brainstorming in your day-to -day activities, such as during your commute time (even if you're driving!) b...

If you struggle with brainstorming on the CELPIP exam, then this episode is for you! I'll talk about the number one challenge CELPIP test takers face when it comes to brainstorming, and what you can do about it. You'll learn the mindset you need to adapt in order to brainstorm effectively. You'll learn that it's more important to have many ideas to work with instead of trying to come up one one gr...

Dealing with Anxiety on the CELPIP Exam Did you know AT LEAST 1 IN 4 English language learners struggle with anxiety around learning English? You're not alone if you struggle with this common challenge. In today's episode, I will: Talk about practical tips and strategies to overcome anxiety and prepare effectively for the CELPIP exam. You'll learn why you should be practicing under pressure to hel...

Why listen to today's episode? If you struggle with your speaking skills in English and for the CELPIP exam, then this episode will be an important encouragement for you! This episode dives into the importance of actually getting outside of your comfort zone and using your English - even if you feel like your skills are not very advanced, as the best way of improving. This is true for you especial...

If you want to see your English skills improve, and specifically: if you want to learn how to speak English fearlessly, then you absolutely need to engage with English in ways that are in line with who you are and HOW you are! Listen to today's episode to learn how! 00:00 Welcome to the Speak English Fearlessly Podcast! 01:33 The Struggle of Speaking English Authentically 02:51 A Pe...

If you struggle with keeping conversations going in English - like you feel as though your English vanishes when you're trying to talk with an English native speaker, then today's episode is for you! I'll share a simple to use strategy that will remove all the pressure from you to carry the conversation, AND, as a bonus get the person you're talking with to actually think you're pretty cool! The q...

Short on time? If all you have is 5 minutes, you can still practice for the reading section of the CELPIP exam! Stop using a lack of time as the excuse that keeps you from preparing for this all too important exam! It's too important to keep pushing back! Instead, listen to today's episode and learn how you can take advantage of the 'fringes of your life' to get ready for the CELPIP exam! Today, I...

Why listen to today's episode: Today you'll learn how to maximize short study sessions to help you prepare for the Writing section of the CELPIP Exam. If you've only got 5 to 10 minutes, you can use today's practice challenge! You'll learn that short, consistent study segments are effective practice, I'll challenge the misconception that only lengthy study sessions count. I'll share a short story...

Why listen to today's episode? I want to help you bust a common myth that says something like this: in order to practice for teh CELPIP exam or practice English in general and do it well - then you need to devout large amounts of time in immersive experiences. That's a myth. What I want to help you realize today is this: consistent practice, no matter the length, is vital and better than not pract...

What A Leap Year Origami Party Taught Me About Asking For Help On The CELPIP Exam If you've ever found yourself stuck and not knowing how to move forward with your CELPIP or English prep, then this is the episode for you! I'll be talking about something that happened to me this week during a group activity at my workplace where I found myself falling behind everyone else in a challenging group act...

Overcoming Invisible Injuries in Language Learning: Dealing with the Affective Filter In this episode of the Speak English Fearlessly podcast, we'll discusses the concept of invisible injuries in language learning. Specifically, we'll be talking about the secret power that failure and the embarrassment that often comes with it, can have over us and our ability to learn English. -Learn how the emba...