This story is about my Grandpa visiting my house. My grandpa has a lot of dogs and cats, and he brought them all to my house — including a tiny kitten! Sometimes English learners get confused by the words “fun” and “funny.” This episode can help you out. Read this: “I noticed that Shelby was acting funny. That’s my dog. Shelby is her name. She was acting funny. I mean, she wasn’t acting normally.” This type of language is easiest to learn through stories like the ones you hear in Boxcar English....
Aug 15, 2025•6 min
A drive in the country. Let’s take a look at three of the natural, American-style phrasings used in this episode: 1–“It sounded like they hadn’t had a chance to speak in a long time” You can say “it sounds like” in the same way as “it looks like” or “it appears”! “to have a chance” – to have an opportunity “to speak” in this case means the birds haven’t had a chance to speak to each other! 2. “We drove off” — we drove off? That means we started driving, and sounds like the drive will go a long w...
Aug 08, 2025•7 min
I could not find my username. I could not find my password. And, I admit it, I cried. Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast and get some bonus stuff! Find more and take lessons with me at boxcarenglish.com
Aug 01, 2025•6 min
This episode is about how our lives are full of magic. I saw a star in the hole in the clouds, and it seemed to want to say: “Hey Karl, don’t forget that your life is full of magic.” I want to hear from you: what’s an experience you’ve had of the magic of life? Join me at Patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast, and help build a community of people who want to improve their English in a human, creative, community-forward way. You can see more at boxcarenglish.com.
Jul 25, 2025•6 min
I had a dream about eating some very delicious blue fruit. It was so inspiring. I felt good all day. And I took my dog on a walk in the woods. We saw a dead deer. That’s the type of story you get on Boxcar English, ones that show thinking and feeling in the English language. No AI is used in the creation of this podcast — it’s a human production! Visit boxcarenglish.com to learn how to take lessons with me. Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
Jul 18, 2025•7 min
Karl talks to a friend about prisons. And something unexpected happens. Who is responsible? No one knows. This episode includes some adult themes, so be aware of that if you feel any sensitivity to those things. Take lessons with me at boxcarenglish.com. And support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast. Thanks for listening!
Jul 11, 2025•8 min
It’s no fun to have car problems. Karl wants to leave work, but his car won’t start. It’s cold outside, and there’s nobody around to help. Then, a possum comes through the parking lot… Go to boxcarenglish.com for more episodes and lessons. Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
Jul 08, 2025•8 min
If you haven’t listened to Grocery Store (Part 1) I recommend you do before listening to this episode! More essential vocabulary-in-use in this video! Do you know a lot of words but have trouble putting them together so they sound natural? That’s exactly what this podcast is meant to help with. I mean, every episode of it, not just “Grocery Store (Part 2)!” If you want lessons to help you use these podcasts to the best of your ability, go to boxcarenglish.com and click on “LESSONS!” If you want ...
Jul 08, 2025•6 min
Karl skips lunch and is very hungry after work. But, having no food, he has to go to the grocery store! What do you think he will cook? Visit boxcarenglish.com for more podcasts and to take lessons with the creator of this podcast!
Jul 08, 2025•5 min
It’s finally warm enough for Karl to go out wearing only a T-shirt. He takes Shelby out to the park where he sees some kids playing baseball. And he remembers what he felt like as a kid, and how it’s different than he feels now, in a good way. Visit boxcarenglish.com to listen to more podcasts. Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcasts
Jun 27, 2025•5 min
After a long day of hard work, it’s nice to be able to sit for a minute and relax. It really feels just right. It really — hits the spot. Take English lessons using creative writing techniques with me at BoxcarEnglish.com And support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast.
Jun 20, 2025•5 min
This is a dreamlike story. But it is not a dream… Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between life and dreams. Please visit the Boxcar English website: boxcarenglish.com And support the podcast on Patreon to receive all our transcripts: patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast
Jun 17, 2025•9 min
What would you do if you were a millionaire? This episode talks about what Karl would do… Thanks for listening! Listen to Boxcar English and learn to think in English! Transcripts make learning easier! Join the Boxcar English Patreon (patreon.com/BoxcarEnglishPodcast) for access to all transcripts! Follow the podcast on TikTok (@boxcar.english) and Instagram (@boxcar_english)… And listen to the music of Big Kitty, the creator of this podcast!
Jun 12, 2025•7 min
Sunday is a day of rest for many, especially when it’s raining outside. But sometimes things get in the way. Please leave a review for the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram @boxcar_english and TikTok @boxcar.english and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast where you can get transcripts and live chats! Visit boxcarenglish.com to take lessons with me Thank you!
Jun 10, 2025•8 min
In this episode, you’ll learn some ways of talking about your dreams. Sometimes dreams are hard to describe. This story shows how our character, Karl, uses English to describe things that are out of the ordinary. Karl goes to the mountains with his grandmother. They rent a little house by a stream. It’s quiet there and Karl sleeps very well. And as he and his grandmother have breakfast, he tells her about a very strange dream he had… Support the podcast at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast and ta...
Jun 06, 2025•9 min
Karl sees eleven deer in his yard. He wishes they would let him pet them. They, of course, do not. Then he thinks about one time when he ate deer meat. Support the podcast at patreon.com/BoxcarEnglishPodcast. You’ll get access to all the transcripts! And more things. Great things. Visit Boxcarenglish.com to take lessons with me. I can teach you all kinds of stuff about English. I love teaching writing, and how to be a creative writer. Do you want to write a novel in English? Let me help you.
Jun 03, 2025•6 min
Find out how to use vocabulary like “grossed out”! Enjoy a tale of a friendly, absent-minded janitor! Learn English with useful, everyday language that’s not too hard to understand! Get the transcript by supporting the podcast for as little as 3 euros at patreon.com/BoxcarEnglishPodcast And take lessons with the real Karl (as real as Karl gets, at least) — see how at boxcarenglish.com/lessons
Jun 03, 2025•5 min
Karl gets sick and goes to visit the doctor… He’s worried he didn’t really need to go. But it’s important to see the doctor when you’re sick. This is a great way to learn about how to speak in an important situation. This podcast works even better with the transcript! You can get them for just the price of a cup of coffee at the Boxcar English Patreon page !
May 30, 2025•7 min
This episode is about how watching a movie makes you feel. It’s about watching an action movie. It’s about feeling like you can do all the things you see in an action movie… Have you ever felt this way before? Tell me about it, at karl@boxcarenglish.com
May 26, 2025•11 min
There are some essential phrasal verbs in here! Especially if you’re in the USA. Such as : “pull over” – this means to stop your car on the side of the road. It’s what you have to do when a police car flashes its lights behind you. Fortunately, nothing bad happens during this police stop. But it’s never fun being stopped by the police! And it’s better if you know what to do in case it happens. And if you drive in the United States, it is very likely to happen!
May 23, 2025•7 min
Sometimes life encounters jazz. And it stops to listen. And sometimes listening makes you want to do. Listening is doing! Please write to me about what you think about jazz. Do you listen to jazz? Do you play jazz? Send me an email at karl@boxcarenglish.com Let me hear how your English is coming. You could be featured in a future episode.
May 20, 2025•7 min
Listen to this story and soak up some authentic American phrases! The weather changes everything. It changed my day today. I had a lot of work to do. I also had to do something outside. It was raining outside, and I got wet. Finally, I was able to start working! But then the sun came out. And I couldn’t stand to stay inside.
May 16, 2025•6 min
You’ll find a surprisingly emotional story in this episode, and some interesting, authentic phrases too. I was walking with my dog when it started to rain. A car drove by — and I caught a ride with it… Listen to the episode to find out what happened. Please send me a message at karl@boxcarenglish.com, and tell me if you’ve ever been hitchhiking (some places call this “autostop”).
May 13, 2025•7 min
Do you like to travel? I do, but I also don’t like going very far away from home. And I have a dog. You don’t have to go very far to find new places. This is the story of my vacation. I discovered a new land, only by walking a few minutes from my home.
May 09, 2025•12 min
There are lots of new things to look for and learn in this episode. New phrases and new words. Let me know which ones are new to you. Send me your questions at karl@boxcarenglish.com. I went to town to take care of a few things. I rode my bike there. It was Spring, and there were flowers blooming. While in town, I saw posters for a show. They were yellow and blue, and I saw them everywhere. I wondered what the show would be like. It looked like it would be so good.
May 06, 2025•7 min
Listen closely… this podcast is meant to be easy to understand for about a B1-level English student. Unlike other English listening podcasts, this podcast is designed to be heard without thinking too much. The idea is to make you forget you’re learning the language and focus on the story so you start to THINK in English. I lost my phone on a walk in the country. I asked some hunters about it. They weren’t friendly. A little dog barked at me. And I tried to believe I would find my phone… Have you...
May 01, 2025•10 min
Karl judges a pie baking contest. He is nervous, because he feels like he doesn’t know enough about pie. He has to cancel his Tuesday card game with his grandmother. But she is going to bake her famous apple pie for the contest. When he judges the pie contest, he is rather overwhelmed.
Apr 29, 2025•17 min
You see advertisements (or “ads”) every day. They say that seeing advertisements is not good for you. That’s probably true. But I would like to make my own advertisements. My own KIND of advertisements… Chat with Karl and get the transcripts to all episodes at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast!
Apr 25, 2025•8 min
I rode my horse, whose name is Happy, a long way. Until my horse got sick. I was stuck on the side of the road, playing with my blue hat. Then, something great happened… Chat with Karl and get the transcripts to all episodes at patreon.com/boxcarenglishpodcast!
Apr 22, 2025•10 min
I wanted to paint my room, but I wasn’t sure which color to choose… So I went to the paint store and tried to pick out a color. But it’s hard to pick just one when there are so many choices. Chat with Karl and get the transcripts to all episodes on Patreon
Apr 18, 2025•11 min
