How to survive winter | English Listening Practice

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Winterlude is a celebration of winter here in Ottawa, and with luck and good weather, it will take place in February. It's like a cold weather carnival! There are skating, hot chocolate, and ice sculpture competitions. But Canadians aren't the only people who experience and enjoy winter.

In this episode, I'll share my thoughts about winter in Ottawa, as well as some good advice from the Danish and Norwegians who are also experts in all things winter. What do you like about winter? How do you stay active and happy in these colder weeks of the year?

Winter can be difficult for some people, such as the elderly who find it hard to get around, and for many of the students I've taught over the years, who come from much warmer climates. And if winter is affecting your mental health, please talk to someone. Here are some resources in places where my listeners are located:

In Canada: Mental health support.

In the New Jersey, USA: Mental Health Resources.

For your English listening practice, there are some good expressions and idioms in this episode. Listen for the sounds of spoken English too. For example, how do I say "for" at different parts of the episode? What is the difference between "wind" and "to wind" or "close and clothes"?

Cozy up under a blanket, drink warm tea, and rest, and maybe try a fun winter activity. Before you know it, the spring flowers will be blooming again.

Thanks for listening. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter where you can get a link to the transcript to practice your reading in English: English with Catherine.

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Listening to music is also a good way to enjoy winter, so why not listen to Amos the Transparent, the band who provide my podcast theme song?