Show Notes
One of the most common requests by students is that they want to become more, "fluent". But on a day to day basis, what does this actually mean and how can we set goals to achieve this mythical fluency? That's what this episode is about. And when we achieve a little step along the way, we might say "onya".
In this episode I relate some of the time I spent in the spinal ward and my recovery to learning a language. There is a lot of toxic positivity and false optimism in both settings which is likely to lead to frustration and disappointment. So how do we overcome this?
We discuss the importance of setting measurable, achievable goals as a way to working towards bigger goals, such as fluency. In that way, you might be able to say onya, more often.
More from Australians Teach English
In this episode I interview Miguel, co-owner of Lima Cantina in Perth, and massive foodie. We talk about his journey in the hospitality industry and how food, drinks and music have helped him learn, teach and share culture over time. Miguel, a Peruvian who moved to Spain in 2001, fell in love with the industry and eventually opened a tapas bar in Barcelona. He met his wife, Mel, in Barcelona, and they moved to Melbourne before settling in Perth. We talk about the establishment of Lima Cantina, which focuses on authentic Peruvian cuisine and is the only Pisco bar in Western Australia. Miguel emphasizes the importance of passion in hospitality and the unique cultural fusion in Peruvian food, highlighting the significance of Pisco and the evolution of Peruvian cuisine. Finally, we use this as an excuse to talk about food related slang and expressions and different variations in both Spanish and English. If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA
You might remember Ashley Kalagian Blunt from the previous episode, “Down Under”. In this episode, I talk to Ashley about her academic work on the Armenian Genocide and genocides in general. In her novella, ‘My Name is Revenge’, she uses the tale of Simpson and His Donkey as a way of understanding different viewpoints of history. Given this week is ANZAC Day, I invited her on the show to talk about the links between the ANZAC invasion of Gallipoli and the links to the Armenian Genocide. Ashley highlights the parallels between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust. We also discuss the Armenian Diaspora, the influence of Armenian language and culture, and the importance of recognising historical atrocities to prevent future genocides. Genocide is a feature of human history and Australian history is not immune from that. We talk about the Tasmanian genocide, The Conquest of the Desert, The Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust, as well as genocides currently occurring. We discuss what they have in common and what are some of the features of these inhumane events. We leave with commentary about what we can possibly do to make this world a safer and more positive place, using Simpson and His Donkey as an example. If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA
It might seem that coming “down under” from “up over” would seem an easy transition for a fellow English speaker. Especially if that person is from Canada. After all, it’s just Australia with snow, right? But that’s not the case. When I was browsing my local library, I came across a fascinating book – How to be Australian. It is the best book I’ve read on culture shock, and it happens to be explained by an English speaker in Australia. I decided to invite the author, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, to the show to talk about her experiences in Australia. In this episode, we talk about the similarities and differences between Australia and Canada, and some key aspects that might help you if you are trying to adjust to Australia. If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA
When people go to a kid’s party for the first time in Australia, they might be confronted with something called “fairy bread”. So, I thought I’d invite an expert on kids to the show, Erika Deery, to help explain some of these oddities. Erika is the author of several bilingual children's books featuring a character called Millie. While she is on the show to talk about this, we take the opportunity to discuss some different philosophies about bilingualism and raising bilingual kids. And of course, we talk about what to expect at a kid’s party and explain the history of fairy bread. Erika’s work can be found at: https://www.milliebooks.com/ And on social media with the same name. If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA
Did Punk and Grunge originate in Australia? I’ll let you be the judge. But they certainly had their roots in Australia.