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/AustraliansTeachEnglishOr 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/AustraliansTeachEnglishOr 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. Michael is my oldest friend, the creator of the music in my podcasts, and a muso. So, I invited him on the show to talk about one of our favourite themes – Australian music. We talk about the culture of Australian music and how sleepy towns like Perth and Brisbane have gone on to shape music history across the world. We talk about our favourite bands and give you some pointers as to where to go if you want to listen to music to improve your English. We also discuss what it is like to be so “un-Australian” and to be born on Australia Day, as Michael is. If you love music, then this is another episode for you! 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

Earlier this year, Francisco starred in a short video that went viral. In it, he used a couple of classic Australianisms to say good-bye. So, naturally, being the last episode of the year, I invited him on the show to talk about it. Francisco reflects on his shock when first arriving in Australia and gives some great advice for others when arriving. I hope you enjoy this episode and it is hooroo for another year from me, Glen. 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

Diana Paez, a documentary filmmaker from Colombia, discusses her journey to Australia, where she studied filmmaking at Deakin University. She highlights her passion for docos and human stories, particularly around identity and migration. Diana's recent work, "Nuestras Voces," explores the lives of Spanish-speaking migrants in Australia from the 1960s to 1980s. Diana emphasizes the importance of embracing accents and using them as a strength. She is currently working on a new doco focusing on migrant women and their experiences with accents. We talk about how docos can be an extremely useful tool in learning language through being exposed to comprehensible input. 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

In this podcast I talk to Margo who is an expert at organising "dos". We talk about everything you need to know about the language for talking about and describing events in Australia. Margo shares her story about how she came to be living in Australia, and specifically Adelaide, and her project in organising dos. She offers great advice for people wanting to stay in Australia and pursuing the permanent residency pathway. We also talk about how the word "do" can be used, and why it is so tricky for English learners. We offer some tips and tricks about how English learners can sound more natural by using the word do more regularly. You can find Margo and her project at @mambo.adelaide and @scrts.au 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

I had been following this galah for quite a while, due to our mutual love of Australian birds, and in particular, cockatoos. But it wasn't until I saw this galah making videos of crochet Olympic events that I knew what I would invite her on the show to talk about. In this epsiode, Adele, known as cro with the flow on social media, shares her passion for crochet and Australian birds, emphasising the uniqueness of Australian wildlife. We talk about the term "galah," which in Australia is used to describe someone acting foolishly, and Adele clarifies that she embraces the term positively. Adele explains her journey into crochet, starting from a corporate background in human resources, and how she developed her business. We also talk about the differences between crochet and knitting and the process of creating crochet patterns and how it relates to language learning. The etymology of the word crochet is discussed and how it relates to other terms in English. We also talk about how embracing your inner galah can help you learn language, and just about anything, really! If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to exclusive content, get express releases, and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

I reckon it's always time for a cuppa - a nice warm drink and a bit of a chinwag. So, I invited my friend Lucas, from Materoo, on the show for a cuppa and a bit of a chat. In this episode, we talk about the importance of drinking (non-alcoholic) culture in Australia and different places around the world. We talk about the cultural significance of tea, coffee and mate drinking in Australia and Argentina, respectively, as well as the niche market for Argentinean drinks in Australia. Lucas shares his experiences of introducing a mate related small business to Australia. We also discuss the cultural etiquette and traditions related to drinking mate in Argentina and Australia, and explore the idiomatic expression 'cuppa' in English, examining its cultural significance and challenges of explaining and learning it. We highlight the opportunities for cultural exchange and entrepreneurship and the possibilities of using a cuppa as a way to improve your language skills. Dependent propositions are also a difficult topic and we explain the use of "of" in this expression as well, which forms the "a" pronounciation in this expression. So, get yourself a cuppa, and enoy the listen! If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to exclusive content, get express releases, and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

If there is one band from Australia that you'll recognise, it's Acca Dacca. But you might not know that Acca Dacca is what we say instead of AC/DC. So, I invited Johnny from rocklatino.com.au on the show to talk about this phenomenon and rock music in general. Johnny and I discuss the global popularity of AC/DC and its local significance in Australian rock music. I share my experience of discovering that people overseas associate AC/DC with Australian music more than Australians do themselves, while Johnny shared his passion for the band and their resonance with Argentinian rock enthusiasts. Later, Johny and I discuss our favourite Australian bands, with Glen recommending Midnight Oil, The Saints, and Crowded House, while Johnny recommending Powderfinger to help listeners engage more with language learning and Australian rock music. We also discuss our experiences with language barriers in Australia and how music can help people to learn about and navigate their new environment. Finally, we explore the similarities and differences between Australian and Argentinian rock music, highlighting historical context, political influences, and the growing interest in Latin rock music in Australia. If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to all content and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

If you hear the word, "Maralinga", you may well be confused. You may see Australians reacting with a mixture of embarassment, shame and regret. It is one of the darkest chapters in Australian history. You may not know that Australia has some of the most radioactive and contaminated sites in the world. It was the result of extensive and destructive nuclear testing in the 1950s and early 190s. And "Maralinga" has become a catch-all term for this. None of this was widely known until the Mclelland Royal Commission in 1984 attempted to get to the bottom of the issue. Given it is the 40th anniversary of this Royal Commission, I decided to invite Professor Liz Tynan to the show. She is the leading historian on the subject and has written several books on the topic. In the first part of this two part episode, we talk about the background of nuclear testing in Australia, and how Australia came to be in this awful position. We talk about the wider issues, the likely killing of indigenous Australians due to the tests, and general warnings to visitors to Australia. If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to all content and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

ANZAC Day is the most solemn and one of the most special days in the Australian and New Zealand calendar. And that's why I bring you this special episode. Our guest this week is carrying on the tradition of the ANZACs. But it's not someone you'd expect. I met Ronnie whilst playing cricket in Darwin. His brother, Rocky, is a gun cricketer, and asked if he could bring his brother down to play as well. And so, the story of how a group of cricketers became mates with a pair of Bangladeshis began. As we moved away, we've all kept in touch. But I think we were all surprised when Ronnie decided to join the Australian Defence Force. I don't think anyone had heard of a Bangladeshi doing so, but as it turns out, he's led the charge on many foreign born Australians joining the armed forces. This episode is the story of how Ronnie decided to carry on this tradition, and why it is so important for Australians. We talk about how learning a language can be a lot like being in trenches. We also talk about how we can use the ANZAC spirit to help guide our way and continue to make positive contributions to the country. If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to all content and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

After a long day of work, or if you are just feeling lazy, and you can't be f*d cooking dinner, you may head down to the shops to pick up one of these - a bachelor's handbag. The bachelor's handbag is a very recent addition to Australian slang, and was one of the most popular contenders for Australian word of the year in 2022. For a while I had noticed that our guest Emilia Terzon, was an afficionado and connoisseur of the bachy handbag. So I invited her on to the show to talk about her area of expertise. She is also a business and economics reporter for ABC News. So not only do we talk about the bachy handbag, but lots of vocabulary related to supermarkets and "Business English". Her work for the ABC has been extremely broad, but her most recent areas include the housing market, and the Coles and Woolies duopoly. If you are interested in improving your vocabulary related to business, or need to expand your general understanding of economics for english exams, then this is the episode for you. If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to all content and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

Welcome back to the Australians Teach English Podcast for 2024. We're feeling a little bit cocky, which is funny, because that's the name of this episode. You might have noticed that the mascot is a white bird - he's actually a cockie or cocky. So, I thought it was about time to do an episode on cockies. And who better to talk about cockies than the true cockie lady herself, Suzy from @thealmondcafe ? Over the years, Suzy's balcony has become the second home to a flock of cockies, and we talk about her experiences with them. We talk about different cockatoos and the various conservation status that each has. We also talk about the origin of the word cockatoo, and how variations can be used differently. And of course, we talk about the language of cockatoos, and what we can learn from them. If you would like a transcript for this episode, get access to all content and have a say in the creative process, or would just like to support the show, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish