Learn English at home, at work, or online
No matter where you were born, if you’re now living in Australia and you want to make it here, you need to master the English language. This will ensure you get access to better jobs in the country, have a better relationship with the locals and adapt to life in this country more easily. On top of this, if you improve your language skills, you’ll be able to understand the local culture much better and truly feel like you belong here, so if you want to assimilate into the local community and avoid feeling homesick, don’t waste any more time and start working on your English today. The best way to do this, of course, is to find a tutor who can help you develop all the skills you need to succeed in Australia, but there are also things you can do on your own that will really have a positive impact on the way you communicate. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this short guide to learning English and start implementing these tips as soon as possible.
Short Guide to Learning English
If you are one of those people who can understand others when they speak in English, but you struggle when you have to make your own sentences, you probably need to work on your grammar and expand your vocabulary. Although this will take time, here are some tips you can follow to make your learning process more enjoyable.
Read Something New Every Day
A great way to learn new words and understand the way English grammar works is to read as much as possible. You can choose anything you like, just make sure you look up every new word and phrase you don’t understand. On our blog, we have plenty of amazing articles written by language professionals that will help you expand your vocabulary and find more effective ways of learning English, so if you’re looking for something to read, go and check it out.
Listen to Native Speakers
Listening to radio programmes or podcasts in your free time is a really fun way of learning new words and phrases, as well as getting to know the local culture more in-depth. To make the best use of these resources, you should always have a notepad with you while you listen, so you can write down every new expression you hear, and try to use them in a sentence later. Another thing you can do is shadowing, which is a very useful learning technique that consists of repeating any new word or phrase you hear on the TV, the radio, or on YouTube, in real time, trying to copy the exact pronunciation and intonation of the original audio. If you want to do this, it’s really important you listen to actual native speakers, so if in doubt, ask your English teacher to help you find shows and podcasts that are hosted by Australians.
Attend Events
All over Australia, you’ll find amazing events you can attend where you’ll get to hear different native speakers and practice your language skills. If you want to socialise and make new friends that share your passion for learning languages, you should attend some of the many language exchanges that take place in different parts of the country or look for cultural institutions near you that organise meetups for English learners. If you prefer online meetings, you should check out websites like MeetUp and Interpals, which are completely free and allow you to find online communities that meet on Zoom or Skype to talk in different languages.
Useful Australian Expressions You Should Know
Australians use all sorts of words and expressions that you won’t really find in English textbooks, so if you want to sound more like a native, learn the following phrases and start using them in your everyday conversations.
| Australian Expressions | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| It’s chockers in here! | This phrase is used to say a place is crowded. | The restaurant was chockers, so we had to find another place to have lunch. |
| Bloody oath | If an Australian answers to something you say with “bloody oath!” it means they completely agree with you. | “I think most politicians are liars!” “Bloody oath, mate!” |
| What’s the John Dory? | This phrase means ‘What’s the story?’ and it’s typically used when you’re gossiping, and you want to find out what happened. John Dory is actually a name of a fish found in Australia, and it’s used in this expression because it rhymes with the English word “story”. | So what’s the John Dory with Sarah and her husband? I heard they split up! |
| Have a Captain Cook | This means to have a look or an inspection. This is another example of rhyming slang, as Captain Cook sounds like “look”. | “I can’t find my glasses!” “Don’t worry, I’ll have a Captain Cook and see if I can find them” |
| Not my bowl of rice | This expression is similar to the English phrase “not my cup of tea” and it’s used to say that something is not of your liking. | Playing football is not my bowl of rice, I prefer to play tennis. |
Mastering the English language will certainly not happen overnight, you’ll need to put in a lot of work and dedication to reach the fluency levels you need to have a successful life in Australia. However, here at Listen & Learn we can help you learn in a more efficient way by offering flexible, and completely personalised lessons based on your interests and goals. All you need to do to start learning English with us is reach out to us and one of our team members will get in contact with you in 24 hours to answer all of your questions about our language course!
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