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[Insubordination]

Give them a bit of simple slang (cossie, chrissie, bickie, brekkie, rego, convo, arvo, bottle-o)and an overview of indigenous/white history. Tell them about hobbies (outdoors pursuits & sport), casual dress and the 'she'll be right, no worries' attitude.

If you have any specific questions, ask away. We don't hate Kiwis, Poms or Yanks. We sometimes joke about it when we meet one but there's truly no malice there. I think we jest a little too much. We certainly don't drink Fosters or put shrimp on the barbie. Prawns!

Pronunciation - t's at the beginning and end of words tend to sound like d. liddle, boddle, etc. Our vowels are also a bit different. We don't pronounce the 'r' and people say we sound nasal.

Maybe show them a few interesting photos of animals and landmarks. Don't scare them with the venemous ones.

It's true we don't drink Fosters much. VB is probably the most common beer.

Cricket, Aussie Rules and Rugby League are the most popular sports. Most Australians can swim.

If you're desperate, look on the Department of Immigration website.
www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/.../lia_english_full.pdf

Not many pictures in this brochure but has all the info you need regarding slang, culture etc. .

Also, look at Brisbane schools and check out their 'living in Brisbane' section.

I found one to get you started:

www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/values/.../lia_english_full.pdf

Good luck!

[last time in china]

Insubordination, 多謝！That is just the sort of post I was hoping for. Very helpful

One problem, the links don't work! I suppose it is due to this "es/.../lia_" Did Dave shorten them? Can you PM me the links? Thanks!

[Victoriaisgreat]

Hi there,

I have some Aust Post magazines put out last year to promote Australia that has great photos. Let me know your address and I will send to you

Mike

send addy to [email protected]

[A'Moo]

Travelled to Aus last year for three weeks. I found it to be a terrific place, with great beaches and friendly people. After 3 years in Asia, it was odd to travel somewhere that the men were tall and friendly!!!
Went with two friends from back home. One thing I did notice was, unlike in the States or China, or most other countries, they had zero interest in anything English whatsoever...Pissed off my rather proud English mates no end, as they would try and start talking about the Premiership or music to people who had no interest. No hatred or resentment, they just didnt care whatsoever...

[danielb]

Why don't Aussies like poms?
I wouldn�t really say that this is correct these days. Historically there have been a few reasons for friction based on issues such as Australia�s lack of a British style class system as well as the propensity for many a British government to treat us (and in particular our military) as lower-classed colonials. There is also a lot of more good natured sporting rivalry. Look up �The Ashes� with regard to cricket. The truth us, a lot of us feel a bit sorry for anyone who isn�t Australian.

Does anyone? Just kidding! Is there some specific reason (other than wanting to be their own man, so to speak)?

What's the deal with Kiwis?

This is more of a sporting thing than anything. The All Blacks regularly give us a touch up in Rugby and we don�t like it. I don�t think you could find two countries that actually have a closer relationship, though. Our armies were combined once upon a time which is all part of the ANZAC legend.

Is it just a US-Canada kind of thing or is there something else going on?

Sport and music are good for a class each.

I�m pretty sure it would be easy for you to dig up some stuff on Australian sports. All of the ones we choose to take part in, especially team sports on an international level, we are pretty good at.
Music, Aus rock is fairly distinctive. Think strong vocals (lead singers that sound like they have been gargling nails), often with some sort of political message. Look up Grinspoon and Powderfinger for recent stuff and bands such as Midnight Oil, ACDC and the Angels for older. Peter Garrett, lead singer of Midnight Oil, is now a federal minister. Also, one of the world�s largest music events is the annual Big Day Out festival which you can look up.

I don't know the first thing about either in Australia, except that they also call soccer soccer

There is a saying in Australia that soccer is for wogs, poofters and sheilas. Sorry if I have offended any wogs, poofters or sheilas. We prefer the contact sports of Rugby League, Rugby Union and AFL. The country is somewhat divided between these on regional lines.

Politics.
Reading now.

Why are Queenslanders considered nuts?

Are we? I�m a Queenslander, from the outback. My home town had less than 100 people and three months of the year (when I was young, there are bitumen roads now) was inaccessible by vehicle. As such, I have a very broad Australian accent that your students may come across in Brisbane, at times. Ask if you have any particular Queensland, Aboriginal or country Australia related questions.

My students are going to Brisbane!

Does anyone actually like NT people?

There is nothing wrong with the Top End or the people there. I�ve spent a lot of time up there working. One of the first jobs I had as a young bloke was working in the Territory on the TB eradication scheme shooting water buffalo and pigs from a helicopter. It�s rough country but the people are friendly, once you get to know them. However, the pace does attract its fair share of crazies.

Their moms?

If they deserve it.

Do they have any vestige of a class system?
Do they, or do they say they do? Ha ha!

Sort of, I guess. I would say it is more limited than anywhere else I have been. This is pretty debatable so I won�t go into it here.

What does 'fair go' actually mean in daily life?
You tell me.

Just what is says. Basically, it is fairness or equal opportunity.

Eating and drinking habits. Local etiquette and mannerisms.
Love for some Aussies to post on these things at length! Or PM me.

Beers are regional. XXXX is the brand up where I�m from. People say that is because Queenslanders are too stupid to spell. We eat a lot of BBQ meat and seafood where I�m from.

I should mention again that this is not a class on Australia. I will have six classes. Three and a half will go to Oz, half to NZ, one to Canada, and one to the Netherlands (those other three nations will be the subjects of future posts). Actually, maybe not even half the students are going anywhere. It's a Chinese university, after all.

Anyway, they are all taking the same class called English speaking culture. Hence, they will learn about Britain, Ireland, and the US as well. That being said, I wish to slant each class a little towards its destination. Also, all six classes will be somewhat slanted since -- sorry -- I am not spending the same amount of time on Ireland and the US, or Britain and NZ.

Throw me some more specific questions and I�ll do my best.