Internet Sites For Improving Your English : Living English (Australia Network)

A few days ago I posted a link to the Australia Network’s page for learning English.

They have an entire online video course for elementary learners entitled Living English that is free!!!

I just took a look and it is very well done. Just click on the image or link above to access the site.

Interesting Sites For Improving Your English : Australia Network

Australia Network is an international television and radio network which is raising awareness about Australia.

They also have a whole site dedicated to learning English with video podcasts and learning programs you can subscribe to. To visit the “Learning English” page, go to : http://australianetwork.com/learningenglish/

Vocabulary In the News : 11 September 2009 – The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

A readable pdf format you can download can be found HERE. To access The Sydney Morning Herald, go to: http://www.smh.com.au/

- According to article in the left-hand column, Australia’s wealthy are getting walloped by the economic downturn. In other words, they are being hit hard by the economic meltdown. A meltdown is the sudden and complete failure of company, organization or system. The author of the article also says that the rich are bearing the brunt of this economic crisis. If you bear/take the brunt of a storm, you get hit by worst and strongest part of that storm. http://business.smh.com.au/business/rich-get-walloped-by-the-downturn-20090910-fjej.html 

- Well, the world finally knows the truth about Semenya’s sex. The secret has been stripped bare. If you strip bare, it means you take off all your clothes until you are completely naked for the whole world to see. In this context, the truth has been uncovered about her/his (who knows what possessive pronoun to use now!) sex for everyone to know. We also can use the term in forestry, agriculture, etc... For example, there are areas of West Virginia’s mountains that have been stripped bare of trees in order to mine for coal. So, you want to know more about Semenya’s sex? Then you’ll just have to read the article! A video is also available at the link. http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/secret-of-semenyas-sex-stripped-bare/2009/09/11/1252519599453.html

- The Australian Wheat Board (AWB) is being taking to court and scrutinized (examined) for alleged kickbacks, in the form of transport fees, given to the Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq when there were sanctions in place. Kickbacks is simply money paid illegally to someone in exchange for something they have done for you. To scrutinize something is to examine it carefully. What is also under scrutiny is how much did Prime Minister Howard’s government know. http://www.smh.com.au/national/iraq-payments-were-approved-at-top-level-awb-20090910-fjek.html 

Front page of the The Sydney Morning Herald taken from http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/

Vocabulary in the News: Man charged over Australian bush fires named

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/australia.bushfire.accused.court/index.html

A court has lifted a ban on identifying a man charged with one of a number of deadly wildfires that scorched southwestern Australia this month.

The man, 39-year-old Brendan Sokaluk, did not appear in Monday's hearing in Melbourne Magistrates' Court, the Australian Associated Press reported. An order banning the publishing of Sokaluk's street address or his image remains in place.

Public passions are running high in the aftermath of the fires that have killed scores of people. One T-shirt says, "The bastards who lit Victoria's fires should: Burn in hell."

Sokaluk is suspected of lighting a fire on February 7. He was charged with arson causing death, intentionally or recklessly lighting a bush fire, and possessing child pornography, Victoria state police said last week. The fire Sokaluk is accused of setting killed at least 21 people in Gippsland.

The death toll in a string of fires across Victoria climbed to 189 on Monday, police reported. The number of fires burning had dropped to six, from about a peak of about three dozen, the Country Fire Authority said.

Meanwhile, more than 150 detectives were working on the arson investigation, authorities said. The fires have destroyed more than 1,800 homes and displaced about 7,000 people.

to charge someone with		to assert that someone is guilty of a particular crime (official crime mentioned – e.g. arson, first degree murder, armed robbery, assault, etc...) EX. The police are charging him with armed robbery.
to charge someone over		to assert that an activity may be the result of a crime committed (activity or event where a possible crime took place – death of husband, protest event, car accident, etc..) EX. Authorities may charge Phelps over his bong use.
to lift a ban		to put an end to something that has been forbidden or restricted EX. Turkey’s prime minister’s attempt to lift the ban on headscarves was anti-secular.
to scorch		to burn and destroy EX. The lava flow from Mount St. Helens completely scorched the forests around the mountain.
a hearing		a) a court appearance before a judge other than a formal trial; b) a formal meeting of an investigative body or legislative committee where evidence or testimony are given EX. State Real Estate Commissions hold hearings to investigate complaints filed against licensed salespersons.
passions are running high		An expression to mean that people are experiencing strong emotions. EX. Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, passions are running high on both sides of the controversy.
the aftermath (uncount noun)		the consequences or state of affairs resulting from something EX. In the Maldives, there are severe problems in the aftermath of the tsunami.
scores (in the plural)		large numbers EX. Scores of people attended the Obama presidential campaign rallies.
to light (irregular verb – lit, lit)		to set on fire or ignite EX. To create a romantic mood at dinner, he lit the candles on the table.
suspected of		to be thought guilty without proof EX. Because of her connection to the victim, she was suspected of murdering him.
arson (uncount noun)		the crime of purposely setting fire to a building or property EX. Vehicle arson is unfortunately an annual event in Strasbourg on New Year’s Eve.
recklessly (adv.)		not regarding the circumstances, irresponsibly, dangerously EX. His driving at 160 kilometers an hour on the motorway in the rain recklessly endangered his life and of those around him.
a bush fire or a bushfire		a fire that occurs in the bush (collective term for the countryside in Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia) EX. In south east Australia, bushfires tend to be most common and most severe during summer and autumn.
accused of		to have legal action brought against EX. He was accused of murdering his ex-wife because his fingerprints were found at the crime scene.
death toll		the number of dead EX. The death toll in Africa due to AIDS may hit 100 million by the year 2025.

a string of		any series of things in close or uninterrupted succession EX. Obama’s string of victories in the presidential primaries gave him enough delegate votes to win his party’s nomination.
a peak		the highest or utmost point of anything; height; maximum EX. In December, the flu season was at its peak.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/02/16/australia.bushfire.accused.court/index.html

Australian Slang

Here's a fun site to explore Aussi slang!

http://www.aussieslang.com/

Here's a fun chart with Aussie expressions and their meaning!

Australian Cuisine: Kangaroo Pepper Steak

To celebrate Australia Day, here's a simple recipe for kangaroo, a very tender and delicious meat!

Ingredients:

4 kangaroo steaks

1/2 cup beef or veal stock (either home made or good quality store-bought stuff)

1 tablespoon freshly crushed black peppercorns

1 tablespoon freshly crushed green peppercorns

1 tablespoon freshly crushed white peppercorns

1 tablespoon sea salt

a shot of brandy (or cognac or cheap whisky)

olive oil

5 tiny knobs of butter, softened

Rub a little olive oil into the surface of each steak, along with the salt and the cracked peppercorns. Retain any excess peppercorns--you can add them to the sauce at the end. Pre-heat the pan to medium high. Place the steaks in the pan and fry for 3-4 minutes a side, depending on their thickness and how long they've been out of the fridge. When you turn them, spoon a knob of butter over each one. Once the steaks are cooked, place them on a plate and leave in a warm place. Immediately add the excess peppercorns and the shot of brandy to the pan. Careful, here. If the pan's hot enough, the alcohol could flame up, setting your curtains and/or you on fire. Stir with a wooden spoon while the alcohol reduces. Once it has reduced, add the stock. Once that's reduced by at least half, add the final knob of butter and cut the heat. Stir the butter in and spoon the sauce over the steaks.

VOCABULARY

stock - bouillon

tablespoon - cuillère à soupe

knob- bouton

to rub - frotter

to retain - garder, conserver

excess - superflu

thickness - épaisseurcut the heat - éteindre la flamme