One of my friends asks:
Q: Could you help me know where I can buy an English conversation CD with Australian or New Zealand accent? In my country most CDs come with British and American accents. I am interested in learning English with any different accent, so I can improve my listening.
A: Yes, it can be hard to find something good with Australian English, especially outside of Australia. I recommend the series ‘Understanding Everyday Australian’. It is a good series that I have used with my classes before. There are three books with CDs.
I tried to find these books and CDs on Amazon, but they are not there. These links are through fishpond, an Australian online bookstore. They ship to most countries in the world and are cheaper than Amazon anyway (especially with the Australian dollar being low at the moment), so I’d recommend buying them on fishpond. Remember the prices are in Australian dollars – not US dollars.
|
Book 1: Understanding Everyday Australian Book 1 and Audio CD |
|
Book 2: |
|
Book 3: |
|
If you don’t want the book, only CDs, go here: CD1 |
Do you want to try for free?
If you want to try a FREE lesson from the book, download these:
- PDF: CHAPTERÂ 9 (226Kb)
- MP3: CHAPTER 9 (1MB)
Question: The world has many large countries that use English as the national language, yet most students only learn American or British English.
Do you only learn American English? or only British English? or Australian? Why?>
Put your answer in the comments!
15 Responses to Australian English – Free Lesson
I learn American English even if in my country(Czech Republic) is preferred British English. Why did I choose US English? 1. Freedom. I don’t want anybody make me learn UK English. 2.I can hear very often US English listening to radio or watching movies. 3. It’s not easy to find good textbooks or even a teacher to learn other English Accents here in Europe.
‘Understanding Everyday Australian: Book’ seems to be very good. BTW, I was really surprised by reading somewhere about linking words in AU English(when Australians put ‘r’ between two vowels instead of slight ‘w’ or ‘y’ as it’s done in US English…
Hi Karol
Thank you for your interesting comment!
I am not sure what you mean when you say:
“I was really surprised by reading somewhere about linking words in AU English(when Australians put ‘r’ between two vowels instead of slight ‘w’ or ‘y’ as it’s done in US English…”
Can you give an example?
give many tips for spoken english. It is useful for tamil pepople
That is a great suggestion! I hope to have time to put up some videos to help you soon!
heh. well i speak half american half canadian english but im learning australian english
Hi Sebastian! Why have you decided to learn Aussie English?
heh. well i speak half american half canadian english but im learning australian english
will ya please gimme the more proper ways like us,brits,aussie,kiwi and suchlike to speak the english than the indians does
Hi palanikumar
I have a lot of lessons on this site that can help you! Why don’t you start by learning some new vocabulary and how to use it: http://www.askjohnenglish.com/tag/vocabulary
Well, it’s been two years that I’m here in Australia, and honestly the way people talk here is in no way like whatever you can find in audio books.There is nothing you can find like “Street Talk” or “American Accent Training” books. Looks like Australians are not that interested in documenting their accent. Even this “Understanding everyday Australian” book, in it’s most advanced lessons, is just a piece of cake comparing to what you hear in Melbourne. Imagine what happens in remote villages.
No offence to my Australian mates, it’s their accent afterall, but it’s also the truce: Try as hard as you like. If you are not a native English speaker, you wouldn’t understand 50% of what people say unless you spend one or two years here. I can understand standard British and American accents perfectly, my IELTS score was 8 in speaking and listening, but after two years I still have problem when I talk to a new guy.
Don’t bother listening to the radio or whatch TV, they all try to talk clear and more British-like. The only occasion when you can find a bit of Australian accent is when they have an interview with a footy (Australian footbal) player or a futsall player just after the match, when he can’t think and talk due to the game stress.
I am really having a tough time here. As a mechanical engineer, I have all the experience needed to get a managment job, but I can’t apply for a higher position since I always tell to myself “what if I don’t understand a very important point in a meeting?”, and hence I have to work under an idiot boss whose only advantage is knowing the accent due to longer residence in Australia.
I would be very delighted if someone can help me with a “real” Australian accent training material.
Thank you.
Hi Mosen
Another great source fro listening practice is AM radio stations – they have a lot of talk back radio shows where real people with real accents call into the radio station and share their opinions.
I am not from Melbourne, so don’t know the station names there, but this is a good one in Sydney that you can listen to on the Internet: http://www.2gb.com/index.php
Also, I have found many of my students have really learnt a lot from Australian TV shows as well.
Perhaps the best way, though, is socialising with people. Do you attend any clubs, hobby groups, churches etc where you can can make friends with local people?
Hi John
Thanks for the tip. Well, I don’t attend any clubs whatsoever, but I am in meetings in the company everyday. The issue is that you can’t interupt people and ask them to repeat what they said in a meeting for too many times. Maybe I can find some clubs if I can manage my time.
Anyway, I would really like to have some real people’s talking recorded with transcripts. That way I can listen over and over again and get my ears used to the accent. Couldn’t find any by the way, as I said before, most of the radio programs that supply transcripts try to sound “British”.
Thanks for your time and effort again.
Sorry, I meant “Truth” up there, just a tipo (imagine an “embaressed” smily here!!)
Hi, Mosen….well, For beginning, i am sorry for my writting in english…i just start to learn english, so i know i make mistake very often. Well i am very interesting about your comment because now i have been in sydney for 2 month. And i can notice that, what you said it is very true. it s very difficult to understand the australian accent … ! For the moment i go to english college to learn english…I asked to my teacher … “what is the best way to adapt your ear to the australian accent ” She reply me…. there is no secret, the only solution is the hang out with them…to spend more , more more time…..!!!! we discussing for while and she gave me a example : she asked me where am i from? and said i come from belgium….and she told me it s similar in belgium, in the country side the people don t speak the formal accent….and even if you are a native speaker in french…you will have some trouble to understand perfectly a guy from a countryside …. !!!! well i am very sorry about english…i don t know if my message is clear …well i try to speak and express myself because i think that your message it s a very interesting point …and it’s going to help manny people in the same case.
Youe teacher’s advice is very true Arnaud. It does take time to adjust, and the more you can practice, the better!