Hi Alexander,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you like my podcast. It was indeed hard yakka to produce so many podcasts. When I look at the list of all the podcasts I have done, I think to myself – that is indeed a lot of work. That is why it’s great when people like you give me positive feedback. It makes it all worthwhile.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Ao Zhang,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast and website. Your positive feedback is really appreciated. I am really glad that my materials have played a small part in your exciting IT career here in Australia.
Good luck with your studies and your future career in IT. I’m sure you are going to be very successful.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Igor,

Many thanks for your comment. Your kind words about my podcast are very much appreciated. I am really glad that you find it useful.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi JPR,

Thanks for your comment.
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Oscar,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you are continuing to listen to my podcasts.
Best regards,
Rob

Thanks Rob,
I like to listen to your podcast about how the Australian train system was built around the country.
Oscar (Colombia)

Hi Oscar,

Many thanks for your comment and your positive feedback. I really appreciate it.
Have a great day.
Rob

I like your Australian topics and the good English pronuntiation. I’m learning a bit about Australian people and their culture. I appreciate your help.

Hi JPR,

Many thanks for your comment.

Cheers,
Rob

Hi Abdula,
Many thanks for your comment. I appreciate your feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Project,
Many thanks for your feedback.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Daniela,

Many thanks for your kind comment.

Have a great day.
Rob

Thank you so much!
With love,
Daniela from Colombia

Hi Anton,

Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you found the podcast useful.

Best regards,
Rob

Thank you so much for your work, Rob. This podcast helps me improve my audio skills and interesting to hear about your country. Thank you ?

Hi Ivan,
Many thanks for your comment. Great to hear from you again. I am glad that you continue to find my podcasts useful for your students. As a conversation starter and focus for vocabulary learning, I can see how you would find them of value. Thanks again for your feedback.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Tara,
Many thanks for your very kind comment. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Have a great day.
Rob

I hope you are well.

I just wanted to say thanks for your podcast about Australia’s Personal Taxation System. Your explanations are really easy to follow, and I love how you explain everything about Australia in such a simple way. It really helps me learn English while also understanding Australia and its rules.

Please keep going—I’m always looking forward to your new episodes! Your method is perfect, and the way you explain words and their meanings is amazing, especially for people like me.

Thanks again for all your effort and the great work you do!

Best regards,
Tara

Hi Yake Dai,
Many thanks for your very kind comment. It pleases me to receive such feedback. I’m glad that you find my podcast useful.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Mina,
Many thanks for your very kind comment. Sounds like you are having an interesting time. I hope you are enjoying your new opportunity in the UK.

All the best from Melbourne.
Regards,
Rob

Hi Rob,

I just wanted to say hello again and thank you once more for your wonderful podcast. I’m still a big fan and continue listening to it.

Since my last message, a lot has changed .I’m now working as a nurse in the UK. Listening to your podcasts for hours really helped strengthen my English.

I truly appreciate the work you do. Thanks again for helping learners like me.

Hi Tara,

Many thanks for your kind words about my podcast. I really appreciate your feedback. It pleases me that you are finding it useful and that it is helping you with your English.

Have a great week.

Best regards,
Rob

I live in Melbourne, and I listen to your podcast every day when I’m on my way to work. It’s become part of my daily routine, and it really helps me practice my listening.

Because of your podcast, I feel more confident when I listen to English and when I try to speak. I also learn many new words and expressions from you.

I really appreciate the time and effort you put into making these episodes. They are very helpful for people like me who want to improve their English.

Thank you so much for your great work, and please keep making more podcasts!

G’day mate,
The info you gave me is “the good oil” – really useful and practical. You’re the best Aussie. Cheers!
Also, thank you for the pdf option.????????????

Hi Kiran,
Many thanks for your feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Leeford Ortho

Hi Seyyedrouhollah Hosseini,

Many thanks for your comment. That is an interesting suggestion. In the past I have had a print button on my website, however I had to remove it as it started to operate incorrectly. I will look at doing this again. Perhaps there is now another plug-in that will do this.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi JPR,

Thanks for your comment. I have checked podcast 156 and the Play/Sounds buttons are working correctly, both on my desktop computer and on my mobile phone.

Best regards,
Rob

Hi JPR,

Thanks for your comment and your best wishes. I hope you have a great year also in 2026.

Cheers,
Rob

Hi Abu Bokkor Siddik (sadik-siddik),
Many thanks for your comment. I wish you every success in your journey.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Abderrahmane,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad your find my podcast useful.

Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Lia,
Many thanks for you comment and your kind words about my podcast. I am glad you have found it useful.
Have a great day.
Regards,
Rob

Hi JPR,

Many thanks for your kind thoughts and wise words. We appreciate your support.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi JPR,

Sorry, I didn’t understand this comment, but I think you meant that I had not yet replied to your previous comment about a quiz question. I have now done that.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi JPR,
My apologies for taking so long to answer your query. I agree that this question is a little bit confusing for the reader. The delivery man puts the groceries on the front step, in front of the front door. I then move them inside into the hallway, which is a small area directly behind the front door. I guess you are saying that it would be better if the delivery driver brought the groceries through the front door and into the hallway, as it would save me from having to do it. In that sense, you are correct. I will change this question so that there is no confusion.
Many thanks for your feedback.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Mabel,
Many thanks for your interesting comment and for your kind words about my podcast. It is great that you are living in Portarlington. My wife and I really enjoyed our ferry ride there, and our walk around the town. I think it would be an excellent place to live – near the water with wonderful views and a relaxed lifestyle.

Have a great day.
Rob

Thank you for helping me understand Australia better. I arrived in Melbourne this June, and I found your podcast through an online recommendation. After work, I often listened to your podcast while walking along Swanston Street. Through your episodes, I learned how to eat Tim Tams and got to know what an Australian breakfast is like.

Today I started listening again, and when I reached Episode 158, I suddenly realised that I’m now living in Portarlington—the very place you talked about in the podcast! What’s even more amazing is that the first time I came to this town was also by ferry.

It feels incredible that we experienced the same place and moments, just in different times and spaces. Thank you for helping me understand English better, and for helping me understand Australia.

Question please..

Hi JPR,
No, I am fine.

Cheers,
Rob.

Hello ROB, Are-you sick ?

I disagree to the question 8 : “Question 8 of 10
8. Question
True of False? – Rob likes it that the driver brings all the groceries TO THE FRONT DOOR.” because there is “the front door” after “the hallway.” and you speak : ““I just put it all in the hallway “PRIOR TO” TAKING it into the kitchen TO PUT AWAY.”.

Hi Yaghoub,
Many thanks for your comment. You might care to try Podcast 60, Multicultural Australia which talks about migrants in Australia.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi JPR_Project,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, that’s how we improve as we learn a language. Keep going and the improvement will continue.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Step by step. I’m making progress little by little

Hi Daniela,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast. I really appreciate your feedback.
Best regards,
Rob.

I just read pod cast 155 Phar Lap which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was searching for an article detailing Phar Lap’s bloodline and your pod cast explains that and a whole lot more. Very interesting read.

Thank you for sharing this information about the great legend Phar Lap.

Daniela
(Victoria, Aust)

Hi Ali,
Many thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Claudemir,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words. I have had quite a number of listeners from Brazil write to me about my podcasts. I am glad you like them.
Have fun using the podcasts.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Rebecca,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. Please feel free to use the podcasts and my associated website with your students. I hope you find them useful and relevant. I produced them in the hope that English learners would find them helpful where ever they may be, including in classes such as yours.
All the best,
Rob.

Hi Sara,
Many thanks for your kind comment and feedback. Much appreciated.
Best regards,
Rob.

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this podcast. All of your podcasts are fantastic and very helpful! Thank you for sharing them.

Sara

Hi Gerard,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. I really appreciate your feedback.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi JPR_Project,
Good to hear. That podcast is about an interesting topic – groceries. Home delivery is becoming more and more popular around the world. Enjoy the podcast.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Betül,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you find my podcast useful. Regarding ways to improve your speaking, I suggest you look at my podcast 127 My Language Learning Tips.(https://slowenglish.info/podcast-127-my-language-learning-tips/). I have listed there all my best ideas for improving your English skills. I hope you find that useful.
Good luck with your English studies. I hope you pass your IELTS test!
Best regards,
Rob.

Thank you very much for your help in advance, have a great day!

Hi Rob,
Many thanks for your nice return.
In fact, I tried the next few podcasts (Nr 3, 4 and 5) and I must say they seemed to me much more accessible than I feared, based on my unfortunate experience of the second one.
Indeed I found them interesting and this encourages me to go further.
Great and useful work you did there !
Thanks a lot.
Regards.
Gerard.

Hi Gerard,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear that you find the second podcast too difficult. You could try some of the later podcasts, as there are some topics which are less complex and therefore easier to understand. If a topic is of particular interest to you, you will also it easier to work with. If, however, you find that Slow English podcasts are generally too difficult for your current level, then it would be best to seek out other English podcast materials.
Good luck with your English studies.
Regards,
Rob.

Hi Andres and Ethel,
Many thanks for your question regarding number 10 in the quiz. The question states ‘Rob talks mostly about the elaborate breakfasts in the podcast’. Actually, I talk mostly about the simple breakfasts (Weetbix and toast). Therefore the statement in the question is false and that is the option you should choose to get green for correct.
I hope that explanation is useful. I am pleased that you are doing the quiz. It really makes you think about what the meaning of the language is, and that is the most important thing to get right.
Have fun learning English.
Best regards to you both.
Rob.

Hi Saghar,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your postive feedback.
Have fun learning English.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Jen,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you like the vocabulary section. Working in aged care is a wonderful occupation. I hope my podcast can help you when you communicate with your residents.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Eliane,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you like my podcast.
Have fun learning English.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi,
Many thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Annie,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your kind words about my podcast.
Have fun using the podcasts and good luck with your English studies.
Best regards,
Rob.

I’m really happy to have found Slow English. I came across your website when ChatGPT recommended it to me while I was searching for English learning resources in Australia.

I’ve been living in Australia for more than ten years, and my English is still at a medium level. While I can manage daily conversations, I find it difficult to describe things in detail or speak in longer sentences. I believe your materials will be very helpful for improving these areas.

I also really appreciate your generous sharing of these resources—it means a lot to learners like me. I’ll keep you updated once I’ve spent some time learning with Slow English.

Hi Nina,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your kind words. Have fun listening to the podcast episodes.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Jpr,
Many thanks for your comment. Sounds like you’ve had a rough ride healthwise, but have come through it well. I wish you the best of health for the future.
Thanks for your kind words about my podcast. I’m glad you enjoyed the text.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Azam,
Many thanks for your comment and for your positive feedback. I really appreciate it. I am glad you are enjoying the podcast.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi,
Many thanks for picking up that error. Good work. I have now corrected it.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Gaukhar,
Many thanks for your comment. I agree that reading the text while listening certainly helps your understanding.
I am pleased my podcast is helping you.
Good luck with your English studies.
Rob.

Hi Mike,
Many thanks for your comment. I am really pleased that you find my podcast useful. Thanks for the positive feedback.

Have a great day.
Rob.

Hallo Maren. Vielen Dank für deine interessante E-mail auf Deutsch. Ich finde es auch interessant, dass es viele deutsche Wörte aus English gibt. Vielleicht werden wir immer internationale Leute, im Bezug auf die Sprachen. Seit Englisch so oft in Filme, im Internet, im Fehensehen benutzt ist, sieht es normal aus mehr Englisch zu benutzen in jede Sprache. Es ist bestimmt wahr, dass jede Sprache die ganze Zeit verändert. Du hast auch gesprochen über Dialekte in Deutschland. In Australien ist es nicht wirklich ein Ding. Es ist immer möglich unsere Sprache hier in alle Teilen von Australien zu verstehen. Unser Land und Kultur hier in Australien ist noch ziemlich jung – nur ungefähr 240 Jahre seit Europäische Leute hierhin gekommen sind. Wir sind noch homogen. Mein Akzent auf Deutsch? Ziemlich schlecht! Thanks again for your comment. Have a great day. Rob.

Hi JPR Project,
Many thanks for your comment. A few answers to your questions.
1. Australian wineries? – There are so many. I ride past many just outside Melbourne on my way to Yea, for example De Bortoli
Wines. You could check them out at their wine tasting shop.
2. ‘Life is good.’ This is an expression we use in English and it means much more than good. It means we are lucky to be alive, lucky to live where we live, lucky to have a great family etc. You can also say Life is beautiful, but native speakers will better understand ‘Life is good’. It is a simple expression which captures so much, while at the same time reflecting a typical Australian attribute – to understate things.
3. Bushfire – this is a typical Australian word. Yes, we have forests and forest fires, but ‘bushfire’ captures all that we know and mean about fire in our native Australian bush. It is wild, dangerous and to be feared.
Thanks for your interesting questions.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Haniya Ahmed,
Many thanks for your comment and for your positive feedback.
I am really glad that you like listening to my podcasts. I hope you are enjoying your summer holidays. Your comment is well written, so you are doing well with you English study.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Laura,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast.

All the materials are freely available to use in your classes and support materials. An acknowledgement would be appreciated as well. I am just pleased that people find them useful.

Have a great day.
Rob.

A great collection of podcasts and I love the care you have taken with the vocabulary and quiz at the end!

My name is Haniya Ahmed, I am 8 years old. It is my summer holidays.I listen your podcast.Your podcast tells me a lot about Australia . And your podcast are so good .
This podcast helps me to speak good English.

thanks

Hi Saleh,
Many thanks for your comment.
I appreciate it.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Sally,
Many thanks for your comment. Regarding your question, I would say that visiting a hospital emergency department should only happen when you have an urgent and immediate need for medical care. For a cold or a cough, it would be best to visit a medical practice, as it is not urgent. Also, if you go to the hospital emergency department with a non-urgent problem, you will be given a low priority and may wait many hours to be seen by a doctor. You may find this government website useful, as it talks about types of medical support which are available. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Zahra,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Best regards,
Zahra

Hi JPR_Project,

Yes, such temperatures are hard to cope with. That’s why most people have air conditioning in their homes here in Australia.
Glad that you are doing all the podcasts. That will certainly improve your listening skills.
Best regards,
Rob

Thanks for your comment.You say : “46.4°C, recorded in February 2009, when the temperature exceeded 43°C for three consecutive days.
===>I’m not even going to mention it… we won’t survive with temperatures like that.
****P.S. : I follow your posts one after the other. I don’t skip any.
JPR_Project

Hi JPR,

Many thanks for your comment. I have experienced above 30 deg days in Europe so I agree that it can get hot there. Melbourne’s record high is 46.4 deg C in February 2009, when it was above 43 deg C for 3 consecutive days. You might be interested to check out my podcast about this period in the Melbourne region, when bushfires killed 173 people. https://slowenglish.info/podcast-23-black-saturday-february-7th-2009/. Sometimes average temperatures of 26-27 deg C don’t tell you the whole story.

Have a great day.
Rob

You say: “during the hot summer days in Melbourne.” (mdr) ===> SUMMER temperatures, I see on GOOGLE “January: 26°C – February: 27°C,” but in France today we have 38°C. It’s extremely hot.

“DURING MY VISIT TODAY, I bought some JUICY PORK.”==>In France, we don’t talk about “juicy pork”… yuck! We talk about a tender cut of pork.

I was surprised by the expression “WITHOUT ANY,” which I thought was a double negative, but in fact it is perfectly correct, natural, and even very useful in English, especially to emphasize a total absence and reinforce the idea of “absolute zero.”

Hi Jin,
Many thanks for your thoughtful comment. Your experience emphasizes how important social connections are for us all. I’m glad that the local shopping centre could play a role for you in making friends in the community.
Best regards,
Rob

Today, I had a coffee with one of my friend after a very long time in the shopping centre, and we had a very good conversation. This evening I had a chance listening this podcast thinking about how amazing and lucky it is to have this shopping centre near my place, and just wanted to visit your website to say what I feel about this episode. Thank you

Hi Richard,
Many thanks for your comment. It pleases me that my podcast made you think of your mom. Perhaps she will find it amusing to see someone use a Tim Tam as a straw. It certainly is a fun way to eat these delicious biscuits.
Enjoy your trip to Korea in September.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Liz,
Many thanks for your comment and for your positive feedback about my podcast. I am especially pleased to hear that you find the quiz and the vocabulary useful.

Have a great day.
Rob.

I’ve been looking for listening materials to improve my listening skills for a long time. But as you mentioned in Podcast 1, I found most of them are a bit fast to follow. I especially wanted to thank you for including the quizzes and vocabulary sections; those are incredibly helpful for solidifying what I’ve learned. Even though I made a lot of wrong choices.

I hope you have a wonderful retirement and enjoy all your interests!

Best,
Liz

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your most interesting comment and your kind words about the podcast. I am glad that you tried out the Tim Tam Slam. It’s a bit of fun when eating a Tim Tam. I hope your grandchildren will also have fun using this chocolate flavoured straw!
I can also imagine that the word ‘most’ is probably a bit over the top, but when advertising biscuits in Australia, I would think nothing can be over the top!
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi JPR,
The price varies a little, but at the moment a barista made coffee costs around $5.00.
Cheers,
Rob.

HiJPR,

Many thanks for your comment and your feedback.

Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Maria,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. Really appreciate your feedback.
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Leon,
Many thanks for your comment and your positive feedback. It is greatly appreciated,
I am glad that my podcast brought back some good memories for you. Having students from so many countries and cultures must really make for some very interesting interactions and a lot of new learning by everyone. You can never stop learning in this world, in my humble opinion.
Best regards,
Rob

I attended the AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program) for about one year, from 2022 to 2023.
It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. As you mentioned in the podcast, we had more than thirty students in our class, which was Level Three — the top level, and the only one at that time in the school.

I remember that the students came from so many different countries and regions. Let me list them: China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, and Australia.

It was so funny that we even had two students from Australia! That’s another story I’ll tell in the future. With so many students from different cultural backgrounds studying in one classroom, you can imagine how dramatic it was!

Listening to this podcast brought back all those beautiful memories. It was amazing.
Thank you, Rob, for your work.

Leon

Hi Leon,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your kind words. It makes me feel good inside to think that my words have created a lasting impact on you. It makes it all worthwhile to receive auch feeback.
Thanks again and have a great day.
Rob.

Long time no see!

I learned a lot from your podcast three or four years ago when I was studying English. Besides the grammar and sentence structures, what really captivated me were the many interesting topics you talked about. I remember leaving a few comments on your episodes back then.

Last year, I visited my wife’s sister’s family, who live in North Croydon. If I remember correctly, that’s not too far from where your family lives. We took a trip to a dam located northwest of Lilydale and drove along a country road. It was a winding and peaceful route, lined with tall trees. It reminded me of the scenes you once described in your podcast—riding your motorcycle in the rain through those beautiful roads. That image stayed with me. In that moment, I felt a special connection between us, even though we’ve never met in person.

Through your episodes, I’ve come to learn so much about your life and experiences. To me, you’re not a stranger—you’re like an old friend.

Just wanted to write and let you know that I’m back and will continue listening to your podcast and enjoying your new insights.

Warm regards,
Leon

Hi Maria,
Many thanks for your comment. It’s amazing, when you think about it, that an apple first cultivated in Australia, can be bought in Russia. You have used them well if you baked them. I can imagine that, with honey, they would have been delicious. I will do an internet search on the Antonovka apple, to find out a little bit about it.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, an interesting difference. The Myki must be validated again at the end of the journey, so that the system knows how long the journey was, and therefore how much to deduct from the balance on the card. I assume the French system has a different way of calculating the fare.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Thoa,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your positive feedback.
It sounds like an interesting challenge you have. I’m sure you will be able to achieve your goal of communicating in English with your customers. It is great to have such a powerful reason for learning a new language. I wish you all the best. Your comment shows me that your English skills are already well advanced.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Arvin,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you enjoy my podcasts.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Yvonne,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you were able to visit the vineyard.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your very interesting comment. I was not aware that China makes use of only 1 time zone in such a large country. I can see why it is done, but I can also imagine that having sunset at 11.00pm must take some getting used to. Our daylight saving system has also been controversial. It has been tried in WA and QLD previously, but the people voted to go back to standard time. Oh well, I guess our business owners and workers just get used to dealing with 5 different time zones in summer.
Best regards from Melbourne.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. You are right that graffiti art in Melbourne is a major feature and a tourist attraction. I talked about AC/DC Lane graffiti in my podcast about AC/DC (Podcast 72 – https://slowenglish.info/podcast-72-acdc/). Of course there are several other interesting sites in Melbourne where graffiti art is also a sight to see. Thanks for the excellent suggestion for a new podcast.
Cheers from Melbourne.
Rob

Hi Fatemah,
Many thanks for your comment and your feedback. I haven’t written them with any particular level in mind. I assume they vary from B1 to B2, depending on the topic. It’s an interesting question however. I will investigate whether I can assess their individual levels and, if so, I could add that information for the listener’s benefit.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your detailed and thoughtful response. Your insights are very perceptive. We are about the same age, and your experiences in language learning are very similar to mine. As you so eloquently explain, the key perspective is the finding of entertainment and relaxation in the language learning journey. I hope that continues for us both.
Best regards,
Rob

Thanks for your feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Arvin,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you find my podcast and website useful.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. It’s great to hear from you again. I had a chuckle when you described yourself as a beginner. Your English is very good, and in my opinion you are much more than a beginner. I am pleased to hear that you visited so many Melbourne attractions. It makes me feel good that you found my podcast useful in planning your visit.
I hope you can visit Melbourne again soon. I would love to meet up with you for a coffee and a chat in the city when you next visit. By email is the best way to reach me.
Best regards,
Rob.

It’s a long time haven’t left you my comments, The more reading your podcasts I did, the more benefits I got from it.
Yes, as you said, your experiences of learning another language really encouraged me to immerse in my journey to learning English.

Early this month, I summoned the courage to visited Melbourne. For me a English beginner, language was a form of self-challenge.

By using Google Maps (English), I found the old Flinders Street Station. Through communication with the ticket seller, I understood the rules for taking the train and tram (The Podcast 6 – ’Melbourne’s tram System’ & the Podcast 7 – ‘Melbourne’s train System’ had also provided me with great help) and I got a Myki card there.

I thought that asking for directions was a good way to enhance my listening and speaking English ability. I found the location of the statue of Burke and Wills by asking a policeman for directions. Despite the fact that it was very unfortunately the statue was stored away while the rail tunnel was being built.

In a ferry rode from Dockland to Portarlinton town, I sought an opportunity to have a chat with a strange woman. I felt that I had spent a pleasant time. Don’t be shy and try to communicate in English with as many people around you as possible and immersing yourself in the English environment is the best way for you to improve your oral English skills. This is my experience.

I went to the picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens that I had been longing for. There you were “amazed how beautiful and peaceful a well-cared for and well-designed garden can be”, so did I. There are countless plant labels briefly listing each plant’s name, varieties, genus and family, habits and distribution range. This not only enabled me to learn botanic knowledge but also to practice my reading ability.

The Melbourne Museum which you once recommended is indeed a trending spot. Here, reading the textual description of various cultural relics is much more interesting to me than reading textbooks in class. Of course, for many audio descriptions, I still found it a bit challenging to understand.

During the short four-day stay in Melbourne, I was immersed in my new language environment. A sense of improvement of my English proficiency was one of the gains from this trip.

In addition, I also visited other attractions in Melbourne. Many places among them were also recommended by you in your podcasts. Such as Fed Square, Vic Market, MCG, Southern Cross Station, Melbourne University, State Library Victoria, AC/DC Lane, Great Ocean Road and so on. Due to the limited time available, of course there were many good places you recommended I haven’t visited yet. I can only postpone them for the future and I am keen for meeting you when I visit Melbourne again.

To be precise, what I wrote today is the writing exercise after reading the great podcast.

Have a pleasant long holiday!

Dep.

Hi Alireza,
Many thanks for your email. I am glad that you have found my podcast and that you find it useful. Good luck with your English study. You did well in writing your comment in English. I understood it easily. Well done.
All the best for the future.
Rob.

Hi,
Thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Anne,
Many thanks for your kind comments about my podcast. I am really glad that your students find the podcast useful. It sounds like you are doing great things with your group of learners. Well done.
All the best,
Rob

Hi Oleg,
Many thanks for your question about the quiz.
Question 9 makes this statement. “Rob’s family likes to walk to the park to have a barbeque.” This statement is false because Rob talks about packing up the car to go to the park for a barbeque. This means that they are driving there and not walking, so this statement is false. In any case, a full Esky is quite heavy, so walking to the park would be quite difficult. It would be easier to put the Esky in the boot and drive.
I hope that explanation is helpful.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Hyeonil Kim,

Many thanks for your feedback.

Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Pierre,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you find my podcast useful. Good luck with your English studies.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Anood. Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you are using my podcast to help your English learning. You did well to write me a comment in English. Good work.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Vincent. Many thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment. I agree that there is always more to learn about our own city. This ferry ride was a pleasant surprise for us which we really enjoyed. Cheers, Rob.

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Tashi,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your feedback about my podcast. Helping people like yourself on their language journey is exactly why I started the podcast.
Have a great day in Canberra.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Pierre,
Many thanks for your comment and feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Masoud,
Many thanks for your comment. The games you mention seem great for car travel too.
I am interested to hear that you have introduced my podcasts to your wife and daughter. I can also imagine that, sometimes, it would be more enjoyable for your daughter to play, rather than hear my voice rambling on.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Helen. Thanks for your comment and your feedback. Much appreciated.
Cheers,
Rob.

Hi Masoud. Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you are enjoying my podcasts. Regarding your suggestion for a correction in the text, I think my existing text is correct, although perhaps I have misunderstood your feedback.
Best regards,
Rob.

Thanks for your interesting podcasts!

I noticed a typo in the third paragraph from the end. It should read “…I am glad I “chose” this topic for a podcast…”

I really enjoy listening to your podcasts.

Hi Ben. Many thanks for your positive comments about my podcast.
Cheers,
Rob.

Hi Fahmy,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. I’m glad that you find it useful. Thanks also for your suggestion of a topic. I will add it to my list for the future.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Thanks Chris. Me too. Better late than never. Cheers.

Hi Juan. Thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.
Cheers, Rob.

Hi Qianhui,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, that is an error in my podcast, which I have now corrected. Many thanks for letting me know.
Have fun learning English.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Lisa,
Many thanks for another very interesting comment. Well written! I appreciate your kind words. It was a pleasure to meet you and your husband Frank at Swinburne. I am impressed that you got 90% on the quiz. Well done! Also impressive is your checking of new vocabulary words in the dictionary. That’s how you grow your speaking vocabulary.
Yes, the photo of the kangaroos was a classic moment for me. Those kangaroos don’t realise it but they are the stars of Slow English!
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Claire,
Many thanks for your comment. I appreciate your kind words about my podcast. I am glad that you have found my podcasts useful. To come to another country to live, especially one where you don’t speak the language, must be very challenging. Your adventurous spirit and your determination to succeed are an inspiration to me. I wish you well for the future, and also in your English studies. I can tell from your comment that your English is already impressive. Well done!
Best regards,
Rob.

Claire

Hi Frank,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words. It was great to meet and chat with you at Swinburne. Good luck with tour English. You are doing well.
Best regards,
Rob.

I become your big fan.Your podcast is very useful for me. I can learn English and many knowledge. Thank you very much! Thank Leah too. You are my teacher also. Your podcasts can improve my English skill. I’m feeling very happy!

Hope you all best.
Frank Sun

Hi Wendy,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. Thanks also for the info about the waiting period for a PR.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Masoud,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, I still have my Falcon, which I still enjoy driving. It’s a great Aussie built car. Good luck with your car purchase. A Yaris or a Corolla would be an excellent choice.
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Lisa,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, I agree. Walking in nature certainly makes me feel comfortable and relaxed too. That’s one of the reasons that I enjoy it so much.
Best regards,
Rob

Best Regards
Lisa

Hi Lisa,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your kind words. My talk today was most enjoyable, including the excellent questions, including yours about my most memorable podcast. You stated your question clearly and it really made me think, so it was indeed a great question. I agree with you that learning a language is a wonderful activity for anyone, but especially for older people. As you say, it helps your brain to grow old slowly – I like the sound of that phrase. Well said! Thanks again for your kind words. I hope you will continue to enjoy your retirement.
Best regards,
Rob

I’m Lisa, I really enjoyed your speech this morning so when I finished my dinner I read your podcast 1 quicly. I thanked your great imagine then we have “slowenglish”. we are luck and follow you learning Austrailia culture. At same time I thanked my teacher Leah invited you came to Swinburne and we have a opportunity to know your webside.
I retied too, learning English is my personal interest, in my opinion it can train my brain to become old slow and my life in Austrailia easily. You are a gentle teacher, when I asked you a question that the most memorable thing when you made podcast, I was nervous and you patience waited me. thank you so much, you are a incredible volunteer.
Best Regards
Lisa

Hi Lisa,
Many thanks for your feedback. I am impressed that you will read my podcast every day. You are on the road to success!
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Frank. Many thanks for your comment. Your enthusiasm inspires me as well. You will soon be speaking English like an Aussie.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Quiyi Li,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your feedback. Enjoy your day.
Rob.

Hi Frank. Many thanks for your feedback. I enjoyed meeting you this morning. Good luck with your English studies. You are doing well!
Best regards,
Rob

Best Regards,

Reading your Podcast Number 44 – Australia’s Money, let me know Australia Money’s history, your writing is easy to understand. I hope to learn more about Australia by reading your podcast.

Thank you so much.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. Yes, the PBS is one of the best government support schemes we have here in Australia. The example you give is a very good one. Such examples often feature on the television news and I always think to myself – that is our taxes being well spent.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. That’s an excellent suggestion. I’ll add it to my list.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Great to hear from you again. Thanks for your kind comments about the podcast. You have asked interesting questions. I am not an expert in horseracing, so I don’t really understand the process whereby specific weights are added to each horse. I believe this is called handicapping. It is to do with the aim of trying to even out the performance of all the horses. I guess this helps make the race more interesting for the race goers and those who bet on the race. In short, in this style of racing, the better the horse, the more weight it carries. Regarding views about whether horseracing is abusive, I can understand that some people do not agree with the whole idea. I can understand this view to some extent. However, in trying to portray Australian cultural life, I think it is important to talk about horseracing, as it is followed by so many Australians and has had a prominent place in our history – Phar Lap is a good example.
Greetings from Melbourne. I hope you and your family are well.
Rob.

Hi Sdeq. Many thanks for your kind feedback. Cheers from Melbourne.
Rob.

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment. Your feedback is much appreciated.
Cheers,
Rob.

Hi Luke. Many thanks for your kind words. I’m guessing that being a marriage celebrant is an uplifting job. Thanks for passing on the details of my website.
Have a great day in sunny Perth.
Regards,
Rob.

thank you. computer,electric,busness. the popular major in australia are similar to China.
QingDao is a famous historical an cultural city, QingDao is a international tourist city, and a modern industrial city. welcome to QingDao for travel.

Hi Stven,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you like my podcast. I looked up your city on the internet and it seems like a very beautiful place.
Regarding your question about career planning, I think it depends on what each person finds interesting. For example, some people might like to work with people and enjoy helping them, in which case being a teacher or a medical career might be a good idea. Others might prefer to work with their hands and become a tradesperson, such as an electrician. In Australia at the moment, we need more tradesmen and tradeswomen, more computer specialists and more people to become doctors and nurses, just to name a few. I hope that answer is helpful to you.
All the best from Melbourne.
Rob

Hi Yeonsup,
Many thanks for your comment. I appreciate your feedback. I am also glad to hear that you like the quiz. Have fun learning English.
Cheers, Rob.

Hi Ali. Many thanks for your comment. Doing listening practice every day will certainly improve your English skills.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment and for your support of my podcast. See you in the food court at the shopping centre!
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Marcos. Many thanks for your comment. I appreciate your feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Roshan,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you find my podcasts useful.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Hailey. Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that my podcast will be useful to you. You have an exciting time ahead and I know you will have a great time here in Australia.
I look forward to any further comments you might make.
Best regards,
Rob.

I’ve struggled to find the podcast that I want to listen to,
and finally, I found yours!

Your voice and pace makes me calm and focused.
Thanks for your Podcast.

I will study hard and leave a reply again.
Have a wonderful day!

Hi Mohamed. Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast. I am glad that it is helpful to you.
It’s a very hot day here in Melbourne but I am sitting in an air-conditioned room, so all is well and life is good.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Ali,
Many thanks for your kind comments about my podcast, and also your excellent question. The difference lies in where they get their power to make laws. The powers of each state are set out in their own constitutions, which details what powers they have and how laws are made and changed within each state. So, the states have a guaranteed right to exist and to make their own laws. Territories, by contrast, do not have their own law making capacity, unless the Commonwealth government decides that they can be self-governing. The Commonwealth parliament has decided that the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory can be self governing. Importantly, their ability to do this is granted by the Commonwealth parliament, not through their own constitutions. This means that the Commonwealth parliament can, at any time, override any laws which the Northern Territory or the ACT governments make. In practice, this is very rare. In reality, these two territories can act like state governments. Perhaps one day, both of these territories would be granted the status of being states. However, that would only be with the agreement of the Commonwealth parliament.
It’s a complicated subject, so I hope what I have said makes sense.
See https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/questions/whats-the-difference-between-a-territory-and-a-state-parliament.
Cheers,
Rob.

Dear Rob,
I have a question.What is the big differences between states and territories?
Thanks so much for every things and your efforts.This podcast is not only useful for increasing our knowledge of English speaking but also for have a knowing better about your country’s culture.

Regards,
Ali

Hi Masoud,
Many thanks for your comment. It is an excellent achievement to have listened to all my podcasts. Well done! I really appreciate your kind words about my podcast. Regarding other social media platforms, I also have a Facebook page which you can follow. https://www.facebook.com/Slowenglish
I hope your visas arrive soon. Sunny Queensland is a great part of Australia. I’m sure you and your family will enjoy living and working there.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Ines. Many thanks for your comment and thanks for your feedback about the topic. You have made an interesting point. I agree with you. Well said! Just another good reason to try and live a healthy lifestyle.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment and kind words. I agree that we tend to take our support systems for granted. In researching this topic I was surprised and impressed with how effective the PBS is. Our taxes are well spent on the PBS in my view.
Cheers,
Rob.

Hi Piper. Many thanks for your comment. A Granny Smith apple with caramel sounds delicious. I am glad you found my podcast useful.
Have a great day.
Rob

We very much enjoyed listening to your answers. Thank you!

Hi Ines,
Many thanks for your comment. I am pleased that you are finding my podcast useful. I really appreciate your kind words about my podcast.
You have expressed your feelings very well. It is indeed a challenge to live in a community where you don’t yet have fluent language skills. Language is so important in our daily life and in making us feel part of the community. Keep working at your listening and speaking skills. You are making good progress. Keep practising and keep speaking English whenever you can. Every day you will move forward a little more on your journey of language learning.
All the best,
Rob

Hi Radka,
Many thanks for your comment. I am really pleased that you are finding my podcasts useful. Comments such as yours remind me of why I started the podcast in the first place. Listening skills are indeed difficult to master, especially when native speakers speak so quickly. While I can understand that your visits to see your daughter and her family are mentally demanding, I am sure you would agree how lucky you are to be able to experience full immersion in an English speaking environment. That is how you really improve your skills, both speaking and listening.
I hope your daughter’s family are not affected by the recent storms and floods in Queensland. The weather there can indeed be beautiful, but also wild on occasions.
I wish you all the best in your language learning journey. It seems you are progressing very well in this challenging but enjoyable activity.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Fahmy,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. I am pleased that you find my podcast useful in learning English and in learning about Australia. I am not a religious person myself, so I am not qualified or able to speak with authority about religious ideas or concepts. Of course, Australia is a multi-cultural society so there are followers of all the world’s religions here in Australia. In fact, in the 2021 census, 93.1% of Australians answered the question about their religion. The top 5 religions identified in this census question were as follows – Christianity 43.9%, No religion 38.9%, Islam 3.2%, Hinduism 2.7% and Buddhism 2.4%. The census data showed that Islam is the fastest growing religion in Australia, with over 800,000 followers in Australia in 2021. While I can’t speak with authority about Islam in Australia, I found this website which seems to give a very good summary of Ramadan in Australia. https://insiderguides.com.au/ramadan-in-australia/. I hope you find it useful. Thanks again for your comment. Have a great day. Rob.

Hi Elena,
Many thanks for your comment and for advising me of the error on my website. I have now fixed the problem and you can do the correct quiz for podcast 98.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Robert. Thanks for your comment. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Cathy. That’s an interesting question. The refund and the costs of operating the scheme are paid for by the beverage manufacturers. Although I have not seen it written anywhere, I assume that the beverage firms build these costs into their prices. The government has invested in the initial setup, but not the ongoing costs. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Chris,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. With the savings from my container returns, I should be able to buy you a coffee in the near future!
Cheers,
Rob

Another informative and interesting article on a progressive scheme to protect our environment! A long overdue initiative.

Thanks,
Chris

Hi Ibrahim. Many thanks for your feedback. I’m glad my podcast is still useful as a teaching resource. Hope you are well.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Julia. Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you find my podcast useful. You are doing well if you can understand 90% of a podcast. Your comment is well written. Well done.
Cheers from Melbourne,
Rob.

Hi Munroe,
Unfortunately I am unable to help you.
Regards,
Rob.

Hi Gilles,
I think you may have selected another language in the ‘Powered by Google Translate’ box, which is found on each podcast page of my website. If you have, by accident, selected another language in that box, then Google will translate the website into that language. You just need to change it back to English. Let me know if that solves your problem. Cheers, Rob.

I have listened to and studied all your podcasts since the beginning with great interest
I can no longer get your podcast in English. Why ? could you help me

with kindest regards

Gilles

Hi Gonzalo. Many thanks for your comment. I am impressed that, at 85 years of age, you are learning a new language. That’s wonderful. It’s a great way to keep your brain working effectively, and also a fun activity. I hope I can also be learning actively if I get to 85 years of age.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Gonzalo. Many thanks for your comment. Your level is very good if you can understand my podcasts. Well done.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Tamara,
Many thanks for your comment. So, you have some ‘big things’ in Russia as well. That’s interesting. I’m glad that you like my podcasts.
Have a great day.
Regards,
Rob

Hi Skye,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad you found my podcast. Yes, I have been making my podcast for a long time and I still enjoy receiving wonderful comments such as yours. I hope you are enjoying life in Melbourne. I can certainly recommend the ice cream, especially now that warmer weather is coming.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Dep,
My apologies. I was mistaken and have made the wrong assumption. Thanks for the detailed description of shuttlecock, which is obviously very different from the badminton we play here in Australia. It sounds like it needs great skill to play. I will check out some videos on the internet.
Thanks again for the correction.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment and for your very kind words about my podcast. Your exercise regime is spot on. Swimming is a great exercise activity, as is basketball and shuttlecock (also called Badminton in Australia). As for rock climbing, I can imagine that you would be excellent at it, given your highly active lifestyle.
All the best from Melbourne.
Rob.

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment and continued support. Much appreciated. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Herbert,
Thanks for your comment. We have beaches, you have mountains. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Alexander,
Many thanks for your message and for your kind words. You make an interesting point. I always like to talk about those things which are successful in Australia and it may sound like we have no problems here. Of course, like all other countries on earth, we have our fair share of problems. In fact, there are a number of my podcasts which talk about our problems and how we handle them here in Australia. Just a few examples of podcasts which talk about our problems include 11 – Skin Cancer in Australia, 29 – The Seasons in Melbourne, 54 – What Australians Eat, 56 – Dangerous Animals in Australia, 60 – Multicultural Australia, 89 – The Health of Australians, 121 – Cyclone Tracy – Christmas Day in Darwin 1974, 130 – Rabbits in Australia, 131 – Explorers of Australia – Burke and Wills, 138 – Driving in Australia – Demerit Points. You could try one of those podcasts if you want to learn about some of our difficult problems.
Thanks again for your message.
Have fun learning English.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Ali. Thanks for your kind words about my podcast. I am glad that you find it useful. Have fun on your journey.
Best regards,
Rob.

Thanks so much for your great job.I love your information witch is useful for us during our journey to increase our knowledge about English language and Australia.

Good luck and god bless you.

Hi Narges. A wonderful obsession to have – for you and your loved ones. I’m not a great fan of cooking, but I do love to eat! Thanks for your comment Narges. Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Narges. Many thanks for your comment. I am pleased that my podcast is helpful for you. I am sure you will enjoy Australia.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Honglin Wang,
Many thanks for your comment. I am very pleased that my podcast puts you in a good mood. You always learn better when you are in a good mood.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Thank you very much for helping me learn English here. My name is honglin Wang, I am from China.

For me English is very important in life, I like reading your narratives.
Whenever I read your article, I am in a good mood, I am interested in your article.

I am grateful.

Kind regards

Hi Lilua,
Many thanks for your comment. I am pleased that you like my podcast.
Have fun learning English.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Kamel,
Many thanks for your comment. I hope you get your visa soon. Adelaide is a wonderful city. South Australia has so much to offer. Good luck for the future.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Saba,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the first podcast. Hopefully you will find the later podcasts helpful as well.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Respectfully

Hi Mehdi. Many thanks for your comment. I hope you are enjoying Perth. Check out my podcast number 27 for my tips on language learning. Hopefully you will find some useful ideas there.
Good luck with your Aussie Emglish learning.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Mina,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. I hope you get the chance to visit someday. I’m sure you would enjoy it.
Best regards,
Rob.

I just had to reach out and say a huge thank you for your website. I’ve learned so much about Australia through it, and now I can understand the Australian accent better. As an Iranian girl in Italy, my love for Australia has only deepened, and I can’t wait to visit someday. Your articles and recordings are absolutely fantastic!

best regards
Mina

Hi Chris,
Many thanks for your comment. You are most kind!
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your detailed comment. Yes, Darwin is an interesting city which I have not yet visited. Its history is indeed unique in Australian terms, given its bombing in World War 2. It also has an interesting multicultural aspect which is different to the other main capital cities in Australia. I will keep it in mind for a separate podcast in the future.
Thanks again for your interesting perspective.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep. That’s interesting. My wife and I recently had covid after avoiding it for 3 years. Luckily we are well vaccinated and overcame the illness without too much drama. We were also able to take anti-viral medicines which helped to reduce the severity of the disease. I hope you can continue to stay healthy.
All the best.
Rob.

Hi Dep. Many thanks for your comment. The early days of the pandemic seem like a distant memory. We have learnt so much since then. Thanks for your kind comments about my podcast. Covid is still a dangerous disease and I feel thankful to have avoided being infected in that period prior to the vaccine becoming available. Let’s hope that the danger from covid continues to reduce.
Cheers from Melbourne.
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. Your thoughts are always interesting, supportive and well considered.
I hope you are well.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Lei,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. Your feedback is most appreciated. I am also really pleased that your son likes it.
All the best from Melbourne.
Rob.

My son is 10 years old, we have been to Australia for twice, he start to learn English, and luckily we found your slowenglish, that’s very interesting for us. My son loves your stories. Many Many Thanks for your great and hard work, We hope you can continue to help more and more people to get known about Australia while learn a good English.

We love you Rob.
Thanks.
Lei

Hi Sergei. Many thanks for your comment. I agree – mmmm. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast. I too have been to the Botanic Gardens in Hobart and they are indeed excellent.
I hope you and your family are well.
Best regards,
Rob

Many thanks Evan for your comment. Much appreciated. Have a great day. Cheers from Melbourne. Rob.

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your kind words about my podcast. I am pleased to receive such feedback from a true plant enthusiast! Cheers. Rob.

Many thanks for your comment Arash. Much appreciated. Have a great day. Cheers, Rob.

Hi Brooke,
Many thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.
Regards,
Rob

Hi Joy. Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Serg,
Many thanks for your comment. I agree with your thoughts – more complicated but fairer.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Dani. Many thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Best regards,
Rob.

I have discovered your podcast and I love it!
Thanks for this tour around Australia.

I’m Dani from Basque country (Spain).

Hi Hector,

Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. Much appreciated.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hey Chris. Many thanks for your comment. You are definitely not a few snags short of a barbeque. Cheers! Rob.

Hi Elham. Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words. Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi,
Many thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.
Regards,
Rob

Hi Fahmy Ali. Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. I am glad that you like it. Your suggestion for a topic is also appreciated. I will add it to my list of possible topics for the future.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Stephanie. Many thanks for your comment and your kind words. I appreciate your feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Ceris. Many thanks for your feedback. I believe I have found the technical issue and corrected it. Hopefully the Play button will now work for you. Let me know if it is still not functioning for you. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Much appreciated.
Regards,
Rob
PS – If the function is still not working for you, try accessing my website using Google Chrome, where it seems to work in all instances.

Hi Ram. Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you find my podcast useful. Good luck with improving your English.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Fahmy,
Many thanks for your suggestion. I assume you mean Valentine’s Day, which is a popular celebration in Australia. I will add it to my list of topics for the future.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Naday,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad you like my podcast. Thanks also for the topic suggestion. I will add it to my list.

Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Eduardo. Many thanks for your comment and feedback. Much appreciated. That’s a great idea for a podcast topic. I’ll add it to my list.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Angela,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you find the podcasts useful. How wonderful that you have family in other countries who you can visit. Travel is a great pastime which we can once again enjoy after the worst of the pandemic. I guess English is known in so many countries so it’s a good choice to learn. Having your son-in-law also gives you a great incentive to practise.
Good luck with you English. You are already doing very well.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Alexey and Anastasia,
Many thanks for your kind words about my podcast.
Cheers from Melbourne.
Rob.

Hi Mert. Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that my podcasts are useful for you.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Ali,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad that you liked the podcast. You are right that new vocabulary can be leant from a podcast.
Good luck with your English.
Beat regards,
Rob.

Hi Rey,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your feedback. Welcome to Australia! I hope you are enjoying life here and that 2023 is an exciting and fulfilling year for you.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Janine. Many thanks for your kind words. Have a merry Christmas and happy new year. Regards, Rob.

Hi Zohre,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you find my podcast useful. The speed of native speakers’ language is certainly a challenge for language learners. Of course, you still need to learn all the grammar and vocabulary. Learning a language certainly is a challenging activity (but very rewarding).
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Ati,
Many thanks for your comment. I can imagine that you and your husband are looking forward to coming to Australia. It will be an exciting and interesting time for you both.
Beat wishes for the future.
Regards,
Rob.

Hi Maj,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you find my podcast useful. I hope you are enjoying Melbourne.
Cheers,
Rob.

Hi Tim,

Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that you found it useful. Actually, a couple of the internet links are now out of date, so I have replaced them with a current link and updated the transcript.
Have a great day.
Regards,
Rob

I am writing this letter to thank you so much.

this is the most useful content and information about Austrulia Universities.
Thank you

Hi Akram,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast. I have done a podcast about Australia’s health care system. It is podcast number 13. https://slowenglish.info/podcast-13-health-care-in-australia/
Have a great day.
Regards,
Rob

I wish you can do a podcast about the healthcare system in Australia and medicare card types.

Hi Vahid,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you find it useful.
Cheers,

Rob

Hi Wendy. Many thanks for your comment. Yes, a worthwhile course indeed. Your comment says it all. Cheers. Rob.

Hi Banafsheh,

Many thanks for your comment. I am pleased that my podcast is helpful to you.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

Hi Hella,
Many thanks for your comment. The topic for my podcast was a little different this time. I’m glad that it worked well for you.
Have a great day.
Rob

That’s an interesting subject to talk about!
I have read the article with curiosity. I will listen the podcast later, which will help me improving my listening and pronunciation.
I like the way you described your trip discovering and learning more about Dolly Parton.
Have a nice day ahead!
By the way, your picture is absolutely stunning!

Hi,

Thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Reza. Many thanks for your comment.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Leon,
Many thanks for your very thoughtful comment. You are certainly right about the fogging up inside your helmet. I have an anti-fog lens insert which really helps to keep my visor clear. However, the glasses can still get foggy when it is cold and that can be scary, as you say. I open up my helmet visor when that happens, in order to let the air get rid of the mist, but if it is raining, that can be problematic. But a wet face is better than running off the road!!lol.

Thanks for your kind words about my podcast. I am glad that you find it useful.
Have a great day (and stay out of the rain!).
Rob

Riding a motorcycle on a rainy day is an absolutely bad experience. I must add one disadvantage, that is the rain will hide your sights, especially when you wear a helmet and glasses. (I noticed you wore the glasses in the picture you posted.) You can not use your hand to clean just like the wiper doing for the windscreen. And the worse thing is the fog constantly appearing on eye lenses. That is a deadly nightmare. So staying at home is a good idea when it is rainy.

Today is also a rainy day in Brisbane. So I can sit in front of the screen and write so long comments.

Thank you so much, Rob. I have learned your slow English for more than one year and I study one article every one or two days. It is almost done. I have heard many interesting things about Australia and Aussies through your podcast, which I think can make me get well along with Aussies easily. After all, we need to know more about each other when we have different cultural backgrounds.

In the end, I hope you and your family all are well. We can hear your news and new podcasts often.

Hi Leon. Many thanks for your comment. Yes, I have eaten rabbit. It tastes quite good in my opinion, being similar to chicken. It has very little fat and is therefore a healthier food to eat. There are butchers where you can buy rabbit meat which can be cooked just like a chicken. I don’t know of any other food where rabbit meat is used.
Cheers,
Rob

Hi Leon. Many thanks for your comment. Yes, they certainly are a unique animal and well adapted to their Australian environment. I too am keen to see one in the wild some day.

Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep. Many thanks for your comment. That is a perfect example of how useful the census data can be to a private person. Well done on your part.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Zahra. Many thanks for your comment. I appreciate your feedback.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Your thoughts are much appreciated and well stated.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, Rod Laver won the Grand Slam twice as you indicated. That’s why our main tennis arena here in Melbourne is called the Rod Laver Arena.
Have a great day.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dhammika,
Many thanks for your comment. You have given a mouth-watering description of the Milo experience. Thanks for reminding me why I wrote this podcast.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. I haven’t heard of that perspective about eucalyptus before, but it is certainly possible for some people. However, I think for the average Australian the situation is a little less complicated, without the spiritual aspect. However, that is only my view. That’s also interesting to hear about gold and eucalypts. It certainly could point to different ways of searching for gold.
Regarding the use of the prepostition ‘of’ – this is used with words such as memories or recollections. We have memories of things. We have recollections of things.
I hope that helps.
I hope you are well. Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Dep. Many thanks for your comment. I am sure everything can improved including the demerit points system. However, I don’t think too much about it. I like to focus on enjoying my rides on my motorcycle. The best way not to lose points is to stay under the speed limit, which is what I try to do.
Cheers,
Rob.

be improved

Hi Leon,
Many thanks for your comment. That is an interesting point about paying for ambulances. It seems to vary between states. In my early career, we moved between states 3 times and we were surprised that it was different in different states. Luckily, we have always had private health insurance which would cover it if it was not free.
Have a great day.
Rob

Your podcast is very detailed. I learned a lot.

I do agree with your opinion that the 000 emergency services in Australia are amazing. Though we sometimes would feel a little annoyed when an Ambulance passed through with very loud sounds.

And I had heard some things about the ambulance fee. You know, some states or territories in Australia will charge fees for ambulance services. I have watched some American Shows and often saw people in shows refusing to use ambulances because of the unaffordable fee.

I have no idea about the service fee in Australia. Fortunately, I lived in Queensland where there offer free ambulance services.

Hi Leon,
Many thanks for your comment. Sounds like your experience is very similar to mine when driving in a new country. I agree that driving slowly for a while is the best thing to do, until you get used to it. Anyway, welcome to Australia. I am sure you will soon be driving as confidently as every other Aussie out there on the road.
Cheers,
Rob

As a new migrant from the country where driving on the right-hand side of the road, I have the same feelings, just like you first drive in Germany.

Before I first drove by myself in Australia, I had imagined many situations on the differences between left and right driving. However, you would not face real pressure until driving on the road in Australia.

At every roundabout, I will remind myself to watch the right-hand direction and wait for a big gap. That makes me sometimes drive slowly on the road.

In spite very careful, you still can not avoid making mistakes. Once I turned a turn-around and entered the wrong lane directly and almost crashed the oncoming car. So embarrassing and dangerous.

Hi Dep. Many thanks for your comment. Yes, a visit to Victoria would not be the same without a trip down the Great Ocean Road. I hope you can make it here some day.
Cheers, Rob.

Hi Vladimir,
Many thanks for your comment. I am pleased that you liked the podcast. From what I can see on their website, anyone can join the SLSA. You just need to be willing to learn and to offer your time and effort. https://sls.com.au/join/#:~:text=No%20matter%20who%20you%20are,Life%20Saving%20Club%20for%20you.
Have a great day.
Rob

Thank you for this podcast. Henceforth, I have one more reason to visit Australia.

I am very impressed to know that such immense organisation is based on volunteer basis, that’s so amazing and inspiring at the same time.

I would like to pass the Bronze Medallion course some day. I hope that foreigners are able to join the SRSA. Moreover, I think that this is the great honour and goal to achive for everyone who like to swim in the open water.

Cheers,
Vladimir

Hi Vladimir,
Many thanks for your comment and your kind words about my podcast. I really appreciate your feedback. I agree that listening to podcasts is a great way to improve your listening skills. Your success with the IELTS test will surely come. I hope you will achieve your dream of visiting Australia some day. You will really enjoy the experience.
All the best,
Rob

I am from Kazakhstan and I do like your podcasts.
I would like to thank you for them, they are wonderful!
It’s so nice to listen your strories, because every word is pronounced very clear.
I am going to pass IELTS test, that’s why I have listened a lot of podcasts. Yours are best, no doubts.
In my opinion, this is wonderful way to learn English for one who have a dream to visit Australia somedays.
Please, don’t stop your work.

Sicerely,
Vladimir

Hi Wendy,
Many thanks for your comment. I am happy to have introduced you to Lano and Woodley. Their humour is wonderful in my opinion.
I agree that language learning is a life-long activity. Watching sitcoms etc is a great way to improve your listening skills.
Have a great day.
Rob

Kind regards,
Wendy

Hi Dep,
Welcome back to Australia. That is interesting to hear that some aspects of my website do not download quickly in China. That would affect many of my listeners I am sure. I’m not sure why that would be the case.
Anyway, many thanks for your comment and feedback. Dame Nellie was certainly a unique and talented person at a time in Australia’s history where the world was a very different place.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Ibrahim. Many thanks for your comment. That is an interesting idea. At the moment, I am not planning to make additions to my website. However I may consider it in the future. I hope you are well.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Alex,
Many thanks for your comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Have fun learning English.
Rob

Hi Rachel,
Many thanks for your comment. I am very pleased to hear that you are using my podcast. I hope you can find useful and interesting topics there to help improve your English listening skills.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment.
Greetings from Melbourne.
Beat regards,
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, the Great Barrier Reef is truly one of the world’s great treasures. While the government has taken steps to preserve its beauty, I remain concerned that the ongoing effects of climate change may damage the reef permanently. In my opinion, our response to climate change is one of the great issues facing humanity at the moment and for the coming decades.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. The smaller Australian territories such as Christmas Island can be visited just like any other part of Australia. No doubt there are tourist tours which are available as well.
Regarding your second question – all of these smaller territories are indeed part of Australia and are controlled by the Federal government. It’s just that they don’t have the profile, importance or self government of the ACT and the NT. People who live in these smaller territories have all the rights and privileges of all other Australians.
I hope that explanation helps.
Best regards,
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, it’s important that we learn to understand and write all the different styles of a language. Giving and understanding instructions is an important skill.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. The title can be a little confusing I guess. I just meant to capture people’s attention, as well as describing the topic in a simple phrase. I could have called it ‘What to do in an Emergency’, but I thought that ‘It’s an Emergency’ captured well what people think when they decide they must ring up for help. They make a decision that it’s an emergency, therefore they must ring.
I hope that explanation helps. As long as you understood the podcast, then the title is probably not so important.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, I guess there are advantage and disadvantages to both systems. At the end of the day, as long as you can get the help you need, then both systems can do the job.
On a different subject, we are all looking forward to seeing the broadcast of the Winter Olympics from China which begin shortly. I assume that the people of China are very excited about hosting the games, which are always very spectacular to watch.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. I’m sure you are already making the most of every day. Your positive outlook on life shines through in the many comments you have made here on the Slow English website.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Well spotted. I must admit to not really knowing why something sounds better with ‘for’ than ‘to’ or vice versa. As a native speaker, I know what sounds right to my ear, although in this case I can’t really explain the grammar (sorry). It sounds correct (to my ear) to say ‘There were too many for my liking.’ It sounds incorrect (to my ear) to say ‘There were too many to my liking.’ Sorry I can’t give you a more definitive response. However, I think if you use either, people will understand what you mean without problem.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. You have raised a couple of very interesting points there. Firstly, yes, there is the danger of meeting wild animals while riding, in particular kangaroos and wombats. If you hit one of these, the outcome will mostly be very bad, both for the rider and the animal. However, during daylight hours from around 7.00am to 6.00pm it is quite rare to encounter these animals on the road so it is quite safe to ride at that speed. However, at dusk and dawn, and during the night, all motorcyclists and drivers must be very careful and ride/drive much slower. Secondly, you have raised an interesting point about the use of the phrase ‘to my liking’. It basically means ‘what suits me, what pleases me, what I like.’ For example, you could say – This hot chocolate drink is not to my liking as it is too sweet’. Another example – ‘This music concert was not to my liking. I prefer rock music.’ Another – ‘The colour blue is more to my liking.’ So in the example in the podcast, it means that I don’t like the atmosphere. I hope those explanations are helpful.
Thanks again for your comment. I always look forward to reading them.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Joseph,
Many thanks for your comment and for your kind words about my podcast. I really appreciate your feedback. It seems sad that your dream will not be fulfilled. However, as the song Happy Talk from the musical South Pacific goes, ‘You got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true.’
Thanks for your new year wishes. I wish you also a happy and prosperous 2022.
All the best,
Rob

Hi Stefan,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, I think doing a few of my podcasts might be helpful for your planned trip. The time will pass quickly and before we know it you will be here in the land down under. We are looking forward to seeing you.
All the best from Melbourne.
Rob

It has been my everlasting dream to visit Australia destined never to be fulfilled. Thanks to you I get to know more and more about this beautiful country. I enjoy reading your stories, I adore listening to your podcasts. No doubt they are of great use and help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2022.

Truly Yours
Joseph Fradkin,
Moscow, Russia

Hi Boban,
Many thanks for your comment. Thanks also for your kind words. I am glad you watched the video. It’s such fun to ride that road through the forest.
Have a great day.
Rob.

Hi Konsta. Welcome to my podcast. I am sure that using podcasts will really help to improve your English. Good luck with your English studies.
Greetings from Melbourne.
Rob.

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. Yes, the song captures something about Australia which resonates with us, that’s for sure.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Tatiana,
Many thanks for your comment. Well done that you tried out the scones recipe. I am sorry if it didn’t work out well for you. There are so many variables which go into getting a successful outcome in cooking. Anyway, it was a good exercise to try it out. I am sure you read the recipe very closely as you were doing it. That would have helped your English skills a lot, and as you say, you picked up some cooking and kitchen vocabulary.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Dep,
Many thanks for your comment. I hope you are well. Yes, I agree that the health of a nation can also be reflected in the degree of volunteering.
All the best from Melbourne.
Rob

Hi Serg,
Many thanks for your comment. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Have a great day.
Rob

I tried to cook with your recepi. Now are holidays in Russia and cold winter. So I decided- why not. I have found I did not success with it. Because my scones didn’t turn out as lush as yours, It turn out as some sort of sweet bread. 🙂 But anyway your podcast is very useful with many kitchen and cooking vocabulary. Thanks so much.

Tatiana.

Hi Dep,
Thanks for your comment. That’s an interesting question. In the case of Australia, the term ‘Federal’ means the national government of Australia, based in Canberra at our National Parliament. We have the Federal Government (based in Canberra) and the state and territory governments, which are based in each state capital city respectively. So when Australians used the term Federal Government, they mean the national government in Canberra. However, the term ‘federal government’ also describes a situation where certain governmental powers are kept at the state level while others are held at the federal or national level. So you often see this term used by other countries, such as in the USA, where the national government is also called the Federal Government.
By contrast, the term ‘Commonwealth of Australia’ was chosen as the official title of our nation by the group of Australians who wrote the constitution of Australia back in the late 1890s. It is meant to show that the national (Federal) government is there for the shared benefit of all, for the ‘common wealth’ of all the people in every state and territory of Australia. I hope that explanation is helpful.
Best regards,
Rob

Hi Dep. Many thanks for your comment. The smaller 5 pointed star is just the 5th star which is part of the Southern Cross star constellation, as it appears in the night sky in the southern hemisphere. When you return to Australia, I am sure you’ll be able to find it in the night sky. Thanks for your kind words and all the best for the festive season. Regards, Rob.

Hi,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad that my podcast is useful for you.
Have a great day.
Rob

Hi Ceren,
Many thanks for your comment. I am glad you find my podcast useful. Have fun learning English.
Best regards,
Rob