Comments on: Podcast 150 – The Fitness of Australians

By: Rob McCormack

Rob McCormack — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 23:15:13 +0000

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

By: Radka Hradilová

Radka Hradilová — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:53:39 +0000

Hi Rob, I’m glad I found your wonderful podcasts. It’s exactly what I need. I live in Europe, in the Czech Republic, I am retired and I have been learning English for several years. I count myself among the more advanced, but my problem was understanding spoken English, especially Australian. my daughter lives with her family on the Sunshine Coast and every visit to her place is mentally demanding for me, especially all family gatherings and celebrations. I was already quite desperate at how little I understood, but your podcasts boosted my confidence and showed me the possibility of practicing listening. I really appreciate the ability to download the recording and listen to it repeatedly offline, as well as the transcription of the listening, which allows me to navigate the parts of the text that I did not understand. Thank you very much for your great work!!!

By: Rob McCormack

Rob McCormack — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:58:50 +0000

In reply to PASQUIER. 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.

By: PASQUIER

PASQUIER — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:11:41 +0000

HI 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

By: Rob McCormack

Rob McCormack — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:36:46 +0000

In reply to Dep Ni.

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.

By: Dep Ni

Dep Ni — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 07:49:54 +0000

Rob, It’s me, Dep, again. The shuttlecock I referred is not the badminton which was invented by Westerners in modern times. Its Chinese name is Jianzi, which originated in China during the Han Dynasty, more than two thousand years ago. Jianzi is a game device made of chicken feathers inserted on a round base like a coin. Players kick it with their feet or other parts of their body such as the head and shoulder in order to keep it in the air for as long as possible, so it takes great skill and agility. The game can be played individually or in groups, with players competing to see who can keep it in the air the longest. In recent years, the sport has gained popularity in other parts of the world, with international competitions held in countries such as Vietnam, Korea, and the United States. Playing Jianzi is a great way to improve physical fitness, balance, and coordination, while also experiencing Chinese culture and tradition. I hope you can look up the word Jianzi in your dictionary, and one day you can experience its magic for yourself. Dep.

By: Rob McCormack

Rob McCormack — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:03:41 +0000

In reply to Dep Ni.

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.

By: Dep Ni

Dep Ni — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:33:54 +0000

Hi Rob,
150 great podcasts, and I’ve had 150 interesting and helpful lessons. Many thanks for your hard work.
I’m glad I also meet part of the guidelines, using which for older Australians, as on average, I swim six times a week for 30 minutes each time, and I play basketball or shuttlecock, which is a popular activity in China to build up the strength of leg muscles, for 30 minutes each time on average 3 times a week. As for rock climbing, I was inspired by the podcast and I’d like to try it too, if it’s equally suitable for older people.
Best regards,
Dep

By: Rob McCormack

Rob McCormack — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:44:11 +0000

In reply to Christian Frankenberg. Hi Chris. Many thanks for your comment and continued support. Much appreciated. Cheers, Rob.

By: Christian Frankenberg

Christian Frankenberg — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:26:13 +0000

Rob,
Another great podcast! Very informative – but shows how our fellow Aussies need to be reminded of the benefits and joy of keeping fit and active! Your wall climbing is more challenging than I thought! Muscle strength and stamina is considerable and the height of the wall is far greater than I imagined!!!!
Chris