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2014/12/15
2014/12/10
Info for groups JA and JAzJR
Tomorrow we'll be catching up on some topics we didn't cover last week, so you don't need to read anything.
BUT I will need you to work in 4 groups and prepare presentations for next week.
Please choose one of these topics and write the names of students who will be working on a given topic in the comments.
1. General geography of Australia
2. General climate of Australia
3. Great Dividing Range
4. Great Barrier Reef
Some useful links:
http://alldownunder.com/australian-facts/overview-geography.htm
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcaustralia.htm
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-weather-and-the-seasons
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/great-barrier-reef
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/crossing-the-great-dividing-range
BUT I will need you to work in 4 groups and prepare presentations for next week.
Please choose one of these topics and write the names of students who will be working on a given topic in the comments.
1. General geography of Australia
2. General climate of Australia
3. Great Dividing Range
4. Great Barrier Reef
Some useful links:
http://alldownunder.com/australian-facts/overview-geography.htm
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcaustralia.htm
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-weather-and-the-seasons
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/great-barrier-reef
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/crossing-the-great-dividing-range
2014/12/04
Depression Worksheet
|
FATHERS
Explain the
terms:
„to go on the track”
/ “be on the wallaby” ______________________
“susso”
______________________
“scabs”
______________________
PRACTICAL TASK:
You have some
corrugated iron sheets and hessian (jute) sacks. How are you going to use
them?
|
|
KIDS
Explain the
terms:
“baby bundle”
______________________
“baby clinics”
______________________
Give examples of
infant welfare promotion: 1) ___________________ 2) ____________________
3)
______________________
PRACTICAL TASK:
What would you make
nappies from?
|
|
DWELLING
Explain the
terms:
“makeshift shelters”
______________________
“cocky’s joy”
______________________
“trading post” ______________________
“soup kitchens” ______________________
PRACTICAL TASK:
How are you going to
use the following: cloth flour bag, fat, lime and salt water?
|
|
MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS
Explain the
terms:
“hand-me-downs” ______________________
“making do skills” ______________________
“hawking” ______________________
“cohabiting” ______________________
PRACTICAL TASK:
How are you going to
use arrowroot and condensed milk?
|
2014/12/03
G: Great Depression & Gold Rush
And we're back to Australian history. Two vital events this week. We'll spend around 20 minutes talking about gold discovery and its consequences (my presentation) and then we'll move on to some practical tasks connected with the Great Depression. Read and watch the materials below.
The Great Depression
Visit our trusted Australian Screen website to watch some clips taken from a TV documentary "Bread and Dripping". Read teacher's notes to get a broader context.
Clip 1
Clip 2
Clip 3
Have fun and good luck in the class :)
The Great Depression
Visit our trusted Australian Screen website to watch some clips taken from a TV documentary "Bread and Dripping". Read teacher's notes to get a broader context.
Clip 1Clip 2
Clip 3
Have fun and good luck in the class :)
2014/11/27
Workshop (alternative)
ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS WORKSHEET
1. Get together with friends in groups of 3-4 students. Invent an Aussie-themed name for your group (e.g. Redback Spiders, Koalas, Uluru, Botany Bay Groupers etc.)
2. Read the info about RFDS and write 5 quiz questions for another team.
3. Post the questions in the comments below.
1. Get together with friends in groups of 3-4 students. Invent an Aussie-themed name for your group (e.g. Redback Spiders, Koalas, Uluru, Botany Bay Groupers etc.)
2. Read the info about RFDS and write 5 quiz questions for another team.
3. Post the questions in the comments below.
2014/11/26
E & F: Endangered species, education, Flying Doctors and a surprise ;)
Before we continue with the rest of topics beginning with "F", we're coming back to the letter "E" or a while.
E: Endangered and Extinct Species.
Read about the factors that threaten Australian wildlife here. (You don't have to read it all - just look at:
A. Habitat loss, change and fragmentation
B. Invasive plants and animals)
We are also going to spend some time talking about the fate of this unfortunate little fellow. Click on the picture to learn more.
E: (long distance) education.
This video unfortunatelly has a Danish commentary, but it still gives a wonderful insight into what The School of the Air is and how it operates. Have a look:
Here you can read about The School of the Air.
Do you know what special day it was?
Let's hear more form the historians because it should remind you the topic we covered last week:
F: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. We'll have a closer look at their work and importance for communities living in distant, remote areas of Australia.
(click on the picture)
***
E: Endangered and Extinct Species.
Read about the factors that threaten Australian wildlife here. (You don't have to read it all - just look at:
A. Habitat loss, change and fragmentation
B. Invasive plants and animals)
We are also going to spend some time talking about the fate of this unfortunate little fellow. Click on the picture to learn more.
E: (long distance) education.
This video unfortunatelly has a Danish commentary, but it still gives a wonderful insight into what The School of the Air is and how it operates. Have a look:
Here you can read about The School of the Air.
(Click on the picture to visit Alice Springs School of the Air website).
***
F:????
"At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1900, as the clock ticked into 1901 and the 20th century, whistles, gongs, church bells, rattles, pots, pans, accordions and all manner of noise-makers joined the sirens of boats on Sydney Harbour.
"At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve 1900, as the clock ticked into 1901 and the 20th century, whistles, gongs, church bells, rattles, pots, pans, accordions and all manner of noise-makers joined the sirens of boats on Sydney Harbour.
It was to be a special day"
Let's hear more form the historians because it should remind you the topic we covered last week:
"Just after that midnight, a storm broke and winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour swept into Sydney. Forty points of rain drenched the harbour city.
But the New Year’s Day morning of 1901 broke clear and fine, and an eight-kilometre procession headed out to Centennial Park, just beyond Paddington, where the federation rites, uniting the erstwhile separate British colonies into one federal Commonwealth, finally took place."
F: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. We'll have a closer look at their work and importance for communities living in distant, remote areas of Australia.
(click on the picture)
***
2014/11/24
Quiz "Australia letters A to F"
... is now active. It will close on Saturday, December 6th.
Please log on HERE
If you haven't received your login and password, please email me.
If there are any technical problems, please let me know in the comments section uder this post.
Have fun and good luck :)
Please log on HERE
If you haven't received your login and password, please email me.
If there are any technical problems, please let me know in the comments section uder this post.
Have fun and good luck :)
2014/11/19
F (part 1): Fire & Flood
Most of the class will be taken up by my presentation, but please read/watch the materials below.
Australian weather has never been easy on the settlers. Southern regions suffer from severe fires, while the North often faces tropical cyclones and floods.
Click the picture above to watch a heartbreaking account of Black Saturday - the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.
Click the picture below to learn more about the 2009 Queensland Flood.
IMPORTANT: YOU WILL HAVE SOME PRACTICAL TASKS TO DO IN THE CLASS SO PLEASE BRING SOME COLOURED MARKERS! :-)
***
Australian weather has never been easy on the settlers. Southern regions suffer from severe fires, while the North often faces tropical cyclones and floods.
Click the picture above to watch a heartbreaking account of Black Saturday - the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.
Click the picture below to learn more about the 2009 Queensland Flood.
IMPORTANT: YOU WILL HAVE SOME PRACTICAL TASKS TO DO IN THE CLASS SO PLEASE BRING SOME COLOURED MARKERS! :-)
***
2014/11/12
D & E: going back in time
And here we go with another set of topics. This week we'll have history mixed with some cultural information.
The topics are:
1. Diggers and Discipline
So far we had a look at the beginning of colony from the point of view of Aborigines, convicts and free settlers. The last group affected were the British soldiers and convict overseers. They may seem as the most priviliged group, but that's not entirely true.
Click on the link in the title to learn a little more.
And you can play this song in the background as you read:
2. Darwin
Now something cheerful to follow the previous topic- click on the picture to watch a clip showing Darwin from the point of view of an insider.
And then read the inevitable bit of historical trivia. [But please do not memorise the names of ships or numbers of casulties, I'm not going to quiz you on that! ;-) ]
3. Demographics (ethnic groups)
The topics are:
1. Diggers and Discipline
So far we had a look at the beginning of colony from the point of view of Aborigines, convicts and free settlers. The last group affected were the British soldiers and convict overseers. They may seem as the most priviliged group, but that's not entirely true.
Click on the link in the title to learn a little more.
And you can play this song in the background as you read:
2. Darwin
Now something cheerful to follow the previous topic- click on the picture to watch a clip showing Darwin from the point of view of an insider.
And then read the inevitable bit of historical trivia. [But please do not memorise the names of ships or numbers of casulties, I'm not going to quiz you on that! ;-) ]
3. Demographics (ethnic groups)
4. Exploration
A. Let's start with European discovery and colonisation. We have already talked about James Cook and the First Fleet, but this time please concentrate on non English explorers. Click the map to get some information (focus on nationalities only). Go here to see the chronology of landings, and here to see a cute animation.
B. Our second topic is a little tricky - excavation. But we will not be talking about gold - not just yet! ;-)
In fact what we are going to discuss is Australia's fossil past. Click on the picture to read some fascinating facts.
***
***
A. Let's start with European discovery and colonisation. We have already talked about James Cook and the First Fleet, but this time please concentrate on non English explorers. Click the map to get some information (focus on nationalities only). Go here to see the chronology of landings, and here to see a cute animation.
B. Our second topic is a little tricky - excavation. But we will not be talking about gold - not just yet! ;-)
In fact what we are going to discuss is Australia's fossil past. Click on the picture to read some fascinating facts.
***
***
2014/11/06
2014/11/05
C (part 2): culture, customs, cars and cinema
As you remember our course is about BOTH Australian history and its culture.
This week we are going to step aside from the chronological path for a moment in order to delve deeper into the Aussie soul.
We'll be talking about following topics:
1. customs
Two very interesting (if somewhat ridiculous) videos here:
Video 1
Video 2
Drinking etiquette as described on my favourite website.
Click on the picture to see a really thought-provoking social commentary on The Australian Citizenship Test.
2. car fetishism
Aussies LOVE their cars. Watch the clips and try to work out which two cars have cult status in Australia.
car 1:
Road Warrior (1981)
Love the Beast (2009)
car 2:
Two Hands (1999)
[it's a very vague clue, pay attention to the first shot]
If you are still confused go here, type the title(s) in the search box, and then read "plot" and "trivia" sections.
***For movie buffs only***
The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) - a film from Peter Weir, the same director who later shot the cult classic Picnic at Hanging Rock, and such films as Dead Poets Society and recently Master and Commander.
3. cinema (industry and film festivals)
Australian Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival. Visit their official site, browse around, and find out some information about the rules and the venue. You can also watch some competition films. They are all under 7 minutes long, so it won't take you too long ;-)
The ones which I would recommend are: The Story of Bubble Boy and An Imaginary Life.
4. Canberra
This week we are going to step aside from the chronological path for a moment in order to delve deeper into the Aussie soul.
We'll be talking about following topics:
1. customs
Two very interesting (if somewhat ridiculous) videos here:
Video 1
Video 2
Drinking etiquette as described on my favourite website.
Click on the picture to see a really thought-provoking social commentary on The Australian Citizenship Test.
2. car fetishism
Aussies LOVE their cars. Watch the clips and try to work out which two cars have cult status in Australia.
car 1:
Road Warrior (1981)
Love the Beast (2009)
car 2:
Two Hands (1999)
[it's a very vague clue, pay attention to the first shot]
If you are still confused go here, type the title(s) in the search box, and then read "plot" and "trivia" sections.
***For movie buffs only***
The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) - a film from Peter Weir, the same director who later shot the cult classic Picnic at Hanging Rock, and such films as Dead Poets Society and recently Master and Commander.
3. cinema (industry and film festivals)
Australian Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival. Visit their official site, browse around, and find out some information about the rules and the venue. You can also watch some competition films. They are all under 7 minutes long, so it won't take you too long ;-)
The ones which I would recommend are: The Story of Bubble Boy and An Imaginary Life.
4. Canberra
2014/10/27
C (part 1): Comvicts & crocs
This week we are going to be talking about:
- convicts: historical background (have a look at the TIMELINE), settlement, life conditions, pardons and famous prisoners
- convicts in popular culture: songs, stories, art
- the impact of convict past on Aussie mentality and national pride (concentrate on "social psychology" and "why?" in this article; we'll also touch upon the concept of "mateship")
(the Fremantle Prison flogging post)
CLICK BELOW to read more about:
Convict Daily Life
Convict Biographies
Convict Escapes
(downloadable PDFs)
and...
- crocodiles
(click on the picture)
*
- convicts: historical background (have a look at the TIMELINE), settlement, life conditions, pardons and famous prisoners
- convicts in popular culture: songs, stories, art
- the impact of convict past on Aussie mentality and national pride (concentrate on "social psychology" and "why?" in this article; we'll also touch upon the concept of "mateship")
(the Fremantle Prison flogging post)
CLICK BELOW to read more about:
Convict Daily Life
Convict Biographies
Convict Escapes
(downloadable PDFs)
and...
- crocodiles
(click on the picture)
*
2014/10/21
B: Botany Bay, Beaches and BBQs
In three weeks (letter "E" - European exploration) we'll be talking about French and Dutch expeditions, but today we'll go straight to captain James Cook and his landing in Botany Bay.
To get you in the proper mood first listen to this Irish shantie - The Shores of Botany Bay
(go here to see the lyrics)
Captain James Cook did not "discover" Australia, but his landing in Botany Bay on 29th of April, 1770 symbolicaly marked the beginning of colonisation.
It was just a quick stop for Cook, and Botany Bay remained quiet and peaceful for the next 18 years. The British Empire welcomed the "discovery" of the new land - and a potential colony - but that part of the world was not politically or economically significant enough to claim these lands for the British Crown just yet.
However the situation changed with a rather rapid development of events in America, and year 1788 saw the arrival of First Fleet to Botany Bay.
We already know what it meant for Aboriginal First Australians.
Now let's have a look at these events from the point of view of the English - Redcoats, sailors and convicts. Go here to read about FIRST FLEET and the problems they encountered on their arrival to Australia.
***
All right, to have a short break from history overload let's move now for a moment to present day Botany Bay and its biodiversity.
Have a look at this video:
Try to find answers to following questions:
1. What was Botany Bay called before it received its present name?
2. What is Eastern Blue Grouper, and why is it important?
***
Got a bit tired and hungry doing all the research, eh? ;-) Watch this 1984 commercial featuring Paul "Crocodile Dundee" Hogan. It is a great introduction to two more topics: BBQ and beaches.
See if you know answers to these questions:
1. What is the etymology of the word "barbecue"?
2. What fuels do Aussies use?
Here is a reminder of some social rules concering BBQ ;-)
(click to see bigger version)
And finally click here to see a stunning picture. Read the description. I'll ask you some questions on it.
***
2014/10/15
A (part 2): Aboriginal Australia - Stolen Generations and the Sorry Day
Just a little bit of reading/watching for you today.
The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998 - one year after the tabling of the report Bringing them Home, May 1997. The report was the result of an inquiry by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
Read more about STOLEN GENERATIONS
This time you'll have a few tasks to do in class (including going online to find specific information).
See ya in class!
2014/10/13
Aboriginal Australia - aftermath
Read more about kinship terms, moieties and skins HERE.
(click to enlarge)
Skin system (taken from: http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/en/Heritage-and-Culture/Aboriginal-culture/Lifestyles-and-traditions/Aboriginal-kinship/)
(click to enlarge)
Kinship terms (taken from: http://www.ausanthrop.net/research/kinship/kinship2.php)
TRANSLATOR GROUPS ONLY!
And now try to complete your first quiz online. This one is ungraded (doesn't count against your final score). You have to log on with the username and password I gave you in the class, and then on your student panel you'll see the quiz.
CLICK HERE
You will see: Untaken quizes, Started quizes and Expired quizes. Click on "Untaken". Another page will open and next to a quiz called "Welcome to the course quiz (ungraded)" you will have a take button. Click on it and you can answer the questions.
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
Skin system (taken from: http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/en/Heritage-and-Culture/Aboriginal-culture/Lifestyles-and-traditions/Aboriginal-kinship/)
(click to enlarge)
Kinship terms (taken from: http://www.ausanthrop.net/research/kinship/kinship2.php)
TRANSLATOR GROUPS ONLY!
And now try to complete your first quiz online. This one is ungraded (doesn't count against your final score). You have to log on with the username and password I gave you in the class, and then on your student panel you'll see the quiz.
CLICK HERE
You will see: Untaken quizes, Started quizes and Expired quizes. Click on "Untaken". Another page will open and next to a quiz called "Welcome to the course quiz (ungraded)" you will have a take button. Click on it and you can answer the questions.
(click to enlarge)
2014/10/08
A (part 1): Aboriginal Australia, Adelaide & Animation
In the class this week we'll be talking about the first inhabitants of the continent. We'll try to understand the special connection they have with the land, the way they understand the world, the complexities of their society, and the special family ties they have.
We'll also discuss the topic of so called Stolen Generations.
Please get yourself ready by reading/watching the materials below.
1. Dreaming.
Dreaming is essential to Aboriginal cultures. It explains the special bond the people have to their land. Below you will find three short clips taken from Australian Screen - an amazing website which archives the best of Aussie TV and film.
Dog Dreaming is a documentary about the journey of two ancestral dogs across the land that became a Dreaming story. In the land that belongs to the people who speak Mengerrdji, two dogs – the male dog called Adjumalar and the female Womarr – named sites as they crossed the land. Jacob Nayinggu follows their path, telling us what happened to Adjumalar and Womarr as they crossed the country, and how Womarr eventually became a dreaming place at the point where she sank into the ground.
Dog Dreaming is an interesting documentary that invites us into Indigenous cultural beliefs about the land being created by ancestral beings. As Jacob Nayinggu follows the dogs’ journey, he informs us what happened to them and the significance of the sites as a result of the dogs’ passage. Here, we gain an insight into how story is a way of mapping territory, and Jacob Nayinggu can tell us what landmark – a waterhole for example – was created and the name the dogs gave it. But it is the story of Dog Dreaming that Jacob follows as he moves through the land.
- Dog Dreaming part 1
- Dog Dreaming part 2
- Dog Dreaming part 3
2. Aboriginal Flag
The Australian Aboriginal flag represents the indigenous people of Australia. It was designed in 1971 by the Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas. Australian government officially recognized it as a flag of Australia on the 14th of July, 1995.
It consists of three colors (red, yellow, and black).
The black is said to represent the Aboriginal people of Australia, the red is said to represent the red ochre of the outback, and the yellow of the sun. Other interpretations of the colors used in the flag say that the red symbolizes the blood spilled when Europeans first came to Australia.
The designer of the flag Harold Thomas was quoted as saying "I wanted to make it unsettling. In normal circumstances you'd have the darker color at the bottom and the lighter color on top and that would be visibly appropriate for anybody looking at it. It wouldn't unsettle you. To give a shock to the viewer to have it on top had a dual purpose, was to unsettle.. The other factor why I had it on top was the Aboriginal people walk on top of the land. It's an obvious fact as well. So it had.. that was the reason why the black was on top was visibly unsettling and because of how I was trained at art school, not to make things too obvious but to have a bit of a shock but also to say that the people walk on the land."
Official Australian buildings often display the Australian Flag and the Aboriginal Flag side by side. The colors of the Aboriginal flag have also become powerful symbols of pride and strength for the indigenous people of Australia.
(from: IndexOz)
3. Adelaide
And a short clip from my favourite traveller/YT poster Overlander
4. Animation in Australia and New Zealand
See if you can see the connection? What do the following have in common?
- The Lord of the Rings
- King Kong
- District 9
- The Hobbit
- Avatar
WETA Digital is one of the leading CG/FX houses in the world, along George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic. Follow the links to visit their website and be sure to watch their commercials (especially "Snowball" ;-) ) and reels.
Australian animated feature films and shorts have won many awards. Here are just two examples.
- Oscar winning short: Harvie Krumpet
The odd biography of a man who has Tourette's Syndrome, chronic bad luck, menial jobs, nudist tendencies, and a book of "fakts" hung around his neck.
- some clips from Happy Feet (click the picture below)
We'll also discuss the topic of so called Stolen Generations.
Please get yourself ready by reading/watching the materials below.
1. Dreaming.
Dreaming is essential to Aboriginal cultures. It explains the special bond the people have to their land. Below you will find three short clips taken from Australian Screen - an amazing website which archives the best of Aussie TV and film.
Curator’s notes
Dog Dreaming is an interesting documentary that invites us into Indigenous cultural beliefs about the land being created by ancestral beings. As Jacob Nayinggu follows the dogs’ journey, he informs us what happened to them and the significance of the sites as a result of the dogs’ passage. Here, we gain an insight into how story is a way of mapping territory, and Jacob Nayinggu can tell us what landmark – a waterhole for example – was created and the name the dogs gave it. But it is the story of Dog Dreaming that Jacob follows as he moves through the land.
- Dog Dreaming part 1
- Dog Dreaming part 2
- Dog Dreaming part 3
2. Aboriginal Flag
The Australian Aboriginal flag represents the indigenous people of Australia. It was designed in 1971 by the Aboriginal artist Harold Thomas. Australian government officially recognized it as a flag of Australia on the 14th of July, 1995.
It consists of three colors (red, yellow, and black).
The black is said to represent the Aboriginal people of Australia, the red is said to represent the red ochre of the outback, and the yellow of the sun. Other interpretations of the colors used in the flag say that the red symbolizes the blood spilled when Europeans first came to Australia.
The designer of the flag Harold Thomas was quoted as saying "I wanted to make it unsettling. In normal circumstances you'd have the darker color at the bottom and the lighter color on top and that would be visibly appropriate for anybody looking at it. It wouldn't unsettle you. To give a shock to the viewer to have it on top had a dual purpose, was to unsettle.. The other factor why I had it on top was the Aboriginal people walk on top of the land. It's an obvious fact as well. So it had.. that was the reason why the black was on top was visibly unsettling and because of how I was trained at art school, not to make things too obvious but to have a bit of a shock but also to say that the people walk on the land."
Official Australian buildings often display the Australian Flag and the Aboriginal Flag side by side. The colors of the Aboriginal flag have also become powerful symbols of pride and strength for the indigenous people of Australia.
(from: IndexOz)
3. Adelaide
And a short clip from my favourite traveller/YT poster Overlander
4. Animation in Australia and New Zealand
See if you can see the connection? What do the following have in common?
- The Lord of the Rings
- King Kong
- District 9
- The Hobbit
- Avatar
WETA Digital is one of the leading CG/FX houses in the world, along George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic. Follow the links to visit their website and be sure to watch their commercials (especially "Snowball" ;-) ) and reels.
Australian animated feature films and shorts have won many awards. Here are just two examples.
- Oscar winning short: Harvie Krumpet
The odd biography of a man who has Tourette's Syndrome, chronic bad luck, menial jobs, nudist tendencies, and a book of "fakts" hung around his neck.
- some clips from Happy Feet (click the picture below)
2014/10/05
G'day!
Hello everyone!
So you have successfully made it here. Well done! ;-)
Please check this space regularly - I will be adding tons of materials, clips, links and pictures related to the topics of our classes.
Also please feel free to comment and add your own recommendations. They are most welcome!
Happy exploring!
So, how does it work exactly?
Well, I DO hope you listened carefully in the class, but if someone is still a little confused here is the general idea again:
1. In each class we will be talking about an array of Australia-related topics, all of which will begin with a given letter of the alphabet.
2. You will know these topics in advance, so you'll be able to find out some information beforehand.
3. In class, first I'll give a short presentation with audio/video materials, and then will be asking you some very tricky questions.
Our class is a FLIPPED CLASSROOM. This means that instead of delivering a lecture on a given topic in class, and then giving you homework, I'll ask you to learn on your own at home FIRST and then when you come to the classroom we'll use the information you have obtained to do something practical with it.
(picture source: http://ctl.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/flippedgraphic%28web1100px%29_0.png )
(picture source: http://www.slu.edu/Images/cttl/flipped%20graphic_reinertcenter.jpg)
Hope it all makes sense now :)
So you have successfully made it here. Well done! ;-)
Please check this space regularly - I will be adding tons of materials, clips, links and pictures related to the topics of our classes.
Also please feel free to comment and add your own recommendations. They are most welcome!
Happy exploring!
So, how does it work exactly?
Well, I DO hope you listened carefully in the class, but if someone is still a little confused here is the general idea again:
1. In each class we will be talking about an array of Australia-related topics, all of which will begin with a given letter of the alphabet.
2. You will know these topics in advance, so you'll be able to find out some information beforehand.
3. In class, first I'll give a short presentation with audio/video materials, and then will be asking you some very tricky questions.
Our class is a FLIPPED CLASSROOM. This means that instead of delivering a lecture on a given topic in class, and then giving you homework, I'll ask you to learn on your own at home FIRST and then when you come to the classroom we'll use the information you have obtained to do something practical with it.
_0.png)
(picture source: http://ctl.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/flippedgraphic%28web1100px%29_0.png )
(picture source: http://www.slu.edu/Images/cttl/flipped%20graphic_reinertcenter.jpg)
Hope it all makes sense now :)
2014/06/09
This is the end :'-(
1. Youth culture and youth problems
Romper Stomper is a film which kick-started the career of Russel Crove and which tackles the difficult topic of bullying and subcultures. A raw and brutal film, but one of the most iconic in Australian cinematography.
Here is the trailer.
On a slightly brigther note - a clip from Muriel's Wedding.
And here are two movie tips. Both films are a perfect illustration of the topic of youth problems.
Both deal with the insecurities of young people: loneliness, lack of understanding, problems with defining one's identity, lure of the big world and its temptations, and so on...
Both star a very talented female - Abbie Cornish - who is well on her way to become next Cate Blanchett.
In both she co-stars with two Australian actors representing the young generation whose potential has been recognised by Hollywood.
Here are the trailers for you:
Candy (2006)
Somersault (2004)
2. Time Zones
3. Zoos
Sydney Aquarium - Amazing - The most amazing videos are a click away
Romper Stomper is a film which kick-started the career of Russel Crove and which tackles the difficult topic of bullying and subcultures. A raw and brutal film, but one of the most iconic in Australian cinematography.
Here is the trailer.
On a slightly brigther note - a clip from Muriel's Wedding.
And here are two movie tips. Both films are a perfect illustration of the topic of youth problems.
Both deal with the insecurities of young people: loneliness, lack of understanding, problems with defining one's identity, lure of the big world and its temptations, and so on...
Both star a very talented female - Abbie Cornish - who is well on her way to become next Cate Blanchett.
In both she co-stars with two Australian actors representing the young generation whose potential has been recognised by Hollywood.
Here are the trailers for you:
Candy (2006)
Somersault (2004)
2. Time Zones
Australia has 3 Time Zones
- EST - Eastern Standard Time
Australian Capital Territory,
New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria - CST - Central Standard Time
Northern Territory and South Australia - WST - Western Standard Time
Western Australia
| Standard Time | Daylight Savings | ||
| 1 | Western Australia | + 8.0 hours GMT | no change |
| 2 | Northern Territory | + 9.5 hours GMT | no change |
| 3 | South Australia | + 9.5 hours GMT | + 10.5 hours GMT |
| 4 | Queensland | + 10.0 hours GMT | no change |
| 4 | Lord Howe Island | + 10.5 hours GMT | + 11.5 hours GMT |
| 5 | New South Wales | + 10.0 hours GMT | + 11.0 hours GMT |
| 5 | ACT | + 10.0 hours GMT | + 11.0 hours GMT |
| 6 | Victoria | + 10.0 hours GMT | + 11.0 hours GMT |
| 7 | Tasmania | + 10.0 hours GMT | + 11.0 hours GMT |
3. Zoos
Sydney Aquarium - Amazing - The most amazing videos are a click away
W: Australians at war
This class is all devoted to Australians at war - WWI, WWII and Vietnam.
1. The Boer War
This was the first major conflict Australians were involved in (or rather dragged into by the British) before they even became the Federation. One of the most controversial events of the war was the trial of Harry Morant and his two colleagues. The story was brought to screens in the famous Australian film, Breaker Mornat. Watch the trailer below.
Synopsis:
Breaker Morant concerns the murder trial of three Australian Army officers of the Bushveldt Carbineers serving in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). Lieutenants Harry "Breaker" Morant, Peter Handcock, and George Witton are accused of the murder of one Boer prisoner and the subsequent murders of six more. In addition, Morant and Handcock are accused of the sniper-style assassination of a German missionary, the Rev. H.C.V. Hesse. Their defence counsel, J.F. Thomas, has had only one day to prepare their defence.
Great Australian War Drama based on a true story.
2. World War I (the "Great War")
Australian were sent to both Eastern and Western fronts.
Read this general introduction first.
Click the picture below to enter a great interactive website that will help you learn the story behind the tragic Battle of Gallipoli. As you remember it was a turning point in Australian history and an abrupt change in Australia/Britain relations. It gave rise to a strong sense of Aussie identity and resulted in development of "broad" Aussie accent.
Western Front and the controversy of "voluntary" enlisting - click here.
3. World War II
WWII for Australians meant involvement in the military operations in the Pacific Ocean arena (e.g. bombing od Darwin), but Aussie soldiers were also fighting in Europe. It was another importan time for shaping national identity.
4. Vietnam
The Vietnam War was the longest war Australia was ever involved in. Australian involvement in the Vietnam War was marked by controversy and significant levels of public opposition to conscription and concern about casualties. The Vietnam War was also the first war witnessed 'live' on television.
It was also a war in which ANZAC fought a battle against all odds, one that they should have lost - 108 people against Viet Cong's troops of 1,500-2,500. They didn't have any chance to win... but they did.
OPTIONAL MATERIAL:
Below is a truly brilliant documentary on the Battle of Long Tan. It may make a difficult listening (no subtitles) but I think it is really worth your while. Such honest and heartwrenching accounts of human bravery and mateship are rare these days.
5. Recent Australian involvement
I think Aussie attitude is best summarised in this short clip.
1. The Boer War
This was the first major conflict Australians were involved in (or rather dragged into by the British) before they even became the Federation. One of the most controversial events of the war was the trial of Harry Morant and his two colleagues. The story was brought to screens in the famous Australian film, Breaker Mornat. Watch the trailer below.
Synopsis:
Breaker Morant concerns the murder trial of three Australian Army officers of the Bushveldt Carbineers serving in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). Lieutenants Harry "Breaker" Morant, Peter Handcock, and George Witton are accused of the murder of one Boer prisoner and the subsequent murders of six more. In addition, Morant and Handcock are accused of the sniper-style assassination of a German missionary, the Rev. H.C.V. Hesse. Their defence counsel, J.F. Thomas, has had only one day to prepare their defence.
Great Australian War Drama based on a true story.
2. World War I (the "Great War")
Australian were sent to both Eastern and Western fronts.
Read this general introduction first.
Click the picture below to enter a great interactive website that will help you learn the story behind the tragic Battle of Gallipoli. As you remember it was a turning point in Australian history and an abrupt change in Australia/Britain relations. It gave rise to a strong sense of Aussie identity and resulted in development of "broad" Aussie accent.
Western Front and the controversy of "voluntary" enlisting - click here.
3. World War II
WWII for Australians meant involvement in the military operations in the Pacific Ocean arena (e.g. bombing od Darwin), but Aussie soldiers were also fighting in Europe. It was another importan time for shaping national identity.
Mateship was defined through the experience of trench warfare, concentration camps, hunger, injury, forced labour and the boredom and terror of war.
In the [Japanese POW] camps the Australians discarded their differences and became a tribe, a tribe which was always the most successful group. The core of this success was an ethos of mateship and egalitarianism which not only survived the ultimate dehumanising duress of the death camps, but shone through as the dominant Australian characteristic.Mateship between soldiers helped define their manhood, and in turn, this helped define Australia as a nation.
Paul Sheehan, Among the Barbarians, 1998
4. Vietnam
The Vietnam War was the longest war Australia was ever involved in. Australian involvement in the Vietnam War was marked by controversy and significant levels of public opposition to conscription and concern about casualties. The Vietnam War was also the first war witnessed 'live' on television.
It was also a war in which ANZAC fought a battle against all odds, one that they should have lost - 108 people against Viet Cong's troops of 1,500-2,500. They didn't have any chance to win... but they did.
OPTIONAL MATERIAL:
Below is a truly brilliant documentary on the Battle of Long Tan. It may make a difficult listening (no subtitles) but I think it is really worth your while. Such honest and heartwrenching accounts of human bravery and mateship are rare these days.
5. Recent Australian involvement
I think Aussie attitude is best summarised in this short clip.
2014/05/25
DKJ 2014
As you remember (hopefully ;) ) tomorrow we take a break from our regular classes to plan the Open Days.
Please make sure that everybody is present because we will have to assign each of you a certain role to play, and I want to make sure we all know what to do in the coming week.
Also please bring in all the presentations/posters/whatsnots to class so we can see what we have ready and what stilll needs to be done.
See ya in class :)
Please make sure that everybody is present because we will have to assign each of you a certain role to play, and I want to make sure we all know what to do in the coming week.
Also please bring in all the presentations/posters/whatsnots to class so we can see what we have ready and what stilll needs to be done.
See ya in class :)
2014/05/11
Slight change of plans.
The Internet is playing up today and I'm having trouble finishing the "T" task for tomorrow. So if it's not ready, we'll have Aboriginal Astronomy and Waltzing Matilda instead.
In any case, you don't really have to do any reading for tomorrow.
Instead I'd like you to think about Infographics you might need for Open Day presentations. Students from my other electable class "E-media" will prepare them for you, but they need to know the topics.
In any case, you don't really have to do any reading for tomorrow.
Instead I'd like you to think about Infographics you might need for Open Day presentations. Students from my other electable class "E-media" will prepare them for you, but they need to know the topics.
2014/05/04
Letter S (part 2) - Symbols and Steve the Crocodile Hunter Guy
1. Australian Symbols
Begin with some serious reading here.
And then visit my beloved site for a less "purist" take on Aussie symbols ;-)
(click the pic below)
EUREKA FLAG
GOLDEN WATTLE
2. In the second part of the class we are going to celebrate the life and heritage of Steve Irwin, or as we came to know him better - The Crocodile Hunter.
How could you just not love this guy? ;-)
First part of a great interview. You'll find part 2 and 3 on You Tube.
3. (if we have time) Live, Universe and Everything
That's mostly Aboriginal Astronomy. I'll show you a presentation I prepared for Open Days three years ago. You don't need to read anything.
2014/04/27
Letter S (part 1): Sport and Science
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1. Sport
"Australian sport deserves quality piss taking or none at all."
Australians are a nation of active people and they like to joke that they spend more on excercising than on education, but it doesn't mean that they are going to worship their sportsmen and sportswomen blindly. They always retain a healthy dose of irony and humour.
Asked about cricket, they would say something like that:
Cricket is a game that moves about as fast as a Jamaican on valium. It involves watching 11 men in white clothes stand around a field for a few hours, then break to have lunch, stand around, then break again to have a cup of tea, stand around, then go home. The same thing occurs for another 4 days, and then after all that effort, both teams call the whole thing a draw...
Remember, "Australian sport deserves quality piss taking or none at all." So true ;-)
Australians pride themselves on inventing football. That's correct. Football. (see the link under science). However "footy" may mean different games in different states. More on that here.
Some of you know already that I'm hopelessly in love with AFL
Talking about sport, we can't possibly forget about Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Sydney was the second Olympic Games organized by Aussies. The first one was in Melbourne in 1956.
That date also marks Aussies' love affair with swimming.
Still, whether you are a professional athlete or an amateur, the main point is to be able to have fun.
Have a listen to this commentary. Pay attention to how Polish audience react to Aussies scoring goals, and how the Australian commentators react to the goal scored by Poland (first two minutes). A bit eye-opening, eh?
2. Science and the inventive Australian mind.
Have a look at the long list of Aussie inventions.
Here is the history of one of them:
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1. Sport
"Australian sport deserves quality piss taking or none at all."
Australians are a nation of active people and they like to joke that they spend more on excercising than on education, but it doesn't mean that they are going to worship their sportsmen and sportswomen blindly. They always retain a healthy dose of irony and humour.
Asked about cricket, they would say something like that:
Cricket is a game that moves about as fast as a Jamaican on valium. It involves watching 11 men in white clothes stand around a field for a few hours, then break to have lunch, stand around, then break again to have a cup of tea, stand around, then go home. The same thing occurs for another 4 days, and then after all that effort, both teams call the whole thing a draw...
Remember, "Australian sport deserves quality piss taking or none at all." So true ;-)
Australians pride themselves on inventing football. That's correct. Football. (see the link under science). However "footy" may mean different games in different states. More on that here.
Some of you know already that I'm hopelessly in love with AFL
Talking about sport, we can't possibly forget about Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Sydney was the second Olympic Games organized by Aussies. The first one was in Melbourne in 1956.
That date also marks Aussies' love affair with swimming.
Still, whether you are a professional athlete or an amateur, the main point is to be able to have fun.
Have a listen to this commentary. Pay attention to how Polish audience react to Aussies scoring goals, and how the Australian commentators react to the goal scored by Poland (first two minutes). A bit eye-opening, eh?
2. Science and the inventive Australian mind.
Have a look at the long list of Aussie inventions.
Here is the history of one of them:
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