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1) What is your favorite film of all time? Why?
2) Do you ever re watch a film over and over again?
3) What do people get out of re watching movies?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlQOytFCRI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFnNgTSkHPM

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Have a look at this Sydney artist's instagram page.
- what common themes keep coming up?
- what do you think this person does for a living?
- try to imagine what message this person is communicating through his work.
- choose one image or artwork and write about it.

Describe the artwork/ what does it remind you off/ How does it make you feel/
Comment on the choices he made/ Comment on the artistic quality of it/

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- decide if the following are actually art
dance/ music/ poetry/ cooking/ computer programming/ public speaking/ pottery.

can you think of any others?

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Why is some art valuable...and other art not?

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Why is some art valuable...and other art not?

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What makes a piece of art a masterpiece?

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https://rmitenglishworldwide.com/blog/cause-and-effect-part-1-grammar

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1) Have a quick look at this list of recommended podcasts.
2) Skim the explanation for KEYWORDS!! (1 min)
3) Do not read them all carefully.
4) Choose one to read about based on the key words you noticed. (3 mins)

Tell your partner which one caught your eye...discuss what you might expect from that type of program. Talk about whether that might also interest you...It is OK if it doesn't:)

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We asked the BuzzFeed Community and BuzzFeed staff to tell us about underrated podcasts they absolutely love. We received thousands and thousands of submissions this year. (Thank you if you sent one in.) Here are just some of the best suggestions we received:

1 - One of the best audio storytellers out there? Jon Ronson. The author crafts these fantastically addictive stories. His latest, which was for paying Audible subscribers but is now available on iTunes, is all about pornography. "It's a relatively unbiased look at how free internet porn came about and what effect it has had on different portions of society," said a reader. "Ronson's interview technique is really good. It's definitely worth a listen if you're a fan of his books." - Rachael, Facebook

2. The Secret Room - Dahlia Beta and Ben Hamm present a show full of confessions. "Each episode is exciting, fun, and deeply personal," a reader told us. "It raises the fascinating question of why we keep secrets from those closest to us, yet will choose to share with a public audience of interested human strangers." - Stella, Facebook

5. Slow Burn: A Podcast About Watergate - You might hear the word "Watergate" in the news these days, or just the suffix "-gate" shoved on to a scandal of any sense, but do you know all the ins and outs of the incident itself? This Slate podcast, presented by Leon Neyfakh, breaks it all down in eight episodes. A reader said: "They don't really say it, but the unspoken theme is the eerie parallels to today. Hooked." -

6. Ministry of Ideas - This great little podcast, from Harvard Divinity School, tries to work out the ideas that shape our world. A reader told us: "From race issues to selfies to meritocracy - beautifully produced and presented, and only 20 minutes long." Recent guests have included Emily Nussbaum from the New Yorker and writer Tom Hodgkinson. - Nastaran, email

This is such a great podcast on mental health, led by Rebecca Lee Douglas, and keeps things light and breezy even when tackling serious subjects. There's a lot to be learned here, from how to deal with negativity to how to get to sleep and how to find a therapist. "The hosts are warm and funny," a listener said, "and they are doing such powerful and important work in de-stigmatising conversations about mental health and mental illness." - Faith, email

8. Hilarious Humanitarians - Deanna Silverman, a clinical social worker, and Frances Echeverria, a marriage and family therapist, talk about topics we all face - like anger, failure, whether or not to say or be sorry, and how to survive the holidays. "It is an awesome, hilarious podcast on everyday issues we all deal with, run by two mental health facilitators, and it's bloody brilliant," said one fan. "I genuinely look forward to Fridays when the new one comes out." - Linda, email

- This is a podcast about death, but it hasn't got the tone you would expect for such a topic. Cariad Lloyd talks to fellow comedians about people they have lost. "I stumbled across this after recently losing someone and found it very comforting to listen to what others had gone through," a reader said. "All make me feel more normal, less alone in what I'm going through, and make me laugh and cry. It's made grieving my first big loss a lot easier." - Susie, Facebook.

10. Seek the Joy Podcast - The best way to get through a tough spot in your life is to hear solid advice from somebody else about how they got through it. Sydney Weiss asks people how they find joy in difficult times. A suggestion sent through to us said: "This podcast is a breath of fresh air, and I look forward to new episodes every week." - Kathryn, email

11. A Therapist Walks Into a Bar - Lily Sloane, a marriage and family therapist, listens to people's issues at her practice. In this show, seeking to connect with people and their problems, she literally heads to bars and asks them what they are going through. In this well-produced podcast, you realise that everyone is fighting their own demons. - Allie, email

12. The Upside Down Podcast - Yep, that's right: a podcast all about Stranger Things. Hosts Ash and Tori have an enthusiasm for the Netflix series that's utterly infectious from the moment you first listen, and you'll quickly appreciate the lengths they go to in cataloguing as much as they can about it. For the most recent episode, they recorded a field trip to the location that became Hawkins High School. - Alex, email

- The Bechdel test, as you may already know, determines how well women are represented in a film by whether it features two women who speak to each other without the subject being a man. Jamie Loftus and Caitlin Durante use this test as a starting point in a podcast discussing the portrayal of women on film. It's a lighthearted audio delight. Recent discussions have included movies such as The Post, Mrs Doubtfire, and Blade Runner. - Caroline, Facebook

16. Punch up the Jam - This comedy podcast, hosted by Demi Adejuyigbe and Miel Bredouw, has a great concept: finding and rewriting popular songs to make them even better. But the best bit is the chemistry between the two hosts throughout. It is quite simply electric. - Michele, Facebook

17. Ethnically Ambiguous - This is a good listen. A reader told us: "It's hosted by Shereen, a Syrian-American woman, and Anna, an Iranian-American woman, who give fresh insights on current events in the Middle East, humorous commentary, and observations on life as first-generation immigrants in America (especially in the Trump age)." - JZ, email

18. Off Book Podcast - This is an improvised musical podcast. The entire thing is accompanied by a keyboard and the interviews are followed up with an improvised song. Even the sponsored advert at the very start is a song! And yes, it works. "Zach and Jess, the hosts, are fantastic together," a reader said. "Together they've created one of the best podcasts out there. Dana, the producer, is extremely interactive with the fans. If you're not listening, you're missing out on something great." - Patrick, Facebook

19. Brown About Town LDN - Jay, Kneemah, and Stacey share their experiences of living in London: "What I really enjoy about this show is the different angles each host brings to the wide variety of topics they discuss due to their backgrounds yet similar interests." - David, email.

21. Bitter Brown Femmes - It's where the intellectual chisme happens. Cassandra and Ruben break down life, activism, struggle, and Twitter beef from where they're at. Their tagline is "We dismantle -isms while running our mouths", which is a perfect way to put it. Expect to come away with context and ready to join the fight. - Julia, BuzzFeed

22. The Europeans - At first glance, you might think that this is a podcast all about Brexit, considering that this dominates most European news. It isn't. A reader told us: "They discuss continental politics in a very approachable way, along with matters of language, culture, economics, food, and really anything that helps to shed light on the European experience. In one they interviewed a German interpreter about the difficulties of translating Donald Trump's offensive rhetoric, and it was both funny and extremely enlightening." It's presented by Katy Lee, a reporter in Paris, and Dominic Kraemer in Amsterdam. - Kit, email

24. Proof to Product - Ever have an idea for a side-hustle but you have no idea how to make that idea into an actual thing? This podcast interviews people who have gone along that journey and have made a success of it, whatever they do. Each episode is full of advice from gaining confidence and creativity to the more practical stuff like working out your brand, sorting out pricing, and locking down. - Nicole, email

25. Deeper Than Work - Dorianne St Fleur presents this careers podcast full of advice you'll wish you'd got a long time ago. "There are range of topics to help navigate the workplace, such as how to deal with a layoff, why you're not getting a promotion, how to create a career strategy, what to do to make a career switch, and dealing with sexual harassment at work, to name a few." - Erica, email

26. The Bestseller Experiment - At one time or another, most of us have thought about writing our own book, but actually doing it feels more punishment than pleasure. This podcast, presented by Mark Desvaux and Mark Stay, guides you through doing it the right way, from finding the creative sparks to dealing with the word that strikes fear into every writer: deadlines. - @SwaffordBethany

Disagree with any of the picks or have any great suggestions of your own? Let us know in the comments below!

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27 Podcasts You Need To Start Listening To In 2018

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1 - One of the best audio storytellers out there? Jon Ronson. The author crafts these fantastically addictive stories. His latest, which was for paying Audible subscribers but is now available on iTunes, is all about pornography. "It's a relatively unbiased look at how free internet porn came about and what effect it has had on different portions of society," said a reader.

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- Finalise research on historical figures
- Compare notes with group, decide on which historic individuals will be chosen.

- Continue planning your podcast ( what structure will suit your group?)

-Start scripting your podcast

-Prepare for writing task

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English Podcasts

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1) Choose one of these short talks.
2) Listen to it once with subtitles. Do not stop the video but write down the words you don't know.
3) look up those unfamiliar words/ check its meaning/ check its pronunciation/ practice saying it.
4) Watch the video again with subtitles. Notice the unfamiliar words in context.
5) Step away from the video, do something else, take a walk eat some food.
6) Come back and watch the talk without subtitles...has your listening improved?

If you like, you can write a short summary of what you learnt in this talk and its main points and email this to me: avin.jason@sydney.edu.au

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10 short TED Talks to watch during your coffee break

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Got just enough time for a coffee, but in need of a mental pick-me-up? These short, yet riveting talks may just do the trick.

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https://www.examenglish.com/leveltest/grammar_level_test.htm

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you need subtitles ( vocab is the key to better listening)
pick listening audio that is approximately 10 min ( repeat)
Pick audio that honestly interests you.

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1) Listening test 8:30 - 9:10 am (5 mins to transfer answers)
2) Look at transcript and go through answers  9:15- 9:45am ( early break)
3) Reading test 10:05- 11.05 am
4) Go through answers as a class until 11:45 (class ends early today)

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How have you been going with your own learning goals in the last week?

Have you found the time and energy to work on improving your language outside of class?

Have you met any difficulties? Have you made any progress?

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In what ways have these devices influenced the way we communicate?
How quickly have these changes taken place? Do you think we as a society are ready for these changes?

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https://www.examenglish.com/grammar/future_perfect.htm

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https://www.grammarbank.com/perfect-tenses-mixed-exercise.html

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Write a report 150-200 word report on the technological invention or development that you presented about today.
- Give some background information about the problem or issue that the technology has tried to resolve.
- Explain the technology and how it was developed, when it came about and who was involved in the process.
- Describe the impact of the technology and what sort of difference it is making in peoples lives.

write your plan in class

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Bluetooth headphone or Earbuds

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Story Telling Memory Game

Players sit in a circle and one person begins a story using any sentence they wish. Students take turns repeating the sentences and adding a new one. If someone misses a word, they are out. The last student able to tell the story without a mistake is the winner.

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Old corrugated carton boxes to make a roof for Flood victims

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Pillows from rubber trees

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Ecosia

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The most useful banner ever

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1. What do you think have been the 5 most important inventions of the last 200 years? why?
2. Who are some famous inventors?
3. What do you think is the worst invention of mankind?
eg. weapons, atomic energy, cigarettes, television, mobile phones, cars.

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https://www.examenglish.com/grammar/future_perfect_continuous.htm

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You will be assigned a challenge by your teacher

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You will be assigned a challenge by your teacher

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-Start your research with the link provided
-You can extend your research if you have the time (10 mins)
-You must then speak with a classmate with a different challenge and explain the charity and the challenge. Discuss the importance of both.
- Decide which idea you think will make the biggest difference.

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Lisa Donaldson - Dietitian in Residence

15 June 2018: Students and staff at the University of Canberra are participating in the Ration Challenge as part of Refugee Week.

Imagine this: you've sent your partner or a family member off to the shops to do the weekly groceries and they've come home with no vegetables, fruit, herbs, milk, eggs or fresh lean meat. Instead, the bag contains this:

420g of rice

170g of dried lentils

85g of dried chick peas

125g of sardines

400g of kidney beans

300ml of vegetable oil

Plain flour

Understandably, you're upset. How could you possibly make a decent meal with those ingredients, you ask yourself.

Believing you can't, you head back to the shops to get the missing staples while making a mental note not to trust someone else with the groceries next time.

What a luxury, to be able to source vegetables, fruit, herbs, milk, eggs and some fresh lean meat. To be able to go shopping and choose ingredients you like. We are fortunate to live in a country where we can easily access beautiful produce and an endless variety of food and flavours.

But not everyone has that luxury. Look back at that original bag of groceries. That's all Syrian refugees in Jordan are given to survive off for an entire week. Dry and tinned foods, with little colour, flavour and variety.

As part of Refugee Week this year, students and staff at the University of Canberra are participating in the Ration Challenge. From 17-24 June, they'll eat like a Syrian refugee.

Could you do it? Look at that list of ingredients again. What would you make?

Here are some tips for getting you through the week.
BREAKFAST
Rice and 50g of kidney beans
LUNCH
Monday - Friday: homemade flat bread with homemade hummus (chickpeas and oil), rice and 25g of sardines

Weekend: leftovers from dinner
DINNER
Lentil soup, dhal and rice

Falafel with homemade flat bread

Could you eat like a Syrian refugee in Jordan for a week? Learn more about the Ration Challenge here.

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Lisa Donaldson - Dietitian in Residence 15 June 2018: Students and staff at the University of Canberra are participating in the Ration Challenge as part of Refugee Week. Imagine this: you've sent your partner or a family member off to the shops to do the weekly groceries and they've come home with no vegetables, fruit, herbs, milk, eggs or fresh lean meat.

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Movember, Mustaches and Men's Health | Forbes

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Have you heard of any challenges that people undertake to raise money and awareness for a charity?
With your classmates, talk about as many challenges as you can.
What is popular in your country?

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How many of these challenges have you faced? Talk with your partner. 

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How many of these challenges have you faced? Talk with your partner. 

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1.     taking part in a race or a competition

2.     doing an audition for a part in a play

3.     performing on stage (acting, singing, etc.)

4.     giving a speech or a presentation

5.     taking an exam or a driving test

6.     attending a job interview

7.     travelling abroad on your own

8.     cooking a meal for lots of people

9.     asking somebody out on a date

10.   meeting your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents

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1) Listen and read transcript.
2) Underline words you don't know.
3) Study those words using a dictionary
4) step away.... 15 mins---4 hours...1 day

5) Listen/watch again without transcript.

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What kinds of things do you find challenging?
What are 3 challenges that you have faced in your life?
Do you think challenges make you stronger

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Lewis Pugh: My mind-shifting Everest swim

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After he swam the North Pole, Lewis Pugh vowed never to take another cold-water dip. Then he heard of Lake Imja in the Himalayas, created by recent glacial melting, and Lake Pumori, a body of water at an altitude of 5300 m on Everest -- and so began a journey that would teach him a radical new way to approach swimming and think about climate change.

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Global English - B2 - M2 - W2 - Audio & Transcript - News or fake news?

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http://us21.chatzy.com/55658064635819

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Technology is taking us in  a dangerous direction.

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Technology is taking us in  a dangerous direction.

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Write one short paragraph on something that you believe strongly in.
tell others why you believe in it and why you believe it to be of great importance.
Try to use emotive language...this may inspire others.
- The power of positive thinking
- The value of hard work
- The value of teamwork
-The importance of individuality
- Arguing a political point
- The viability of digital currencies
- The need for privacy from governments

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1) Leadership is a kind of ability that makes people willing to follow an individual who is intelligent, good at speaking and could manage a group very well.
2) In a group a person who has an ability and is qualified to guide and organise other people of their group.
3) Leadership is a kind of relationship which is between the leader and their follower.
4) leadership is an innate capability that a person possesses to mobilize small or big teams in order to provide orientation, support and tracking to achieve or obtain an objective or common goal.

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Look up leadership quotes on google images.
Read different quotes.
1) Choose one that you like and agree with.
2) Choose one that you don't understand,

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In pairs come up with a suitable definition for the word.
Don't look it up...try to phrase your own idea in English:)

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http://www.freemake.com/blog/dragon-dictation-app-unbiased-review-of-best-speech-to-text-software/

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Decide on how strongly you agree with these statements.

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Decide on how strongly you agree with these statements.

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Provide examples to support you opinion.

1) The more expensive the restaurant, the better the meal.
2) The louder the bass, the better the sound.
3) The grander the wedding, the better their chances of success.
4) The longer the holiday the better.
5) The scarier the film, the more fun it is to watch.
6) The fatter the baby, the cuter it is.
7) The louder the car, the faster it is.
9) The longer her hair, the more beautiful she is.
10) The more money you have, the more respect you will get.

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Compete with your partner to find out who is the better person. You must be willing to lie and stretch the truth in order to come across as a more interesting person.
example: I am much more charitable than you because I give 1 dollar every day to hungry children!

1) Which individual is more successful in their love life?
2) Who has the most interesting hobbies.
3) Which individual has more annoying habits.
4) Who would you say is more adventurous.
5) Which of these two people would make a better president.
6) Who has more of an individual/funky style (justify your answer)
7) Which person is a bigger party animal.
8) Who is more introverted.
9) Who is braver.
10) Which individual is more into animals?

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1) Show your partner pictures of your hometown using google maps and images.
2) See if you can find examples of local attractions, scenery, businesses, shops or schools.
3) Ask each other questions to practice using the comparative and superlative forms.
eg.
Is it the nicest street in the area/province? Which would you say is the best?
Where is the closest train station?
where is the nearest cinema?
Where is the best place to get take away food?
What areas are considered the most dangerous?

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https://www.examenglish.com/FCE/fce_listening.html

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In case you never get to meet an aboriginal person while you are in Australia, if you are interested in seeing how many indigenous Australians live, this documentary is very sad but well made.

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Imagine that you are working for a company and have been asked to write a short information report to give to a college from an international branch, who is coming to work temporarily at your office. You are expected to explain/teach them about cultural etiquette at work and give advice on what is appropriate in your culture.
your report should follow this general outline.

1) an intro
2) bullet points about the main points you will talk about
3) One paragraph for each point
4) A conclusion/ welcoming them / wishing them a good time at your company.

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A wonderful series of short documentaries

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A wonderful series of short documentaries

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Ever wondered how closely linked politics and culture are to fashion? Based on these short episodes you are taken all over the world as we explore just how much our clothing is a representation of the cultural landscape.
Fashion is fascinating!!!

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Culture myth and how our beliefs shape our culture.

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Culture myth and how our beliefs shape our culture.

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This is a fascinating talk. It is presented in clear, well-spoken English with an accent. The presenter tells stories and jokes as he tries to explain something very important about the differences between Western and Eastern culture.
Transcript available.

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Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs. West -- the myths that mystify

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Devdutt Pattanaik takes an eye-opening look at the myths of India and of the West -- and shows how these two fundamentally different sets of beliefs about God, death and heaven help us consistently misunderstand one another.

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Based on this sentence, What does the idiom mean?
Brian wanted it to be a surprise but Jenny accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
a) Things that you say when you are drunk but then regret.
b) Having the ability to always guess the right answer.
c) Revealing a secret by mistake.

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Guess which definition is correct....
a) A warm tingly feeling you experience when you are in love.
b) An uncomfortable feeling you have when you've eaten spicy food.
c) A weird feeling in your stomach when you drop down quickly.

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What is Paris Syndrome?
Who does it affect?
Why does it affect certain cultural groups so severely?

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Answer questions after watching video.

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Amazon Native Explores The Streets Of NYC - BBC NEWS

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Skim this article for vocabulary that you are not familiar with. See if you can guess its meaning from the context. NO DICTIONARIES:)

- with your partner, decide on three points which stood out to you in this article.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/do-aussies-abroad-conform-to-a-stereotype/news-story/dbfcb951cb2a2a132f7284efc061cb8f

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How do other cultures view your culture?

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How do other cultures view your culture?

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Do you have any idea how people from other cultures view tourists from your country?
Do you imagine it's positive or negative?

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1)What travel locations are most popular with people from your culture?
2)What do you think is the attraction to this place?
3)Do you personally want to go there too?

4)What countries do not interest people from your culture?

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Feel free to check out this listening on work culture. it might give you some insight into both Australian cultural expectations as well as professional etiquette.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bestpractice/what-is-culture/8961352

culture shock:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/blueprintforliving/culture-shock/8123504

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This is a really interesting article and very fun to read.

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Courtesy of Shutterstock / Munchies

I'm lying face down in a hotel bathroom in St. Petersburg, Russia. The cheap vinyl of the bathroom sticks to my forehead and every part of my body aches worse than it has ever ached before. Out of the corner of my eye I can see a puddle of my own piss, cartoon yellow, slowly creeping towards my chin. I try and get up but my legs give out from under me. I fall into the bathtub and throw up. An attempt to shower is cut short when I discover that water on my skin feels like needles being stuck underneath my fingernails. Today I am going to stink and that's fine. I pick the cleanest dirty shirt from my luggage then start to venture towards the hotel lobby, hoping to find some hair of the dog or-at the very least-some carbohydrates to soak up the shame. I leave my room and the fluorescent light of the hallway hits my eyes. My headache instantly intensifies, an arrhythmic drum solo on the inside of my skull. The pain is so bad that when I first see the body I don't know if it's real or not.

Spread out on the hallway floor is the largest human being I have ever seen in real life. The man is easily four hundred pounds. He's lying on his back, limbs askew, oversized belly sneaking out of his shirt. The man is unconscious and letting out these little half breaths between thunderous snores. I'm about to check on humongous, maybe poke his gut to make sure he's not a hallucination, when towards the elevator I see another body even bigger than buddy at my feet. This man is flailing in an awkward sleep. He rolls to his side to reveal two (slightly) smaller dudes draped out beside him, like a supersized variation on the Russian doll. Head pounding I piece together what's going on.

The four men on the floor are Sumo wrestlers. The day before was the last day of a Sumo competition at the World Combat Games. At the after-party many of the Sumos drank heroic amounts of liquor. The guys in front of me must have passed out trying to get to their rooms. No one was strong enough to move their dead weight.

Somebody in the hallway lets out a fart. While trying to escape the smell I start to remember the night before. I attempted to out drink men literally twice my size, I ate more food than I thought I was physically capable of, and I attacked parked cars like a post-modern Don Quixote. When I get to the end of the hall my headache intensifies-again-and I spew. I had partied with Sumo wrestlers and it almost killed me.

My adventure with Sumo wrestlers actually started as a trip for work. I had been hired through a cable company I worked for to commentate the World Combat Games. It was one of my first paid gigs as a martial arts analyst and I was determined to prove my worth. For the months leading up to the event my life was consumed with studying the beauty of competitive conflict. I spent hours learning the proper pronunciation of athletes names. There were days glued to the computer watching hundreds of technique videos. I read books debating the arcane origins of belt wrestling, tried out high kick strategies in my living room, and bored my wife half to death geeking out on jiu jitsu statistics. Still there was nothing that could have prepared me for the sheer spectacle of Sumo.

On a conceptual level I knew that Sumo wrestlers were big. But until you've seen a Rikishi in person you have no idea just how gigantic, and how strong, these athletes actually are. Underneath the layers of fat each competitor has built their body for power and speed. When a match begins Sumos burst forth like bullets from a gun. Their intense grappling would be enough to crush a normal human, but the behemoths go at each other with precision and strategy in the most violent of dances. The aura for the Sumo matches was electric. The arena was buzzing with excitement, shifting from anticipatory silence to deafening cheers as the competition got underway. The Sumos were treated like rock stars and no one was a bigger star than Byamba.

Byamba was a two-time world Sumo champion. He was featured in Oceans 13. He appeared on America's Got Talent. VICE profiled him in the documentary 10,000 Calories a Day. In fact if you've seen a Sumo on television in the last decade it was probably Byamba. That day the champion was dominant in his performance. His bouts were over in seconds, opponents thrown from the ring with ease. Watching on commentary I sounded like a little kid, giddy with excitement witnessing this master perform his aggressive art. By the time he was awarded his medal every person in attendance was on their feet. That evening the afterparty was held at our hotel. My plan was simple: I was going to shake Byamba's hand, congratulate him on a job well done, and leave the man alone for a well-deserved celebration. Byamba had other plans.

I should preface what I'm about to tell you by saying I was very, very, drunk that night. Possibly more messed up than I have ever been before, which is a lot considering I spent over a decade playing in a glam rock band and once got high with Nikki Sixx for three days. While I'm not sure the facts would hold up in a court of law, and things have grown or shrunk depending on when I'm recounting the event, I know in my heart the general tone of what I'm about to say is true. We'll call it drunken non-fiction. The blockbuster movie version of what went down.

When I got to the bar Byamba was holding a link of sausages in one hand. In the other was a bottle of Russian Standard vodka. I approached the champ. The big man pointed in my direction. Another Sumo grabbed a reserved sign off the table (Russian reserved signs are shaped like dunce caps) and tore off the top to create a makeshift funnel. The next thing I know the funnel is in my mouth. Byamba laughs and pours a half litre of vodka directly down my throat. It was the beginning of the festivities and I was already a wreck.

After that, as a group, we stumble into another part of the bar. Laid out before me is an enormous spread: pork knuckle, sauerkraut, hot pot soup, mountains of sausages and bread. Byamba piled up his plate then motioned for me to do the same. Everyone took a seat. At the head of the table-on the night he won a medal-Byamba took the time to put over everyone else in the room. The champ was humble and funny. Instantly loveable. His message was that with the right team and the right training we could all achieved greatness. When I asked the big guy to elaborate on that idea he insisted I drink more vodka and finish my food. I mowed down a dozen sausages and had at least another half litre of drink. I ate sauerkraut until my pores were leaking vinegar. With the sheer volume of consumption I started to believe that I could be a Sumo wrestler, too. We decided to test that theory in the parking lot.

Now I've done a lot of stupid shit in my life. But I can safely say that squaring off to compete Sumo in the parking lot of a Russian hotel is among the stupidest. Byamba officiated the event. He explained that the man I'd be competing against was a mere 250 pounds. Two-fifty. That's-what-100 pounds heavier than I am? I got this. What Byamba didn't tell me was that my competition also happened to be the middleweight Sumo Champion of the world. Fueled by adrenaline and alcohol I squared off against my opponent, onlookers on every side. We put our hands of the ground to signify the beginning of the match, Byamba yelled something, then I sprinted forward as fast as I could. Hitting the Sumo's body was like hitting a boulder. I pushed. I grappled. I tried to sweep a leg. Nothing I did had any effect. After maybe 15 seconds of competing the middleweight Sumo champion threw me to the ground with a jovial laugh. I hit the concrete hard and felt a sharp crack against my rib. To numb the pain someone handed me more vodka.

Bayamba told me that for a first timer I had done pretty well. He asked if I wanted to see what Sumos could really do. Worried that I was signing myself up for another round I shook my head, but by that point no one was paying attention. The Sumos had slammed their drinks and were proceeding to push around the cars in the parking lot like a standard person pushes a shopping cart. I tried to take on a midsize sedan but my ribs hurt too much. To compensate I looked for more booze but I was out. We were all out. Which is why the Sumos decided to ransack a nearby restaurant.

At the best of times 30 people showing up to a restaurant unannounced is chaos. But when you take into account that the majority of the 30 people showing up to this restaurant were actual Sumo wrestlers it turns into complete pandemonium. Food appeared out of nowhere and was consumed just as fast. We all started an impromptu grappling competition and fell into tables. When drinks couldn't come fast enough one of the Sumos walked behind the bar, picked up a keg, and walked out the front door. The last thing I remember before I blacked out was Byamba taking photos with the staff.

***

My hangover from that night lasted for about two weeks, it followed me all the way from Russia back to Canada, and if I cough too hard my ribs still hurt. To this day the smell of Russian Standard simultaneously makes me want to smile and throw up. While the memory of the evening is burned into the back of my skull, all evidence of the event was lost, along with my cellphone, somewhere on a St. Petersburg side street. But what I can tell you with certainty is this: after that night whenever I hear someone use the term party like rockstar I laugh in their face. Partying like a rock star is nothing. Partying like a Sumo wrestler is more than you could ever imagine.

Robin Black talks about MMA for a living. @robinblackmma . Details on Black's upcoming storytelling dates can be found here .

Graham Isador gets drunk off half a glass of chardonnay: @presgang

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Partying With Sumo Wrestlers Almost Killed Me

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Courtesy of Shutterstock / Munchies I'm lying face down in a hotel bathroom in St. Petersburg, Russia. The cheap vinyl of the bathroom sticks to my forehead and every part of my body aches worse than it has ever ached before.

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Rank from most important (1), to least important (5)... one of these shouldn't even be on the list.

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Rank from most important (1), to least important (5)... one of these shouldn't even be on the list.

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Social Organisation
Customs and traditions
Language
Arts and literature
Economy
Sunset

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What are some topics related to the theme CULTURE?
eg..traditional dress
give me 8 more....

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A Midsummer day's dream

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How is Sydney? How have you been doing?
As you Know I have (article) new job, and it is too demanding. Anyway I think it is (article) momento to plan your México trip, you should buy the flights now because close to the festival (article) prices shout(shoot) up.
Remember I can put you up in my apartment, It is small but we could be ok.
I would like to go to Chapala an Tequila let me know if you join us.
Hope to hear from you soon.

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How are you my dear? I know that it has been a long time since we met last year. But I was really busy with the kids and I was preparing my bags to travel to Sydney, you can’t imagine how much of stuff I have to take with me. Any way ? I am writing to you to check If you are planning to come to Jeddah in the new year because at the time It will be my sister's Wedding so I would love to invite you to be with us . And please don’t worry about the hotel reservation because you can stay at my apartment that week. We can make a plane(spelling for that week to go out and do many exciting things. Please, try to come, That would be great.
Hope to her from you so. Love you dear.
Take care.
Eman

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Remember the topic we had talked about in the new year? About festivals that you want to join? My country’s about to have a water festival and I think you would be interested.
This even was created to reduce the heat though so if you want to attend it, you should prepare light clothes otherwise, your good ones will be destroyed. Because in this month, the temperature in Thailand is unbearable event for us the local. Most visitors' skin have turn red like shimps on fire. Come to think of it you with a red skin would look really ridiculous. (don’t worry your skin will turn back to normal colour in no time.)
Hope you send back your answer soon, the festival will start next month and the transportation will make you lose your mind (or your hair.)
Take care,
Pom

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Hi Tien,
It has been for a while, how have you been doing?
I will have finished my studying by the end of this week.  I am planning to have more fun leading up to my last week in Sydney. I hope that you can come and join us. It’s now in winter, and there are many interesting activities.
We intend to go skiing in (article)  Snowy mountains, camping in Tarango Zoo for 1 night. I believe that this would be (article) amazing experience! Last but not least, we will enjoy (article) Vivid Festival with (article) dinner buffet on the cruise of Sydney Habour.
Is it attractive enough to make you fly here and join in (unnatural use of the phrasal verb) ? I will put you up!
Ler me know if you can come.
Warm regards,
😊

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Hi _________
It's been awhile. Sorry for being a bit quiet.
I've been under the hammer with work and the new position. But things are settling down and I'm planning a few fun things in the up coming months.
This year I'm planning on going to the Blues and Roots music festival. I was hoping you would join me. have you heard of it before? It's very famous in Australia and it's been running for many years. they always get the best acts in to perform, including some famous international acts.
I'm planning to go for the whole week and I'm looking into renting a house in the area so a few of us can stay comfortably. last year I camped, and it rained. I think I've had enough of camping. I want to experience the festival in comfort.
So why don't you have a look at the website and tell me if your are interested. I'll book the house.
Hope you decide to join us.

Speak soon
Avin.

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You have been asked to write about your idea for a new festival. The purpose of this piece of writing is to tell people about it and to generate public interest. The writing should be about 150 words.

Below is an example of one successful festival's homepage. This might help you get an idea of the type of information they choose to provide.

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Byron Bay Bluesfest is Australia's premier contemporary Blues & Roots music festival. It showcases music from around the world annually on the Easter long weekend on 120 hectares at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just north of Byron Bay, NSW.

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a) To do something carefully.
b) To do something without planning.
c) To do something rarely.

What is something that you do once in a blue moon?

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What is the difference between these two pairs?

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What is the difference between these two pairs?

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1) chant, cheer
2) protester, supporter
3) carnival, parade
4) clash, crash
5) wild, wave

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If this was an advert for a festival....

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If this was an advert for a festival....

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What would you expect from it?
Does it seem like a typical festival?
Would this interest you.....

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A documentary on Burning Man, what makes this event so popular. Produced and Directed by OZ YILMAZ Each year, more than 70,000 people from around the world travel to a dry desert lake. In the midst of dust, heat and wind of a Nevada desert participants build a temporary city with large-scale art installations and share an experience based on unity and peace. The event comes to an end with Burning Man, a giant effigy. This documentary tells first-hand accounts of the stories of the participant that unite them in principles of self-expression, self-reliance and community effort. Burning Man draws people from all walks of life that shed their normal daily routines to participate in a week-long celebration of living out their dreams. Burning Man: Into the realm takes us behind on a journey in which we get to hear about what makes this event so popular. 
into-the-realm.com

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Imagine that you witnessed that festival disaster.
You may choose to be a member of the public or emergency services,
alternatively you might take the point of view of a festival goer.

Write a short story in the form of a diary entry that recalls the horrific events of the day.

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Imagine that you were a witness of that event.
What went wrong?
What could have been done to avoid it?
How could the crowd have reacted better?
What would you do if you found yourself in a situation like that?

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Have a look at the image below of an outdoor music festival.
Try to think of as many positive things about an experience. Then come up with a list  of the things that could go wrong.

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1. Do you like being in large crowds?
2. When was the last time you were part of a large gathering? What was it? Describe the experience...
3. Look at the photo below. What kind of event is this. Would you be interested?

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Taking tests is a long standing tradition and a widely accepted measure of a learners ability. How useful do you find tests in determining an individuals true ability? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such an assessment tool.
You may wish to consider:
- The empasis on grades
- The costs involved
- The validity of the results
- The emotional toll on students
- The pass fail mentality

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extra grammar practice
https://agendaweb.org/grammar/articles-intermediate-exercises.html