Slanguage Skills

Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

Module 1: Lesson D

Topic: That’s bloody random!

Objectives: Students will learn 18 typical, everyday Australian English expressions/phrases that can be
difficult for learners to understand from context.
Reference: N/A

Warm-Up: Running Dictation (Handout 1)

1. Cut up Handout 1 into slips. Tape slips outside of the classroom in various spots (but not too far
from the classroom.)

2. Divide students into pairs*. Explain that the aim of the activity is for one of the students in each
pair to walk (or run!) to one of the slips outside the classroom and memorise the sentence on
that given slip. They must then walk (or run!) back to their partner and quietly dictate w hat they
remember to their partner, who writes it down. If they forget, they must go back outside and
rememorise the sentence. Basic rules to tell students: They are not allowed to yell from the
doorway, they are not allowed to take pictures with their cell phones, and they are not allowed
to move the slips outside.

*See note below for alternative set-up

3. When the sentence has been fully dictated, they then swap roles. Over several turns they will
build a series of sentences with expressions describing random Australian slang.

4. The winning pair is the team that finishes first with sentences that are complete and correct. If
there are mistakes, students will need to go back outside to check.

5. Explain that the next activity will help students to understand the meaning of the vocabulary
and they will be able to practice pronunciation too.

Note: This activity can also be done in teams. Divide the class into two teams and distribute 9 sentences to
each team. One member from each team is the designated writer. The other students take turns running
out of the classroom to read a strip of paper, memorise their sentence, and run back to deliver that
sentence to the writer. NB. Only one student per team is allowed outside the room at any given time. This
version would suit those with time constraints.

A further option is to: Choose only a handful from the handout to do as a dictation as doing all of them
may be a bit tedious.

Activity 1: Random Aussie English expressions (Handout 2).

1. Cut up Handout 2, which is comprised of useful Aussie English expressions that are used in
everyday life. Distribute one to each student.

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

2. Inform students that they are to study their example and to create a sentence using the
phrase/expression they have been given.
3. Walk around the room and help students who need clarification or help writing their sentences.
4. Check students’ sentences for errors in grammar or meaning while they complete them.
5. When they are ready, inform them that they are now going to teach their Aussie English
phrase/expression to their classmates by giving them the meaning and their example sentence.
6. Get students to start with the person sitting next to them. Encourage stude nts to come up with
new examples together to further help explain the new phrases.
7. Encourage students to move around the room to talk to different classmates and to write down
the expressions being presented on an uncut version of handout 2 (Handout 2 uncut).
8. Project full answers, definitions and model sentences on the screen OR write them on the board
for students to ensure they have all of them written down.
9. *Model the sentences should time permit and clarify any issues.
Note: Monitor students carefully and be sure to model some sentences for those who appear to be
struggling. If time permits, it may be worth modelling all sentence examples to the whole class for
pronunciation. Handout two has two functions. The first is to cut it into strips and distribute to the
students, and the second is to remain uncut and is for students to mingle and write down example
sentences for each phrase. This will ensure students end up with a record of the vocabulary.

Activity 2: Phrase and definition memory game. (Handout 3)

1. Ask students to put away their answers for the phrases and expressions that they wrote down in
activity one (on handout 2 uncut).

2. Divide the students into groups and make the required number of copies of Handout 3. Cut up
and distribute the individual cards with the ‘random’ phrases and expression and their
definitions to the students. Students are to lay them out in front of them FACE DOWN and with
their group members try to find the definition (also on Handout 3 at the end) that matches the
phrasal verb. Students can then write the definition on the back of the card.

3. As students work on matching them, walk around the room, monitor and help as needed.

4. Go over answers as a class and allow students to make any corrections and ask any necessary
questions.
Note: This activity is designed to enforce the phrases and expression learnt in the first two activities. Try
to ensure students don’t refer to their answers from handout 2. If they can’t remember, encourage them
to focus on the answers they do remember and work through a process of elimination.

1. Extension Activity: Hot Seat

1. Divide the class into 2 teams and place two chairs in front of the board but facing the audience.

2. Ask 1 member from each team to come sit in the chairs with their backs to the board facing
their team members. Instruct them to not turn around to look at the board.

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

3. Tell the teams that you will be writing one of the phrases or expressions from the lesson on the
board that they will then have to define to their teammate in the “hot seat.”

4. Instruct them that they are not to use any part of the language on the board, but that they can
get creative and use other tactics in eliciting the answer from their teammate.

5. The first person in the “hot seat” to answer correctly gets a point for their team. The team with
the most points at the end can be declared winners!

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

M1:L4 Handout #1

1.

I often enjoy eating a meat pie with dead horse at the footy.

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2.

I don’t like when people tell me porky pies.

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3.

I come from the land down under.

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4.

Don’t worry, she’ll be right mate.

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5.

I think I’m gonna chuck a sickie tomorrow.

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6.

I live in woop woop.

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7.

You don’t need to be sorry. No worries mate.

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

8.

Stop annoying me. Bugger off!

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9.

It was a bloody good game on the weekend.

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10.

Calm down, don’t arc up!

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11.

I’m thinking about moving to the big smoke.

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12.

Thanks for making me breakfast in bed, bless your cotton socks!

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13.

First you open this, and then you do turn this on, and Bob’s your uncle!

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14.

Stop carrying on like a pork chop.

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

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15.

Crikey, this is bloody delicious!

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16.

Jenny is such a sticky beak.

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17.

I think you’ve lost the plot, mate!

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18.

Strewth! Look at the size of that kangaroo.

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

M1:L4 Handout #2

1. a meat pie with dead horse

Meaning: a pie with tomato sauce
Example Sentence:

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2. tell porky pies
Meaning: to tell a lie
Example Sentence:

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3. (Land) Down Under
Meaning: Australia
Example Sentence:

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4. She’ll be right
Meaning: It will be OK.
Example Sentence:

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5. Chuck a sickie
Meaning: To call your work and say you are sick and need a day off, but you’re not actually sick.

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6. Woop woop
Meaning: In the middle of nowhere/far away
Example Sentence:

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7. No worries
Meaning: Many meanings! Most common meanings are ‘you’re welcome’ and ‘it’s not a problem’.
Example Sentence:

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

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8. Bugger off
Meaning: Used to tell someone to ‘go away’. Usually used if you are annoyed at someone, can be used
in a joking way.
Example Sentence:

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9. Bloody
Meaning: An intensifier, used in the same way as ‘very’ or ‘really’
Example Sentence:

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10. Arc up
Meaning: To lose your temper
Example Sentence:

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11. the Big Smoke
Meaning: The city, usually referencing a specific city.
Example Sentence:

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12. Bless your/his/her cotton socks! (also British English)
Meaning: An expression of fondness for someone.
Example Sentence:
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13. Bob's your uncle
Meaning: Used to finish a set of simple instructions.
Example Sentence:

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

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14. Carry on like a pork chop
Meaning: To make a fuss about something for little or no reason.
Example Sentence:

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15. Crikey
Meaning: An exclamation of surprise, disgust, or amazement.
Example Sentence:

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16. A sticky beak
Meaning: A nosey person
Example Sentence:

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17. Lose the plot (also British English)
Meaning: to lose the ability to cope in a situation; to go crazy/angry
Example Sentence:

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18. Strewth
Meaning: An expression used when you are surprised or dismayed at something or to add emphasis.
Example sentence:

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

M1:L4 Handout #3

a meat pie with tell porky pies

dead horse
(Land) Down Under She’ll be right

Chuck a sickie Woop Woop

No worries Bugger off

Bloody Arc up

the Big Smoke Bless your/his/her

cotton socks!
Bob's your uncle Carry on like a pork
chop
Crikey A sticky beak

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

Lose the plot Strewth

A pie with tomato sauce To tell a lie

Australia It will be OK

To take a sick day from work, In the middle of

but you’re not actually sick nowhere/far away

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

Many meanings! Most common Used to tell someone to ‘go

meanings are ‘you’re welcome’ away’. Usually used if you are
and ‘it’s not a problem’ annoyed at someone, can be used
in a joking way.

An intensifier, used in the To lose your temper

same way as ‘very’ or
‘really’

The city, usually An expression of fondness

referencing a specific city for someone

Used to finish a set of To make a fuss about

simple instructions something for little or no
reason

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 Slanguage Skills
Intermediate 1-3
Aussie Lesson Plan

An exclamation of surprise, A nosey person

disgust, or amazement

to lose the ability to cope in a An expression used when you

situation; to go crazy/angry are surprised or dismayed at
something or to add emphasis

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