25 Funny Australian Idioms (Or – What Do Captain Cook and Barbie Have in Common?)
25 Funny Australian Idioms (Or – What Do Captain Cook and Barbie Have in Common?) We’re continuing our humorous idioms
Bulgarian version below / Превод на български най-долу!
We, here at Got Your English, have always believed that learning English is not just about a particular textbook or grammar exercises. At the core of our values is putting people first. That’s why so many of you know and love learning with Vessy, whose personal approach and experience with hundreds of students have made Got Your English more than just a run-of-the-mill education center.
It’s time for us to start thinking a bit bigger if we want to continue our mission to teach English in a more accessible and permanent way. We’re thrilled to share some exciting news: we’re growing!🎉
Please meet Simka Stefanova, our new English teacher who is joining us to bring fresh energy, care, and creativity to your lessons. We’re excited to welcome her to our small family where we value quality teaching and implementing student feedback at every step of the learning journey. As a passionate and accredited English teacher, she is a most welcome addition to the team!
Simka spent six wonderful years teaching at the American College of Sofia. Before that, some of her achievements include multiple educational films and projects incorporating innovative teaching methods and interactivity – all in Germany and the UK. What makes her stand out is her patience (otherwise, how can you make teenagers not only listen to you but also love you!😉 ), her ability to make English learning fun and her passion for teaching.
Simka: I think one can be perfect when it comes to English grammar and still find it challenging to explain it in an accessible way. To be a good teacher, you must be able to put yourself in the student’s shoes, understand their struggles and try to make English learning easy, understandable and enjoyable. I approach each student with understanding and make sure we work together as a team to achieve their own personal goals. I also strive to bring variety to my curriculum. I encourage natural conversation and always aim to make my English lessons engaging and memorable.
Simka: When learning a new language, effective communication involves articulating your thoughts in that language. Today’s young people have a high level of English comprehension. They constantly engage with English content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Netflix.
They listen, watch, read, and understand a great deal, which gives them a sense of confidence that they are proficient in English. However, when they have to voice an opinion or engage in a meaningful conversation, they often struggle.
This difficulty arises because the words they need don’t come to mind – they are “hidden away” in their passive vocabulary. The reality is that you can communicate in English with imperfect grammar, but without vocabulary, meaningful dialogue is impossible.
I work with students to enhance their active English vocabulary. I encourage each student to be mindful of which learning method works best for them to remember new English words and phrases:
My advice: whenever you encounter an unfamiliar word while reading or watching something, take a moment to look it up. While walking down the street, try to name everything you see in English. Seize every opportunity to converse in English, even if you don’t feel ready. You’re doing an excellent job!
Simka: I always strive to anticipate any challenges my English students may face and work diligently to overcome those difficulties. It’s essential for them to understand why they are learning specific concepts, how these concepts will be applicable, and how they connect to their prior English knowledge. Effective communication in English (but also as a soft skill in general) is a top priority for me, which is why I engage my students with topics that spark their interest. I love sharing humorous stories and encouraging them to do the same. We enjoy watching and discussing videos, news items, and personal interests, and we also have fun playing games together.
One of my favorite projects at the American College of Sofia was a lovely weeks-long game which featured students telling stories in English, questioning each other on their truthfulness and even filming and editing their own video presentations. We had a blast while actively working towards effective communication in English.
Simka: Marine biologist. Ballerina. Bartender. Detective. Cooking show host. Music journalist. 😊
Simka: Too many! I especially like idioms that sound funny in Bulgarian. For example, Break a leg, Once in a blue moon, Beating around the bush, Losing your marbles, Donkey’s years, Call it a day.
With Simka onboard, our primary goal remains the same – helping students learn English for life, in the shortest amount of time possible. By growing our team, we’re looking forward to offering you even more support during your English learning journey, flexible lessons, more variety in group courses and fresh perspectives.
We are committed to working with students of all ages and professional backgrounds, while tailoring our training to each student’s individual needs and knowledge gaps.
Alongside individual English lessons and group English courses, we will be expanding our portfolio with group speaking practice sessions, IELTS / TOEFL / Cambridge certificate courses, public speaking courses and more opportunities for corporate English training.
Let’s give Simka a warm welcome to our learning family! Drop your questions for her in the comments below! 💬
If you’re ready to start learning English now (online and in-person in Sofia), contact us today!
Follow us on social media and check out our English courses page to be the first to know when we launch our new group courses!
25 Funny Australian Idioms (Or – What Do Captain Cook and Barbie Have in Common?) We’re continuing our humorous idioms
