Australian English uses the same grammar as other kinds of English, but it has its own short words, like arvo for afternoon, and an accent that can be hard to follow at first. A slang list tells you what a word means. You start to catch it without thinking after you've heard it in many sentences you already understand. That is what comprehensible input means: Australian English you mostly follow, where the words you know explain the new one.
What Comprehensible Input Looks Like
Each row in the picture is a sentence, and each bar is a word. The purple bar is a word you haven't met yet, and you already know the gray ones.
About one unfamiliar word per sentence, while you still follow the meaning.
Because the other words are familiar, they show you what the new one means. At first, that means short lines about the beach, a cafe, or the weekend. Later, a full ABC News story has enough clues for you to guess a word yourself. If you often can't follow, switch to something easier for a while.
Your Roadmap by Level
Bubblegum has six levels, and each starts with a sentence in a learner's own words. Pick the one closest to you. The podcasts and news in the rows don't use these levels, so treat each row as a first guess.
- Level 1
I'm just starting out or know only a few words
AMEPOnline, from the Australian Government, has free English lessons at five levels. Start at the first one, and read the sentences in the next section too.
AMEPOnline - Level 2
I can handle simple exchanges
SBS's English on Repeat is an easy podcast for learners. Play one episode two or three times, until you can follow it without trying hard.
SBS Learn English - Level 3
I follow conversations on familiar topics
Listen to SBS's Words We Use, which explains everyday English idioms and expressions and comes in over 20 languages. Listen for each idiom in your lessons afterward.
SBS Learn English - Level 4
I understand most content but miss some nuance
Aussie English has real Australian conversations for advanced learners. Follow the main idea first, then replay the parts you missed.
Aussie English - Level 5
I read complex topics but rare words slow me down
Read an ABC News story on something you already know about. Guess new words from the paragraph before you look them up.
ABC News - Level 6
I read at near-native level
Listen to Australian talk radio and read novels set in Australia. Notice how people tease each other in a friendly way.
Try the next row once this one feels easy. If most sentences need the dictionary, go back one row.
Try It on a Sentence
Here's a sentence written for this guide. I'm working this morning, but I'm free this arvo uses arvo, an informal Australian word. You can guess it means afternoon, because the sentence has already talked about the morning. If you know every other word, the scene teaches you the new one.
Bubblegum is a language app where your AI tutor, Poppy, writes Australian English lessons for your level about topics you choose. An Australian voice reads every lesson aloud, and you can look up words and ask her about grammar. Words you save come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™.
Frequently Asked Questions About Comprehensible Input
Can I Learn Australian English From TV?
Yes, once you can follow a simple chat. Before that, a show moves too fast to learn much from, so start with podcasts and lessons made for learners, and turn English subtitles on when you watch.
How Much Time Should I Set Aside?
Between 3 and 5 hours a week works well, in sittings of 15 minutes to half an hour or more. Use most of it to read and listen, and save some to talk with a tutor or a friend.
Which App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Australian English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Our Australian English comparison also lists vocabulary apps, tutors, and free government programs.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
