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Real English Discussions Course
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Introduction
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Real English Discussions Course
Week 1 - Bushfires & Australia's Ecosystems5 Topics -
Week 2 - Deadly & Harmless Australian Spiders5 Topics
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Week 3 - Political Corruption in Australia5 Topics
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Week 4 - How Climate Change Has Worsened in Dad's Lifetime5 Topics
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Week 5 - Australian Pub Drinking Games5 Topics
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Week 6 - The Australian Open5 Topics
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Week 7 - Early Exploration of Australia5 Topics
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Week 8 - Tasmanian Devils & Tigers5 Topics
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Week 9 - How Australia Got Camels5 Topics
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Week 10 - Women vs Men's Sport in Australia5 Topics
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Week 11 - Australia's Most Dangerous Animals5 Topics
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Week 12 - Australia's Worst-Ever Bushfire Season5 Topics
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Bonus SectionBonus 1 - Origins of the Coronavirus5 Topics
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Bonus 2 - Why the War on Drugs Never Worked5 Topics
Lesson Progress
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- A virologist – someone who studies viruses.
- A population geneticist – someone who studies the genetics of populations of organisms to understand their structure
- Cram for something – study intensively over a short period of time, often just before an examination.
- DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes.
- RNA – ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries the genetic information.
- Interact (with something) – act in such a way as to have an effect on each other.
- A coronavirus – a group of RNA viruses that cause a variety of disease in humans and animals.
- Evolve – (with reference to an organism or biological feature) develop over successive generations as a result of natural selection.
- Immune (to something) – resistant to a particular infection or toxin owing to the presence of specific antibodies or sensitised white blood cells.
- An RNA virus – a virus in which the genetic information is stored in the form of RNA (as opposed to DNA).
- Corona – Latin for ‘Crown’.
- An electron micrograph – a photograph or image of a specimen taken using an electron microscope.
- 2D – 2-dimensional – a geometric setting in which two values are required to determine the position of an element.
- The common cold – a common infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed.
- SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) – a type of coronavirus causing a contagious, sometimes fatal respiratory illness.
- MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) – a type of coronavirus causing a contagious, sometimes fatal respiratory illness.
- Common-ish – somewhat prevelant.
- ‘-ish’ is added to words meaning ‘to some extent’, ‘sort of’, ‘somewhat like’.
- A seafood wholesale market – a place where live animals, particularly from the ocean, are sold for food.
- Elsewhere – somewhere else; another place.
- A timeline – a graphical representation of a period of time, on which important events are marked.
- An initial source – an original place that something originates.
- Shut something down – (of a business) close or force to close.
- Exotic animals – animals not found locally.
- A pet – a domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship or pleasure.
- Ebola – a deadly disease with occasional outbreaks that occur primarily on the African continent.
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – a virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and interferes with the body’s ability to fight infections.
- Encroach (on something) – intrude on (someone’s/something’s territory, rights, personal life, etc.).
- A rainforest – a luxuriant, dense forest rich in biodiversity, found typically in tropical areas with consistently heavy rainfall.
- A case – an instance of a disease, injury, or problem.
- Sequence something – determine the DNA sequence of an organism.
- Human-to-human transmission – the spreading of a disease when humans come into contact with each other.
- A fatality – an occurrence of death by accident, in war, or from disease.
- Virulent – (of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.
- Contagious – (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another, typically by direct contact.
- Transmissible – (of a disease or trait) able to be passed on from one person or organism to another.
- An incubation stage – the time from the moment of exposure to an infectious agent until signs and symptoms of the disease appear.
- Erupt – appear or break out suddenly and dramatically.
- A fair call – a just or honest thing to say.
- Put something in perspective – compare something with something similar to give a clearer, more accurate idea.
- Influenza – a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages, often occurring in epidemics.
- Fatal – deadly.
- Freak out (about something) – suddenly feel extremely surprised, upset, angry, or confused.
- Benign – harmless in effect.
- Pat something – touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand.
- Unfamiliar – not known or recognised.
- The reality is… – the truth is…
- Vaccinate something – treat something with a vaccine to produce immunity against a disease; inoculate.
- A mutation – a change that occurs in our DNA sequence of an organism.
- A strain – a particular breed, stock, or variety of an animal, plant, or organism.
- An airborne virus – a virus that is transported by air.
- Pick something up – collect something.
- A perfect storm – an especially bad situation caused by a combination of unfavourable circumstances.
- The Chinese New Year – The Chinese festival marking the start of the new year at the second new moon after the winter solstice.
- Ironically – used in reference to a paradoxical, unexpected, or coincidental situation.
- An outbreak – a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease.
- Downplay something – make something appear less important than it really is.
