Ausralia the Great South Land 1. Course Description Northern Territory Alice Springs Queensland Western Australia South Brisbane Australia pevt● walessydney Adelaide● Hobart Tasma This course, which is mainly directed at tertiary students of English majors. I t assumes a kind of willingness among the students to spend some time exploring the the social, cultural aspects of Englsh-speaking countries. In this section, we'll examine in some detail these and other key aspects in Australia and the incredible local ization of English language in this great country. Australia is so far away from the rest of the world that there seems to be very little firsthand knowledge available to those seeking information. australia is still often seen as the worker's paradise", a laid back culture dominated by sporty Crocodile Dundee-type makes who, when they are not chasing sheep in the paddock, spend the time in the bar or on the beach, so we also will examine some popular misconceptions and cultural stereotypes toward the aussies Upon completion of this course, students should develop a comprehensive understand ing of the society and culture of Australia and can do some further research on issues with regard to this country 2. Requirements The course requirements include weekly reading assignments, weekly essays, oral presentations, and a final project
----------the Great South Land 1. Course Description: This course, which is mainly directed at tertiary students of English majors. I t assumes a kind of willingness among the students to spend some time exploring the the social, cultural aspects of Englsh-speaking countries. In this section, we’ll examine in some detail these and other key aspects in Australia and the incredible localization of English language in this great country. Australia is so far away from the rest of the world that there seems to be very little firsthand knowledge available to those seeking information. Australia is still often seen as “the worker’s paradise”, a laid back culture dominated by sporty Crocodile Dundee-type makes who, when they are not chasing sheep in the paddock, spend the time in the bar or on the beach, so we also will examine some popular misconceptions and cultural stereotypes toward the Aussies. Upon completion of this course, students should develop a comprehensive understanding of the society and culture of Australia and can do some further research on issues with regard to this country. 2. Requirements: The course requirements include weekly reading assignments, weekly essays, oral presentations, and a final project
1. Presentations Randomly selected students are required to give some presentations upon selected topics or issues relevant to the weekly readings. The presentation should last 5 minutes minimum with a type written hand-out for the class reading) Thefinalprojectwillbetakenfromthewww.AlistofUrlswillbeprovidedbythelecturer for the final project. Suggested areas of research will be provided or other topics approved by the instructor can be chosen. The final research essay should have a minimum of 1,000 words 3. Evaluation Compliance with instructions punctuality in assignments 5% Weekly assignments 30% Final project 60% Session One Land, People and Histon When one remembers that less than to hundred years have elapsed since that first handful of convicts landed at Botany Bay, one cannot help admiring the sheer tenacity that in such a short time has given Australia the place she occupies in the world today and the great future she is bound to have Laacour-Gayet, 1976, p.xii This session is to inform the students of the general geographical, historical features of Australia and trigger more interests among students in these areas ● More notes 1. The Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is the busiest performing arts centre in the world. Since its and has continued to attract the best in world class talent year after yi ons of people opening in 1973, it has brought countless hours of entertainment to millie In an average year, the Sydney Opera House presents theatre, musicals, opera, contemporary dance ballet, every form of music from symphony concerts to jazz as well as exhibitions and films. It averages around 3, 000 events each year witl audiences totaling up to two million. In addition, approximately 200,000 people take a
1. Presentations Randomly selected students are required to give some presentations upon selected topics or issues relevant to the weekly readings. The presentation should last 5 minutes minimum with a type written hand-out for the class. reading). 2. Final project: The final project will be taken from the WWW. A list of URL's will be provided by the lecturer for the final project. Suggested areas of research will be provided or other topics approved by the instructor can be chosen. The final research essay should have a minimum of 1,000 words. 3. Evaluation: Attendance and class participation 5% Compliance with instructions & punctuality in assignments 5% Weekly assignments 30% Final project 60% Session One Land, People and History When one remembers that less than two hundred years have elapsed since that first handful of convicts landed at Botany Bay, one cannot help admiring the sheer tenacity that in such a short time has given Australia the place she occupies in the world today and the great future she is bound to have. (Laacour-Gayet,1976,p.xii) This session is to inform the students of the general geographical, historical features of Australia and trigger more interests among students in these areas. ⚫ More notes: 1. The Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is the busiest performing arts centre in the world. Since its opening in 1973, it has brought countless hours of entertainment to millions of people and has continued to attract the best in world class talent year after year. Even today, many visitors are surprised to find that the Sydney Opera House is really a complex of theatres and halls all linked together beneath its famous shells. In an average year, the Sydney Opera House presents theatre, musicals, opera, contemporary dance, ballet, every form of music from symphony concerts to jazz as well as exhibitions and films. It averages around 3,000 events each year with audiences totaling up to two million. In addition, approximately 200,000 people take a
guided tour of the complex each year. The Opera House operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day and good friday Prior to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney had no adequate dedicated music venue. Orchestral concerts were given in its Town Hall, and staging opera was almost impossible due to the lack of suitable stages. The appointment of Sir Eugene Goosens to the posts of Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1947 brought into Sydney's musical life a focal point for the need to create a better venue for the performing arts. Upon accepting his position, Goosens told reporters that his plans included the creation of a concert hall suitable for opera as well as orchestral performances The idea was hardly revolutionary; indeed the post-war Labour government had given lip service to the concept as part of its reconstruction and redevelopment programs. However, apart from occasional public announcements and exhortation from Goosens, nothing happened for seven more years Finally, late in 1954, the State Government of New South Wales, find ing itself increasingly embarrassed by its own inaction, became involved in a moderately supportive manner. The Premier of the day, Joseph Cahill, was enthusiastic about the idea and it was he who set up the committee which got the project under way. He also set up an appeal fund to raise money for the building. When it became obvious that the fund would not even raise the $7 million the Opera House was first estimated to cost, Mr Cahill introduced the Opera House Lotteries. The original appeal fund raised about $900,000 and the rest of the $102 million that the Opera House ended up costing came from the profits of the lottery. The build ing was completely paid for by July 1975 The NSw Government today contributes about 30% of the annual cost of maintaining and operating the complex The committee set up by the government selected the site for the building. Known as Bennelong Point, it was named after the first Aborigine to speak English, who was born on the site. Until this time, it was used as wharfing area and had a rather unsightly tram storage barn prominently occupying much of the site An international competition was organised for the design of a performing arts complex, and although this was well known, the misnomer "Opera House"caught on. The competition called for a structure that contained two theatres within it-a large hall for opera, ballet, and large scale sy mphony concerts capable of seating 3,000-3, 500 people, and a smaller hall for drama, chamber music and recitals, capable of seating approx 1, 200 people. Design entrants were told that they were free to choose any approach that they wished, and that there were no limits to what the potential cost of the structure could be. 233 different design entries were submitted from all over the world The winner of the competition, announced in January 1957, was the Danish architect Jorn Utzon(born in 1918). It was originally envisaged that it would take four years to build the Opera House, in actual fact, it wasn't completed until mid 1973
guided tour of the complex each year. The Opera House operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day and Good Friday. Prior to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney had no adequate dedicated music venue. Orchestral concerts were given in its Town Hall, and staging opera was almost impossible due to the lack of suitable stages. The appointment of Sir Eugene Goosens to the posts of Chief Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Director of the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1947 brought into Sydney's musical life a focal point for the need to create a better venue for the performing arts. Upon accepting his position, Goosens told reporters that his plans included the creation of a concert hall suitable for opera as well as orchestral performances. The idea was hardly revolutionary; indeed the post-war Labour government had given lip service to the concept as part of its reconstruction and redevelopment programs. However, apart from occasional public announcements and exhortation from Goosens, nothing happened for seven more years. Finally, late in 1954, the State Government of New South Wales, finding itself increasingly embarrassed by its own inaction, became involved in a moderately supportive manner. The Premier of the day, Joseph Cahill, was enthusiastic about the idea and it was he who set up the committee which got the project under way. He also set up an appeal fund to raise money for the building. When it became obvious that the fund would not even raise the $7 million the Opera House was first estimated to cost, Mr Cahill introduced the Opera House Lotteries. The original appeal fund raised about $900,000 and the rest of the $102 million that the Opera House ended up costing came from the profits of the lottery. The building was completely paid for by July 1975. The NSW Government today contributes about 30% of the annual cost of maintaining and operating the complex. The committee set up by the Government selected the site for the building. Known as Bennelong Point, it was named after the first Aborigine to speak English, who was born on the site. Until this time, it was used as wharfing area and had a rather unsightly tram storage barn prominently occupying much of the site. An international competition was organised for the design of a performing arts complex, and although this was well known, the misnomer "Opera House" caught on. The competition called for a structure that contained two theatres within it - a large hall for opera, ballet, and large scale symphony concerts capable of seating 3,000-3,500 people, and a smaller hall for drama, chamber music and recitals, capable of seating approx 1,200 people. Design entrants were told that they were free to choose any approach that they wished, and that there were no limits to what the potential cost of the structure could be. 233 different design entries were submitted from all over the world. The winner of the competition, announced in January 1957, was the Danish architect Jorn Utzon (born in 1918). It was originally envisaged that it would take four years to build the Opera House; in actual fact, it wasn't completed until mid 1973
Construction of the build ing commenced in March 1959 and proceeded in slow stages over the next fourteen years. At the time that construction was started, Utzon protested that he hadn't yet completed the designs for the structure, but the government insisted that construction get underway, and so it did! At least as much a problem as starting the construction prior to completing the revolutionary design, was the fact that the government itself changed the requirements for the building after construction had started. The original design called for two theatres. The government changed its mind and required the building to be altered and that four theatres now be incorporated into the design. Recently, some internal changes to the structure have enabled a fifth theatre to be created The original design was so boldly conceived that it proved structurally impossible to build. After four years of research Utzon altered his design and gave the roof vaults a defined spherical geometry. This enabled the roofs to be constructed in a pre-cast fashion, greatly reducing both time and cost The project was subject to many delays and cost over-runs, and(probably unfairly) Utzon was often blamed for these. A new government was elected in NSW in 1965 partly on the campaign promise to "do something"about the cost overruns with the design. The government withheld fee payments to Utzon and refused to agree to his design ideas and proposed construction methods. This pretty much forced Utzon to resign, which he did in February 1966 as Stage II was nearing completion. A team of Australian architects took over and after an extensive review of the proposed functions of the building, proceeded with its completion was The performance in the complex, in the Opera Theatre on 28 September 1973 The first Austral ian Opera's production of War and Peace by Prokofiev. The Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973 There are nearly 1000 rooms in the Opera House including the five main auditoria There is also a Reception Hall, five rehearsal studios, four restaurants, six theatre bars extensive foyer and lounge areas, sixty dressing rooms and suites, library, an artists lounge and canteen known as the"Green Room",administrative offices and extensive plant and machinery areas has about 4. 5 hectares(11 acres)of usable floor space s 2.2 hectare(5.5 acre)site.It The building covers about 1.8 hectares(4.5 acres)of It is approximately 185 m(611 ft)long and 120m(380 ft)wide at its widest point The highest roof vault(above the Concert Hall)is 67m(221 ft)above sea level 2. The "Coat Hanger "hArbour Bridge
Construction of the building commenced in March 1959 and proceeded in slow stages over the next fourteen years. At the time that construction was started, Utzon protested that he hadn't yet completed the designs for the structure, but the government insisted that construction get underway, and so it did! At least as much a problem as starting the construction prior to completing the revolutionary design, was the fact that the government itself changed the requirements for the building after construction had started. The original design called for two theatres. The government changed its mind and required the building to be altered and that four theatres now be incorporated into the design. Recently, some internal changes to the structure have enabled a fifth theatre to be created. The original design was so boldly conceived that it proved structurally impossible to build. After four years of research Utzon altered his design and gave the roof vaults a defined spherical geometry. This enabled the roofs to be constructed in a pre-cast fashion, greatly reducing both time and cost. The project was subject to many delays and cost over-runs, and (probably unfairly) Utzon was often blamed for these. A new government was elected in NSW in 1965, partly on the campaign promise to "do something" about the cost overruns with the design. The government withheld fee payments to Utzon and refused to agree to his design ideas and proposed construction methods. This pretty much forced Utzon to resign, which he did in February 1966 as Stage II was nearing completion. A team of Australian architects took over and after an extensive review of the proposed functions of the building, proceeded with its completion. The first performance in the complex, in the Opera Theatre on 28 September 1973, was The Australian Opera's production of War and Peace by Prokofiev. The Syd ney Opera House was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973. There are nearly 1000 rooms in the Opera House including the five main auditoria. There is also a Reception Hall, five rehearsal studios, four restaurants, six theatre bars, extensive foyer and lounge areas, sixty dressing rooms and suites, library, an artists' lounge and canteen known as the "Green Room", administrative offices and extensive plant and machinery areas. The building covers about 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres) of its 2.2 hectare (5.5 acre) site. It has about 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of usable floor space. It is approximately 185 m (611 ft) long and 120m (380 ft) wide at its widest point. The highest roof vault (above the Concert Hall) is 67m (221 ft) above sea level. 2. The “Coat Hanger”—Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Sydney's most famous landmarks. Completed in 1932, the construction of the bridge was an economic feat as well as an engineering triumph. Prior to the bridge being built, the only links between the city centre in the south and the residential north were by ferry or by a 20 kilometre(1272 mile)road route that involved five bridge crossings The Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is known locally as the"Coat Hanger", took eight years to build, includ ing the railroad line. The bridge was manufactured in sections on a site that is now occupied by Luna Park funfair Construction on the bridge began in December. 1926. The foundations which are 12 metres(39 feet)deep, are set in sandstone. Anchoring tunnels are 36 metres(118 feet) long and dug into rock at each end. Construction on the arch began in November, 1929. It was built in halves with steel cable restraints initially supporting each side The arch spans 503 metres(1650 feet)and supports the weight of the brid ge deck, with hinges at either end bearing the bridge's full weight and spread ing the load to the foundations. The hinges allow the structure to move as the steel expands and contracts in response to wind and changes in temperatures By October, 1930, the two arch halves had met and work then began on the deck. The deck is 59 metres(194 feet )above sea level and was built from the center out The harbour brid ge was officially opened on 19 March 1932. The total cost of the Bridge was approximately 6.25 million Australian pounds($A13. 5 million ), and was eventually paid off in 1988. The initial toll for a car was 6 pence(5 cents)and a hor and rider was 3 pence(2 cents). Today the toll costs $3.00. The toll is now used for bridge maintenance and to pay for the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. The annual maintenance costs are approximately $5 million. More than 150,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day The bridge was built by 1400 workers, 16 of whom were killed in accidents during construction. Painting the bridge has become an endless task. Approximately 80,000 liters(21,000 gallons) of paint are required for each coat, enough to cover an area equivalent to 60 soccer fields 3. Great Barrier Reef http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/reef/reef1flashhtmd The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBR WHA)is 347 800 square kilometres in area(an area bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined). It extends from the top of Cape York to just north of Fraser Island, and from the low water mark on the Queensland coast seaward to the outer boundary of the Marine Park beyond the edge of the continental shelf. It is the largest World Heritage Area and marine protected area in the world 4. Ayers rock
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Sydney's most famous landmarks. Completed in 1932, the construction of the bridge was an economic feat as well as an engineering triumph. Prior to the bridge being built, the only links between the city centre in the south and the residential north were by ferry or by a 20 kilometre (12½ mile) road route that involved five bridge crossings. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, which is known locally as the "Coat Hanger", took eight years to build, including the railroad line. The bridge was manufactured in sections on a site that is now occupied by Luna Park funfair. Construction on the bridge began in December, 1926. The foundations, which are 12 metres (39 feet) deep, are set in sandstone. Anchoring tunnels are 36 metres (118 feet) long and dug into rock at each end. Construction on the arch began in November, 1929. It was built in halves with steel cable restraints initially supporting each side. The arch spans 503 metres (1650 feet) and supports the weight of the bridge deck, with hinges at either end bearing the bridge's full weight and spreading the load to the foundations. The hinges allow the structure to move as the steel expands and contracts in response to wind and changes in temperatures. By October, 1930, the two arch halves had met and work then began on the deck. The deck is 59 metres (194 feet) above sea level and was built from the center out. The Harbour Bridge was officially opened on 19 March 1932. The total cost of the Bridge was approximately 6.25 million Australian pounds ($A13.5 million), and was eventually paid off in 1988. The initial toll for a car was 6 pence (5 cents) and a horse and rider was 3 pence (2 cents). Today the toll costs $3.00. The toll is now used for bridge maintenance and to pay for the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. The annual maintenance costs are approximately $5 million. More than 150,000 vehicles c ross the bridge each day. The bridge was built by 1400 workers, 16 of whom were killed in accidents during construction. Painting the bridge has become an endless task. Approximately 80,000 liters (21,000 gallons) of paint are required for each coat, enough to cover an area equivalent to 60 soccer fields. 3. Great Barrier Reef (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/reef/reef1_flash.html) The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) is 347 800 square kilometres in area (an area bigger than the United Kingdom, Holland and Switzerland combined). It extends from the top of Cape York to just north of Fraser Island, and from the low water mark on the Queensland coast seaward to the outer boundary of the Marine Park beyond the edge of the continental shelf. It is the largest World Heritage Area and marine protected area in the world. 4. Ayers Rock