Shadowing Practice: Australian Political System & Voting Explained | Learn Australian English - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Liz, I got a letter in the mail last week saying I had to go and vote.
2
I did not know this was mandatory.
3
I panicked.
4
I didn't even know who to vote for.
5
I walked in, got the paper, and genuinely had no idea what I was doing.
6
Jack, you just described the experience of thousands of new Australians at their very first election.
7
And the thing is, in Australia, not voting can get you fined.
8
A fine for not voting.
9
That's right.
10
A fine for not voting.
11
Australia is one of very few countries in the world where voting is compulsory, legally required.
12
And if you are applying for Australian citizenship, or if you simply want to understand the country you are living in, this episode is essential.
13
We are going to break down the entire Australian political system in plain English.
14
No jargon.
15
No confusion.
16
And we will explain the voting system that confuses almost every new voter, including Australian-born ones.
17
We will get to that in segment three.
18
So stay tuned.
19
Hi everyone, I'm Liz and welcome to Learn Australian English, the podcast where we teach you real Australian English through real Australian topics.
20
I'm Jack.
21
Today, Australian Politics and Voting.
22
Now, we know what you might be thinking.
23
Politics?
24
Really?
25
But here is the thing.
26
Understanding Australia's political system is not just about being a good citizen.
27
If you are applying for Australian citizenship, you will be tested on this.
28
And even if you are not, this knowledge will help you follow the news, understand your rights, and participate confidently in Australian life.
29
We will also teach you the vocabulary that comes with all of this.
30
So by the end of this episode, you will be able to talk about Australian politics comfortably,
31
confidently and in completely natural Australian English.
32
Let's start with the foundation.
33
What type of country is Australia politically?
34
Australia is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.
35
Let's break those two terms down.
36
A constitutional monarchy means Australia has a monarch, currently King Charles III, as the head of state.
37
The head of state is the symbolic leader of the country.
38
However, the king does not govern Australia day to day.
39
That role belongs to elected Australian leaders.
40
The king is represented in Australia by the Governor-General at the national level and by governors in each state.
41
The Governor General has important constitutional powers, but by convention does not interfere in day-to-day politics.
42
And a parliamentary democracy means Australians elect members of Parliament, or MPs, to represent them and make laws.
43
The leader of the country is the Prime Minister, the head of the elected Now, Australia has three levels of government.
44
Federal, state and territory and local.
45
The federal government handles national issues.
46
Defence, immigration, foreign affairs and national economic policy.
47
State and territory governments handle things like hospitals, schools and roads within their borders.
48
and local councils manage your immediate area, rubbish collection, parks, local planning.
49
So when Australians say the government, it is important to know which level they mean.
50
The federal government sits in Canberra, Australia's capital city, in the Parliament House.
51
Now we get to the part that most people find genuinely fascinating.
52
How Australia actually makes its laws.
53
And there is one fact coming up that surprises almost everyone.
54
Stay with us.
55
It is worth knowing.
56
The Federal Parliament has two chambers, two houses.
57
This is called a bicameral parliament.
58
Bi means two, so two chambers.
59
The two houses are the House of Representatives and the Senate.
60
The House of Representatives is sometimes called the lower house.
61
It has 150 members, each representing a specific area, called an electorate or seat.
62
The political party that wins the most seats in the House of Representatives forms the government, and their leader becomes the Prime Minister.
63
The Senate is called the Upper House.
64
It has 76 Senators, 12 from each State and 2 from each Mainland Territory.
65
The Senate acts as a House of Review.
66
It checks and reviews laws passed by the House of Representatives.
67
This system of checks means no single group can push a law through without proper scrutiny.
68
And here is the fact I promised.
69
The leader of the country, the Prime Minister, is not directly elected by the Australian public.
70
Australians vote for their local Member of Parliament.
71
And the party that wins majority forms the government.
72
The leader of that party becomes Prime Minister.
73
So technically you vote for a party, not a Prime Minister.
74
This is a crucial distinction, and it explains why Australia can have multiple Prime Ministers in a short period.
75
If a party votes internally to change its leader, a new Prime Minister can take office without a general election.
76
Australia had six Prime Ministers in ten years at one point.
77
That is quite a ride.
78
It really was.
79
The opposition is the major party that did not win government.
80
They form the Shadow Cabinet and hold the government accountable.
81
Their leader is called the Leader of the Opposition.
82
OK?
83
We promised you the voting system that confuses almost everyone.
84
Here it is.
85
First, the big one.
86
Voting in Australia is compulsory.
87
That means it is legally required.
88
Every Australian citizen aged 18 and over must be enrolled to vote, registered on the electoral role and must attend a polling place on election day.
89
If you do not vote without a valid reason, you can be fined.
90
Compulsory voting makes Australia quite unusual.
91
Only about 20 countries in the world have it.
92
The fine for not voting is relatively small, but the principle is significant.
93
Australia believes civic participation is a shared responsibility.
94
Voting is not just a right here.
95
It is a a civic duty.
96
Elections are held on Saturdays, always a Saturday, at polling places such as local schools, community halls and town halls.
97
You take your name off the electoral roll, receive your ballot papers, go into a private polling booth, mark your vote and place it in the ballot box.
98
The process is very well organised and usually quite quick.
99
And here is a uniquely Australian election day tradition, the democracy sausage.
100
Community groups set up sausage sizzles outside polling places on election day.
101
You vote, then you buy a snag in bread.
102
It has become a beloved national tradition.
103
And there is even a website that tracks which polling places have the best sausage sizzle.
104
Only in Australia.
105
Only in Australia.
106
Now, the voting system itself.
107
Australia uses preferential voting, also called ranked choice voting.
108
Instead of just choosing one candidate, you number all the candidates in order of your preference.
109
Number one is your first choice.
110
Number two is your second choice, and so on.
111
Your vote goes to your first choice first.
112
But if your first choice candidate does not win enough votes, Your vote then transfers to your second choice.
113
This continues until one candidate has a majority.
114
This means your vote is never truly wasted.
115
Even if your favourite candidate does not win, your preference still counts.
116
The Australian Electoral Commission – or the AEC – runs all federal elections
117
and publishes guides in multiple languages to help voters understand the system.
118
Australia's major parties are the Australian Labor Party , known as Labor, and the Liberal Party,
119
which often governs in coalition with the National Party.
120
There are also minor parties, including the Australian Greens and various independent candidates.
121
One important note, the Liberal Party of Australia is actually the Conservative Party, not Liberal in the American sense.
122
In Australia, Liberal refers to economic liberalism, free market principles, not social progressivism.
123
The Labour Party is the centre-left party, historically linked to the union movement.
124
Australia's democratic values include the rule of law, meaning everyone is equal under the law,
125
freedom of speech, the right to express your opinions openly,
126
freedom of religion, the right to practise any religion or none at all, and the separation of powers.
127
The Legislature makes laws, the Executive implements them, and the Judiciary interprets them independently.
128
Before we wrap up, for anyone preparing for the Australian Citizenship Test,
129
the key facts, Australia is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
130
head of state is King Charles III, represented by the Governor-General.
131
The Prime Minister leads the elected government.
132
There are three levels of government.
133
The Federal Parliament has two chambers.
134
Voting is compulsory from age 18.
135
Australia uses preferential voting.
136
And Australia's core values are the rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and equality under the law.
137
The test is 20 multiple choice questions.
138
You need 15 correct, 75% to pass.
139
Five questions of these 20 questions are about Australian values, which you must get all correct to pass.
140
And for everyone else, knowing this material makes you a more informed, more confident participant in Australian life.
141
That is worth something regardless of your citizenship status.
142
Are you preparing for the Australian citizenship test?
143
Or did something in this episode surprise you?
144
Tell us in the comments.
145
And if this episode helped you, please like and subscribe.
146
Good luck with the citizenship test.
147
See you next time.
📺 Same Channel
B1Renting in Australia | Learn Australian English
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1How to Survive Australian Beaches | Learn Australian English
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1How to Order Coffee in Australia ☕ | Learn Australian English
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1Australian States and Territories | Learn Australian English 🐨
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B11
Australian Healthcare System 👩⚕️❤️🩹 | Learn Australian English
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B13
Workplace Slang to Upgrade Your Australian English Level | Learn Australian English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B2Australian Tax System Explained | TFN, Tax Returns, Deductions & Refunds | Learn Australian English
Business EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B1What Australian Cashiers Actually Say — Prices, Phrases & the Complete Checkout Guide
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B2Superannuation Explained - What Every Worker in Australia Must Know | Learn Australian English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B1What NOT to Say to Your Australian Boss | Learn Australian English
Business EnglishWorking Adults
B1Australian Small Talk | Learn Australian English
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1Understanding Australian Slang 🤔 | Learn Australian English
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1The Australian Flag Explained 🌏 | Learn Australian English
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B1Australian Wildlife | Learn Australian English 🦘
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1What's a 'barbie'? | Learn Australian English
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
✨ Recommend Video
B21
27 sentences
This 30-Second Trick Solves Every Group Argument
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B21
269 sentences
Why is everyone talking about an Australian 'death tax'? | The Daily Aus
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B11
281 sentences
Learn English From The News - U.S. Bans Nearly $1B in Canadian Imports as Trade Dispute Escalates
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B2192 sentences
How to Understand Native English Speakers: Advanced Listening Skills
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
198 sentences
A Geopolitical Tour of the World
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B29
13 sentences
Labor's near record poll plunge | 9 News Australia
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
321 sentences
English Learning Podcast: New UK Prime Minister?
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepDaily Conversation
B22
312 sentences
Everyday Life English Conversations
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B28
240 sentences
Why Australia’s Solar Is So Cheap (And Ours Isn’t)
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
54 sentences
Australia's social media ban explained
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Australian Political System & Voting Explained”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Australian, Australia, voting, vote, Prime. This video has 147 sentences and 1519 words to shadow. The speech runs for 11:35. The speaker talks at a steady 131 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| citizenship noun | /ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/ | The state of being a citizen; the status of a citizen. |
| elect verb | /ɪˈlɛkt/ | To choose or make a decision (to do something). |
| compulsory adjective | /kəmˈpʌlsəɹi/ | Required; obligatory; mandatory. |
| monarchy noun | /ˈmɑnɚki/ | A government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler). |
| sausage noun | /ˈsɔsɪd͡ʒ/ | A food made of ground meat (or meat substitute) and seasoning, packed in a section of the animal's intestine, or in a similarly cylindrical shaped synthetic… |
| electoral adjective | /ɪˈlɛk.tɚ.əl/ | Relating to or composed of electors. |
| parliamentary adjective | /ˌpɑɹləˈmɛnt(ə)ɹi/ | Of, relating to, or enacted by a parliament. |
| confidently adverb | /ˈkɑnfɪdəntli/ | In a confident manner; with confidence; with strong assurance; positively. |
| preferential adjective | /ˈpɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ)ˌɛn.ʃəl/ | Of or relating to the showing or giving of preference. |
| sizzle verb | /ˈsɪzəl/ | To make the sound of water boiling on a hot surface. |
| govern verb | /ˈɡʌv.ən/ | To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in. |
| confuse verb | /kənˈfjuːz/ | to puzzle, perplex, baffle, bewilder (somebody); to afflict by being complicated, contradictory, or otherwise difficult to understand |
| civic adjective | /ˈsɪvɪk/ | Of, relating to, or belonging to a city, a citizen, or citizenship; municipal or civil. |
| ballot noun | /ˈbælət/ | A small ball placed in a container to cast a vote; now, by extension, a piece of paper or card used for this purpose, or some other means used to signify a… |
| genuinely adverb | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/ | In a genuine manner; truthfully, truly. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| break down verb | To stop functioning. | |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. | |
| set up verb | /ˌsɛt ˈʌp/ | To make ready for use. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I didn't even know who to vote for.
- Let's start with the foundation.
- Let's break those two terms down.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if you are not, this knowledge will help |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | will be tested · is represented · is called |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 3 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: citizenship /ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/, preferential /ˈpɹɛf.ɜː(ɹ)ˌɛn.ʃəl/, rubbish /ˈɹʌbɪʃ/, publish /ˈpʌblɪʃ/, distinction /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: citizenship /ˈsɪtɪzənʃɪp/, compulsory /kəmˈpʌlsəɹi/, electoral /ɪˈlɛk.tɚ.əl/, parliamentary /ˌpɑɹləˈmɛnt(ə)ɹi/, confidently /ˈkɑnfɪdəntli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like citizenship, elect, compulsory.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.