ILTI lands in a different part of the world each week to seek out new words and phrases in the English language. This week, the pursuit of getting another stamp on our language passport in the journey towards perfection in English takes us to Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia that has been voted time and again as one of the most popular cities among Malaysian students. You may not need a swimsuit for this one but warm jackets are a definite must in the cold and unpredictable Melbourne weather.

Discover Melbourne’s Vibrant Culture

While other destinations Down Under give you sandy white beaches and hot sunny weather, Melbourne is famous for its bustling arts and culture scene with an abundance of music events and cultural festivals all year round, not to mention excellent dining options.

Federation Square is a prominent artistic and creative hub in Melbourne with the 2,000 over cultural festivals, event launches, exhibitions, performances, forums, films, concerts, and fashion shows that it hosts annually. As its tagline says, “Fed Square is Anything but Square!”

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is an incredible place to spend a relaxing day. Opened in 1861, the gallery is the country’s oldest and houses exceptional pieces of art, both ancient and modern. Divided into two venues, the NGV International on St Kilda Road houses an extensive collection from Europe, Asia, America and Oceania, while the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia Fed Square is the home of Australian art, presenting indigenous and non-indigenous art from the colonial period to present day.

Iconic buildings

A short two-minute walk from Federation Square is the Flinders Street Station, Australia’s oldest train station which is still in use. Since 1854, Flinders Street Station has been at the heart of Melbourne and continues to be one of the most iconic buildings in the capital till this day. Further away from the station is the St Paul’s Cathedral. Echoing the grand cathedrals of Europe, it took 11 years to build from 1880 after its foundation stone was laid. This Anglican cathedral remains one of Melbourne’s architectural landmarks till this day.

Makan in Melbourne

The coffee culture in Melbourne is next level and its food scene will leave you drooling – these two things alone will totally transform your experience of this city. Similar to Ipoh where our famous white coffee can be found in all places, trendy cafes are around every corner and restaurants with varied food offerings, from fine dining, local eats to international cuisines are sure to whet your appetite for more.

Serving predominantly Italian and Greek cuisine in the past, Lygon Street has in recent years seen the addition of other eats notably Asian and Indian cuisine. Chinatown, with its traditional Chinese décor and unique building architecture, is a favourite spot to grab some steaming hot dim sum, noodles, and crispy Peking duck, while Crown Melbourne Casino is a great place for fine dining with a number of acclaimed restaurants such as sushi bar, Nobu. Gourmet offerings are also up for grabs at the 140-year-old Queen Victoria Market. There are an abundance of cheeses, meats, olives and specialist coffees on sale besides Turkish boreks, Sri Lankan and Indian curries, Middle Eastern kebabs, chocolates, honey, and seafood.

Of course, no visit to Melbourne is complete with a shopping trip to the popular shopping district of Bourke Street Mall and Melbourne Central, the upmarket Collins Street and Block Arcade, or Chapel Street.

Words and phrases to learn:

pursuit – the act of following or searching for something

bustling – full of activity

hub – effective centre of activity, region or network

annually – every year

to be square – to be uncool, unpopular, unadventurous

exceptional – unusual, not typical

venue – place where something happens

extensive – covering or affecting a large area

indigenous – native

colonial – when outsiders take over a country

iconic – recognisable

landmark – a building or place that is easily recognised

next level – surpassing others

trendy – very fashionable or up to date

whet your appetite – sharpen one’s desire for food

predominantly – mainly

cuisine – style of cooking

décor – furnishing and decoration

acclaimed – publicly praised, celebrated

gourmet – food of high quality or rarity

upmarket – relatively expensive and designed to appeal to affluent consumers

Communicate in English confidently in every situation anywhere you go in the world. For over 35 years, ILTI has been at the forefront of providing English courses to students of all levels. Whether you are a beginner or an adult looking to sharpen your English skills, ILTI will see you through. Call us today to start your journey in English at 010-395 3067 or visit ilti.edu.my.