World's biggest English lesson held in Sydney

Teachers Miranda Samsa-Knapp and Erika Oschwald from the University of Sydney’s Centre for English Teaching presented a lesson on English idioms to a crowd of more than 3000 international students on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.

Donald Xu, an international student from China studying at the University of Sydney, participated in the four-hour English lesson.

“I attended the Biggest English Lesson because I wanted to learn more about the Australian culture and I wanted to practice my English. Also, this is not really like a lesson, it is more like a party,” Xu said.

“I came to the University of Sydney because this university was recommended to me by a few of my friends who studied here. I like the fact that everything is so accessible in Sydney; the transport is so much better than any other place, and so is the weather.”

Patrick Pheasant, Director of the Centre for English Teaching, said international students helped to make the University of Sydney a vibrant and diverse community.

“Currently about a quarter of our student population are international students, they come from more than 152 countries and help to enrich the vibrant global community we have here at the University of Sydney,” Pheasant said.

“Every year 3500 students come through the Centre for English Teaching. Not only do they get vital English language skills that will help them in their studies, they also get a good understanding of Australian culture. They make some great friends, too.”

The University of Sydney sponsored the event, which was organised by English Australia, the National Peak Body for the English language sector of international education in Australia.