Topic 235 - Learn English With An Iconoclast - Asking WHY?

ABOUT ADELAIDE ENGLISH CONVERSATION PRACTICE GROUP

VENUE: The Hub (entrance level), Adelaide University, every second Friday afternoon from 5 to 6:30 pm. (The Hub is open to the public until 7pm weekdays. The Hub is a relaxation and personal study space in the university).

FIND US: Look for a furry animal toy on the table in The Hub, Adelaide University. The Hub is about 100 metres inside the main university entrance (next to the Art Gallery), on the right hand side, off North Terrace.

Note: We will probably be at an inside table to the right of The Hub entrance. If the entrance level tables at The Hub are busy, we may have to hunt for a table. If you can’t see us, ring Thor on 0479 154 831.

TOPICS: Each time there is a different topic with 10 talking points to help with ideas. It’s not a lecture, it’s a conversation. The goal is to push you a little to speak more than daily phrases. For details on each topic see the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1678127882281980.

[On alternate Fridays there is also an ideas discussion group called INTERESTING TOPICS open to anyone: see https://www.facebook.com/groups/497784706090301 ]

THE ORGANIZER Thor May, [email protected]; https://independent.academia.edu/ThoroldThorMay

Thor does this as an interest project. He is happy for people to disagree with his views and suggestions. He is not posing as an expert on particular topics, though he does know a lot about the English language. The purpose of the meetup is to practice speaking English. Since 1976 Thor has taught English Language and Linguistics to adults in 7 countries. He has had over 40 jobs, from dockyard labourer to university lecturer. His PhD is on barriers to teaching productivity. His hobbies are exploring ideas, keeping fit and hopelessly trying to learn some Mandarin Chinese.

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Topic 235: Learn English With An Iconoclast - Asking WHY?

27 February 2026

TALKING POINTS

>> This topic is about asking non-obvious questions. In a new country you ask about what everyone else knows. Maybe they think you are stupid. That’s their problem, not yours. But asking non-obvious questions anywhere is a good habit. It is the secret of deep learning …

1. Young children always skip. Then as they get older they stop skipping. Why?
2. Every child learns their mother tongue. Why do adults struggle to learn a second language and many never succeed?
3. Why are humans so bad at choosing good leaders?
4. Electric cars were common in 1900. Why did petrol cars take over?
5. Australia is a huge country. Why is nearly everyone crowded into a few cities with stupidly high house prices?
6. Australia is a Social Democracy. That means there is a social contract between the people and the government. What is this social contract and why do we have it?

7. Why do humans, animals and plants become old?

8. Why is a lot of our speaking like a formula and not original (e.g. “Nice day, isn’t it”)

9. Why are men’s shirts and women’s blouses buttoned in opposite directions?

10. Why do at least half of marriages fail, officially or unofficially?

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