Building Confidence as a Scientist, Speaker, and Migrant in Australia | Ep 6 S3 Chinwag Tuesdays

Jayanti moved from Navi Mumbai to Brisbane in 2017 to do a PhD in biomaterials research. Nine years later, she's a TEDx speaker, a science communicator, and someone who's learned to own her Indian accent in front of 200 people. In this episode of Chinwag Tuesdays, Amanda sits down with Jayanti to talk about how she built confidence in Australia from scratch, what it actually felt like to arrive and not understand the culture, the humour, or even the word "arvo," and what finally shifted things for her. They also talk about the week before Jayanti's TEDx talk, when a comment someone had made years earlier about her accent came flooding back, and how she decided to walk onto that stage looking and sounding as Indian as possible. If you've ever felt like your accent was working against you, or like Australia's communication culture is a code you're still cracking, this one is for you. What You'll Learn in This Episode • How to build speaking confidence through incremental exposure (Toastmasters, open days, conferences) • Why sharing your failures in Australian professional culture can actually build credibility • How to navigate Aussie dry humour, slang, and cultural norms when no one has given you the manual • What Jayanti would tell her younger migrant self about accent and identity CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction to Chinwag Tuesdays 0:05 - From Mumbai to Brisbane: Jayanti’s journey into research and science communication 2:43 - Adapting to Australian research culture and navigating multicultural workplaces 6:00 - Australian humour, sarcasm and learning not to take things personally 9:45 - Building confidence through Toastmasters, public speaking and TEDx opportunities 17:28 - Speaking up in meetings, embracing mistakes and overcoming self-doubt 21:05 - Australian slang, cultural misunderstandings and learning the language beyond English 28:33 - Why hobbies, community and life beyond work matter in Australia 35:45 - Accent confidence, TEDx lessons and trusting your voice Connect with Jayanti LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayanti-mendhi/ TEDxtalk: https://cms.qut.edu.au/tedxqut/speakers/speakers-pages/2022/jayanti-mendhi ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ Want to work on your Australian English? Book an Accent Assessment with Amanda: https://www.aussieenglishwithamanda.com/accent-assessment ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ About Chinwag Tuesdays - This podcast is for international students, skilled migrants and expats living in or moving to Australia. I help you learn Australian English, speak more confidently, and feel at home Down Under. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ 🗣️ Practise listening to real Aussie English and learn natural pronunciation in a relaxed, meaningful context. 📌 If you’re improving your Aussie accent, navigating life in Australia, or seeking inspiration as a migrant — this episode is for you. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes focused on Aussie English, Aussie accent, and real-life stories from migrants across Australia. ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ 🎙️ About Aussie English with Amanda On this channel, you’ll find practical tips to improve your Australian English, pronunciation, and cultural understanding. What you’ll learn here: ✅ How to perfect your Aussie accent & pronunciation ✅ The most useful Aussie slang & expressions ✅ How to communicate naturally in Australian workplaces and social settings 📅 New episodes of Chinwag Tuesdays and video lessons every month! Subscribe now to improve your Aussie English and learn from expert guests. 🐨🇦🇺 ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ 🎓 Want to Take Your Aussie English to the Next Level? 🚀 Enrol in my all-in-one Australian English Pronunciation program - ‘The Australian Pronunciation Studio’ 👉 https://bit.ly/4bzIVs8 🇦🇺 Understand & use Aussie slang naturally with ‘The Aussie Slang Crash Course’ 👉 https://bit.ly/4gANlRX 📚 Explore my Aussie English eBooks! 👉 https://bit.ly/3Qk8ZPX 📊 Test Your English Level Here 👉 https://bit.ly/4vVMjoe 🎁 Get Free Aussie English Resources! 👉 https://bit.ly/4b53zzc 👩‍🏫 Work with Me! See all the ways I can help 👉 https://bit.ly/4vsgjs3 ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ 📱 Follow Me for Daily Aussie English Tips! 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aussie.english.with.amanda/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aussie.english.with.amanda 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aussieenglishwithamanda ⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻ 🔔 Don’t Forget to Like, Subscribe & Comment! 👍 If you found this lesson helpful, hit the like button and subscribe for more Aussie English accent and pronunciation lessons! #aussieenglish #aussieaccent #aussieslang #australianenglish#englishlearning #aussieenglishwithamanda (learn Australian English, Aussie accent tips, English for migrants in Australia, how to understand Aussies, Australian pronunciation, ESL Australia, migrant English support, Aussie slang, Australian listening practice, real life English conversations)