Today we were talking about what we would do if we won lots of money in the lottery. Thanks to Splendid Speaking for providing us with a great worksheet that inspired us and helped us with our English.
Listen to our thoughts. Not everyone thinks that it's such a good thing to suddently come into big amounts of money.
Hi there! We are a group of students doing a full time course (FT 3-4) at St George TAFE, Sydney. Listen to our introduction and keep listening, as we will publish our podcasts here in the very near future.
You can leave a written or recorded comment for us. Let's talk!
Last Tuesday we had a pleasant surprise. Marielle, one of our AMEP students from last year came by to say hello. Our students couldn't believe how good her English was and in such a short period of time.
Listen to our informal chat to her about what she is doing at the moment, her future plans and how she got her English at the level it is now.
Thanks Marielle for taking the time and inspiring our class!
What about you? Do you have a similar experience? Tell us about it.Let's talk!
Marta interviews the manager of Arco Iris (rainbow), a Spanish speaking playgroup. Listen to her interview.
Do you know of any playgroups or community groups from your cultural background? Do you think it is a good idea to teach children about their parents' cultural background?
We will discuss this in our forum. But if any of you wants to talk about it, leave a written/recorded message here.
This is our semester 2, 2007 Full Time ESOL class at St George college of TAFE, Sydney Institute. Listen to us introducing ourlseves and keep in touch, as we will be publishing individual radio programs.
Do you want to introduce yoursefl? You can leave a written comment or you can record a comment (see side bar). We would love to hear form you.
Marta interviews Mercedes, a friend she met through her friend Susana.
Mercedes works in a glass workshop & shop, because she is originally a glass artist. Now she is developing as a ceramist as well.
You can read Marta's blog entry about this interview here
Listen to their interview and tell us what you think.
Let's talk!
Sharon, a journalist from China, presents a program about dreams: night dreams an day dreams. Listen to her introduction and interview with her classmates Yvonne, Jane, Katie, Winnie, Annie and Lei. They talk about beautiful dreams, nightmares and aspirations.
What about you? Tell us about your dreams. Let's talk!
Dan talks to Yvonne, Annie and Winnie about the environment , what the government of Australia is doing about it and what they are doing as individuals.
Hi again and welcome back to my students' podcasts!
Listen to the new students in my FT 3/4 class. Today they are just introducing themselves. Very soon you will be able to listen to their radio programs.
Tell us about yourselves. You can record a message. Let's talk!
AMEP-A students interview one of our teachers, Andrew, who has spent nearly three years living in Thailand. The questions haven't all been recorded this time. Listen to Andrew and tell us what you think about the very interesting topics he talks about (overseas adoption, Australian prisoners in overseas jails, etc)
Anastasiya interviews Kelly, who also works for the Student Association at t george college. Kelly tells us a bit more about how the Health Expo started.
Listen to her talking about how St george college and a couple more colleges were the "guinea pigs" this year.
Anastasiya interviews Kylie Johnson, Student Association Officer, about the Health Expo she organised at St George college of TAFE , Sydney. Our AMEP classes where involved at many levels, one of them was the recording of this podcasts.
Kylie tells us the Health Expo is an inniciative of TAFE Active, which is trying to encouage young people to be active to stay healty and fight against obesity.
Marielle wants to know how her classmates felt on their first day in Australia. Dana, Rejani, Dan are very honest about their feelings and how they have changed since then. Anna tells us an anecdote about herself and Sophia and Silvana recount an anecdote about Sophie's very different first day in Sydney. Listen to it, it's unbelievable! *
Do you have similar anecdotes? Tell us about them. Let's talk!
* "Unbelievable", "hard to believe" are expressions that show amazement at a story, event, fact, reality. By using them we are not doubting the story. We are merely expressing how fantastic, extraordinary, out of this world, we think the story is.
Anastasiya talks to her classmates about their free time in Sydney and before they came to Australia. Do they do the same things? Do they go to similar places?
What about you? What do you do in your free time? Tell us abut it . Let's talk
Anna interviews her classmates about things they have found strange about Australian culture & customs. She doesn't want to use the expression "cultural shock".
Do you have any anecdotes about Australian customs that have shocked or amused you? If you live in any other country different to your country of origin, have you ever experienced cultural shock?
Our college Student Association organised a Health Expo on Tuesday 24th October 2006. They invited the AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program)classes to be involved in the organisation and manning of the food stalls for the day.
To prepare for it, we all did a lot of work researching health topics. Marion invited a Health Nurse to talk to the classes re food handling and hygiene on October 17th at 10.30 am. We all enjoyed Teresa's presentation and very graphic demonstration. It highlighted the importance of washing our hands thoroughly before food preparation.
Silvana and her crew interview Chris, a chiropractor who tells them about the importance of good posture. Listen to them and note down some of the advice Chris gives us.
Layla, Dan and Silvana interviews the general practioners officer for the St George area. She talks about the education program for family doctors, who have a point system to esure they get up-to-date training in the newest medical practices. She also explained what a normal day in a doctor's life involves. Listen to the interview and write down a doctor's diary entry for a typical day.
Another health worker interviewed by Silvana and her crew was the women's health officer. She emphasised the importance of self-examination. Listen to the interview and search the internet for the closest health clinic and breast cancer clinic or mobile truck to where you live.
Marielle prepared some questions that will help you with the listening:
1, What type of service does she provide?
2. What is important for women?
3. What is the best way to avoid or prevent breast cancer?
4. What is the thing that we can do to make ourselves more aware?
5. How many times should we check ourselves (self examination)?
Silvana's crew (Sarina, Mariella, Anna, Sophie & Layla) also interviewed the Cancer Council volunteer. Skin cancer is a very big problem in Australia. We should all be aware of the damage the sun causes if we don't protect our skin. "Slip, slop slap" is one of the educational campaigns to promote prevention amongst everyone, but particularly young people.
Silvana has prepared a worksheet that will help you with the listening, Cancer Council Worksheet:
http://www.archive.org/download/SilvanaCancerCouncilWorksheet/cancercouncil.doc Listen to the interview and write down the advice given reagarding skin cancer, diet, etc. What do you think? Were you aware of this before you came to Sydney? Did you take any precautions in your country of origin? Let's tlak!
On Tuesday 24th October 2006 the our students and those of the other 3 AMEP classes at St George college of TAFE took part in the first Student Association Health Expo.
Silvana and her crew interviewed the Sexual Assault officer from the St George Health Area. Listen to the interview and answer these questions:
1. What is the main service offered by the sexual assault unit?
2. Who do they mainly deal with?
3. What does she say it is unfortunate?
4. What does she say is happening too often lately?
On Tuesday we learnt how to use Audacity to record and edit mp3 recordings. Marielle decided to create a mini radio porgram. She interviews a new student, Sophie. Listen to it and send us any questions you would like them to answer.
Let's talk!
Sally's AMEP-C class organised an international food market day at St George TAFE. They were supported by the Student Association and many of the ESOL students and teachers, who instead of bringing their own lunch, bought it from the AMEP-C market.
The posters were all designed and created by the students. This one was done by Ana Luisa.
Do you organise events like this one? Tell us about it. Let's talk!
Steve Irwin is the most famous man in the world. He had a TV program called:” Crocodile Hunter”. He also had Irwin’s Australia Zoo in Queensland where everyone could see many different animals.
Unfortunately, he was killed by a stingray blow to his chest while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.
Mariella,Sany, Lucy, Dina, Chi & Sarina interviewed some classmates about this. These are the questions:
Robert and Sarina describe their class. What about yours? Tell us more about what you are like, the things you like, what you do, what you did before, and so on. Let's talk!
Script:
There are 18 students in our class from different countries (India, Chile, Brazil, Macedonia, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Lebanon, Egypt), and ages 19 to 60. We live in Sydney Australia. All of us are migrants.
There are four levels in the AMEP course. We are level four and study full time from February to November, also we are studying computer skills at the same time.
We have two teachers, both very good teachers: Liz is Australian and Rosa from Spain. Liz’s class is for practising our pronunciation and writing, and Rosa’s class is a lot of grammar, homework and blogging.
Our English had improved a lot since the first time that we came to TAFE.
Most of us are very happy to live in Australia.
Australia is an easy going country, the Australian people are friendly.
Welcome to our podcast for the second half of the year.
Listen to some of the new students for semester 2, 2006. They come form many different countries and some have been in AUstralia for several years, while others have just arrived.
Djimi interviewed her classmates about their first trip to Australia. How long did it take? Were they by themselves? Was it boring?
There is a twist at the end. Listen to her and Hideki debating why they are studying English. Hideki gives a very interesting answer.
Tell us what you think.
Listen to Marcela's interview with her classmates about love, marriage and other related topics. They all had a lot to tell, some a bit too much... What about you? Let us know. Leave a comment, written or recorded.
music by mig
Click here, Salsa lesson for a photostory of the salsa lesson Marcela, her boyfriend Ricardo and Angela gave our class to celebrate the end of the course. A true musticultural event, where we had Harjit, from India, dancing to the sound of samba.
Helen asked her classmates about the effects of having changed to a country with a differenct culture. Has changing countries, which really means changing cultures, changed you?
Lisen to their answers and tell us what you think.
Harjit interviews her classmates about their cultures and that of Australia. They are from China, Colombia, India, Japan, Lebanon and Russia. They had many things to say, some of them surprising.
What about you? Do you live in a country where the main culture is different to your own? Have you adapted? Do you believe you should? Has the experience changed you?
If you have never lived in another country, do you think you would find it difficult to adapt to a new culture? Or do you think the world is becoming so similar that it won't be hard at all?
Anna, from Russia, interviews her classmates about movies. Their answers were varied and very interesting. From Indian movies like Friendship, to Luc Besson's The Fifth Element,going through blockbusters like Titanicand new releases like The Da Vinci Code.
Listen to Anna's radio program and write your own opinion in comments .
This is the first of a series of interviews conducted by the students in our class about different topics.
Chika, who is from Japan, decided to ask her classmates about transport in their countries of origin. They also compared it to transport in Sydney. Not surprisingly, the latter leaves a lot to be desired, especially when compared to the Japanese transport system.
Listen to Chika's radio program and write your own opinion in comments .
Hello, Mafalda. My name is Helen. I'd like to ask you a few questions.
First, do you have a lot of homework from school?
Secod, which subject do you like best? Why?
Third, what are your hobbies?
Four, when did you start to learn English?
Do you think it's hard to learn or easy?
What do you think about your religion?
How many religions do you have in your country or in your town or village?
What do churches look like in Portugal?
Are you a very religious person?
What makes you interested in a different religion? Which religion?
Do you know anything about your religion that you can teach us?
Which celrbration do you like to celebrate and why?
What is the most famous church you have in your country?
Tell us about the Virgin of Fatima. What happened? When did it happen? Are there any of the children still alive? If so, how old are they?
Hi Elizabeth, my name is Marcela. I come from Colombia, but now I live in Sydney. In my country we have some traditions: St Joseph Day, Easter and Christmas. Nine days before Christmas Day we have something for children. It's called La Novena del Niño Dios, which means the nine days of Baby Jesus. Children go in groups of 15 or 16 children, to different houses. They sing Christmas Carols, people give lollies everyday.
I show my religion with a little cross or any icons of saints, in my neck, like a medal.
Hello, Mafalda. This is Joanne. I have some quetrions for you.
The first one is: have most families got a car in your country?
Second, what do they do when people meet the first time?
Third, do all students wear uniforms?
Fourth, what is the main food and drink in your country?
Thank you.
Hello this is Anna again. I'm from Russia, but now I live in Sydney , Australia and I want to ask you some questions. First, you asked us about artifacts but you didn't tell us about Portuguese artifacts.
What are they?
Are they popular?
Do you use them?
These are questions that the students in our class thought of asking you, Fernanda's students. They are totally different topics to the ones you sent us.
Check the next posts for questions related to the topics you asked us about (food, religion, habits, etc) and listen to our class discussion about flora in our countries and body language.
Thank you for your very interesting topics. We had a great time talking about them and preparing new questions for you. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.
OUR QUESTIONS:
What type of transport do you have in your country?
Does the government help you with money if you are not working?
Do you pay any money for the doctors?
What is the traditional music in Portugal?
Do you use any public transport when you go to school?
Is there a second language in Portugal?
What is the weather like? Which season do you like?
Tell us about Lisbon.
What' the most famous music in Portugal?
Do you like your country? Why? Or would you like to live in a different country? Which one?
When you finish your degree is it easy to find a job?
Is there any difference between the girls and the boys? I mean, are they raised differently by their parents?
Is Portugal better off after joining the European Community?
Is it popular to have a tatto or piercing?
What is your national food? At what age do you usually get married?
What is the most popular football club in your country? And what kind of music do teenagers listen to?
What is the age when young people leave home in Portugal? In Australia ages ago it was 17 or 18 but now is 25.
What do you think about globalisation is it good or bad? Why?
Do you regard your parents as your friends?
How old do young people start to get a boyfriend or girlfriend?
Are there many young people sharing flats, living without their families?
Do many students wear make up when they go to school?
Are what age are you permitted to get drivers license or dirinking?
In Australia we are permitted to get drivers license 18 and start to train driving cars at 16. We are also allowed to drink at 18 years of age.
What's the main industry in your country?
Are American films popular in your country?
What's the icon of Portugal?
Do the Portuguese often go to the cinema?
Hi Fernanda and Fernanda's students. My name is Rosa and I'm and English teacher from Sydney , Australia. Originally I'm from Huesca, a small city in the north of Spain, but I've been in Sydney for over 20 years. I think you've chosen a great subject, multiculturalism, for my students to talk about and answer your questions. In my class there are people from many different countries, Japan, Lebanon, Chile, Colombia, China, Russia, India, Serbia, Thailand... You'll get to know them all. We are always comparing traditions, customs and cultural ideas. It's most interesting and we all feel privileged to be able to learn so much from each other.
Let's Talk is a space for a group of ESOL students, mostly new arrivals (AMEP), to broadcast short audio files recorded by them to practise their English.
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