Farewell from Navitas AMEP Distance Learning

All good things must come to an end! With sadness this is the last Navitas DL Blog post. From the 30th June 2017, Navitas and the Flexible Learning Network will no longer deliver DL lessons. Your DL lessons will continue with TAFE OTEN who will be in contact with you from the 1st July 2017.Over the past six years your teachers have really enjoyed teaching you and would like to say goodbye.They each answered the question"What do you love about teaching in Navitas DL?

DL teachers

'What I love about teaching in DL is our wonderful students. Your positive attitude, willingness to work hard and determination to succeed never fails to inspire me. It has been a joy to teach you and I feel honoured to have been part of your journey in Australia.' Nicola.

'We had laughs and a few tears at times with special and sad moments. Overall I had an amazing job and I will miss you all. I wish all my DL students lots of luck in your future in Australia.' from Karen.

'I delighted in watching you improve your English skills, develop confidence, complete courses, get jobs, achieve high IELTS scores, pass Citizenship tests, have babies and settle happily in Australia. I will miss you and I wish you every success in the future.' Best wishes from Linda.

'What I love is the one-to-one approach with my students. It has been a real pleasure working with each one of you, seeing you grow and develop both intellectually and socially. My message is just keep going, keep learning, keep growing.' From Johanna

Teachers & managers, past & present

'Some people come into our lives

and leave footprints on our hearts

and we are never ever the same.' By Flavia Weedn

From Barbara 

'What I've loved is meeting amazing students who are willing to share a part of your loves and cultures with me. Erica

'What I love is the opportunity to meet the loveliest of people from around the world. I've learned so much from you; different customs, cultural practices, recipes, colourful celebrations and joyous festivals. Each lesson has been pure joy, sharing, learning, laughter and occasional frustration with technology,I must say there was never a dull moment.' Regards Sonia.

"What I've loved are my wonderful students. Like delicate flowers, I've watched you blossom, then grow in confidence and flourish in your new environment. I wish you all the happiness in the world!" Kind Regards Christine.

'What I've loved is that this program has made a difference to you all. I feel that I have not just helped you learn English but set goals, get better jobs and a better life. All my students are now my friends and I'll miss you very much. Keep learning English and have a happy future in Australia.' From Lisbeth

Harmony Day 2015

DL management 2012

"We share each other's woes, each other's burdens bear,

Our fears, our hopes, our joys are one,

Our comforts and our cares." From Ross

'What I've loved is ..... 
Pornpun's eternal enthusiasm, Widi's detailed dialogues,
Neena's  fabulous friendliness, Rathigah's happy humour,
Intra's captivating conversations, Gabi's exemplary efficiency,
Gina's perfect prepositions, Pern's transport triumph,
Anuja's intriguing insights, Soha's special stories,
Zeinab's excellent explanations, Luana's sense of style. 
Varapon's marvellous memory, everyone's wonderful warmth.
I've learnt so much from you & I'm so proud of you all!
Let's keep in touch! Rowena

What I've loved is discovering so much about the rest of the world through my wonderful students. I'm grateful for your knowledge,insight and friendship. Julian 

'What I've loved is that learning is a beautiful thing which brings people together. Everyone is potentially a great learner, if the right support is there. From Michelle. 

'What I've loved about DL is the feeling of going into your homes and becoming almost one of the family. I see your babies, your children's bright faces with their newly-acquired Aussie accents, grandma in the background, doing the ironing but absorbing everything too! For a brief moment I'm part of your family. That's what I'll remember about DL! from Carol.

'It's been a pleasure to be your DL teacher. It's added to my experience and knowledge of your individual cultures and has made my life more interesting, colourful and exciting. I've laughed and cried with you, my dear students, enjoyed your friendships and feel more human for it!' Ziba.

It has been a wonderful experience teaching each one of you. Thank you for making me smile and sharing your life with me through writing and conversation. I hope that no matter where your future takes you, you will continue the learning process. I wish you all the best for the future and I will miss you all.From Maha

What I've loved is the privilege of being invited to share your journey in a new country and culture.I'm full of admiration for your resilience to overcome difficulties and move forward.I'll miss you all very much. It's been great working in the DL team with such a committed group of teachers, fabulous leaders and admin staff.I think we can be very proud of what we have achieved together! Meredith.

Finally farewell from your DL Blogspot editors, Nadia and Maree. We have loved reading your stories each week and the way you have all inspired and supported each other through the DL Blog. We wish you all well on the next steps in your DL journey. 

• If you have any questions about DL at TAFE OTEN, just ask your teacher or write your question in the comments box below.
• Also if you'd like to say thank you to your teacher, feel free to write your thoughts in the comments box.

Eid Mubarak

We wish our Muslim students 

and their families 

a blessed Eid al-Fitr.

From all the staff 
at Navitas Distance Learning

Ayan celebrates World Refugee Day

Refugee Week, Sunday 18th June -Saturday 24th June, is a time to raise awarenes of issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. Originally celebrated in 1986, Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day on the 20th June. The theme is "With courage let us all combine", from the second verse of the Australian national anthem.This week we have a special story from a courageous Navitas Distance Learning student, Ayan, who tells us why she loves to celebrate Refugee Day.

"There are many celebrations in Somalia, but I don’t celebrate them. I celebrate World Refugee Day, because I don’t remember much about my country. I left when I was only 8 and I grew up in a refugee camp.

World Refugee Day is celebrated on June 20th each year. The website says “It honours the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict, and violence.” I was one of these people!

Why is it important to me? When we came to Kenya, we had nothing – no food, no clothing. We didn’t even know where we were going. They gave us a tent and some blankets, clean water to drink and food – I think it was maize. That day we believed we were going to get a new life – we were without hope before that. We were there for three years.

Then the government closed the camp because it was too close to the border. We moved further inland to a place called Hager-Dher. We stayed there for 15 years. Life got better and better. There was nothing there – you couldn’t grow anything or keep animals there, but we had peace and teachers came and taught the kids. My mother started a little market.We always celebrated World Refugee Day in the camp. That’s why I can’t forget that day. There were many nationalities there – Sudanese, Eritreans – and we all celebrated together.

Now I live in Brisbane and we do the same thing. We meet at a big park. There are so many nationalities. Each country does its traditional dance. The young people don’t usually join in, because they were born here. But we older people, we remember. I sometimes feel happy, sometimes emotional on this day. Emotional because I remember life before the refugee camp and in the refugee camp. But then, I remember where I am today and I feel happy because I have a better life. I never thought I would have this chance." 

Thank you Ayan for sharing your story of hope and courage with your DL classmates.We really admire your determination. Feel free to write to Ayan in the comments box below.

Activities
CSWE 1-3
1. Why is World Refugee Day important to Ayan?
2. What gave Ayan hope in the refugee camps?
3. Why do you think it's important to celebrate Refugee Week in Australia?

CSWE 2-3 
Click HERE to watch a video on refugees starting their own business. Choose one refugee story and discuss the questions with your teacher.
1. What business are they starting up?
2. What will help them start the business?
3. What will they need to overcome to make the business a success?

CSWE 3
Click on the link HERE to read about the achievements of the 2017 Refugee Week Ambassadors.Choose 1 story to discuss with your teacher.
1. What country are they from?
2. Why do you think they were chosen as ambassadors?
3. Why is it important to promote the success of refugees in Australia?

Sara discovers the world of open online learning

Sara

My name is Sara and I'm studying CSWE 3 via AMEP Distance Learning with Navitas English. One day, during my online English lesson, my teacher Erika and I discussed further studies in Australia. I told Erika that I had always been interested in working in the nursing sector. I said I was unsure about making the big financial commitment to begin further study and that I knew little about the Australian healthcare system.

The breakthrough came when Erika suggested I look at the website "Open 2 Study". Here I found a free open online short course called "Introduction to Nursing in Healthcare". I thought it would give me a good introduction to nursing so I quickly registered and immediately commenced the course.

The free online course was fantastic. It provided an overview of nursing roles and outlined the different healthcare sectors. I completed four modules in four weeks and  I learnt by doing online activities, watching videos, doing puzzles and completing assessments. Each module contained clear learning objectives and was easy to understand. I just set aside 2-3 hours per week and studied at my own pace. 

By doing this short course, I also found  that I was able to practice my English in online discussions. As well through reading and listening I learnt new vocabulary and gained knowledge. The best thing was that after successfully completing and passing the assessments, I was issued with a certificate of achievement.

The course encouraged me in two ways. Firstly, listening to lectures by a range of healthcare professionals, confirmed that nursing is a worthwhile career path and that the teamwork involved would be rewarding. Secondly, I now understood with a positive attitude and willingness to learn that we can all achieve our goals and improve ourselves, regardless of our age or gender.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, why not check out these free online courses. You could find a course that interests you. You can study from the comfort of your own home and most importantly you could change your life. Here is the link Open 2 Study.

• Click on the Open 2 Study link above and choose 2 courses that interest you. 
• Why do these courses interest you?
• What online activities did Sara do?  What online activities do you enjoy doing?
• Sara set aside 2-3 hours per week to study by herself. What helps you to make time to study.
• How does a positive attitude and willingness to learn help to achieve our goals?

Ivana is grateful for her life adventures

Ivana

It was 20^th September 2010 when I hopped on a plane to Sydney. Straight out of high school, full of energy, heroic determination, bravery and maybe a bit of foolishness, I was definitely hungry for adventure.

At the time, I didn’t realize that I was standing on the threshold of hundreds of opportunities, tough decisions and a process of self - discovery. My visa was granted for six months, but if someone had told me then, that I would live in Sydney for the next seven years, I would have said, “No way!"

Unbelievably, these seven years have passed so quickly. I can’t believe how many things I have learnt in so many different fields. Over the first two years I learnt English as a beginner. I then travelled around Australia and fell in love with a Mauritian guy. During this time I worked in a supermarket and a bakery and learnt how things work in Australia compared to my country, Slovakia.

Later on I entered the Australian Institute of Music. After three years I successfully completed my Bachelor of Music in classical performing arts, as an opera singer. Towards the end of my studies I also applied for permanent residency, which was granted. Since that time I have tried a few different positions such as a nanny, live in au pair, Slovak folk dancing teacher, Slovak language teacher and as a freelance singer.

Now I have time to reflect on my decisions. I know there's always room for improvement to work harder, to study more, or to achieve more. Having been born a perfectionist, it's difficult to give myself credit for what I achieved. Also it wasn’t easy to be separated from my family, lost in the world, not knowing where I belong. However looking back now, it was definitely worth it!

Now I've set my sights on gaining an administrative or student services position and my DL teacher Christine is helping me complete CSWE 3.

I can’t believe how lucky I am for all these experiences, friendships and feelings. I don’t own much except a few books and some clothes. However, thanks to my life journey, I have a warm soul which no one can ever take from me. I'm so grateful! 

A big thank you to Ivana for sharing her life adventures in Australia. If you'd like to read more about her singing career just click on this link http://ivanapasovicova.com.au/

• Ivana challenged herself by working in diverse occupations. What are the advantages of working in a variety of jobs?
• Ivana says, 'Having been born a perfectionist, it's difficult to give myself credit for what I've achieved.' Why is it important to acknowledge your achievements?'
• Gratefulness gives Ivana 'a warm soul'. When you are grateful for something, how does it make you feel? 

Elizabeth overcomes disappointment

My name's Elizabeth and I'm from China. I've been in Australia for seven months now. Before coming to Australia my husband and I did a lot of preparation. We made plans to help me find a job here and after a lot of hassles, we successfully brought our two dogs here. Finally, we worked out how much it would cost us to live in Australia for three months and brought sufficient savings with us. Since I'd been here three years earlier and loved what I experienced in Australia, I came with high expectations.

Things however were not the same as what we expected. Originally, we planned to settle in Newcastle, a coastal town not far from Sydney. However, because we could not find a proper house to rent we returned to my husband’s hometown in central NSW. It was difficult as I couldn't find a job for a while. So we put our savings and effort towards starting a new business in pet grooming. It took quite a while for us to settle and it was only after receiving help from my parents-in-law, that our lives got back on-track.

Running the new business has not been easy. One day I received a phone call from one of my clients. I could not hear her very well and she could not understand my English. She began saying something very rude to me over the phone. I felt both sad and angry at the same time. So I became scared of talking to people on the phone. Slowly I stopped answering phone calls and left all the communication jobs to my husband. I was so disappointed.

What helped me was a phone call from the Distance Learning Centre saying that I was able to start my English lessons online. After starting DL I've come to see that all new migrants encounter some kind of problems. Also life is often not what we expect. 

With the help from my DL teacher, Lorinda, I have slowly started talking to my clients. Surprisingly, I am actually able to communicate with them very well. Although there are still times when I have to repeat myself, I feel good about answering phone calls these days.

I still need to work on my English skills and learn more about Australian culture, but I'm sure I will soon build up enough confidence to communicate with all my clients. When that happens, I believe I'll find life in Australia more like what I expected.

Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your feelings and how your DL lessons helped you build up your confidence and overcome your disappointments. Life is often different to what we expect and when things turn out differently it's natural to feel disappointed. 

• What is something you expected which led to a disappointment? What did you do to overcome this disappointment?
• What was a positive thing that resulted from this situation? 
• Talking on the phone is tricky. What tips can you give for communicating on the phone?

A tale of love powering creativity

DL student Susanti

My name is Susanti and I come from Indonesia. The 17th February 2017 was one of the most auspicious days of my life. This is the day I tied the knot with my husband, Chris. I met Chris five years ago while we were both working in Jakarta. It was our love that started my romance with this beautiful country, Australia, and brought me to the peaceful city of Brisbane.

My dream was to make my own wedding dress so I could wear something special that I made with my own hands. I wanted my dress to be unique and one day, if I have a daughter, pass it down to her so she can be proud of her mother.

I believe I inherited my crochet skills from my mother but I had never done a crochet dress before. I had my fair share of doubts before starting work on my wedding dress. Could I finish it on time? Would it be good enough?  It was also a challenge to keep it a secret from Chris as I wanted to give him a nice surprise.

I started working on my wedding dress in mid-November 2016 and finally completed it on my wedding day with some final touches. I love roses so I used white cotton yarn to crochet about a hundred roses for my dress. I lined it with navy blue and added lavender flowers. I spent innumerable happy hours creating something new.

My DL teacher, Sonia, was one of the few people with whom I shared the progress of my dress every week. She inspired me to keep a visual record of how the dress was gradually taking shape. On my wedding day, Chris and the guests were pleasantly surprised which made me proud of all my efforts.

I feel I began a new chapter of my life with a new belief in myself.  I believe that if you have confidence in yourself and try hard to achieve your dreams you can achieve anything that you set your heart upon.  And no matter what lies in the road ahead, staying positive and having patience and faith will get you there.

Congratulations Susanti on your wedding and on this handmade masterpiece. We wish you well in your new life. Thanks for sharing your wonderful, happy story.

• What is something you made that required skill and effort that you were proud of?
• Are we all creative? What empowers your creativity?
• What skills would you like to learn or like to have learnt? Why?

Kris celebrates a special mother

Kris, DL Student

Last Sunday, 14th May, we celebrated Mother's Day in Australia. Like many of us, DL student Kris had the opportunity to honour her mother and remember the important role she played in her life, as she tells us her story.

Hi, I am Kris. I come from the Philippines and I'm the youngest of four siblings. Growing up, my life was simple. We were raised by a single mother who tried hard to make ends meet.

When I was a student, I remember experiencing many challenges: illness, loss of a loved one and other setbacks due to our tight financial situation.  But I never gave up.

After I finished my Bachelor degree in Economics in 2012, I had my first job as a Bank Teller. I was then able to help my mum who made so many sacrifices for us and also help other members of my family.

I am so proud of my mum who was able to send us all to school. One of my brothers is now a doctor, the other one is an agriculturist and my sister is a nurse. Nothing is impossible if your family works as a team. No matter how tough things get, you will be able to achieve your goals.

I moved to Australia in March 2015 and I got married to the man that I love. A few months later I had a job as a Personal Care Worker in a nursing home which I really enjoy. Now, I am a mother of a healthy and happy 8-month-old baby boy.

My dream is to get a degree in Pharmacy after I become a permanent resident. I am glad that my DL teacher Maha is helping me and sharing her knowledge and experience with me.

Thank you Kris for sharing your inspirational story with us and we wish you all the best for your family and career. We also wish all the DL mothers happiness and success. 

• What role does the mother play in the family?
• Has the role of mothers changed over the years? Why/why not?
• What challenges do modern day mothers face?

Nancy volunteers to help her community

DL Teacher Nancy

This week we celebrate National Volunteer Week to acknowledge the generous contributions of those who give up their time and effort to help others.

Nancy is one of our DL teachers who finds great pleasure not only in teaching English but also in volunteering to help her community with her English skills.

Going back 30 years, Nancy remembers how difficult it was for her to settle in Australia as an adult migrant. Even though she was an English lecturer in a university in China, it was still hard to find a job here. Nancy had to go back to full-time study and after completing her Diploma in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), she landed her first job as a teacher on the AMEP program.

Twenty years later Nancy is still doing what she loves best, teaching English in the same program. Most of her students are from a Chinese background with low level English. She is passionate about helping elderly Chinese students in particular as she understands how challenging it is for them to settle in a new country. She makes learning English easy for them and takes pride in their progress.

Nancy did not go out looking for volunteer work but because of her English skills, her friendly personality and her passion to help people, volunteering seemed to find her.

It all started when Nancy joined a Tai Chi class in her community where the local council organises free classes for the increasing Chinese population in the Northern Sydney area.

Being the helpful person that she is, she was always happy to translate and interpret small messages between the organisers and the Chinese people in her classes. This led to Nancy playing a key volunteer role liaising between council staff and the Chinese community.  She uses her time and bilingual skills to help the council communicate class timetables, venues, enrolments and housekeeping instructions to the Chinese community and she translates letters and flyers.

Through these community classes Nancy not only learnt Tai Chi, enjoyed her sketching classes and made friends, but she also had the the chance to give back . She says "Volunteering makes me feel good about helping others".

Research shows that volunteers live happier and healthier lives.  No wonder the motto for National Volunteer Week is "Give Happy, Live Happy". 

• Have you ever volunteered? What did you do?
• What are the benefits of volunteering for new migrants in Australia?
• What kind of volunteer work is available and how can you find it in your area?  Check out this website: Volunteering Australia

Why not share your volunteering experience here and inspire other students!

Bingbing passes the test

https://www.ielts.org/

My name is Bingbing and I come from China. I have been studying English through AMEP Distance Learning with my teacher Daniel since January 2016. I chose DL because it allows me to study at home while looking after my one year old child.

My goal is to go to university to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing and become a registered nurse. To be accepted into this course I need to sit the English test, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and achieve a score of 6 for each module: listening, reading, writing and speaking, and an overall score of 6.5.

I needed extra help with speaking and writing in particular. I knew these skills were my weaknesses and I couldn't imagine myself getting a score of 6 studying on my own.

My teacher Daniel (Navitas Parramatta college), focussed his lessons to help me prepare for the IELTS test. After 6 months of preparation, I made my first attempt and I was excited about the results. I achieved the required scores and more: Listening 7.5, Reading 7.5, Writing 7, Speaking 6, and overall a score of 7. I was particularly amazed by my writing score and so happy that my hard work paid off. Daniel was very proud of me too.

I think the key to success in achieving any goal, not just IELTS, is to have the right guidance and then work hard persistently towards your dream. I know it is easier said than done. I still recall times when I felt frustrated because I failed to brainstorm any ideas for a topic and thought to give up. Fortunately, it was just a thought. If you want to achieve something, don't expect fast or easy results, but practise everyday and trust the process knowing that you will improve gradually.

Choosing Distance Learning was one of the best decisions I've ever made. What I learnt from teacher Daniel was more than the knowledge and skills necessary for achieving my academic goals. His constant encouragement and acknowledgment of my progress kept me positive, patient and confident in my endeavours.

It's interesting to note that following the writing of her story, Bingbing changed her mind about her course of study.  Inspired by Teacher Daniel she is now doing a postgraduate qualification in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) to become an English teacher helping migrants in the same way she was helped. From all of us in DL, we wish Bingbing a bright career teaching English.

• What are you short and long-term goals? What are the steps to achieve them?
• What makes us sometimes change our goals along the way?
• What advice would you give someone who needs direction, motivation or confidence in achieving their goal?

We'd love to hear your comments below.

ANZAC Day celebrated on 25th April

On 25 April, Australians will commemorate Anzac Day. Anzac Day is the day we remember those who died in all wars. ‘Anzac’ stands for ‘Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’.

When World War I broke out in 1914, Australia had only been a federation for 13 years, with a population of fewer than 5 million people. It was very much part of the British Empire, and so when Britain entered the war, Australia automatically joined as well.

On 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand forces landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. The idea was to capture Gallipoli and from there, to take over Constantinople, which was the capital of Turkey at the time.

The Australian and New Zealand soldiers met very strong resistance from the Turkish soldiers and both sides suffered terrible casualties. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died during this 8 month campaign and it had a profound effect on Australians back home.

As Australia was a young country with a small population, this loss of life became a defining point in its history, and from it, the Anzac legend of courage, mateship and sacrifice grew.

The first anniversary was held in 1916, and every year since then, Australians not only remember the lives lost at Gallipoli, but all those who have died in war.

A dawn service has been held every year since 1927. Initially this was a very simple ceremony involving veterans of the war to gather, remember and reflect on their experiences. Today, as all the veterans of World War 1 have passed away, the dawn service not only includes the family members of these veterans, but anybody else who wants to gather and pay their respects and reflect on the meaning of war.

It is a solemn and very moving occasion, as one of our DL students, Thi Son Ha, who attended a dawn service, wrote in a beautiful passage:

A MOMENT OF ANZAC DAY AT LAKE CARGELLIGO

In the wind, the voice from another world whispered "We remember you ....remember you ...remember you ....". Wind then stopped, sunshine didn’t move. Everyone looked beyond the other side of the lake, such as they tried to find some souls who came back in the cloud, in the sky or the water of the lake....The wave of the water on the bank of the lake could be counted as the beats of the hearts. A moment for all of you who sacrificed your life for the peace of this country as well as the world. "We remember you, remember you ....!" 

• Australians often use the word ‘mate’. How was 'mateship’ shown during the war?
• Do you have a similar celebration in your country? What happens on the day?
• What do you think is the best way to remember those who died in war?

Charina, the professional job-hunter

DL student, Charina

My name is Charina and I come from the Philippines.  I came to Australia with my two daughters about 3 years ago to join my husband who came here 3 years before us. We could have joined him earlier, but I was a bit hesitant as I had a great job back home. I had to put my family first however, and couldn't deprive my daughters from being with their father.

After settling down in Roma in Queensland I decided to enrol in an English course. So I started learning English at TAFE. Unfortunately the classes were mixed levels and my daughter didn't cope well with her new childcare, so I decided to join the Distance Learning program.

DL suited me so well as I started feeling more confident socialising and mingling with the community. I studied the Work theme with my teacher who helped me update my resume. Then I started applying for different jobs. Soon I changed into a professional job-hunter and attended one interview after another near and far. With every interview, I gained more confidence and applied for more jobs.

I finally found a job as a Room Attendant in a local hotel. Do you think I stopped there! No way! I continued my job hunt.

Last December I found a job in aviation and thought I was getting closer to my dream job. The employer arranged a training course for me, so I went to Brisbane for training. As soon as I returned home however, I found out that my husband, who is the main breadwinner in the family, got a new job in Chinchilla which is 2 hours away from Roma.

My next job was to organise the move to Chinchilla, find a new place to live and new schools within 2 weeks.  That of course meant that my new job was gone as I couldn't possibly commute 4 hours a day to work at Roma airport.

This is very challenging; nevertheless, I'm not the type of person who gives up easily. I am finishing my DL classes soon but I've got enough confidence to look for another job closer to home.  Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

Great determination Charina! We will keep our fingers crossed for you and wish you all the best in your job hunt.

Balancing family and work responsibilities can be difficult.

• What sacrifices do people make for the family? Do you have examples from your personal experience?
• How can mothers balance work and family responsibilities?
• Do you think mothers or fathers should stay home with their children?  Why/why not?

 We would like to read your comments below.

HAPPY EASTER

Dear DL students

We wish you a Happy Easter. There will be no lessons from Friday 14th to Monday 17th. Lessons will start again on Tuesday 18th April.

Have a safe break and for our Christian students have a blessed time of reflection and celebration.

 

DL's Patchwork of Cultures - Harmony Day 2017

DL's Patchwork of Cultures

Navitas Distance Learning students have made a Patchwork of Cultures for Harmony Day. During the week of Harmony Day students enjoyed sharing their culture online with their teachers, at work and in their community. Following Harmony Day many DL students worked very hard to write comments, reports on festivals and interviews to share insight into their festivals and culture. In doing so they have created a virtual Patchwork of Cultures. Click HERE to view the slideshow.

Teachers Sonia and Barbara

DL teachers enjoyed their multicultural lunch together, the most unusual dish being Antarctic Seaweed Salad. Teacher Barbara
demonstrated how to wrap Vietnamese rice paper rolls which all agreed were delicious. Lisbeth and Johanna shared photos of their traditional dress, while Sonia lived up to her promise and wore a lovely orange 'Salwar Kamiz'.

In the slideshow students express their thoughts on how they keep their culture alive in Australia and how they feel about life in Australia.

Thitaree from Thailand wrote:
'After I read Sonia's story I liked some words she said. These are my ideas. My life is like making a hand-made embroidery. I have a colourful and wonderful life but I have to work very hard at it. Like embroidery we have to do a little bit at a time and join it together, but sometimes, we have to re-do it. Sometimes I can't find the right colour thread so I stop what I'm doing and feel sad that I can't finish it. This is similar to my life and its ups and downs.'

Thank you to all the students and teachers for your contributions to the DL Patchwork of Cultures slideshow.

What did you learn by reading about your fellow students' festivals?

How do people in different cultures celebrate Easter?

How do you cope with life's ups and downs? 

A journey we walk together

Tasmiah & Teacher Lorinda
meet face to face
Navitas City College

My name is Tasmiah and I come from Bangladesh.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Business degree, I had several administrative positions. Life was simple but comfortable then.

In 2014 I got married to a Bengali man who had been living in Australia. I left my beloved family and country for Australia, a totally unknown land to me. I came with hopes and dreams for a better life and a brighter career.

The first three months in Australia were like a honeymoon. My husband took me touring the city every weekend. I came to know the neighbourhood and I started to adapt to life in Sydney. I started my first English classes at Navitas in Sydney city.  After two months I changed to Distance Learning when I decided to look for a job.

Things however did not go as smoothly as I'd expected.  Firstly I couldn't adjust to the unpredictable weather. I often felt cold and miserable and missed the sunshine in my home country. Then there was the challenge of finding a job. I hardly received any replies for my applications. My chances were limited as sometimes there were over a 100 applicants for the same job. I began to feel discouraged and even depressed. With all the golden dreams I had before, I felt I achieved nothing and was disappointed.

But thanks to the two DL teachers I've had. Despite my frustration, they remained patient and sympathetic and they helped me remain optimistic and hopeful. My first DL teacher Cristina suggested I look for volunteer jobs to start off. I took her advice and started looking for volunteer jobs but Cristina left and Lorinda became my new DL teacher.

The transition from one teacher to another wasn't easy. It was another few weeks before Lorinda and I came to understand each other well. Since then, Lorinda has been a great source of encouragement to me. Because of her positive support and inspiration, I have learnt to remain hopeful about the future.

In the past year, I have taken up different volunteer and part-time jobs, but the prospect of getting a stable full-time job remained dismal. I often felt like giving up but Lorinda was always there, boosting my confidence and making sure that I believed in my strengths and abilities.

My wishes came true last month. After working as a volunteer for a business college for just over a month I was offered a full-time job. The job is demanding and there is a lot I need to learn but I feel confident that with determination and hard work I will be able to settle in my job and make a career in this area.

DL has helped me move forward in my life and find a place in society where I actually belong. It is a journey that I will always treasure.

Congratulations Tasmiah on your achievement and our best wishes for a successful career.

• In what ways can you identify with Tasmiah's journey?
• What helps you remain positive and optimistic about the future?
• What are the stages of adjusting to a new culture?

Your comments will help build our DL community.

My journey to become an Australian citizen

Last week we learnt about Australian cultural diversity. This week your teacher may also work with you to complete a writing activity or recording an interview on Harmony Day. The best articles which will become part of a future blog post. 

This week we read about a DL student, whose  pride and love of Australia drew her to become an Australian citizen.

My name is Emily and I am from Taiwan. I have been in Australia for 5 years and recently received my Australian Citizenship Certificate on Australia Day. I would like to share with you how I gained my citizenship and the highlights of the citizenship ceremony.

I started my citizenship preparation 1 month before the examination day. The first thing I did was go to my local town hall to get the resource book Australian Citizenship – Our Common Bond. I spent 1 week reading this, then downloaded an App called Australian Citizenship Test Practice to my smartphone. After that, I spent half an hour a day using the App to practice the test questions. I felt confident by doing this practice. On the examination day, I was well prepared and passed the test on my first go.

Emily's local newspaper

 There were a few factors that made my citizenship ceremony such a special day.  First of all, the ceremony was on Australia Day, 26 January 2017 and it was a  glorious day with bright blue sky and brilliant sunshine. Secondly, my parents-in-law drove all the way from Victoria to South Australia to attend my ceremony.  It was wonderful to have my family there to share my happiness. Another factor was that I was the only Asian among the 36 new citizens. Finally it was  not just my citizenship ceremony, but also everybody celebrated Australia Day. We had the local mayor lead us in singing Advance Australia Fair and we read out the pledge together. During the ceremony we had some Australian signature food- sausages with bread, pavlova and pancakes with jam. We all experienced the Australia Day spirit.

The following week, surprisingly, I saw an article in the local newspaper. It was titled ‘Gawler welcomes record new citizens’ with a photo of our group and the mayor. The mayor said that she thought of the positive impacts that new citizens make in the community, “I think that it will enrich our community, I always think of the different food we get to experience. Over time, understanding different cultures and welcoming people from different parts of the world into our community will make us stronger.”  For me, it was such a wonderful day that gave me a lot of great memories. I am proud to say, I am an Australian. Ozi ozi ozi! Oi oi oi!    

Would you like to know more about the citizenship test? Click to go to the Australian Citizenship resources HERE.

• Why do some people want to become Australian Citizens?
• If you wanted to become an Australian citizen would you use the App to study?
• The new citizens ate Australian signature food -sausages on bread and pavlova. What do you think is a typical Australian dish?

Harmony in Australia is like a patchwork quilt!

We celebrate Harmony Day this week on Tuesday 21st March. For Navitas AMEP students it's a very important time to celebrate Australia's cultural diversity. It's a time to share our culture and traditions and enjoy all the things that make us different. By sharing our culture we can learn from each other and by listening come to respect the pride others have in their traditions.
For Harmony Day we have an interview with one of our DL teachers, Sonia. Part 1 is here and part 2 on the Events tab above.

DL teacher Sonia

On the Events tab there are also questions, activities and the audio of this interview. First think about the heading "Harmony in Australia is like a patchwork quilt." A patchwork quilt is a blanket made from different pieces of colourful material. Why do you think Sonia says this?

Maree: Hi Sonia, can you tell us a little about your home country?
Sonia: Hi Maree, ah I'm from Bangladesh. It's a small country in South Asia with many mighty rivers and fertile soil. Now over the centuries many people from different lands have settled here and brought their cultures with them.

Maree: Ah that's interesting, so how do you think this influenced your culture and traditions today?
Mm I guess our cultural heritage was enriched by all these traditions, the language, food, music and festivals. It created a unique Bengali culture and identity and I think it's the reason why my culture promotes hospitality and respect for other traditions and cultural practices. In fact celebration is a big part of Bangladeshi culture. We celebrate the arrival of the new Year, the spring season, the harvesting season and being a secular society we also celebrate the two Eids, Pujas, Christmas..and you know, no celebration is without food, music and lots of colourful dresses.

Maree: Wow that's an amazing mix of cultures, it sounds really harmonious.
So this week is harmony week and Tuesday the 21st is Harmony Day. What does Harmony Day mean to you?
Sonia: To me harmony is central to my existence. It's about living peacefully in a society where everyone's cultural identity is respected. As you know in Australia people from different countries, religions and ethnic backgrounds all live together. Sometimes I think harmony in Australia is like a patchwork quilt with all the cultures making up the colourful patchwork pieces.

Maree: Oh that's beautiful! I love that analogy. I can just imagine the patchwork quilt. I'd love to make one. So what will you do this year on Harmony Day?
Sonia:Oh at my work in Distance Learning all the teachers will share a harmony day lunch. We'll bring some food from our cultures to share and I'm hoping to wear a traditional dress called 'salwar kamiz'. We'll celebrate our diversity and try to learn more about each other's cultures, maybe even share some recipes as well.

Maree: Oh that sounds great. I'm going to bring ingredients for Vietnamese rice paper rolls and all the teachers can make one.
Sonia: Oh that's good, it sounds really interesting, I'm really looking forward to it.

Thank you Sonia for sharing your culture and traditions.
For part 2 of the interview, audio, questions and activities click on the Events tab above.

• What do you think harmony is like? I think harmony is like a.....
• What is a big part of your culture?
• What does Harmony Day mean to you?

Click here Harmony Day events to go the Harmony Day website to find activities in your area.

My struggles made me independent

Tara, Navitas Auburn

My name is Tara and I come from Nepal.  I was a housewife in Nepal and I worked as a volunteer in aged care.  I came to Australia on a spouse visa because my husband was studying in Australia. My English wasn't good and I had no confidence in myself. I found it very hard to communicate with people or find a job.

Life was extremely hard.  I had to work as a mushroom and chilli picker in a very far away farm.  It took me 2 hours to get to work in extremely cold conditions. I still remember the days where I would cry from being so tired and feeling sorry for myself.  But there was nothing I could do. I needed the money.

After getting my permanent visa I was pleased to start my AMEP English classes at Navitas college in Auburn.  There, I could not only improve my English but also develop my job seeking skills and most importantly my self -confidence.

I was determined to work hard and never give up.  I started at Level 2 and within 3 months I progressed to Level 3.  I also completed Certificate III in Aged Care, hoping it would help me find work but this wasn't easy.

Thanks to my classroom teachers and my DL teacher, Claudette.  She designs the DL lessons to suit my needs. She helped me apply for jobs online and prepared me well for job interviews by practising during the lessons.  I have recently got a job as a Carer in a retirement village.  I am very proud of how far I've come and feel that through all my struggles I have become an independent woman.

Congratulations Tara on your success. What a wonderful story of determination and hard work!

• How do personal struggles help us grow and be stronger?
• What is the hardest job you've ever had and what did you learn from the experience?
• Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time?

Your comments will help build our DL community.

Clean Up Australia Day - 5th March

http://www.cleanup.org.au

It all started with a simple idea that an Australian bloke had to clean his own backyard - Sydney Harbour.  In the last 26 years, Clean Up Australia Day has become the nation's largest community-based event to help the environment. The concept grew to form Clean Up the World event.

Clean Up Australia Day is on Sunday 5th March. Thousands of volunteers join the day to clean up the rubbish that is choking our streets, beaches, parks and waterways and killing one of our best assets: nature.

Johanna, one of our DL teachers, is passionate about this cause.  She said:

"For several years my children and I took part in Clean Up Australia Day in our local park, a fine area of natural bushland in southern Sydney.  Under the supervision of a ranger, we collected lots of rubbish: cans, bottles and plastic bags.  The amount of rubbish we collected was shocking.  At some stage we became the champion rubbish collectors!"

"Taking part in a community activity like this is a great way to engage with the local community and show that you care for the environment.  By involving my children I was helping them become more aware of the importance of keeping Australia clean in a practical way."

Did you know these facts about Australia?
Australians are the second highest producers of waste per person in the world!
The amount of waste placed in landfill each year is enough to cover the state of Victoria!

Get more information or register as a volunteer for the day here.

• Why is it important to look after the environment?
• What practical things can we do in our daily lives to help the environment?
• Are you a good recycler! 

Why not ..

Test your recycling skills in 90 seconds here
Read about  Plastic bags
Share your view on the environment in the Comments section below.

Teacher learns from student

Teacher Bernadette, WA

One of the privileges of teaching adult learners is that both teachers and students come with life experiences and can learn different skills from each other.

DL teacher Bernadette showed her great learning skills when her Iranian student Sara taught her how to make a Persian dish from her country. After sharing the recipe and practising the English for giving instructions Bernadette took the recipe and had a go at cooking the dish in her own kitchen with great success.

Bernadette describes this Persian dish as 'divine' and it has become one of her favourite dishes.  She says "Tah-Chin is a layered rice chicken dish which is not only beautiful to present but also very tasty. It is served upside down and cuts like a cake. As my Iranian student Sara explained to me, Iranians love their rice and always layer it with different types of vegetables and meat. The most tasty part of this dish is the bottom layer of the rice, the crunchy 'tah-dig'.  My family loved it and I hope some of our students will try it too."

Check out Sara's Iranian Tah-Chin recipe

Thanks Bernadette and Sara for sharing this tasty recipe.

• Describe a special dish you have from your own country?
• Are you a good cook?  If so what is your specialty dish?
• What food from other cultures do you like to eat or cook and why?

Why not write a comment or an answer to one of the above questions.  

If you make the recipe tell us how it turned out!

Ways to make learning English easier

Ways to make learning English easier.

My name is Sheila and I'm from Colombia in South America. I'd like to share a little about myself and also some tips on ways to make learning English easier.

I live with my husband in Brisbane, Queensland. Brisbane is a beautiful, peaceful city and is very similar to my hometown in Colombia. I love the calm city and the friendly people here. 

I work at the Brisbane International Airport as a 'Food and Beverage Attendant'. It has been a very good learning experience for me, because I've learnt to prepare food and make coffee. By talking in English to so many travellers I've also learnt to understand different English accents. As well I've come to understand that English is an important language used to talk with people from around the world. It's important for work, business and travel as it's a global language.

So I'd like to share with you some strategies which make learning English easier. My most important tip is to make friends with people. It's an excellent way to practice speaking English and improve your listening skills.

My other tips are in the Slideshow that I have made. There are some questions you can discuss with your teacher then write your ideas in the comments. It's saved in Google Drive so just click on this link to open Ways to make learning English easier.

• Why is it important for you to learn English?
• What ideas can you suggest to make listening and speaking easier?
• What else can you suggest to make reading and writing English easier?

Journey to my dream

Giovanna

My name is Giovanna and I come from Venezuela. Four years ago I planned my trip from Venezuela to Sydney to meet the man who would eventually become my husband. I met him 6 months earlier when he came to Venezuela for a holiday. When I first arrived I had very little English and it was super-hard to feel comfortable here. It was the hardest year of my life, as I had no idea how difficult it would be.

In Venezuela I worked as a product developer and my passion was to develop a women's clothing range. So when I arrived in Australia my dream was to run an international women's' fashion company with products imported from Venezuela. 

I began by dream in 2012 by working part-time in a Mexican restaurant while studying English full-time. I was exhausted, nonetheless money was what I needed. My next job was as a sandwich and salad maker in a salad bar. I had to work long hours. Finally I worked in a small coffee shop close to the city of Sydney. I began as a waitress, but soon my boss trained me in a managerial role, since he saw my professional and a proactive nature. 

At first I learnt English privately and progress was slow because I had to start learning English from scratch. Next I began learning English in the Navitas AMEP classroom, then switched to Navitas Distance Learning as I was working. DL has given me the opportunity to study and work at the same time and has also boosted my confidence in speaking with people. My teacher's encouragement has driven me to to work hard towards my dream.

So now I am realising my dream. I have started an online ladies fashion company called 'Cacao Tropical Clothing'. It sells and tailor makes beautiful, ladies jewellery and accessories. I import from Venezuela and sell online and through a Facebook page Cacao Tropical Clothing.I am very proud of my achievements but I am still learning English everyday. Without learning English I wouldn't have been able to settle in this country and call Australia my lovely home.

Congratulations to Giovanna for reaching her dream and starting her jewellery and accessories business.

• If you were to start your own business what service or product would you sell?
• How would you advertise your business?
• What skills would you need to manage an online business?

DL Pathways Advisor celebrates Chinese New Year

Jennifer, Pathways Advisor

My name is Jennifer. Some of you may already know me as I'm one of the Pathways Advisors for DL students.

I come from Fujian in South China.  I came to Australia 7 years ago as an International student and completed two Masters degrees in Education and Translation with the University of NSW.  Fortunately when I was doing my studies, I met the man who would become my husband.  We have since settled in Sydney and have a 2 year old daughter.

I joined Navitas in 2011 as a bilingual support officer and assisted students in the classrooms.  Now I work as a Pathways Advisor for Mission Australia and I am based at the Distance Learning office in Sydney.

I like my job because it allows me to help students. By giving students career advice I help them make informed choices with their career path in a new country. It's rewarding to know I make a difference.

As well as career guidance, I conduct initial and exit interviews with DL students. I also deal with student feedback and can help students with any personal issues.

This week I'll celebrate Chinese New Year by cooking a feast for my family. The Year of the Rooster is an important year in my family because it's the year my mother was born. l plan to make stir fry lobster with crispy noodles, rice cakes and other traditional dishes from South China. In China the celebrations are about visiting friends and family, but since I don't have a big family here we'll go to the city to experience the festive atmosphere.  I plan to visit the Chinese New Year Market and the Lantern Show in Sydney.

If you need any learning or career advice you can contact Jennifer on (02) 9707 0276.
Students referred by a Navitas college can contact the Pathways Advisor in their college.

We wish all our DL students prosperity and good fortune in the New Year.  新年快乐

• What traditions do you have for special celebrations in your culture?
• How are your celebrations different in Australia from in your home country?

Beach safety

Going to the beach is a popular pastime in Australia specially when the weather gets too hot over the summer months. The beach is a wonderful place but it also has some dangers.

On average, one person has drowned every week at an Australian beach for the last 5 years and on average 10 people are rescued every day. Tourists and those who are unfamiliar with the beach are at a greater risk of drowning.

Luckily not every incident results in a fatality, however those who survive a drowning incident often suffer from a range of lifelong health issues.

Statistics for 2016 show that 83% of drowning deaths were males. New South Wales recorded the highest number of incidents, followed by Queensland, Victoria then Western Australia.

Discuss these questions with your teacher and share you comments below:

1. Do you like going to the beach? Why / Why not?
2. What activities can people enjoy at the beach?
3. What kind of dangers are there at Australian beaches?
4. What are the causes of drowning?
5. How do you keep safe at the beach?
6. Have you had a scary incident in the water?

You can find more information by reading this beach safety flyer or watching this YouTube video.