I have managed to sneak a few minutes of this morning's prep time to update my blog on Chalkboard. The Global Studio is going from strength to strength with our evening English classes now at capacity and new classes being organised. We have 22 enrolled students studying Monday and Thursday evenings from 6pm - 9pm. The class consists of mainly Sudanese refugees who have been in Australia for a few years but are not progressing...

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It seems that every 12 months or so I get the urge to get back on i-to-i and make a new post!Well it is almost another 12 months and it has been an interesting 12 months indeed. The Global Studio is going from strength to strength with new students and the challenges that come with working in the education system and a private training organisation (as apposed to a government school)The students have been inspirational,...

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I cant quite get to grips with the fact that it is now nearly the end of May 2011 and my last post was in November 2010. The fashion and ESL program is still going strong, I have 24 students now and we are doing a mix of English and Fashion & textiles. We have started a small repair and alteration section through our class and the students are really excited about the end of...

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Well the countdown is on! Only 11 days before my class hits the catwalk and entertain some of the local politicians, teachers and friends in a fashion parade and exhibition of the work they have completed during their Certificate II ESL class. They have made me a sari and one of my students has sewn me a beautiful Thai silk skirt from some fabric I purchased on my recent trip. Today we are working on...

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Just back from a great, even though wet, time in Thailand. Floods have prevented me visiting the village of Khonburi where I plan to teach in the future. There is always next year to visit again. I was staying at a guesthouse in Bangkok where the group of i-to-i Thailand interns were waiting for the water to clear up north. Would like to know what happened to their plans of teaching for the allocated time?? There was no...

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Just had to upload this pic from class this week. Pictured is my good friend and colleague Lindy "helping" me to gain a better understanding of pattern making. We work together in the ESL & Sewing class. I am the ESL bit and she is the Sewing bit.  

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Yesterday was the launch of the Sudanese students handprinted products at the local council offices. Approximately 50 guests arrived for a morning tea and celebration of the great achievements the ladies have made over the past 12 months. We sold lots of tea towels, aprons and bags that had been screen printed by the group and now they are ready to move on to the next phase of learning. Today we start the business modules...

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Well I am sitting here in my pj's finishing my last (I hope it's the last) submission so that I can complete my Graduate Diploma in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice. It is a vocational based practice and you should see the evidence I have had to gather to do this. I am quite nervous today as I have an interview with three of the depatment LLNP, TEFL & ESL teachers; who are, by the way, all way more qualified...

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This week the students are really excited as they have finished their sample skirts in calico and are now starting to cut out and assemble their final garments. The restaurant is booked for the fashion parade on the 30th November so they all have a real feeling of accomplishment. They now know that they can be ready and have a skirt that is tailor made to fit them, made by them. The fabrics that the...

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How do you make numeracy fun? Good question! I was hopeless at math at school and I have not grown any fonder of it since leaving school in 1979. Now as an ESL teacher I am supposed to embrace numeracy like some long lost cousin and instill a sense of joy and understanding in my students. I thought long and hard and found the perfect solution. Shopping! Introduction to the class: Target Language: "I would...

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