Footy Tipping

At mid point in the season the overall scores are as follows (top three) :
Mary Aitken (Collingwood Supporter!) 58
Andrew (new to the game) 57
Branka (tipping comp. coordinator!) 56

This week’s round winner was Chris Broderick- anyone who can manage to pick 6 winners from this week’s weird results must surely be climbing up the ladder!

Dubravka and Elyse were lucky to have beautiful weather for their class outing to Caversham Wildlife Park last week. Some of Alison’s students joined in at the last minute, which helped to make the outing more economically viable! The students enjoyed seeing (and touching) Australian animals, as you can see from Dubravka’s excellent photos on the student blog.

Please make sure that you are able to access ESS, as all leave has to be applied for electronically now. Ask me (or someone who has used it) to show you how to get on the first time. It’s probably worth listing here the numbers you need if you have forgotten your password. To log on to the system initially, you have to contact Swan on 92677274. For Groupwise password reset ring West Coast on 92331040. Shared Services phone no (for ESS) is 9264 8390. West Coast IT were here last week and had partial success in linking us up to Joondalup rather than Swan. Watch this space!
June 14

A reminder about Adult Learners’ Week, which takes place during week 1-8 September. There are a number of awards to be presented in that week and AMES is encouraging staff to put forward names for the Outstanding Learner (New Migrant) and Outstanding Tutor (Volunteer) in particular. If you would like to nominate someone (either student or volunteer) please let me know and I’ll explain the procedure).

Sara Crozier will be available for relief every day from next week as her uni course if finishing.

Vegetable Garden Project

The vegetable garden project for low level students is closer to becoming a reality. Patrick, the gardener who has the contract for Swan TAFE, is very keen to assist and will clear two areas which are not too visible to "passers-by". Swan will provide reticulation and we will supply labour, compost and seeds/ seedlings. Patrick will truck in the compost and give advice as to what to plant then the rest is up to us! We will have to buy some basic tools but if any staff have some old hoes etc, then we would certainly make use of them. A lot of language should come out of the project, vegetables could be sold and a basic booklet produced. Progress, including photos, can be reported on using the Student Blog.

The market yesterday was a great success and thanks to all staff, and Simon in particular, for setting up and manning the cash registers! Some of the funds collected (about $230 in all) will go towards the garden project. Wanjira took all leftover clothing to her class in Girrawheen so community students will benefit as well. More photos of the market can be viewed on the student blog, which is only a click away (see Links to the right).

WATESOL workshops - June 23rd

If anybody is interested in attending the workshops below, please let Philip know.

We have 2 members' "tickets" so first in, first served.
Permanent lecturers may claim the Workshops as Accrued PD time (at PM's discretion).

WATESOL are pleased to present a day of workshops focusing on using
storytelling to improve ESL students' literacy and fluency. A flier
and application form are attached. Numbers are limited, so please
get your registration in early.

STORIES IN THE CLASSROOM
Saturday 23 June
Central TAFE room N325, on the 3rd floor, North Wing
Aberdeen Street, Northbridge

Morning Session: 9.00-12.00
Andy Wright International Story-Teller

$5 for Members + $10 for optional lunch
$15 for non-members + $10 for optional lunch
My Stories, Your Stories, Our Stories: Story-Telling in Language and
Literacy.

Story-Telling is an important way of breaking down cultural and
language barriers, and building bridges to shared learning. It is
widely appreciated as an essential method for gaining information and
insight into the experiences of migrants of non-English speaking
backgrounds.

This workshop will examine the five languages of story-telling and
how these languages can lead to a greater understanding of the
teaching of written and spoken English.
The workshop will promote a holistic view of language learning
including tips to make learning playful and integrated. As well as
some basic tips to stimulate our own story-telling and the
story-telling of our students.

Andy Wright has been telling stories around the world over the last
two decades. He performs in theatres, schools, churches,
kindergartens, libraries and to numerous conferences, and festivals,
giving in excess of 4000 performances a year.
www.storyteller.net.au

Afternoon Session: 1.00-2.30
Celeste Blundell Camden Readers Theatre workshop
(Please note, this session is limited to the first 20 applicants.)
Readers Theatre is a fun and interactive reading and performing
process that gives students opportunities to improve literacy,
pronunciation and fluency as well as gain confidence using English.
Learn how Readers Theatre can be used in ESL classrooms by trying it
yourself. Celeste will take participants though different stages of
using scripts with students and give information about how any story
can be adapted for Readers Theatre.

Valentina's 70th

Valentina celebrated her 70th birthday on Monday (Foundation Day) and we had a morning tea today to mark the memorable occasion (sorry, Valentina – we know you’re ageless but today the numbers had to be revealed!) Thanks to Sonia for organising the celebration, a card to treasure and gifts (Valentina don’t be put off by Mary Crogan’s account of HER massage in Bangkok!)

Wanjira is teaching a new holding class (pre cert). It started today (Tues) and will be on Mon, Tues and Fri. Rooms: Mon J011, Tues and Fri J002 (just in case other staff have been using those rooms for conversation groups).

On Thursday we have a practice evacuation drill – please refer to your instruction sheet.

The new AMEP counsellors website is up and running :http://www.nceltr.mq.edu.au/counsellors/index.html

And now for Mary’s latest news from Vietnam and Cambodia:


Hi everyone,
Thanks very much for your emails and news. It was so good to hear news from home while going through Cambodia, as I found it rather grim.
When we went to the Viet Cong tunnels out of Saigon, I decided to go through the 40 metres section which has been enlarged so that western tourists can get through. Even so we had to crouch down and duck waddle though, or crawl on hands and knees. There were some very seriously gruesome booby traps on display, which the South Vietnamese soldiers and the allies would have to have avoided to stay alive. I found it all very confronting and horrible.
After the general pleasantness of Vietnam (Viet Cong booby traps excluded), Cambodia was a complete shock to the senses. There were some wonderful buildings and temples. The best by far is the famous ancient temple of Ankor Wat. If it's not one of the wonders of the ancient world it should be. It was built in 30 years during a king's rule in the 6th century I think. When you see the size, precision and great beauty of the many buildings comprising the vast temple complex, you really wonder how the workers with only primative tools could have completed such magnigicent structures so quickly. Some of the scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed there. I remember thinking what a wonderfully surreal setting they'd managed to fabricate with one of the tombs, but in actual fact it's one of the temples which has "giant" banyan trees intertwined amongst the structure with an incredibly eerie effect.
The part of Cambodia, that was an absolute shock to all the senses, were the museums showing the atrocities of the 1970's, when Pol Pot, the leader of the country, killed over 2 million Cambodians. We saw a High School which was converted to an interrogation and torture centre. It was all horrific beyond belief. There were endless boards of photos of the victims who were tortured and killed. There were seven foreigners who were killed including a good looking young Australian man (maybe a journalist). His photo was there amongst the others. We then visited one of the 16 known sites of the killing fields. The clothing and bones of the murdered people still protrude from the earth, and every wet season more rise to the surface! It seemed incredible that the Kmer Rouge could have gone on such a brutal, mindless killing spree.Our guide was fantastic... inspirational even, as he and his family were victims of the times and atrocities. He and his brothers and sisters were separated from his parents who disappeared during the Pol Pot era, and were sent to hard labour and reeducation camps in the countryside. He said that about 15% of the current Govt ministers were perpetrators of the Pol Pot regime, so people mistrust the current Govt. Quite a few of us on the tour felt as if there was an underlying sense of grief and tragedy in Cambodia. People are lovely and generally getting on with life, but the almost suicidal drivers on the roads gave me the feeling that there's a superficial layer of order, but if that goes there'd probably be chaos. A lot of rebuilding is going on in Cambodia, as the Govt has a target to increase tourism by 20% each year. There's still a lot to be done about land mines and the victims. Many land mine victims are beggars. Buidings can be replaced but missing human limbs continue to be a very sad reminder of Pol Pot times.
I've had the flu for about 3 weeks which hasn't given me the rosiest of outlooks! For the first time today, I had a club sandwich which I could just taste, as I haven't had a sense of taste or smell for the last 10 -12 days. I think it's probably the combination of relentless high temperatures and humidity, being run down from being constantly on the go, and the effects of air conditioning which in many places is absolutely freezing! Fortunately I had some anti-biotics with me which I think have helped me turn the corner finally.
We leave for northern Thailand tomorrow night on an overnight train. I haven't been up there, so am really looking forward to seeing the remote hill tribes. We have to do quite a bit of trecking to get there. I've lost a lot of fitness since I've been sick, so I'm probably going to find it hard going.
I had a wonderful Thai pressure point massage today to stretch out all my muscles and tendons. You wouldn't believe how strong the girls are. At one point, my masseuse was under me supporting my weight and body with her feet and legs as I lay back with my arms and legs dangling to stretch out my spine, back muscles and joints. I did think about her occupational health and safety, as she seemed to be quite a bit smaller, although probably a lot stronger than me! It was a really fantastic work out and great to have after having been sick and lethargic for a few weeks.
I'm sure you'd love cycling in Vietnam Andrew, but yes pick a cooler time of year! Thank God they don't have Bilharzia here. I've never forgotten Helen Farrington's tale of her husband coughing up a large worm after a trip to Vietnam. Every time I have a big cough I half expect to produce a worm! Thanks very much for passing on my email to Claire, Carol. Glad you're enjoying the book... it sounds interesting! My love to Anna!
Loved hearing all the news Tom and Anne. The two kids sound super charged and living life to the full at the moment! Wish Jo a very happy holiday from me. Hope the rains have arrived in north and south Tammin... and that all's well with you Pat. Hope things are progressing well in the north for you Jan.
Great to hear your trip to the music festival in the East went so well Ellen.
As I haven't heard, I'm guessing you may be in New Guinea now John?
Cheerio for now!
Love and best wishes to all, Mary C

Learnscope 07

Learnscope started last Friday in Albany at Great Southern TAFE and instead of the expected 2 AMES lecturers, 6 turned up. (non-AMES). Now, I was thinking that many new teachers were not here when I sent out the info on the project and although I was trying to keep numbers manageable, there is no reason why anybody who is interested should not come along (with observer status).

The introductory session is this Friday from 4 - 8ish ( light refreshments willbe served) in LAb 2 in the Victoria when we will be going through some of the communication software we will be using and decide when to hold the fortnightly sessions.

For further details on what we are going to do in the project please see this project blog entry You can find other information in the blog(amesls.blogspot.com) , but as it is in reverse chronological order, zoom down to the first entry first.

Please let me know if you intend coming along.

From Tues 5th June, West Coast College will be changing its email addressing in line with Government policy.

From Tues our email addresses should read Firstname.Lastname@westcoasttafe.wa.edu.au
For a 6 month period both old and new email addresses will operate side by side.

Mosque Open Day in Queens Park- see flyer on staff room board. RSVP required- details from me.

United Nations World Refugee Day 20 June. Seminar at UWA, a collaboration between Amnesty International, ASeTTS, CARAD, Case, OMI,Centrecare Catholic Migrant Service, Ethnic Communities Council (YouthSub-Committee), Edmund Rice Centre. Flyer on staff room board.