From the Manager’s Desk

We are almost through the first half of the year. It has been an eventful 5 months with all sorts of exciting things happening in our space. Most importantly we have been able to rationalise location of our classes. All Preliminary, Level 1 and ACFE classes are now based at The Northern Community Hub, Level 2 is at Vines Road and Level 3 and IELTS Preparation at The Pulse.

Early in the year we farewelled Pejman Sadeghi who left for a new chapter in his career. To continue with the wonderful work Pej was doing as Student Support Officer we welcomed Farah Al-Dabbas to this position. Farah is no stranger to Diversitat having supported a lot of our clients as Bilingual Support.

Farah is working hard supporting our students both in Geelong and Colac with her focus being on student engagement and progress.

At the end of term 1 Ruth Gough decided it was time to be work free and went on retirement. Although Ruth has retired she has offered to come in once or twice a week to assist as a volunteer. We all look forward to having Ruth around.

We have a new home. All training staff has moved to what was formerly known as the Shed. We love our new home. Please come in and say “Hi”.

Mabel.

- Languages Newsletter Issue 1 2018 -

In this issue:

1. From all of us

From the manager’s desk

2. Learners’ corner

4. We are a team

5. Our volunteers rock

6. Our programs

6. Upcoming Events

Staff

Manager: Mabel Msopero

Team Leader: Kerryn Durden

Administration Officer:

Rini Handayani

Student Support Officer:

Farah Al -Dabbas

Enrolment Officer:

Melissa Kozaczek

Contact us

25-41 Arunga Avenue, Norlane 3214

(03) 5260 6000

languages@diversitat.org.au

FROM ALL OF USAt Languages we are delighted to introduce this first edition of our newsletter “Hello”. We intend to make it a regular quarterly publication and to use it to keep you in touch with news and developments which relate to the Languages programs. In this and future editions, we shall be reporting programs, activities, students’ work, social events, teaching and learning resources and any relevant upcoming events in and around Languages.

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Languages Newsletter- Issue 1 2018 -

EDUCATION OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

One of the reasons why our students attend classes is to be able to live comfortably in their community. We take education outside the classroom very seriously because this is where the students use the language that we teach them.

Jenny Coutts, one of our trainers, took her class for a walk round the neighbourhood. She had this to say:

These are photos taken of Preliminary Level students on a recent walk in the Diversitat neighbourhood to locate street signs. They wrote the names of the streets and we discussed why some streets are called street, avenue, court, crescent, road, highway, etc. We also looked at house numbers and discussed odd and even numbers.

LEARNERS’ CORNER

TECHNOLOGY IN CLASS

Students learn to use computers during an English lesson. Computer skills are important as most of the agencies that our students are involved with use technology for communicating with them.

The students love using computers. The skills they learn are practical and essential for their other life activities. We hope to have computers in every classroom.

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Languages Newsletter- Issue 1 2018 -

ENGLISH IS SEW EASYOur English is Sew Easy class is a fun class that provides opportunities to learn basic sewing skills while practising English.

This ACFE Pre Accredited program allows adult students from CALD background to relax, meet new people, learn sewing skills and improve their English skills in a friendly environment.

END OF TERMOn the last day of the term students and staff get together to showcase what their term has been like. Throughout the term classes learn songs and other activities to present to the rest of the department. Groups sing and dance as classes. In some cases classes invite the rest of the group to join in. The atmosphere is always exciting with everyone trying hard and using their best English.

After the performances we enjoy lunch together!

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Languages Newsletter- Issue 1 2018 -

SOME BASIC GRAMMAR RULES

In any language there are basic rules the speaker or learner needs to understand before moving on to harder skills. Here are some basic English grammar rules:

• For every sentence there should be one noun and one verb. A sentence with more than one noun or verb is confusing to understand

• When writing a sentence, use appropriate punctuation e.g. capital letters, apostrophes and full stops.

• If an apostrophe is needed make sure to use it to show ownership. Apostrophes are used to show ownership or when words are abbreviated.

• Make sure case and number of the subject and the verb match. If the noun is singular the verb should be singular as well.

Teamwork: The Hare and Tortoise

The age old story of the Hare and Tortoise has been told to children for many a generation. With the hare challenging the tortoise to a race, the hare shooting off, thinking he has time to nap and then the tortoise actually wins!

It gives off the message that ‘slow and steady wins the race’. So even if you are not the quickest or the best at a particular task, do not write yourself off; always do your best and you may find you actually come out on top.

But what if this story had continued? Following the race, the hare was disappointed that he hadn’t won. He decided to analyse what went wrong and realised that he had been overconfident, careless and lax. If he had not

taken things for granted then he would have definitely won the race. So he challenged the tortoise to another race, and the tortoise agreed. This time, the hare went all out and won the race by several miles.

And the moral this time? Fast and consistent will always beat slow and steady. If team members work at different paces – the fast and consistent

will always get things done and completed quicker than the slow and steady. It is good to be slow and steady, but it’s BETTER to be fast and reliable.

BUT that’s not the end of the tale ……..

to be continued in the next issue.

We Are A Team

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Languages Newsletter- Issue 1 2018 -

We welcome David Nolan as a Volunteer Classroom Assistant. David specifically asked to be placed with a Preliminary Level class and he is enjoying the experience. Below is an email from David:

Hi Mabel I am really enjoying my volunteering with Guldane every Monday morning. Importantly I think that Guldane and the class are enjoying my participation in the class.

David

I was a student in CSWE III last year and finished in December 2017. Barbara Catic was my teacher. When I finished the course I updated my resume and started looking for a job. I waited for a month and nothing has happened. When I picked up my certificate for completing the course I spoke to the receptionist about volunteering and she suggested that I contact Mabel Msopero, the manager of English programs. I came to the Hub to meet Mabel and she gave me an opportunity to assist in the Preliminary Level class. I was so happy and grateful to be given this opportunity.

Mabel gave me a timetable and I have been assisting Ingrid and Jessie’s classes on Mondays and Tuesdays. The trainers and students have helped me a lot. The students are in the same situation that I was where English is their second language. The students in our classes come from many different countries.

I have really enjoyed meeting everyone and learning some new things about the countries they come from.

All the staff at Diversitat are so friendly and helpful. The respect they show each other and myself has really helped my confidence. They make me feel like I am part of the team.

I recently got a part time job – my first ever job in Australia - but I am glad that I am still able to volunteer two days a week. For me volunteering at Diversitat has been great for my confidence and I also have benefited from being able to help people who are in the same situation that I was. Thank you Mabel for giving me the opportunity to do something to help other people while doing something I enjoy.

Ika Savitri (Volunteer)

Our Volunteers Rock

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Languages Newsletter- Issue 1 2018 -

UPCOMING EVENTS

• End of term function 29 June 2018 The Hub

• House warming of the new Languages Centre 29 June 2018 – Languages Centre

• Semester 2 starts 16 July 2018 – The Hub, Vines Road and The Pulse

• New languages classes begin 16 July 2018. Learn Arabic, Afghan or Karen

Certificates in Spoken and Written EnglishRTO 5819. Training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals. Diversitat adheres to all applicable Laws and Legislation. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Adult Literacy - Polish up your reading and writing skills.

Workplace English - Understand your Position Description. Be safe in the workplace.

AMEP (Colac only) - Don’t miss out on your 510 hours.

SEE (Colac only) - Want to get back into studying or thinking of getting into employment? The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program are funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.AMEP and SEE is only available in Colac, Victoria.

ACFE English - Learn English for everyday use.

ACFE English is Sew Easy - learn to sew and improve your English language skills.Diversitat Training acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.

IELTS Support - get that band score.

OET Support - Get back into the Health Profession.

Does any of this sound like you or someone you know?

For further information please call Farah Al-Dabbas, Student Support Officer

Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri

(03) 5246 6000 or email languages@diversitat.org.au

Our Programs

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

A man was pulled over for driving too fast, even though he thought he was driving just fine.

Officer: You were speeding.

Man: No, I wasn’t.

Officer: Yes, you were. I’m giving you a ticket.

Man: But I wasn’t speeding.

Officer: Tell that to the judge! (The officer gives man the ticket.)

Man: Would I get another ticket if I called you a jerk?

Officer: Yes, you would.

Man: What if I just thought that you were?

Officer: I can’t give you a ticket for what you think.

Man: Fine, I think you’re a jerk!

Submitted by: Nick Henry, ESL teacher in Korea

What is the longest word in the English language? SMILES: there is a mile between the first and last letters!” Submitted by: Kevin Penner

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