Easter Show worksheet

Last week!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Here are some photos from last week's oral presentations. Hope you like them!

G'day all
I can't believe that this is the last official post for the semester! Where has the time gone? I do hope you have enjoyed yourself in this class as well as improving your English! At least you can continue your blogs or follow mine in 2010. If you want me to know that you are blogging in 2010, just send me an email or leave a comment on my post and I'll see it!

Now to finish up, I'd like you to try and create a Photostory today. It's really easy to do and the instructions are very clear. You can ask me to give you some photos from either Featherdale or Sculpture by the Sea if you don't have any with you!

To begin, go to the startup menu on the computer and open Photostory. Follow the prompts from there!

Have fun! Happy blogging and all the best for whatever you do in 2010! Thanks for a great semester's work! I'll miss you! x

Week 11

G'day all

I hope you all survived the weekend and the heat! Wasn't it hot yesterday? I was travelling back from Orange (4 hours away in the west) and I kept watching the temperature climb up from 33 degrees in Orange to 43 near Penrith and then settling at 41 degrees by the time we got home! The cool change did take such a long time to get here didn't it? I had a restless night as I'm sure you did too!

Now moving on....last week we heard some great presentations and learnt a few things about the city we live it. Well done all of you! The recording we did with Rosa's class on Tuesday was great too and it's on Rosa's blog so have a listen to yourselves! Tell me what you think!

Today, we've put some questions for you to answer about a Migrant story which was on 702 ABC radio last week. This is on Rosa's blog too as are the instructions for other activities. When you finish this I'd like you to try creating a Photostory. Ask me how!

Have a good week and happy blogging!

Week 10

Make a Smilebox slideshow

G'day all

I hope you're weekend wasn't too traumatic as you had to prepare for your oral presentation tomorrow! By now you should have all the body, introduction and conclusion worked out and practised! If you had a problem wit Powerpoint then you can take some time today to finish that part of the presentation.

If you don't need to do that you can work on the Sculpture By the Sea work. It was a lovely excursion, wasn't it? Rosa and I had a great time and I hope you did too! Rosa has put some photos and a little movie on her blog. Have look at it and also the tasks she's set her class and you too!

I hope you put your photos in your post too! i look forward to seeing them! My battery went flat before the end so I couldn't get shots of everything! I'll have to get Rosa to send me some!

Good luck tomorrow! If you've done your preparation then you should have no worries!

Take care and happy blogging!

Week 9

G'day all

I hope you all had a good weekend. By now you should have all the information for your oral presentation next week. If you haven't then I suggest you use today's class to get it all together. You can have time today too to start getting your powerpoint presentation together.

Have a look at this Powerpoint Tutorial (or any other one you prefer) to help you with some of the features of the program if you're unsure.

If you don't need to work on your presentation in class, have a look at Rosa's post and answer the questions about Andrew's sculptor friend and his work. Have a look at the city rail link too and work out which train you'll be on tomorrow if you're coming on the excursion.

When that's done, you can finish your recount and report and publish the corrected copy.

Remember, you can email me your work as a word document and I'll be happy to correct it before publishing.

Let's hope the weather is good tomorrow for our excursion to Sculpture By the Sea! Looking forward to seeing you all!

Happy blogging!

Week 8

AMEP-A Semester 2 2008 on arrival at Bondi for Sculpture by the Sea!

G'day all!

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. It was lovely to be able to get out and do a few things, wasn't it?

By now you should all have the topics for your Oral Presentation due the 17th November. if you don't then please see me as soon as possible.

Last week you were introduced to some new technology in the classroom. On Tuesday, you did some work on the smartboard with Rosa's class. I believe you worked on opinion texts and prepared the structure on a grid. Then on Wednesday we had a video conference with the librarian Maya. Wasn't that interesting? It is the way many companies do business these days instead of flying executives around the country or around the world! You were very good at asking questions but I hope you all have your notes to write up your text in your blog.

As you know from class last Thursday, we've got another excursion coming up next week. It is very different to Featherdale but equally educational and fun too. have a look at Rosa's blog for some information and also some classwork about Sculpture by the Sea and other things.

All that should keep you busy for a while! When you finish you can start/continue the research for your Oral presentation.

In the next day or two, I'll give you a list of all work you need to complete to satisfy this part of your course.
Take care and happy blogging!

Photos from Featherdale

Make a Smilebox greeting

G'day all,
The slideshow below is just a little reminder of our excursion to Featherdale last Tuesday. I enjoyed the day as I hope you did too. We were very lucky with the weather...it was sunny without being too hot.
Your class work today is to complete the report on the Australian animal of your choice! Please follow the structure I asked you to look at last week. If you're unsure please don't hesitate to ask me! Well done to Dorothy who started her report during the week and added a lovely photo of her favourite animal!

Well done too to Ali and Yun who correctly identified the strange animal sound as that of a koala!! I'm happy they could read the title!!
Remember, you also have to write a recount of the day. I'd like that completed and handed in by Wednesday.

Tomorrow there is an information session in Hogben St for Level 4 students. This session is to give you information about courses that you might like to do next year. I hope you get some benefit from it!
Last Wednesday I gave you the topic for your oral presentation. When you finish your report today, feel free to start your research.

Happy blogging!

Term 4, Week 1

G'day all and welcome back to the final few weeks of the course. It will be a short term - only 7 weeks, so we have to work hard to get all the material covered in time!

I hope you all had a good break even if you had English homework to do for me! I hope it wasn't too much of an effort to do it but it would've helped to keep your mind on English!!! It's so easy to forget things when you don't practise every day!

As you know, we're off to Featherdale Wildlife Park tomorrow. The weather forecast is for hot conditions so make sure you come prepared for that!!! Remember to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SEEK and SLIDE!!! Bring some water with you too to avoid dehydration!!!

Even though we won't be in the classroom in Building D tomorrow, there will be work to do! On your return from the excursion, you'll have to write 2 texts. One will be a recount of the day and the other will be an information report on your favourite animal/bird there!

To prepare for these tasks, have a look at Rosa's blog where she has examples of how to write information reports. There is one on animals too!

Chck out this audio file and can you guess which animal it is? Write your answer in the Comments section at the end of this post.

In the website for Featherdale, you can check out all the animals they have there and there is also a bit of information on the animals. This will help you choose an animal to write about and also give you some information you may need. You can also listen to the sounds made by some of the animals! Once you have picked your favourite animal,you can start putting some information together in a blog post. Then at Featherdale, you can take a photo of the animal..... maybe even with you in the picture too!!!

In case you've forgotten how to write a Recount, have a look at this link. Maybe you'd like to copy the text to a word document and print it for reference. Now, open this link for an example of a recount.

The recount will be written at home and handed to Andrew for me on Thursday! If you don't come on the excursion, you can write a recount of what you did for the day!!

If you finsih this work, you can look at this site that Rosa has recommended for improving your English. It's also like another site called yappr which is very good too! Check them out at home if you can't access them from TAFE.

I hope you enjoy your 'free' excursion tomorrow thanks to the Student Association!

See you all back here again next week! Happy blogging!

Week 6

G'day all!

I hope you all had a good weekend! Wasn't it windy yesterday? It looked really warm because the sky was so blue and the sun was shining but it was so cold outside! I even put the heater on last night!!

Last Wednesday's weather was crazy too, wasn't it? In her blog last thursday, Rosa posted some photos of the dust storm. Were you up early enough to see the red sky? Where did you think you were? Have a look at Rosa's post and listen to the podcast to get some cleaning tips!

There was only a small group of you in class last Monday but I think you enjoyed the Aussie slang. Well done to those of you who tried the exercises! You were heaps good!

I won't set any other new activities today so that you can get up to date with everything! If you want me to come and check your writing please ask me!

If you have time to spare, then log on to Issues in English form the desktop and try a few of the activities on some different topics. If you'd like to do more Aussie slang then have a look at this site and do the matching exercise.

I hope you've enjoyed your lessons in the computer room each Monday. Enjoy your 2 weeks break and I hope you get to do the homework I set!

See you back here in 2 weeks! Happy blogging!

Have a look at these few photos of my car after the dust storm!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Week 5

G'day all

Sorry I can't be with you for the whole day today but I've got something I need to work on for AMEP. I'll see you at 1.30pm... I hope you stick around!!!!

Can you please try to get your work up to date so that we can move on to podcasting next week?

Get all your written tasks done!!! Well done to all of you who registered for Breakfast on the Bridge! I hope we're successful!

You all say you would like to do more work on Aussie slang etc so here is the perfect resource for you!! Read the article on Aussie slang and then click on the link in the middle of the article and register for free! Complete some of the activities before doing the test!!!

When you've finished that, check out Rosa's post and do the activities on Australian Architecture.


Happy blogging!

Week 4

G'day all

I hope you enjoyed the hot weekend and managed to cool off at the beach or somewhere nice! It was great weather for barbecues wasn't it? I did hear that due to the extreme heat, only gas or electric BBQs were allowed as the authorities were afraid of bushfires! We certainly don't want them, do we?

Last Wednesday the Student Association held the Car & Bike Expo. Most of the class went along to have a look. Some of us saw very interesting demonstration by the Fire Brigade Rescue Unit. The firemen showed us how they use the 'jaws of life' to cut people out of cars in the event of an accident! Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera so I haven't any photos to show you but hopefully some of your classmates can upload some later!

There are some exciting events planned for Sydney during October as part of the CRAVE festival! One event is Breakfast on the Bridge on October 25. It will be a big picnic breakfast right on the Harbour Bridge! Imagine that? Having a picnic with friends on the Harbour Bridge! What a spectacular place for a picnic! However, you can't just turn up on the day with your food, you have to register and hope that you'll be allocated tickets! Click on the link and register to be one of the 6000!

As you all know last Wed was 09/09/09! Rosa has a very interesting activity for you to do on her blog so have a look and do as she asks! As Rosa mentions at the end of the post, start/continue or finish your work on Belongings.

Have a good week and happy Blogging!

Week 3

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

G'day!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and that you were able to get out and about in the fine weather! I hope all the dads had a Happy Father's Day!

First of all, a big 'Well done' to all of you who added a post on Wallwisher last week! It looks great!

We have a few things to get through today so I hope you all work hard and quickly! It's important not to fall behind in your weekly class tasks so that you have to rush at the end of the semester getting everthing done!

To begin today, please ask me to help you record your voice on Voicethread for the World Map! It will only work if I'm logged on!

Rosa has been doing some very interesting work with her class on the topic of Belongings. Have a look at her post and complete the task she set for AMEP-B. Make sure you readto the end of the post. Click on the links too. Can you write about a favourite belonging you have? Rosa suggested that as well as writing something we should record our stories. Have a look at this and listen to Rosa tell about her 'Belongings'.

Happy blogging!

Week 2

G'day all

Look at the Wallwisher and add your comment about what you did on the weekend!

I've had a quick look at your blogs and posted a comment. They all look good and I hope they grow week by week!

Thanks to all of you for completing the quiz on 'Computer Health'. Remember to follow the advice on the exercises and sit correctly and do the exercises if you start to get a bit tired.

Well done too to those of you who sent me an email with the recount attachment. As I told you on Wednesday, the recounts did not really follow the correct structure so you'll need to re submit them.

Today I'd like you to listen to the interview with one of the college librarian's, Patricia and complete the exercises. You'll need headphones to listen to the podcast. Print out the worksheet. When you're finished, use your answers to write a short information report about the Library. Remember to use the structure that Svetlana taught you.

When you finish that, go to the World Map and record a short voice message about where you come from. Follow the prompts to complete the activity! You will have to register! It's easy! Just ask me how if you're not sure!

Happy blogging!

Semester 2

G'day all!

Whilst over the past 5 weeks you've learnt about powerpoint and emails, we'll now concentrate on blogging. Today, you'll learn how to create a blog and start posting! Have a look at this link to see what this class is about!

Click on this link to Rosa's blog which shows the importance of good computer health and how to create a blog. Follow the instructions and after you've completed the Computer Health tasks you'll soon be blogging!

I'm glad to be back in class with you after the visit to my family in Ireland? I've been in Australia for just over 30 years but I still call Ireland 'home'! When I'm in Ireland I call Australia 'home'! Funny, isn't it? I'm the only member of my family here. My brother and 2 sisters still live close to my mum. My husband was born in Melbourne and I met him in Ireland. Where do you come from? How long have you been here? Do you have family here with you? If you're married did you meet your husband overseas? Write a little bit about yourself in your first blog post.

Happy blogging!

Australian museum

G'day all
Well Kylie from the Student Association said to go ahead with the excursion on the 8th July and that they will pay for it! Good news, isn't it?

As we discussed last Wednesday, those who want to leave from Kogarah station can meet me there at 9.45am. To give everyone a chance to get there ......we'll catch the 10.05 from Kogarah. The times from other stations are:
Penshurst: 9.58
Hurstville: 10.01
Rockdale: 10.07

If you are coming from any other station then you'll need to check the cityrail website and work out the times! You can always catch an earlier train from other stations and then meet up with us at Kogarah! By the way, we'll get on the SECOND LAST carriage of the train.

We'll be getting off the train at Town Hall station and walking through Hyde Park. I'll make the booking at the Museaum for 11am so if you can't be on the train with us, then your last chance is to meet at the Australian Museum at 11am, Ok. The museum is situated on College St.

I hope you can join us and I look forward to seeing you on the 8th! Remember, you can bring family if you'd like but I can only pay for you!

If you like we can have lunch together afterwards! Someone must know of a good cafe/yum cha restaurant nearby!!!!

Email or sms me if you're coming so I know how many to book for!!

Thanks again for the lovely photo and message montage you gave to Andrew and me!
I've really enjoyed teaching you! All the best for the future! I hope someone sends me the party photos soon!

Keep blogging!

Last class

G'day all

Well it's hard to believe that today is your final time in the computer room for the semester! Some of you have done great work but I'm afraid that some of you are way behind in your tasks.

This class will be your last chance to catch up! Try to make sure you have the following items in your blog:

• A post telling us a little bit about you, where you come from etc.
• At least one report e.g the Library, Health Expo, Bundeena.
• At least 2 recounts e.g Harmony Day, Easter holidays, Health Expo, excursion to Bundeena.
• A forum entry.
• At least 2 comments on my blog.

As we finished watching the movie The Castle this morning, I'd like you to write a short opinion of it in your blog. You can tell me if you liked the movie and why/why not. Also tell me who your favourite character was and why you like him/her.

Finally, I'd like you to write a post about your future plans if you haven't already done so.

Good luck with your presentations tomorrow or Wednesday.

Thanks for being a delightful group of students this semester. I'll miss you! Remember, you can continue to contribute to the blog and try the activities.

Take care!

Week 8

G'day

Sorry I can't be with you today but as my eldest daughter, Lucy, is heading off to Europe for her first big overseas trip without me I've taken the day off to spend some time with her before taking her to the airport at 1pm. That doesen't leave me any time to get back for the afternoon class.

As you've got research to do for your presentations next week, I thought you could use the lesson doing some research and learning about powerpoint. The powerpoint post that Rosa created for our classes last year is very good and easy to follow. Click on the blog link and follow the activities. You don't need to listen to the podcast, just start with the oral presentation.

If you're one of the students who was not in class last Wed and you're listening to the mp3 for unit 13, please don't spend too much time on it as we'll be doing it again tomorrow, ok?

If you get everything done, you can listen to the podcast that Rosa's students did at the Health Expo with the lady from Aussie Helpers. Remember, you can always do your blog work at home or go to the library after class and use the computers there!

Here are the students doing their oral prsentations at the end of last year. It'll be your turn soon!!

BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.


Happy Blogging!

Bundeena Excursion

G'day all

Well I hope you all got home safe and sound after a wet end to the day! I hope you enjoyed yourselves and remember this excursion for years to come!
I'm looking forward to seeing all your photos!
Thank you for coming today. It was a pleasure being with you and I enjoyed sharing the day with you. I was very happy that you all talked to each other. It is a lovely thing for a teacher to see all the nationalities socialising together and getting on so well!
I'll give you some questions to help you write your recounts later!!!
Have a great evening!
Move the cursor over the photos to read the captions!
BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

Week 6

Stingray engraving
Cronulla ferry

G'day all!
Well, no class activities this Monday afternoon as hopefully we'll be enjoying ourselves in Bundeena and walking through Jibbon Beach to get to the Aboriginal rock carvings! I hope you won't be too disappointed as, remember, they are carved in rock and are thousands of years old! I hope too that the weather holds and we don't get caught in any rain!
If you're checking the blog, open the link to Rosa's blog and complete the quiz we created around the Women's Health talk! Unfortunately, I don't have any questions from the men's talk!
I hope the weather will stay fine for the Health Expo on Wedenesday! It's not as good when it rains as everything gets squashed into the Student Association Common room.

See you in Cronulla!