Global Village Byron Bay Blog

Music Teacher – required for new music school in Byron. Music & teaching qualifications required. Please call 66808432 or 0438620261

Housemaid – required for Byron motel, part-time / Casual,  must be available weekends, no experience necessary. Mature, honest, reliable, own transport. Phone 66808275

Dance Teacher – Ballet, Contemporary and / or Jazz. Phone 66847779

Today some of our students decided that instead of waiting for the circus to come to town, they would be the circus!! As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words….

We had a lot of fun for Australia day doing a wide range of activities from egg and spoon races to the traditional throwing of the thong!

Over the last few weeks our Upper Intermediate Options class has been learning about “situational proverbs”.

Since we have a few natural actors in the class we recorded them. This has been a great exercise in learning, and has proven to be a really useful tool in error correction! Thanks for making us all laugh with your antics guys!

If you cannot see the video above, you can visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdsBP4X04Kw

Today was both Gabriel and Fabienne’s birthday, which of course, just gave us all an excuse to eat cake!!!

Happy Birthday Guys!  Have a brilliant day.

Federica Roganti from Italy has just completed her studies here at GV Byron Bay and is about to head off on her travels up the East Coast of Australia. Before she leaves, though, she shares her thoughts on her time in Byron Bay with us.

Federica is off on her travels

“I chose to study at GV Byron Bay because it’s a small town with not too many other Italian students, which means I have to speak English all the time. Although I studied grammar back in Rome, when I arrived in Australia I really couldn’t speak much at all. Now I really feel that I have improved my speaking a great deal.

I’ve been lucky to have Angie as my teacher as she is great and has helped me a lot. Our lessons are never boring and I have a fun group of classmates from all over the world, including Brazil, Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Japan.

Since I arrived in Byron Bay I’ve been living in the Comet Close student house, which is about a 5 minute walk from GV. My housemates are all cool people and we have a great social life. Getting into town at night is easy and the nightlife is amazing, especially over the Christmas and New Year holidays when there are lots of people in town.

Byron Bay is such a beautiful place with great beaches, good surf and friendly local people. I have made so many friends here that it will be hard to leave.

Now that I have finished my course I am planning to explore the East Coast of Australia and will be heading up to Noosa, Fraser Island, the Whitsundays and Cairns.

After the great time I’ve had at GV Byron Bay, my advice to other students thinking of coming here is simple: “Just go for it!”

We’ll all miss you, Federica, have a safe trip and keep in touch!

Experienced wait staff - chef – for Brunswick Heads restaurant. Night & weekend work. 0431 344 821

The Balcony – Experienced Chef needed – Creative, energetic, chef, fast paced kitchen. Must be available nights, days and weekends. Drop in resume or contact Tom on 0411 216 248.

Byron at Byron – Kitchen staff required – Casual Chef / Cook – Fulltime and casual kitchen hands. Email resume to gavinh@thebyronatbyron.com.au or mail it to PO Box 1835 Byron Bay, NSW, 2481.

Don’t forget tomorrow’s Job Workshop with Monica, Room #1 at 2pm

This mornings Intermediate and Pre-Intermediate classes visited the markets to conduct a survey and find out more about our local produce.

It was a beautiful day to be out and about in Byron and the Dragon fruit Icey poles went down a treat. Where’s mine?!!

Barista / Front Counter – Busy backpacker, exp essential. Phone 0417 657 059.

Cleaners – motivated, experienced, hard working. Monday to Friday, Casual hours. Phone 66884777 or email  greenrocket@bigpond.com.au

Kitchenhand / Apprentice – Experienced kitchenhand or apprentice chef for Byron eatery. Opportunity to learn new skills in friendly team with flexible hours.

Riverside Cafe Brunswick Heads / experienced short order cook and kitchenhand / Dishy – required both fulltime and casual, some weekend work, great team environment. Drop resume to cafe. 6685 1799

Floor Staff & Baristas – Immediate start. Email your resume to: byronfresh@live.com.au

Only Top Cleaners need apply for holiday rentals & homes. 0413 190 266

On Monday, we created a famous Australian Christmas Dessert – Rum Balls!

Some people’s recipes differ, but there are some ingredients that are always the same. They are: coconut, cocoa and RUM!

The batch that we made are going to be enjoyed at tomorrow’s Student Christmas Party! A big thanks to Simon, Jane, Maria, Marc, Olivia, Jon and Benjamin for all your help!

As Christmas is just around the corner, students and staff have been having fun doing different types of Christmas activities.

Merry Christmas to all! And don’t forget, BBQ and Christmas fun on the 24th!

Kinko Japanese Restaurant – requires an experienced and qualified chef. Please phone 0416 111 067 or email resume:asafleibo@gmail.com

Chef – required for Japanese Restaurant, good conditions, fun crew, training provided. Phone Jake on 6685 7856

The Balcony / Experienced Chef Wanted – Creative, energetic chef, fast paced kitchen, available nights and weekends. Phone Tom on 0411 216 248

Kitchen Hand – wanted 3-4 days per week in Bangalow. 6687 2555 or email: eat@ate.net.au

Bohemia – Barista required. 6680 9979

Part-Time Bakery Assistant - wanted for biscuit bakery in Mullumbimby. Passionate home bakers as well as professionals encouraged to apply. Experienced with bread dough and working in a commercial bakery an advantage. Call Brendan on 6684 6282

Part-Time Cleaner - for small bakery in Mullumbimby. 3-4 hours per week. Call Brendan on 6684 6282

Waiting Staff - Professional waiting staff required for full-time and part-time positions at Rae’s on Watego’s. Must be punctual, reliable and have great attitude. Excellent working conditions. Immediate start. Apply to raes@wategos.com.au

Casual Chef - 30-40 hours per week. Must be keen, friendly and enthusiastic. Able to work in a fast pace environment. Contact Chef 6685 6402 or jhollis@beachhotel.com.au

Harvest - Harvest requires a committed and professional barista for casual work. Must have experience and a sincere passion for the hospitality industry. Call Tristan 6687 2644

As today was the last day of our FCE class I caught up with Maddy to chat about her time here…

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from…

My name is Maddy, and I’m from Columbia, Bogata which is the capital of my country.

What did you do back at home and what made you decide to come to Australia?

I was studying at the University in Colombia as well as working for an airline company as a programme developer. I decided to come to Australia as it has been my dream for a long time ago to come here. I have always dreamed of seeing the wild animals, such as Koalas and Kangaroos as they are so different from what we have at home. I also wanted to see some of the beautiful beaches and the handsome surfers!!

How long have you been at GV Byron and what are you studying?

I have been studying here for three months and have two months to go. I am studying the FCE at the moment which finishes on Friday and then I will be joining the IELTS class.

What do you plan to do when you have completed your studies with us?

Well firstly, I hope I pass the IELTS exam and then I really want to find a job in Australia. I have also been lucky enough to meet the love of my life here and we are going to get married in a few months time which I am really excited about.

What has been the single best moment that you have experienced since you joined GV Byron?

I think my teachers are really great people and really kind and it has been a very open and caring environment. I have learnt not only formal language here, but have also been taught lots about Australian culture and slang, and I have really liked that. My classmates have been really fun too and it has been nice to meet people from all round the world.

What is your favourite place in Byron?

Wow! That’s really difficult. The Pass is really beautiful and you can see lots of surfers, not only that, but  from the top of the hill there is an amazing view. There is a really fun BBQ place there as well, where people from all over the world can meet.

Thanks Maddy! We wish you all the best for your upcoming wedding and life in Australia.

Juliana, who left us last week after studying at GV Byron Bay for 16 weeks rang me yesterday to share some great news..

Juliana absolutely aced the exam, getting a much higher band score than she needed and almost getting a perfect score for the reading! This is fantastic and a real tribute to how hard she worked. We are all delighted for you Juliana! Well done!

The last week for our Cambridge courses has arrived and I caught up with Martina to reflect on her time here in Byron.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are from…

My name is Martina and I’m from the Swiss mountains.

What did you do back at home and what made you decide to come to Australia?

I have just recently completed my Bachelor in Education (Primary). Just before I came to Byron I was waitressing in a café in my village in order to save up money to come here. I wanted to come to Byron because I had heard a lot of good things from friends of mine who had come here previously.

How long have you been at GV Byron and what are you studying?

I have been here for three months and am studying the Cambridge Advanced English Exam preparation course.

What do you plan to do when you have completed your studies with us?

First I party! Then I will do the best I can to enjoy my last week here in beautiful Byron Bay. Sadly, after that, I have to return to Switzerland as I have a job waiting for me. I will be sad to leave but I’m looking forward to being able to snowboard again.

What has been the single best moment that you have experienced since you joined GV Byron?

There has been no “single best moment” I have to say. There have been lots of different and special moments which I am that I will remember for the rest of my life. I have made lots of friends with people from all over the world. The staff have been really supportive and friendly, the activities have been fun,  and I have also improved my English and am confident (although nervous) that I am ready for my test.

What is your favourite place in Byron?

The school during the day, going to the beautiful beaches around Byron and of course.. THE RAILS.

Is there anything you’d like to add??

I’ve really had a great time, and I’m going to miss Byron and you guys very much.

This is the final week for our CAE and FCE exam preparation students. You’ve all done so well and worked so hard and we are all impressed with you.

A few quick tips for the last days!

1) Keep on working hard until the day before the exam, and then give yourself time to relax and to remember all the things you’ve learnt.

2) Don’t revise right up until the last moment. Get some sleep, relax and try and put yourself in a good mood.

3) Arrive fresh and ready for the exam. The more relaxed and confident you are the better your chances at getting the grade you have worked hard for.

And finally, a huge GOOD LUCK from all the team here at GV Byron Bay. We’re all rooting for you!

This week I caught up with Daniel to have a quick chat about life here in Byron.

How long have you been teaching at GV Byron Bay and what did you do before you worked here?

I started working here just under three months ago teaching the Cambridge Advanced English Exam preparation course. Previously to this I was in Taiwan teaching EAP and IELTS preparation courses.

Do you speak another language and what was your biggest challenge when learning it?

Yes, I speak Chinese (Mandarin).

The biggest challenge I have with learning Chinese now that I’m at an Upper Intermediate level is finding time to be consistent in my approach to learning the language.  Normal life seems to take over at points and I sometimes I find that this affects my study patterns!

Which class are you teaching at the moment?

I’m teaching the Cambridge Advanced English exam preparation course.

Please tell us about a student in your class who you feel has made outstanding progress…

This is really hard to say. I have an immense amount of respect for all of my students. They have obviously worked extremely hard to reach the level that they are at now and they have all put in a lot of effort during what is an intensive course. I have been particularly impressed with Urs, especially in regard to his writing. He obviously spends a lot of time thinking about his errors, and trying to correct them, which is the best thing a student can do. But honestly, every single member in the class deserves credit for working so hard and diligently. They’ve been a wonderful bunch and I know that we will all keep in touch.

What do you most enjoy about teaching at GV Byron Bay?

Most…?! Well… The atmosphere here is brilliant. It’s a really friendly personalized school, everyone knows each other well and it’s very caring. I also like the set up of the day, with classes in the morning and then the hour after lunch of taught class with G.I.L. for the final hour.  I like the idea that the students have an hour a day where they can come and ask language issues about the problems that they are having. I think that this is a really helpful and constructive process.

The whole school is really well-organized as well, and there is  great support from the whole team.. so hard to say which one I enjoy the most!!

If you weren’t a teacher, what job do you think you would be doing now?

I guess I’d be a writer or an academic, or alternatively I like the idea of working outdoors.

What do you like most about living in Byron Bay?

Everything in Byron is within easy access, and of course, like everyone, I love the natural environment.

What is your favourite café, restaurant, shop or place in Byron Bay?

(Laughing…) Well, as I guess some of you know.. The Rails!

Mariana, the Director of Studies at GV Brisbane, has put together some valuable information to help students to understand Australians when they speak.

Mariana, GV Brisbane's Director of Studies

Tips to Understand Australians

We know that the Australian accent is slightly different from the one you are probably used to, either American or British English. As soon as non-English speakers arrive in Australia, they notice a difference in pronunciation, vocabulary that is used and expressions.

Here, at Global Village Brisbane, we want you to feel comfortable with the Australian culture, lifestyle and traditions, so every week we’ll post some tips for you to improve your understanding of the Australian world. There will be notes on Aussie slang, expressions, pronunciation, and many more things!

Today, we’ll work on three sounds that are specific to the Aussie accent.

The first one is the diphthong (two vowel sounds) that you can find in the words mind, time, find, which is not /ai/, pronounced at the front of your mouth, but /ai/, pronounced at the back. Click below to hear the British pronunciation of mind, time and find:

Compare it to the Australian pronunciation of mind, time and find to notice the difference.

The other diphthong that changes significantly is the one you can find in words like mate, main, pay, make. Australians don’t pronounce /ei/ as British people do. Australians will say /ai/. So the traditional greeting in Australia “G’day mate!” will be pronounced /gdai mait/ and not /gdei meit/ as a British person would say.

Click below to hear the British pronunciation of the words mate, main, pay, and make:

and compare it to the Australian pronunciation of the words mate, main, pay, and make to notice the difference.

The last pronunciation tip for today is called “intrusive R”. Australians tend to link words with an inexistent R. This only happens if a word finishes in a vowel and the following word starts in a vowel also. For example, in the phrase

“Australia and New Zealand”,

vowel a followed by vowel a

Aussies would say “Australia_r_and New Zealand”. Click below to hear the Australian pronunciation of the “Australia and New Zealand”

The “r” that is added is very soft, and it means nothing at all. It’s just pronounced to link the words together.

We hope these tips will help you to sound Australian, and to understand Aussies better when you talk to them in the street!

Have a good day!

Experienced Casual Cleaners – Wanted for Byron Bay apartments. Must be able to work weekends. Send Resume to PO Box 1020 Byron Bay , 2481 or fax 6680 947

Casual Cleaner – Needed for cabin cleaning, must be flexible. Phone 0408 405 422

Part-Time Casual – Wanted for Byron Bay street wear store. Retail experience necessary. jobinbyron@gmail.com

Baristas / Bar Staff - Iconic Byron venue is now hiring experienced motivated staff for high volume fast paced team orientated cafe / restaurant. Day and night shifts available. Must have good references. Email CV’s to the Manager, enquiries@byronbeachcafe.com.au

Casual Receptionist – Needed for tourist park, flexible hours. Phone 0408 405 422

Apprentice Chef & Chef – Required for Rails Bistro. Phone Adam 0423 454 773

Masseuse, Healer, Reader – For Byron CBD. Phone 0404 066 707

Fresca Bangalow / Chef – Seeking creative skilled professional to join us. Excellent conditions for successful candidate. Drop CV at Fresca. 6687 1711

Over the last two weeks our Upper Intermediate options class have been doing a variety of projects of things they are interested in.

Jun our resident Volleyball champion kicked the presentations off with a powerpoint show about Volleyball. Check out the link below to learn all the inside tips!

If you would to see the original powerpoint, please click here

This afternoon there is a volleyball competition so study up and see you on the beach!

To ensure that you can always remember our different web addresses we’ve made it simple for you.

They can now be accessed through www.gvenglish.com by simply typing the site that you would like, followed by the campus. For example: /facebook/byronbay

For our selection of Byron Bay high-resolution photos on Flickr.com, please visit: www.gvenglish.com/flickr/byronbay

To access our facebook community page, please visit: www.gvenglish.com/facebook/byronbay

To see the latest GV Byron Bay videos on Youtube, please visit: www.gvenglish.com/youtube/byronbay

2 Plumbers trade assistants - required paid by experience for more information call 6685 6340

Casual Retail Position – is available at Heart of the Bay, shop 5, 5-7 Byron Street, Byron Bay. Must have a minimum of 12 months recent experience; be avaliable to work every Saturday and Sunday and be extremely computer savvy. Apply in person to the owner with CV on the weekend. Applications close 30/11/09

Cleaner – Permanent casual required to work between 10am – 2:30pm, Monday – Friday, average 15 hours + occasional weekend hours. Mature lady preferred. Phone 6685 8800

Experienced Casual Cleaners – Wanted for Byron Bay apartments. Must be able to work weekends. Send resume to PO BOx 1020, Byron Bay, 2481 or fax 6680 9477

SPAR – Suffolk Park - 6 experienced shop assistants needed for permanent positions, above award wages. Resumes to smarket@bigpond.net.au or drop off in person.

ORIENT EXPRESS – Experienced waitstaff wanted. Apply in person with CV. Flethcer Street, Byron Bay.

Passionate, Experienced Nail Artist/s - Required for plush NEW Nail Boutique opening in Byron Bay. If you wish to be apart of this exciting new salon. Phone Amiee: 0432 097 994 or forward resume: velvetnails@gmail.com

Paver / Tiler – Immediate start, local area, great pay. Phone Trevor 0431 628 619

2nd or 3rd Year Apprentice Chef – The Urban Bangalow – Fast paced and busy environment, immediate start.                                              Phone Shane 6687 2678

Office Administration Person – Friday and Saturdays Airport Shuttle Company. MYOB an advantage. Phone 0401 622 228

This morning I spoke to our brilliant teacher Ginny about teaching at GV and Byron Bay.

How long have you been teaching at GV Byron Bay and what did you do before you worked here?

I’ve been working here at GV Byron Bay for the last ten weeks. Before that I worked at the Southern Cross University teaching IELTS for the last 9 years.

Do you speak another language and what was your biggest challenge when learning it?

I speak a little French (badly!). I really enjoy learning another language and find it really useful when helping my students come to terms with English as I can put myself in their position. I find French grammar really hard, and I seem to always confuse the masculine and feminine forms… which leads to some funny moments!

Which class are you teaching at the moment?

I’m teaching the Cambridge First Certificate Course. I really enjoy it and my class is such a pleasure to teach. It’s a great environment here, and with the small classes I have had the chance to really help develop the students’ language which has been a real bonus.

Please tell us about a student in your class who you feel has made outstanding progress…

That’s a hard one. They are all such lovely people and are all trying so hard. If I was to pick one, I guess I’d have to say Carla. Carla has improved significantly over the past few weeks. She has worked really hard to improve her vocabulary and reading skills and it has been exciting to be on journey with her as she really comes to terms with the language.

What do you most enjoy about teaching at GV Byron Bay?

That’s easy. My fantastic class and the great teachers I work with.

If you weren’t a teacher, what job do you think you would be doing now?

Hmmm.. well.. I have always wanted to be a singer!

What do you like most about living in Byron Bay?

Byron Bay is famous for its beautiful natural environment and I love it here for that. One of my favourite things in the world is walking on the beach in the mornings and evenings. It’s so beautiful.

What is your favourite café, restaurant, shop or place in Byron ?

My favourite café/ restaurant has to easily be the Red Hot and Green. The food is simply divine. My favourite place is Brays Beach which is gorgeous.