Category Archives: Stay in Touch

Au Revoir Claire! We will miss you…

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Today, very sadly Claire is leaving us.

She has been a great student whose English has come along  really well over the last six weeks. She has been a real inspiration to us all here at GV, with her constant smile and willingness to partake well in class and in our activities..

I caught up with her briefly before she left and this is what she had to say….

“Hi I’m Claire, from France. Toulouse. In France I go to high school, and am studying science.”

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

I really wanted to come to Australia because I wanted to see and experience Australia and Byron Bay. I had heard great things about Byron especially how attractive it is. Of course, I also wanted to improve my English, and what better way to do that than in a wonderful beachside town.

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

I was here for my summer holidays, six weeks in total. I am currently in the General English Intermediate class. I really like my class, my teacher Andrew is really good. I think he’s a good teacher, he’s funny, he’s very attentive, we really speak a lot in class and practice the language points we study. I have to say in comparison to my English teachers in France, he is really really good.

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

Sadly… I have to go home and back to school.

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

I have really liked meeting students from all around the world. The classroom environment has been great too. The beach, the surf, (I’m becoming a great surfer!!!) and the relaxed lifestyle.

What is your favourite place in Byron?

Of course.. the beach.

I‘d also like to say that I have had a really cool time here. People are very relaxed and not so worried about the time, just more concerned about enjoying their life. This is a good change from France for me. I have really enjoyed meeting all of the different people. The school in general is a nice place, I’m happy here and feel very confident to speak and enjoy myself. I really feel my English has improved, and the activities have been fun. The circus was AMAZING!!!

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Student News, Study

Farewell Guys… Thanks for all the memories

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

We very sadly had to say goodbye to our first Junior Study tour on Friday.

This was a really succesful tour and we all really had a lot of fun getting to know them. We did various things from Kayaking, to surfing, to going to the circus, to dancing to … well anything you can imagine! And.. of course.. we learnt lots of ENGLISH!!

Thanks guys for being such a wonderful and positive part of the school.

We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you again..

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Posted in Activities, Announcements, Stay in Touch, Student News

Greetings from Colombia!! We miss you too Simon!!

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Simon, who studied with us for six months here at GV Byron, sent us this lovely message on the weekend! I wanted to pass it on to all the teachers and students as I know we all remember Simon very fondly!

I just went over some pictures, some memories and GV’s blog… I’m about to cry! I miss you soooooo much. I’ll do anything to go back in time! Now, I’m studying really hard and distributing my time in many responsibilities including work, which I’ve never done before here… Can you believe I am an English teacher now jeje

Please… send my most sincerely regards to Justin, Ginny, Angie and off course to you… and your daughter shhhhhhh (kidding).

Thank you for everything Becks… You are super cool and I miss you very much! I hope to see you again some time…

Bye!

Simón Barrera

Great to hear from you again Simon and amazed and pleased to hear that you are now an English Teacher!! Good for you!!

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Student News

IELTS superstar!!

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| 1 Comment

Patrick began studying with us in March for 14  weeks.  He studied the IELTS Preparation course as well as General English and sat the IELTS test last month. He let me know this week that he got an overall band score of…. 8!

This is a fantastic score. We are all really proud of you Patrick, your hard work and dedication really paid off. Congratulations and good luck with your future studies in Sydney. WELL DONE!!!

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Student News

Farewell Bec’s!!

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Very sadly we had to say goodbye to our dear and very special Bec’s today.

She has been an absolute integral part of the school and we have all grown to love her with her multitude of talents! It was very sad to say goodbye but we struggled through by eating lots of cakes !!

Thanks a million for all your help as well as for all the joy, enthusiasm and humour that you brought to GV Byron Bay. We’ll miss you!!

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Posted in Activities, Announcements, Stay in Touch, Student News

Thanks Monica! We will miss you…

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Today was a very sad day for us all here at GV Byron, as we said goodbye to teacher Monica..

Monica has been an extremely well-loved and respected teacher, and we will certainly miss you very much. I’d like to thank you very much on behalf of the whole GV team for all of your hard work, dedication and…. fun that you have brought into our lives. Keep in touch, and all the best!!!

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Student News, Teacher News

Student reflections on our Cambridge courses.

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

I caught up today with some of our FCE and CAE students and this is what they had to say about studying at GV Byron..

Hi Akane, why are you doing the CAE program?

I thought the CAE class would be a very focused and difficult classs which would push my English skills to their limit and really make me work hard to improve all areas of my language skills.

Why are you doing it in Australia?

I had heard many good things about Australia, it is a very different life than the one I knew in Japan and so I wanted to come to Australia to see how I felt about it,  and to see whether  what I had heard was true or not. I had also made some Australian friends in Japan, and they recommended that I come to Byron.

What will you use your CAE course towards?

I think that this course will help my life in a few different ways. Firstly it  is good for my general English ability but also the CAE is recognized in many countries around the world and could be useful for future opportunities.

Do you enjoy the CAE course at Global Village Byron Bay?

Yes! Very much.. The classrooms are nice, the environment is nice. But, honestly, it’s mainly about my teacher Ginny. I have a lot of respect for her, she makes the classes interesting, her knowledge of English teaching is really impressive and she is, more than anything else, a very nice, warm funny woman.

What do you like most about studying in Byron Bay?

The life in Byron Bay. By that I mean, I find the life quite different here  than the life I lead in Japan. In Japan, things are very regimented and fixed. Here I find things to have a more relaxed feel about them, the people are quite open and approachable. I feel like it’s a bit of an adventure living here, and I really wanted that feeling before I came to Byron.

Hi Tanja..

Why are you doing the FCE program?

Hmm. I’m trying to get better in English and it’s good for my job in Switzerland. I’m an office worker and I will have much better chances to get a better job and earn more money!! Also, I just want to do it for me, because I like English!

Why are you doing it in Australia?

I went to America, and it wasn’t much fun, as I wasn’t 21 and I wasn’t treated as an adult. My best friend was based in Australia, and said it was a great place to be. I talked about this with my father and he also said that he thought Australia would be a good place as there aren’t many opportunities to live this kind of life.

What will you use your FCE course towards?

To get a better job, and of course English is an important language. It’s useful, and it helps me communicate with.. well… the WORLD!

Do you enjoy the FCE course at Global Village Byron Bay?

Of course! It’s a nice place, the people are very helpful. My teacher, Andrew, is really helpful with the preparation for the exam and I have found that I have learnt lots of vocabulary that is really useful!

What do you like most about studying in Byron Bay?

The people are really helpful, it’s very different than Switzerland. People talk to you a lot and I never really feel alone. The climate is great and of course…. the beach! .

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Posted in Pictures, Stay in Touch, Student News, Study

Congratulations MARCH FCE and CAE classes

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

The results from the last round of the FCE and CAE exam our out and I have had several emails from our past students telling me that they have done really well.

This is such great news and we here at GV Byron are delighted to hear this! Well done everyone, it’s a tribute to your hard work and great language skills that you have done so well. For those of you who haven’t let me know yet, fingers crossed! Cheers Justin.

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Posted in Announcements, Stay in Touch, Student News, Study

Farewell Roger and thanks for making us laugh~!

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Roger left us this morning and we will miss him. He has an excellent sense of humour and has made us all laugh on a daily basis. His farewell was unique, as the pictures show!

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

I’m from Switzerland, from a small village in the south west, a place with 2700 people in it.

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

In Switzerland I am a house painter. I decided to come to Australia as I spent 10 weeks in NZ last year, where I met a girl from my village who had lived in Byron Bay before, she had the best time here, and so I promised her that I would come to Byron! So now I’m here….

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

I was here for 10 weeks, studying general English

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

Well, sadly, I have to go home to start work and see my friends and family again.

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

Ahh.. so many things.. The teachers have been really friendly and nice. Rebecca and you have been great, looked after me and made me smile a lot. Kayaking, the  circus … these things were great, BBQs! As is say.. so many things

What is your favourite place in Byron?

The Main beach is my favourite place, I stayed there a lot of the time,  when I wasn’t studying!!) and of course Cocomangas and the Rails..

Is there anything you’d like to add??

If I could find a real long term job here, I think I would live in Byron Bay forever. It’s a really nice place, it’s beautiful, the people are cool and it’s a great life.. I’m going to miss it!

Thanks Roger for all the laughs. You really have made the school a funny place to be! Take care, all the best and keep in touch!

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Posted in Activities, Pictures, Stay in Touch, Student News

A glimpse of life at GV Byron Bay.

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Some of you have been asking me for some of the photos we have taken over the last few weeks.. so here is a small selection of our lives here! Thanks everyone for making this such a great place to live, work and of course study in!


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Posted in Activities, Announcements, Pictures, Stay in Touch, Student News

Goodbye FCE and CAE class!

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Our FCE and CAE classes left us on Friday and to celebrate we had a BBQ in the sun. It was a day of mixed emotions, as everyone was happy to have the exams out of the way, but over the last three months really good friendships have been forged, and it is very sad to say goodbye to such a special group of people. We will really miss you guys, thanks for making the last few months such a great and special experience!



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Posted in Activities, Pictures, Stay in Touch, Student News

Farewell Harim!

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

I caught up with Harim before she left us here at GV Byron….

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

My name is Harim. I am from South Korea from a place called Daejeon. When I was in Korea I studied at University for a few years. My major was in Aircraft Cabin service, which I really enjoyed.

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

I spoke to quite a few of my friends and one friend of mine really recommended Byron Bay. They told me that it was a beautiful place. I looked it up on google and saw the lighthouse and all the beautiful beaches and thought, “that’s the place for me!!” 

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

I have been studying here for 4 months and am halfway through the Intermediate level.

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

I leave Bryon on Sunday and then I’m going up to Noosa, to go to GV up there. I have loved being in Byron, and the four months has gone past really quickly, but I want to experience different things and see some other parts of Australia, which is why I’m going to Noosa.

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

I have made lots of very kind friends. The teachers are nice and I have learnt a lot.

What is your favourite place in Byron?

The beach of course.

Is there anything you’d like to add??

Byron is a beautiful place with low buildings and not too many people. It is very friendly, quiet, nice and beautiful. I recommend it to everyone!

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Student News

GV Byron Bay Online Community

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

We have a great online community for all students to enjoy.

Not only do we have a blog, we have Facebook, Orkut, Youtube and Flickr accounts. There really is something for everyone. These are great to keep up-to-date with news and events, but also to show your family and friends, what you have been up to in Australia. Why not have a look, you may find some photos of yourself!

Facebook
www.gvenglish.com/facebook/byronbay

Youtube
www.gvenglish.com/youtube/byronbay

Pictures
www.gvenglish.com/flickr/byronbay

Orkut
Just visit Orkut.com to sign up or log in and search for GV Brisbane.

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Posted in Stay in Touch

Congratulations FCE!

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

We are delighted to report that all of our students who sat the Cambridge exams passed! Congratulations to you all! It’s a brilliant result! Well done!

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Posted in Announcements, Stay in Touch, Student News

Keep in touch on Facebook

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Are you a Facebook user?  Keep in touch with your classmates on our Facebook page!

GV Byron Bay Facebook

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Posted in Stay in Touch

Postcards from….. Byron!!

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Much to our surprise and delight Olivia came back to visit us today. We were all a bit confused as we had said farewell to her last week wishing her luck for the start of her journey around Australia, but it seems that she just missed us and Byron Bay too much!!

How nice to see you again. Can you tell us what you have been doing since you left?

I left three days ago, I went to Brisbane, and had plans to go to the Whitsundays, but I missed Byron and the friends I had made in school so much that I decided to come back so that we can all spend Christmas and my birthday here together.

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

I am Olivia, from the east part of Switzerland, from a tiny mountainous village which has a population of just over a 1000.

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

Well, at home I am an electrician, which I really like. I came to Australia, because I really wanted to see Byron Bay. I researched Byron a lot on the internet, and when I read about GV in Byron I really liked the idea of a nice school, with a family feel to it.  I also don’t like big cities very much, and Byron has proven to be perfect, as it’s small, friendly and beautiful.

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

I met lots of friends from different countries. I liked the time at school, my English improved lots!  I also liked the activities and games that we played in class and outside.

What is your favourite place in Byron?

Tallows beach, near my homestay has to be my pick! I love the sunsets – it’s really nice as there aren’t many people there, it’s not busy like the main beach is.

Thanks Olivia. Really nice that you came in and saw us. We wish you the best birthday and Christmas, here in Byron!!

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Posted in Stay in Touch

Connections – A Magazine Written By Students for Students

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

The Upper – Intermediate students at GV Caloundra have been busy these past few weeks putting together a magazine.

Connections

It’s aim is to provide new and current students with valuable information about GV Caloundra and Caloundra in general but there is also some handy information for students in any locations as well.

Click this link to see the Newsletter

Many thanks to all the students at GV Caloundra who worked hard on this project and a special thanks to Nathalie their teacher who has had to edit and format the magazine.

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Study

Stay in touch on Facebook

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Global Village Byron Bay| Leave a comment

Moving on?  Stay in touch!

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Click on the logo to go straight to the GV Byron Bay page.  We love to hear from former students, so don’t forget to drop us a line from time to time!

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Posted in Stay in Touch, Uncategorized

Welcome to Global Village Byron Bay

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Global Village Byron Bay| 1 Comment

We are pleased to announce that on Monday 20th April 2009, Byron ELA will become the newest member of the Global Village English Centres group.

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With locations in Australia, Canada and the United States, Global Village is one of the leading international education groups, with a worldwide reputation for high quality schools, tuition and facilities.

GV Byron Bay joins Global Village Australia’s existing schools in Sydney, Brisbane, Noosa and Caloundra, further details of which can be found at: www.gvenglish.com 

The new GV Byron Bay page is under construction and will go live on the Global Village website very soon.

Our school blog is a resource for past, present and future GV Byron Bay students where we will be posting regular updates about what is happening in the school, around Byron Bay and elsewhere in Global Village.

Look out for our other online resources by clicking on the links on the right-hand side of the page.

If you would like to contribute any content for the blog, or if you would like to post a comment, please write to us at: byronbay@gvenglish.com

 

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Posted in Stay in Touch