Global Village Byron Bay Blog

Sushi with Mori is always a success.  The photos speak for themselves. Thanks Mori, it was delicious!!

Munch Takeaway Juice Bar – Requires experienced Short Order Cook. Please come in with resume.

Delicatessen  Junior – Up to 30 hours per week including weekends. Phone Richard 6684 2207

Delicatessen Senior – Experienced – Up to full-time. Please call Richard 6684 2207

Chef Wanted – organised, happy and passionate, 20-30 hours per week, Bayleaf Cafe. Phone Nico 0402 912 465

Research shows that reading increases your exposure to the English language which increases your vocabulary knowledge which MAKES YOU A BETTER ENGLISH SPEAKER

The research strongly suggests that free reading is one of the best things you can do to bridge the gap from the beginning level to truly advanced levels.  Once you are confident reading English you will be more confident writing and speaking English.

• Borrow a book from our library – it is free and works on an honesty system
• If you are a long term student, join the Byron Bay Library. It is free  !
• Read the free weekly local newspaper
• Read magazines that interest you – sport, gossip, current affairs etc

Whilst you read:

• Try to interpret new words from the whole meaning of the sentence
• Write down new words in an exercise book and look up their meaning
• Try to use the new words in your conversations.

26 students thought that it would be a good idea to jump off a perfectly good platform and swing high up in the sky hanging by their legs and then let go with their arms stretched out in front of them to be caught by our very own Maria Weiss.. Check out the photos, they speak for themselves!!

I am sure that I can speak for all when I say.. “It’s amazing and if you haven’t tried it before then you are missing out!!”

Part-Time – Sales person for ladies retail fashion in Byron Bay, must have minimum of 3 years experience. 6685 3973

Pizza Cook - Experience. All rounder with great customer service skills, part-time, weekends, evenings. Email resume to: dblackstock08@gmail.com

The Dolphin Cafe – Requires a Chef / Cook – Full-Time 7 day roster. Apply in person. Brunswick Heads. Phone 6685 1355

Organic Clothing Store – Requires store assistant for Byron and Bangalow markets, Apr – Oct. Storage, car, retail experience essential. Phone after 5pm 6685 3960

In this weeks Upper-Intermediate classes we have been writing stories about our dreams and desires and what we would do if…..

Michela from Italy wrote this lovely piece which really made us all smile and so I thought I should share it with you all.. Thanks Michela, I hope your dreams come true!!!

If I were rich and famous for one week I would….

I would travel to as many places around the world as I could. I would visit New Zealand, Hollywood, Paris (with a boy on a romantic trip!) New York, Rio, where I would learn to Samba! I would go to Disneyland and above all I would go to California because I have been told that California is a very gorgeous and beautiful place to be.

I would also like to but a Villa on the beach in Byron Bay, one my village in Italy and one other in another country. Inside my villas there will be several enormous swimming pools, saunas, waiters, chefs, cleaners and a huge TV in the living room. We will have lots of parties with “free entry” for everybody and endless amounts of caviar, champagne and plenty of pizza!!!

I will also appear in all the magazines and newspapers and I will act in a new film which will be produced by me, with Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt staring in it. The film will be titled
everybody is Crazy about Michele”

We will go out in a limousine which has inside of it a mini-bar and a handsome boy who will serve me with sweet cocktails with strawberries and cream. I will buy a convertible Ferrari and a lot of dresses, one of which will be a tailor made Valentino.

I would also like to try many extreme sports in the best places in the world to do this. I will offer many drinks to my friends and we’ll all go together to the best clubs in the world. Moreover, I will give a little bit of my money to charity! I would also like to buy many famous artworks to decorate my house. On the last day of my rich week I will have a mega-party with all of the friends I have in the world where Robbie Williams will sing live to us all.

At the end of this time I will wake up from this wonderful dream….. and I will cry cry cry!!!

Thanks for sharing!

Just a friendly game of volleyball at Clarkes Beach to end a very hot day at school.. I think that we all agree an even better way to end a volleyball match is to then have a dive in the ocean.

Casual – experienced kitchen hand and excellent customer service for sushi bar in Byron CBD. Phone Lubelia 0401852765

Part-Time – sales person for ladies retail fashion in Byron Bay, must have minimum of 3 years experience. Phone 6853973

Professional Cleaners Required – Good pay, flexible hours. Phone Cherry 0413190266

Festival Staff - Required for food stall at Blues Festival. Cook, prep and service staff, must be available for 5 days / nights from 1-5 April. Phone 0403257304

Casual Bottler – Ginger Nectar are looking for a mature person to join our friendly production team and operate our bottling machines 1-2 days per week. Phone Lois 66809433

Today we said goodbye to a very special student… Gustavo our Brazilian star left GV Byron Bay but not without a few tears and presents from his classmates and a card signed by all!!

Gustavo came to us in September last year with beginner level English, he looked so worried and very confused in his first few weeks here!! Gustavo worked very hard and always asked a lot of questions which kept his teachers on their toes. His laughter carried outside his classroom and into the front office daily. With his amazing work ethic and passion to learn, Gustavo is now at a place where he can understand and communicate effortlessly with everyone he is in contact with.

We will miss your magical smile, your high energy and your big heart. From all of us here at GV Byron Bay, we wish you all the best for the future.

Just a little reminder that the Blues Fest is coming.. and don’t forget if you are a “local” if you buy two tickets for the Thursday event, you get another FREE!!

If you need any help with tickets come and talk to Justin or Rebbecca in the office.

Today is Simon’s Birthday, which meant cake for the FCE class…

Happy Birthday Simon! We wish you a wonderful year….

CHEF - Required for busy Byron café, straight shifts, casual, view to full-time for right person. Phone 0411738547

FARM HAND – For organic orchard, experience with machinery required, possible accommodation available. Phone Steve 0418866525

EBAY SPECIALIST – Needed to sell popular shoes, high commission. Phone 0421195997 or sales@mtjewelry.com

GARDEN MAINTENANCE – General labour in exchange for accommodation in Myocum. Phone – 66847065 or 0423936745

We had a traditional Chinese Cooking day, which was great fun and most importantly DELICIOUS! Thanks very much guys for all your effort!

Before the upcoming IELTS Course start date on the 22nd of March, GV Byron Bay’s Director of Studies, Justin, has given us some helpful tips on the Listening component of the exam.

GV Byron Bay's Director of Studies, Justin

The IELTS Listening Test:

Key facts:

-          30 minutes to listen plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers onto the answer sheet.

-          Four sections

-          40 questions in total.

How to PREPARE for the test:

In the test you have to listen to a wide range of accents: Australian, New Zealand, British, American, Canadian etc. The best way to practise this is to listen to as many different sources of spoken English as you can. Easy ways to access a wider variety of accents is through watching things like the Australian Network, the BBC, CNN etc. Within the test, there will also be a variety of different situations in which people are speaking. For example, you might hear examples of radio shows, friends hanging out, lectures at University etc. A good way to prepare for this is to practise listening to different situations such as TV soap operas, lifestyle shows, radio shows, and other media which have less formal spoken English, as well as things like documentaries or the Discovery channel, which are usually more formal in their spoken form.

TOP TIPS TO FOLLOW DURING THE EXAM:

You have time to look through the questions at the very start of the exam. Make sure you get used to using your time in the most efficient way possible. PREDICT what kind of information you think you will hear, and also try and predict what kind of word or words you will need to use to answer the question.

Think about the form of the words, are they looking for adjectives, nouns, adverbs etc? Try and guess as much as possible BEFORE the listening starts.

Listen REALLY carefully to the introduction of each question. This will give you useful clues about the situation and the topic you are about to listen to.

At the end of the listening test, CHECK YOUR WORK carefully. You have ten minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Make sure that you use this time wisely. Have a look at your answers. Do they fit grammatically? Is your spelling correct? Remember, spelling is important in the IELTS exam.

Have a look at this Listening task type as a quick example:

Listening task one:  table completion

You have to complete the table with words from the recording. You should write no more than three words or a number in each space.

Study the table carefully before doing the listening.

Strategy: Try and predict any possible answers. This will help you when listening to the key words in the test. Also have a close look at the parts of the table that are complete. These will help you predict the type of answer that is needed.

HINT: Always check the numbering to see whether it goes across or down the table.

There are several different listening task types. If you are interested in learning more about the exam and our courses come and see the Director of Studies in the office any time.

***Click here for the answers***

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.