Staff at Embassy

Melbourne Cup – Embassy CES Brisbane style

Ken Beutel from Embassy CES Brisbane reports:

On the first Tuesday in November the Melbourne Cup is run at Flemington race course in Melbourne. It is more than just a horse race, it is a cultural event.  To celebrate this auspicious occasion, Embassy CES Brisbane does a range of things but the big event for the day is the Fashions on the Field.  Two representatives from each class are asked to make ‘race wear’ from newspapers, plastic bags and any other material lying around the campus.

Each pair parades in front of their school mates and then the judges (two teachers) decide the winners in the categories of most imaginatively dressed couple and best dressed couple. These winners receive prizes for their efforts. As you can see from the photos, the results are quite amazing and the students in all classes deserve huge pat on the back for their imagination and effort.

From Certificate of English to Diploma of Business

Raelene James from Embassy CES Brisbane reports:

Two of our students from Japan, Natsuko Sakao (left) and Eriko Kaneda (right), are great success stories for Study Group Australia. Both students started at Embassy CES studying Certificate of English in 2006 and have now successfully completed a Martin College Diploma of Business with a Major in Travel and Tourism.

When Natsuko and Eriko commenced their studies at Embassy CES Brisbane campus, they tested into Pre-Intermediate and with dedication and wonderful attendance (Eriko 94.5% over 9 months and Natsuko 100% over 5 months), they gained entry into Martin College in April 2007. It is a true credit to both students that they were able to come from Embassy CES with a relatively low starting English language level and then pass all of their Martin College subjects at the first attempt.

Both students are going back to Japan to commence their careers in the travel industry.

International Student Party

It was a party atmosphere last week at Embassy CES Brisbane, with over 100 students attending our HUGE International Student Party. We had students from Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.

While tearing up the dance floor, some of our energetic Brazilian students looked like contestants of the high rating reality television show, “So You Think You Can Dance?”

Some of our Brisbane Campus teaching staff turned up to show the students how it’s done. Sarah and Bradley from Embassy CES and Michael and Solomon from Martin College were among them. But the highlight was our Brisbane Campus Receptionist, Fiona Robertson, who entertained many with her original dance moves. Warren Walmsley, our Campus Director, kick started the night with a warm welcome to all our students.

Many thanks to Michele Nunn, one of our talented Event Management students, for her efforts in helping make the night a complete success. Obviously Event Management is a perfect career path for Michelle.

Also a huge thank you to Amy Myers, our Student Activities co-ordinator for the Brisbane Campus. Amy does such a great job at creating monthly student events the make studying at the Brisbane Campus lots and lots of fun! This international student party was one of the best ever. Keep your eyes and ears open for the next party in November 2007. Don’t miss out!

Click to see the pictures bigger.

Australia welcomes students from the UAE

Paul Pasztaleniec, Regional Manager for Victoria Australia writes:

For six weeks in July/August 2007 Embassy CES Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane hosted three study tour groups, each consisting of fifty 16/17-year old male students from the UAE.

The 150 students were all sponsored by the UAE government with the aim of improving their English and giving them experience of studying and living in a different (western) cultural setting. Many of the students had not been out of their hometowns before, let alone on a plane or in a foreign country so it was with much trepidation that many of them approached their arrival and first day on campus!  All students stayed in individual Homestays around Melbourne and learnt to commute! 

The tour program involved integration into the Certificate of English classes at levels appropriate to their proficiency, plus participation in closed classes in IT Skills and Leadership in the afternoons. Several social and cultural events were organised each week with a mix of visits to local and more distant tourist attractions featuring. Presentations on the range of Taylors and Charles Sturt University Study Centre also featured.

The Victorian Government Business Office in the UAE contacted the Department of Education to arrange hosting of  visits by the group to leading Melbourne tertiary institutions with future study interest (and scholarships) in mind. 

By the end of the six weeks students had settled confidently in to their new lives, made considerable gains in their communication skills in English, improved their table tennis skills and learnt a great deal - as had we - about other ways of being!