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Students from all over the world who are enrolled in a course at RMIT, Melbourne, Australia - just talking!


























 
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Monday, August 11, 2003  
Hi Papaito!
It's great to talk to you again! What are you doing now? Just tell us a bit about what has been happening to you. We are all busy - and now I have another new class. This time I am teaching two Certificate IV courses - and I think you would like it! The class I have most of the time really likes to have parties - I think we eat as much as we work! They are all really nice people. Are you working all the time? If you have time, come in and see us - we'd love to see you.

8/11/2003 11:52:00 PM

Friday, March 21, 2003  
Papaito, that's great news! I am so pleased for you! What happens next? Does this mean that now you will be able to get a full apprenticeship? I want to hear all about it! Borislav says "HI!" - and I'll tell him your news when I see him on Tuesday. I seem to be very busy at work - and the time goes so quickly. Today I had the day off, and I saw my grandchildren so it was fun. The only thing is that when they come to tea, I spend about two hours clearing up the house afterwards. (I'm not very good at housework, and I don't like it much either!)
Well done, Papaito!!
from Jane

3/21/2003 12:11:00 AM

Thursday, February 27, 2003  
Hi Papaito! It is really good to hear from you! When you have time, I'd really like to hear how your new course is going. I'm teaching Language Frameworks again this year, and I'm also teaching some English for Academic Purposes - so I see Borislav regularly. He is working hard. Shall I say "Hi" to him from you?
from Jane

2/27/2003 08:09:00 PM

Tuesday, February 25, 2003  
Hi! Is there anyone still logging on? Tell us what you're up to!
from Jane

2/25/2003 06:34:00 PM

Saturday, January 25, 2003  
Hi Papaito! (And anyone else who is still logging on!)
I have had a really wonderful holiday in Tasmania - I think it is still very wild and beautiful (especially on the West coast) and you can still find beaches where no-one else ever comes. We did a lot of walking and saw mountains, waterfalls, rainforests and lots and lots of water!
Come in anytime after Tuesday, Papaito - and we'll sort out some books for you.
from Jane.

1/25/2003 04:17:00 PM

Friday, January 10, 2003  
Hi everyone! I am just off to Tasmania for a holiday - so I won't be posting on the blogsite for a while. I wish I could send you all a postcard - but I'll tell you about it when I get back. I am really looking forward to it.

Papaito, can you try to find some of the short books like we had in Book Club? They have them in some libraries, and if you want to buy your own, they have a really good selection at The Bookery in Drummond Street, Carlton (just at the back of the Nova cinema on the opposite side of the road). If you make sure that you do the activities in the back of the book, you will learn a lot about vocabulary, grammar and the way in which sentences, paragraphs and whole stories are put together. There are lots of text books which can help you with your writing, too. As you know, I always say that if you read lots and lots in English (and think about what you are reading) it helps your writing more than anything else can. And you can enjoy the story, too!

We go back to work at RMIT after the long weekend, and if you come and see me, I'll be very happy to help you to find what you want, and I can lend you some books. Until then, read as much as you can! The people at The Bookery are really friendly and very helpful - and they are always pleased when students want to help themselves. Congratulations, Papaito - you are doing so well. Perhaps someone else can jump on the blogsite while I'm away and help you to find something. Any suggestions from anyone else?
from Jane

1/10/2003 01:39:00 AM

Friday, January 03, 2003  
I think that Blogger may be on holiday over the Christmas break! I noticed that all our messages have not yet been published on the actual site, although you can read them from the editing page. I'll give it a day or so, and then I will try to contact Blogger! (That may be interesting!)
from Jane

1/03/2003 08:09:00 PM

 
Happy New Year everyone! I hope that for each of you, the New Year brings peace and happiness. I can see that Lubov, Boris and Papaito got to the website before I did - well done! I too received lots of cards from all over the world: I think that this is what makes Christmas so very special for me. It means that all the people whom I got to know so well in other countries are still my friends - even if they now live so far away. I have been thinking of those of you who do not have special members of your family here - and I hope that the holiday can still be a good one, even though there may be sadness, too.
I spoke on the telephone to my son in Canada on Christmas Eve, on Christmas Day and on New Year's Day, too. It was not the same as having him here, but it still made me feel happy!
We had a very special time at Christmas because my grandaughter - who will be three next week - was so excited and so very funny. She spent Christmas Eve wearing a crown and some silky pyjamas which she was given, and Christmas Day riding her new tricycle (and wearing the crown and some "sparkly clothes" and "sparkly" make-up!)
from Jane

1/03/2003 07:57:00 PM

Sunday, December 08, 2002  
Hi everyone!

I am so sorry that I had to miss your certificate ceremony, but now you are all "graduates" of Language Frameworks - and that is great!
Papaito, your message was very moving. I think everyone would agree with me if I say that it was such a pleasure to have you in the class - and I am proud of your achievements. I hope very much that you will continue to post your news on the blogsite and tell us what you are doing. Boris, your application for EAP has gone in - but I think it would be a good idea for you to write something for Liz, so that she can see what you can do, and talk to you about the course. It is always important to be in the course that is right for you. Lubov, I am sorry that you will not be continuing with your study but I also know that someone like you will never be bored - and that you will find lots of things to interest you. Perhaps it will be possible for you to continue to read - and maybe we could even have a "Book Club" on the blogsite. I would be very happy to lend books to you - and to anyone else who is interested.

Important news: please check your emails for a rather special Christmas card!

More important news: the red column on the left of the blogsite will contain all the links we have looked at - and some more. You will be able to access them more easily, and I hope you will all continue to post on the blogsite. It will be great to hear what everyone is doing.

from Jane

12/08/2002 11:50:00 PM

Thursday, November 28, 2002  
Hi everyone!

I'm hoping that I will get this message posted before you all get online in class. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come back on Friday (today!) - but I'm looking forward to seeing you on Monday. I'm so glad that you posted a message, Papaito - I didn't want to be talking to myself!
from Jane.

11/28/2002 11:25:00 PM

Sunday, November 24, 2002  
Hi everyone!

I am now at home (although a nurse still comes to see me every day) and I am feeling much better. I am glad that the message that I posted from my friends' house published successfully! They have a quite different internet systen - and I really thought that I had lost the message!

Lubov, I love your puzzle - I promise to give a prize to the winner when I come back. You must all have a go!

I was very touched by all your messages, and I'm glad you're having a good time with Robert - and with Barbara, Sharon and Meaghan. They are all excellent teachers, so really you are very lucky! I'd love to hear what you are doing, what you are reading, and what you are thinking of doing next year. I am going to see the specialist doctor tomorrow - and then I will know when I can come back to RMIT. I am really looking forward to leading a normal life again!
From Jane

11/24/2002 11:51:00 AM

Tuesday, November 19, 2002  
Hi everyone!

I am out of hospital - at last - and I am staying with some friends for a few days, until I get used to life again!
Being in hospital was AWFUL - but I won't put any of you off (do you know that bit of slang?) I will just say that I didn't know anything about the operation itself, because I was unconscious, but the days of recovery were worse than I could ever have imagined!
It was still so great to get online and hear you all supporting one another. Congratulations, Ivy!! It is great that you have got an interview - I am so pleased for you! I'll be wishing you all the very best of luck, and thinking of you on the day. I think the rest of you should be so proud of the fact that Ivy wants to chat to you all, too - you have all, each one of you in the group, made this site what it is - and maybe we could keep it open for as long as you want- so that you can always stay in touch with each other.

Lubov, I am looking at your letter now, and realizing that you have mentioned everyone with such care and interest. I really appreciate your proverb, and it is the same in English, too. We say: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
I realize how much I miss you all! I am picturing Nenad with his trigger hose and his gum tree(!) Karim and his very thoughtful reflections on Iraq; Abdi's wonderful smile - and what is this narrative, Abdi? I can picture Boris, who always says something which is unexpected - and very true. I had not thought, Borislav, that maybe you had translated the peom yourself. Did you? It is a very simple, but incredibly sad poem. I am going to print it out and keep it.
Amid, how is Irfaan? I hope he is growing into a happy, healthy baby. Tell us about him!
Papaito, it was good to hear from you - even if only briefly - and I agree with your advice and encouragement to Ivy!
It is now very late for me - so I'm going to go to bed so that I can back to RMIT soon. In the meantime, I have a lot of work to do - so I shan't be bored!

I look forward to all your news!
from Jane.

11/19/2002 08:34:00 PM

Sunday, November 10, 2002  
Hello everyone - but Ivy especially! I was very touched by your reply to Amid - and I think you are quite right: a mother needs caring for most of all to enable her to care for her baby. I'm sure that Amid will be the most caring husband, as well as being such a proud father!
But I was just as touched, Ivy, by your reference to your feeling that you have not got enough English. I'm sure that everyone would agree with me if I say that I can always understand what you mean. But, I also know that feeling of not daring to speak - it certainly happened to me in Denmark. I had to go to a party held by my (ex) husband's boss. Everyone else there spoke fluent Danish - but I was silent. Of course, I couldn't even find the words to wish people a "Happy Christmas!" It was as if my Danish words just disappeared! Does anyone else have any particular examples of situations where they have found it difficult to speak?
Boris, you have definitely won Borislav's competition! Well done! (What's the prize, Borislav?) And you added a different perspective to the Cup for us, Boris - I don't think that we could compete with the kazaks.
Tomorrow, it is my grandson's "Naming Day" - so I have written something for him, using the letters in his name as the first letters in each line. I think you should do the same for Irfaan, Amid. Maybe we can all do it as a group present!
from Jane

11/10/2002 02:53:00 AM

Thursday, November 07, 2002  
Here's the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/email/news
Have fun!
Jane.

11/07/2002 11:37:00 PM

 
Hi everyone!
It was so good to see you all again on Wednesday - I really missed you!
Ivy, it is great to hear from you - and I am just wondering if you won anything at the Cup. I think we all deserve a morning tea...........!
Karim, it is very interesting when you tell us the news from Qatar. Like you, I hope that there will not be any more war iin Iraq. Borislav, I don't think you should have given away all the answers so quickly! Come on now, all of you - who can do Borislav's latest quiz?
Do any of you, apart from Karim, keep in touch with the news from your own countries? I get the BBC news by email every day - it's a free service, and you can just ask for the places you are interested in hearing about. You get just a brief (one sentence) outline of the news items for that country, and then a link - so that you can follow the whole story. I find that it is a good way to keep up with the news in Europe - which I don't hear much about in Australia! I'll find the internet address and make a "link"for you.
From Jane.

11/07/2002 11:29:00 PM

Sunday, November 03, 2002  
Hi everyone!

Here is a "smile" for you, Lubov!

I really missed you all last week. I hope you had a good time with Renee - I know that she enjoyed being with you. I think that "The Monkey's Paw" is an excellent story, and I remember that when I was at school (all those years ago!) that my English teacher said that it was the best short story in the English language. I think that, since then, some other great stories have been written - but it is still a great one. It has suspense, it creates a very "spooky" atmosphere, and it is a story which makes you think. Maybe, after reading it, more people think about what the really important things in life may be. I'm sure you all discussed that with Renee.

I so enjoy getting online and reading all your comments. Ivy, maybe everyone can visit Federation Square - you wrote about the "Welfare" painting so clearly, and your feelings are so strong. It is just like so many of the things we discussed when we were writing about "The Tracker," isn't it?
And I liked your vocabulary competition, Borislav! Maybe you can all do a copy and paste onto a Word document and see who gets them all right. OR, how about this: first one to get all the correct answers on the blogsite wins a prize!
You will have to hurry to beat Papaito - but, Papaito, we have not heard much from you recently. I really miss your comments!

I'm looking forward to seeing you all again on Wednesday - and I hope that, in the meantime, you have had a good holiday. I wonder if any of you will have won something in the Melbourne Cup! If you do, we'll have a special morning tea - or a BBQ!
from Jane.

11/03/2002 07:06:00 PM

Friday, October 25, 2002  
Hello everyone!
Well, we have tried about a hundred times to get Tony on the blogsite! I really don't know what it is - I guess that the blog just doesn't like him! Does anyone have any suggestions? (I think that we might have to invent a new yahoo address for him, as well - and, have any of you got any ideas as to how we can make it REALLY easy to remember?
See you all on Monday - and it was a good BBQ - but it was very cold out there!
from Jane

10/25/2002 02:33:00 PM

Thursday, October 24, 2002  
Hi everyone!

You know, I feel so proud of all of you! You have really made this blogsite your own, and you are making such excellent contributions! Sometimes they are very sad, though - your comment to Lubov about your mother, Cherent, made me want to cry: we take so much for granted in our lives, but your love for your mother is a wonderful thing, and you are obviously a very loving son. She must be so proud of you. When we move to another country, there is so much that we leave behind: places, customs - but, most of all, the people that we love.

Congratulations to Papaito and to Karim for doing so well on the "sentences" link! Have you tried all the activities yet? What do the rest of you think of that site? You are obviously all reading the papers - and it great to hear you comments. Karim, please remind me because I have some newspaper articles about Africa that I think you would be interested in reading. Boris, I was struck by your compassion for Borislav - and I just wanted to tell you that I am looking into this problem of IELTS and Certificate 4 - English for Academic Purposes. And, I would encourage all of you to read Boris's note on Cherent's question of inteeligence and money (that's back on 22/10/02). It is such a wise and sensitive reply - and it reminds me of how important it is to see the sun set, Nenad!
from Jane.

10/24/2002 03:21:00 PM

Sunday, October 20, 2002  
This is a quick post - because I wanted to send you all a new link. This is an excellent site for checking your sentence structure - not just punctuation, but also work on what makes a complete sentence. Try it! There is a "factsheet" which you can print out, and several games - you can play against the clock to see how good you are! There is also an interesting exercise in which you can listen to an item of news being read aloud, and then you put in the fullstops and capital letters. Let me know what you think of it:sentences
from Jane.

10/20/2002 10:44:00 PM

 
Hi!
It's getting really interesting, because now you all have so much to say on the blogsite! It's especially good that you are joining in the conversation from home, Boris and Lubov - it's just like having you in the classroom! Especially with your difficult questions, Boris!! I think I know what you mean - because, in some languages, the combination of "c" and "h" gives a hard "k" sound. As you know, "c" alone can give a hard "k" sound - but I honestly can't think of any combination of letters (excpt for "ck") which gives that hard sound you are looking for. This is a good puzzle! Has anyone else got any ideas?
from Jane.

10/20/2002 06:31:00 PM

Thursday, October 17, 2002  
Hi everyone!
It's so interesting to read what you have to say - and it seems that everyone has a lot of questions. You must all be thinking very hard! Cherent, this problem of needles is a very important one - the young son of a friend of mine found one in the playground at his school. He was only five - so he started playing with it. Luckily, he did not injure himself badly and he did not get infected.
And your question about which is more important - money or intelligence. I know that I would definitely say intelligence. Money can buy power, but it can't buy the ability to think and to discriminate about which is the best, or the right, thing to do. What do the rest of you think about this?
Boris, you have given me another difficult question - only this time I don't quite understand what you mean. Can you give me an example?
from Jane.

10/17/2002 03:39:00 PM

Tuesday, October 15, 2002  
Hi everyone!
I thought I would just tell you, before your session with Megan, that the link to "The Age" is working perfectly well now - so you can just click on it and go! It is really interesting now to read your comments here. It is a bit like a continuation of the conversations this morning - and I was impressed by your 3C's work today.
I am interested in the newspaper article Nenad was looking at online, where a young girl who had cancer said: "If anything bad happens just keep a positive attitude." I guess that many of us had bad things happen to us - do you think that being positive helps?
I also like the way that you were thinking about the drought problem so clearly online, Kerim - this is a very good way to use the blogsite, and many of you will see how Papaito has been doing it for some time.
Lubov - it's good to see you back online again, and I'm sure that Papaito appreciates your compliments! You should reply, Papaito!
from Jane.

10/15/2002 03:32:00 PM

Friday, October 11, 2002  
LOOKING AT THE NEWS: here are some links to Australian newspaper sites. You may find it useful to look at all the papers when you are preparing your 3 C's Presentation. Just click on the text for the newspaper you want to search. If you'd like to look at "The Age" click on theage.com.au
"The Australian" can be found at the australian.news.com.au
and for "The Herald Sun" click on
heraldsun.news.com.au
Good luck!
from Jane

10/11/2002 12:58:00 AM

Thursday, October 10, 2002  
Lubov - I am so sorry: because your entry on the site had "doubled up" I deleted one of the messages, and the other one seems to have disappeared, too. Please put your nice message to Cherent in again for us!
from Jane.

10/10/2002 06:59:00 PM

Wednesday, October 09, 2002  
Hi everyone. I think this is a surprise for everybody to read my message on the computer. Over the holidays I made a lot of things. I had to work to pay a bill. I was doing something boring, process work. What did you do over your holidays?
from Cherent.

10/09/2002 02:33:00 PM

Thursday, October 03, 2002  
Hi Everyone!
Papaito, it's so good to see that you are getting on the web even though we're on holiday! I'm glad you tried the internet site - and I'm sorry you didn't win. I hope that some more of you will try it soon. Looking forward to seeing you all again on Monday - and I hope you've all had a good holiday.
From Jane.

10/03/2002 08:58:00 PM

Thursday, September 26, 2002  
I thought some of you might be interested in trying this site. It gives you lessons on using the internet. There are eight separate lessons, and each lesson has three main parts (and a game!) so take it slowly and don't try to do all the lessons at once! Just click on this link: bbc.co.uk/webwise and enjoy learning about the internet and the web online! I think you will find the instructions are clear - and you will learn a lot of important vocabulary, too. I'll look forward to hearing what you think of it - and if you have any problems, we can talk about them together.
Good luck,
Jane.

9/26/2002 03:13:00 AM

Saturday, September 21, 2002  
Hi everyone!
The last session was really exciting! I don't think I have ever seen people getting the answers off the internet so quickly! Well done to all of you who entered the competition, and especially to Papaito, who, as you can see by the placing of his entry, was "first past the post."
That saying comes from horse-racing (and last Friday was a bit like a horse race!)
I hope you all have a good holiday.I am looking forward to getting your news on the blogspot.
from Jane

9/21/2002 10:19:00 PM

Friday, September 20, 2002  
Hello everyone, jane is just showing me this great blog site. Lyn

9/20/2002 02:42:00 PM

 
We're just waiting for Cherent's entry to the competition, I think!
from
Jane

9/20/2002 01:41:00 PM

 
This is a very close competition! Good luck, all of you!
Jane

9/20/2002 01:28:00 PM

Tuesday, September 17, 2002  
Hi everyone!
So - who knows the name of the actor who played "The Tracker?"
And - what was the name of his first film?
PRIZES!
Jane.

9/17/2002 11:26:00 PM

Sunday, September 15, 2002  
Hi everyone!
It's good to see so much published - and congratulations to Papaito - I think you've written more than anyone else AND you've got the answer to Amid's question right!
(What are you going to give as the prize, Amid?)
I've got a question for all of you - and it's one you can all answer - use the internet for help if you like! The first correct answer posted here wins a prize!
What is the name of the actor who played "The Tracker?"
AND what was the name of his first film?
from Jane.

9/15/2002 04:13:00 PM

Friday, September 13, 2002  
Today I have been reading The Age on Friday September 13 2002

The UN is warning Bush: "Do not attack Iraq alone."
I think this is a very good idea because the UN could bring peace to the world.
from Tony

9/13/2002 02:03:00 PM

 
hey.Amid I agree with you and it was the tracker who said life is hard but living is good.
from papaito

9/13/2002 01:22:00 PM

 
I agree, Papaito. Some people don't like to think about this - but we are using computers more and more - for everything. We need to get used to it, and it's fun, too.
from Jane.

9/13/2002 01:14:00 PM

 
"Life's hard but living is good."
Who said that?
from Amid

9/13/2002 11:55:00 AM

 
Hi everyone!
It's Jane - and I'm just showing Amid how it works! I'll get him to say hi to you all in a minute!

9/13/2002 11:47:00 AM

Thursday, September 12, 2002  
It's great to get on to our page, and see so many of your names! Borislav, this is a great way to begin using the internet - and once you have your own internet address, you can go into the library, and do as much as you want. Why aren't you coming in on Friday, Papaito? Are you having a holiday this weekend?? (I wish I was!) And Nenad is tired!!
Actually I decided to take the afternoon off, and I went for a walk in Warrandyte with my daughter. Have any of you been to Warrandyte? It's very beautiful - you can walk along the river Yarra and through the bush. It used to be one of the main areas for the Aboriginal Wurrundjeri tribe to gather. Later on in Australian history, it was a gold mining town - and you can still walk through the mines.
See you on Friday,
Jane

9/12/2002 01:05:00 AM

Wednesday, September 11, 2002  
This is from papaito. I hope all my class friends have a good weekend and I will see you on Monday. Teachers without students = no teaching. Students without teachers = no learning. Make sure - be there!

9/11/2002 02:31:00 PM

 
This is from Meaghan. Hope your Bulletin Board goes well.

9/11/2002 12:42:00 PM

 
This is your chat page - all of you from L.F.!
I thought I'd set it up so that on Friday you can start chatting. It's pretty late at night so I'm going to log-off now. Speak to you Friday! Jane.

9/11/2002 12:43:00 AM

 
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