EDITED: Where can we find English language classes?
Unbelievable is my description of trying to find English language classes! I was trying to find English classes for Mr O, Mr O Jnr 1 and Miss O 1. All three have decided they really want to accelerate developing their English language skills. The longer they are here, the more they find the lack of perfect English frustrating. It is subtle little things that frustrate sometimes, other times it is more. Their own language, while rich, has different rules of grammar. While English may be the official language of their homeland, it is not the language they used most of the time.
Twittering for help!
The Council of Adult Education don’t have anything part-time. It seems neither do most of the other public education providers. Private schools, yes – for about $400 a week per pupil. There is no way we can afford $1,200 a week on English classes: we just can’t!
I wrote recently about the cuts to TAFE in several states and was told by at least one provider today the same cuts have lead to reduced English classes being available.
Apart from the cost, full-time classes are out of the question: the teenagers are in school and Mr O works full-time.
Weekend classes perhaps? No, none of those either that I can find.
This is a country of migrants and yet when migrants get here there are no English classes other than full-fee, full-time?
I even sent out two calls on Twitter and not one response. I don’t know what to do. I will try different institutions tomorrow and I emailed Victoria University, but I’m worried they will say the same as the others. I have tried Melbourne University, RMIT, CAE and Victoria Uni. Other institutions are too far away and it seems that Mr O Jnr 1 won’t be able to attend the same classes as Mr O and Miss O 1 because he is not an adult.
I had been hoping to find some full-time classes over the summer holidays for our two teenagers, but it seems none are available.
There are some on-line courses and if all else fails we will try to see if any of those fit the budget, but I believe classroom interaction would be better for all. Another suggestion made today was to hire a private tutor who may be prepared to take all three together.
It is so frustrating!
If anyone knows of anything, PLEASE let us know!
EDIT: October 4
A couple of Twitter contacts gave us some leads. One of them was AMES, which I had overlooked entirely. I might have been reminded if they appeared in my Google search, but AMES didn’t!
The Temporary Visa grant had advised:
Entitlement to English language tuition
You may be eligible to participate in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). For more information phone 1800 019 119. Please note you must register for English classes within three months of being granted this visa. To be eligible to register for the course you must have your visa label evidenced in your passport. Please contact this office to have your visa evidenced.
Of course, the three months is well and truly over now! It seems, however, that there is a fresh entitlement with the permanent visa. We were so excited to have the permanent visa finally granted, we didn’t read the supplementary information! When I called AMES today I discovered my family are entitled to 510 hours of English language tuition.
However, we are still having problems trying to find classes outside school and work hours. I am also not yet sure that AMES classes will be at the level required: we don’t need introductory classes as the kids are in mainstream school and Mr O has already completed a Certificate II. The standard needed is to polish existing English skills, not teach from scratch.
Mr O needs to go for an interview to be assessed and there is a two week wait for the assessment.
We are making progress though!
Moral of the story? Read the fine print! 
Keep looking and maybe suggest to AMES that they should add a few more classes that meet the needs of families like yours…
Yes, it is difficult. Still nothing suitable that I have found, so we are taking up Richard’s offer!
I’ve just joined a site that gives a platform for tutors to teach all over the world via Skype. I’ve got to come up with a scheme of work to put up there and my plan was to offer English Second Language lessons. I haven’t got around to creating the scheme of work yet, but if you e-mail me at my writer e-mail rickywhizz@aol.com we can discuss the level of English, the need and importantly the time difference between the UK and Australia and I will be happy to offer some free English language lessons to your family. It will be good experience for me and help a family that I much admire, through your blog. I’m a qualified secondary English teacher, BA, PGCE, 16 years state school experience and I’ve worked with migrants in Folkestone in Kent and Exeter, teaching small EAL, English Alternative Language classes, at GCSE level. I have current UK CRB too. I can scan and e-mail my qualifications for verification. So if you have a webcam and microphone and fancy giving me try contact me at that e-mail address and I’ll gladly do it for free via the internet. Get in touch.
Thank you Richard! Skype could work, I will email you later today. What a great idea! The time differences could be a problem, but otherwise it could be a great win-win solution!
Hi there. I expect you’ve been busy as usual, what with a packed house and so forth. Just in case; my writer e-mail address is rickywhizz@aol.com I changed my spam settings in case you got diverted and deleted. Drop me a note if you want to take me up on this. I dug out my copy of ‘Ship Or Sheep’ to recap pronunciation issues in EAL. Anyway I hope you are well and all things are okay. Regards Ricky W
My apologies Richard. It is more this shocking pain from my sprained lead to me forgetting. I was thinking of it yesterday, but after I took the painkillers last night, everything went blank in my brain. I will do it as soon as I get to work, I am so sorry!
Please don’t give up on me!
That’s fine, I’m sorry. I thought my e-mail hadn’t worked. Anyway sorry to hear about your sprain, as if you hadn’t got enough to deal with. I’ll wait for contact from you now and leave it to you. Take care and I hope you heal quickly. Ricky W
I did email you, twice – did you not get those emails? It was my work email address though.
I don’t think I got them, but as I say I changed my spam settings. I’ll check again. Ricky W
If you haven’t, I suggest you go to my contact page and send me an email and I will respond to it. Alternatively, I can use the email attached to your comments.
Maybe try to find a retired high school English teacher and invite her/him to dinner.
When he/she falls in love with your band of ragamuffins, you’ll be able to hire them as a tutor for peanuts. Which is great since Mr. O can’t eat peanuts anyway!
It is worth a try. Advertising in the local milkbar might be the go!
It’s amazing how difficult it is to find English as a Second Language classes in our country also. (USA) Every one complains, moans and makes sarcastic jokes about about people not speaking English. But, I see no concerted effort to teach them English.
There seems to be a plethora of classes on offer, but the level of instruction and the time of the day most are offered seems aimed at migrants not yet working or going to school. Remember, by percentage of population we have way, way more migrants than the USA does.
Of course there are the private schools catering to overseas students, a big industry here, but those costs are pretty steep.
I will keep chasing AMES courses today, but really, the idea of dropping out of school or work to polish English skills is really not feasible.
Quite right, we would expect that in a country full of foreigners there would be plenty of English courses. Have you tried placing an advert on Gumtree for a tutor who might teach all of them together?
What is Gumtree? I will have to investigate! A Twitter contact has also given me a lead I will check out today.
Thanks for the tip!
Qld have vounterers teaching conversational English. I have a JP colleague who teaches at TAFE once a week. I know this isn’t helpful, but if I were in Melbourne, I’d do it for free. Have you asked at the school where the children go? Their teachers might have contacts and/or suggestions. When I was teaching I was often asked if I would do private lessons. It might be worth a try. At worst they can only say no!
Thank you Vera, it is a pity we aren’t in QLD. The schools are closed for the holidays, but I will be asking when they start back on Monday.
I didn’t think it would be so hard to find something affordable.
Oh my goodness!! VOLUNTEERS!!!! A former English teacher and I can’t spell! My excuse is that I never learned to type. I am so embarrassed!
I didn’t even notice! Guess that means I am not a candidate to do the teaching!