Association of English Teachers Forms in Covalima

October 1st, 2009 patjessen Posted in Education, English Language Project, Friends of Suai News 4 Comments »

5-teachers-on-blk150x150ASSOCIATION OF ENGLISH TEACHERS FORMS: Friends of Suai volunteer teachers have been training English language teachers from the Cova Lima secondary and pre-secondary schools for the past four weeks. Port Phillip residents and ESL teachers, Desleigh Kent and Jenny Jaensch together with Jenny Green, Barbara Selvay, Helen Nankervis will conclude classes today.

Pat Jessen spoke briefly with Simao, Co-ordinator in Suai, this morning. Simao and the Timor English teachers were preparing for the last class and a celebratory lunch at the school which was being prepared by his wife Palmira and friends. District Education Department representatives will also attend the celebration.

It sounds like there is much to celebrate. Simao was thrilled about the establishment of an Association of English Teachers in Covalima which is planned to meet each Saturday to further their English Language development.

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Five Volunteers Prepare to Teach in Suai, East Timor

July 1st, 2009 patjessen Posted in English Language Project, Friends of Suai News, Volunteers to teach in Suai 3 Comments »

Five Australian teachers of English language are volunteering to go to Suai, East Timor to

provide intensive four week training to English teachers in September 2009.

The City of Port Phillip sponsored community group Friends of Suai, have organised an

orientation over the next eight weeks to prepare the teachers for working in a developing

country with sessions on history, culture lifestyle and language.

Friends of Suai received a request from English teachers in Suai for the training and the

program has been endorsed by national government to provide an appropriate curriculum

suitable for the teachers. The Community Centre in Suai, supported by the City of Port Phillip

will host the teachers during their stay.

“The City of Port Phillip is committed to a ten year partnership to help rebuild Suai, which

suffered some of the worst excesses after the pro-independence vote in 1999,” said Mayor

Frank O’Connor. “Life is still difficult in the new nation but together we are making things

happen,” he said.

Friends of Suai Committee member Desleigh Kent and Jenny Green, a retired teacher will

share the role of team leaders on the upcoming trip. They have both visited Suai and are

looking forward to this new challenge and adventure.

We have a wonderful group of teachers with a wealth of experience in teaching in China,

Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma all with insight and development experience,” said Desleigh.

We are particularly pleased to represent Port Phillip at the 10 year commemoration of the

Suai massacre in September this year. It will be a significant time to be in Suai and an

important act of friendship,” he said.

The teachers will pay their own fares and expenses to go to East Timor and Friends of Suai

will provide accommodation transport and teaching resources whilst they are in country.

Most people speak at least three languages in East Timor with Tetun being the language

generally understood across the country. Both English and Portuguese are compulsory

languages in secondary schools and English is the international language that many Timorese

are keen to learn.

The teachers will start their orientation training on Friday 26 June at the St Kilda Town Hall.




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English teachers to go to Suai 2009

June 29th, 2009 jen Posted in Education, English Language Project, English Teachers going to Suai, Friends of Suai News, Press Releases 1 Comment »

Five English Language teachers for Suai 2009

Five English Language teachers for Suai 2009

It is with much pleasure and excitement that the Friends of Suai announce the team of Volunteers who will conduct the pilot Intensive English Language Program in Suai, Timor Leste in September 2009.

Congratulations to our team members: Jenny Green, Jennifer Jaensch Desleigh Kent, Helen Nankervis and Barbara Selvay. The friends of Suai would like to thank all those who indicated their interest in joining the team this year. The standard of applications was impressive as was the willingness of people to fund their own participation.
Other ways of helping: English Language text books and dictionaries

There is a need for appropriate teaching resources or class sets to be sent to Suai teachers. Can you help? Talk to Pat if you think you can help in some way.

Hosting a homestay for Timor English language students at Taylors College. Starting September 2009 for 20 weeks or part thereof, there are 7 students from various organisations in Timor. The have a rent allowance for homestay.

If you would like to remain on the occasional email group for Friends of Suai? Let Pat know: pjessen@portphillip.vic.gov.au .

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