Where do you live? It was in the outback of Western Australiathat I met my husband, and after work took us all over the state we retired to the small of Esperance on the southern coast. Instead of the hustle and bustle of the city, we are free to enjoy its wonderful beaches, friendly people and relaxed atmosphere.
There are many things I could tell you about Esperance …. but “a picture tells a thousand words” as they say ….. so here’s a picture instead of a thousand words.
Can I ask about your career? I’ve been actively involved in Education, Adult Literacy and English as a Second Language teaching now for about 25 years. I’ve had the privilege of helping develop the First Steps Curriculum Framework, the education framework standard to which all educators/schools in WA must base and measure their education programs on.
Since retiring I have been teaching Adult Literacy and ESL with Read Write Now, a national body committed to providing one-to-one tutoring to all adults. This has given me not only the opportunity to meet, teach (and learn from) adult students from all walks of life, but has also provided me with up-to-date and ongoing training in teaching and program/lesson development.
What is your favourite PASSPORT Lesson and why? This is a difficult question to answer. I could give a reason why I like all of the lessons in the PASSPORT Program.
I enjoy the first lesson because I get the opportunity to meet new students and we are at the beginning of our journey together. There is so much potential on this journey that I cannot help but look forward to this first lesson. Similarly, I have a great fondness for the last lesson. The students and I have not only travelled through the course together but have developed friendships and shared memories that I know will remain with me. I can look around the classroom and be proud of the students’ achievements during the time we’ve had.
I think of all the lessons along the journey from first to last though, Lesson 11 “What’s your favourite food?’ would have to be my favourite. Students are required to research and make a small presentation on different categories of Japanese culture, history and life. Although this is a difficult lesson for the students I find that, during the presentations, I become the student and they are my teachers. I have learned something new each time and I continue to be amazed at how much effort the students are willing to put into this lesson.