Leading Out was an incredible team to work with. They helped me navigate through the tedious paperwork and somehow made the process less stressful and a lot more exciting. Even when I was settled overseas, they were always available to help with questions, concerns, confusions, or simply to offer some suggestions. It was comforting knowing that I always had someone I could reach out to for help.
What was your favourite classroom experience while in Australia?
Being a casual relief teacher brought me to new parts of the city every week. It was quite challenging to walk in to a group of students you had never met before and teach lessons you were not familiar with, but once I got accustomed to it, I was able to enjoy the journey and embrace the life of teaching on the fly. Not to mention, learning to entertain a group of students with my funny accent.
One experience that does stick out for me was my day as a Phys. Ed teacher at a Special Development School in Yarraville. I was so impressed with the support, the attention, and the detail that went in to coordinating lessons for these students. It was an extremely rewarding experience for me as a new teacher and I definitely left that day with more than I came in with.
What was your favourite travel experience?
Moving to Australia was an experience in itself. There are so many places to explore and if it weren’t for time and money, I would have done it all! I am very happy, however, that I was able to make the trip over to Tasmania. It was probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. We travelled over with no particular plan or schedule, but only a hand written list of suggested places to visit from friends and acquaintances we met along the way. It was quite refreshing to set out on the road with no time constraints or commitments. I don’t think there are many places in the world where you can get away with this type of haphazard plan, but it seemed that no matter where we went or which direction we took, it always left us in complete awe.
Why would you recommend teaching in Australia?
Teaching abroad was a great transition for me after graduating from teacher’s college. I was looking for an opportunity to travel while also continuing to gain experience as a teacher. It was nerve-wracking walking into a new class every day, but it was also quite exciting. Every day brought a new challenge and the whole process taught me a lot about myself and the world of teaching.
What advice would you give a new teacher moving to Australia?
Pack warm clothes. I thought I was escaping the Canadian winters by going to Australia…little did I know that I would have to wear socks and sweaters to bed some nights. Besides that, go in with an open mind and see every day as a new adventure. It’s a beautiful country filled with some amazing people.
When people think about what to drink when they travel over to Australia, most suggest wine especially as Australia has some of the best wines in the world! However Australia also has a fantastic beer culture with a number of local breweries across Australia.
Some of my favourite local Brews in Australia:
James Boags – found in Tasmania (if you haven’t gone check out this post on where to go and also do the Boags tour for beer/cheese tastings!)
Little Creatures
Beez Nees
Coldstream – just outside the Yarra Valleyso after you have hit some wineries, check out their Summer Ale!
Bluetongue – found in Western Australia (if you go, do the tasting paddle of all their brews!)
Is it true that everything in Australia is more expensive?
When teachers from Canada, and USA arrive in Melbourne, Australia one of the first things they say is that they can’t believe how expensive things are. But is this just a bit of culture shock?; or have they not taken into account the exchange rate difference?; or perhaps it is true!
So what is noticeably more expensive in Australia?
1) Rent – it doesn’t matter how many times it is explained to our teachers that their is a rental shortage in Melbourne, Australia so rent is high, they all wait til they arrive and see for themselves how expenisve it really is!
2) Coffee/Muffins – if you are used to Tim Horton’s in Canada then you will be shocked to find out that one muffin in Australia can cost you $4 and a coffee is about the same! No more 2 dollar breakfasts!
3) Soft drinks/pop/soda – Whatever you call it in your country things like Coca-cola or Nestea Ice Tea is expensive!
4) White Goods – Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Dishwashers. The worst part is that if you rent an unfurnished place, more often than not, this will not include a fridge or washing machine so get ready to search for the deals.
5) Beer – a 6-pack can cost $17-$20 so look for bargains at Dan Murphys for a case (sometimes for $40!)
What else do you find expensive in Australia? Or more importantly, what isn’t expensive in Australia?
If you are thinking about moving to Australia or teaching in Melbourne, Australia then consider reading our tips for Moving to Melbourne, Australia
3 things to NOT like about Footy/Australian Rules Football/AFL/Aussie Rules?
What happens with the players off the field! It is something a struggle with each time I watch a game knowing the number of players who have had drinking or drug issues; rape charges & uncharged; are rude in public. As key role models for kids in Australia, you would think that charges would be strict-but unfortunately they aren’t and the number of AFL players playing who are not actually good role models would astound you if we actually knew the stats!
The drunken behaviour of AFL fans. It’s nice to go to a live game but more often than not, you find yourself around people who are either already drunk or closing in on it, or if you are really lucky you will be in the middle of a fight (about what I might ask – hmm the footy game?!)
If you are not a big fan of sports, or perhaps have a number of different interests, this can be quite hard during footy season. If people aren’t trying to talk to about it, then just pick up the papers to see all the results/news/gossip splattered all over the papers (regardless if there was actually a more important sporting event taking place) or try and watch anything but footy on TV during the season!
What do I like about Footy?
You will see from my previous post that I had 5 points in the ‘Like’ category which can lead you to believe that I like footy more than I dislike footy which is true. I love going to watch, it’s exciting, I like dressing up, and it’s cheap. I just do my best to not think about the rest! How about you?
5 things to love about Footy/Australian Rules Football/AFL/Aussie Rules?
If you like sports & athletics, this is the sport for you! A combination of rugby, soccer, basketball, football all put together with a heck of a lot of running (cricket oval size field).
Fast pace, few interruptions – the game flows withonly stoppage if someone is hurt or between 30 minute quarters. Referees are around and you hear the whistle a lot but it doesn’t really actually stop the flow of the game at all (unlike Netball!)
High scoring games – since there are few interruptions then it allows for the score to get pretty high which keeps things eventful and you never know who will win!
The fans – if you have not been to a footy game in Melbourne before, then I cannot suggest anything more important to do when you are here (between April – September). The first thing that people will ask you is who do you barrack for? Which means who is your footy team? Then when you go to a game, you better be wearing team colours or people will wonder why you are there! The pride of fans is insane with at least 40,000 people showing up at every game (an thats with at least 4 games in Melbourne every weekend!)
It’s cheap to go watch – yes live sport for a fraction of the price compared to North American Sports. For only $20 you can get a general admission ticket at Etihad Stadium and Melbourne Cricket Ground and see the game perfectly! Plus you will get a few characters up in the general admission seats which is always a bit of fun!
Not sure what Footy is? Click here for more details.
They become just a replacement to writing with pen and paper and are not used in a ‘fun’ way in the classroom.
Blogwork is untraditional and paper-free.
Unless you are an internet surfer, you don’t quite understand how the Internet works.
Laptops are hard to carry around (although now with the wheelie backpacks, this should be less of a complaint).
Half the time the laptop won’t work and then time is spent mainly on trying to fix them rather than using them (or the student has to pair up and watch another student have all the fun)
Teacher doesn’t really like them and this flows into the students attitudes.
Should laptops be used in schools? Is it possible to have technology being used to enhance student learning? Do you know ways that have worked for you that you would like to share with other teachers interested in intergrating laptops in the classroom?
Are laptops even being used in Australian classrooms or is it still the traditional computer classroom?
About 45 minutes from Melbourne, Australia you will find this excellent hike up through a gorge with a number of stops for a swim. Definitely worth a day trip out of Melbourne, Australia and stop off in Bacchus Marsh for fesh fruits and vegetables (you can pick your own strawberreies, apricots, etc!) So for all the Canadian teachers, UK teachers and other overseas teachers, take a day out to the country!
It’s that time of year where Melbourne, Australia comes alive with day and night action with the Australian Tennis Open.
If your first thought is, oh I don’t like watching tennis, think again! It is an event not to be missed, not only because of the great tennis you can watch but also just for the festivities that surround the event.
For only $29 you can get yourself a general admission ticket that will allow you to stay all day and if youd don’t leave at 5pm, you can stay all night!It is a fantastic deal! And if that doesn’t impress, how about a night ticket for only $20. You won’t get a better deal than this to see as much tennis on every court but the centre court (but you can even watch those matches on the big screen tv just outside the court!).
So don’t miss out on the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia. Come watch Federer try and get his 16th Grand Slam, or perhaps Nadal will come back from injury. Or how about Serena Williams, will she be crowned champion or will Henin come out of retirement to shock everyone like Kim Clijsters did in the US Tennis Open!
Not sure what else to do in Melbourne or other parts of Australia while visiting, well take a look here!
We have all heard about the hole in the ozone but do you even notice it when you are in Australia?
The answer is YES! It might take one day walking around in the sun, but that’s all that it will take! It isn’t like any other sun you have ever experienced so take precautions so you don’t get sunburnt in Australia.
1) Buy a good wide brimmed hat and wear it! You will notice most others are wearing them too and if you teach, it is a requirement to wear a hat during recess.
2) Cover up! Wear capris and a thin long sleeve so to not cause unnecessary skin damage in the sun.
3) Slop on the sunscreen – remember just because you use 30 doesn’t mean that it still doesn’t need reapplying (you will still sweat it off or swim it off!).
4) Wear 100% UV protected sunglasses. You can damage your eyes and it is not something to mess around with.
5) Don’t stay out in the sun in Australia too long. Enjoy the outdoors but put yourself under shade as often as possible.
Remember, skin cancer is common and if you ask around, you will find that a large percentage of Australians have had to remove moles, and skin spots on different parts of their body and they get their skin checked at least once a year!
Now if that doesn’t make you think twice before you throw on your bikini and walk out onto the beach in Australia, remember that the sun dries out your skin and will eventually age you more than if you cover up! Be smart about it!
Name: Lia
The fans – if you have not been to a footy game in Melbourne before, then I cannot suggest anything more important to do when you are here (between April – September). The first thing that people will ask you is who do you barrack for? Which means who is your footy team? Then when you go to a game, you better be wearing team colours or people will wonder why you are there! The pride of fans is insane with at least 40,000 people showing up at every game (an thats with at least 4 games in Melbourne every weekend!)
