Monday 29 March 2010

Diabetes

Good morning, Mr Dean. Please take a seat.
Thanks, Dr Smith.
Well, I’ve asked you to do two blood tests and I can tell you that it doesn’t look as good as I was hoping for.
What’s wrong, doctor?
You told me last week that you felt thirsty and tired. You also told me that you woke up a few times at night  to go to the toilet to wee.  After looking at the blood tests results, I’m sorry to tell you that you are diabetic, Mr Dean. Your pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
Oh, dear. I felt there was something wrong with me for some time and I thought about it. Now what do I have to do?
Well, there are many things you can do. I will give you a booklet to read about diabetes and it’s very important to follow the instructions in the book regarding eating.
I still don't understand how I got it.
It is very hard to explain how people normally get diabetes. This may be due to the gene that they get from their parents. It may also be because of the immune system in the body. Some obese people are at risk of getting diabetes more than others. Even young children can suffer from diabetes.
Can I get rid or diabetes, doctor?
No, I’m afraid you can’t. There is no cure for diabetes but you can control it with medicine and going on a special diet. You are not allowed to eat any food that has plenty of sugar in it. If you do, it will make you really sick.
Will I need to take any medicine, doctor?
Yes, I will write a prescription for you to take to the pharmacy. I just don’t want you to panic. There are millions of people who have diabetes. They just learn how to change their life style.
I see, doctor.
You will also need to take injections to control your insulin level.
When do I need to take these injections?
Around meal times. I need you to learn how to measure the blood sugar level every day. Maybe more than once a day. I will show you how to give yourself insulin injections using a special insulin pen.
How do I measure my blood sugar level?
There is a small machine that you’ll have to buy from the pharmacy. The instructions are very easy to follow. You need to get only one drop of your blood and put it on a strip. The machine will then give you a reading of your blood sugar level. You may then need an injection or not depending on the reading from the machine.
Is this machine expensive to buy?
No, it’s about $70. The most important thing is to watch what you eat from now on. You may feel thirsty or have a headache. This is all because of diabetes. Now tell me, Mr Dean. Do you exercise at all?
No, I don’t. I haven’t done any exercises for a long time.
Well, it’s about time you started. Exercising helps you keep healthy and in shape. You need to use canola oil or olive oil in your cooking. A good diet that contains whole grains is good for you.
Are there any foods that I need to cut back on?
Yes, you need to cut back on sugary drinks like Coca Cola and Pepsi. Don’t eat a lot of rice or pasta.
Is there any medical check that I need to have? 
Yes, you need to have your eyes checked regularly because diabetes can affect vision as people get older.

Sunday 28 March 2010

How Do People Study?

People from different countries have different learning styles. There are some students who learn by reading every word in the book. They don't feel confident if they don't do so before an important exam. 
Other students like to study by listening to what the teacher says. They don't need to read every work in the book. 
Still others like to study by doing things. This is how we teach our students in Australia. 
Students in Australia study by doing activities in class and working with each other. They do many things which other people may think are a waste of time. 
In Australia all schools have internet access and there are schools where each student has a lab top. 
In other countries like Burma students sit down in rows inside a classroom and listen to what the teacher says at all times. They don't ask the teacher questions and they believe that the teacher knows every thing. 
In Australia we believe that there are some students who are smarter than their teachers. This is true. 
Choosing a certain learning style depends greatly on what country you come from. 

Picture by my previous student Naseem Ali from Saudi Arabia

Saturday 27 March 2010

Activities for Children

Summer holidays can be fun for kids because they don’t have to go to school and get to relax at home. The problem is that kids become bored easily and get sick of watching TV all the time. They start making trouble at home and fighting with each other. They can spend countless hours in front using video games but this is not good for learning new skills. Children don’t like going shopping with their parents. Paying for them to go and watch a movie in the cinema seems to be a good idea but it comes at a price. There are different things for parents to do to keep their children quiet during the school holidays. Here are some ideas you may like if you have children who are still at school.
A visit to the library. A library is a good place for parents and children alike. Visiting a library helps children come up with ideas and they can take part in different programs that the library has to offer. Most of these programs are free but some of them cost little money. All libraries have internet computer access so children can visit their favorite web sites and have fun. It is a good idea for parents to help young children choose books to read, help them improve their reading skill and also get a chance to bond with them.
Water Games: On a hot day you can get your children to put on their bathers and have a water fight in the garden. All you need is a long hose that the children can connect to a tap. Don’t tell them what to do – they will be soaked in a few minutes. All you have to do is to get some towels and make sure they don’t make the carpet dirty when they enter the house after the water fight.
Children can also use water bombs. Water bombs are small balloons that they fill in with water and throw at each other. They have a lot of fun when they throw the water bombs in the air and they explode on touching the ground. Parents can also fill a bucket with water and put some ice cubes in it. They can ask the children to pick the ice cubes up with their toes. This can be fun for a while.
Go to the beach: On a hot day you can take the kids to the beach. Get some food ready and take an umbrella with you to protect the family from the sun. Take enough towels and extra clothes in case the kids want to stay on at the beach after the dark.
Have a friend over for a sleepover. Your child can choose a special friend to come and stay in your house overnight. Let your child decide who will come, what to eat, what games to play inside the house and at the backyard and what DVD movies to watch. Inviting a friend to come for a sleepover takes a lot of planning. Children always help parents in cleaning the house before that special friend comes for a sleepover. 
Take the kids to the city: The city has a lot to offer for everyone. There is a web site that tells you about different activities that take place in the city. It is called www.thatsmelbourne.com.au. Going to the city on Sunday is cheaper if you go by public transport. You can buy a Sunday Saver Ticket from a train station and use it all day in zones one and two. 

Friday 26 March 2010

Wedding

Last week I went to my friend’s wedding in Melbourne. I went to the wedding at 11 o’clock in the morning. It was at a hotel in Elizabeth Street in the city. After five minutes the bride and the groom arrived with friends and family. They arrived by a wedding car. It was a white car. The bride was wearing a white wedding gown. She had some flowers in her hand. The bridegroom was wearing a nice black suit. They looked very nice. The guests drank and talked together. At the wedding there were some famous singers. The wedding was very exciting. Everyone felt very happy. The wedding ended at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

A Second Wedding

Ashraf and Manal have been married for more than 22 years. Ashraf comes from a very wealthy family that owns different private schools in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. Manal helps her husband run the family’s business. They live at a luxury apartment in one of the most expensive suburbs in Alexandria. Their children study at the University of Alexandria. The family likes to have a holiday when there is not much work to be done.
Last year Ashraf and Manal had a crazy idea. They decided to have a second wedding ceremony. They invited a big number of their friends and family members. More that 500 people attended the huge party. The wedding cost a lot of money because they got famous singers to perform for them. Their parents and children attended the wedding too.
Ashraf says that the second wedding made him happier. He says that he was not old enough at the first one and he was embarrassed. The only difference was that at the second wedding there was no marriage document to sign.
Will they have a third wedding ceremony? They are not sure yet. They will have plenty of time before they decide to do something like that again. Perhaps by that time they will become grandparents and it will not be a good decision to make. 

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Important Notice for Cert III Students

This post is only for my certivicate III students who come to AMES in my evening class. You will have to do a second writing test this week. You will have to write 300 words. 299 words are not enough. You will write a narrative. A narrative is an even that happened to you or a situation you have been in. It is like a simple story that you tell.

There are different things you can write about. I will give you some ideas to think about:
  • an exciting/unusual event at work (The day you got your driving licence)
  • a dangerous encounter (The day when a robber entered your house)
  • a difficult experience (When you lost your train ticket and got a fine)
  • a natural disaster (The day when the river water flooded your city)
  • a difficult childhood experience (An annoying boy in your class)
  • an imaginary event (The day you became a film star at Holywood)
I want you to tell me when and where the event took place. I also want you to use the past simple tense in your writing. I want you to use adjectives like (nice - beautiful - sunny - wonderful - dangerous). I also expect you to produce good handwriting so I don't need to go and get my eyes tested after reading your test. You will have to write more than one paragraph. Of course I expect you to make some small grammar mistakes. Very big grammar mistakes will affect your test of course.

There are many transitional words and phrases you can use.

First of all ...................
in addition to that, .............
after that .................
later on ................
From my point of view ............
I would have thought that = I think that ........
in the end ..................

You will have to use at least one of these words:
because, so, hence

This test will tell you how good your English is and if you need to do some extra work on your own at home. It is a good idea to ask some "Wh" questions to get more ideas of things to write about.
Think of a bank robbery that you witnessed one day.

What is the title of your text?   (A Robbery at a Bank )
Whre did the event take place?
What was the weather like?
Why were you there?
What time of the day?
What were you doing?
What were you wearing?
What other people were involved?
What were the people doing at the place?
How did you react to the situation? What did you do?
How did you feel when the event was taking place?
How did the event end?
What did you learn from the experience?

Here is a sample of the writing:
The Day I Witnessed a Bank Robbery

Last October I went to the Commonwealth Bank in Box Hill to withdraw some money. I needed the money to buy some food for my family. It was a sunny day and there was no rain at all. I felt happy because I had three days off work and wanted to spend them with my family.   ............

==========
I want you to write simple sentences. If you need any help in class, ask me before you start. Go to Google and search "Writing a narrative" and see how much reading you can do. Good luck.  

Back From the Dead

A few years ago there was a story in different newspapers in Egypt about a young man called Ayman. He didn't have much education and lived in a small village. There was not much work around and he often had to go to big cities to find work. Every time he went to work he used to stay away for a few months. One day he went to a new place at a sea resort to work. 
One day an ambulance came to the village and some police officers. They went to Ayman's family house and told them that their son had drowned. The police told them that people had found his clothes at the beach. They found his personal ID card and that is why they could identify the body. The family were shocked by the sudden death of the young man. They started to cry and quickly buried the body.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral for the young man and some came from as far as 400 kilometres away to pay respect to the dead young man.
After one month Ayman came back to his village. Young boys and girls who were playing in the streets ran away when they saw him and thought he was a ghost.
He went to his house and his mother fainted on seeing him. Then people came quickly and made sure he was not dead.
He explained that his personal ID card was stolen from him. The person who stole the ID card must have gone swimming and he drowned.
After one month of mourning in the village, there were big celebrations in the village to celebrate Ayman's return from the dead. Ayman appeared on different TV channels to tell his story.
Answer These Questions:
Why didn't Ayman get a job in his village?
How long did he use to be away from his village?
Why did an ambulance and police officers come to the village one day?
What did the people at the beach find?
How could the police identify the body?
What happened after the family received the body?
Why did some people come from as far as 400 kilometres to the village?
Why were the young boys and girls who were playing in the streets frightened?
How could Ayman explain the situation?
Why did many people take part in celebrations in the village?
Why did he appear on different TV channels?

Monday 22 March 2010

My Holiday

You need to write a recount. A recount is a story about something that happened to you. I want you to write at least 100 words. You need to tell me when and where the events took place. You need to use some important words in your writing. You need to produce more than two paragraphs. Here is a sample that you can have a look at.
Here is a writing sample:

Last month my family and I went to Rock Beach outside Melbourne. I went there by car. We left home at 6 o’clock in the morning. It took us one hour to go there. Rock Beach is a very beautiful place to visit. We felt very happy to be there. I was a little bit tired.

It was sunny in the morning. We had a nice BBQ. The children played at a big park there. They had a lot of fun there. While I was cooking the sausages, my husband held an umbrella to protect me from the sun. He is a very caring husband.

We always go to Rock Beach because it is easy to swim there and we can do a lot of sightseeing. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon the weather started to become cold and windy. I asked the children to get out of the water and quickly get dressed.

After that we went to a restaurant near the beach to have a meal. It was a terrible one. The food was not nice and it was very expensive. At that time the children played with the ball outside. My child kicked the ball and he broke a window. The people at the restaurant were very rude to us. We had to pay $600 dollars. We were not happy about what happened.

In the end we drove home. We arrived at 7 o’clock in the evening. Everyone was tired and we went to bed early that night.

Sunday 21 March 2010

Busy Weekend

I had a very busy weekend. My friend moved house on Saturday and I went over to help him. He had other people helping him too. There were about ten other people who were carrying furniture to a truck that was parked outside in the street. We carried many boxes to the new house. We also had a lovely meal at about two o'clock in the afternoon.
On Sunday there was a BBQ at the Arabic school that my children attend in Doncaster East. There were many parents who helped cook different types of food. The children enjoyed playing together after classes finished. Some of the parents painted the faces of the children. When you look at the faces of the children who had their faces painted you can immediately tell that the people who did the job are not professional artists.
The Arabic School is a very special one. The teachers there are the parents of the children. They don't get paid. They volunteer to work there. The children come to school for four hours every Sunday. They learn Arabic, make friends and get to spend a great time.
 After the BBQ I took my daughter and her friends to a park in Mont Albert North. The park has a mini train that kids like to ride. It is not expensive at all. A ticket costs only three dollars and the kids go on the train for about seven minutes. Adults can ride the train too. I am sure they have as much fun as the children. The mini train is run by volunteers. They don't get paid. They like to put a smile on every child's face. My daughter took a ride on the train twice. One ride is not enough. After the train rides she played at the park for about one hour with her friends.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Wanted by the Police

When Li came to Australia he was very excited. He was happy to live in Melbourne and looked for a bright future. He started to make friends after staying here for a few weeks. He rented a unit in Box Hill and applied for some jobs to support himself.
One day Li heard someone knocking at the door. He opened the door and saw some policemen. They wanted to arrest him. Li was surprised. He didn't break any law in Australia. He asked one policeman why he was visited by the police. The policeman told Li the police wanted to arrest a man who lived at the house. That person used a fake credit card to buy things online a few months earlier.
Li explained to the police he had been in the country for four weeks only and didn't have a credit card at all.
The policemen checked Li's passport and made sure he was not the man they wanted to arrest. They apologized for disturbing him and asked him to contact them if the person they wanted to arrest ever came back to the unit for any reason at any time. Li promised them to do so.

Camberwell Sunday Market

buy - dollars - people – want – site – other – started - early - at -Sunday
In Australia you can buy goods ................. shopping centres or at the shops in different cities. There are also markets where you can buy food and .................... things. There are also markets that are held only on Sundays. They are called Sunday markets. Sunday markets have different names. Some ..................... call them the “Trash and Treasure” markets. The name says it all. At these markets you can buy things that have been used for some time like old bikes, books, clothes, electrical appliances and many more. The traders .................... to sell them at cheap prices. These markets are normally run by charitable organizations in co-operation with local councils. In Camberwell there is a big .................. Market. It is held at the car park off Station Street. It is run by the Rotary Club of Balwyn. People can ........................ second-hand clothes, old TV and radio sets and other things. They normally get good bargains from friendly traders. The market starts very .................... in the morning and finishes at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. When the market finishes, the place is used as a car park again. The market has been going on for many years. It actually ............................ in 1976. At the Sunday Market in Camberwell you can buy old goods and artwork made by the sellers. Artwork may include needle work or paintings. Sellers pay about $40 to rent a space in the market. There is a web .................... for the Camberwell Sunday Market that sellers can visit to book a place to sell their goods there. The money collected is spent on different projects to help the people in the area. The Rotary Club in Balwyn raised over 7 million ....................... to help the community last year.
Answer These Questions:
What day is the market on in Camberwell?
Where is the market held?
When does the market start?
How much money did the Rotary Club raise to help local projects?
What can you buy at the Sunday Market?
What happens after the market finishes?
How much does it cost to rent a space in the market?
What do some people like to call Sunday markets?
What artwork can you buy at the Sunday Market in Camberwell?
When did the Sunday Market in Camberwell first start?

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Losing My Passport In China

Three years ago I travelled to China to see the country. I had always been fascinated by the rich history and wonderful places that China offered. I went there by plane. The plane took off from Melbourne Airport and landed in Shanghai after eleven hours. I went from the airport to the hotel. At the hotel I slept for eight hours. I then woke up and went downtown to see the city. Shanghai is a big city. It is bigger than New York and London. People there speak Chinese. I took my camera with me and took many photos of the streets, the buildings and the shopping centres there.
When I went back to the hotel I didn't find my passport. This was a big problem for me because I was supposed to travel to London and Paris after that. I spoke to some people woh worked at the hotel but their English was not good enough. Then I asked to meet the manager. The manager was a lady who spoke good English. She felt sorry for me and told me to inform the Australian Embassy in China about my losing my passport.  She also made some phone calls and told me she would take care of the problem.
After some hours the manager rang me in my hotel room. She told me that someone had found my passport and gave it to the police. She gave me the address of the police station and told me to go there at once.
I took a taxi and went to the police station. The officers there spoke good English. They explained to me that a lady had found the passport at a shopping centre and gave it to an officer at the police station. I felt happy.
I insisted on going to the lady's house to thank her. One officer took me to a taxi outside the police station and told the driver in Chinese where to go.
After a few minutes I arrived at the lady's house. She was so beautiful. She spoke good English. I thanked her for finding my passport. I offered to give her some money as a reward for saving me a lot of trouble. She refused to take any money and thanked me politely.
I offered to take her out for dinner and she accepted. We went out together the next day. She showed me around Shanghai. After a few days we fell in love and I asked to marry her. She accepted my proposal and we got married in Shanghai. After a few months she came to Melbourne and we started living together. We have been living happily ever after.
Discussion:
What do you know about Shanghai?
Why did the writer travel to China?
How long ago did he travel there?
What airport did the plane land in?
Where did the writer go after leaving the airport?
Why do you think he slept for eight hours?
Where did he go after waking up?
What did he do with his camera?
Where did the writer lose his passport?
What did he do after finding out that he lost his passport?
Who did he talk to at the hotel about losing his passport?
What did the manager promise to do to help the writer?
Who did the manager telephone?
What did the manager tell the writer on the phone?
Where did the writer go to get his passport back?
Did the officers at the police station speak good English?
What did the officer tell the writer about the person who found the passport?
Where did the writer go after leaving the police station?
Why did the writer go there?
what did the police officer give the taxi driver?
Did the woman accept the money the writer offered?
Why did the writer offer to give the woman some money?
Where did the woman take the writer?
What happened after that?
Did the woman agree to marry the writer?
Where do the couple live now?

Monday 15 March 2010

Head Lice

Hello. Sarah speaking.
Hello, Sarah. This is Nelly. How are you going?
Good. I was meant to call you but I got very busy. I am sorry. The kids are keeping me busy all the time and now that Nora is going to attend school next week, my life will get even busier.
I almost forgot that she turned five last month. Is she excited about going to school?
Yes, she is. She will be the first child to attend primary school in the family. She is bossing everyone around at home including me.
Oh, that’s funny. She is a happy child.
I am sure she is. She gets anything she wants. Things were different when we were young. I am only worried about one thing when she starts school.
What is it?
Head lice. I am worried that she may get head lice from other students at school. I always check her hair to make sure she doesn’t have any head lice problem.
I know how you feel. I have three boys in primary school and sometimes it is a problem here in the house. They sometimes say that most of their friends have head lice and I start to panic.
I contacted the school and they gave me some information on head lice. I have learned that parents mustn’t send a child to school if he or she has head lice.
Yes, that’s true. The schools want to control head lice. They always mention in their school newsletters that a certain class has a head lice problem so other parents can check their children’s hair as well. They ask parents to notify the school immediately if they detect head lice in their children’s hair so the school can take precautions.
So it’s a big problem then.
Yes, it is. They ask parents to keep their children at home until the problem ends.
But why is it such a big problem at schools?
Well, because children stay in class for a long time. They play, cuddle, touch each other and work closely together.
I also heard that the children get their hair checked inside school sometimes every week.
Yes. They take it seriously. They also ask girls with long hair to attend school with hair tied back. Schools ask parents to give them information on how the treatment at home is going on. When it started and how well it is going.
I also heard that every school has a head lice policy that it must follow.
Yes, the head lice policy gives schools guidelines to follow so they know what to do if there is a head lice problem at any time.
I heard that they also teach children about what to do if they have a head lice problem.
Yes, they want to educate children so they don’t bully or tease others who have a head lice problem.
And what can I do if she gets lice?
Well, she will surely get this problem at some stage at school. All kids get head lice. I haven’t heard of anyone who hasn’t got it. Luckily there are different things you can do.
Like what?
Early detection is the first thing. It will save you a lot of time. Once a child starts to itch his or her head, it’s a good idea to check the hair straight away.
How can I check the hair?
You can use a fine comb. It is the best way to see if your son or daughter has lice. You can catch a big number of lice by using a fine comb. You can get a comb from any pharmacy.
Is there any thing else I can do?
Yes, if you don’t want to use a comb, you can use a lotion that you can buy at the pharmacy. There are different chemicals you can use. They are sold at similar prices and do the same job.
How many times do I need to use these chemicals?
You can use a chemical one time. Then you have to wait for seven days before you use it again.
Why do I need to wait seven days? Is it too strong?
Well, it is strong and it kills the lice but the problem is that lice lay eggs and these eggs hatch in seven days and then you have the same problem starting again.
I see. Is there any thing I have to be careful about?
Yes, be careful to cover your daughter’s eyes and not let the chemical touch it.
Is there a good web site that I can go to to have more information on head lice?
Yes, there is a good one that I used a few months ago. It is www.health.vic.gov.au/headlice. I am sure you will find it useful.
And if I need information that I can’t find on this web site. What can I do?
Well, you can seek medical help if your daughter gets hair lice for a long time or if the treatment doesn’t work. Doctors can recommend a different treatment then.
I think I will have a look at the web site and go from there.
Good luck. Listen. I have to go now. There is a handy man coming to fix the front door in a minute or two. I will talk to you soon.
All right. Thanks for your help. Take care.
I will. Bye.
Bye.

Saturday 13 March 2010

Quit Smoking

Good morning. Quit Line. This is Martin. How can I help you?
Good morning, Martin. My name is Sandra Smith. I want to quit smoking and I need help.
That's good. I am more than happy to provide you with all the help you need. First of all I need to get some information from you.
Not a problem.
How long have you been smoking?
I have been smoking for a long time. Since I was in high school. About 15 years now.
All right. And how many cigarettes do you smoke on average every day?
I smoke between 20 to 25 cigarettes a day. It is horrible. I really need to quit and regain control over my life.
That's great. Now tell me, Mrs Smith do you smoke more during the day or at night?
Mostly during the day. I normally leave my desk at work and go out for some fresh air every half an hour and then I light a cigarette. It's badly affecting me.
I see. Sometimes people get headaches if they don't light a cigarette.
What is the best way to quit?
Well, there are different ways to stop smoking. They are different from one person to another. Some people decide to stop completely in one day. Others take it gradually. They smoke less and less until the stop completely. I know that most people who want to quit smoking chew gum, take a walk to make themselves busy or sometimes they even keep a diary to see how they are progressing.
And do I need to seek medical advice from my doctor?
No, you normally don't need to seek medical advice. Any doctor will tell you that smoking badly affects your body. It's your own decision. But if you feel that you really need to talk to an expert, you can make an appointment and go and see your doctor.
Will I gain weight when I quit smoking?
It depends what you eat at the time. There are many things to take care of especaily during the first few weeks of quitting. You just need to keep away from foods and drinks that contain a lot of sugar like soft drinks and chocolate. 
How will I feel when I quit?
You will feel healthier right away and for the rest of your life. Have a better breath. You will have more money to spend. You will be a better role model for your children and no longer expose them to passsive smoking.
I saw some products at the pharmacy that help people quit. Do you think I should start using them?
These products certainly help smokers quit. There are different products on the market now like nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine tablets, a nose spray, skin patches and many more. You only need to read the instructions on the packet before using any of them. I will also send you some information on different ways to quit.
How will you send this information to me?
We can email you or get your postal address and send you a booklet or two.
Email will be the best option.
What is your email address, Mrs Smith?
Oh, it's sandra.smith123@yahoo.com.
Ok. I will send you the email today and if you need any help, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
Thanks for your help. I know it's a big task but I really need to quit.
Not a problem, Mrs Smith. Is there any thing else I can help you with?
No. That's it for today. You've been very helpful.
That's all right. Have a nice day, Mrs Smith.
You too. Bye.
Bye.

Thursday 11 March 2010

Bank Loan

Good morning. ABCD Bank. Sam speaking. How can I help you?
Good morning, Sam. My name is Tom Zhang.
What can I do for you Mr Zhang?
I would like to apply for a personal loan. I want to buy a boat.
What kind of boat would you like to buy – a new or an old one?
A brand new one. I saw a man who had one of them and I thought about buying one for myself.
And how much would you like to borrow?
I would like to borrow $200,000 if I may.
Where will you buy the boat from?
I will buy it from a boat company in Melbourne. They sell many boats and I want to buy one for myself.
Would you like to have the loan under your name only?
Yes, I would like to have the loan under my name only. I want to surprise my wife. She will be so excited to see the boat. I will not tell her about the price otherwise she will go mad.
I see, Mr Zhang. I am sure she will be delighted. You are a very caring husband. Good on you. Now I need to get more information from you if I may.
What would you like to know?
Are you an existing ABCD Bank customer?
Yes, I am. I have a savings account with you. I have been a customer for the past 3 years.
Are you married or do you have a de facto relationship?
I am married. I have been married for the past 4 years. We had a big wedding in Shanghai, China.
That’s good. Now how many dependents do you have?
I have one child. He is three years old.
Can you tell me your driver licence number, please?
Oh, yes. It’s 7865 4543 9876.
What state and date of expiry, please?
Victoria 12th June 218.
What’s your current residential address?
Oh, it’s 5 Prospect Street, Box Hill, 3128.
What’s your telephone number, please?
My telephone number is 9876 5432. I also have a mobile phone. Would you like to get my mobile phone number?
Yes, please, Mr Zhang. What is your mobile number?
It’s 0432 987 665. It's a Nokia. I bought it from a shop at the shopping cnetre in Box Hill.
I see. Are you renting at the moment or do you own the property you live in?
I am renting. I can't afford to buy a house at the moment. Prices are crazy. You need to be very rich to buy a house these days.
How much money do you pay for rent per week?
I pay $200 per week.
Now I need to get some information on your employment. What is your current occupation?
I work as a kitchen hand.
Is it a full time job?
No, it’s a casual one. I go to work when they need me. They often phone me two or three times a week.
What is your employer’s name and address?
Sam’s Pizza. It’s an Italian restaurant and is located at 123 Station Street, Box Hill. The owner’s name is Franko Rosso.
Are you paying a mortgage at the moment, Mr Zhang?
No, I am not paying a mortgage. I am renting. I told you that before.
Ok. Do you have an accountant who looks after your financial matters?
Yes, I have an accountant. His name is Henry Smith. His address is 12 Dexter Street, Box Hill North.
What is his contact number, please?
9876 6789.
Have you only worked at one place or more, Mr Zhang?
I have only worked at one place. This is the only job I’ve got in Australia. A kitchen hand.
How long have you been employed there?
I have been employed there for two years.
Do you have any loans with any bank at the moment?
No, I don’t have any loans. This is the first time to take a loan.
How much do you get after tax per month?
I get $1000 per month. I asked my boss for a pay rise but he didn’t agree. He is a selfish man.
Oh, I see. Do you have any credit cards?
No, I don’t have any credit cards. I don’t like them. They make me spend a lot of money. I don’t like spending money all the time.
Do you pay any insurance?
No, but my wife does. She pays for the car insurance every year. She pays $1200. She has a lovely Toyota car. It’s a red one.
Do you have any shares, Mr Zhang?
No, I don’t have any shares. I can’t afford to lose money. People who do shares are crazy.
Do you have any jewellery or furniture?
I have two chains of gold. They are worth about $2000 dollars. I wear them all the time. They make me look nice and the girls look at me wherever I go. I feel happy. The furnutre in my house is worth about $5000. Tha's all.
Do you have any personal loans with any other bank?
No, I don’t have any personal loans. I told you this is the first time to apply for a loan. Can’t you understand?
I am sorry, Mr Zhang. I have to ask all these questions. Now, do you have any property in China?
No, I don’t have any property in China. We sold our house before we came to Australia.
Mr Zhang we need copies of your last tax returns for two years. Have you got them?
Yes, I have copies of my latest tax returns. Can you tell me if I will get the loan or not?
Just one moment, please Mr Zhang. Oh, I am sorry. You will not be able to get the loan. The computer says your income is not big enough and you can’t get $200,000. The maximum you can get is $30,000 because your income is small.
What a stupid computer! What can I do now?
You can try to get a full time job and then your income will be more and you can apply for a bigger loan then.
Oh, forget it. I will ask my wife to buy it. She comes from a rich family. She has a lot of money and I can enjoy it too.
That’s a good idea, Mr Zhang. Is there any thing else I can do for you?
Yes. Can you telephone my boss at the restaurant and let him give me a pay rise?

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Weddings in Egypt

Weddings in Egypt start when a young man and a young woman fall in love. The young man always asks the young woman if she will accept to marry him. If she really likes him, she will say yes.

When he gets an initial approval from her, he informs his family about his intention to get married.

He rings the young girl’s family and talks to the father to set a date to visit them. After the first meeting, the girl’s family get some information about the young man and his family to make sure that their daughter will be in good hands.

If things go all right, then some more steps are taken. After a few days the two families meet and they discuss some financial matters (who will buy what).

The young man is asked to buy or rent an apartment. Apartments in Egypt are very expensive to buy. That is why a few young men find it very hard to get married.

There are two big ceremonies in an Egyptian wedding (sometimes three). The first one is the engagement party. In this party the young girl doesn’t have a white wedding dress. She puts on an evening dress (normally an expensive one).

The young man presents her with a gold “Shabkka” consisting of a ring, necklace and earrings. Rich families buy diamond rings and other gold presents. Some of these “Shabkkas” may cost up to 100,000 dollars to buy. Many middle income families spend up to 2 or 5 thousand dollars to buy a gold “Shabkka”.

From that day on, the young man and the young woman are formally engaged. They can go out together to watch movies or attend other weddings (normally with someone else). They can’t live together.

The search for the suitable apartment starts for the young man and it costs a lot of money. The couple may be engaged for up to 4 years until they have enough money to start their life together.

On the wedding day, a marriage registerer performs the wedding ceremony. He first asks the bride in private if she fully accepts the young man as a husband. If she says “NO”, then everything is cancelled. The marriage registerer has to make sure that she is not forced to accept the young man as a husband.

A sum of money is paid to the bride’s family on that date to help with the cost of buying things for the house. Another sum of money is written in the marriage document to be paid for the young girl if a divorce takes place at any time in the future. The document has to be signed by two witnesses.

In the evening there is a big wedding party and up to 300 people are invited from both families. Singers, belly dancers and entertainers perform for the couple.

After this party the bride moves into the groom’s apartment and they start living together. They go to the new apartment in a convoy of more than 10 cars. They spend a honeymoon together normally inside the country. It’s very hard to get visas to travel overseas, but some rich people do.

Because marriage costs a lot of money, some young people now marry in secret. It is a big social problem for both families when they find out about it especially for the girl’s family.

Charles Lindbergh

Charles Lindbergh was an American pilot. He flew a plane called “The Spirit of Saint Louis”. In the year 1919 a businessman from New York offered a prize to anyone who could fly from New York to Paris without stopping. In that time it was impossible to do so because planes were not strong enough to fly all that way. The prize was 25,000 dollars. It was a very big amount of money.
Charles Lindbergh decided to fly from New York to Paris and win the prize. On the 20th of May 1927, he flew his plane from New York heading for Paris. He took with him 5 sandwiches and a compass. He did not take a parachute or a map.
Everyone said he was mad. People called him the Flying Fool and his story was on the newspapers for a few weeks before he started to fly. People said he would surely die because he would get lost. Other people thought that his plane would crash in the ocean and he would certainly die.
When it was said on the radio that he was on his way to Paris, everyone kept by their radios. They wanted to listen to the news of his death or his arrival. When it was said on the radio that he was flying over Ireland, everyone cheered and people were dancing in the streets.
After more than 32 hours, he finally landed his plane in Paris. 100,000 people in France welcomed him and carried him on their shoulders. When he came back to America, the American president gave him the highest medal. His parade in New York was a very big one. Office workers tore up little pieces of paper and threw them from the windows when he was passing along the streets in a parade. 1800 tons of paper were thrown onto the streets.
Cleaners had a hard time cleaning the streets all night. Lindbergh made history. He was the first man to fly from New York to Paris non stop. He was very happy.
Many streets in America were named after him. He became very famous. Five years later, his son was kidnapped. He was only 2 years old. The person who kidnapped him sent a note asking for 50,000 dollars. Then he sent another note saying he wanted 100,000 dollars. The police in America were working day and night to save the boy. After some time, the boy's body was found. Lindbergh was a very sad man.
After much work the police arrested the killer and he was electrocuted. Lindbergh had to pay a very big price for being famous.

America's Most Wanted

There are some TV programs that millions of people wait to watch every week. Each program has a certain idea behind it. Most programs aim to get as many viewers as possible so the television channel can make more money by advertising different products.
One program in America that is a huge success is America’s Most Wanted. The presenter of this program is John Walsh. More than twenty years ago, he was a successful businessman building hotels everywhere in America. His six-year-old son was abducted and killed. That day John made a U turn in his life and decided to be the voice of those who could not defend themselves.
This tragedy gave John a chance to speak to millions of people in America and tell them that children need more protection. Tens of children who were missing were recovered by their families after many people saw their pictures in the TV program.
His program helped the arrest of nearly 1000 criminals by giving details about the crimes and showing pictures of the criminals. Those criminals were not only arrested in America, but also in many other countries. His program was so effective that it helped change the law in America. John was honoured by four different American presidents.
This program has also a website that has a lot of information about missing children and people. People can send their stories to this website and get them published. The program gets the public to work with the police and help make everyone live in peace.
The website for this program also has a safety section teaching parents and children what to do to make life safer for the children. It teaches them about things like the dangers of the internet and talking to strangers. It also teaches them about different topics related to health, travel, family and home.
People can report crimes online through this program’s website. They can give tips to the police. There is a form to fill in online and send to the TV channel. The website also shows pictures of criminals that were arrested and also those who are still on the run.

Monday 8 March 2010

Zoo Excursion

 A few months ago we went to the zoo on an excursion. We spent a very nice time there. It was not so sunny when we went there but after one hour it became fine. We saw the animals at the zoo and took pictures of them. Young children enjoyed looking at the monkeys and the lions.
There was a music band at the zoo. Three people played music and walked around the zoo. One of them was dressed as a lion. He was friendly and not dangerous at all.
To visit the zoo in Melbourne you have to pay a lot of money for tickets. If you take your family with you, you need to buy tickets for everyone. This can cost a lot of money.
The zoo has a very good web site. There is a lot to read on that web site.

Sunday 7 March 2010

Spam Email

Every day I get a couple of email messages from people I don't know. When I open one of them, I keep getting other email messages and this makes me annoyed. This is called "Spam".
In a spam email the sender can send one message to a big number of people. This person sends the message in the hope that the people receiving the message will buy a product.
Spam email is a big problem for internet companies. It is estimated that 70% of the world's email is spam.
Lately some people were sentenced by courts to try to stop spam email. The people who send spam email use more than one email address. They add new people to their list every minute. They can send as many as ten million messages a day. If they could have a thousand customers, they would make a lot of money and they wouldn't have to work for the rest of their lives.
The problem with spam email is that it sometimes has viruses in it. Viruses can damage computers and people can lose the files they saved.
Some people use spam email to con others. This means they try to trick them and take their money. They promise to sell them products that don't exist. After the person who received the email sends money, he or she never get the product they paid for.

Saturday 6 March 2010

Becoming a Citizen

Good morning. Citizenship. Sandra speaking.
Good morning, Sandra. My name is Bruce Lee.
What can I do for you, Mr Lee.
I have been living in Australia for some time and I want to become a citizen. I want to get my Australian citizenship. I need some information, please.
Well, Mr Lee. The best thing to do is to go to the Department of Immigration's web site and read all the relevant information there. At the same time, I can give you some general information on how to become a citizen.
Yes, please. That will be great.
First of all are you eligible to become a citizen?
Sorry, I don't understand.
I mean do you have the right to become an Australian citizen?
Yes, I do.
Are you aged 18 years or over and under 60?
Yes, I am. I am 42 years old.
Have you been a permanent resident in Australia for at least two years?
Yes, I have.
Do you have any children who are not citizens of Australia?
Yes. I have one son who is 12 years old.
You can include your son's name in your application. Your son does not need to lodge a separate application because he is not over 16.
I see.
Have you been living in Australia for two years or more as a permanent resident?
Yes, I have. I have been living here for four years.
That's good. You also need to read a resource book that provides you with information you will need to prepare for your citizenship test.
What is the name of the book, please?
It is called Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond.
Where can I get it?
You can download a copy from www.citizenship.gov.au or you can call the Citizehship Information Line.
Oh, it is easier to download it. I will do so today.
You also need to provide us with proof of identity documents. These are original documents that show your photograph, signature, current residential address and date of birth. Something like a driving licence or a healthcare card.
I've got all these original documents.
We also need evidence of when you first arrived in Australia.
I've got my passport and it has the visa on it. Will that be OK?
Of course. The information on your visa will be enough. You also need to prove that you are of good character.
Sorry. I don't understand. What do you mean by good character?
You need to tell the department about any convictions you may have had in Australia or overseas.
I've got three parking fines. Will they be a problem?
No. Everyone gets parking fines, Mr Lee. I am talking about any criminal charges like committing crimes.
Oh, I have never been in trouble with the law here or overseas. I have a clean record. I don't have to worry about that.
That's fine, Mr Lee. Now the next step to take is to complete an application form.
Where do I get the form, please?
You can download it from the Department of Immigration's web site. We can send it to you by post.
That's fine. I will download the form from the internet. Any thing else?
After filling in your form, you need to lodge it. The easiest thing to do is to lodge your application through the website. Some people don't do so because they don't have internet access. They can send the application by post. You need to be in Australia at the time.
I see.
After that you need to come to an interview.
What will happen in the interview?
An officer will check your application and documents to ensure you have satisfied the requirements.
How long does this interview normally go for?
It normally goes for two hours. The officer will go through all the documents you provide for yourself and your child.
That's fine. What will happen after that?
You will be asked to take a citizenship test. Just make sure you read the book. Every thing will be all right after that. If you are successful in the test, we will send you a notification.
How long do I have to wait before I get this notification?
Normally it takes 12 weeks. If you intend to change your address, please let us know.
I see.
If you don't receive a notification from us, please call the Citizenship Information Line.
What do I need to do after I get that notification?
You will be asked to attend a citizenship ceremony.
When is the ceremony?
We hold it every three months. You will make a pledge  of commitment to Australia. Only then will you become a citizen.
I see. It is not an easy process. It will take some time.
Yes, if you have the right documents it will be easy but things can't happen in one day.
Thank you very much for your information.
Not a problem, Mr Lee. Good luck.
Thanks. Bye.
Bye.

Friday 5 March 2010

Job Interview Conversation

Good morning, Mostafa. Thanks for coming. Please sit down.
Thank you.
Would you like to have a drink before we start?
No, thanks.  I am fine.
Well, we've got your CV and are happy to have you in our short list for interviews.
That's great. Thank you.
How did you know about the job we are offering?
From the internet. I often visit employment web sites and spend some time there every day.
I can see from your resume that you are new in Australia.
That's right. I have been here for three months only.
Can you tell me something about your background?
Well, I come from Albania. It is a small country in Europe. I finished high school there and started working.
You didn't go to university?
No, I didn't. I come from a poor family and work was important to support my father. He didn't earn much.
What did you do exactly?
I worked at a fish and chips shop for some time. After a while I started to do a second job at the same time. I worked as a taxi driver in my city. I nearly worked all day. I often came home at 11 o'clock at night. This was 7 days a week.
You didn't have a weekend?
No, I didn't. Life was hard in my country. It still is.
Did you experience any difficulty when you worked?
Yes, I sometimes met people who were rude. Some of them wanted to start a fight with me.
And what did you do?
I spoke to them nicely. I explained that it was not my taxi and that is how I got them to pay most of the time.
I can see that your English is good. How did you learn English?
I did English at school but it was not enough. I am married to a young woman who was born here in Australia. She is a native speaker of English. We met in my city overseas, fell in love and got married there.
That's great. Now do you think you can work at our warehouse?
I am a quick learner and I enjoy being with people. I will do my best and see where life takes me.
When can you start if you get the job?
Now. I can start now. I can't wait to have a job. I don't want to stay home and do nothing.
I see. Can you work at the weekend if we ask you to?
Of course. I can work 24/7. Any time.
I see. That looks fine. Well, do you have any questions?
Yes, if I work here, will you give me any training?
Yes, the first few days you will work under supervision. You will be supervised by one or two of the people here. They will show you how we do things at the warehouse. Any thing else you want to know?
No, that's all.
Thanks for your time.
Thanks for having me.

Singer or Not?

 Look at the man in the picture. His name is Shaban. I am not sure you don't know who he is unless you come from the Middle East. He is famous there but there is an interesting story about his career.

First of all he didn't go to school and he doesn't know how to read the alphabet. He started to work at an early age to support himself and his family. His job was to iron clothes for a few cents a day. When he worked, he used to sing. He had a voice that was not good enough.  Poor people who could not afford to pay professional singers to perform at their weddings always asked Shaban to sing for them.

He was happy to do so because he was dreaming of becoming famous one day. He didn't think his voice was horrible at all. His early songs were not well written and the music was not good at all.

Every week he used to sing at weddings. When he had enough money, he released an album that had a few songs. The songs were written by his next door neighbour. The people who bought his album were mainly poor and uneducated. He had limited success until one day he sold 4 million albums. Most of the people who bought the album were not poor or uneducated. They were angry people.

How did this happen? How did he become the most famous singer in the Middle East overnight?
 It started when Israel killed a Palestinian boy called Mohamed El Dorra in a street in Palestine. There were some French photographers and cameramen who happened to be at the same place. They took a video of the boy and his father who was trying to protect him.

That day the whole world saw the killing on TV channels and people were angry.

Shaban released a song called "I hate Israel". He talked about killing Palestinians, the destruction of Iraq and other problems in the Middle East. His song became a big hit and he sold millions of copies in a short time.

He travelled to different countries and thousands of people went to airports to receive him. People believed what he said because they thought their leaders told them lies.

After his famous album, he released songs about the American invasion of Iraq and how people in the Middle East suffer from actions by other countries. Millions of people downloaded his songs from the internet and he became a guest in different TV shows.

Did Shaban make money after selling millions of copies of his album? He made almost nothing. He didn't make a lot of money. He was only paid 1200 dollars by the music company that helped him record it. They got all the money.

His next door neighbour still writes his new songs. Shaban does not iron clothes for customers now. He is a professional singer. He has three sons. They have the same job. They are all singers.

Eureka Tower

 In Australia there are many famous buildings that are very tall. They are called skyscrapers. The tallest building in Australia is in the Gold Coast. It is called Q1. It is 323 metres tall and has 78 storeys. It was built in 2005.

In Melbourne there is a very famous tall building called Eureka Tower. It was built in 2006 at a cost of $500 million. It is 297 metres and has 91 storeys. It is very tall and is famous for its gold-plated top. It is the 47th tallest building in the world. Eureka Tower cost $500 million to build and took four years and two months to complete. The lifts at the building are extremely fast. They travel at a speed of 9 metres per second.

You need to be very rich if you want to buy an apartment at Eureka Tower. One apartment there costs $7 million to buy. There are also service apartments to rent there. Prices are between $280 to $370 per night.

There is an entry ticket you need to buy to visit Eureka Tower. Tickets cost $20 for an adult and $12.5 for a child.

At the top of Eureka Tower visitors can use a skydeck but they need to buy a second ticket. A skydeck is a glass cube that projects 3 metres out from the building to make visitors have a better view of Melbourne. A ticket for an adult costs $16 and for a child it is just $9. For a family ticket (two adults and two children) a ticket costs $39.

School children often visit Eureka Tower when they have an excursion to the city. Excursions are part of learning in primary and high schools in Australia.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Dubai Tower

Many people often stop over in Dubai when they travel overseas. Dubai is a very famous city in the Middle East. It has one of the world’s finest airports and many world-class shopping centres. Dubai is the biggest city in a rich country called Emirates. If you are lucky enough, you can get a contract to work there. Many Australians work and live in Dubai because they get tax-free salaries. They don’t pay any tax.
Dubai is a very big city in the middle of the desert. In Dubai there is a famous building. It is called the Dubai Tower. Today it is the tallest building in the world. Dubai tower is 828 metres tall and has 200 stories. It is 300 metres higher than Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan. It was opened officially on 4th January, 2010 with a massive fireworks show. The fireworks show was bigger than the ones we saw at the Olympic Games in Sydney and Beijing.
The tower cost 20 billion dollars to build. To buy an office there, you need to pay $US4000 per square metre.
One day after the tower officially opened, two men from Emirates were given permission to jump off the tower. They took one and a half minutes to reach the ground at speeds of 220 kilometres per hour.
Fill in the gaps:
middle - Games - cost - jump - many - from - than - tall
Many people often stop over in Dubai when they travel overseas. Dubai is a very famous city in the Middle East. It has one of the world’s finest airports and ......................... world-class shopping centres. Dubai is the biggest city in a rich country called Emirates. If you are lucky enough, you can get a contract to work there. Many Australians work and live in Dubai because they get tax-free salaries. They don’t pay any tax. Dubai is a very big city in the ................... of the desert. In Dubai there is a famous building. It is called the Dubai Tower. Today it is the tallest building in the world. Dubai tower is 828 metres ...................... and has 200 stories. It is 300 metres higher ...................... Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan. It was opened officially on 4th January, 2010 with a massive fireworks show. The fireworks show was bigger than the ones we saw at the Olympic .................. in Sydney and Beijing. The tower ................. 20 billion dollars to build. To buy an office there, you need to pay $US4000 per square metre. One day after the tower officially opened, two men ....................Emirates were given permission to ..................... off the tower. They took one and a half minutes to reach the ground at speeds of 220 kilometres per hour.

What about you?
Have you ever been to Dubai? What big cities have you been to? What cities did you like? Do you have any famous tall buildings in your country? Would you like to live in the city one day? Is it better to live in a tall building or in a house with a private garden? Do you think houses cost more money in Melbourne than in your hometown? What about your country? What city would you like to live in for the rest of your life? What is one country that you will never live in? What country would you like to visit one day? Would you like to buy a house near AMES in the future? Is it good to have a house close to public transport? Would you consider buying a beach house? Why do some people have more than one house? Why do some people not rent their homes when they are empty? Would you need to buy more than one house in the future? Would you consider a career in real estate? Do you think buying and selling houses is a good business in Australia? Would you like to live in an old house or a brand new one?

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Setting Up a Business

Good afternoon. Victoria Market. Sam speaking. How can I help you?
Good afternoon, Sam. My name is Greg Norman.
What can I do for your, Mr Norman?
I want to get some information on how to start a business at Victoria Market, please.
What would you like to sell, Mr Norman?
I want to sell picture frames. I make them at home myself.
Well, first of all you need to apply for a licence. You need to fill in an application form.
How can I get this form?
You can download it from our web site or we can send one out to you in the mail.
I see. What else do I need to know?
After you submit your application you need to attend an interview and show us samples of the products you intend to sell at the market. You can send your application by mail or fax it to us if you like. We also need to know if you have had any business experience.
I haven’t had a chance to run a business before. I’ve just finished my TAFE studies. This is the first time for me.
Not a problem. If you don’t have any business experience, we can look at other things like your education and how good your products are. If we think your picture frames are good enough, we will send you a letter telling you when you can start. You then have to pay rent for your stall.
How much is the rent?
It costs $20.90 for a single stall on Tuesdays and Thursdays, $23 on Friday, $40 on Saturday and 53 dollars on Sundays. As you can see, we charge more money at weekends. We are open 5 days a week.
I will be using a truck to transport my picture frames to the market. Will this be a problem?
No. You just need to make sure to park your truck within the lines behind your stall. If you don’t do so, you will get a parking fine.
I need to know how long I can sell my picture frames for at the market?
You need to tell us how long you need a licence for. People can have a licence for 6 years,3 years or they can go month to month. It is really up to you.
Is there any thing else I need to know?
Yes, we will need a copy of your qualifications, your passport and photographs of the products you intend to sell when you send your application to us. Is there any thing else you need to know, Mr Norman?
No, that’s it. Thanks for your help. Bye.
Bye.

The Egyptian Pyramids

The ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They believed that after a person died, he or she would come back to life. That is why they kept their furniture and gold with the dead body. They wanted the person to use them again when he or she came back to life.
Sometimes robbers stole the gold and other things from the tombs. That is why the ancient Egyptians wanted to keep robbers away. They wanted to make it difficult for robbers to enter tombs and steal the gold. That is when they started to think about building pyramids.
The famous Egyptian pyramids were built nearly 5000 years ago. The ancient Egyptians were great engineers. Nearly 20,000 workers, engineers, carpenters and cooks worked very hard to build the Great Pyramid in Giza and that took 30 years. They worked all year round. They used more than 25 million tons of limestone. The limestone blocks were two tons each. They brought the stone from a place that was 30 kilometres away. It was on the other side of the river. The ancient Egyptians dragged the blocks of stone all the way. They also had to cross the River Nile. That was not easy because they had no trucks.
The ancient Egyptians kept the bodies of their kings inside the pyramids. They believed that the kings will come back to life and rule them again.
In Egypt there are more than 120 pyramids. The most famous pyramids are the three big ones in Giza. One of these pyramids is 150 metres high. It is called The Great Pyramid of Giza.
Nowadays when people come to visit Egypt, they go to see the Pyramids. They take pictures and buy souvineers to remember their visit. They also ride horses and camels and have a lot of fun.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

The Rich Man's Son

There was once a very rich man who lived in Melbourne. He had a lot of money. He had a very nice car and a big house in Toorak. Toorak is a very expensive suburb in Melbourne. The house had a very big garden and many trees. He always worked very hard and he made a lot of money. When he was 33 years old, he decided to get married.
When he got married, he went on a honeymoon with his bride. They went to France, Italy and Mexico. When he returned from the honeymoon, he went back to run his business.
After one year the rich man and his wife had a baby. It was a boy. He called his son Michael.
The rich man gave Michael a lot of toys to play with. He bought him a real car on his second birthday to take him to childcare. He hired a driver to take Michael to and from school. He also hired some servants to look after Michael at home.
Every year the rich man used to take his small family and travel overseas on holiday. He used to stay in 5-star hotels and fly there in his private plane.
When Michael was five years old, the father sent him to the best private school in Melbourne. He got him private tutors to teach him at home too.
When Michael finished high school, he went to university to study. Everyone at uni noticed that Michael looked different from other young people. He had very expensive sunglasses and used to come to uni in a different car every day.
At uni he met some students who came from poor families. They called him a spoilt child. They told him that he spent a lot of money. They told him he should think of others too.
Every day when Michael finished his studies at uni he went home and kept thinking about what his friends had told him.
At uni Michael had a friend who came from Vietnam. She came from a poor family. She thought Michael was smart and good looking. She didn't like the way he behaved. She thought Michael's family spent too much money.
She asked Micheal to travel overseas and visit a poor country. Michael decided to go and visit some poor countries in Africa. He was shocked to see how poor people lived in these countries. He realized that what his friends at uni had told him was true. From that time on, Michael's life changed forever.
When he came back from Africa, Michael decided to spend less and care for others. He decided to donate money to a charity that helped poor people. He also asked  his uni friend who came from the poor family to marry him. She agreed to marry him because she thought he was a good young man. They lived happily ever after.

Toyota

Good afternoon. Box Hill Car Dealership. Rosa speaking.
Good afternoon, Rosa. My name is Tom Smith. I would like to get some information on the Toyota Corolla you are advertising in the local newspaper, please.
Yes, Mr Smith. What would you like to know?
I need to know how much it costs.
Which one are you interested in – the hatchback or the sedan?
The hatchback, please.
Automatic or manual, Mr Smith?
The automatic one.
Oh, it’s $27.500. There are seven colours to choose from. It has air conditioning, power steering and power windows. It also has front and side air bags for passengers’ safety.
Oh, I see. I know Toyota makes good cars.
The Toyota Corolla is designed in Europe and is a very safe car to drive.
How often do I need to have it serviced?
It depends how much you use the car. The first time you have your car serviced is after 1000 kilometres. After that some customers have their cars serviced every 6 months. Others have them serviced every 10.000 kilometres. It is really up to you.
And how much does it cost per service?
The standard service costs $130.
I can’t pay the $27.500 upfront. Can I pay in instalment?
Yes, of course. You can pay a deposit of $500 first and pay the rest in instalment. We can arrange every thing for you, Mr Smith.
I need to get the car as soon as I can. What time do you close today?
We close at 6 pm. Can you come before that?
Yes, I live five minutes away from your car yard. I will come in less than one hour but before I come, can you do any thing about the price? $27.500 is a bit dear for me.
When you come, we can talk about the price more and if there is any thing we can do, we will try to make you happy, Mr Smith.
That sounds good. Ok. Thanks for your help.
Not a problem, Mr Smith. Is there anything else you’d like to ask?
No, that’s all. Bye.
Bye.

Buying a Car

I want to buy a new car. My car is 9 years old now and it is small. My children are growing up and they nag me every day to buy a bigger car. I don’t want to buy a new car. My small car is good enough for me. It's easy to park and does not cost me much on petrol. My children put me under pressure to buy a new car. I don’t have a machine to print money at home. What can I do? I know that there are many good things about buying a new car. There are bad things too. I have to consider every thing before I go to the car yard to buy my next car.

When you go to a car dealer, you test drive the car you like, sing some papers, pay a deposit and take the car and go. You can bargain (ask to pay a smaller amount) if you want. This seems easy but it is not.

Small cars are not suitable for families. They are only good enough for single people or married couples with no children. When you buy a new car, you always think about your family and your budget.

New cars are not cheap. They cost a lot of money. There is additional money that you have to pay for insurance and registration every year. If you don’t pay for insurance, your car can get stolen and you end up losing your money.

Car service costs a lot of money. If you get your car serviced by the dealer, it will cost you a lot. If you go to a local mechanic, he can charge you for work that you are not sure was done on your car. This is a nightmare.

Petrol price changes every day. People who travel a lot spend a lot of money on petrol every week. The only way to spend less money on petrol is to drive less.

You pay more money to have an air conditioner in the car. If you want to pay less, choose a car that does not have an air conditioner.

When you buy a car, you want to use it for as many years as you can. You don’t want your car to give you a hard time after a few years. You want to buy a reliable car. That is when you have to pay a lot of money to buy a car from a good company. Japanese cars are good but they cost a lot. Toyota is the best. It gives you peace of mind.

People who can’t afford to pay the whole price of a new car can buy it in installment. This means they pay some money every month for some time. The bad thing about this is that a car costs more money.

Now let’s talk about the disadvantages of owning a car. Driving lessons cost a lot of money. You need to have many lessons before you can start to drive. Cars cost a lot of money to run and service. Cars are not easy to park in some areas in Melbourne. In the city people pay $10 an hour to park their cars for one hour.

They give out smoke. Smoke pollutes the air. Cars cause pollution. You can get a fine if you park your car in the wrong place. Speed fines are expensive in Australia. You can get your car stolen. A big number of cars get stolen in Victoria every year.

Some families need more than one car. The children can ask to have their own cars too. This makes it worse. No place to park these cars. Cars can break down sometimes and it can cost you a lot of money to have your car repaired.

Monday 1 March 2010

Maranoa Gardens

On Tuesday 16th of March 2010, all the students from AMES will go and visit Maranoa Gardens in Balwyn. Balwyn is a suburb in Melbourne. There you will be able to see wonderful Australian plants. You will need to check the weather forecast for the day. If you watch TV early in the morning, there is a program called Sunrise on channel 7. It will tell you what temperature it will be that day. It is also a good idea to bring an umbrella in case it rains. You need to buy your own daily ticket. If you live in zone 1, your zone-one ticket will be good enough. If you live in zone 2, your ticket will be good enough too.
The excursion will be from 10 am to 2 pm. There is a lot of time to do many things there. You need to come to class at 8.45. This is the normal time we have class on Tuesdays. I am not sure what time we will leave. I will tell you later in class.
When you come to the picnic, it's a good idea to wear something from your culture. I mean a dress or something else from your country. If you don't have anything from your culture, just wear your normal clothes.
You need to bring your own food. It is a good idea to let other students taste food from your country too. Don't bring too much food. Make sure you don't leave any rubbish on the gass. We want to leave the gardens in a good condition.
There is a small tower in the gardens. You can go up and have a look for yourself. You will see a panorama from up there. Not many people can go up at the same time because the area is not big enough at the top.
If you have some ideas for games that we can play on the day, this will be great.
The gardens look like one garden but there are different sections there. There is a BBQ area but you will need coins to use the facility. Anyhow, I don't think it will be a good idea to waste your time getting the BBQ ready. It is up to you.
Maranoa gardens were the first gardens I took my children to when we came to Australia in 1999. We used to live in Balwyn back then and we used to walk there. The kids liked going there. They still like going there but I am too busy to take them there now. They call Maranoa gardens "Uncle Yosri's Gardens" because their uncle has a house in the same street. Of course he doesn't own the gardens.
Bring your digital or video camera and take as many pictures as you can. If you don't have a digital camera, you can use your phone to take pictures if your phone has a camera. If you don't have a digital or video camera, buy one from www.kogan.com.au. They have High Definition video cameras for good prices. The best picture will get published on this blog. I wish to say that the winner of the best photo will win a BMW but I can't afford that. Not on a teacher's salary anyhow.
Have fun and see you at "Uncle Yosri's Gardens".
What is wrong with these sentences?
Everyone coming to Maranoa Gardens will get a BMW from Ibrahim.
Maranoa Gardens are owned by uncle Yosri.
If you don't have a digital camera, you can take pictures with your video recorder.
It is a good idea to bring too much food when you go to Maranoa Gardens.
The students will spend six hours at Maranoa Gardens in Balwyn.
There is no BBQ area at Maranoa Gardens.
Ibrahim's children used to take him to Maranoa Gardens when he was young.
When you go to the top of the tower you can see a panorama of AMES.
If you want to check the temperature for the day, watch a program called Sunset on channel 7.
The best picture taken at Maranoa Gardens will be publised on AMES's web site.
You will be able to buy food at Maranoa Gardens when you go there.
Ibrahim takes his children to visit Maranoa Gardens every day now.
Everyone in Melbourne calls Maranoa Gardens "Uncle Yosri's Gardens".
You can go to Maranoa Gardens in Balwyn by boat.

I Am Angry

I had a very bad experience with my internet company last year. I was their customer for about 7 years and they did something that made me very angry that I decided to get a disconnection. I asked to have my internet service disconnected.  I asked them to disconnect my phone too. That cost me a lot of money
It started when I asked my internet company to change my internet plan. I used to have an internet plan that cost me 40 dollars a month. I told them that I wanted to try another plan. I wanted to have more download for one month. I told them I was interested in a bigger plan that cost 90 dollars a month. I told them that if I liked the bigger plan, I would keep on using it. If I didn't like it, I would go back to my old internet plan.
The man from the internet company said there was no problem but he insisted on making a voice recording with me. In the voice recorder he told me he would say the contract would go for two years. He said it was OK to say that but I could change my plan any time.
When I rang them after one month to say that I wanted to go back to my old plan, they said I had signed up for a 2-year contract. They told me they had my voice recording to prove it. I informed them about what the man from their company said but they said they didn't care.
I was angry. The man tricked me into saying I agreed for the two year plan and now they have my voice recording agreeing to the terms of the new contract. I didn't want to sign up for a new plan. I didn't want to pay $90 a month. I decided to have a disconnection. As a punishment I had to pay more than 400 dollars for the disconnection. I decided not to use the internet company when I moved to my new house.
Now I have a phone and internet connection with Optus. For my phone and internet service I only pay 99 dollars a month. Optus is a good company phone and internet. I get a good service and they don't try to trick me.
I had a friend who worked in a big telephone company a few years ago. He told me that his boss told him to give wrong information to customers to make them sign up for mobile services. I couldn't believe that story at that time. Now I do. Sadly some big companies will do any thing to get new customers. This includes telling lies sometimes. This is when people like me start to feel angry when they have to pay a lot of money if they are not happy with the service.