Johnny Lee's Work

Armed Robbery

It is normally safe to work at most workplaces in Australia. People are friendly and help one another. Sometimes there are some problems at the workplace like an armed robbery.
In an armed robbery a person enters a workplace with a weapon (a gun, a knife or even a syringe) and demands money. This person wants to steal as much money as he can and leave the place as soon as possible. The armed person normally covres his face and tries to avoid security cameras. This happens every day in Melbourne at different small shops, 7/11s and others businesses.These businesses already have their own problems with shop lifters but an armed robbery is the last thing any business owner wants to have.
In an armed robbery, remember to remain calm. Don't panic (although that is natural when you see a gun pointed at you). Don't try to argue with the person holding the gun. Follow orders and don't try to attach the person holding the weapon. You can get yourself killed. Don't say any rude words to the robber. Don't try to make him angry. The armed robbery normally takes less than a minute and the person runs away out of the shop where there is a get away car waiting for him.Even if you have a lot of cash in the drawer, let the person take all he wants. Don't try to stop that person at all. Your life is much more important than the money. Try to talk to the person nicely. These are some of the sentences you can use:
- Why are you doing this to me?
- I don't have a lot of money in the drower. It is not worth doing what you are doing.
- You seem like a nice man. I don't think you are a criminal.
- I will give you all the money that I have in the drower but is it really worth it?
- I work hard for this money and now you are taking it. (This can start a conversation)
- I haven't done any harm to you before, have I?
After the robbery
After the person leaves the place, don't try to run after him. Dial 000 and ask to talk to the police. Don't touch any thing that the robber touched. The police will come in a very short notice and do their work. They will search the nearby streets and try to find the robber. They will try to get finger prints of the robber. If you have security cameras this will help them too. Remember how tall the person was. Tell the police if the person was fat or slim. The police will get foot prints too so don't walk in the same spot that the robber stood in. Close the door and don't allow any customers inside the business.
Ask people who were in the shop to stay inside and be witnesses. Those people can give more information to the police. If they have to leave, ask them for their addresses and phone numbers. The police can talk to them later. Call anyone from your family and tell them that you are safe.
Most people who rob businesses are drug addicts and they can be very dangerous and people who get robbed are always traumatised by the experience.
What is wrong with these sentences:
In an armed robbery you don't have to obey the robber.
An armed robber normally stays inside a shop for a long time when he robs it.
Robbers are not normally violent.
The police normally take a long time before they come to investigate an armed robbery.
The people in the shop where the armed robbery took place normally refuse to be witnesses.
It is good to argue with the robber when he is aiming a gun at you.
Getting some information on what to do during an armed robbery can't save your life.
People who rob businesses are normally drug effects.
You can give the police some information about the robber such as how tall or rich the robber is.
After the robbery ends, you must chase the robber outside the business.

Fill in the gaps:
give - out - problems - how - demands - criminal - gun

It is normally safe to work at most workplaces in Australia. People are friendly and help one another. Sometimes there are some problems at the workplace like an armed robbery. In an armed robbery a person enters a workplace with a weapon (a gun, a knife or even a syringe) and ........... money. This person wants to steal as much money as he can and leave the place as soon as possible. The armed person normally covres his face and tries to avoid security cameras. This happens every day in Melbourne at different small shops, 7/11s and others businesses.These businesses already have their own ............ with shop lifters but an armed robbery is the last thing any business owner wants to have. In an armed robbery, remember to remain calm. Don't panic (although that is natural when you see a ............ pointed at you). Don't try to argue with the person holding the gun. Follow orders and don't try to attach the person holding the weapon. You can get yourself killed. Don't say any rude words to the robber. Don't try to make him angry. The armed robbery normally takes less than a minute and the person runs away ........... of the shop where there is a get away car waiting for him.Even if you have a lot of cash in the drawer, let the person take all he wants. Don't try to stop that person at all. Your life is much more important than the money. Try to talk to the person nicely. These are some of the sentences you can use:
- Why are you doing this to me? - I don't have a lot of money in the drower. It is not worth doing what you are doing. - You seem like a nice man. I don't think you are a ............. . - I will give you all the money that I have in the drower but is it really worth it? - I work hard for this money and now you are taking it. (This can start a conversation) - I haven't done any harm to you before, have I?
After the person leaves the place, don't try to run after him. Dial 000 and ask to talk to the police. Don't touch any thing that the robber touched. The police will come in a very short notice and do their work. They will search the nearby streets and try to find the robber. They will try to get finger prints of the robber. If you have security cameras this will help them too. Remember ............ tall the person was. Tell the police if the person was fat or slim. The police will get foot prints too so don't walk in the same spot that the robber stood in. Close the door and don't allow any customers inside the business. Ask people who were in the shop to stay inside and be witnesses. Those people can ............ more information to the police. If they have to leave, ask them for their addresses and phone numbers. The police can talk to them later. Call anyone from your family and tell them that you are safe. Most people who rob businesses are drug addicts and they can be very dangerous and people who get robbed are always traumatised by the experience.
Can you find some mistakes?
It is normally safe to work at most workplaces in Australia. People are friendly and ignore one another. Sometimes there are some problems at the workplace like an armed robbery. In an armed robbery a person enters a workplace with a weapon (a gun, a knife or even a syringe) and demands money. This person wants to steal as much money as he can and leave the place as soon as possible. The funny person normally covres his face and tries to avoid security cameras. This happens every day in Melbourne at different small shops, 7/11s and others businesses.These businesses already have their own problems with shop lifters but an armed robbery is the last thing any business owner wants to have. In an armed robbery, remember to remain happy. Don't panic (although that is natural when you see a gun pointed at you). Don't try to argue with the person holding the gun. Follow orders and don't try to attach the person holding the weapon. You can get yourself killed. Don't say any rude words to the robber. Don't try to make him angry. The armed robbery normally takes less than a minute and the person runs away out of the shop where there is a get away car waiting for him.Even if you have a lot of cash in the drawer, let the woman take all he wants. Don't try to stop that person at all. Your life is much more important than the money. Try to talk to the person nicely. These are some of the sentences you can use:  - Why are you doing this to me? - I don't have a lot of money in the drower. It is not worth doing what you are doing. - You seem like a nice man. I don't think you are a criminal. - I will give you all the money that I have in the drower but is it really worth it? - I work hard for this money and now you are taking it. (This can start a conversation) - I haven't done any harm to you before, have I?  After the person leaves the place, don't try to run after him. Dial 911 and ask to talk to the police. Don't touch any thing that the robber touched. The police will come in a very short notice and do their work. They will search the nearby streets and try to find the robber. They will try to get finger prints of the robber. If you have security cameras this will help them too. Remember how tall the person was. Tell the police if the person was fat or slim. The police will get foot prints too so don't walk in the new spot that the robber stood in. Close the door and don't allow any customers inside the business. Ask people who were in the shop to stay inside and be witnesses. Those people can give more information to the police. If they have to leave, ask them for their addresses and phone numbers. The police can talk to them later. Call anyone from your friends and tell them that you are safe. Most people who rob businesses are drug addicts and they can be very dangerous and people who get robbed are always traumatised by the experience.

Kitchen Work

When you work in a commercial kitchen, you are always a member of a team. Working in a team is very important in Australia. Everyone does a certain task and other people depend on this person to keep the workflow going. Working in a team requires some people skills. This means a friendly attitude towards others. This can be done by showing that you are a good listener, keeping eye contact and smiling when talking to others.
Safety is everyone's responsibility. If you see water on the floor, this can be dangerous to you and to others. Someone can slip and have a fall. This person can break an arm or a leg. There is a yellow warning sign that you can use to tell others who work in the kitchen that the floor is wet. This will give them a warning not to come near this spot. Make sure the floor is dry before you remove this sign.
Also be careful when using sharp objects in the kitchen. Using a knife in a wrong way can cause injury to you.
Make sure the kitchen is always free from clutter and that items are stored in the right place. Don't put any food cans on the floor. Sometimes the floor gets flooded with water and a lot of food becomes unsafe to eat.
If there is a flood in the kitchen, report it to your supervisor. He or she will call a plumber to come and fix the problem.
If you lift a heavy box in the kitchen and you feel pain in your back, fill in an incident report immediately. We learned in class how to fill in an incident report. If you want to have more information, go to Google  and type the words "sample incident report". See how many examples you can get.
Bacteria and germs are dangerous to people if they eat bad food. Bacteria can grow and multiply in worm temperatures. They need air, moisture and the right temperature.
Using proper food hygiene is a must when you work in a kitchen in Australia. Remember to wash your hands after you use the toilet, sneeze, smoke, have a break or touch raw food.
Certain foods can go bad quicker than others like meat, fish and egg. Other foods can be stored for a long time without going bad. You have to keep cooked food in the correct temperatures. Always avoid cross contamination. Don't mix raw food with cooked food. You can put other people's lives in danger. It is important to know how to avoid making food go bad.
Correct these sentences: 
When you work in a kitchen, you work alone most of the time.
Cross contamination is not a serious problem.
Fish and meat don't go bad quicker than other food types.
It is good to keep food in the food dangerous zone. (the wrong temperature)
When you see water spilt on the floor, leave it.
Using the yellow sign does not give a warning to others who work with you that there is a danger.
Having people skills is not very important when you get a job in Australia.
Bacteria can grow and multiply in sub zero temperatures.
Bacteria need four things to grow and multiply.
It is not important to wash your hands after using the toilet or sneezing.
If you see water spilt on the floor in the kitchen at your work placement, report it to your teacher at AMES.
Safety is only the manager's responsibility.
Cheese can go bad quicker than egg.
It is always safe to use a knife in a wrong way.
Working as a member in a team stops the workflow in the kitchen.
When others talk to you at work, it isn't necessary to keep eye contact with them.

The Sydney Tower

The building of Sydney Tower began in the late 70s` with the first 52 shops opening in 1972. The Sydney Tower was opened to the public in August 1981.
It is one of the safest buildings in the world. The design makes the tower capable of withstanding earthquakes and extreme wind conditions.
Three fast double Deck Lifts take nearly 40 seconds to travel from top to bottom.
The 420 windows of the tower are cleaned by a window-cleaning machine. This machine takes two days to clean all 420 windows.
Thousands of people like to visit the Sydney Tower when they come to Australia. From the golden beaches to the distant Blue Mountains, Sydney Tower takes you to the highest point above Sydney Australia for breathtaking 360-degree views of our beautiful harbour. Enjoy the beautiful Sydney views, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour, with free telescopes and free guided tours.
Sydney Tower is the perfect place to start your Sydney holiday or Sydney vacation. You can see the whole city before you commence your Sydney activities. It’s also a great place for family fun activities, or simply a day out to be amazed by Sydney’s best views!
Sydney Tower is located above Centrepoint shopping centre, at the corner of Pitt Street and Market Street. It is in the heart of Sydney's centre. Tickets can be purchased at 100 Market Street. You can go to Sydney tower by bus, ferry, monorail or train. Have fun at Sydney Tower.

Obama And the Internet

Many people use email to send messages to their families and friends. They use the internet to chat to them sometimes. This helps a lot because email is so fast. It is not like a message that you send in the post. People call the mail sent by post "snail mail".
Young people use social networking web sites like My Space and Facebook to keep in touch with their friends. Some people check their Facebook page many times in one day.
Nowadays politicians use social networking web sites too.  This is how they keep in touch with hundreds of thousands of people. If you go to Facebook, you can find pages for many politicians. People send them messages through these web sites and sometimes those politicians read them. Of course they don't read the thousands of emails sent every day to them. They employ staff.

I came across the Facebook page for Barak Obama. He keeps a lot of photos there and tells people about the new things he wants to do.
You have to be 13 years or more to use Facebook but many Australian children in primary schools have their own pages there. It is a famous web site all over the world. Everyday millions start using it and some people get addicted to it. They never stop using it.
Obama is like a super star. He is more famous than Michael Jackson and Madonna. He is known everywhere in the world. People are mad about him in Japan, Europe and Asia.
When Obama came to office this year millions of people hoped for a big change. Obama replaced George Bush as President of the United States of America. Bush started war in Iraq because America needed more petrol. He caused many disasters around the world too. People thought that anyone replacing Bush would make a better president.
After many months in power nothing happened. He sent more troops to Afghanistan. He didn't send food to people starving in Somalia. He sent weapons estimated at $40 million to kill tens of thousands there and he did nothing for millions of Palestinians who live in the world's only concentration camp in Gaza. He keeps good relationships with many dictators in the Middle East because they are good for America. He gives a blind eye for human rights crimes they commit because America needs petrol from the Middle East.
When Obama ran for president in America, his slogan was "Change". He promised that change was coming to America and the world. Now many months after he came to office, no-one can see that change. Now many people believe that the words to describe his policies is "I have Changed".
Fill in the gaps: 

find - food  - Obama - change -  super - not - States 

Many people use email to send messages to their families and friends. They use the internet to chat to them sometimes. This helps a lot because email is so fast. It is ........ like a message that you send in the post. People call the mail sent by post "snail mail". Young people use social networking web sites like My Space and Facebook to keep in touch with their friends. Some people check their Facebook page many times in one day. Nowadays politicians use social networking web sites too.  This is how they keep in touch with hundreds of thousands of people. If you go to Facebook, you can ........ pages for many politicians. People send them messages through these web sites and sometimes those politicians read them. Of course they don't read the thousands of emails sent every day to them. They employ staff. I came across the Facebook page for Barak ........... He keeps a lot of photos there and tells people about the new things he wants to do. You have to be 13 years or more to use Facebook but many Australian children in primary schools have their own pages there. It is a famous web site all over the world. Everyday millions start using it and some people get addicted to it. They never stop using it. Obama is like a .......... star. He is more famous than Michael Jackson and Madonna. He is known everywhere in the world. People are mad about him in Japan, Europe and Asia. When Obama came to office this year millions of people hoped for a big change. Obama replaced George Bush as President of the United ........ of America. Bush started war in Iraq because America needed more petrol. He caused many disasters around the world too. People thought that anyone replacing Bush would make a better president. After many months in power nothing happened. He sent more troops to Afghanistan. He didn't send ........... to people starving in Somalia. He sent weapons estimated at $40 million to kill tens of thousands there and he did nothing for millions of Palestinians who live in the world's only concentration camp in Gaza. He keeps good relationships with many dictators in the Middle East because they are good for America. He gives a blind eye for human rights crimes they commit because America needs petrol from the Middle East. When Obama ran for president in America, his slogan was "Change". He promised that ......... was coming to America and the world. Now many months after he came to office, no-one can see that change. Now many people believe that the words to describe his policies is "I have Changed".
Can you find some mistakes?
Many people use email to send messages to their families and friends. They use the internet to chat to them sometimes. This helps a lot because email is so slow. It is not like a message that you send in the post. People call the mail sent by post "snail mail". Young people use social networking web sites like My Space and Facebook to keep in touch with their friends. Some people check their Facebook page many times in one day. Nowadays politicians use social networking web sites too. This is how they keep in touch with hundreds of thousands of boys. If you go to Facebook, you can find pages for many politicians. People send them messages through these web sites and sometimes those politicians read them. Of course they don't like the thousands of emails sent every hour to them. They employ staff. I came across the Facebook page for Barak Obama. He keeps a lot of photos there and tells people about the new things he wants to do. You have to be 13 years or more to use Facebook but many Australian children in primary schools have their own pages there. It is a famous web site all over the world. Everyday millions start using it and some people get addicted to it. They never stop using it. Obama is like a super car. He is more famous than Michael Jackson and Madonna. He is known everywhere in the world. People are mad about him in Japan, Europe and Asia. When Obama came to office this year millions of people hoped for a small change. Obama replaced George Bush as President of the United States of America. Bush started war in Iraq because America needed more petrol. He caused many disasters around the world too. People thought that anyone replacing Bush would make a better president. After many months in power nothing happened. He sent more cars to Afghanistan. He didn't send food to people starving in Somalia. He sent weapons estimated at $40 million to kill tens of thousands there and he did nothing for millions of Palestinians who live in the world's only concentration camp in Gaza. He keeps good relationships with many dictators in the Middle East because they are good for America. He gives a blind eye for human rights crimes they commit because America needs petrol from the Middle East. When Obama ran for president in America, his slogan was "Change". He promised that change was coming to America and the world. Now many months after he came to office, no-one can see that change. Now many people believe that the words to describe his policies is "I have Changed".
Answer These Questions: 
Do you have a Facebook account?
How do people feel about Obama in Japan?
What was Obama's slogan when he was running for president?
Did Obama send food to starving people in Somalia?
What did people hope when George Bush was gone?
Do you use the internet more than once a day?
Do many children have Facebook accounts?
Why do many people like to use email?
Why do politicians use social networking web sites?
Do you think that politicians are sometimes good at telling lies?

Final Presentation Test Information - VU Students

To those who are going to have to give a presentation on Friday, this information is vital. Your presentation will go for ten minutes. You have to work in pairs and you can choose your friend this time.  Make sure you tell your audience who you will be talking about. The first student will do the introduction and state the parts of the presentation. Then this person will introduce their colleague. The second student will have to give more information and then do the finishing. By finishing I mean thanking the audience and offering to answer any questions they may have.
The best thing about this test is that you can choose any person to talk about. You don't have to do Opera this time. If you have any questions, email me.
I will be timing you and going through a sheet. I will not give you your results but I will write a short report about your performance.
If you read from a paper, you will NOT pass my test.
You have to do a Powerpoint slide show. This will help you get organized. Get the pictures you want and the text has to be in points (Not paragraphs).
You are expected to look at the slide show to remind yourself of what to say and not to read it word by word.
I will be looking at the way you give information, your correct English and the parts of your presentation.
Get yourself ready from now and I will post the reader that I told you about in class this weekend. I want you to read it and do the online questions. This will help your English.
Your next course will not be as easy. You will be doing more English. This is why you have to be at a certain level to pass my test.
Always go to cdlponline.org and do more lessons from there. This is good enough for your English for now. There are more difficult web sites you can work from but not for now.
There are many videos on the net on how to give an effective presentation. You can watch some of them. There are books on how to give a presentation in the library. You can also find information online on how to give a presentation. You don't need to do a big slide show. A simple one will do for now. I am not interested in your computer skills at this stage. I am more interested in your ability to speak English.
The readings in the book on Obama and Opera and other characters will help you to learn how to sort out the information you have about the person you will talk about.
Good Luck with your presentation.

Saving Energy

It is a fact now that we are running out of natural resources. After 100 years there will be no more petrol. The sea level will rise. There will be less water to drink and a few countries will disappear under water. That is why we need to use other resources to get all the energy we need to continue having all the services we have today. 

We need to use green energy that does not make the planet dirty and not cause a lot of pollution. 

We need to use less water than we do now because we simply don't have enough.  Taking a shower in less than 5 minutes will save tens of liters of water. 

People try to save energy in different ways. Children are encouraged to walk to school in a group in what we call the Walking-to-school Bus. Some parents look after the children while they walk to ensure their safety. Those parents also make friends at the same time.

Other people install solar panels to generate electricity and get hot water.  The problem is that these solar panels cost a lot of money to buy and install. 

Still others install energy-efficient globes to save electricity. These globes don't use as much energy as the old ones. They don't use their air conditioner at home very often in order to save energy. 

Many people in Australia now buy big water tanks and keep them in their gardens. These water tanks can rain water to be used to keep gardens green if there is not enough rain. 

Some people ride bikes to work. There is one day in Australia when people are encouraged to ride their bikes to work and not use their cars. Not many people know about this day but it is hoped that more and more people start using their bikes more. 

There are different businesses that wash cars using recycled water. You can pay a few dollars and wash your car yourself there or get people to do the job for you but it will be more expensive. 

Fill in the gaps:

day - lot - call - recycled - globes - drink - use

It is a fact now that we are running out of natural resources. After 100 years there will be no more petrol. The sea level will rise. There will be less water to ......... and a few countries will disappear under water. That is why we need to ........ other resources to get all the energy we need to continue having all the services we have today. We need to use green energy that does not make the planet dirty and not cause a ......... of pollution. We need to use less water than we do now because we simply don't have enough.  Taking a shower in less than 5 minutes will save tens of liters of water. People try to save energy in different ways. Children are encouraged to walk to school in a group in what we ......... the Walking-to-school Bus. Some parents look after the children while they walk to ensure their safety. Those parents also make friends at the same time. Other people install solar panels to generate electricity and get hot water. The problem is that these solar panels cost a lot of money to buy and install. Still others install energy-efficient globes to save electricity. These ........ don't use as much energy as the old ones. They don't use their air conditioner at home very often in order to save energy. Many people in Australia now buy big water tanks and keep them in their gardens. These water tanks can rain water to be used to keep gardens green if there is not enough rain. Some people ride bikes to work. There is one ........ in Australia when people are encouraged to ride their bikes to work and not use their cars. Not many people know about this day but it is hoped that more and more people start using their bikes more. There are different businesses that wash cars using ........... water. You can pay a few dollars and wash your car yourself there or get people to do the job for you but it will be more expensive. 

Can you find some mistakes here?

It is a fact now that we are running out of teaching resources. After 100 years there will be no more petrol. The sea level will rise. There will be less water to drink and a few shops will disappear under water. That is why we need to use other resources to get all the energy we need to continue having all the services we have today. We need to use green energy that does not make the planet dirty and not cause a lot of pollution. We need to use less water than we do now because we simply don't have enough. Taking a shower in less than 5 minutes will save tens of liters of water. People try to kill energy in different ways. Children are encouraged to walk to school in a group in what we call the Walking-to-school train. Some parents look after the children while they walk to ensure their safety. Those parents also make friends at the same time. Other people install solar panels to generate electricity and get hot water. The problem is that these solar panels cost a lot of money to buy and install. Still others install energy-efficient TVs to save electricity. These globes don't use as much energy as the old ones. They don't use their air conditioner at home very often in order to save energy. Many people in Australia now buy big water tanks and keep them in their gardens. These water tanks can rain water to be used to keep gardens green if there is not enough rain. Some people ride bikes to work. There is one day in Australia when people are encouraged to ride their cars to work and not use their cars. Not many people know about this day but it is hoped that more and more people start using their bikes more. There are different businesses that wash cars using recycled water. You can pay a few dollars and wash your car yourself there or get people to do the job for you but it will be more interesting.

My Culture Shock in Australia

I had my first culture shock in Australia when I was on the way from the airport to my first house in Balwayn. I did not see one policeman in the street to direct the traffic. Every thing was controlled electronically.
My second shock was to see men and women kissing in public. This was something that I had never expected. I only saw that in movies on TV but never in real life.
Another shock was that people had to work very hard just to pay their rent. Rent money is too high in Australia especially for people who have just immigrated from other countries.
My biggest culture shock was to see that the government in Australia allowing brothels to operate. In my country this is a crime. We don't see it as some sort of freedom.
Another culture shock was to watch TV after 8.30 at night. In my country sex scenes are not allowed at all. Here in Australia it is totally a different story.
Another culture shock was to see that many people were gamblers. They wasted their money on gambling. Many crimes were committed because of gambling and the government did nothing to stop it. They seem to care about money more than people here. (This is what I think)
Public transport in Melbourne is shocking and expensive. Busses are very bad. They come every 20 minutes. They take you on a tour if you want to go from one place to another.
In my country busses are even worse. They are overcrowded. A bus can take as many as 150 people. That is why you don't take your family on a bus if you want to go anywhere. There is a lot of pushing there to be able to get off the bus.
In a tram in my country there are special carriages for girls and women. This makes it easy for women to travel.
In Egypt taxi drivers can charge you any amount of money they like. That is why there are many fights with taxi drivers. They can stop and ask you where you want to go and then look at you and drive off without taking you. They tell you how much they will charge you before you get in the taxi. If you don't like the price, they drive off without taking you. They can also take other passengers too.
One culture shock in Australia was to see that it is expensive to use a taxi. It can cost you about 100 dollars to go by taxi from Box Hill to the airport.
One culture shock was to see that many Australian like to go to nearby countries to enjoy their beaches. In Australia there are many beautiful beaches but still Australians like to travel abroad.
Another culture shock was to see policemen and policewomen speak to the public in a nice way. There is not much corruption in the police force in Australia. In police forces in many countries "curruption" is the word to use when talking about police work.
Some people from the Middle East get a culture shock when they see that they have to use toilet paper. In the Middle East people use water pressure and not toilet paper. They think it is dirty to use tiolet paper. Toilets in the Middle East are fitted with small pipes.
One culture shock was to see that a plumber, a mechanic or a painter can cost you a fortune if you have a job to be done. they charge you by the hour and normally you end up paying a lot of money. That is why many Australian prefer to do the job D.I. Y.  (Do it yourself)
Another culture shock was to speak to my boss without using any titles. In my country I used to say the words "Mr" and "Mrs" before I used names while talking to people face to face. For example I would say to my boss "How are you today Mr. Mohamed?"
In Australia people don't usually use titles. I was shocked one day when my daughter called one of the mothers in her primary school by her name without saying "Mrs" first. I went to that mother and apologized for my daughter's horrible manners. I learned after that it was OK to call people's names without titles.
Now most of these experiences are not longer strange to me. I have been in Australia for many years. I am sure when my kids go to Egypt one day they will experiece many culture shocks of their own.

Excursions

In our course we sometimes go out to visit different places. These visits help us understand more and more about Australia. They give us an idea also on how people work in Australia. Last term I took my students on different excursions. They went to Box Hill TAFE and were given a presentaion on different courses they could do there. They had a chance to visit the kitchens they had. The bad thing was that this was a time for the students to do a lot of tests. We were given a tour though by one of the staff there. We took many pictures and the students were excited about starting work in the hospitality industry.
There is also a park not far away from AMES and we use it to do some speaking activities there when it is not too hot or too cold. It is a good chance to get out of the class we have to be in for 5 hours.

Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833. His father, Immanuel Nobel, was an engineer and inventor. He built bridges and buildings in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. In connection with his construction work, Immanuel Nobel also experimented with different techniques of blasting rock.

Alfred’s mother, Andrietta Ahlsell, came from a wealthy family. Immanuel Nobel lost all his money. He was forced into bankruptcy the same year Alfred Nobel was born. In 1837, Immanuel Nobel left Stockholm and his family to start a new career in Finland and in Russia. To support the family, Andrietta Nobel started a grocery store which provided a little income.
At the same time Immanuel Nobel was successful in his new work in St. Petersburg, Russia. He started a mechanical workshop. He made equipments for the Russian army. He also convinced the generals that naval mines could be used to block enemy naval ships from threatening the city. The British ships could not come near the city of St. Petersburg. Immanuel Nobel was also a clever man. He made some arms and steam engines.
Successful in his industrial and business, Immanuel Nobel was able, in 1842, to bring his family to St. Petersburg. There, his sons were given a first class education by private teachers. The training included natural sciences, languages and literature. By the age of 17, Alfred Nobel was fluent in Swedish, Russian, French, English and German. His primary interests were in English literature and poetry as well as in chemistry and physics.
Alfred’s father, who wanted his sons to become engineers, disliked Alfred’s interest in poetry and found his son rather shy. His father sent him abroad for further training in chemical engineering. Alfred traveled to Italy, Germany and the U.S.
In Paris he met a young Italian chemist who had invented a highly explosive liquid. It was too dangerous to use. It had more power than gun powder. Alfred Nobel became very interested in it and wanted to use it in a different way. He wanted to use it in blasting rocks.
First he wanted to make it safe to use. He wanted to protect the lives of the people who would use it in the future.
In 1852 Alfred Nobel was asked to come back and work in the family business. At that time the Russian army wanted more deliveries. When the war ended and conditions changed, Immanuel Nobel lost all his money. Immanuel and two of his sons, Alfred and Emil, left St. Petersburg together and returned to Stockholm. His other two sons, Robert and Ludvig, remained in St. Petersburg. With some difficulties they managed to start the family business and then went on to work in the oil industry in the southern part of the Russian empire. They were very successful and became very rich.
After his return to Sweden in 1863, Alfred Nobel worked with explosives. He conducted several big explosions, including one in which his brother Emil and several other persons were killed in 1864. The government banned the use of explosives within the city of Stockholm because they were too dangerous. Alfred did his experiments far away from Stockholm. In 1864 he started producing explosives in larger amounts.
To make the use of his explosives safer, Alfred Nobel tried to add many things. He used something called silica. He could make a paste from the explosive liquid. This paste is what we now call dynamite. Workers could use this new invention safely to blast rocks. More and more companies wanted to buy dynamite to build roads and houses. It reduced the cost of hiring many people. Alfred Nobel was a very successful businessman. He had more than 90 factories in 20 different countries.
Although he lived in Paris much of his life, he was always traveling. He focused on the development of explosives technology as well as other chemical inventions, including such materials as synthetic rubber, leather and silk. By the time of his death in 1896 he had 355 new inventions.
Alfred Nobel had the mind of an inventor and the heart of a poet. He saw his invention used in killing people and destroying mankind. He was very sad to see that. He was interested in making peace. He offered to give a lot of money to help humans. In 1895 Nobel wrote his will, leaving most of his fortune to a foundation to promote work in Peace, Medicine, Biology and chemistry.

Some of these sentences are wrong

1. Alfred Nobel was born in Sydney, Australia.

2. Alfred Nobel had three other brothers.

3. Alfred Nobel was born in the year 1833.

4. His father worked in a grocery store.

5. His mother came from a rich family.

6. Immanuel Nobel lost all his sons and was forced into bankruptcy.

7. Alfred's mother had to go to Russia to work.

8. Alfred's father went to work in a city in Russia called St. Petersburg.
9. Alfred's father did not do well in Russia and lived as a poor man.

10. Alfred and his brothers got very good education in Russia.

11. Alfred was fluent in English, German and Chinese.
12. Alfred's father wanted his sons to work at Safeway.
13. Alfred travelled to Italy, France, Germany and the U.S when he was a young man.
14. Alfred met an Italian woman who had invented something very powerful.
15. After the war finished in Russia, Alfred's father made a lot of money.
16. Alfred went back to live in Stockholm with his father and three brothers.
17. Alfred's father died in a big explosion.
18. Alfred made the new invention safe to use when he added silica

19. Alfred Nobel was a scientist but he did not do well with money.

20. Alfred lived in Spain most of his life.
21. Alfred Nobel left all his money to promote work in making war.
22. 5 people from Egypt have won the Nobel Prize so far.
23. A lot of lessons can be learned from the life of this great man.

24. George Bush is the best man to get the Nobel Prize for peace in 2007.

25. The government banned the use of explosives inside the city of Stockholm because it was too dangerou

Hoax

A man in America is in big trouble with the police now. He rang the police to say that his son was inside a balloon that took off from his back yard.
Many big TV stations were interested in the story. There were police hellicpoters flying to try to save the boy. There were also many police cars involved in the operation. The story had live coverage on many TV stations for more than two hours. It was on many TV stations around the world too. It was on the front page of many newspapers around the world too.
During that time, someone said he saw something falling from the baloon. Everybody thought it was the little boy. They feared for the little boy's life.
Finally the balloon landed in a field but there was nobody inside.
Later on, the boy appeared. He said that he was hiding in the attic because he was afraid of his father. His father had shouted at him earlier on.
The police said they will charge the father and take him to court. The police were not impressed with the father's story. The father appeared on a famous American TV show and said he didn't tell a lie. It was all true. It was not a hoax.
Now the police are asking many people about this incident. They questioned the neighbours too in order to find out the truth about this story. They say that the story was too good to be true. After more than a week the mother admitted that it was a hoax. The whole thing was a big lie.
Fill in the gaps:

hours - balloon - take - from - true - story

A man in America is in big trouble with the police now. He rang the police to say that his son was inside a balloon that took off .......... his back yard. Many big TV stations were interested in the story. There were police hellicpoters flying to try to save the boy. There were also many police cars involved in the operation. The story had live coverage on many TV stations for more than two ......... . It was on many TV stations around the world too. It was on the front page of many newspapers around the world too. During that time, someone said he saw something falling from the baloon. Everybody thought it was the little boy. They feared for the little boy's life. Finally the ......... landed in a field but there was nobody inside. Later on, the boy appeared. He said that he was hiding in the attic because he was afraid of his father. His father had shouted at him earlier on. The police said they will charge the father and ........ him to court. The police were not impressed with the father's story. The father appeared on a famous American TV show and said he didn't tell a lie. It was all .......... . It was not a hoax. Now the police are asking many people about this incident. They questioned the neighbours too in order to find out the truth about this story. They say that the ......... was too good to be true. After more than a week the mother admitted that it was a hoax. The whole thing was a big lie.
Can you find some mistakes?
A man in America is in big trouble with the supermarket now. He rang the police to say that his son was inside a balloon that took off from his back yard. Many big TV stations were interested in the story. There were police hellicpoters flying to try to save the boy. There were also many school cars involved in the operation. The story had live coverage on many TV stations for more than two hours. It was on many TV stations around the world too. It was on the front page of many shops around the world too. During that time, someone said he saw something falling from the baloon. Everybody thought it was the little boy. They feared for the little boy's life. Finally the car landed in a field but there was nobody inside. Later on, the boy appeared. He said that he was hiding in the attic because he was afraid of his father. His father had shouted at him earlier on. The police said they will charge the father and take her to court. The police were not impressed with the father's story. The father appeared on a famous American TV show and said he didn't tell a lie. It was all true. It was not a hoax. Now the police are asking many people about this incident. They questioned the students too in order to find out the truth about this story. They say that the story was too bad to be true. After more than a week the mother admitted that it was a hoax. The whole thing was a big lie.

Power of Technology

When I was young, not many people had TVs at home. TVs were black and white only and they were expensive to buy. Everyone listened to the radio because there was at least one radio in every house. I remember there was a park in front of my house and there was a TV there. People used to set down at the park and watch TV. There was a man whose job was to turn the TV on for a few hours and then turn it off and go home. Yes, that was his job. He made sure the TV was locked up in a safe place.

This was in the early 70th. Now things have changed. Many people in Egypt have sattelite TV services at home. They watch hundreds of TV channels for free. There are some TV channels that require you to pay a monthly subscription fee too. The world has changed a lot.

I can also remember that when video started to come out, it was very expensive to buy a video player. Now you can buy them for less than 80 dollars.

Nobody buys video players any more. They buy DVD players or the a new thing which is even better than DVD and that is called a Blue Ray player.

Blue Ray players are now expensive to buy. This is the case with every thing that is new. You can buy them from $400 to $2000.

I am saying all this because yesterday I took a video in a teacher training session. After the training finished, I took the video camera and plugged it into my DVD recorder. I recorded the training session on DVD and now all the teachers who didn't attend the training can watch it at home.

Some people like keeping their videos on DVD. They do this in different ways. Some of them like using computer software but it is hard to learn how to edit video on a computer. My 12-year-old son can do it. I simply find it difficult. I am too old to learn all this. I likt doing it the easy way.

I am thinking we can use video in our class. If you have any ideas on how this can be done, talk to me in class. Thanks.

Learning in the Open Air

Today we went to the park near Box Hill hospital and did a speaking activity. The temperature was 27 and it was great to have some fresh air. We enjoyed talking in pairs and no student was allowed to work with another student from the same country. Our class is not only about learning English, it is about making friends and learning about other cultures too. We hope that next week the weather will be OK so we can have another outing. It took us about half an hour to do the activity and walk back to class.

The park was busy with people having their lunch there. The students from Burma started feeling more confident in class. They started making friends with students from other cultures. This is great.

Next time remember to bring your sunglasses or hats if it is going to be too sunny. Melbourne's weather is always changing.
I just want to remind you of our Spring Celebration Day at AMES on Tuesday 27th October. We will start at 11 o'clock. On this day you can wear your beautiful traditional clothes. There will be a room for women to change their clothes in. There will also be another room for men. We need to have some students who can sing or play music. You can bring a CD that has your favourite music. You can also bring food from your culture for other students to try. The teachers will also sing for you. (I am not certain I can be among them). I am sure there will be a lot of fun.

Fire Drill at Work

At your workplace in Australia you will have to learn what to do if there is a fire. This is called a fire drill. There will be someone in charge and he or she will give orders. There will be other people helping this person if you work for a big company. The whole idea is to make the workplace become safe for everyone to work. The person in charge when there is a fire is called a fire warden. He or she must have special training on what to do in a fire emergency. They also learn that not all fires are the same. If you use the wrong fire extinguisher, you can make the fire get bigger and the problem get worse.
It is important to know what to do if there is a fire. You have to think quickly and take actions. Smoke inhalation can make you faint and this can put your life in danger. At your workplace you will have a fire training every year. They can ask you to take a test too in order to see that you understand what is learned.
If there is a small fire at your workplace and you can handle it, do something immediately. If the fire is too big for you and is dangerous to people in the building, get out straight away. Alert other people around you about the fire. This can be done by shouting in most cases. Help other people if it is safe for you to do so. Remember not to put your life in danger.  Don't think of waiting a few moments to collect your belongings. Your life is much more important than this. Call 000 and tell them about the fire. Give them your name and the address of the fire. Wait for them to arrive outside the building and guide them to where the fire is.
In big businesses there are always advanced alarm systems installed. These systems alert the fire brigade if there is a fire. The fire brigade always comes as soon as they can. This can only take 2 minutes sometimes. Firemen come and start working straight away. They come in two trucks. If there is afire, they do their best to put it out. They don't charge money for their service. If there is no fire, the business can pay up to 5000 dollars. That is why all businesses have insurance.
Fill in the gaps:

do - become - collect - training - alert - fires - big - start

At your workplace in Australia you will have to learn what to do if there is a fire. This is called a fire drill. There will be someone in charge and he or she will give orders. There will be other people helping this person if you work for a big company. The whole idea is to make the workplace .......... safe for everyone to work. The person in charge when there is a fire is called a fire warden. He or she must have special training on what to do in a fire emergency. They also learn that not all .......... are the same. If you use the wrong fire extinguisher, you can make the fire get bigger and the problem get worse. It is important to know what to ..... if there is a fire. You have to think quickly and take actions. Smoke inhalation can make you faint and this can put your life in danger. At your workplace you will have a fire ........ every year. They can ask you to take a test too in order to see that you understand what is learned. If there is a small fire at your workplace and you can handle it, do something immediately. If the fire is too ......... for you and is dangerous to people in the building, get out straight away. Alert other people around you about the fire. This can be done by shouting in most cases. Help other people if it is safe for you to do so. Remember not to put your life in danger. Don't think of waiting a few moments to .......... your belongings. Your life is much more important than this. Call 000 and tell them about the fire. Give them your name and the address of the fire. Wait for them to arrive outside the building and guide them to where the fire is. In big businesses there are always advanced alarm systems installed. These systems .......... the fire brigade if there is a fire. The fire brigade always comes as soon as they can. This can only take 2 minutes sometimes. Firemen come and ........ working straight away. They come in two trucks. If there is afire, they do their best to put it out. They don't charge money for their service. If there is no fire, the business can pay up to 5000 dollars. That is why all businesses have insurance.

Sports

Most people in Australia work hard during the week. That is why weekends are special for everyone. It is the time for sport and more sport. Sport is everywhere - on TV, in sports grounds and in leisure centres.
When you practice sports, you make friends and learn about other people's cultures.
People who come from India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Pakistan like playing cricket. Others who come from south America like soccer. Australians like all kinds of sports. They have first-class sports champions in nearly all sports.
Sometimes people have some kinds of sports in their countries but they can't practice them here. For example, in some countries like India there is a sport that involves cock fighting. This is not allowed in Australia.
On TV there is a lot of sport during the weekend. In fact there is too much sport. I don't follow cricket because I don't understand it. My friends tried to explain it to me but I never found it interesting at all. My kids like it because they practice it at school. I often get surprised when I see people listening to a cricket match on the radio.
Some sports cost a lot of money. Imagine spending 10 thousand dollars on a professional bike. Some people spend even more because they like a certain sport. They can buy a horse and spend a lot of money looking after it. Others spend even more money on buying a yacht. They do so because they love sailing or fishing. Those people can spend millions of dollars to practice the sport they like. People do so because they love sports.
On Saturday and Sunday I choose not to watch the Australian TV channels. I hate watching too much sports. I have a satellite dish that makes me able to watch Arabic TV channels from the Middle East. Thank God there are different programs on these channels and not too much sport. I also watch a Russian TV station called Russia Today. It tells stories that are not covered on Australian TV. The only sport I do during the weekend is watching TV.

I took this picture with my Sony camera. It is not copied from the internet (as usual).
Fill in the gaps: 

tried - kinds - in - spend - love -  for - channels - cost

Most people in Australia work hard during the week. That is why weekends are special ...... everyone. It is the time for sport and more sport. Sport is everywhere - on TV, in sports grounds and ...... leisure centres. When you practice sports, you make friends and learn about other people's cultures. People who come from India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Pakistan like playing cricket. Others who come from south America like soccer. Australians like all ......... of sports. They have first-class sports champions in nearly all sports. Sometimes people have some kinds of sports in their countries but they can't practice them here. For example, in some countries like India there is a sport that involves cock fighting. This is not allowed in Australia. On TV there is a lot of sport during the weekend. In fact there is too much sport. I don't follow cricket because I don't understand it. My friends .......... to explain it to me but I never found it interesting at all. My kids like it because they practice it at school. I often get surprised when I see people listening to a cricket match on the radio. Some sports ............... a lot of money. Imagine spending 10 thousand dollars on a professional bike. Some people spend even more because they like a certain sport. They can buy a horse and spend a lot of money looking after it. Others .......... even more money on buying a yacht. They do so because they love sailing or fishing. Those people can spend millions of dollars to practice the sport they like. People do so because they ......... sports. On Saturday and Sunday I choose not to watch the Australian TV channels. I hate watching too much sports. I have a satellite dish that makes me able to watch Arabic TV .......... from the Middle East. Thank God there are different programs on these channels and not too much sport. I also watch a Russian TV station called Russia Today. It tells stories that are not covered on Australian TV. The only sport I do during the weekend is watching TV.

Public Transport

To use public transport in Melbourne, you must have a valid ticket. You can buy a Metcard from a ticket machine at any train station or a customer service centre at the train station. You can also buy a Metcard from different shops that display a blue Metcard sign. If you go on the internet, you can also buy your tickets online and get them delivered to your address.

A Metcard allows you to use a train, a tram or a bus. Just make sure you have the correct ticket when you travel. In Melbourne there are two transport zones – zone one and zone two. If you don’t have a ticket while travelling, you may get a fine. Also if you have a concession ticket and you are not entitled to it, you can get a fine. A fine is normally about 160 dollars. This is a lot of money to pay.

Sometimes when you travel on public transport you may see someone asking to see your ticket. This person is called an authorised ticket officer. He or she may be wearing a uniform or be in plain clothes. He or she must display a badge while checking people’s tickets. A ticket officer can ask to check your ticket. If you don’t have a valid ticket, a ticket officer can issue a fine that you have to pay later on. When they issue a fine, they ask some questions and write down your details. He or she can ask to see your ID to make sure you are giving the right information.

Some people get aggressive when they get caught travelling without a valid ticket and very often tickets officers call the police. This is why ticket inspectors work in groups. This insures their safety too.

If you get caught travelling without a valid ticket, don’t panic. A ticket inspector will explain to you why this is an offence. Some ticket inspectors are in fact nice people. They may give you a valid ticket to use all day for free after they issue you with a fine. Their main job is not to check tickets; it is to provide customer service. They can tell you what train to take or which platform to go to. They make sure passengers don’t smoke or drink alcohol while using public transport. They also insure your safety at all times. At the end of the day, they do their job.
Fill in the gaps: 

internet - badge - which - get - ticket - right - inspector 

To use public transport in Melbourne, you must have a valid ticket. You can buy a Metcard from a ticket machine at any train station or a customer service centre at the train station. You can also buy a Metcard from different shops that display a blue Metcard sign. If you go on the ........., you can also buy your tickets online and get them delivered to your address. A Metcard allows you to use a train, a tram or a bus. Just make sure you have the correct ........... when you travel. In Melbourne there are two transport zones – zone one and zone two. If you don’t have a ticket while travelling, you may get a fine. Also if you have a concession ticket and you are not entitled to it, you can ......... a fine. A fine is normally about 160 dollars. This is a lot of money to pay. Sometimes when you travel on public transport you may see someone asking to see your ticket. This person is called an authorised ticket officer. He or she may be wearing a uniform or be in plain clothes. He or she must display a ........ while checking people’s tickets. A ticket officer can ask to check your ticket. If you don’t have a valid ticket, a ticket officer can issue a fine that you have to pay later on. When they issue a fine, they ask some questions and write down your details. He or she can ask to see your ID to make sure you are giving the ........... information. Some people get aggressive when they get caught travelling without a valid ticket and very often tickets officers call the police. This is why ticket inspectors work in groups. This insures their safety too. If you get caught travelling without a valid ticket, don’t panic. A ticket ........... will explain to you why this is an offence. Some ticket inspectors are in fact nice people. They may give you a valid ticket to use all day for free after they issue you with a fine. Their main job is not to check tickets; it is to provide customer service. They can tell you what train to take or ......... platform to go to. They make sure passengers don’t smoke or drink alcohol while using public transport. They also insure your safety at all times. At the end of the day, they do their job.

Job Interviews

A job interview is your chance to show an employer that you are the most suitable person for the job. That is why it is essential to be well prepared for the job interview. Preparing means knowing about the industry, the employer, and yourself. It means paying attention to details like personal appearance, punctuality and giving a good impression.

The interview is the most stressful thing for any job seeker.

You have to know that it's the person who gives the best interview who wins.

Preparation 

See the interview as a competition that you have to win. Before you can win any competition, you need to prepare for it.

Identify four or five of your strengths. Talk about your willingness to work long hours. Tell the interviewer that you are a team leader, team player and that you have a sense of humor.

Read about the selection criteria for the job before the interview.
Find out some information about the company like:

· company size and locations

· products and services, target market;

· What you can do to make the company make more money.


Review your resume

Read your resume carefully to see if you have spelling mistakes or information that the company may not be interested in. The questions in the interview will be related to your CV.


Plan the journey 

· Find the address of the company and look it up in the Melways.

· Allow for delays and traffic jams.

· Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview so that you're relaxed.

· Arrive at the interview venue no more than five minutes early.


· Dress comfortably but presentably.

· Make sure your shoes are clean and do not use much aftershave or perfume.


At the interview 

You're prepared, on time for the interview and ready to convince them that you're the person they need.

Make a good first impression

The first impression is always the strongest and most lasting. Be friendly, but not over-friendly. Create a positive first impression by offering a handshake and make direct eye contact.

You have to remember that being nervous is normal and most experienced interviewers understand this.

You can ask questions about the salary they offer. You can find out if they offer any training.
Answer questions honestly and completely and avoid giving short yes/no answers.

Try not to speak longer than two minutes at a time.
Don't complain about your previous job or your previous boss.

Interviewers like to know that you are interested in the job. Say something like:

"I'm very interested in what you're doing here and the products you're making.

This company is pleasant and the people I've met seem knowledgeable.

You may be asked some questions like:

· How would you describe yourself?

· Why did you leave your last job?

· What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

· Why did you choose this career?

· Have you ever had difficulty with a supervisor? How did you resolve the conflict?

Getting the job depends on so many things. The interview is the most important one.

Good luck with your job hunting.

Nelson Mandela

 Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918. For a very long time South Africa had a political system called apartheid. This meant that black people had to live apart from white people for example, they could not go to the same schools as white people or eat in the same restaurants. Most black people had no jobs, were very poor, and could not vote in elections.

Mandela grew up in a village. When he was a young man, he left his village to study law. He wanted to help free black people from apartheid. He became a lawyer in 1952 and worked in Johannesburg, a large city in South Africa.

Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944. The ANC led many protests against the government's apartheid policy and demanded freedom for black people. From 1952 to 1960, Mandela was arrested and jailed twice for being a leader of the ANC. In 1960, the government killed many black people for protesting against apartheid. Mandela was a peaceful man, but after these killings, his protests became more violent.

In 1963, the government sent Mandela to prison for life because of his work against apartheid. But, even though he was in prison, he became a famous example of how black people suffered under apartheid. People from all over the world asked the South African government to release him from jail. Mandela was released in 1990. He had spent 27 years in jail. In 1991, he became president of the ANC. He and the South African president then agreed that South Africa would end apartheid and become a democracy. They won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for this.

In 1994, an election was held and black people were allowed to vote, and Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. When he was president, he worked to improve the economy, especially for black people. He also worked to bring peace to his country, after so many years of violence between black and white people.

In 1999, Mandela retired as president. He now helps other countries solve their problems.
Fill in the gaps:

president - city -  years - same - after - study - improve 

Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918. For a very long time South Africa had a political system called apartheid. This meant that black people had to live apart from white people for example, they could not go to the same schools as white people or eat in the ......... restaurants. Most black people had no jobs, were very poor, and could not vote in elections. Mandela grew up in a village. When he was a young man, he left his village to ........... law. He wanted to help free black people from apartheid. He became a lawyer in 1952 and worked in Johannesburg, a large .......... in South Africa. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944. The ANC led many protests against the government's apartheid policy and demanded freedom for black people. From 1952 to 1960, Mandela was arrested and jailed twice for being a leader of the ANC. In 1960, the government killed many black people for protesting against apartheid. Mandela was a peaceful man, but ........... these killings, his protests became more violent. In 1963, the government sent Mandela to prison for life because of his work against apartheid. But, even though he was in prison, he became a famous example of how black people suffered under apartheid. People from all over the world asked the South African government to release him from jail. Mandela was released in 1990. He had spent 27 ............ in jail. In 1991, he became president of the ANC. He and the South African president then agreed that South Africa would end apartheid and become a democracy. They won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for this. In 1994, an election was held and black people were allowed to vote, and Mandela became the first black president of South Africa. When he was president, he worked to ............... the economy, especially for black people. He also worked to bring peace to his country, after so many years of violence between black and white people. In 1999, Mandela retired as ............. He now helps other countries solve their problems.

The Ambulance Service

In certain situations people sometimes need to call for an ambulance. Someone may be seriously ill, had a severe injury, suffered a heart or even an asthma attack or had an accident. In that case people dial 000 to get help. Last year more than 480, 000 people in Victoria called for an ambulance. In Victoria the ambulance services are run by the Metropolitan Ambulance Service.

Many accidents take place at home like:

1. falls

2. cuts and tears

3. burns

In a situation where the life of the person is in great danger paramedics and firefighters are sent to the place where help is needed. Firefighters are trained to give help in life threatening situations like when someone’s heart stops beating or a person stops breathing. In these situations every second that passes increases that chances for this person to die. Normally the first people who give first aid are the people around the patient. They do their best until a trained person comes, like a paramedic or a firefighter and takes charge. This is the kind of help a casualty can get before professional help arrives. It can be given by members in the family, friends or strangers in the street. The aims of this first aid are to :

1. preserve life

2. prevent an injury from getting worse

3. promote recovery

The service you may get is not free if you do not have an ambulance subscription. This will cover you against the payment of any money for the services you may get. People who have a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card are not liable to pay for the cost of the ambulance treatment or transport. Also children holding a current Child Disability Health Care Card do not pay for the services. Others will have to pay the full cost of the services and this money can be very dear. If you need an emergency road transport and you do not have any ambulance cover or private health insurance, you will have to more than $670. This is not all. If you live in a remote area and need the air ambulance service, you will have to pay up to $5,000. The ambulance Membership provides 100% cover for all ambulance treatment and transport anywhere in Australia.

You can get a single ambulance membership for yourself and this will cost $60 per year. You can also get a family membership for $120 per year. You can renew your membership every year or you can have a membership of up to 5 years. Please contact the St. John Ambulance Service to find out more information on 9848 0808 or go to www.ambulance.vic.gov.au.

Because learning what to do in an emergency is very important, some people decide to do a first aid course. It only takes 2 days to finish but the information they get in this course can be enough to save a life.

Gaza Zoo

Gaza is a very small part of Palestine. It has more than two million people and is over crowded. It has no open borders with the outside world. People in Gaza can see very few things - Israeli tanks firing at them from time to time, a shore filled with warships that stop them from using the sea and a closed border with Egypt that does not allow thousands to cross it. People in Gaza have to smuggle food inside their land. They do so through tunnels they dig under the border with Egypt. Most of the people who live in Gaza can't leave it until they die. They don't have any cinemas, sports grounds or swimming pools.

 In Gaza there is a small place which people call a zoo. It has some chicken, a few cats, dogs and one lioness. A few years ago the zoo used to have more animals but the Israeli army dropped bombs on it and many animals died. Other animals starved to death because there was not enough food to feed the people or the animals. The zoo owner can't buy any new animals because the borders are all closed. It is also dangerous to smuggle animals through tunnels because they are not big enough and they cost a lot of money. The people of Gaza have no jobs. Unemployment is about 80% and those who are lucky enough don't have enough money to support themselves.
The owner of the zoo had an idea. He got a hairdresser and asked him to paint a donkey and make it look like a zebra. The hairdresser used hair colour that he managed to get from France and got the job done.
Now young children in Gaza have more than one zebra to enjoy looking at. Those children will live all their lives without leaving Gaza or going to a real zoo.

Take a Test Online

Fill in the gaps: 

children - with - enough - zoo - new - see - is

Gaza is a very small part of Palestine. It has more than two million people and is over crowded. It has no open borders with the outside world. People in Gaza can .......... very few things - Israeli tanks firing at them from time to time, a shore filled with warships that stop them from using the sea and a closed border with Egypt that does not allow thousands to cross it. People in Gaza have to smuggle food inside their land. They do so through tunnels they dig under the border .......... Egypt. Most of the people who live in Gaza can't leave it until they die. They don't have any cinemas, sports grounds or swimming pools. In Gaza there .......... a small place which people call a zoo. It has some chicken, a few cats, dogs and one lioness. A few years ago the zoo used to have more animals but the Israeli army dropped bombs on it and many animals died. Other animals starved to death because there was not ........... food to feed the people or the animals. The zoo owner can't buy any ........... animals because the borders are all closed. It is also dangerous to smuggle animals through tunnels because they are not big enough and they cost a lot of money. The people of Gaza have no jobs. Unemployment is about 80% and those who are lucky enough don't have enough money to support themselves. The owner of the ......... had an idea. He got a hairdresser and asked him to paint a donkey and make it look like a zebra. The hairdresser used hair colour that he managed to get from France and got the job done. Now young ........... in Gaza have more than one zebra to enjoy looking at. Those children will live all their lives without leaving Gaza or going to a real zoo.

Can you find some mistakes?

Gaza is a very small part of Palestine. It has more than two million people and is over crowded. It has no open borders with the outside world. People in Paris can see very few things - Israeli tanks firing at them from time to time, a shore filled with warships that stop them from using the sea and a closed border with Egypt that does not allow thousands to cross it. People in Gaza have to smuggle food inside their land. They do so through tunnels they dig under the border with Japan. Most of the people who live in Gaza can't leave it until they die. They don't have any cinemas, sports grounds or swimming pools.  In Gaza there is a small place which people call a zoo. It has some cars, a few cats, dogs and one lioness. A few years ago the zoo used to have more animals but the Israeli army dropped bombs on it and many animals died. Other animals starved to death because there was not enough chocolate to feed the people or the animals. The zoo owner can't buy any new animals because the borders are all open. It is also dangerous to smuggle animals through tunnels because they are not big enough and they cost a lot of money. The people of Gaza have no jobs. Unemployment is about 100% and those who are lucky enough don't have enough money to support themselves. The owner of the zoo had an apple. He got a hairdresser and asked him to paint a donkey and make it look like a zebra. The hairdresser used hair colour that he managed to get from France and got the job done. Now young children in Gaza have more than one zebra to enjoy looking at. Those children will live all their lives without leaving Gaza or going to a real school.

Fill in the gaps: 
Gaza is a very small part of Palestine. It has more .......... two million people and is over crowded. It has no open borders with the outside world. People in Gaza can see very few things - Israeli tanks firing at them from time to time, a shore filled with warships that stop them from ........... the sea and a closed border with Egypt that does not allow thousands to cross it. People in Gaza have to smuggle food inside their land. They do so through tunnels they dig under the border with Egypt. Most of the people who live in Gaza can't leave it until they die. They don't have any .............., sports grounds or swimming pools.  In Gaza there is a small place which people call a zoo. It has some chicken, a few cats, dogs and one lioness. A few years ago the zoo used to have more animals but the Israeli army dropped bombs on it and many animals died. Other animals starved to death because there was not enough food to feed the people or the animals. The zoo owner can't buy any new animals because the borders are all closed. It is also dangerous to smuggle animals through tunnels because they are not ............ enough and they cost a lot of money. The people of Gaza have no jobs. Unemployment is about 80% and those who are lucky enough don't have enough money to support themselves. The owner of the zoo had an idea. He got a hairdresser and asked him to paint a donkey and make it look like a ............ The hairdresser used hair colour that he managed to get from France and got the job done. Now young children in Gaza have more than one zebra to ............... looking at. Those children will live all their lives without leaving Gaza or going to a real zoo.

Buying a House

Today I attended an auction near my house in Box Hill North. The house was not brand new. It was built years ago but it is well maintained. This means that it is in a good condition. The house was fully renovated. This means that a lot of work has been done to make it look better.  It had new carpets, a new kitchen and was freshly painted. The owners must have spent a lot of money and they did a very good job.
The advertisement for the house said it would be sold for a price between 750,000 to 850,000 dollars. There were many people at the auction. I was not interested in buying it. I wanted to see how much it would sell for. This would give me an idea how much my house can be sold for if I decided one day to sell it.
Many people went inside the house to have a look. It was less than 800 square metres and it had a good-sized workshop at the back.
When the auction started, the auctioneer gave some information to the people attending on how to make a bid if they were interested in buying the house. He said that he would not accept any offers once the hammer went down. There was a reserved price for the house. If the price was not reached, the owners would not sell it. He also reminded everyone how the house was in a very good spot - close to public transport, good schools, the freeway and two major shopping centres. 
The auction started at 800,000 dollars and in one minute it went up to as much as 880,000. People were bidding in 10 thousands. Tension was high for some people but I felt relaxed. I was not going to bid to buy the house anyhow. My wife was curious to know the final price of the auction.
Finally the house was sold for 934,000 dollars. The buyers were an old couple. I would have thought they were in their eighties. The lady was so excited when the hammer went down.
This is not all the money the couple will have to pay. There are some additional fees to be paid by the buyers. After paying these fees, the total price may go up to one million dollars.
Oh my God! One million dollars for an old house in Box Hill North! That is too much money.
It is too much money for me and for many people that I know. It is not too much money for others. 
In Australia people buy houses in an auction or by private sale. Some rich people can pay all the money in one go. Many others have to go and borrow money from a bank. They pay the money back to the bank monthly. This is called a mortgage. 
Still others can't afford to borrow money from a bank. They stay with their parents or go outside big cities where rent is cheaper. They try to save money to buy a hose in the future but house prices kept going up for a long time and this made it too hard for first home buyers. 
To me the price of the house at the auction is too much. I think so because I live on a teacher's salary.

Take a Test Online

Think about these questions: 
Do you pay rent or do you have your own house? 
Do you pay a big mortgage every month? 
Do you think renting is better than buying? 
What suburb do you live in? 
Are there expensive houses in your area? 
Is your house close to public transport? 
Do you walk to the shopping centre in your suburb? 
How much do you think you can spent to buy a house? 
Why do new immigrants find it too difficult to buy a house in Australia? 
If you can buy more than one house, will you rent it out or give it to your child? 
Is buying a house a big problem in your country? 
Do you need to buy a lot of money in your country to buy a house? 
Do you go to a real estate agent to buy a house in your country? 
How many rooms has your house got? 
Do you like to live in a house or a unit? 
Do you live near any famous people? 
If you have a lot of money, where would you like to live in Melbourne? 
Is it a good idea to spend your money on buying a house or a new car?
Do you have any family members who live in expensive houses?
How many years will it take you to buy a house?