Winter is coming soon and it will be cold. When it is cold, people turn on their heaters. Some people like to use electric heaters. Others like the gas ones. If you use an electric or a gas heater, it will cost you money. It can cost you a lot of money to heat your house during winter. Gas and electricity prices in Australia are very high. Also when it is hot in summer, people use their air conditioners more. Air conditioners use a lot of electricity. Using a lot of electricity means you will have to pay a lot of money. There are some things that you can do to pay less money and keep yourself and your family members warm.
Some energy companies offer you a discount if you pay your bill before the due date. One energy company in Melbourne says that you can get up to 5% off the amount of money you are asked to pay if you pay your bill before the due date.
You need to choose one company to provide your house with gas and electricity. This company can offer you a discount. It is also a good idea to go online or ask your friends if they are happy with the companies they deal with. Your friends can tell you if the services they get from the companies they deal with are good or bad. Do not use an energy company that provides poor service or charges too much money.
Some people install solar panels to get electricity or to heat water. You can see solar panels on the roofs of houses when you drive your car or walk on foot. This can really save you a lot of money but you will need to pay a lot of money to buy these solar panels.
There are different things you can do to save money and keep yourself warm during winter time.
• Put on warm clothes when you are at home. If you do so, you will not feel cold.
• Draw the curtains and use your air conditioner less in summer.
• Use door snakes to keep the heat out.
• If you have an old air conditioner, it will use a lot of electricity. Replace your old air conditioner with a new one. New air conditioners don’t use a lot of electricity.
• Take short showers and use less water. Take a shower in four minutes to save water. If you use a lot of hot water when you have a shower, you will use a lot of gas or electricity. If you or your family members take long showers, this can make you pay a lot of money to your energy company.
• Turn off the light when you leave a room at home. If you leave the light on while there is no one in the room, this can cost you a lot of money. Teach your children to turn off the light when they leave their room.
If you follow these tips, it can help you save thousands of dollars each year. With the money you save, you can go on holiday or travel overseas with your family. Remember that energy prices will go higher in the future because the Australian government will ask us to pay a carbon tax soon.
Listen to your classmate and fill in the gaps:
Winter is coming soon and it will ……………. cold. When it is cold, people turn on their heaters. Some people like to ………………… electric heaters. Others like the gas ones. If you use an electric or a …………….. heater, it will cost you money. It can cost you a lot of money to heat ………………… house during winter. Gas and electricity prices in Australia are very high. Also when it is hot in summer, ………………. use their air conditioners more. Air conditioners use a lot of electricity. Using a ……………… of electricity means you will have to pay a lot of money. There ………… some things that you can do to pay less money and keep yourself and your ………………. members warm.
Some energy companies offer you a discount if you pay ……………… bill before the due date. One energy company in Melbourne says that you ……………. get up to 5% off the amount of money you are asked to pay if you ………….. your bill before the due date.
You need to choose one company …………… provide your house with gas and electricity. This company can offer you a discount. It is also a good idea to go online or ask your ……………….. if they are happy with the companies they deal with. Your friends can tell you if the ……………………. they get from the companies they deal with are good or bad. Do not use an energy company that provides …………………… service or charges too much money.
Some people install solar panels to ………………… electricity or to heat water. You can see solar panels on the roofs of houses when …………………. drive your car or walk on foot. This can really save you a lot of money ……. you will need to pay a lot of money to ………………….. these solar panels.
There are different things you can do to ……………………… money and keep yourself warm during winter time.
• Put on warm clothes when you …………………. at home. If you do so, you will not feel cold.
• Draw the curtains and ………………….. your air conditioner less in summer.
• Use door snakes to keep ………………….. heat out.
• If you have an old air conditioner, it ……………….. use a lot of electricity. Replace your old air conditioner with a new one. New air conditioners ………………………. use a lot of electricity.
• Take short showers and use …………………. water. Take a shower in four minutes to save water. If you use a lot of hot water when you have a shower, you will use a lot of ……………….. or electricity. If you or your family members take …………………… showers, this can make you pay a lot of money to your energy company.
• Turn off the light when you leave a room at …………………... If you leave the light on while there is no one in the room, this can cost you a lot of ……………………….. Teach your children to turn off the light when they leave their room.
If you follow these tips, it can help you …………………. thousands of dollars each year. With the money you save, you can go ………………….. holiday or travel overseas with your family. Remember that energy prices ………………… go higher in the future because the Australian government will ask us to …………………… a carbon tax soon.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Good Things to Do to Help the Environment
We use a lot of petrol to drive our cars and light our houses but petrol is not good for the environment. It fills the air with smoke and makes it dirty. We also cut a lot of trees to make paper and furniture. Trees help us breathe fresh air. We need to do something to protect the environment. Here are some of the things you and I can do to help the environment.
Reduce energy use. Do not use a lot of electricity at night. If you leave a room, remember to turn the light off.
Buy appliances that do not use a lot of electricity. If you buy a fridge or a washing machine, make sure they do not use a lot of electricity.
Take a short shower. If you take a short shower, you will save a lot of water. Remember that millions of people around the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. Think about others.
Do not use chemicals to kill flies or cockroaches. Chemicals can be harmful to your health and the health of your family members at home. If you don’t leave food outside the fridge, you will not have cockroaches at home.
Buy a small car. Small cars use less petrol. If you buy a big car, you will use a lot of petrol and you will pay more money. Small cars are also easy to park.
Grow your own food. If you have a garden in your house, you can plant some vegetables or fruits. Growing your food can be a good hobby. You will enjoy the time you spend working in your garden. This will also save you a lot of money.
Walk or take public transport when you go out. Walking is a good sport. It will make you healthy. If you go to a local shop, it is a good idea to walk there and not use your car.
Use energy-saving globs at home. If you use them, you will save a lot of money each year. This will also help the environment.
Do not use plastic bags when you do your shopping. Plastic bags cause a lot of harm to the environment. They kill fish in the ocean and stay there for tens of years.
Do not throw your old clothes away. You can give them to someone poor that you know or donate them to a charity. The charity will give them to poor people.
Put your empty glasses and bottles in the recycling bin. Do not put these things in the rubbish. When these glasses and bottles are recycled, other people will be able to use them.
Buy an eBook reader. An eBook reader helps you read the books you want. These books are not printed on paper. This will save a very big number of trees. eBook readers do not cost a lot of money nowadays. You don’t need to use a lot of electricity to charge them.
Reduce energy use. Do not use a lot of electricity at night. If you leave a room, remember to turn the light off.
Buy appliances that do not use a lot of electricity. If you buy a fridge or a washing machine, make sure they do not use a lot of electricity.
Take a short shower. If you take a short shower, you will save a lot of water. Remember that millions of people around the world don’t have access to clean drinking water. Think about others.
Do not use chemicals to kill flies or cockroaches. Chemicals can be harmful to your health and the health of your family members at home. If you don’t leave food outside the fridge, you will not have cockroaches at home.
Buy a small car. Small cars use less petrol. If you buy a big car, you will use a lot of petrol and you will pay more money. Small cars are also easy to park.
Grow your own food. If you have a garden in your house, you can plant some vegetables or fruits. Growing your food can be a good hobby. You will enjoy the time you spend working in your garden. This will also save you a lot of money.
Walk or take public transport when you go out. Walking is a good sport. It will make you healthy. If you go to a local shop, it is a good idea to walk there and not use your car.
Use energy-saving globs at home. If you use them, you will save a lot of money each year. This will also help the environment.
Do not use plastic bags when you do your shopping. Plastic bags cause a lot of harm to the environment. They kill fish in the ocean and stay there for tens of years.
Do not throw your old clothes away. You can give them to someone poor that you know or donate them to a charity. The charity will give them to poor people.
Put your empty glasses and bottles in the recycling bin. Do not put these things in the rubbish. When these glasses and bottles are recycled, other people will be able to use them.
Buy an eBook reader. An eBook reader helps you read the books you want. These books are not printed on paper. This will save a very big number of trees. eBook readers do not cost a lot of money nowadays. You don’t need to use a lot of electricity to charge them.
China
In my English class, I have many students who come from different parts of the world. I have many friends who are from China. China is a very big country in Asia. It has a population of more than 1.3 billion. People who come from China speak different languages but most of them speak Mandarin or Cantonese. There are many people in China who speak both languages. My Chinese friends always tell me how China is a beautiful country. I wish I can go and visit it one day after I get a job and can afford to buy an airline ticket. I went on the internet at home and looked up information about China.
There are good schools everywhere. Parents push their children to study hard and get good job when they finish their education. China also has a rich history. Many people go there to see the Great Wall of China. People who come from China love their country a lot. They love playing different kinds of sports. They also study and work very hard. Each married couple in China is allowed to have one child only because the number of people who live there is very big.
There are many big cities in China like Shanghai and Beijing, the capital city. Shanghai is a very big city and it has a lot of very high buildings. People travel to Shanghai from all parts of the world to do business. It is a good chance for them to taste Chinese food. There are many factories everywhere in China. China produces more than two thirds of the world’s TVs. Many of the appliances that I have in my house are made in China. Even my computer, my car, my MP3 player and my furniture are made in China. Most workers go to work using public transport. Some workers like to ride their bikes to go to work early in the morning. They work very hard. You can see products that are made in China everywhere in the world.
There are very fast trains to link big cities in China. These trains are air conditioned and very clean. The most important celebration in China is called Chinese New Year. It is like Christmas in Australia. On Chinese New Year, families get together and enjoy eating Chinese food. If you live in the north of China, the temperature there can be very low and it can snow.
There is a big number of people who use the interent in China. They use it at home, work or school. When Chinese students travel to study overseas, their teachers become amazed by their skills and knowledge.
Listen to your classmate and fill in the gaps:
In my English class, I ........... many students who come from different ............ of the world. I have many friends who are from China. China is a ............. big country in Asia. It has a population of more ............. 1.3 billion. People who come from China ................ different languages but most of ............. speak Mandarin or Cantonese. There are many people in China who speak both languages. My Chinese friends always tell me .............. China is a beautiful country. I wish I ........... go and visit it one day after I get a job and can .............. to buy an airline ticket. I went on the internet at home and ................. up information about China.
There are good schools everywhere. Parents push their ............... to study hard and get good job when they finish their education. China .............. has a rich history. Many people go there to see ........... Great Wall of China. People who come ................. China love their country a lot. They love playing different ................ of sports. They also study and work very hard. Each married couple in China is allowed to ............... one child only because the number of people who live there is ................ big.
There are many ............ cities in China like Shanghai and Beijing, the capital city. Shanghai is a very big city and it has a lot of very high buildings. People ............... to Shanghai from all parts of the world to do business. It is a ................... chance for them to taste Chinese food. There are many factories everywhere in China. China produces ................ than two thirds of the world’s TVs. Many of .................... appliances that I have in my house are made in China. Even my computer, my car, my MP3 player and my furniture are made in China. Most workers go to work using public transport. Some workers ................. to ride their bikes to go to work early in the morning. They .................. very hard. You can see products that are made in ....................... everywhere in the world.
There are very fast trains to link big ................. in China. These trains are air conditioned and very clean. The most important celebration in China is ................... Chinese New Year. It is like Christmas in Australia. On Chinese New Year, families get together and enjoy eating Chinese food. If you live in the ................ of China, the temperature there can be ................. low and it can snow.
There is a ............... number of people who use the interent in China. They .................. it at home, work or school. When Chinese students .................. to study overseas, their teachers become amazed by their skills ................... knowledge.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Food Poisoning
Tom is a 15-year-old boy. He goes to high school in Box Hill. Yesterday, Tom went home after school and he was really hungry. He found some food that was on a table in the kitchen. The food did not smell right but Tom ate it. After some time, Tom felt pain in his stomache. He also started to vomit. He started to have a fever. He was worried. His mother came home and she took him to the doctor. The doctor examined Tom for a few minutes. The doctor asked the mother to take Tom to hospital. The doctor told her that Tom suffered from food poisoning.
At hospital a doctor explained to Tom that the food he had eaten was bad. It had bacteria in it. These bacteria were very bad and some people die each year from food poisoning. The doctor told Tom not to eat any food that was kept outside the fridge for more than two hours. The doctor also gave Tom an injection and some medicine.
After three days, Tom got better. He started to read about food poisoning and told his friends at school about what had happened to him. Tom only eats fresh foods or foods that have been kept in the fridge. He makes sure to wash his hands before eating or touching food. His mother is also very careful now when she cooks food at home. She never leaves food outside the fridge, especially on hot days. She makes sure her kitchen is clean at all time. She does not want any of her children to suffer from food poisoning.
At hospital a doctor explained to Tom that the food he had eaten was bad. It had bacteria in it. These bacteria were very bad and some people die each year from food poisoning. The doctor told Tom not to eat any food that was kept outside the fridge for more than two hours. The doctor also gave Tom an injection and some medicine.
After three days, Tom got better. He started to read about food poisoning and told his friends at school about what had happened to him. Tom only eats fresh foods or foods that have been kept in the fridge. He makes sure to wash his hands before eating or touching food. His mother is also very careful now when she cooks food at home. She never leaves food outside the fridge, especially on hot days. She makes sure her kitchen is clean at all time. She does not want any of her children to suffer from food poisoning.
Shopping Questions
How often do you go shopping?
Where do you do your shopping?
Where can you drink the best coffee in Melbourne?
Is doing the shopping in Australia more expensive than in your country?
What is the best restaurant that people can go to?
What are some of the items that you buy every week at the supermarket?
Do you buy your food from Chinese shops only?
What do your children like to eat?
What are some of the healthy foods that you have at home?
How much money do you spend on food every week?
What are some of the foods that cost a lot of money?
Where can you buy cheap bread?
What is one shop that you always like to visit?
Does your spouse help you with housework?
Do your children cause a lot of mess in the house?
What was the most expensive thing that you have bought?
Do you bargain when you go shopping?
Do people bargain in your country?
What is one thing you would like to buy?
Where do you do your shopping?
Where can you drink the best coffee in Melbourne?
Is doing the shopping in Australia more expensive than in your country?
What is the best restaurant that people can go to?
What are some of the items that you buy every week at the supermarket?
Do you buy your food from Chinese shops only?
What do your children like to eat?
What are some of the healthy foods that you have at home?
How much money do you spend on food every week?
What are some of the foods that cost a lot of money?
Where can you buy cheap bread?
What is one shop that you always like to visit?
Does your spouse help you with housework?
Do your children cause a lot of mess in the house?
What was the most expensive thing that you have bought?
Do you bargain when you go shopping?
Do people bargain in your country?
What is one thing you would like to buy?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tips for Learning English
Welcome to AMES. We are happy to have you as a student here and we hope you improve your English in a short time. There are some tips that we would like you to know in order to improve your learning.
In Australia, students learn in groups. Teachers don’t keep talking all the time. They allow students time to answer questions on their own and talk to other students in English.
Coming to school every time you have a class is a good thing to do. If you have an important appointment with your doctor or anybody else, you can ask that person to have the appointment outside class time.
Respect other students who come to class and respect your teacher. Use polite language in class. This will make everyone happy about coming to class.
Practise your English at home. You can study English at home on a computer or you can borrow one or two resources from the ILC at AMES. Remember that you are allowed to borrow two items for two weeks only. You can not borrow three items at any given time.
Watch TV in English. This will help you learn about Australia as well. If you don’t understand everything that is said on TV, don’t be afraid. After a few weeks, you will see that your English has improved a lot.
Make use of your class time. If your class runs for four hours, it is not a good idea to go home after the break. You will spend about six months at AMES. Six months is not a long period and it can be hard to learn the language in a short time. Your teacher will need many years to learn your language.
Come to class on time. If you come late, your teacher will not be able to explain what you have missed in great detail. You may find it difficult to understand what the teacher has already covered. When you come on time, you show your teacher and others that you are a good learner.
Have a meal before you come to class. If you feel hungry in class, you will not be able to concentrate. You will always have a break and you can have something to eat quickly during that time. Don’t bring food that has a very strong smell.
Use a dictionary to look up new words. Most students now have smart phones. There are dictionaries on these phones that students can use to look up new words. You don’t need to buy a digital dictionary because it will cost you a lot of money. If you are very rich, go ahead and buy one for yourself.
Talk to your friends in class in English only. If there are some students who come from your country, it is a good idea to talk to them in English and not in your own language. If you use your own language, it will be hard for you to learn English. You will need a lot of practice to learn English. You need to practise English with your teacher and with other students in class too.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. When your teacher points out these mistakes, you will not make them again in the future. Making mistakes is part of the learning.
Have a student card. You will need to pay one dollar and have your picture taken at the ILC before you have your card. When you have a library card, you will be able to borrow items from the library. We may have some books in English and in your language that will make it easy for you to learn the language.
Talk to your teacher if you have a problem. Don’t go to the manager directly. You need to talk to the teacher first and he or she will do their best to help you solve the problem. If they can’t help you, they may find someone else who can help. They can direct you in the right way.
Get telephone numbers and email addresses of your friends in class. Coming to class is not all about learning. It is about making friends and enjoying your time at AMES.
In Australia, students learn in groups. Teachers don’t keep talking all the time. They allow students time to answer questions on their own and talk to other students in English.
Coming to school every time you have a class is a good thing to do. If you have an important appointment with your doctor or anybody else, you can ask that person to have the appointment outside class time.
Respect other students who come to class and respect your teacher. Use polite language in class. This will make everyone happy about coming to class.
Practise your English at home. You can study English at home on a computer or you can borrow one or two resources from the ILC at AMES. Remember that you are allowed to borrow two items for two weeks only. You can not borrow three items at any given time.
Watch TV in English. This will help you learn about Australia as well. If you don’t understand everything that is said on TV, don’t be afraid. After a few weeks, you will see that your English has improved a lot.
Make use of your class time. If your class runs for four hours, it is not a good idea to go home after the break. You will spend about six months at AMES. Six months is not a long period and it can be hard to learn the language in a short time. Your teacher will need many years to learn your language.
Come to class on time. If you come late, your teacher will not be able to explain what you have missed in great detail. You may find it difficult to understand what the teacher has already covered. When you come on time, you show your teacher and others that you are a good learner.
Have a meal before you come to class. If you feel hungry in class, you will not be able to concentrate. You will always have a break and you can have something to eat quickly during that time. Don’t bring food that has a very strong smell.
Use a dictionary to look up new words. Most students now have smart phones. There are dictionaries on these phones that students can use to look up new words. You don’t need to buy a digital dictionary because it will cost you a lot of money. If you are very rich, go ahead and buy one for yourself.
Talk to your friends in class in English only. If there are some students who come from your country, it is a good idea to talk to them in English and not in your own language. If you use your own language, it will be hard for you to learn English. You will need a lot of practice to learn English. You need to practise English with your teacher and with other students in class too.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. When your teacher points out these mistakes, you will not make them again in the future. Making mistakes is part of the learning.
Have a student card. You will need to pay one dollar and have your picture taken at the ILC before you have your card. When you have a library card, you will be able to borrow items from the library. We may have some books in English and in your language that will make it easy for you to learn the language.
Talk to your teacher if you have a problem. Don’t go to the manager directly. You need to talk to the teacher first and he or she will do their best to help you solve the problem. If they can’t help you, they may find someone else who can help. They can direct you in the right way.
Get telephone numbers and email addresses of your friends in class. Coming to class is not all about learning. It is about making friends and enjoying your time at AMES.
Parent-teacher Interviews
Tom is a new immigrant who comes from China. He has a young daughter who goes to a local primary school in Box Hill. Tom got a notice from the school about a parent-teacher interview. Tom has never been to a parent-teacher interview before. He asked his friend Mary for help. Mary is an Australian lady who lives next door to Tom. She is very kind and helpful. Mary said to Tom that most parents feel nervous about going to parent-teacher interviews. Here are some of the things that Mary told Tom about.
Book an appointment early
Teachers are not free for a long time. They do a lot of work in and outside class. Teachers expect all parents to attend the parent-teacher interviews. If you don't attend the interview, this may show that you don't care about your child's education.
Be polite
Remember to say hello and introduce yourself to the teacher. At the end of the interview, remember to say thank you to the teacher for her work with your daughter.
Don’t be shy
If you don’t speak good English, the teacher will pay more attention and try to understand what you say. You can take a friend who speaks good English to the parent-teacher interview if this makes you less nervous.
Ask the teacher all the questions you want
Ask the teacher how your daughter is doing in class and if she needs more help at home. The teacher can make a plan to help your child more if you work together. The teacher can write notes and send them with the student so the parents know what is happening in class. The parent usually signs these notes and returns them to the teacher.
Don’t complain about the teacher’s work
If your child does not perform well in class, this may not be a mistake by the teacher. Do not complain about her work and say she does not know how to teach or that in your country education is much better. This can be a rude thing to say.
If you are busy, you can talk to the teacher on the phone
Most parents go to the parent-teacher interviews on time. Some of the parents can be too busy to come to these interviews. They can ring the school and talk to the teacher on the phone. The teacher can tell the parent about the progress of the student. She can ask the parent some questions to find out how the student learns at home. The parent can also ask the teacher any question he or she likes about the child’s education.
Book an appointment early
Teachers are not free for a long time. They do a lot of work in and outside class. Teachers expect all parents to attend the parent-teacher interviews. If you don't attend the interview, this may show that you don't care about your child's education.
Be polite
Remember to say hello and introduce yourself to the teacher. At the end of the interview, remember to say thank you to the teacher for her work with your daughter.
Don’t be shy
If you don’t speak good English, the teacher will pay more attention and try to understand what you say. You can take a friend who speaks good English to the parent-teacher interview if this makes you less nervous.
Ask the teacher all the questions you want
Ask the teacher how your daughter is doing in class and if she needs more help at home. The teacher can make a plan to help your child more if you work together. The teacher can write notes and send them with the student so the parents know what is happening in class. The parent usually signs these notes and returns them to the teacher.
Don’t complain about the teacher’s work
If your child does not perform well in class, this may not be a mistake by the teacher. Do not complain about her work and say she does not know how to teach or that in your country education is much better. This can be a rude thing to say.
If you are busy, you can talk to the teacher on the phone
Most parents go to the parent-teacher interviews on time. Some of the parents can be too busy to come to these interviews. They can ring the school and talk to the teacher on the phone. The teacher can tell the parent about the progress of the student. She can ask the parent some questions to find out how the student learns at home. The parent can also ask the teacher any question he or she likes about the child’s education.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Accidnet
An old man went to a cafe to have a coffee with a couple of friends he always meets every week. The three friends went to a local restaurant in Box Hill. They ordered coffee with no sugar. The waiter went inside and someone in the kitchen started making the coffee. The friends were chatting when he came back. The waiter came after a short time with three cups of coffee. He was in a hurry to go back to the kitchen because there were a lot of customers at the cafe. He accidently spilt a hot cup of coffee on the old man’s lap. The old man screamed. The two friends tried to help the old man. One of them brought some cold water. The young waiter didn’t know what to do. A woman at the café used her mobile phone and called 000. She asked for an ambulance to be sent to the café because she saw the old man was in a lot of pain. The ambulance arrived shortly and two paramedics helped the old man. The owner of the café said he was sorry about what happened. The waiter also apologized to the old man for spilling the hot coffee on his lap. The old man accepted the waiters apology.
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