TESOL

 Why hello there,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I sure did (apart from the fact that I got sick on Saturday night and work starts again tomorrow). My wonderful weekend consisted of a bike ride by the beautiful gold coast shores, a swim, a 30th birthday party and going to some local markets. Delightful indeed. 

In light of our October Monthly Hero sharing how she is an English teacher in the country she lives in. It got me thinking a bit about teaching English. Through many of my overseas experiences if you speak english it automatically qualifies you to be an "english teacher". I have run english classes and even english camps in Thailand, Turkey, Palestine and India. It is a little daunting at first, however after a while I really enjoyed it. I know teaching english isn't for everyone, but I thought I'd share a few thoughts on it as opportunities to teach english are fast becoming available here in Australia just as much as internationally.

Here are pictures of students at a school we taught english at in Thailand

Here we are being thanked by the teachers for teaching english

In Australia we have over 13 000-14 000 refugees enter our country every year. I'm not going to touch on the complexities of the issues surrounding refugees. I just wanted to highlight that with the influx of refugees it presents us with some really great opportunities to love our community in really practical ways. One of those ways is helping them with their english speaking. 

Teaching English may sound a little too demanding but it's not as in depth as you may think. In some instances teaching english may involve assisting children with their homework, or helping adults with basic computer skills or filling out application forms etc. Or if you have a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certificate then you could apply to actually teach english classes which range from beginner to advanced depending on which you prefer. 

There are so-many community organizations within your own home town (probably) that are crying out for volunteers to come and help refugees. Helping them to learn english is meeting one of their most fundamental needs as they migrate to a foreign country trying to make a brand new start form themselves and their family. 

If you are interested in getting a certificate there are courses available online or you can normally find some run in local TAFE's or places within your community run in a traditional classroom setting. My husband and I started an online one however only got half way through before moving back to India. Once we were in India our internet connection was not strong enough to connect properly to the course. So, you do need to make sure you have access to fast internet if you want to take the course online. 

Once you have a TESOL certificate you can also apply for jobs internationally to teach english. The opportunities and adventures are endless. 

Here are some links to online courses and further info. if you are interested in learning more about TESOL.

Online TESOL Courses

What is TESOL?

Hope you have a great week.

Froctober Edition I

Welcome to the first edition of Froctober!.

Today the special event I will be sharing Tips, Tricks and Pics from is an African Jewelry Party my friend Bethany and I held in July. By hosting an African Jewelery party you are raising awareness and funds for a truly wonderful organization in Uganda. The Organization is called Operation Uganda and you can read about them here. The three pillars of their organization are:

Rescue a Child – There are over 2 million orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda through child sponsorship and the rescue fund we are able to rescue and care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Empower a community – After years of war aids and extreme poverty local communities in Uganda have suffered. Operation Uganda empowers communities through skills based training, education and child sponsorship.

Transform a nation – one child at a time, one widow at a time, one community at a time. Together we can transform a nation and help the poorest of poor out of poverty, one at a time.

One of their empowerment programs is teaching women how to make jewelry and other crafty items. Then they ship the handmade jewelry overseas so that people can buy the products, and raise funds for Operation Uganda. This is how an African Jewelry Party comes about, people decide to host one, invite their friends along and a Jewelry consultant will come out on the day with all the products as well as a DVD and give a short presentation about the organization.

We decided to have the party at Bethany's house as most people we were inviting were friends of hers. And because, Bethany would like to actually go to Uganda to visit Operation Uganda in the not too distant future. Ok now its time to share some Tips, Tricks and Pics of this special event.

PICS

Here were some of the awesome handmade products the consultant brought along.

Ha, excuse the messy icing but they got squashed and smudged on the way to Beth's house.

These were some other designs (pre packaging)

TIPS

1. If there is a particular cause or organization that you would love to raise money for or raise awareness about then I would suggest looking around on the internet to see if that particular organization has a "get involved" section set up for people who want to raise awareness/funds. Operation Uganda were fabulous, they sent us invitations and gave us the details of the jewelry consultant they would send to us. They supplied all the products, methods of payment and gave the presentation about their work at the party. All we had to do was provide the location and some afternoon tea. This eliminated a lot of work for Bethany and I. 
2. As you can see the cookies I decorated got a little smudged in transit, I was trying to have less to carry by putting as many as I could in a container. I would suggest that even though you may have to to bring more containers don't put nicely decorated treats on top of each other, even if they are dry at the time, heat could melt your work and smudging occur:( 
3. Decorating for this event was minimal. As you can see we put up a thought provoking poster and then strung some zebra bunting to enhance the African theme along the ceiling. The cookies were also quite a talking point and served as decoration for the food area. We didn't want to detract from the main attraction which was the beautiful handmade products which were really the feature of the entire room.

TRICKS

1. So, how did we get the Uganda shaped cookies? I spent hours cutting them with a butter knife-not! We went online to Ebay wonderful Ebay... and found all sorts of country shape cookie cutters(you can pretty much find any shape under the sun. Everyone loved the cookies they were a simple yet effective addition to the food table. 
2. I think the trick to keeping a party cost effective is to re-use decorations or things from home that fit the theme of the party. The Zebra bunting (which you will see in a post next week) was re-used from a previous special event. The poster "Where you live should no-longer determine whether you live" normally hangs up in Bethany's room. And the cookies ended up being a part of the decorations too. So before you go out and buy or make decorations for your next special event, get creative, take a look around your home (or a friends) and see what you can firstly re-use.

The African Jewelry party was a lot of fun and most importantly awareness and funds were raised for Operation Uganda. Hope you enjoyed the first edition of Froctober. Look forward to partying with you next week.

Froctober Series Launch

Ok, lets be honest. We're pretty much coming up to the party end of the year. For me, working at a school it pretty much means Christmas Party, after graduation celebrations after Christmas Party etc... So to kick start the party season I am having a little "Froctober Series" (Frock + October = Froctober) a chance for you to put on a pretty frock, and join me for some special event re-caps. 

See, I have had the privilege of hosting, organizing, co-running all sorts of special events this year. And I want to share them with you. When I talk about living a life of More Than Words, it excites me because it is when you choose to love beyond words that you can express love in a creative form. 

For me, one of the ways I express love is through event management/planning. Nothing shows someone or a community that you care about them quite like the amount of time, effort, energy, finances, planning that comes with holding an event. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we must always go to such great lengths to show love, but when time calls for a special event-you better believe that is what I will pour my love through... 

See a lot of my ideas were inspired by other ideas I found. So I hope through my sharing it will inspire you in your event planning. I would also LOVE to have you guest post for Froctober, so if you have an event that you would like to share tips, tricks and pics about then please send me an email or post a link to your blog in the comment section and I will feature you. I'd truly love to have you...remember sharing is caring:) 

Formalities aside, let the party begin

You are Invited to Froctober 

 

When:Thursday throughout the Month of October 

Where: morethanwords2012.blogspot.com.au

Dress: Your party frock 

RSVP: If you would like to share your special event then please contact me via email: morethanwords.info@gmail.com by Monday the 22nd of October.

Hope you can make it!

October Monthly Hero

The Monthly Hero section of the blog is designed to highlight either individuals or organizations who are making a positive difference in the world we live in. In my life I have met some truly inspirational people who dedicate their lives to the benefit of others. I am constantly inspired by all the amazing people out there who step out in believing change is possible.

I want to share with others some of the inspirational people I have met and how we can be encouraged or even at times take part in their journeys...

Allow me to introduce you to "C" she is a good friend of mine I met many years ago in Brisbane. She was a Perth girl who was working as a nurse, however felt unsatisfied in this career and knew there had to be something more out there. She decided to follow this feeling and this has led her to take part in leading Biblical Worldview Schools in Brisbane. She has since traveled internationally; I went to Turkey and India with her taking part in various community development projects, pursuing above all the calling God has placed in her life. She is now married and living overseas in a country that will remain nameless. Her passion for serving the people in that nation is inspiring, and makes me wish I could just pack up and join her. You're going to love her. 

*Due to the sensitive nature of the work and country this hero lives in the interview had to be kept very brief with names left out. 

 

Who are you?

My name is C.  I’m a Brit who grew up mostly in Australia.  My degree is in nursing but I haven’t nursed for years.

What are you currently doing? 

I moved to *** 2 years ago to join a team of people who have a passion to see the people here reached with the Truth and to see lives transformed by the Father’s grace.  I’m currently working as an English teacher which keeps me very busy.  My husband is studying here but has the same heart for the nation as I do.

Why are you doing it?  

I have been changed myself by the love of God and I want to see others find His freedom for themselves.  I love teaching and it seemed like a perfect fit to combine teaching with making friends here in this nation.

How can others be involved?

You can pray for us and the people here.  You can come and visit or join us. 

Thank you C.

What I love about C's story is that she decided to follow that feeling of knowing what she was doing as a nurse was not sitting right. I think many people settle in careers and lifestyles which are completely dissatisfying, we know there has got to be more to life. Rather than just living with it, C acted upon that feeling, stepped outside her comfort zone and has since met the love of her life, and is working in an area she is passionate in. 

If you would like to email myself or C about anything then please feel free to do so! If you have any encouragement you would like to send C throughout the month then please also let me know... and most importantly, if you would remember to pray for C and her husband throughout the month of October that would be so-great! 

morethanwords.info@gmail.com > I'd love to hear from you. Or just post a comment below.

Thanks-living September

Today I am participating in a sweet link up hosted by the lovely Leslie who blogs over at Top Of The Page.

She has created a link up where you can reflect on things you are thankful for from the month gone by. Such a great way to end the month...rather than rushing head first into the next one, or having no memory or reflection of what has just happened you get to pause a moment and bring to memory that which you are thankful for.

So here goes, my September Thanks-living:

At the beginning of this month I traveled to Canberra (Australia's Capital City) with 57 year 7 students and 3 other staff. It was tiring but a really great trip.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to create a headpiece for a friend to wear at a wedding.

It's no secret-me and my man love coffee and I'm thankful that even amidst the busyness of this month, we still made time for coffee dates.

I'm thankful for inviting OK TV to come to our Chapel services.

This is me and a friend out the front of Sydney Opera House. So-thankful for our fun road trip down there at the beginning of the September Holidays.

Isn't she just the sweetest. Thankful for the safe delivery of this bundle of joy via one of my besties)

Shine graduation!!! So thankful for the past 9 weeks we spent with the year 7 girls discovering Worth.Strength.Purpose (more photos to come)

Thankful for the Island Getaway me and hubby went on yesterday...I love spontaneous adventures.

Lastly, today. Last day of September and we bought this cute little table to replace the huge outdoor table we originally had my sewing machine on. I can't wait to decorate my new little workspace. Very thankful for the beginning of my space. 

 

 

So, what are you thankful for this September?

Around Here

Well it's no secret that the last month or so of last term were crazy busy with me not as much as having time to look at my laptop let alone open it. So here is a wee update as to what has been happening in my world which I'm linking up with Ali's post. 

 Around Here I am:

Enjoying September school holidays.

Sleeping in two hours past my usual wake up time.

Wearing my new favourite peplin shirt I purchased during my overnight visit to Sydney.

Applying for new jobs like its my new job.

Planning and dreaming of our December holiday to the Philippines.

Exercising and eating healthy daily (sticking to my 4 Simple Goals)

Wishing I could get my hose working so our plants don't die.

Admiring the colour I chose for my toes at my pedicure.

Savouring moments spent with friends and the incredible encouragement they are to me.

Excited the Shine program finished with 26 year 7 girls being more secure in their worth, strength and purpose.

Listening to the song Cornerstone by Hillsong. 

Contemplating getting a tattoo. 

Pushing away thoughts of work.

Brainstorming ideas as to what to do with hubby on a date tomorrow. 

Hanging out to see Madagascar 3.

Reading My Daily Bread devotions that speak directly into my situation every time. 

Longing for answers.

Perplexed by the plight of refugees around the world, and for those who have come to Australian Shores.

Hoping to blog more regularly.

 

Inexpensive Giving

For those who read this previous blog post you would know that I have been running a program called Shine at the school I work at with the year 7 girls. The program covers three main topics of Worth, Strength and Purpose. 

For one of the strength sessions I made these strength rocks in the above picture for each of the girls to have. The session topic was about resilience and having an ability to bounce back, to draw strength from within to overcome hardships we may face in life. 

Throughout this program I have found that the girls absolutely love getting small gifts ( I mean who doesn't love getting free things?) But more than that, you can see that they are touched by the fact that someone would take the time and spend the money on each of them. They can tell that what we are talking to them about throughout this program are things which we value and believe to be important enough to give them something to remember what we shared. 

If you are in charge of running a program or ever do motivational talks, I would encourage you to take some time to think of what small gift you give to your audience. It doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, the bag of rocks I bought cost $2.50 and I simply used a permanent marker to write words on it. 

It took me no-longer than half and hour, yet I know it left a lasting impact on the lives of the young girls who took one home.