win madigan – western english language school - 2007 education in victoria the bridge

Win Madigan – Western English Language School - 2007

Education in Victoria

The Bridge


A bridge takes you from where you are now to

where you want to be.


This is the school path for most

students who grow up in Victoria.


Start Primary School

Grade 6 – Age 11

Grade 5 - Age 10

Grade 4 – Age 9

Grade 3 – Age 8

Grade 2 – Age 7

Grade 1 – Age 6

Prep – Age 5

In English

Finish Primary School

Win Madigan – Western English Language School - 2007Start Secondary / High School

Year 12

Year 11

Year 10

Year 9

Year 8

Year 7

In English

Finish Secondary College/High School


So, Prep to Year 12 for most students who grow up in Australia looks like this:

Year 12

Year 11

Year 10

Year 9

Year 8

Year 7

Year 6

Year 5

Year 4

Year 3

Year 2

Year 1

Prep

Start

Finish

In English


For some people who have not grown up in Australia the path is

different.

Maybe it’s like this:


Start Primary School

Grade 3 – Age 8

Grade 2 – Age 7

Grade 1 – Age 6

Prep – Age 5

Finish School

Not in English

Problems in Your Country


Or

Maybe it’s like this:


Year 10Year 9Year 8Year 7Year 6Year 5Year 4Year 3Year 2Year 1Prep

In a Refugee Camp

In big classes

With very few books and other resources

Not in English

Often disrupted because of problems

Or very little English


Or perhaps


Year 5

Year 4

Year 3

Year 2

Year 1

Start School

Not in English

Or very little English

Stop studying for 6 months



Stop studying


Finish School


Or


Come to Australia for family re-union or on a Business Migration Visa

Year 11Year 10Year 9Year 8Year 7Year 6Year 5Year 4Year 3Year 2Year 1Prep

Not in English

In your country

Come to Australia


Let’s Compare


Start

Finish

In English

Year 12Year 11Year 10Year 9Year 8Year 7Year 6Year 5Year 4Year 3Year 2Year 1Prep

17 Year old Student Growing up in Australia

17 Year old Student with Disrupted Schooling and

New to Australia

Grade 3 – Age 8

Grade 2 – Age 7

Grade 1 – Age 6

Prep – Age 5 Start

Finish

What if this studentWants to Study at

High School?

Not in English


Start

Finish

Year 12Year 11Year 10Year 9Year 8Year 7Year 6Year 5Year 4Year 3Year 2Year 1Prep

17 Year old Student Growing up in Australia

17 Year old Student with Disrupted Schooling and

New to Australia

Grade 3 – Age 8Grade 2 – Age 7Grade 1 – Age 6

Prep – Age 5

Start

Finish

This is a very big step.

Like climbing a mountain

???

Or maybe


What’s the Answer???

How can you catch up if you have missed a lot

of school?


A BRIDGE is needed tohelp you go from where

you are now to where you

want to be.


Some high schools have BRIDGING COURSES which help students improve their

English and Math skills.

You should study in such courses for at least one year.

– e.g. Sunshine College- Step-up Program

Debney Park SC – Foundation VCAL


If you are an older student who wants to study in High School and then do VCE (Years 11 and

12) you may have to repeat Year 10.

Even after that, VCE may be too difficult.

If you want to succeed, you will need to

repeat Year 10

I understand.


Some schools also offer 3 Year VCE (Years 11 and 12). This is a very good way for

some students to complete their VCE.

What about a 3 year VCE. Do you think I could try

that?Yes, we can think about that

too. Or maybe you can do someYear 10 subjects and one or

two year 11 subjects.


Many Secondary Colleges do NOT accept 17 year old students into Year 10.

I want to study Year 10 at your High

School

How old are you?

I’m 17

At this school we donot enrol 17 year

olds in Year 10. You will have more

success at TAFE.

Therefore, don’t be surprised or upset if the person helping you to find a school tells you that the High School you want to go to has said ‘No’.


After Year 10 the school may suggest that you do VCAL, not VCE.

Listen to your teachers.

VCE is not the right course for everyone.

VCAL means VICTORIAN CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED LEARNING.

It helps students study for many of the practical and important jobs that Australia

needs people for.


TAFE has many suitable programs for older students – i.e. for ages 16,

17 or 18.

TAFE means TECHNICAL AND FURTHER EDUCATION.

For older students with disrupted schooling, TAFE is

often better.

First, the TAFE course will help improve your English skills. For example, ESL Certificates 1, 2, 3

and 4.

After that, there are many different

courses you can do.

There are more choices and more opportunities to succeed at TAFE.


If you are an older student who has come to Australia recently to

join your family,

ORif you are an older student who has come to Australia

on a Business Visa (e.g. 457 Visa),

TAFE is often better, especially if you don’t have very good English.

457


Okay, so maybe you have a problem with

TAFE!!

Let’s look at some of these problems.


Question 1:

Is TAFE only for old people?

Answer:

No, many students start TAFE at 16 or

17.


Can I study VCE (Years 11 and 12) at TAFE?

Question 2:

Answer:

Yes you can.

And VCAL too.

VCE

Did you know that you canstudy VCE more cheaply at TAFE

than you can at a High School?

TAFE


I want to wear a uniform. Do students wear a uniform at TAFE?

Question 3:

Answer:

There is no uniform at TAFE. You need to forget about uniform and think about your REAL education and your FUTURE.

SORRY!!!


Question 4:Is it true that TAFE is just a place to find you a job? My friends say it’s not a

real school.

TAFE

Answer:

NO, that’s not true. TAFE is a real school just like High School or University. It

teaches many different things,

as well as training you for a good job.

TAFE


Did you know that many students who study at University in Australia

cannot find jobs after they graduate?

It’s true!


Question 5:

Can I still go to University one day if I start at TAFE?

Answer:

Yes you can.

And you can also get CREDITS for what you have

studied at TAFE.

It’s often easier to get into a

University from a TAFE course than it is from a High

School.

TAFE University

Did you know that Victoria Universityis a TAFE and a University?

IT IS!!

Also, did you know that you can transfer from TAFE to many University courses without an ‘enter’ score?

You can!


Question 6:

I have heard that TAFE is expensive. Is this

true?

Answer:

Some courses are expensive, BUT, if you have a HEALTH CARE CARD, there are many

courses which are NOT EXPENSIVE.

Even if you don’t have a Health Care Card, there

are often ways of studying English and

other courses cheaply at TAFE. For example, ‘fee waivers’. Ask those who are helping you to enrol

at TAFE about ‘fee waivers’.

And don’t forget University is REALLY EXPENSIVE!!!


Also, think about this:

Do you REALLY want to sit in a High School classroom with students who are MUCH younger than you – students

who may behave in a really silly and childish way???

I can’t get my work donewith all these silly youngstudents in the class!!!


Think about it.

Ask yourself


Do I want to climb the mountain?


Or will I use the BRIDGE???


GOOD

LUCK!!!

Think about it!

It’s up to you!!

and

win madigan – western english language school - 2007 education in victoria the bridge

Documents

english year

finish year

year olds

secondary high school

year old students

year vce years

business migration visa

school path