Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Amin!
Tell us a little about yourself Amin: I am from Switerland and I live in Zuerich. I worked as a software engineer for the Swiss television. I decided to go to Byron Bay because I heard many good things about it and thought it would be a nice start for my trip. I stayed in Byron for six weeks.
Why did you choose Byron Bay? I chose Byron Bay because I heard good things about it. I had a friend come here maybe six years ago and told me about it. So I did my research and I decided that it had the right mood for me.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes. I think my weaknessess… I think grammar… and the speaking and the fluency.
I was with Claudia as my teacher, and I think the class was the right fit for me. It was my right level. And I liked the class because there were people there from other nationalities. I also liked the activties that we did in the class like the markets, having coffee and Secret Santa… yeah, it was fun.
What was your favourite activity? I liked the Beer Testing! Haha, that was fun! But I did like the Coffee Club too. You know, it was nice to play games and get to know other people and get to know them better.
Tell me about your accommodation/homestay… I stayed at the accommodation downstairs (onsite) and I liked it. The room is good, it has nice people and a good kitchen to cook meals in. I really liked the communal tables- there were always people to be with if you wanted! Yeah, I really enjoyed it 🙂
What are your favourite things to do in Byron? Surfing! I only started surfing here and I like it! I first had lessons through the school… maybe four lessons, then I bought a board and have met some friends and go surfing with them everyday! I might have to resell the board when I leave, but if I can fit it in my car I will take it on my travels with me in Australia!
I also really like the nightlife and the mood here in Byron Bay. Like the muscians and the buskers. It’s just nice to be out at night.
What is your most magical moment in Byron? Oh, this is a tough one… so many… I suppose, I think surfing at sunset at Tallows Beach. We saw dolphins and then they were swimming past us… yes, this was the most magical moment.
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron? I like the people here. The students and the employees. The people are really helpful. Whenever I had a question I would go to reception and they would help me straight away. Also the mood for a school is good.
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay? My advice… stay at the accomodation onsite because it is close to the school and you get to meet more people! But then I guess it depends on the person… I also suggest to plan a trip early, but also at the same time to be spontaneous too.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Lucia!
Tell us a little about yourself Lucia: I’m from Spain. Before coming to Byron I worked on my family’s sheep farm. I always wanted to learn English because I like to travel and it is a universal language. I’ve been here almost 2 months and I have one more month left. Then I will travel along the coast of New South Wales before returning to Spain.
Why did you choose Byron Bay? Because I don’t like I cities. I live in the countryside. That’s why I chose Byron Bay.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes. Before coming to Australia, my weaknesses were listening and speaking English.
My teachers try to help me with listening and talk in class more often.
What was your favourite activity? I think my favourite activity is the afternoon yoga classes, because you end the day relaxed.
Tell me about your accommodation/homestay… I have lived in a hostel since I arrived and I think I will continue until I leave Byron.
What are your favourite things to do in Byron? I like to walk around without tall buildings and without the noise of a city. I like to walk along the beach with few people. I also like to take walks to the lighthouse.
What is your most magical moment in Byron? My most magical moment in Byron… when I climb to see the sunrise at the lighthouse.
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron? What I liked most about this school is the small groups of students. It is good to have playful activities and games to assimilate the lessons.
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay? My advice is to not think about it, to do it and enjoy it. It is an experience for a lifetime.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Xenia!
Tell us a little about yourself Xenia: I’m from Catalunya, from a little small village called Ventallo. I used to work as an early children’s teacher in different kindergartens, but I realised that first of all I want to travel the world. So I left my job and now I’m here in Lexis improving my English to become an English teacher.
Why Byron? I’m a music teacher.
Why did you choose Byron Bay? I chose Byron because it is a small village like mine. I am also a music teacher and I heard that there is lots of music in Byron and thought “this must be my place!”
My friends back home also give me the nickname that translates into ‘Happy Fish’ in English. This is because I am always in the water back home.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes. Well I did do English in highschool, and then I went to London as an Au Pair, but I decided that I want to know more people and to do that you need to know the language.
My teachers and my classes? It is perfect for learning. I have Paul as a teacher, and I find that his teaching is good and it is functional.
What was your favourite activity? My favourite activity… I did like tie-dying! I want to do that again! The colours turned out a bit whack, but I would like to try again. Also, I want to try meditation and yoga. Living in Byron Bay makes me want to live healthier, eat healthier and be healthier.
Tell me about your accommodation/homestay… I am currently living in a hostel, though am renting a house as of next week! I have liked staying at the hostel. There are many people there, and because of that when I go around Byron there is always a friendly face 😊
What are your favourite things to do in Byron? I like to go for a picnic on the grass by Main Beach with friends. I do like to do that. The coolest thing here I think is the people I meet.
What is your most magical moment in Byron? So far… my magical moment here in Byron… I walk along the beach at around 6am to see the sunrise. I never used to do that back home. I would actually like to sleep in! But there is something different here, I like the mornings.
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron? I like the small classes, and I like the ‘English Only’ policy. It’s really good beacuse we stay talking all the time, so it becomes easy. It’s been good to practice speaking and listening.
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay? If you are looking for a home place, Byron Bay is a good place to do it. I say don’t think about it and just do it. It’s an experience you will have for all of your life.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Ludovico!
Tell us a little about yourself Ludovico:
I’m Ludovico, I’m from Italy. Before I arrived here I was a university student in Rome. I then decided to leave the university and came here to improve my English. This is because I want to work in hospitality when I return to Italy.
Why did you choose Byron Bay?
I chose Byron Bay for the lifestyle, and for the waves 🌊
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes.
My weaknesses… what I found hard was grammar and current tenses. I want to improve so that I can speak well.
I really like my class and my teacher Michelle. She’s really nice, and she helps and explains well. I don’t want to change classes, even though I’m graduating soon and moving to an upper class I don’t want to because I like my current class.
What was your favourite activity?
I think my favourite activity was the ping pong, or table tennis competition. I liked this because I won! I also would have like to have done the Aussie beer tasting, but I was working and I missed out.
Tell me about your accomodation/homestay…
Haha, I stay in the accomodation near the school. I like it because of the good people and the good vibes. I like it because we surf together and have dinner together. We’re kind of like a family like that.
What are your favourite things to do in Byron?
SURF!
What is your most magical moment in Byron? SURF! I also like the Byron Bay facebook market place! I found a cheap beer bong table for $50, made everyone chip in $5 each, and picked it up from a fat Australian man. He was so funny! 😋
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron?
The mood at the school is good, it is a friendly place. It is not like a normal school. Here I actually like going to class.
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay? They should go! I tell all my friends that they should come.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Amelie!
Tell us a little about yourself Amélie: I live in France, close to Bardeaux. I studied graphic design. I want to learn English to improve my English. I stayed 1 month in Byron Bay.
Why did you choose Byron Bay? I chose to study in Byron Bay for the landscape. I didn’t want to stay in a city. I liked the ambience and the music in Byron.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes. My weakness was especially to speak, and sometimes to understand others when they talk. I had a good class, and my teacher Michelle was very good to me. She was very patient and very calm with me.
What was your favourite activity? I did a few of the activities! My favourite was pilates!
Tell me about your accomodation/homestay… My host family was amazing! I stayed in Suffolk Park and I would ride my bike to school. My host was a very good cook, and would cook for me very well. Every dinner would be different and amazing! They also introduced me to Milo.
What are your favourite things to do in Byron? I like to walk to the lighthouse.
What is your most magical moment in Byron? There was a magical moment for me when I was at Broken Head Beach, just down from Suffolk Park… and wow, I don’t know how else to describe… but it was magical. The sand was so white, and the ocean so blue… magical.
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron? The environment of the school, like the atmosphere of it. It was nice.
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay? Talk with people from different backgrounds and different nationalities! Everybody is different and has their own language, and I think it is important to speak with different people to improve.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Sina!
Tell us a little about yourself Sina:
My name is Sina, I’m from Switzerland and I’m 21 years old. Before I came to Byron Bay I was working as a carpenter. I want to learn English because I like to travel and then you have to speak English. I have been in Byron for four weeks.
Why did you choose Byron Bay?
I chose Byron Bay because I was shown photos of the school and Byron and I wanted to go. It’s also the opposite to Switzerland, this is another reason why I wanted to go. It’s easy going and chill.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes.
Some things in English were hard. My weakness would be grammer, and the use of present or past tense. I had a good teacher and funny class. Michelle is funny and so nice. How she explains everything was very good.
What was your favourite activity?
Jewellery making I think was my favourite. I liked boomerang painting too, though the skill of jewellery making is one that I can do every day.
Tell me about your accomodation/homestay…
I was staying in Suffolk Park and had a very good house mother. She is a very good cook, and would read over my essays and help me with my English. I would also ride my bike to school, it was good and I can get the money back when I sell it.
What are your favourite things to do in Byron?
I love to watch the sunrise in Byron, and I like to do the lighthouse walk.What is your most magical moment in Byron?
I think the sunrise.
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron?
Well, it’s like school. A relaxing school.What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay?
You should go! It’s a good place to make lots of friends from everywhere.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Baptiste!
Tell us a little about yourself Baptiste: My name is Baptiste. I’m from Switzerland, the French part. Before coming to Byron I worked for 2 years in the army. I stayed in Australia for 4 months to study English. This is because I think it is important to travel around the world 🗺️
Why did you choose Byron Bay?
Because it’s a very quiet little town!
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia? Tell me more about your teachers and your classes.
I never study English before coming to Australia.
What was your favourite activity?
SURFING! 🏄♂️
Tell me about your accomodation/homestay…
It’s a nice place to meet people from another country.
What are your favourite things to do in Byron?
Surf, get a tan, chillen, beer, eating.
What is your most magical moment in Byron?
Sunset
What did you like the most about Lexis Byron?
The people 😊
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay?
Do it!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Today our Happy Student at Lexis Byron Bay is Melina!
We love having Melina here in Byron Bay 😊 and enjoy the fact that she always has a different pair of funny and bright socks on! 🧦
What country are you from?
Switzerland.
Why did you chooose to come to Australia?
I wanted to travel far away.
And why did you come to Lexis Byron Bay?
A friend of mine recommended it to me.
What do you like most abour your classes?
It’s easy to learn.
Outside of school, what is your favourite thing about Byron Bay?
The beach.
What is your favourite thing about Australia?
The people.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to study at Lexis Byron Bay?
Do it 😉
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Our happy student this month is the wonderful fun-loving Johnny from Japan 😀 Johnny is always smiling and always keen to have a chat. He is the life and party at our student nights and I have been told he has some seriously impressive dance moves up his sleeve!
Why did you choose to come to Australia and to Lexis Byron Bay in particular?
I firstly saw Lexis Byron Bay blog and noticed there was only a few Japanese students and a nice mix of people from different countries. I have also heard great things about Byron Bay and its magic. I hope my dreams come true while I am here.
What do you remember about your first day in school?
The day I started there was only 2 other new students. I was very tired and a little bit nervous for my test, but it was okay in the end. It was a good memory.
What are your English goals and how is Lexis helping you achieve them?
I want to improve my English. Eventually I want to be a fluent native speaker and find a job where I speak English. In class we have a lot of time to speak with other students, which is very helpful.
What do you like most about your classes?
The conversations. Compared to when I studied in the USA, i find it a lot easier here.
You’ve joined many of our activities. What has been your favourite one so far?
I like the student parties and always hanging out with my friends.
Outside school, what is your favourite thing about Byron Bay?
Watching sunset and sunrise. The nightclubs and lots of socialising.. sometimes its crazy! 😀
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to study at Lexis Byron Bay?
Lexis students are all very friendly. They are all happy to speak with you. It is important to talk to people from other countries, at Lexis there is a great mix of people from all over the world so it is always great practice.
~
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Monica has been a student at Lexis Byron Bay for just over 3 months. In this time she has continued to shine! Monica is always warm and patient with new students and brings out the best in everyone around her. She has made many strong friendships during her time here and we will all miss her when she leaves us at the end of this week. Everyone that knows Monica, knows how truly kind and selfless she is.
We asked her a few questions for our ‘Happy Students Blog’ to get to know her even better:
Where are you from?
I’m from Garopaba. It’s a small town in the South of Brazil.
Why did you come to Australia?
I came to Australia because I have friends here and the country’s wealth is quite similar to Brazil. I choose Byron Bay because it’s a small town, like my home town in Brazil and I feel at home here.
What is your favourite thing about Byron Bay?
I love Byron Bay and I don’t know if I can choose just one thing. I’m so lucky because I had a lot of good friends here and also I have made many good friends.
Is your English Improving?
Yes, for sure! When I arrived here I couldn’t speak well, but now I feel much more confident.
What would you say to someone who is considering studying at Lexis Byron Bay?
You must go to Lexis Byron Bay, it is a great opportunity to learn English and make friends from many countries.
What are your plans after you finish studying at Lexis?
I’m going to Thailand to learn about Thai Massage and then I’ll go back to Brazil..
~
It has been a delight having you as a student Monica and I can’t thank you enough for all the laughs and good times you have brought to our activities!
The wonderful Sagiri has been a student at Lexis since April. In this time she has made us all laugh and smile with her funny jokes and kind personality. Her time here at Lexis Byron Bay is just about over and we are all very sad she is leaving.
I asked Sagiri some questions about her time in Byron Bay so far.
Where are you from?
I’m from Japan
Why did you come to Australia?
Because there are a lot of beautiful beaches. I wanted to be friends with people from various countries and I wanted a lot of great experiences.
What is your favourite thing about Byron Bay?
People are warm and kind. They always smile when our eyes meet. I can always feel a lot of happiness.
Is your English improving?
Yes, little by little. Learning English is difficult but fun!
What would you say to someone who is considering studying at Lexis Byron Bay?
You are lucky in Byron Bay, everything is easy-going and enjoyable.. even study!! It is important not to be upset!
What are your plans after you finish studying at Lexis?
I’m going to move to Gold Cost to work. However, I want to return to Byron Bay again in the summer because I love it here and I always want to have fun! 😀
~
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Congratulations to Nanami for achieving 100% on her test today! 😀
Thank you for being such a dedicated and happy student! 🙂 We appreciate you enthusiasm and hard work <3
Well done Nanami!!
~
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing or Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
The lovely Nami started her Lexis Journey in April. She will be here until October. Originally from Japan, Nami used to work in an Irish pub before she came to Australia.
I asked Nami some questions about her time her in Byron Bay so far..
Where are you from?
-Kobe, Hyogo, JAPAN
Why did you come to Australia?
-To improve my English, especially listening and speaking. Also to experience the culture in Byron Bay and Australia.
What is your favourite thing about Byron Bay?
-Going to Tallow’s Beach and exploring places like Crystal Castle.
Is your English Improving?
-Yes, I think it is getting better a little bit.
What would you say to someone who is considering studying at Lexis Byron Bay?
-People of Lexis Byron Bay are very kind. They have always helped me, anytime.
What are your plans after you finish studying at Lexis?
-I’d like to go on a trip around Australia and then back to Japan.
Its great to have you at Lexis Nami!
We look forward to more fun activities and happy moments! 🙂
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
We had a crafty Thursday afternoon painting terracotta pots!
Once again I was blown away by the creativity and talent of our students.
We discussed what we would do with our pot plant when we had finished and most of us decided we would gift our creation to a friend or our host families.
With our freshly painted pots we then added a beautiful flower. They looked amazing!
Great job everyone, thanks for a super fun afternoon!
~
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
On Wednesday we got busy in the student kitchen making ANZAC biscuits. The Anzac biscuit is a sweet biscuit, popular in Australia and New Zealand, made using rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking soda and desiccated coconut.
Anzac biscuits have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps established in World War I. The biscuits were sent by wives and women’s groups to soldiers abroad because the ingredients do not spoil easily and the biscuits kept well during transportation.
Alessia, Mano and Juliane having fun getting ready to bake! Also very excited about another public holiday for ANZAC day on Thursday!
INGREDIENTS
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup plain flour
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup desiccated coconut
1/3 cup golden syrup
125g butter
1 teaspoon bicarb soda
METHOD
Preheat oven to 160°C.
Place the oats, flour, sugar and coconut in a bowl and mix to combine.
Melt the butter and golden syrup together in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.
Combine the bicarb soda with the water and then add to the butter mixture.
Pour butter mixture into the oat mixture, and mix together until well combined.
Place a large spoonful of the mixture onto baking trays lined with baking paper. Flatten to 7cm rounds and make sure there is room between each cookie for them to spread while baking.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden in colour.
Allow to cool on baking trays for 5 minutes then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Enjoy this tasty Australian treat!!
~
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing and Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Yesterday morning we gathered in the student lounge to learn how to make macrame wrap crystal necklaces! It requires a lot of concentration but is not as difficult as it looks! Everyone was so quick to learn and I was so impressed by their masterpieces. Here we are in action…
We used different stones, shells, wood beads and glass beads and wrapped them with a special thread, making sure they were long enough to go around the neck. Most of us made a necklace but we had two beautiful bracelets in the mix too! See our beautiful creations here… 🙂
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing or Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
This week I caught up with Chiara one of our Swiss Italian students who has been studying with us at Lexis Byron since September.
Chiara always has a positive vibe and a huge smile on her face so I thought I would ask her a few questions about her adventure so far studying English in Byron Bay……….
So Chiara, why did you choose Byron Bay ?
I chose Byron Bay because I don’t really like to spend a long time in a city. I feel that the ocean and the easy going life style are two of the most important things in life.
Byron Bay is so relaxed, chilled out and full of beautiful beaches and nature! I know a few students who have studied in Byron Bay and they were all very happy with their experience at Lexis English.
What were your weakness in English before you moved to Australia ?
Before I came to Lexis I could speak English with people but not really explain myself well. I missed a lot of words and always felt a little shy. Since I’ve been at Lexis I have become a lot more confident and love to chat in English with my friends whenever I can.
Tell me about your teachers and your classes.
I love my classmates they have become my close friends! We are always laughing and having a great time. When I leave Lexis I’ll for sure stay in contact with them!
Adrienne, my teacher is amazing, funny and very helpful.
Whats your favorite activity ?
I enjoy all the activities at school and try to go to all of them. I do prefer the activities outside the school. My favorite was body boarding at the beach. It was really fun and the waves were amazing! We even saw dolphins!
Tell me about your accommodation.
My accommodation is amazing! I am living in a homestay with Elly and Toby. They are really kind and they cook delicious food everyday. They will do anything to help me out and I really feel welcome and part of their family.
What are your favorite things to do in Byron ?
I love going to the beach when I’m not at school. I live just a short bike ride away from the Tallows beach. I love to go there and walk without my shoes on!
Whats is your most magical moment in Bryon ?
I think that everyday gives me something magical. Everyday is different compared to Switzerland. Just to see the sunrise and sunset is very special to me.
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay?
Lexis is a very nice school, all the teachers and employees are very friendly and helpful. Everyone is very happy here, its easy to make new friends and have fun together !
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing or Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
My name is Harriett but you can call me Harry! I am super excited to be a new member of the Byron Team working in the sunshine as a new Teacher / Front Desk Support Officer.
I am 26 , from the UK and arrived in Australia in June for my working Holiday visa. I have been living in Melbourne for the past 3 months but am very happy to be swapping the rain and cold for the beach and surf in Byron Bay!
I have spent the last two years living and teaching English and Art in Thailand. I am so excited to get back into the classroom to have lots of fun sharing my love for English with everyone at Lexis!
I will be running the morning activities at 11am and teaching some classes in the afternoons.
I am very creative, I love to drink tea, paint, draw, make and create. I hope to get messy and artsy with everyone in some of our morning activities !
Please come along to the for a cup of tea or coffee and introduce yourself.
I am really friendly, bubbly and love to meet new people!
I am looking forward to getting to know you all and helping make your time at Lexis English fun and full of laughter!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
After 10 years working in the same big company Elena decided to take a seven month break; leaving her family, her friends and her flat in Spain she came to us here at Lexis Byron Bay to improve her life and her English. She says: ‘English is the language of the world and I thought that it was the best thing to improve my professional and personal life because some time ago I discovered that to travel is something that really made me happy’.
We are so glad Elena made this choice, it was an absolute joy having her at Lexis, a true beauty inside and out. She made many great friendships with both students and staff in her 6 months here with us and is sorely missed. For this reason we contacted her after she’d left us to go on her travels to ask a few questions about her time at Lexis, and being the amazing person that she is she was happy to oblige, answering the below for us from her terrace in Siargao, Philippines……………
Why did you choose Byron Bay?
I was born in a little village called Elche, in Alicante, in the south east of Spain but for the last 7 years I was living in Barcelona; I love this city and at the moment I don’t think I will change my home but when I started to think of this experience I wanted something totally different… and when I listened to the first words to describe Byron, I didn’t need to think more… it was my place to study English near the beach!! And it was a good idea because not only is the village quiet and you can live a relaxed lifestyle, our school is a similar place. The students and the staff are the same way!! No stress!!!
Elena on her first day at Lexis Byron in January (sixth from right)
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia?
Before I came to Australia for me it was impossible to think that I will be able to have a conversation in English for more than 10 minutes!!! Maybe I don’t look it but I’m so shy and before I came here I preferred to listen and not speak… because of this my first days in the school I was so serious!! In the first moment I didn’t like too much the games to speak to each other in class but after I understood that it was the best way to not be shy and everyday I was less shy and started to improve my English!! I remember my amazing teacher Georgie and her class of conversation in the garden!! It was my favorite after the first month!!! And now I have really good friends from other countries who I can only speak English with and our conversations are so interesting like if we speak in our mother language!
Elena and Lexis friends on a night out at Cheeky Monkeys!!
Tell me about your teachers and your classes…
In my 6 months in Lexis school I have had different teachers in different levels. My first teacher in the Pre-Intermediate level was the funny Naomi only for some days and the beauty Michelle after, and I finished my course with the amazing Josie in the Upper Intermediate level, but during these 6 months all my teachers were wonderful and I can’t forget our lovely Claire and her activities with Tim Tams or the manager Lisa that always helped me with all my doubts!!
Elena was a regular at our Coffee Club / Tim Tam activity!!
Elena was a regular at our Coffee Club/Tim Tam activity!!
What was your favorite activity?
If I must find a activity I can’t forget the last one… Playing twister with Josie and Naomi in the garden, it was one of my last days and a funny memory!!
Playing Twister in the sun!
Tell us about your accommodation…
My two first months I was in a homestay in Suffolk park, where I was living with another student also, my cute Pascal from Switzerland! For a girl like me, who was living in the center of her city before, it was a little far from town but my homestay was an amazing house and Jane, my Australian mum, is now one important piece of my Australian family and I know that I will see her again in my country.
Elena’s homestay family; host mother Jane and fellow student Pascal from Switzerland
And the last 4 months I was living in BBSA (Lexis’ on-site student accommodation); for me it was a good experience and the perfect way to meet a lot of people from different countries; you are speaking with people with different accents and you can discover different cultures!! There I found another Spanish-Catalan family and also a lot important friends that I will have in my life for a long time!!! Now we are preparing a big party all together in Europe!!!
Elena at her Spanish family in the on-site accommodation!
Messing around in the Student Kitchen!
What are your favorite things to do in Byron?
People who know me know that I’m happy cooking, going out with my friends, drinking beer in some nice place or on the beach… But in Byron I discovered that the thing that really makes me happy is walking on the beach and Byron Bay is perfect to do it because it has a lot of such beautiful beaches! And now I have my favorite place in the world and that is Broken Head beach, my homestay was close to this beach and more or less every day I was walking around this beach, I have good memories of those days. It can be stupid or difficult to understand but for me it is a magical place!
Elena at our Swiss Cooking – Fondue activity!
What is your most magical moment in Byron Bay?
I can’t speak only about one moment because I have a lot in my memory and always related to someone! Although I think that Byron Bay is paradise, I think also that paradise is not a place, it is a feeling and for me the magical thing that takes with me from there is the people that I’ve met. Now I have 3 new sisters and we remember our important moments together!! We shared the school, the home and the room also!! Hahahaha
Elena now has three new sisters thanks to Lexis! Nicole, Martina and Helena!
What did you miss about the Lexis Byron School when you left – what made you come back? *(Elena left us for a short while to study at Lexis Sunshine Coast)
After the first month, more or less, Martina and me started to speak that maybe it was a good idea to change the village because six or seven month was too much time in the same place for this big country. I don’t want to say anything bad because in Sunshine Lexis school all the staff and the students were so lovely with us but I missed Byron and the school, I couldn’t imagine that I would miss the games where we speak all the time in the activities, also our fans in the hot summer!! I didn’t like be in a school like a real school with air conditioning! I missed the students without shoes and the breaks in the garden under the sun!! I think only I needed two or three days to write to Lisa and tell her that I wanted to come back. It was the best decision!!!
Coffee, Tim Tams, Friends and Jenga!! 🙂
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay?
Do it! You can find all that you need there; if after 6 months I have enough English to travel on my own in different countries any person can improve all that they want!! And there you will find good friends for a long time! All these answers are only my feelings and my personal experience but I’m so happy to have lived my other real life there!! Do it!!
Elena, who started in Pre-Intermediate, graduating from Upper Intermediate; with teacher Josie!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing or Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Sakiko is 24 years old and she is from Kochi, a small town in rural Japan. She studied law at Kobe University and came straight to Australia after she graduated. She arrived in Byron Bay in June 2016 and has been at Lexis for an incredible here for 52 weeks! I interviewed Sakiko on her last day of school to find out about the remarkable year she has had.
Why did you choose Byron Bay?
While I was at University I was living in a big city, it was very crowded and busy for me. I wanted to live somewhere quiet and peaceful. My agent recommended Byron Bay to me and it is exactly what I wanted. Also I love yoga; I practised it in Japan for many years. Yoga is a big part of life in Byron, I practice yoga 3 or 4 times every week here.
Byron is a great place to come if you don’t know anybody. If you go to a big place it is hard to meet people but Byron is community so it is a good opportunity to speak with local people – it has a very friendly atmosphere here, everyone is happy to talk to you.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia?
I found listening and speaking the most difficult – I think most Japanese have this problem. We don’t have speaking practise in class at school in Japan so I was not used to speaking. On my first day I couldn’t understand everything, even though everyone was speaking slowly, I just guessed what they were saying. I did not feel ready to speak English yet, I’m afraid to make mistakes when I spoke. After 1 month and 2 months when I made a lot of friends from different places they really influenced me. Especially my Brazilian friends because I saw that they were not scared to make mistakes. I asked them once: ‘you don’t care about making mistakes?’ but they said ‘no I don’t care, I just speak.’ That was a really good lesson to learn.
Tell me about your teachers and your classes.
I started in Intermediate class. I studied a lot of English to enter University, and my grammar was good. I have had so many great teachers. Paul is my favourite teacher because he is so interesting and he always makes us laugh. He taught me pronunciation, how English and Japanese are so different because of emphasis and intonation. It was very hard, I almost gave up, but he never gave up to teach me!
One lesson we went to Byron Bay farmers market (we have this once a week in Byron, in the mornings, we can buy local products: fresh vegetables, fruits etc. It’s a great community atmosphere.) Here we interviewed the people working in the market. I was nervous but they are so kind to us, even though we were still learning. It was great because I often go to the farmers market but I don’t often have the chance to communicate with the producers about the local produce.
What was your favourite activity?
Yoga was my favourite activity. Every Monday at school there is free yoga and I went every week for a year. I think I improved my yoga a lot. I also tried a lot of new activities, like surfing, skate boarding, slack-lining, cooking (we made koala cupcakes). They were very sweet for me but I enjoyed decorating them.
Tell me about your accommodation.
My first 6 weeks I was in homestay accommodation, staying with Gill and John. They were so kind. I was nervous about living with them, but on my first day they took me around Byron Bay, to lots of places. We went up to the lighthouse and to different beaches. We had lots of BBQs at the house and we baked cookies.
Afterwards I find a share house on Gumtree. It takes my five minutes to get to school on foot. At the moment with 2 Australian people, this has helped me to learn English. My host is very kind and speaks slowly and explains what words mean to me and this really helped my English improve.
What are your favourite things to do in Byron?
After I took a surf lesson, I decided to buy a surf board. During the Summer I surfed almost every day. It’s a good life, study and then go to surf. I think I got a bit better and I enjoyed it. I would meet up with my friends at the beach to surf.
I also enjoy going up to lighthouse to see the sunrise. It is the most Easterly point of Australia and the view is amazing. The view always changes as the seasons change. One morning I met my friends at 4:30 am and we walked up in the dark and the stars were beautiful.
I also love yoga here. It is very different to Japan, it seems more difficult and there is more variety of lessons. I can chose which I want to do depending on the condition of my body.
What is your most magical moment in Byron?
While I was doing the light house walk in the morning I saw whales and dolphins. One time I saw many dolphins very close to us on the walk. I was able to take this amazing picture:
What is your advice for people who are thinking about enrolling at Lexis Byron Bay?
You should come here, all the teachers are very kind and there are good quality lessons that are interesting and never boring. It is a very small school here so it is easy for everyone to get to know each other. March was my favourite month, because it is not too hot but the Sun is still out and it is not so crowded here. Winter is also good here, the sky is clear and bright but it is not too hot, you can see beautiful sunrises!
What are you going to do now?
I have 3 weeks holidays now before I move to Lexis Perth. Tomorrow I am going to travel in New Zealand for 1 week. After New Zealand my sister will come here to visit in Byron Bay. Then I am going to do the Gold Coast marathon with my sister. I have heard it is a good route, around the beach but very flat. It is going to be a very challenging event in my life but I like to try new challenges. I am a little but worried about that but also excited. I will study in Perth for 3 weeks and then go home back to Japan. When I go home I think I will look for a job. I would like to live one more year in Australia or New Zealand, I want more opportunity to use English and communicate with English speakers. In Japan I would love to do an international job that involves using English and possibly working with sports, for example I would love to have a job related to the Japanese Olympics in Tokyo 2020.
Good luck with your marathon and your travels Sakiko, you will be missed here at Lexis Byron Bay!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Last week Paul’s FCE class went on an excursion to the Farmers’ Market. The purpose was to do some research so that they could write an exam format report about their visit.
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The full reports are in the photos below, but here are some of the highlights from a class of very talented writers.
At the market you can find many different stalls selling a wide range of things, such as fresh organic vegetables, fruits, organic coffee and different kinds of juices. Besides this, you can buy a breakfast and eat it there enjoying a good live music. Julio
I think the local market plays a good role in local business. Nowadays, it’s difficult to get fresh and organic local products due to the fact that there are many supermarket chains. We tend to buy everything there owing to the low-priced. I believe we can make our life better if we contribute to local business. Sakiko
The only problem we can find is the prices of products, but this is the sign of quality that marks the difference between the organic products at the farmers’ market and what you get at supermarkets. Maria
The market takes place at the Rails Park every Thursday in the morning between 8am and 11am. I definitely recommend this market for everybody who wants to go shopping for fresh food and have fun while doing it. Gabriel
Thank you to Nil and Cesc, from Paul’s class, who are responsible for the beautiful photos.
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing or Yoga in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
Tito is from Switzerland – the small village of Malvaglia. He arrived in Byron Bay 6 months ago and enrolled at Lexis, starting in the Upper Intermediate class. After several months studying General English, he went travelling round Australia in his van, with friends he had met at Lexis. He traveled down the East Coast, into the outback and finally to Sydney, before returning to Byron. He is now knuckling down to study for his Cambridge Advanced Qualification. Tito has become part of the furniture here at Lexis Byron Bay; you will often find him waxing his surfboard, skulking around reception looking for Tim Tams or involved in a heated table tennis match. Tito is a fantastic student and a pleasure to have at school, he is loved by fellow students and teachers alike.
I decided to interview Tito to find out a bit more about his experience here.
Why did you choose Byron Bay?
I chose Byron because I didn’t want to live in a big town with all the hustle and bustle – I wanted to live in a small town – here with the waves I can find peace, enjoying the sunny weather and the fresh sea air. I think I would to define Byron Bay as an open minded and multi-cultural place.
What were your weaknesses in English before you came to Australia?
I was a little bit rusty in everything concerning grammar – for this reason it was essential to go on a formal English course. Being here for 6 months, using the language has become natural – I think it is a process which takes time, but you can really see your improvements by being fully immersed in a situation where the use of this language is required.
Tell me about your teachers and your classes.
I have been enrolled in upper intermediate and then advanced, where I had the opportunity to meet the amazing teachers Claudia and Josie – Claudia is an extremely knowledgeable teacher and I liked her way of explaining a lot of grammar rules which before were difficult for me to understand. Whereas Josie is the most motivating teacher that I have ever had and it’s a great pleasure to learn such a challenging syllabus with a teacher who makes it seem so easy and enjoyable.
What is it like living in our onsite Accommodation?
It’s an extremely comfortable and familiar place to live – there is a very sociable environment, it is very easy to make friends and as soon as you arrive you become part of the onsite family. It is always possible to go out of your room and hang around in the common area, seeing all of your friends. Since my arrival I’ve met a lot of gregarious people with whom I have organised many dinners, for example the Easter Sunday dinner where almost all the residents (50 people) cooked delicious dishes to share in a friendly and pleasant environment. Many students from around the world made different dishes from their home countries. I made a pizza from scratch, inspired by my Swiss Italian heritage – so tasty.
What is your favourite activity that we run here?
The most attractive activity is undoubtedly the table tennis tournament, where only the student with the best skills can win the title and of course the beer. It is always full of cheering crowds, the competition gets very heated. Romain is better than me, so he usually wins, but I win second place, which is also an impressive accolade. Don’t worry if you think you are not going to win, we will still share the beer with you!
What are your favourite things to do in Byron?
Most days I enjoy spending my time at the beach, surfing, sunbathing and playing beach games such as Frisbee and Volleyball. It is wonderful to live and study right on the beach. I will never forget the time when a dolphin passed right under my surfboard, what a breathtaking moment! I often see dolphins when surfing, during the Summer it is as common as seeing bushturkeys. You also can’t leave Byron without experiencing the nightlife of this delightful town; Sticky Wicket, Lala land, The Rails and of course Cheeky Monkey’s are all lovely pubs/clubs where you can meet local people and share drinks and great discussions with your friends. A warning though: Do not abuse alcohol; otherwise you will pay the consequences the next day at school!
Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
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Friday 24 May
