English Only Competition

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Lexis | Byron Bay

On Monday we asked our students how we can better enforce the English Only Policy downstairs in the student kitchen and lounge (where there are usually no members of staff to keep watch).

Here are the suggestions:

We can install a microphone to listen to students and if someone speaks in another language the microphone makes a noisy alarm.

Thomas, Vera, Miho and Claudia

If you speak another language, you have to clean up the classrooms.

If you speak another language you are not allowed to spend time with anyone else who speaks the same language during the day.

If you speak another language you won’t be able to join any activities for two days.

Donovan, Noriko and Pablo

For each country, nominate a person who will help all others to speak English only. Encourage not order!

Kim, Ryoma, Yuka and Melanie

If students speak their own language they pay $20 into an English Only box.

One of the teachers stays downstairs during breaks to watch the students

If someone speaks their own language in a mix country group, the other students will give them a punishment or penalty.

Erika, Mayumi, Emiko and Doi.

If one student hears another student taking in another language they can tell a teacher and receive a point. At the end of the week, the student with the most points receive a prize.

Inola, Priscilla, Shinji and Ravi

If a student speaks different languages they must pay money. This money can be used for improvements to the school.

Shinsuke and Maito

All the students’ names are on a board downstairs and if anyone hears someone speaking another language they make a mark next to the students’ name. All students who don’t have a mark at the end of the week go into a draw to win a prize.

Florian

If a student speaks another country’s language give him or her a big report to write e.g. 1000 words.

Bernarda and Yuki

If a student speaks their own language they must go and see a teacher and if they do this more than two times they must also write 10 pages about the school and clean the toilets for a week.

Mantana and Palm

If you speak another language you have to do a pledge on graduation day (like a song, dance or little game.)

If you speak another language you have to write apologies in all the other languages that people speak in the school (English, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Japanese etc).

Teachers can take a break with students to practice English in break-time.

Estelle, Nami, Nuria and Elisabeth.

What are you favourite suggestions? On Friday, at graduation we will hand out prizes for the best ideas. I have two vouchers for a dolphin kayak trip with GoSeaKayak (normally valued at $69) to give away plus a six pack of beer. Let me know you think should win.

Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students can 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.

Welcome to Our New Starters – 27 July 2015

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

New starters Mirko from Switzerland and Marcel from Germany (back) and Yuki from Japan (front) are all doing the Teenage Residential Surf Camp with Rodolphe (far right) who started last week.

This week, Lexis English welcomes 6 new starters: Mirko from Switzerland, Marcel from Germany, Doen from Korea, Kennida (Kenya) from Italy, and Junya and Yuki from Japan.

Doen, from Korea, is here for 5 weeks before she heads up to Lexis Noosa to study Cambridge FCE. She studies Fashion Design at university in Korea but is taking a year out to learn English and discover the Australian culture.

Junya, from Japan will study at Lexis English for twelve weeks. He has already been in Australia for nearly two months and has spent that time travelling in the North and working as a fruit-picker in Bundaberg. He told me that he wants to learn English so that he can travel the world.

Kenya, from Italy has been in Australia for nearly a year. She also has a job in Byron Bay at Chichette’s Italian Restaurant. She will study at Lexis for four weeks, initially, but may stay longer. She likes playing tennis and dancing.

Mirko, Marcel and Yuki are all here doing our Teen Surf Camp, where they study English in the morning and learn to surf in the afternoon.

Mirko, from Switzerland, is here for two weeks. He is already sporty, as he likes skating, skiing and mountain biking so he should find surfing no problem! In the future, he wants to be a school teacher.

Marcel, from Germany, is only at Lexis for one week. However, his English is already really good because he studies at an international school. He is a keen skateboarder and brought his long board to Byron Bay to help him get around.

Finally, Yuki arrived late last night from Japan. It’s his first time in Australia, first time surfing and first time at English school! Even though he understands little, so far he is always smiling and seems to be having a good time.

We really hope you all enjoy your stay at Lexis English. Welcome!

Swiss Cooking – Classic Cheese Fondue

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

We had the ever-popular Swiss Cooking activity this afternoon.

Claudia had nine students at start of the hour as she took charge of Yvonne’s classic Cheese Fondue recipe. However, by the time I went down to the kitchen to take some photos, there were a lot more students enjoying a dip. Everyone really enjoyed it, even those who’d never tasted fondue before. And DK said that since it contained schapps and wine, nobody would be able to do any homework tonight!

Two of the students took the recipe home so they could make it again at the weekend. And here it is it below in case you want to try it out at home.

Cheese Fondue

Ingredients

600g shredded cheese (50/50 Gruyere and Emmental)

I garlic clove

A third of a bottle of white wine

3 teaspoon of cornflour

3 small glasses kirsch

Ground pepper and nutmeg to taste

Method

Rub a heavy saucepan or fondue pot with the split garlic clove.

Dissolve the cornstarch in the kirsch.

Put the cheese and wine into the pan and slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

When the cheese is completely melted, add the kirsch and cornflour mixture, stirring vigourously.

Continue to cook and season to taste with pepper and nutmeg.

Serve over an alcohol lamp or candle plate warmer so the cooking can continue on a low heat.

Now enjoy by dipping in small pieces of bread, meat or vegetables speared on a fondue fork.

Keep stirring with your bread as you dip.

Enjoy 🙂

Activities with DK

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

DK has been with us for a few weeks now. He is a very funny guy, from South Korea, in our Pre-Intermediate class. DK has been very busy in the afternoons going to many of the daily activities that we offer here in Byron Bay. We caught up with him and asked him a few questions about Byron Bay, the school, and the activities.

Slacklining in the Garden!

What do you think about the activities here at Lexis?

I am too shy to do yoga so I don’t like that one. I like the outside activities like volleyball and soccer.

What is your favourite activity?

I like the Slacklining!

Our Skateboarding class taught by Flavio!

Do you like that there are different activities every day?

Yes

How do you like the school and classes here?

Its very nice. Marie my teacher is so kind and patient with me, so I like that too.

How do you like Byron Bay?

It’s very green and clean and not polluted. I like it here and there are kind people.

DK enjoying a taco at our Mexican BBQ Activity

A Day in the Life of Lexis Byron Bay

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

Ever wondered what happens all day at a language school? All these pictures were taken at Lexis Byron Bay in the last 24 hours to show what a typical day looks like. It was an unusually chilly night last night, which explains the surprising number of hats and hoodies being worn in our usually extremely pleasant climate.

8am – 9am

Many of our students surf before class. Meanwhile at school, Miguel the student cleaner, the teachers and the office staff begin to arrive.

9am – 10am

Students are in class for the first 90 minute lesson. Today one class is enjoying having part of their lesson in the sun, while the rest are studying, more traditionally, in their classrooms.

10am – 11am

Break time is between 10.30am and 10.45am. Ping pong is always popular during the breaks. Meanwhile other students cook a late breakfast or relax and chat (in English, of course).

11am – 12pm

Everyone is back in class for the second 90 minute lesson. Claudia’s Pre-Intermediates are doing pairwork while Anji’s Upper Intermediate class are discussing new vocabulary.

12pm – 1pm

Lunch is from 12.15pm until 1pm. While some students are using the large, industrial kitchen to cook their lunch, others are chatting, doing ball tricks or just hanging out in the sunshine.

1pm – 2pm

It’s Options Class time for full-time General English students, while the Cambridge classes continue with their exam preparation. Julia’s CAE class head outside for a mingle activity, while Marie’s Movies and Songs class are in the student lounge preparing for, and watching, a film.

2pm – 3pm

Today’s free activity is slack-lining. So a group of students gather in the garden to have a go. Meanwhile, teacher Sammy is providing homework assistance, writing feedback, conversation practice and advice for students in GIL (Guided Independent Learning) and CAE student Jose is doing some extra listening test practice. As it’s a beautiful day, other students are grabbing their surf boards and heading to the beach.

3pm – 4pm

All scheduled activities are over for the day, but a group of boys set up their own football game in the gardens while star students Zoe and Madoka do some extra study in the sun.

4pm – 5pm

Most students have left for the day but the office is still open for anyone needing assistance and a few teachers are still here preparing their classes for the morning.

At 5pm the school offices and classrooms close for the night and the students who live on-site have the kitchen, lounge and gardens to themselves to cook dinner, watch TV, play games chat and relax. All until 8am the following morning when everything starts again!

Accommodation Options for English Students

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

So, you’ve decided you want to study English Australia but you are not sure about where to stay, during your studies, or how much it will cost? Here at Lexis Byron Bay we offer students three different options to suit their objectives, needs and budgets.

Homestay

Photos from the home of homestay providers – Claudia and Byron Bernardazzi

Many students elect for the traditional option of a homestay as it not only provides a safe, comfortable living environment, but also plenty of opportunities to meet local people, make lasting friendships and get in lots of English practice. Homestay options include half-board (breakfast and dinner), B&B (breakfast only), executive homestay (own bathroom) and twin room. Prices (2015) range from $160 (twin room B&B) to $270 (half-board executive).

CAE students Samy Ben Miled and José Da Silva Barbosa are currently in a twin-share homestay. José explains below why he chose this option and why he is enjoying it so far.

“I chose homestay so I could have contact with locals and experience another culture. It’s also a great way to improve my English. My experience with my family has been really good because the father has the same interests as me; football (soccer). Only yesterday, we went to watch a game together. I’m really lucky. “

Jose (far left) and Samy (front centre) enjoying the beach with other Lexis students

Student House

Front of student house

Twin room in student house

On the other hand, many students prefer the independence of living in a student house and if you like to cook, don’t mind doing your own cleaning and washing and can get on with a house full of sharemates from around the world, this might be the option for you! Rooms start at $160 for a twin share, while the most expensive option is a single room at $200.

Reto Neuhaus, a current Swiss German student, booked to stay in the student house for the entire 20 weeks of his studies. Below, he explains why.

“I thought it would be a great way to meet other students and make friends quickly and also enable me to live more independently than a homestay. When I arrived, I discovered that it was right next to the school, which is perfect!”

Student house kitchen

On-site Accommodation

Twin bedroom in on-site accommodation

Kitchen facilities for use by on-site accommodation residents

At Lexis Byron Bay we also have one other very special and unique option; students can live on-site in a purpose built accommodation block attached to the school. Students living on-site, share the lounge, kitchen and toilet facilities with the school while sleeping in brand new, light, bright, airy bedrooms. Laundry facilities and free Wi-Fi are included and standard prices range from $150 for four-bed dorm to $225 for a single. In addition, there are “Specials” at certain times which make the prices even more appealing.

I asked Sora Kim, from South Korea, how she enjoyed living on-site.

“It’s so good because you meet many people from lots of different countries and we all sit together in the evening and talk. Whenever I’m feeling lonely or homesick I can just go down to the kitchen and there’s always something going on. Also, because it’s attached to the school, I don’t have to worry about the weather or getting up early!”

Sora outside the on-site accommodation

Student Accommodation – New Photos

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

The onsite student accommodation at Lexis school has been opened since late 2014 and has proved extremely popular with Lexis students, who can choose from single, twin or four bed dormitory style rooms.

For those of you that haven’t seen inside the accommodation, below are some photos of these gorgeous, clean, bright rooms.

Location, Location, Location!

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Lexis | Byron Bay

It’s nearly six months since the opening of Byron Bay Student Accommodation (BBSA). I asked current Lexis English student and onsite residence Pedro Cesco Litwin, who has been here since February, about the benefits of living on campus.

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Pedro (centre) in the student lounge

1. Location

“First of all, you don’t waste any time travelling to and from school. But also, it’s really close to the supermarket and other shops and facilities like the library. Most importantly, it’s in the middle of all the best beaches and surf spots; the Pass, Tallows Beach and Wategoes.”

Surfboard rack for accommodation residents

2. Flexibility

“My girlfriend is studying at university in Melbourne. She came up to visit me earlier this month and, even though she didn’t study at Lexis, she was able to stay in the accommodation with me. This is a benefit you don’t usually get from a homestay or a student house. Also, while, I started in a twin room, I’ve recently moved into a four-bed student dormitory in order to save some money. This was really easy for me to do.”

3. Friends from all over the world

“When I was studying in Melbourne I stayed in a homestay and then a share house. Both of these were great at the time and enabled me to meet many native speakers. However, I really like the fact that, in the Lexis accommodation, I’m living with people from all over the world. It’s a real insight into other people’s cultures and ways of life. In the evenings we often share food or get together to play cards, ping pong or soccer or even to watch a movie.”