Category Archives: Student's Story

This week we saw the return of Thomas Schenker.
How many times have you been to Byron Bay? Three times so far, the first was in 2009 to study the Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) course, then 2010 when I went to the outback, now 2011, I am studying in the advanced class for 1 week.
Why did you come to Byron Bay the first time? My friend’s girlfriend studied at BBELS in Frank’s Cambridge class the year before, she said “if you get Frank as a teacher you will be lucky”.
Why did you come back to Byron Bay? To visit Frank, Max the school and to surf.
What did you most enjoy about studying CAE in BBELS? Frank is a fantastic teacher; the style of his teaching is personal. You feel that he is eager to improve students’ English; his lessons are engaging and interesting. He always knows when students need to have a break and get some fresh air.
Tell me about your homestay? I stayed with Max he was my homestay father and I got to know him well, I played at the BBELS balcony 14 times for BBQs and buddy nights!
It was great because in homestay you can only speak English, you get to meet the locals and do what the locals do.
Who would you recommend BBELS to? I would recommend it to everyone, especially if you like music, surfing and outdoor sports.
Will we see you back here again? Hopefully in two years to study Cambridge Proficiency in English.
*Outback (n) = the remote and usually uninhabited inland regions of Australia.

Name: Zavis

Info: Czech

I feel happiest when… That’s a really good question!

In Byron Bay everyone should… go to the beaches and surf

The world could be a better place if… people talked more to each other

I wish English was… not so complicated (sometimes)

Today or tomorrow? Tomorrow Why? because today I’m always tired

I still haven’t….seen a brown snake (what a shame!)

When I was a child I used to… drink milk only

I always… dream how it would be to speak English

This time next year… I will want to get back to Australia

What I am going to do next is … decide what I’m going to do next

Name: Oliver

Info: Switzerland

I feel happiest when… I’m on the beach

In Byron Bay everyone should… wear sunglasses

The world could be a better place if… there wasn’t war

 I wish English was… easier to learn

 Today or tomorrow? tomorrow                 Why? I’m having a speaking test.

 I still haven’t…. done the CD exercises yet.

When I was a child I used to… play in the forest

I always… surf in Byron when the weather is perfect

This time next year… I will be staying in Au

My favourite afternoon school activity is… drinking a beer at the Rails

What I am going to do next is … learn some new grammar

Michael Meyer

Info: From Switzerland

I feel happiest when… the sun is shining

In Byron Bay everyone should… bring a surfboard to the beach

I wish English was… not the first foreign language I learnt

Today or tomorrow? today                       Why? it’s better

I still haven’t…. tried wake boarding

When I was a child I used to… do crazier things

I always… think of making the best of the day

This time next year… I will probably do more boring stuff

 My favourite afternoon school activity is excursion with Frank’s car!

 What I am going to do next is … try to study

Name: Isadora

Info: Brazilian

I feel happiest when… I’m in love

In Byron Bay everyone should… enjoy

The world could be a better place if… there weren’t wars

I wish English was… easy

Today or tomorrow?  Both          Why? Every day is a day to enjoy

When I was a child I used to… play in the street

I always… wish for good things for everyone

This time next year… I will probably be back in Brazil

What I am going to do next is … go to Hawaii

Nature and Nightlife in Byron Bay

I’m Daniel Studer from Switzerland and I’ve been in Byron Bay for 8 weeks to improve my English skills at BBELS.  The sea and the beach is always a wonderful thing, especially for the Swiss, because Switzerland has no beaches. I have seen a lot of different beaches all over the world, but I think Byron has one of the most beautiful beaches. I really like nature and (most of) animals. In Byron there are many more birds than in Switzerland and of course the whales,  turtles and dolphins are for me really amazing.

Nearly every evening live concerts and there are some really good restaurants and if I walk home I can hear the voice of the sea and see many more stars in the heavens than in my country.

I think it was a good choice to learn English here in Byron, but sometimes I miss ‘my’ Switzerland with the mountains, lakes, chocolate and specially my friends.

Hello !!! my name is Jessica and I am Brazilian,  I live in a big city called Rio de Janeiro. As is known the city of samba, carnival – where everything is a reason for Brazilians to party!!!
Where the people are happy, friendly and warm. But Brazil still has negative points like poverty, social equality , when a lot of people don’t have a chance to choose , they just have to accept reality. Most people would not have the chance that I had to come here and travel, to know different people, different culture , and is not just to learn English.
   Everywhere has positive and negative points. I arrived in Byron Bay on the 8 of march 2010, five months ago, and I have seen a big difference to Rio. Byron for me is a town where everybody is what they really are, the people here don’t judge you for your clothes or cars, they are very real and clear ! The contact that we can have with nature here and the respect that people have with each other and the animals are just amazing. Byron sometimes reminds me of Rio, the beaches and the tropical climate, different kinds of people coming and going all the time .
  Where right or wrong doesn’t exist – just the difference. And for this reason and many others Byron will be in my heart and I am sure that will be in the heart of a lot of people that pass through here!

If you are living in Australia you probably know that there is an election on. So the intermediate and IELTS class decide to hold an election of their own. Who can make the best pancakes? This is obviously an issue that is very important to students! So the IELTS students had to be the judges and cast their votes into the ballot box, all the votes were counted and the lucky winners were;

1^st Place ‘D’

2^nd Place ‘B’

Healthiest ‘A’

Most Original ‘C’

Name: Bernado Queiroz  

Info: Portuguese.

10 weeks studying in upper-intermediate and advanced. He spent 2 months travelling in WA. Now he is studying in the FCE class.

I feel happiest when… school starts.

In Byron Bay everyone should… taste the good life here.

The world could be a better place if… people didn’t try to change it.

I wish English was… like Portuguese.

Today or tomorrow? today.                     

Why? because I don’t know what will happen tomorrow.

I still haven’t…. done my homework.

When I was a child I used to… have more hair.

I always… smile.

This time next year… trekking in the Andes.

My favourite afternoon school activity is… Friday conversation class with Lisa.

Name: Dieter Haefeli

Info: Swiss. Studied here 7 years ago for 7 months! Now he is studying for 7 weeks. He will travel around Australia for 5 weeks with his girlfriend.

I feel happiest when… I surf.

In Byron Bay everyone should… go to the Lighthouse and see the dolphins.

The world could be a better place if… everyone was friendly to each other.

I wish English was… easier.

Today or tomorrow? Today.                      Why? Because I am surfing today.

I still haven’t… gone skydiving.

When I was a child I used to… windsurf.

I always… wanna have friends.

This time next year… I will be studying at uni.

My favourite afternoon school activity is… surfing with my school mates.