New Cambridge and IELTS exam classes – 16th March

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Cambridge students listening to vital grammar explanations 🙂

In just over 1-month BBELS will begin it’s new classes for the Cambridge and IELTS exam courses. There are still a few spaces available if you are interested in studying with us. As you can see from previous posts, our exam teachers have a strong history of helping their students attain fantastic results.

BBELS is one of the few schools in Australia that provides lessons for Cambridge Proficiency students. Since we started teaching Proficiency our fabulous teacher Kat has helped every student pass this very difficult exam. Congratulations to Kat and her students.

Similarly, students who study with us to prepare for the IELTS exam have also had some wonderful success-stories. Many of them have achieved results higher than they expected which has helped them for immigration purposes as well as for entrance into exclusive university courses around the world.

Our next Cambridge and IELTS preparation courses start on the 16th March. Contact us at info@bbels.com.au for more information.

 

 

The BBELS Buddy Dinner

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Some of our international students enjoying the night at the Buddy Dinner

On Friday night our students enjoyed the first Buddy Dinner for the year. Each student was paired with another student from a different country, a different class, and most importantly a different language group while eating a free dinner from the Nirvana Cafe (the new cafe at BBELS).

Our students always love these Buddy Dinners because they have the chance to meet students that they mightn’t socialise with during school hours. And who doesn’t like a free dinner?  🙂

As you can see, our students had a great time. After the meal, music was played and the night was danced away. Our next Buddy Dinner will be held in the next 12-week block. Contact us at info@bbels.com.au if you’d like to know more about our regular activity program or course outlines.

 

 

Cambridge Exams at BBELS: Amazing results in 2019

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Cambridge Advanced English (C1) exam results

If you are thinking about studying one of the Cambridge English exams then consider studying here at Byron Bay English Language School. Yes it’s true that we offer a beautiful place to study but more importantly our Cambridge students receive amazingly good success rates.

Looking at the two graphs you can see that in 2019 our Cambridge Advanced (CAE) exam students and our First Certificate (FCE) students achieved results that were higher than the national and international average. Furthermore, our students were higher than average in each component of the exam: listening, reading, speaking, use of English, and writing.

 

Cambridge First Certificate in English (B2) exam results

We are so happy for the students who studied so hard to achieve these results. We are also so proud of our Cambridge teachers who plan and deliver lessons that are obviously so well suited to the needs of the individual students and the challenges of the exams.

Well done to our students and teachers from 2019. We are sure that this success will continue in 2020.

If you would like to know any more information about our exam courses please contact us at info@bbels.com.au or visit our website.

 

 

Goodbye 2019

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2019 has been a fantastic year here at BBELS and we would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to all our wonderful students, agents, teachers and staff.

Throughout the year over 700 students came to study here. Their feedback described how much they loved living in Byron Bay while studying with us. We had students who studied in our General English program whose English improved so they could feel confident to travel around Australia. We had students take the Cambridge English exams so they could find better work opportunities back home. And, we had students enrol in our IELTS course to help them with immigration and university options. Thanks to the teachers and admin staff for making their time here a productive and enjoyable one.

We hope to hear from you in 2020. Happy holidays 🙂

 

Tax information: Student visas and Working Holiday visas

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At BBELS we have a lot of students who are interested in working while they are studying. To do this students first need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa or a Student Visa. It is important that our students understand how their income will be taxed while working in Australia.

If you work in Australia, tax will be withheld from your pay and you may need to lodge a tax return each year. The requirement to lodge a tax return will depend on how much income you have earned during the year.

The Australian income year starts on 1 July and ends on 30 June the following year.

For students on a Student Visa: if you are a student enrolled to study in Australia in a course that lasts for six months or more, you will generally be regarded as an Australian resident for tax purposes. You will therefore pay tax on your earnings at the same rate as Australian residents. For more information follow this link.

For students on a Working Holiday or Work and Holiday Visa:  the first $37,000 of your income will be taxed at 15% and the balance will be taxed at ordinary rates. For more information follow this link.

If you would like to know more about working while studying at BBELS please contact us directly at info@bbels.com.au or visit our website.

 

 

 

 

Cambridge Classes visit the Farmers’ Markets

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Some happy Cambridge students standing outside the free double-decker bus to the markets

It’s a beautiful spring day here in Byron Bay … ideal weather to take our new Cambridge classes to the local Byron Bay Farmers’ Markets. Both classes took the free bus that runs from town to the market area where they then spent an hour looking at the local organic produce while talking to each other in English.

Nino, Lucas and Thomas, plus some photo-bombers in the bus.

Excursions like these are a great way for our students to understand the local community more comprehensively. They are also a friendly way for our students to spend time with one another, making friendships that will hopefully last long into the future.

If you look very closely to Nino (on the left) you will see that he looks 1-year older. Happy birthday Nino 🙂

Meet the Staff: Lauren at Reception

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In this post we are happy to introduce you to Lauren. Lauren works at reception where she helps students with general enquiries. She is also fluent in Japanese and so she is able to help our Japanese students if they need to speak in their first language.

We asked Lauren to answer a few questions so you can get to know her better. Here they are 🙂

1. What is your role at BBELS? 

My job is student services and reception. I help our students adjust to life in Byron Bay and assist with any questions or problems they might have. I’m also in charge of Japan marketing because I can speak Japanese.

2. What did you do before coming to work at BBELS?

I worked as an English teacher in Japan for 6 years. I spent a lot of time traveling around the country and lived in Tokyo, Hokkaido and Kyoto. I have just moved home to Australia recently and was lucky enough to have the chance to continue my connection with English education at BBELS.

3. What are your tips for learning a 2nd language?

Do what you love in English! Whether it’s watching movies, listening to music, reading. Whatever keeps you interested will keep you motivated and help you to learn how to communicate in natural English, not just textbook grammar.

4. Where is a nice place you enjoy going to in the local area?

Byron Bay is very beautiful, but I also recommend visiting the surrounding areas such as Ballina (my hometown), Lennox Head and Bangalow. They have all the charms of Byron but without the crowds!

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If you would like to know more about our courses, you can contact Lauren at info@bbels.com or visit our website.

Welcome to BBELS, Byron Bay’s only independent English Language School

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This year the Byron Bay English Language School is so excited to be celebrating its 21st birthday. Since 1998 we have had over 10,000 students from all over the world enter our classrooms. These students have successfully graduated from our General English courses as well as our Cambridge and IELTS exam preparation courses.

As you can see from this previous post our students graduate with results that are above the national and international average. So not only do we have a school in one of Australia’s most beautiful beach destinations, we also ensure that our students are receiving high quality lessons that will benefit them in their future chosen paths.

Being an independent school we are able to treat students according to their individual needs, unlike the bigger chain schools which follow programs with only a mass market in mind. Our students love it here and we know that you will too.

For more information about BBELS visit our website.

 

How to choose an ESL school

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The entrance to BBELS

There are so many language schools around the world that it can be difficult to choose which school will be best for what you need. Here is a short guide to help you in your decision-making process.

1. Has the school been operating for a long time?

School’s with a long history will usually have experienced teachers and administrative staff to help you achieve your language goals. Their courses should also have a clear curriculum with learning outcomes that are nationally and internationally accredited.

BBELS has been operating for 21 years. This is quite an accomplishment for a small independent boutique school. During this time our teachers have developed fantastic methodologies to explain the details of English grammar in ways which are interesting to students. Our administrative team has also learnt how to support students when they first arrive as well as provide continuing assistance to our long-term students.

2. Is the school nationally and internationally accredited?

Before booking a course with a school it is important to check that it has passed the standards required within its own country as well as internationally. If a school isn’t accredited by serious governing organisations, it could easily not be delivering high quality services.

BBELS is accredited here in Australia through ASQA and NEAS.  Internationally we are proud to be members of the prestigious IALC organisation. To be accredited through these companies we are required to be inspected on a regular basis. During this process inspectors interview students and staff in order to check the school is maintaining a high standard of excellence. Inspectors also check the school building, observe classes, and view the course curriculum.

3. Does the school have positive online feedback?

Before booking a course make sure you spend time checking the school’s online feedback. Try to find reviews on Google, and comments on the school’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Be cautious of school’s that have no feedback. Also, schools with 100% positive feedback might look good but there is a big chance they have deleted any negative reviews.

At BBELS we ask our students to provide feedback when they graduate as well as to speak to us if they have any suggestions on how to improve. We are always ready to listen to new ideas.

4. Does the school have links with other education providers?

If you are interested in staying in Australia over an extended period it is a good idea to look for a language school which can provide a pathway for you to study at other institutions. If you study at a school that doesn’t have agreements with other education providers, you might not have the opportunities to extend your visa or study to your fullest potential while you are here.

BBELS provides pathways to other language schools throughout Australia. This means you can move to another part of Australia and continue studying quite easily. We also have agreements with other education providers in the tertiary sector.

5. Does the school provide discounted options for local activities and travel?

Of course your main priority should be to study hard while you are in Australia but this also needs to be balanced with the opportunity to travel around the country at an affordable rate. Students also need the chance to participate in activities after school so that they can socialise and pursue sporting or creative interests.

BBELS has a strong after school activities program. Students can participate in a range of sports such as beach volleyball and football or they can join more creative lessons such as music classes. We always get positive feedback for these activities.

Our travel desk also gets positive reviews from our students. Discounted flight and hotel prices are regularly provided by our travel officer. He makes sure that students are fully looked after with their travel itinerary.

6. Location

Before choosing to study overseas you should definitely consider which type of place you would like to stay in, whether this is for 1 week or a more extended stay of 8-12 weeks (or more). If you like the fast pace of a city it could be wise to avoid a country town, if you enjoy a slower pace of life or if you are burnt-out by city-living why not try a smaller town.

Byron Bay is one of the most desirable travel locations in Australia. We have quiet beaches, forested hills, along with a cosmopolitan-style hospitality industry which offers a wide range of healthy eating and bars to drink in. BBELS is centrally located within Byron Bay. We are a short walk from the Main Beach and there is a huge number of places to eat at during your breaks.

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Before enrolling in a language course we strongly recommend that you spend the time researching each school’s suitability to your individual needs. If you have any questions about our courses or life in Byron Bay please email us directly at info@bbels.com.au or visit our website.

 

BBELS Flexi Program: an interview with Carlos and Ana

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Ana and Carlos (from Spain). Two students enjoying the BBELS Flexi Program

Did you know that BBELS has connections with other English Language Schools throughout Australia? These connections allow our students to easily move between schools in different cities if they enrol through our Flexi Program.

What is the BBELS Flexi Program?

We know that some students are keen to study at BBELS however they are concerned that Byron Bay may not be the right place for a long enrolment. This is why BBELS has created the Flexi Program. It provides students studying long term at BBELS (24 weeks or more) with the opportunity to move to a city school after completing 50% of their course. The BBELS Flexi program therefore gives some assurance to our long-term students that they can change destinations if Byron Bay is not “their place”.

We have found that only 5% of our students choose to move once they have been studying here. The other 95% choose to stay in Byron Bay due to friendships, work, the relaxed culture of the town, and of course because of our wonderful teachers and staff.

To learn more about our students’ experience on the Flexi Program we interviewed Carlos and Ana. Please read their interview below.

Flexi Program: interview with Carlos and Ana

Ana and Carlos at Byron Bay’s Lighthouse

This week we spoke with Carlos and Ana, a Spanish couple who enrolled through the Flexi Program. These 2 lovely students arrived here in February and recently decided to stay until August. We sat together to discuss what concerns they had before they arrived and why they decided to stay at BBELS.

What were your concerns about studying in Byron Bay before you arrived here?

Ana: we knew that we would be studying during winter and we weren’t sure if we would be able to find work. Luckily we have both found jobs here.

Carlos: also, we didn’t know if we would still be enjoying the lifestyle here after 3 or 4 months. We felt like we needed the security of a flexible program.

Why did you decide to study in Byron Bay?

Carlos: we were living in Barcelona where it was very stressful. We needed to have a break from that life. So we preferred to live in a town rather than a city.

Ana: we also liked the position of Byron Bay. It’s in the centre of Australia’s east coast, so we can easily drive north or south to see different parts of the country.

You recently decided to continue studying here rather than move to another Australian town. Why is that?

Ana: we feel so comfortable with the local people. We love the town. It is close to the beach and it’s close to the mountains too.

Carlos: yes, it’s like we have found our own little space here. It is especially good that we are able to work here and afford a car so we can drive to local places.

Ana: Carlos has joined Byron Bay’s local basketball team too so he is making friends with local people and his English has improved because of this.

Thanks to you both for your time and beautiful photos 🙂

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If you would like to know more about the BBELS Flexi Program or any of our courses please visit our website or contact us directly at info@bbels.com.au. Please note that the Flexi Program is limited to certain nationalities.