ENGLISH language trainer Sharon Cox admits to being ever so slightly culinary-challenged. But that hasn't stopped the Chisholm ELICOS trainer and mother of three from trying to create multi-cultural recipes for the international students that stay with her family.
Sharon, an ELICOS trainer for 12 years, provides intensive language training for overseas students at Chisholm Dandenong.
And over the last few years, Sharon has accommodated five overseas students, for several months through to a year at her home. The students from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan attended a variety of courses at Chisholm.
"I love the multi-cultural flavour international students give to our family," reflects Sharon.
"But I realised my culinary limitations when I tried, as a working mother, to create a five-course meal of different Chinese dishes at one sitting. That experience has given me a firm appreciation of the ability of Chinese women to create those sorts of meals."
Sharon has spent periods teaching English in China, Japan and Taiwan and also completed two stints in China in 2008 researching "best practise delivery of trans-national programs".
During the last five years she has written several programs for teaching a range of subjects in English in China. She has also written programs for teaching English to international students in Australia – that includes a course on "training teachers how to teach international students".
Sharon says one of the secrets behind teaching English to international students is to make it a hands-on activity that involves lots of action. Role playing is a common theme in the lessons. And students take part in practical activities such as cooking lessons where they have to listen and follow instructions in English.
"Some students come to the lessons initially with a very limited ability to speak English," says Sharon, "but by the time the course is ended they are fluent and can tackle future study opportunities."
"The satisfaction is seeing the difference that you make in the lives of the students. It is particularly exciting when they come and tell you what they have accomplished as a result of your training in later years."
Sharon says many of the students go on to do well in the IELTs test which is recognised worldwide. "We make sure that whatever we are doing the lessons are very engaging," she says. "Students learn by experience. As an instructor when you walk into a classroom you become an actress to engage the activity of learning as much as you can."
"It is a two-way learning experience and the students are so appreciative of learning. We work on total immersion. Chisholm has friendly supportive trainers who draw on their vast industry experience and connections to train and support past, present and future students."
