Last week, Netflix released the final season of their first original series, House of Cards. As a fan of the show, I felt that this was the right time for the show to end. For students whose time is almost finishing at Langports, it is almost a bittersweet feeling. Excitement to return home to be with family and friends. Yet sadness resides because of the incredible memories they made while staying in Australia.
This month, we will have many students leaving us. The most common theme I have heard from them is how fast time has flown. Will we have enough time to see the rest of Australia? Will we have enough time to make those preparations for our final exams? In addition, when that time does come up, what do we do? Are we ready for the unexpected challenges that may arise? Are we ready to say goodbye and let go of all of those things that made us feel comfortable?
In today’s blog, I want to share three quotes. About time, what students can get out of using it, and my own personal experiences in handling it.
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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life” – Steve Jobs
Learning English takes time, measured by our own individual goals, not by what others do. The most important advice I can give for any student who arrives in Australia is to be yourself. Never let negative peer pressure get in the way of making decisions. In a world of social media where likes and hashtags are everywhere, we forget to appreciate and love ourselves. In my high school days, I allowed other friends around me to make decisions that I didn’t feel comfortable with. Because I knew that I could be made an outsider and by not going along, it would almost feel like I was “uncool”. However, I now firmly believed that everyone should stand up for their own decisions. Do not let your own decisions be influenced by outsiders.
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“We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right” – Nelson Mandela
Students should take the time to develop their English skills by attending any one of the optional workshops in the afternoon. One of the most popular is Aussie English, a course that looks into the vocabulary, idioms and slang in an Australian context. This workshop is useful, especially for those looking to adapt to Australian culture and lifestyle. On the other end of the scale, when you look at our activities calendar, there is a huge variety of options to choose. From doing a surf lesson in Surfers Paradise, spending a day at Currumbin, holding a koala and feeding the kangaroos, to sandboarding and snorkelling around the beautiful Moreton Island. These are unique opportunities for students to make the most of their time here in Australia.
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The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” – Leo Tolstoy
Learning a new language like English can be frustrating and difficult. Even when things do not go according to plan, we should always look for the positives and not get down with the negatives. I always encourage students not to be afraid of making mistakes and that there is a solution to every challenge.When I was working in the cinemas for 10 years, I was very afraid of leaving behind a job that I felt comfortable working in. I always thought quite negatively about the consequences and the problems that I could face, without putting more thought into the positive outcomes of changing to a new career. When that time came to resign from the cinemas, it actually was a liberating feeling knowing that I faced those fears and realised that everything is going to work out fine.
For the students who are starting at Langports, make the most of your time here. Meet new people, see new places, appreciate every moment you create here in Australia and don’t make excuses. For those students who are almost finishing their time here at Langports, enjoy these final weeks, treasure these amazing moments and remember to speak English Only in Langports and to always Live, Love and Learn.
By Shane Taas- Recreation and Community Engagement Officer (RACE) in Gold Coast
Related Blogs:
8 Tips to Choose Your English school : https://langports.orangedigital.au/8-tips-to-choose-your-english-school/
Why Langports has an English Only Policy: https://langports.orangedigital.au/why-langports-has-an-english-only-policy/