In this newsletter, we would like to introduce you to our ILSC Language School teams in our four Australian schools. In Australia, language studies are often referred to as ELICOS (English Language Courses for Overseas Students).
In Australia, ELICOS students have work rights, so to offer flexible schedules that allow students to work and study, we have three full-time language shifts each day (T1, T2 & T3). The schools have experienced unprecedented growth, with each school doubling in size every few sessions, and we have now significantly exceeded our 2019 student numbers in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. Adelaide, which opened in November 2019, now has more than 500 ELICOS students.
We thank all ILSC ELICOS teachers who have worked tremendously hard throughout 2022, managing mixed levels and large classes, being highly flexible with our changing needs, and in many cases, stepping in to fill gaps on extra shifts and relief. New teachers now outnumber long-term teachers, and the long-term teachers are to be commended for welcoming and mentoring their new colleagues and ensuring the ILSC ethos remains one of professionalism, inclusion, and collaboration.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank the ELICOS Admin Team, led by Michelle Nam, who has played a crucial role in ensuring students were serviced in a timely and effective manner and has provided the ELICOS Academic Team with ongoing support.
Class choices are growing, the number of mixed-level classes is finally decreasing, and class options and numbers in T2 are steadily expanding across all campuses. Of note is the introduction of English through ‘City’ and Café Skills as 5-day programs, which have been very well received by students, with English through Adelaide added as a new course. Many thanks are due to the teachers who contributed to the course content across all campuses.
Activities are growing in number and diversity, and of special note were the Movember fundraiser events across all campuses, which in addition to causing much excitement amongst students, also managed to raise $1,452 nationally – an outstanding result and contribution by the teams. Job Drives were also held across all campuses, and more CSR fundraising events are being planned for Christmas and the New Year, including a fundraiser for a Sydney student who was in a serious accident.
The Regional Academic Meeting took place in late September, with our Global Language Curriculum Director, Cheryl House, attending in person in Sydney. The excitement of returning to face-to-face RAMs was palpable and great headway was made with invaluable input from our National Pathways Manager, National Assessment Coordinator, High School Program Manager, National Academic Director, National Director, and four Directors of Studies. Several new projects and goals were initiated at the RAM, with all of them underway to varying degrees; expected outcomes are improvements to curriculum, assessment, learning, and teaching at all levels. The team also had the opportunity to speak with our CEO and our President & COO about ILSC's strategic plans and goals.
Pathway students continue to progress at a good rate, and Pathway Partners recently commended ILSC and its exceptional support of pathway students, preparedness to welcome Partners onto campus, and diligence and attention to detail with upholding agreement expectations. The ILSC-Greystone Partners Roadshow held by the Sales and Pathways Teams on each campus were a huge success, with exceptional student attendance and interest in the events. In November, ILSC Australia won the NSW TAFE Platinum Recruitment Partner Award for 2021/2022, proudly accepted at the TAFE Recruitment Partner Awards Ceremony by our National Pathways Manager, Vesna Trajkovska.
Teacher recruitment remains steady, with the teams welcoming new members on a near-daily basis. Additionally, ILSC is thriving in terms of its reputation amongst competitor colleges as an employer of choice. Among the USPs that ILSC has been able to offer employees are numerous fixed-term and ongoing contracts, which has set us apart from many other Australian ELICOS providers.
Professional development remains high on the agenda, with sessions run on the new English Australia CPD Framework, Teacher Wellbeing, Assessment Moderation, Academic Integrity, Café Skills Teaching, Teaching Activity Swapshops, and Classroom Management. ILSC teachers attended the English Australia Conference in record numbers, and Brisbane teachers Thalia Koster and Geraint Morgan not only presented at the English Australia Action Research Program but will also have their findings published in early 2023.
ILSC continues to raise its profile in the sector, with strong representation by the Academic Team at English Australia state branch meetings. Numerous ILSC Team members chose to stand in the English Australia Special Interest Group elections at the end of 2022, and ILSC representation is now visible across the Mental Health, Assessment, Ed-Tech, and Academic Manager Special Interest Groups.
Adelaide:
Our new Adelaide Director of Studies Grant Packer has been busy sourcing extra classrooms off campus as arrivals have ballooned, and this has gone hand in hand with continuous and targeted teacher recruitment. The opening of a new floor in January is much anticipated by all. The Academic Team is also expanding, with expressions of interest open for another Head Teacher, Activities Coordinator and Pathways Coordinator, and the role of Wellbeing Coordinator has just been filled.
Course choices are also in expansion, with Adelaide now offering discrete levels for EC B1-I3 in T1, along with managing swelling EAP levels and Exam courses across all three timetables. Elective classes are broadening out, with an unabating demand for Café Skills and the addition of English through Film to the available options.
The ELICOS Admin Team is bringing on a local staff member for Adelaide campus, and both the Academic and Admin Teams continue to work very closely with Student Services to respond efficiently to student needs.
Of note are the fantastic videos created by Marcela Soto and the Marketing Team that showcase what it means to teach at ILSC – these have been invaluable for teacher recruitment. A special thank you to all involved. We have also had a number of collaborations with Study Adelaide and English Australia on various events, with the ILSC Adelaide campus often requested as the perfect venue for such partners.
Brisbane:
Brisbane Director of Studies Alison McDonnell has been likewise occupied by expanding numbers both on campus and online, as ILSC Brisbane continues to offer full-time online for onshore and offshore students, both Australia and Canada-bound. The Academic Team has welcomed a new Head Teacher and new Pathways Coordinators, and teacher recruitment continues at pace.
Course choices continue to expand in Brisbane, with Cambridge courses in particular fast returning to previous popularity. The closed Cambridge courses are back in full swing, with the next 12-week program starting in January – demand is already high, especially from students who wish to sit the Cambridge exam. English through Yoga and Discussion Circles have also made a much-anticipated return, and Environmental Studies have been added to the mix.
Student Activities are in full swing with official AFL Qld footy coaching being one of the highlights of 2022, Ping Pong Tournaments pinging away, and ‘ILSC Has Got Talent’ making a comeback this year.
Brisbane campus has also held sector events such as the Qld Advisors Network meeting initiated by Alison with the support of English Australia and will host Louise Kane of the Rainbow Hub in early 2023 for a special workshop for students and staff on diversity and inclusion.
Brisbane has an excellent new partnership with Griffith University through which ILSC teachers will proactively support the ELT profession by officially mentoring practicum students from the Griffith University Graduate Certificate and Master of TESOL program from 2023. This pre-service teacher mentoring program will give back to the profession and encourage new teachers to apply at ILSC, giving us a head start over our competitors.
Melbourne:
Melbourne leads the pack in welcoming the most language students globally, with Director of Studies Susan Butt leading a team of over 100 teachers well supported by the four Melbourne Head Teachers. Classes have expanded across four levels of the building, and timetable offerings now include English through Acting, Music, and Photography, and Café Skills running with consistently high demand.
Activities have been rolling strong, with highlights such as a trip along The Great Ocean Road, travels to the footy, and a joint ILSC-GC Halloween Party. A December bake sale raised $348, with all proceeds going to the Smith Family, a charity chosen by students.
Academic support of student learning remains strong, with all students, including Pathway students, being encouraged to attend extra support sessions where needed. Melbourne campus has also hosted prospective and current partner visits, including AIT and LCI Melbourne.
There was a highly successful Japanese combined high school study tour in July through WISH, with students in a mix of open and closed classes. Students progressed well in their English language skills and enjoyed a number of excursions within and beyond Melbourne.
Susan had an outstanding year in 2022, serving on the English Australia Conference committee, hosting Victoria branch meetings and attending NEAS Leadership and Management Community of Practice events. She received impressive nominations for the Lead 5050 Most Adaptable Leader Award and the English Australia Academic Leadership Award.
Sydney:
Sydney welcomed new Director of Studies Grace Fannon and two new Head Teachers in 2022. Student numbers increased at an impressive pace, peaking at 1,200 students in November, and teacher recruitment and new classroom sourcing have been ongoing to match this growth.
In late 2022, Sydney welcomed a Wellbeing Coordinator and Community Engagement Coordinator. Once these roles are fully-established, the team expects that staff and students will feel a profoundly positive impact.
Electives and Café Skills have likewise been a major success in Sydney, and Activities are being rolled out thick and fast, including new initiatives such as Book Club and a student magazine. The team enjoyed a massive turnout for the Movember fundraiser, where Sydney raised the lion’s share of funds. The World Cup also precipitated much excitement and several student and staff events, where soccer balls may or may not have been flying around campus...
Sydney has now been branded an official IELTS pre-testing centre, with two sets of exams taking place in 2022. Students have taken the opportunity to complete a practice test and receive an unofficial score, with the data being of great use to Cambridge for future IELTS tests. Sydney teachers have also contributed to the broader profession through the mentorship of two practicum students from the University of Technology Sydney, with one of the mentees now teaching with ILSC!
December saw a Study Tour of 39 Japanese high school students at the Sydney campus, with tailored classes and a visit to the Sydney Tower Eye and the Australian Museum.
Sydney students and staff have benefited from a campus makeover, with teachers each receiving a laptop for teaching, new paint and whiteboards in the classrooms, an imminent staffroom spruce-up, and new classroom furniture on its way.
Overall, ILSC ELICOS students and staff have had an unforgettable year in more ways than one, with the sector recovering extremely well and campuses not just surviving but thriving.
In addition to highlighting the achievements of our ELICOS Academic staff, we would like to thank the talented Student Services, Accommodations, Reception, VET, and support teams in each school nationally and globally. Their hard work has equally contributed to making 2022 a great success, and we look forward to introducing those teams in future editions!
We all look forward to an even bigger and brighter 2023!