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lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

Has anyone prepared kids for this? I'm really struggling to find any concrete information about the exam, all I can find is corporate bumpf trying to get parents to pay for it, and not any information about the actual format of the exam.

In particular, does anyone know the format of the speaking section of the exam?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Louise

sojourner · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:49 am Post subject:

Louise,

A quick google search revealed that the pertinent organisation's www address is: www.aeas.com.au .Apart from some descriptions of the exam's components, there are also some email addresses of people who should be able to provide you with additional information.

Peter

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Hi Louise
This topic is interesting to me because I teach Chinese students in an Australian high school, but have never heard of AEAS! They seem to work excusively with/for private schools, with Milton College in Sydney administering their tests.
However, their concept is a good one, especially if properly delivered. At the moment, all students are required to do an intensive English course after arrival until they reach a point [roughly equal to IELTS 5.5] where they are ready for mainstream instruction. In reality, many exit this course well short of that, primarily because their parents refuse to let them [ie, pay for them to] stay longer. They enter the mainstream and bomb spectacularly! Its frustrating for all concerned, except the school accountant.
Some private schools will insist on an IELTS score before they take students. The speaking part of AEAS seems quite similar to IELTS. Unlike IELTS, AEAS does not offer any free sample test materials, which is interesting. You have to pay for them.

Here's one take on AEAS.
http://www.studyconnect.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620
Poor "Lollypop" is a prime example of what I refer to above.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Um, if I remember correctly foreign students had to do 25 hours a week of English studies at $12:50 a class hour. Class size was about 18 students per class. Study methods were no different from how English is taught by foreign teachers here in Asia.

Eslstudies what would a class hour cost currently at a university language institute like the Uni of NSW?

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

Going on what is required these should help with preparing students for Australian schools.

Get you students to write short stories like on Topics Online. They can listen to kids read on Stonesoup if you can use a computer in class. Just photocopy and hand out and get them to follow as it is read out by a kid.

Um, I use stuff like on these sites to teach:

http://www.stonesoup.com/site-map/

Stone Soup
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TOPICS Online Magazine | ESL/EFL | Sandy Peters and Thomas Peters
Students express their ideas and opinions on topics of interest, and illustrate their writings with drawings and photos. Interactive features include ...
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lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

thanks for the help! my internet died and i've only just been able to get back online, so sorry for the delayed thanks.

I checked out the ases website - it's all a bit vauge. It really is all about the money! Anyway, I only have one more class with the kid (have been teaching her 3 hours a day all week, i'm exhausted!), can't really accomplish much. I used a lot of ietls speaking stuff with her, generally trying to get her in exam mode.

Aparently it's not pass/fail anyway, and her parents loaded enough to pay for classes there, so i don't think she'll have any problems.

stampy · Joined: 20 Oct 2008 Posts: 1

So er... is it true is it practically impossible to fail?

I been tutoring 2 kids 3 hours a day for a week and still have 2 more of it to go...

freakyaye · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 8

there is no english test to pay for. To enter a high school it is done by zones. that is, where you can go is dictated by where you live. so to go to a certain school, you need the schools internal zoning policy info and to buy a house in that area. Your english will be assessed when you enroll (if you have a proper visa and live in the zone you cannot be refused) and if necessary you will be sent to an esl intensive school where the 9-3 education is all on learning english. after six months, level willing, you will be matriculated back into the main school system. As an international student you will have high fees though, edu is free for citizens though. this is for public schools

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

International Students aren't zoned. Their agents work with client schools, some of which have large International Student populations from which they derive a fair income stream.