Anyone Done A Short Course Through A CAE?

[Bathsheba]

Specifically, has anyone studied at the CAE in Melbourne CBD? I think it's on Flinder's Lane. They offer hundreds of courses... many of which are nationally accredited. Most courses cost about $300 for a 16 week course. There are also fast-track short courses lasting only a few days.

I'm thinking of doing one of their language courses... French. I missed their most recent intake (start last weekend) but am hoping to get into the October uptake.

DH brought home a catalogue recently and now I'm all inspired. Many courses have weekend classes.

I'd just like to know how well they are run.... quality of lecturers etc. I'm pretty fussy... having studied at a uni with substandard lecturers and one (Monash) with excellent ones. I don't want to pay for a course just to find out that the level of service is poor.

[diva det]

find out when they have their open day and have a look then. also ask them for a student prospectus- should have testimonials in it!
good on you for wanting to do this course - you go girl
i know that la trobe offer short language courses, so i am sure that others would as well. If you are after that style of service, why dont you see if they are more suitable and $$$.

go for it
odette

[smiles4u]

Bathsheba ... i know this is an oldish thread BUT i was wondering the exact same thoughts that you mention of this CAE in Flinders Lane ... So, did you ever get any feedback or further information about the establishment, it's teaching & reputation, etc ... ??

Cheers from Lorelle

[Bathsheba]

Hi Lorelle No, still haven't had much feedback... and have delayed this particualr short course (French at the CAE) because I'm now booked into a First Aid course through the Red Cross (4 evenings only) for next month. But yes! I would still love some feedback as I still hope to do that French course later in the year. What are you interested in?

Also thanks Odette I'm hoping the CAE in the CBD will turn out to be good because logistically it's easier for me to get to than LaTrobe... but thanks for the suggestion! I'll keep that in mind.

[MantaRay]

I did a sewing course there a lot of years ago. From memory it was a good course but I still can't sew LOL!

[fionas]

I started an Italian course at CAE Flinders Street and we had a couple of different tutors. The first was so-so and the second was great so I do think it's hit and miss. But it's also horses for courses - DP had the tutor that I thought was so-so at a different language school and thought he was great! Neither of us finished our courses because we'd just met and suddenly spending three hours doing a class instead of seeing each other didn't seem that appealing

I must say that I think the lack of assessments and being graded meant that I wasn't motivated to do my homework so if I was to do another course I might look into one that gives me a qualification at the end. That's just me though - I need teacher checking up on me and the possible shame of a low mark to keep me on the straight and narrow.

BTW Bath, if you're on freecycle you can probably get the textbooks free from someone.

There's also Alliance Francaise here Alliance Fran?aise de Melbourne but I know St Kilda is trickier to get to than Flinders Street. I DO like the fact that they specifically have French for travellers though - not sure that CAE does. DP and I would love to go back to France so that would be the perfect course for us.

[jackrose]

I did a Japanese Ceramics course recently and really loved it!

The instructor was Japanese, the class was well run, the facilities and materials were excellent and you had both assistance if you wanted it or free reign to be creative if that suited you better. I was a novice but there were people there who had worked with ceramics before and we all really enjoyed it. (Although I found that the people in my class were not particularly friendly and open)

Best of all, we got to make a number of things which we were able to take home. I made a Sake bottle and cups (can be used as a vase), a few serving plates/platters, noodle bowls and a teapot. I was very proud of myself - gave some of the bits away as gifts and use some of them everyday!

Plus, I did do a French language course a number of years ago, but didn't find that much good at all....

Very exciting to feel inspired, hope you find something that works for you!

[Bathsheba]

Thanks everyone

Fiona: Hmmm, yep, I'm a bit like that too: if I'm being graded I give it 110% and if I'm not I can get slack... and a qualification does sound good... but for a French course? I know what you mean about hit-and-miss with tutors... but then again I like to think I can often bring out the best in most people. At uni I learned how to make the best of a "bad" tutor by modifying my own personality a bit.... I think this is how good grades can be achieved even though you might not always be the brightest spark... sounds sucky hey? I think I'm looking forward to that challenge as much as the challenge of learning the language! I've been down to the Alliance... and yep, would take too long from my side of town I've seriously considered moving back down to Elwood if we have to leave this place in the future just to be close to the Alliance! LOL it had such a good vibe there If you ever feel motivated to study down there let me know... we'll trek down together!

Jackrose: French at the CAE? Sounds like you had a good ceramics experience at least ... thanks for the feedback

[fionas]

Yes Bath sucking up to the tutors can work too! I veer between being teacher's swot if I like them and being the annoying kid who talks and contradicts them at the back of the class if I don't. Yep, should have grown out of that by now!

As far as qualifications go, I can only think of VCE French and that would be a bit too full-on for me when really I just want to have enough French to make travel more simple/enjoyable/interesting.

I'll take you up on the Alliance Francaise co-studying if we plan a trip to France - though it will be quite some time before I'd be prepared to take DD on a long flight after just taking her on a one-hour flight to Sydney which was quite testing!

I do like to amuse myself with my limited French and often call out "l'homme vert" when I see the green man light up at the crossings.

Oh and if you do end up going to CAE, DP highly recommends the baguette shop on Degraves Street, depending on what time your class is.

[Bathsheba]

I do like to amuse myself with my limited French and often call out "l'homme vert" when I see the green man light up at the crossings.

!!! Ha! We are birds of a feather! I say the same thing! And when I was taking the boys to French Music lessons I used to say a bit more... throw the occasional "Allons y!" around as well etc. And once, to my extreme delight, my 2yo decided to wave to everyone in our local plaza saying "Au revoir!" and a little old lady stopped and exclaimed "Oh! How delightful! You don't often hear little children speaking French in Australia!" I didn't want to risk ruining the image so I just smiled and said "Merci!" and kept going!

There's a good CD called "Teach Your Baby French" which includes lots of everyday phrases that you would use with a toddler... but unfortunately the accent is French Canadian... but it's still useful.... and my 2yo loves listening to it. I'm a real sucker when it comes to buying any kind of teaching resource in French for children... it's a great way to learn though, as a mum too.

My DH and DD love Degraves Street too... and I'll check out that baguette shop... but I'm just as happy to go to Laurent... especially early of a Saturday morning when there's a lady that works there behind the counter with a really strong French accent... I can sit back with my brekkie and almost believe I am in Paris!

[luna moth]

My DH and DD love Degraves Street too...

We decided to move to Brisbane while sitting on Degraves St. *sigh* Only two and a bit years to go.

Back on topic, though, I have done a course with CAE, it was a dressmaking class, which I was absolutely shocking at, but the resources were really good, and the teachers very available. Turned out I'd picked the wrong one and knew too much for it anyway, but the tutor was still really nice about it.
A friend did a painting class, and got it for free as part of a companionship program for people with mental illness. She said it was awesome, and her paintings certainly were.

It's a bit more exxy than others, but I think it's because they're fairly reliable courses.

[smiles4u]

Thanks Bathsheba ... and everyone else popping by with a bit of info on CAE

... Bathsheba, i'm actually interested in a few different courses but my set back is that i live in Ballarat and my DP can only look after our DD on either a Sat or Sun for me to get to Melb, so i was hoping to find something mainly on a Sat that would be on going for sometime ... like the brain to be stimulated. Funny enough the one particular course i truely would love to do is only offered in Perth ... ah, too far away for a course, LOL ...

Bath ... your passion for the French language brought back some great memories for me when i did a commercial in the Paris end of Little Collins St about 10years ago for Malaysian television when i acted the part of French woman in which at one point i had to drive an old French car, so i hopped in the car & only had to roll the car down the street only for the producer to forget to tell me that only the handbrake worked & that it was oddly on the door side of the car, i almost ended up in the middle of Elizabeth street by the time i worked how to stop the darn car It was visually amazing, they got permission from the city council to change the street & add Parisian hints everywhere, right down to changing the street lights. It took two very long days to shoot but it was great ... Oh, Bath reckon you would have loved it sitting at the French cafe there

(By the way, when i was a kid my Mum would speak French on the occasion to us ... sadly i never took any notice especially when i was a teen with selective hearing, LOL .. think i insulted Mum when i took up French in school ... Was never great at it back then due to lack of interest but then would love to learn again one day) !!