Type of Programme
One-to-one, personalised English language tuition living full-board with the tutor's own family and in the tutor's own home, including local visits and excursions, meeting friends, neighbours and professional colleagues etc.

Type of House: Farm

Teaching Qualifications and Experience
TESOL. 13 years experience volunteer English teaching and as a private English teacher to live in adult students in our home.

Hobbies and Interests
The natural environment, raising orphaned native Australian animals, singing, piano, music, reading, herbs in health, gardening, crafts, board games, living simply and sustainably, teaching English, learning about other languages and cultures.

Excursions and Local Attractions
I take students on two full day excursions each week of their stay at our Farmstay, to their choices of : Kingscote, the main town on Island; Emu Bay; Seal Bay, internationally famous for Australian sealions; the Little Sahara Desert; Stokes Bay and its hidden walkway; Vivonne Bay, said to be one of the most beautiful bays in Australia; Snellings Beach and the Lookout; little known but fascinating King George’s beach; American River; Pennington Bay with its aquamarine sea; Paul’s Place, a working farm with hundreds of farm and native Australian animals to be fed and cuddled. We also go on adventure walks through the forest surrounding the house and farm: looking for koalas along the river; catching marron, a fresh-water lobster; hikes into the bushland looking at the native plants and animals; or night walks to look for nocturnal animals and see the Milky Way and a sky full of stars. Visits to other areas such as Flinders Chase (extra cost), or private enterprises such as the Eucalyptus still, or farms during seasonable activities such as shearing or harvesting, can be organised by prior arrangement.

Accommodation, Facilities and Local Area
Kangaroo Island, the third largest island off the Australian coastline, is considered by many international tourists a ‘treasure island'. There are extensive pristine wilderness areas which are home to native animals and birds, dainty wildflowers in springtime, a wildly beautiful coastline, and beaches where yours may be the only footprints in the sand; a place where one may escape the noise and pollution of city life, and enjoy peace and tranquillity. It is an island which has made a name for itself with fine local wines and foods, arts and crafts and its commitment to preserving the natural environment. Our Farmstay is 30 kilometres from town, in a setting of pine-forest, bushland and farms. Besides the usual farm animals, you can feed and pat our pet kangaroos, wallaby and possums, bottle feed the latest animal baby, and in the surrounding natural bush may find wild koalas and echidnas, kangaroos and possums. Several kilometres down the road from the house is our main farm of 560 acres. We have a herd of beef cattle, a vineyard, large organic garden and orchard, marron (freshwater lobsters), goats and poultry to supply fresh farm produce for the table, for you to enjoy along with home-cooked bread and cakes and other home-produced foods.

Our home is not large or luxurious. It is a typical 1950’s farmhouse, clean, comfortable and pleasant, with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere; cosy wood fire for winter; shelves of fascinating natural objects collected on bush-walks, and books on a wide range of subjects; piano, electronic organ and our own singing voices for music; computer and internet access; the delicious smell of home-cooked meals; laughter and love to enfold you and make you feel relaxed and at home.

English learning is activity based. You decide what you want and need to learn, and activities are organised to suit you. You may decide you want to spend all your time in head-down, serious English study; you may choose activities that interest you, and while you engage in them learn the special vocabulary pertaining to that topic; you may be looking for a holiday with English learning as a bonus - whatever you decide, I will organise your stay and learning to suit you. You will be able to join in the action on the farm, learn how to cook Aussie foods, make crafts from natural materials, grow a food garden and propagate plants, or learn about herbs and their uses for health and nutrition. On warm evenings you may like to go on a guided night walk to look for nocturnal wildlife, on cloudless nights to sit outside and be amazed at the brilliance of the Milky Way in all its splendour. I will take you on excursions to the many attractions of the Island, and in springtime to explore the subtle beauty of the Kangaroo Island bush and wildflowers. You will be able to learn about simple, sustainable living and the joy of happy relationships and friendships. You will be treated as a part of our family and invited to join in family and community activities. Every moment you will be learning English in a natural, enjoyable way very different to school classroom learning. Kangaroo Island with all its diversity and peaceful beauty will be your classroom. I look forward to welcoming you to our home and leading you on an adventure in Life and English language.

The student's room in the main house, twin beds, overlooking the garden, 13sq metres OR cabin next to house with two rooms (bedroom and kitchen/study area), twin beds, overlooks lawn, house and forest, total area 21.5 sq. metres.

Nearest International Airport: Kingscote.