To the Best Teacher, Kelly

Three weeks for the ESP:ACS course in UQ has passed. From it I learned not only English, but also attitude: the attitude of confidence and positiveness.

Our teacher, Kelly, is one of the best teachers I have ever met. She managed the class well, and her teaching expertise was subtle. For example, she wouldn't give us any answer directly when some questions had been asked. Instead, she invited every student to come up with the answers. I enjoyed this way because it gave us more opportunities to express ourselves and to think deeply.

I was luck to be Kelly's student. It was memorable.

The First Week in Brisbane

On the morning of Jun. 21, 2011, Ting and I arrived in Brisbane; I would study in the University of Queensland and she planed to work. The first day was not smooth at all. Since we couldn't use the internet, we got lost many times because we didn't have any map with us. Also we didn't know what to eat to save money. Everything seemed expensive in Brisbane.

On the first day, we visited UQ and activated my bank account there. The scenery of the school was pleasant.

Living in such high expenditure city, we tried to cook for every meal. Unfortunately, both of us were bad at cooking so we needed to tried and error. I'd not eaten meat for three days and always felt hungry. Finally, I ate lamb today thanks to Ting who bought cheap lamb for us.

Next week we will move to a new place. I wish it to be a nice place to live. I also hope everything can be on track as soon as possible.

One-day Trip to Fu-xing Township

On Jun 6, 2011, also Dragon Boat Festival in Chinese tradition, my girlfriend and I went to explore the beauty of Fu-xing Township in Taoyuan. Since the central part of Taiwan is mountainous and Fu-xing Township is located in it, visitors can enjoy forest, rivers, or even some waterfalls.

澳洲學生簽證申請心得

昨天好不容易把澳洲學生簽證需要的資料繳齊，回想原本可以透過代辦用紙本遞件申請，後來想要趕進度，就自己透過網路辦理eVisa，按理說辦電子簽證的流程會更加簡便快速，只不過我跟我女朋友是已經結婚要一起出國，所以必須提出結婚證明英文版，只好跑到戶政事務所申請英文證書，一般而言耗時三個工作天，但桃園戶政可以隔天給件，很有效率。

辦理澳洲學生簽證有兩個方式：

(1) 到澳大利亞商工辦事處採取紙本遞件申請
(2) 透過澳洲移民局網站辦理學生電子簽證

如果已經結婚要帶伴侶一起出國，利用紙本遞件也很方便，因為只要繳戶籍謄本就知道結婚了，但是透過移民局網站辦電子簽證就必須提出英文版的結婚證書，證書需要公證，畢竟審核人員是澳洲人，他們不會懂得我們的戶籍謄本有什麼用處。

不管透過哪個管道申請，最好都準備下列文件：

• 護照（申辦電子簽證要掃描）
• 身分證（掃描）
• COE
• 大頭照

除了上述文件，另外就是要去體檢，體檢指定醫院可以到指定醫院查詢，體檢主要會驗尿及照X光，沒有抽血所以體檢前可以吃東西，醫生也會問健康狀況，基本上過程很容易啦，按照指示做就對了！

澳洲研究所申請流程

申請澳洲研究所可以透過代辦、或是到澳洲學校網站自行查詢資訊並送件，我個人因為參加傑瑞斯舉辦的昆士蘭大學說明會，所以就直接在傑瑞斯申請。

不過，雖然透過代辦可以省很多事而且申請澳洲學校幾乎不用代辦費，但我覺得申請過程中還是要靠自己去瞭解一些細節。

申請過程到開學前基本上包含以下幾個步驟：

1. 蒐集資訊：搜尋學校、課程，並掌握每所學校的學費、附近的生活開銷等
2. 提出申請：準備英文成績單、畢業證書影本、英文檢定成績（雅思、托福，要看學校規定，主要採用雅思，但現在托福也可以，我就是用托福成績申請的）
3. 學校核發申請結果：Unconditional Offer, Conditional Offer(申請人尚未檢附符合申請標準的英文檢定成績單)
4. 繳費：以我申請的UQ為例，繳費要繳兩筆款項，一筆是給學校的註冊費訂金AUD$8,000，另一筆是OSHC學生保險費AUD$1330，額外還有一筆銀行手續費AUD$20。如果有伴侶同行的話，學生保險費就要再多付一筆。簽證核發的日期會跟學生保險的日期是一樣的。
5. 取得COE：COE = Confirmation of Enrollment，取得COE後要確認所有資料是否正確，正確的話就可以辦簽證囉！
6. 辦簽證：辦Student Visa可以透過遞交文件到澳大利亞商工辦事處辦理，或是透過線上申辦電子學生簽證（辦事處說明、澳洲移民局網頁、留學網站說明文）。
7. 購買機票：許多旅遊網站都可以購買到有折扣的機票，可以多加比價並注意相關附屬條件，如果一年內不會回到臺灣，買單程票就可以了。
8. 收拾行李準備出國囉！原則上托運行李上限重量是20kg，隨身行李是7kg，所以事先要斟酌要帶哪些東西，懂得取捨是很重要滴。

原則上申請學校到準備出國會經歷以上過程，此外有些人會需要申請教務部留學貸款，那又是一個繁雜的過程了，要準備的文件不少，條件也有若干限制，要申請的話最好及早跟有提供服務的銀行聯繫，確認需要準備的文件、申請作業流程等，才不會手忙腳亂喔！