[aydogan]

Hello all,

We have granted our PR's and we are considering to move to Brisbane.
We paid VIC2 (4890 AUD) payment for AMEP for my wife. Her English is equal to approx IELTS 4,5 level.
We did not hesitate to pay AMEP because we are told that system also provides free childcare service for our kids during the AMEP class hours, which is vital for us considering we have a 3 year old daughter.

We are hoping that by participating all 510 hours of English course and by hard working, she would improve her English to a better level, to IELTS 6,5-7 maybe?
In the meantime, our daughter will be looked after in childcare service (she will learn English as well!).
So that my wife and my daughter will spend approx 1 year like this and I hope they will both improve their English.

Is that a realistic plan?
How efficient are those AMEP courses in Brisbane?
Is there anything we are missing, or should we consider any points for this plan?

Thank you in advance for all replies.

 

[al_ghazal]

amep gets you to functional English. I don't think that's even a 5 on the ielts but in any case it will be a great opportunity for your wife to stay active and learning and meet people. it can be very lonely for migrant women with no English language. I strongly encourage your wife to do the amep especially since you've paid for it anyway.

 

[Mish]

Just remember that the childcare is only free when attending AMEP. If she takes a day off just because she doesn't feel like going they will make her pay for all of the childcare - they are very strict with attendence.

It will not get her to a 7 level.

I have met some people who have gone to mainly improve their writing (their speak was already functional but the writing needed improving) none of them have continued because they found they did not get anything out of the course and found it a waste of time. I think the issue with AMEP is that you have people with different levels all in the same class which makes it hard for the students and the teacher.

She may find in the beginning it is useful and helps her but after awhile as she improves she may not get anything about of it.

 

[aydogan]

Just remember that the childcare is only free when attending AMEP. If she takes a day off just because she doesn't feel like going they will make her pay for all of the childcare - they are very strict with attendence.

It will not get her to a 7 level.

I have met some people who have gone to mainly improve their writing (their speak was already functional but the writing needed improving) none of them have continued because they found they did not get anything out of the course and found it a waste of time. I think the issue with AMEP is that you have people with different levels all in the same class which makes it hard for the students and the teacher.

She may find in the beginning it is useful and helps her but after awhile as she improves she may not get anything about of it.

Thank you Mish.
Not good news for us. We were hoping to gain more benefit of AMEP.

 

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasher]

I have met some people who have gone to mainly improve their writing (their speak was already functional but the writing needed improving) none of them have continued because they found they did not get anything out of the course and found it a waste of time.

My wife has been doing it for exactly that reason, and she is finding she is getting limited benefit from it.

Victoria also changed providers from AAMES to a other provider in JUly and the new provider is not as good.