MAY+2011

A whirlwind Australian Tour Five teachers and ten students from Aminuddin Baki Secondary School from KL Malaysia voyaged on a 5 day whirlwind tour of Melbourne in the latter stages of February. As a sister-school partner to Western Port Secondary College located in Hastings, the two schools joined forces to compare and contrast daily life as a student in each country. The Malaysian students undertook research in the areas of English teaching strategies, information technology to enhance the learning capacity of students, as well as a focus on potential hands-on environmental awareness projects to introduce into their own school in KL. All visiting teachers and students enjoyed an action packed adventure in their short 5 days - including a day and ½ in-school program at Western Port SC, a visit to two other local secondary colleges – Somerville S.C and Rosebud S.C, as well as a trip to the zoo, DFO and time in the city. In all three schools, the Malaysian students and teachers had many opportunities to see and discuss education in Victorian public schools and this was an exceptionally positive experience for all involved. Students in Year 11 from Western Port are aiming to tour KL later in the year and certainly look forward to meeting up with the visiting students, as well as the other students whom they met through the email exchange program started at the College in 2009. Tanya Blanch Malaysian sister-school Coordinator Western Port Secondary College