Referencing made easy

For assignments you will have to write a bibliography, which is a list of the sources you used. This is also known as referencing.

When referencing, things you have to write down can include the author, date, title of article/chapter, title of publication/website/book, who published it, the date you accessed it and a link to your source.

It can get confusing trying to remember how to reference properly, which is where reference generators come in! On these websites, you simply enter in the information and the type of referencing system you are using (e.g. APA, Harvard) and it works it out for you.

Referencing generators to use:

• For Harvard style, go to this link.
• For a few different styles, go to this link. It also includes directions!
• For a few different styles, go to this link. It also includes information on how referencing works and why we need it!

If you are unable to fill in each box/all the information, don’t stress! It is ok to leave out information if you cannot find it. The most important parts to include are author (if it doesn’t say who the author is, write ‘Author Unknown’), date, title of article, title of publication and if it was on the internet, where you got it from.

If you have any further questions, or have information you’d like to add to this post, contact us through our contact form or email us at hsc4esl@gmail.com.

Translate, learn a language (including coding) for free

Sometimes there’s that one word or sentence that can be confusing. Here’s a list of translation websites and apps that can be helpful:

Translation websites

• Trandict.xyz -simple translation tool, easy to use and access
• Google Translate – simple translation tool, easy to use and access. You can also translate something by taking a photo of it!
• Persian/Farsi – includes Persian/Farsi dictionaries, Persian keyboard, translation to and from Persian/Farsi.
• Free Translation.org – offers wide range of languages to translate.
• Ingilizce – translation tool for Turkish.

Translation apps

• iTranslate – available for Android/iOS. Free. Includes Arabic, Chinese, Thai & Turkish amongst 90 other languages.
• Burmese English Translator – available for Android. Free.
• Persian English Farsi Dictionary & Translator – available for iOS. Free.
• Google Translate – available for Android/iOS. Free.
• Swahili Translator Dictionary – available for Android. Free.

It is important to know that not everything is directly translatable. Here are some things to keep in mind when translating from your native language to English:

• The sentence structure may be different – click here for examples of English sentence structures.
• Tenses – in English there is past, present and future tense. For example, the word go. Past tense of go is went/have gone. Present tense of go is go/going/goes. Future tense of go is will go/will be going. 
• Noun markers – words like the, a, an, the, this, that, these, those.  

Want more assistance with learning English or another language?

• Duolingo – you can get it as an app on Android/iOS and you can also log in on your laptop.
• Busuu – available for Android/iOS. Offers limited free version, paid full version.
• Check out Lingualift for reviews/more apps.

Coding

• Code Academy – learn how to code for free, you just need to sign up. There are many areas you could learn about, scroll to the bottom of the page until you see Learn to Code, to see your options.
• Code Avengers – while it only offers a 7 day free trial (after that it costs $29 per month), you can use that free trial to learn 5 lessons in each course and it is available in English, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Portuguese.
• For more options, check out Learn To Code With Me for other free coding websites.

 

If you have any further questions, or have information you’d like to add to this post, contact us through our contact form or email us at hsc4esl@gmail.com.

How to apply for HSC Pathways

What is HSC Pathways?

HSC Pathways is a way to do the HSC that works best for you, to fit with your needs. Through Pathways, you can take up to 5 years to complete your HSC.

It provides a means for you to combine your studies with employment or other commitments, such as family care, elite sporting or cultural pursuits.

How does it work?

Students online provides a breakdown of HSC Pathways, which you can see here. In it’s breakdown it discusses repeating subjects and combining your HSC study with a traineeship or apprenticeship.

So, how do you apply?

As stated on the Board of Studies website, “there isn’t an application form for HSC Pathways. Each pathway needs to be negotiated with the school or TAFE concerned. Students need to make sure that there is a route they can follow to complete the requirements.”

This means you will need to contact someone from your school or TAFE and discuss with them how you can complete your HSC studies through Pathways.

Where can I do Pathways?

You can complete your HSC study through Pathways at High School or through TAFE.

How to edit images/make a poster online

Whether you need to do some photo editing for a project or for fun, there’s no need to pay for a program to get what you want!

Here is a list of sites where you can edit photos:

• Online Photoshop Free – no sign up required. Upload a photo, or multiple photos, and you can use this site in the same way that you’d use a paid-for photoshop program.
• Foto Flexer – no sign up required. Similar to Online Photoshop, best site for using a magnetic lasso.
• Fotor – no sign up required. Edit existing photos, or make a collage.

Do you need to make a poster? There are also ways to create a poster for free:

• Canva – sign up for free and pick from a range of templates to design your poster from.
• Poster My Wall – no sign up required. Design your own poster or pick from their selection of templates.
• Poster Razor – no sign up required. This site allows you to print your poster onto multiple A4 papers to make one big poster. This means you can use a regular printer to print A3 or bigger posters.
• Fotor – no sign up required. Has templates for posters and you can also make your own.

Printing these posters will cost money if you don’t have access to a printer at home or at school. To print in colour or print paper sizes bigger than A4, go to your local Officeworks and print it there. For information on pricing, click here. Otherwise, you can also print A4 at your local library.

What does it mean to be LGBTQIA+?

LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (plus) identities. It is a basic acronym to cover diverse gender identities and sexualities.

Youtuber Ashley Mardell’s videos has lots of information on diverse gender identities and sexualities:

Ashley Mardell has a number of videos on these topics that you can check out here and here.

If you have any questions, or need to talk to someone in a safe space about being LGBTQIA+, have a look at the following sites:

• Reach Out LGBTIQ Support Services – check out this site if you’re not sure about your sex, sexuality or gender, you’ve been rejected or harassed, you feel alone or isolated, you (or someone you know) could do with talking to someone about sex, sexuality or gender.
• QLife – discuss mental health, relationships, isolation, coming out and counselling on any other issues over the phone or online.
• Out & Online – offers a list of places to contact for counselling and emergencies.

There is also the Safe School coalition, which “provides a range of resources to help school staff create safer and more inclusive environments for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, school staff and families“. Click here to see if your school is a member (available in SA, WA, TAS and coming soon to VIC, NT & ACT).

I’m being bullied

Bullying is when one person (or a group of people) with more power than someone else repeatedly tries to upset or hurt them.

If you want more information on what bullying is, how it happens and why it happens, Bullying No Way! is a helpful website to check out. Click here to find out more.

If you are being bullied, there are lots of ways that you can find help. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone and you can talk to someone about what you are going through.

Talk to someone you trust. That could be a family member, friend, teacher or school counsellor. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know, there are helplines you can call or email. The people you talk to on the helplines can offer you counselling.

• Reach Out – has a list of helplines you can call.
• Bullying No Way! – also has a list of ways to seek help.
• National Centre Against Bullying – has a list of contacts, including who to call if you are in an emergency.

If you would like to find a way to sort it out yourself, you can do that. It is still important to reach out to someone and talk about what you are going through, because remember, you are not alone. Here are a list of websites that have a number of things you can do:

• Reach Out – what to do if you are being bullied, how to work it out yourself, ways to seek help and your lawful rights*.
• Reach Out – also has a page that looks at different types of bullying and what to do about it (cyberbullying, bullying against LGBQTI, workplace bullying, conflict with friends, abuse and violence).
• Bullying No Way! – what you can do at home, school, online and/or work.
• National Centre Against Bullying – information on how to deal with bullies.
• Stomp Out Bullying – this is an American website, so just look at the information, don’t call the contact numbers! It has a list of different types of bullying and what to do about it.

*Also refer to Your Rights for laws about bullying and how to seek legal advice.

Remember, you are not alone and you can always talk to someone about what you are going through.

Life after the HSC

Yes, believe it or not, there is life after the HSC! A lot of life!

And no, your ATAR does not determine what your life will be. Your marks do not define you.

In fact, there are many stories from people who didn’t get the ATAR score they wanted, who went on to do great things!

Read here about Sarah Henderson. She didn’t get the marks she wanted in the HSC, then she went on to be a mature age student at university and did well there. As Sarah said about her ATAR, “I didn’t get the marks for any course on offer, and yet I’m still standing. My world didn’t end. They didn’t come to take me away.” (Also check out The Mild Achievers: Five People From The Class Of 1995 Who Did Terribly In The HSC And Are Just Fine for more stories on people who had happy lives despite not getting the HSC marks they wanted).

As Sarah mentioned with being a mature age student, there are other ways to go to uni if you didn’t get the ATAR you needed for a course. Click here for a list of ways you can get into uni!

University isn’t the only path after the HSC either. No matter what marks you got, you are in control of your path. Take your time to decide what it is you want to do.

 

One idea could be to take a Gap Year! Get a job (tips on how to write a resume here), save some money, spend some money, go travelling, do what you want to do. This will be a great chance for you to figure out what you want, whether you want to continue studying at Tafe or university, maybe you want to take up an apprenticeship, or maybe you want to volunteer somewhere.

If you’re wondering if you should take a gap year and more tips on what you could do with your time, check out Youth Central.

So good luck, take your time and remember that there is life after the HSC!

If you have any further questions, or have information you’d like to add to this post, contact us through our contact form or email us at hsc4esl@gmail.com.

How to write a resume

Being able to write a resume is an important skill, but it can be hard to know where to start. Below are templates for writing a cover letter and a resume. All you have to do is click on the links and they will download as Word documents to your laptop. Once downloaded, simply open them up and start adding your information.

The templates below were sourced from Opportune People, which is a recruitment agency focused in hospitality. On their website, they have also included other places to get cover letter/resume templates, as well as tips for job interviews, available here.

This is an example of what the cover letter template looks like:

Download this cover letter template here: official-cover-letter-template-opportune-people-oct-2016-1.

This is an example of what the resume template looks like:

Download this resume template here: aofficial-resume-template-opportune-people-oct-2016.

FAQs

What if I haven’t worked before?

If you haven’t had a paid job before, you can still list other experiences you have had, such as academic achievements, leadership, teamwork and unpaid work experience. Click on this link for resume templates for no work experience:

• Academic achievements could include subjects you’ve done well in, assignments you’ve done well in, how you are as a student (well behaved, respectful, good listener etc).
• Leadership could include being in charge of a sports team or a group assignment at school (taking initiative, thinking strategically, being goal oriented, problem solving, organisation skills, communication skills).
• Teamwork could include being on a sports team, working with a group at school (participating, listening, collaborating with a group, problem solving, organisation skills, communication skills).
• Work experience could include work experience you have done at school, any volunteer work, if you’ve helped out with a family business.

Do I need a cover letter?

A cover letter is important to get the employer to read your resume. It is basically a summary of your skills, contact info and availability to work, so it is very helpful to attach it to your resume. You do not have to include a cover letter, however it can help give you more of a chance of being hired!

How do I look for jobs?

You can print out your cover letter/resume and go to a workplace directly. For example, you could walk through your local mall and ask shops if they are hiring.

You can also look online, there are many websites to search for jobs!

• Seek – you can search for you location, job type, job area and set up email notifications for any new jobs listed.
• Indeed – Similar to Seek, you can search for you location, job type, job area and set up email notifications for any new jobs listed.
• Jora – again, the same as Indeed and Seek.
• Facebook – you can search for jobs on Facebook by going to the search bar and writing jobs and your location. For example, in Wollongong there is a Illawarra Jobs Facebook page.
• Gumtree – there is a jobs section on Gumtree for you to look at. Be careful: a lot of jobs listed on Gumtree are cash-in-hand. Cash-in-hand jobs can be risky as you could be underpaid.
• Google search – just type in ‘jobs’ and your local area and a whole list of sites will pop up for you to check out!

Good luck with your job search!

If you have any further questions, or have information you’d like to add to this post, contact us through our contact form or email us at hsc4esl@gmail.com.

I’m feeling anxious/depressed

Anxiety and depression can take many different forms, and you can often feel alone with your feelings. But you are not alone, you can always talk to someone about how you’re feeling.

If you’re not sure if you have anxiety and/or depression, Beyond Blue provides a checklist you can fill out, available here. You can also book an appointment with your doctor and tell them how you are feeling, and they can direct you towards counselling or other strategies to help you.

Helpful websites to check out:

• Beyond Blue – for information on depression and anxiety, different types of depression and anxiety, and how to get support. They also have a contact number/email/online forum that you can access.
• Reach Out – for information on depression and anxiety and how to get help. They include a list of services to contact for help, which you can access here.
• Headspace – for help with general mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. You can visit a Headspace centre for help, or call them, or have a discussion online.

Once again, remember that you are not alone and you can always talk to someone about how you’re feeling.

Making sense of the marking criteria

The marking criteria can be hard to follow when it uses words that are hard to understand. Luckily, there is a glossary of key words for you to help you understand what you have to do.

Say for example, you have to write an essay and it asks you to critically analyse or evaluate part of your text. The glossary tells you that this means you have to add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to (analyse/evaluate). This means when you have to critically analyse something, you have to discuss your understanding of a concept and argue that through evidence (techniques).

Click here to access the glossary.

Looking at the Board of Studies syllabus can also help you to understand the marking criteria. Simply pick your subject and open the syllabus. Page 97 also has a glossary of important terms. For tips on how to utilise the syllabus handout, see related article Research tips & shortcuts.

It’s important to follow the marking criteria, these sites and tips should help you to do just that!

 

If you have any further questions, or have information you’d like to add to this post, contact us through our contact form or email us at hsc4esl@gmail.com.