Location

The Australian TEFL International training centre is in arguably the most popular multicultural city in the southern hemisphere, Sydney, a vibrant metropolis of 4.5 million people. Many people come to Sydney to see the fabled Opera House, the majestic Harbour Bridge, the stylish Sydney Tower and the historical area of The Rocks. Along with Darling Harbour and a number of other tourist attractions, Sydney will continue to excite you during your stay.

The city of Sydney is very close to a number of beaches, national parks, and urban areas. With its bright, sunny blue sky and clean air it's no wonder that over 10 million tourists visit Sydney every year.

Bondi Beach is the most popular beach in Sydney, with its beautiful scenic views, fun night spots and collections of shops and restaurants. This is the place where most tourists gather. Meet people from all over the world in the pubs and on the sand. If you want to experience the beach the locals go to, visit Cronulla beach.

For those who plan to stay in Sydney indefinitely, Sydney offers a lot more than just incredible tourist attractions. If you’re an animal lover, Taronga Zoo and Sydney Wildlife World have many of Australia's wildlife living happily in replica sanctuaries. If you’re a bit of a history buff, Sydney city is full of 18th and 19th century architecture - all with their own stories. Completed in 1898, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is one of Sydney's most beautiful buildings, with several levels of shops and cafes in an old-world style, making it a pleasant retreat from the hustle and bustle of the modern city. The Rocks area has been preserved well and modern shops are effectively disguised, in areas that look the same as they did 200 years ago.

If you like museums, there are over 15 in Sydney, covering everything from art and history to science and discovery. The Australian Museum and the National Art Gallery would take a couple of days to explore; so it's best to do these if you plan to stay a long time.

If you're more into festivals, Sydney is definitely the place to be. From arts and Chinese New Year celebrations to the Royal Easter Show, there's at least one festival of some kind or other every month in Sydney - you're bound to encounter one while you're here. The most popular festival in the year is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival and Parade which happens in February. It's the largest festival of its kind in Australia and attracts over 500,000 people on the day of the parade. If you plan to come to Sydney in February, book your hotel room at least six months in advance!

Sydney's most loved feature is its cross-section of humanity. There are people from almost every country in the world living here. There are sections of Sydney that look like London, other parts that look like Japan. Check out suburbs like Leichhardt for Little Italy, Ashfield for Shanghai Town or visit the Korean, Spanish and Chinese areas in the city.

Nightlife in Sydney is a lot of fun. With hundreds of bars, pubs and clubs, restaurants and sporting venues and even pub crawl tours, Sydney at night is bound to offer you what you're looking for. Some pubs are open 24 hours, have pool competitions and happy hours, others offer unique imported drinks or focus on a particular style of pub. From Bavarian and German bars to cruise bars and cocktail bars, there's something for everyone.

Sydney is continuing to build its massive train infrastructure and new stations and networks are appearing all the time. Trains can take you from the airport to the city. Where there aren't trains, there are buses and if you don't want to walk to a bus stop, there are several taxi companies waiting for your call! The best way to get around Sydney, if you plan to stay for a long time, is with a rental car. Sydney has a number of main arteries that can get you where you want to go quickly - you can’t beat a drive over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Bus tickets can be bought at many outlets throughout the city and there are several options to choose from that can also include ferries from Circular Quay to Manly.

Sydney's official website can be found at http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/ where you can find out just about everything you need to know to help you prepare for your trip to our city.

Climate

No time is the wrong time to visit this outdoor city, where even winter tends to be balmy and the coldest month of July averages six hours of sunshine per day. Since Sydney is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the reverse of north of the equator, with December to February being high summer and June to August winter. Springtime, starting in September, brings the festivals as well as the flowers - Manly Jazz Festival on Australian Labour Day weekend in October is one highlight. Since summertime coincides with Christmas, December is hysterically festive and the city continues to party through New Year's and on to Australia Day on Jan. 26. Many Australians spend Christmas Day at the beach! Even after that, outdoor music events, regattas, festivals, swimming and surfing competitions, and more keep the pace going right through the start of Autumn in March - the wettest month, with some five inches of rainfall. Winter isn’t particularly cold, but temperatures can drop into the low 40s. Then again, a 60-degree day in July is not uncommon, with clear, sunny skies.

How to get there

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is on the northern shore of Botany Bay. Flight time from New York is about 20 hours, 30 minutes; from Los Angeles it's about 14 hours, 40 minutes. Australia's national airline, Qantas (800-227-4500; www.qantas.com/us), has the most flights, though United and British Airways also serve the airport. The CityRail Airport Link (www.airportlink.com.au) departs every ten minutes from about 5.00 am to midnight for the ten-minute journey to Central Station. A taxi to the city center costs around $20. The TEFL training centre in Sydney is a short walk from Town Hall station.

About The School

The TESOL International training centre in Sydney is part of a school that teaches English, and is located in a refurbished office block that has retained its 1923 façade. It is a heritage-listed building located right in the heart of Sydney, a short walk from most major shopping precincts. It’s also close to the 18th century Sydney Town Hall and Queen Victoria Building, not far from Sydney Tower. The nearby Town Hall station is connected to the city loop and can take you within minutes of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Botanical Gardens and more.

Pitt Street Mall, the Galleries Victoria, The Strand Arcade, the Spanish and Korean quarters, Hyde Park, Oxford Street and many other attractions are also easily reached on foot, by bus or train.

Accommodation

There are two options for accommodation in Sydney. They are all single rooms, but you are welcome to share should you wish to do so.

There is a small, popular hotel, Harbour Breeze Lodge, about 15 minutes by bus or ferry from the school. All rooms at the Harbour Breeze Lodge have TV, fridge, kitchenette, sink, a comfortable bed and cotton linen. The cost is $260 per week for a single room or $160 per week for shared accommodation. This option includes shared bathrooms.

Sydney has a large number of premium hotels available. It is best to organize this kind of accommodation yourself online. Prices start from $180 per day.

Course Dates

• 5 January - 30 January 2009
• 2 February - 27 February 2009
• 2 March - 27 March 2009
• 3 April - 1 May 2009
• 4 May - 29 May 2009
• 1 June - 26 June 2009
• 29 June - 24 July 2009
• 31 July - 28 August 2009
• 4 September - 2 October 2009
• 9 October - 6 November 2009
• 9 November - 4 December 2009
• 4 January - 29 January 2010

Course Fees

• US$ 1850 (£) (excluding accommodation)
• Single accommodation: US$160 (£) per week
• Shared accommodation: US$100 (£) per week

Sydney, Australia - Map: Click here for the map