From NSF Student to NSF Volunteer Tutor: How the SEE Program Helped Yeh Come Full Circle.
“The SEE program helped me understand Australian culture and improve my English. It gave me confidence to continue my studies.”
Originally from Taiwan, Yeh has lived in Australia for over 13 years. She moved to Sydney in 2016 after living in the Gold Coast for three years. Her goal was simple but ambitious: to improve her English and skills for work.
While doing an internet search for English education providers, she found Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF). After passing her assessment, Yeh then enrolled into the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program at NSF Parramatta college in 2022.
The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Yeh faced challenges with communication and initially felt uncertain navigating a multicultural setting. Through determination, hard work, and the support of her NSF trainers and staff, Yeh significantly improved her English skills, particularly in speaking, vocabulary, and grammar.
Overcoming Challenges Through the SEE Program
At the beginning of the journey, communication was one of Yeh’s biggest barriers. Expressing herself confidently in English and participating in diverse learning environments felt difficult. However, the SEE Program provided a supportive space to develop essential language and employability skills.
Speaking about her experience, Yeh says, “the SEE program helped me understand Australian culture and improve my English. It gave me confidence to continue my studies.”
Throughout the program, she made considerable progress in English speaking and conversation skills, vocabulary development, grammar and sentence structure Her commitment to improvement went beyond the classroom requirements. “I asked the teacher for extra homework because I want to improve my grammar. I learned how to send emails, text messages, write resumes and cover letters, and how to talk with supervisors at interviews.”
Going the Extra Mile
What set her apart was her dedication to learning. She consistently sought additional opportunities to strengthen her skills and actively applied what she learned in real-life situations. Yeh’s willingness to invest extra effort played a key role in her success and demonstrated a strong commitment to achieving her goals.
The skills gained through the SEE Program enabled Yeh to achieve the goals she set when she first joined. Yeh never misses a class and is an eager participant in all the extracurricular activities. “I love coming to Navitas. Navitas helped me how to speak and settle in Australia. I have made good friends here at Navitas.”
What began as a desire to improve her English, has now evolved into a clear pathway toward higher education and a professional career. Today, she is more confident in her abilities, better prepared for academic success, and actively contributing to her community through volunteering.
Continuing Education and Expanding Opportunities
As her English proficiency grew, Yeh took the next step in her educational journey. She enrolled and successfully completed a Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation, strengthening her academic knowledge and preparing her for higher education studies.
While continuing her learning journey, she also enrolled in the Volunteer Tutor Scheme at NSF and successfully completed the certification to support others in their own learning journeys. Excited about her journey as a volunteer English trainer, Yeh shares, “I love helping people and being a volunteer teacher will help me work on my speaking and teaching skills more.”
Looking Ahead
With a strong educational foundation now in place, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Interpretation to become a registered migration agent in the future.
Yeh’s journey highlights the transformative impact of the SEE Program. From overcoming communication barriers to completing tertiary preparation studies and volunteering as an English tutor, her story is an inspiring example of perseverance and achievement. Through the SEE Program, she gained not only English language and employability skills but also the knowledge, and motivation to pursue her dreams and create a brighter future.
The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. For those seeking language, literacy, numeracy, and digital skills through the SEE Program, call Navitas Skilled Futures on 1300 798 111.
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