Primary EAL

“Every family has a story to tell; where you come from and what is important to you. Every story is unique and powerful." 

Last week, during our Primary School EAL (English as an Additional Language) classes I had the privilege of listening to some of my student’s share stories about their family’s journey to Australia and even got to share my own. Some of these stories were written down by the students. They would love to share the story of their family with you.

Daniela Repse 

Literacy Enrichment (EAL) Teacher

My Family’s Story by Hannah

My family comes from Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia and Australia. We moved to Australia because Myanmar (Burma) wasn’t a safe place to live in. 

What I miss about it is my grandparents, aunties and uncles. 

Something special we do as a family is cook traditional Burmese meals. 

In my culture we wear really long dresses with lots of jewels and other stuff. 

At the Chin festival I saw my big sister perform on stage and we ate lots of different flavourful food. At the stalls they were selling lots of stuff - flowers, food, wood crafting and Hni (Traditional Lady’s dresses). 

My uncle also participated in the wrestling matches - he lost.

My Family’s Story by Arshida

Things I miss about Iran is the amazing food and a bunch of my family there. Everyone in my family, except me and most of my cousins were born in Iran. We moved to Australia because Iran was not safe. Everyone in my family was born in Iran except me. 

My Family’s Story by Francis

My family comes from Myanmar (Burma) which is really hot. So the only difference between Myanmar (Burma) and Australia is that Australia has heaters. Something that happens with my family is that my baby brother sometimes does this really cute thing where he grabs my hand. Then he leads me away from where I was (because he wants me to play with him). 

My Family’s Story by Jehu

Traditionally, my family comes from Myanmar (Burma) and we moved to Australia because it wasn’t safe back in Myanmar (Burma). 

What my family misses about Myanmar (Burma) is all of our family and the friends that we had.

Something special we do every two years together is go to the Chin festival and a thing called Thongchaw. In my culture we like to do traditional dances. At the Chin festival I saw a dance with machetes and some wrestling. 

My Family’s Story by Levi

My family comes from Myanmar (Burma). We moved to Australia because Myanmar had some very bad people. Something my family likes to do is wear Chin dresses. In my culture we like to do Chin wresting. 

My Family’s Story by Haily

My family comes from Hong Kong. Something special we do as a family is play the Wii Sports. The sports we like to play are: golf, bowling, boxing, tennis and baseball. 

My Family’s Story by Cherry

My family comes from Myanmar (Burma) and India. We moved to Australia because the Australian Government gave us a Passport. 

What we miss about Myanmar (Burma) is how nice they were. 

Something special we do as a family is harvesting fruits. In my culture we like to have festivals. 

My Family’s Story by Mission

In our family we like to go to different places in Melbourne. In our culture we like to celebrate Chin festival, but we have never actually been as a whole family. At Chin festival I saw my best friend Mary and Melissa and I saw my cousin too. I miss seeing my grandparents because I have never personally met them, and this makes me sad. 

My Family’s Story by Henry

My Family comes from Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma). 

We moved to Australia because the country was dangerous and to get work here.

What we miss about Myanmar (Burma) is our cousins and toys and stuff. 

Something special we do as a family is visit cousins on the weekend sometimes. 

In my culture we like to eat Asian food.

My Family’s Story by William

My family comes from Myanmar (Burma). We moved to Australia because it was too dangerous. As a family we like to BBQ at Lilydale Lake.

My Family’s Story by Stanley

My Family comes from India and Myanmar (Burma). 

We moved to Australia because it wasn’t safe.

What we miss about India is the food and the temples. 

Something special we do as a family is we play sports. 

In my culture we like to travel. 

My Family’s Story by Simon

My Family comes from Myanmar (Burma). They moved to Australia because the Myanmar leader was cruel. What we miss about Myanmar (Burma) is our Grandma because she died in a horse race. Something special we do as a family is doing a New Years BBQ celebration.

In my culture we like to wear Hni (traditional dresses) for girls and Lai Thil (traditional shirts) for boys. 

In Chin festivals I love getting face paints and buying cheap candy. 

My Family’s Story by Cung

My family comes from Myanmar (Burma) and my sister and I come from Malaysia. 

We moved to Australia because the government wasn’t nice to other citizens. 

What we miss about Myanmar (Burma) is our villages and the cities. 

Something special we do as a family is hot pot that is made out of small mushrooms with lamb meat - it is SO GOOD! 

In my culture we love to dance!