Tuesday, 13 March 2012
AN ENGLISH LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Hello friends,
This post is to tell you about the FONSECA GROUP. Last Summer I spent a memorable month in Farnham, near London, with teenage students who went to study English and travelled to England with this organisation. I went to help them as a group leader. We had a great time both with our host families, language centres and teachers.
The FONSECA GROUP is run by Mariki and her daughter, María, who have more than 20 years experience in organising summer courses in England, and make sure the experience is useful and beneficial. They are also aware of child protection issues and do whatever is necessary to keep them in a safe environment. They themselves look for suitable host families and also coordinate closely with the teachers of the language centres and those of the private lessons. They monitor the students' evaluations, too.
This year, in July, they will offer 3 different possibilities for students from 13 to 16. To their two traditional ones- Surrey Language Centre and Private lessons-,they are adding a third group for young students particularly interested in tennis. For three or four weeks they will have 3 hours of tennis coaching in the morning with an English coach, and 2 hours of English class in the afternoon. Furthermore, like the other students, they will practise English with their host family, and with other foreign students of English.
There are also other possibilities and programs for younger students- from 8-12- with total supervision and close follow-up by the organization´s group leaders and by Mariki and María personally who are checking everything all the time.
Farnham is a very beautiful small town in an interesting area very near London -45 minutes-and every week, as well as the lessons and sport and leisure activities in the afternoon, the students will enjoy various visits and short trips: Oxford, Stonehenge, Winchester, Guilford, Brighton, London...
If you are interested in finding out more about the FONSECA GROUP and their offer for this Summer's courses in England, you can contact them at the following link: info@fonsecagroup.es
Monday, 20 February 2012
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Comenius Meeting "BIH" in Trieste (4th day) and back home
Friday, 18th November, our last day in Italy
Venice is very near Trieste. We went there by train. We enjoyed the canals and the magnificent buildings such as the palazzos and churches you can see from the vapporetto- the water bus-
We saw the gondolas and their sailors in striped t-shirts rowing without rest but with charm. We saw the old and new bridges, all beautiful and spiring. And of course, St. Marcos, a great cathedral, so bright and different with oriental byzantine influences.
Our Turkish colleagues-Sezen and friends- stayed on in Venice to return to their country from there. The rest of us, Marie, Romina, Hannelore, Amgard, Barbara, Melita, Iana, Boris...and Antonio, J. Angel and I, went for a dinner in Trieste, to say goodbye for now, although we are going to keep in contact all the time on the internet, by e-mail and through the Project Web and blog.
On the trip back to Cartagena, Saturday, 19th November
At the end of our trip we were exhausted. We had hardly slept during the previous days, and we even thought in English, the language we had used almost all the time to communicate to most of our European friends, but we were satisfied. These days had been great due to the very good organization of the meeting by Barbara and her colleagues, the wonderful atmosphere among the members of our working group, all the work we had done and the agreements reached, all the interest about our common aims and the beautiful places and people we had got to know.
We hope the "Believing in Humanity" Comenius Project will produce in our schools, teachers and specially students, a greater awareness of solidarity and that our help, in one way or another , will get to people in need.
THE END
Our Turkish colleagues-Sezen and friends- stayed on in Venice to return to their country from there. The rest of us, Marie, Romina, Hannelore, Amgard, Barbara, Melita, Iana, Boris...and Antonio, J. Angel and I, went for a dinner in Trieste, to say goodbye for now, although we are going to keep in contact all the time on the internet, by e-mail and through the Project Web and blog.
On the trip back to Cartagena, Saturday, 19th November
At the end of our trip we were exhausted. We had hardly slept during the previous days, and we even thought in English, the language we had used almost all the time to communicate to most of our European friends, but we were satisfied. These days had been great due to the very good organization of the meeting by Barbara and her colleagues, the wonderful atmosphere among the members of our working group, all the work we had done and the agreements reached, all the interest about our common aims and the beautiful places and people we had got to know.
We hope the "Believing in Humanity" Comenius Project will produce in our schools, teachers and specially students, a greater awareness of solidarity and that our help, in one way or another , will get to people in need.
THE END
Comenius Meeting "BIH" in Trieste (3rd day)
The following day, Thursday. 
We woke up in our definitive hotel, a normal one in a narrow city centre street, but it was OK. At last, we didn´t have to pull arround our luggage any more, thanks to Barbara, who had found this hotel for us and helped us with everything.
It was Thursday and we went to visit Slovenia. The Italian school invited all of us to go there by bus. First of all, we went to the Postojnska caves which were very interesting. We went into the cave by a special train to see partof the enormous corridors, rooms and fantastic spaces made by the water and the land -karstic rocks- forming stalactites, stalagmites, columns and thousands of different shapes. The cave was more than 20 Km long and there are many others like it in Slovenia. Then, we went to Bled, a beautiful town sorrounding a large lake. In its centre there is a romantic island with a church. We visited the castle and museum on the top of a hill. From there you can see, though the persistent but light mist, one of the most beautiful views you can imagine: the lake, the island, the mountains, the nice houses in the distance...
After lunch, we went to Lublijana,the capital of Slovenia. Going there, the landscape showed the simple and organised modern life based on the countryside and agriculture. When we got to the capital, it was only about half past four in the afternoon, but it was already dark and very cold. In fact, it was freezing. We visited the statue of Preseren, the Slovene poet, the streets, the bridges and the city centre. We took advantage of the opportunity to shop for warm woollen gloves and hats..
When we went back to Trieste we had a dinner of delicious typical Slovenian food. On the way and during the meals we often spoke about how to do the different activities of our project and how to achieve its objectives. These chats were very useful for answering questions and doubts, and for arriving at agreements.
(To be continued...)
We woke up in our definitive hotel, a normal one in a narrow city centre street, but it was OK. At last, we didn´t have to pull arround our luggage any more, thanks to Barbara, who had found this hotel for us and helped us with everything.
It was Thursday and we went to visit Slovenia. The Italian school invited all of us to go there by bus. First of all, we went to the Postojnska caves which were very interesting. We went into the cave by a special train to see partof the enormous corridors, rooms and fantastic spaces made by the water and the land -karstic rocks- forming stalactites, stalagmites, columns and thousands of different shapes. The cave was more than 20 Km long and there are many others like it in Slovenia. Then, we went to Bled, a beautiful town sorrounding a large lake. In its centre there is a romantic island with a church. We visited the castle and museum on the top of a hill. From there you can see, though the persistent but light mist, one of the most beautiful views you can imagine: the lake, the island, the mountains, the nice houses in the distance...
After lunch, we went to Lublijana,the capital of Slovenia. Going there, the landscape showed the simple and organised modern life based on the countryside and agriculture. When we got to the capital, it was only about half past four in the afternoon, but it was already dark and very cold. In fact, it was freezing. We visited the statue of Preseren, the Slovene poet, the streets, the bridges and the city centre. We took advantage of the opportunity to shop for warm woollen gloves and hats..
When we went back to Trieste we had a dinner of delicious typical Slovenian food. On the way and during the meals we often spoke about how to do the different activities of our project and how to achieve its objectives. These chats were very useful for answering questions and doubts, and for arriving at agreements.
(To be continued...)
Friday, 16 December 2011
Comenius Meeting "BIH" in Trieste (2nd Day)
The next day, Wednesday 16th
...The second day of our trip to Trieste, when we left the hotel, we realised that we had to carry our luggage again, because we had to change it for a cheaper one. We called a taxi, and again something happened. The taxi driver made a mistake with the address we gave him and left us in the wrong place. The Italian secondary school "Liceo Scientifico Statale France Preseren" was not there. Then, we phoned our colleague and she told us that we were not very far away. Just at the top of the street. With our suitcases, hand luggage, laptops and other stuff, we started to walk up the hill. At the school we left our things in a secure place and finally we met everybody.
First, the Italian colleagues showed us around the school. It was wonderful and quite old, with large classrooms and not many students per class. Then, we went to the meeting room and the working session began. All of us were there: our host Italian colleagues, the Germans, the Czech, the Turkish, the Swedish and us, the Spanish. Then, we proceeded to officially inaugurate the "Believing in Humanity" project. The Italian principal, Loredana G. made a presentation of the history of Trieste and the characteristics of the city. Melita V. told us about the host centre, a bilingual Italian-Slovene school, and then a group of students came to tell us about their centre and learning experiences followed by a discussion with the guest teachers. At the end of the host school intervention, they explained the cooexistence in Trieste between Italian and Slovene, two languages, two worlds. Later, there was an exchange of dossiers and gifts among the partners.
Then, it was the turn of the Spanish delegation. Antonio Parra, project coordinator, presented the "Believing in Humanity" project and the "Solidarity Forever" project in which it is inspired. After that, it was me, Paloma Pérez-Crespo, who explained the activities for this school year, and in more detail those of the first term; teachers´ students´ surveys to identify situations of inequality, childrens rights, gender violence... Then, Jose Angel Moreno explained things about the web and blog for the project.
Before finishing, we voted for the logo that will represent our project -the Spanish one was in the end the winner- and agreed on holding a solidarity festival - as we do every year - in every country in May 2012, and to hold the European Solidarity Festival, in June 2013, when all our partners will bring some students to Spain and participate in it with us, coinciding with the closure of our Comenius Project.
After that, we established the work to be done for the following months, the tasks to complete by the next meeting in the Czech Republic, in March, and some assessment aspects. Our colleagues made questions and suggestions and after then we, the Spanish delegation, as coordinator country, did an interview for an Italian TV channel. We finished this working session very late, at about 3:30 in the afternoon, with a well deserved, fantastic cold meal at the Italian school.
To be continued...
...The second day of our trip to Trieste, when we left the hotel, we realised that we had to carry our luggage again, because we had to change it for a cheaper one. We called a taxi, and again something happened. The taxi driver made a mistake with the address we gave him and left us in the wrong place. The Italian secondary school "Liceo Scientifico Statale France Preseren" was not there. Then, we phoned our colleague and she told us that we were not very far away. Just at the top of the street. With our suitcases, hand luggage, laptops and other stuff, we started to walk up the hill. At the school we left our things in a secure place and finally we met everybody.
First, the Italian colleagues showed us around the school. It was wonderful and quite old, with large classrooms and not many students per class. Then, we went to the meeting room and the working session began. All of us were there: our host Italian colleagues, the Germans, the Czech, the Turkish, the Swedish and us, the Spanish. Then, we proceeded to officially inaugurate the "Believing in Humanity" project. The Italian principal, Loredana G. made a presentation of the history of Trieste and the characteristics of the city. Melita V. told us about the host centre, a bilingual Italian-Slovene school, and then a group of students came to tell us about their centre and learning experiences followed by a discussion with the guest teachers. At the end of the host school intervention, they explained the cooexistence in Trieste between Italian and Slovene, two languages, two worlds. Later, there was an exchange of dossiers and gifts among the partners.
Then, it was the turn of the Spanish delegation. Antonio Parra, project coordinator, presented the "Believing in Humanity" project and the "Solidarity Forever" project in which it is inspired. After that, it was me, Paloma Pérez-Crespo, who explained the activities for this school year, and in more detail those of the first term; teachers´ students´ surveys to identify situations of inequality, childrens rights, gender violence... Then, Jose Angel Moreno explained things about the web and blog for the project.
Before finishing, we voted for the logo that will represent our project -the Spanish one was in the end the winner- and agreed on holding a solidarity festival - as we do every year - in every country in May 2012, and to hold the European Solidarity Festival, in June 2013, when all our partners will bring some students to Spain and participate in it with us, coinciding with the closure of our Comenius Project.
After that, we established the work to be done for the following months, the tasks to complete by the next meeting in the Czech Republic, in March, and some assessment aspects. Our colleagues made questions and suggestions and after then we, the Spanish delegation, as coordinator country, did an interview for an Italian TV channel. We finished this working session very late, at about 3:30 in the afternoon, with a well deserved, fantastic cold meal at the Italian school.
To be continued...
Comenius Meeting "Believing in Humanity" in Trieste
Tuesday 15th of November.
The first day of our trip.
That was the date in which we, the teachers from IES Mediterraneo school, Cartagena, Spain - Antonio Parra, Jose Angel Moreno and I, Paloma Perez-Crespo - started our trip to Trieste. It was the first time we were going to meet our European partner colleagues in the Comenius Project, our school coordinates about education in values. A beautiful work, we hope it will go far in achieving our aims.
At 5:30 in the morning, we took the train to Madrid. There, at Chamartin station we went for a walk, because we had enough time before going to Barajas airport. Our flight was at 2:30 in the afternoon, and we changed at Milan to fly to Trieste. Everything went perfect. We had time to look over our notes, and even visit Milan town cente in the time we had to wait for the next flight.
When we arrived in Trieste at 9:30, Barbara, the Italian coordinator teacher, kindly came to meet us. All the other teachers were already at a restaurant having dinner and waiting for us. But first we had to drop off our luggage. Barbara had told us that we could book a very cheap hostel in a beautiful village near Trieste. On arrival we realised there was no receptionist and, after pulling our suitcases up 4 flights of stairs, there was no lift either. Besides, the door of my room was made of glass which made it embarrassing for me. We were very tired and we preferred to look for another hotel, like the Swedish colleagues, in Trieste. But it was too late, and we had to meet the other people. Then, we got in the car again, but it was very small. Only 2 suitcases fitted in the boot, so the third one had to sit on Antonio´s lap, in the back. He called it "his little daughter", referring to the times he had to carry her. In fact it was not so little. It weighed about 23kg. Anyway, jokes apart, I have to mention the totally good disposition of Barabara, the Italian coordinator.
We arrived at the restaurant at about 10:30, very late for a European dinner. All of them had almost finished, but they had kindly waited for us. There were some brief introductions and friendly conversation, but everyone was tired and soon we said goodnight. Then we had to look for a hotel. It was not easy but eventually we found the absolute opposite to the other one. For that night we were able to rest very comfortably.
To be continued...
The first day of our trip.
That was the date in which we, the teachers from IES Mediterraneo school, Cartagena, Spain - Antonio Parra, Jose Angel Moreno and I, Paloma Perez-Crespo - started our trip to Trieste. It was the first time we were going to meet our European partner colleagues in the Comenius Project, our school coordinates about education in values. A beautiful work, we hope it will go far in achieving our aims.
At 5:30 in the morning, we took the train to Madrid. There, at Chamartin station we went for a walk, because we had enough time before going to Barajas airport. Our flight was at 2:30 in the afternoon, and we changed at Milan to fly to Trieste. Everything went perfect. We had time to look over our notes, and even visit Milan town cente in the time we had to wait for the next flight.
When we arrived in Trieste at 9:30, Barbara, the Italian coordinator teacher, kindly came to meet us. All the other teachers were already at a restaurant having dinner and waiting for us. But first we had to drop off our luggage. Barbara had told us that we could book a very cheap hostel in a beautiful village near Trieste. On arrival we realised there was no receptionist and, after pulling our suitcases up 4 flights of stairs, there was no lift either. Besides, the door of my room was made of glass which made it embarrassing for me. We were very tired and we preferred to look for another hotel, like the Swedish colleagues, in Trieste. But it was too late, and we had to meet the other people. Then, we got in the car again, but it was very small. Only 2 suitcases fitted in the boot, so the third one had to sit on Antonio´s lap, in the back. He called it "his little daughter", referring to the times he had to carry her. In fact it was not so little. It weighed about 23kg. Anyway, jokes apart, I have to mention the totally good disposition of Barabara, the Italian coordinator.
We arrived at the restaurant at about 10:30, very late for a European dinner. All of them had almost finished, but they had kindly waited for us. There were some brief introductions and friendly conversation, but everyone was tired and soon we said goodnight. Then we had to look for a hotel. It was not easy but eventually we found the absolute opposite to the other one. For that night we were able to rest very comfortably.
To be continued...
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
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