tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75098007148023030352024-03-18T02:48:00.989-07:00Janet's Abruzzo EdublogA blog of random thoughts on ELT, Web 2.0 tools, and about former life in the beautiful region of Abruzzo.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger464125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-14030618654889872662018-02-13T08:22:00.001-08:002018-02-13T08:25:39.512-08:00OUP Webinar: Using Games for win-win learningAttending webinars from the comfort of your own home is a fantastic experience!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53X4BZ9ljPVUfFreqmrkB0j0S-OKhajkeDzcvUMqQEMEetyoDKmTtU8g-qQbU0iIXzBcycTMVJaIuhDTxcT7wL9ZaP_WDdze9VE6dmJMrHa5Rmr6PAzhF83sEp2FzjECJUF6Jo5vavIU/s1600/webinar2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="461" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53X4BZ9ljPVUfFreqmrkB0j0S-OKhajkeDzcvUMqQEMEetyoDKmTtU8g-qQbU0iIXzBcycTMVJaIuhDTxcT7wL9ZaP_WDdze9VE6dmJMrHa5Rmr6PAzhF83sEp2FzjECJUF6Jo5vavIU/s320/webinar2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of google images</span></i><br />
<br />
This morning I attended an excellent <a href="https://oupeltglobalblog.com/" target="_blank">OUP</a> Webinar presented by John Hughes, called 'Using Games for win-win learning'. You can read all about it in this informative OUP blog post here:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://oupeltglobalblog.com/2018/01/25/using-games-win-win-learning/">https://oupeltglobalblog.com/2018/01/25/using-games-win-win-learning/</a><br />
<br />
You can register to attend the same webinar repeated on Thursday February 15th. Details from the OUP website are <a href="https://elt.oup.com/events/global/Using_games_for_win_win_learning?cc=gb&selLanguage=en" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiKDW8OgHyByVomIzooC3qIGqJOch0-52xwodJZaZx3jNFmKqKlz5X02qcdp6n06bG1SP23FOOtgBAXGCJs0MWyOOqXp9FWkKD_b0hq6AhgkM3rwHfev5AY0GlpfRLy8V2IARe05rF-s/s1600/OUP_webinar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="702" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiKDW8OgHyByVomIzooC3qIGqJOch0-52xwodJZaZx3jNFmKqKlz5X02qcdp6n06bG1SP23FOOtgBAXGCJs0MWyOOqXp9FWkKD_b0hq6AhgkM3rwHfev5AY0GlpfRLy8V2IARe05rF-s/s400/OUP_webinar.png" width="400" /></a></div>
I enjoy playing games with my learners and in this webinar I learned more about the rationale behind using games for learning, and most importantly of all, the presenter offered many practical examples of varied types of games. It was an interactive session with interesting polls, text chat opportunities and games such as charades, being played. Handouts were made available at the close of the session, and these will be invaluable for future lessons.<br />
<br />
The important thing about games is that they can be used with every type of learner, and used judiciously, games can make language points and vocabulary more memorable. They are indeed a hidden type of repetition drill and if the students are engaged and 'in the flow,' they will not notice that behind the fun, there is a serious element to learning going on. Gamifying teaching in a pedagogical and meaningful way can lead to more learner engagment and motivation.<br />
<br />
The book <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Language-Learning-Cambridge-Handbooks-Teachers/dp/0521618223" target="_blank"><b>Games for Language Learning,</b></a> by Andrew Wright et al. was mentioned in the session. I have had this book in my personal collection for a while. It is a rich resource, full of fantastic and easy to implement ideas for games. According to the author, games as drills form a 'living communication', and this is an interesting point to note.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhX_3lUOmJJeUmFqh2O48JP2E_yBfAwysemYD6eUJQaiNp54oMlr32h_-gbA5j3cHz68L7_yZliCzyKWMIlY6FuSPcayNal9CqTl1YVLeVHv0u3QdNrsbjES4hgDiHXQOCErMn453fEY/s1600/BOOK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhX_3lUOmJJeUmFqh2O48JP2E_yBfAwysemYD6eUJQaiNp54oMlr32h_-gbA5j3cHz68L7_yZliCzyKWMIlY6FuSPcayNal9CqTl1YVLeVHv0u3QdNrsbjES4hgDiHXQOCErMn453fEY/s1600/BOOK.png" /></a></div>
<br />
During the lively session, attended by over 300 teachers from around the globe, I learned about the 5 'C's that are vital components for a good and enjoyable game:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwmPwfiZn_7MLU6Nz-ex4MVhaPjL5VMfGrin8rvcQxT0xTOxnLCbAiw-Ny02x4jGloSR7MrmWiXHlPeT25W2pSHOPq0GnBq6WUbIxDcZa8gfgfrqw_8q8hEavmnilB2FBNrMAGLjPZq4/s1600/5_x_cs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="611" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwmPwfiZn_7MLU6Nz-ex4MVhaPjL5VMfGrin8rvcQxT0xTOxnLCbAiw-Ny02x4jGloSR7MrmWiXHlPeT25W2pSHOPq0GnBq6WUbIxDcZa8gfgfrqw_8q8hEavmnilB2FBNrMAGLjPZq4/s400/5_x_cs.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Some interesting links included one to <a href="http://garethsshortstoryblog.blogspot.co.uk/p/0-0-1-253-1444-gjd-12-3-1694-14.html" target="_blank">Gareth's Short Story Blog</a><br />
<br />
In the article, the focus was on 'Rory's Storytelling Cubes'. I will need to investigate this resource, which looks fun.<br />
<br />
The notion of 'FLOW' during a game is important, and the book called '<a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Flow.html?id=v2AVz3gf-F4C&source=kp_cover&redir_esc=y" target="_blank">FLOW- The Psychology of Optimal Experience</a>' by Mihaly Csikszent was referred to in the webinar.<br />
<br />
The use of QR codes in games such as treasure hunts was also mentioned inthe slide presentation. This article <a href="http://www.emoderationskills.com/qr-codes-a-treasure-hunt/" target="_blank">QR codes: A treasure hunt</a>, by <a href="https://www.theconsultants-e.com/consultancy/our-team/nicky-hockly/" target="_blank">Nicky Hockly, Director of Pedagogy</a> of the renowned <a href="https://www.theconsultants-e.com/" target="_blank">Consultants-e Edtech training website</a>, contains an excellent post about how to go about organizing a treasure or scavenger hunt using mobile phones and QR codes.<br />
<br />
I was so engaged in following the presentation and doing the activities and adding replies in the text chat box, that the one hour session flew past!<br />
<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to say ..........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafqxOcW19k9UrWcoCIITSoVeOHBvWSANVSMVb9gPpOuvI5qO7_aHw1k56UXySp05qnqgUTk2CYNyWBojDFWgMyJwP1KTN7UQQ3toA33x7pcH5ydPtO_QMlfgJQgVAPuIW24ZVrgdWewE/s1600/Thank+you-+computer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafqxOcW19k9UrWcoCIITSoVeOHBvWSANVSMVb9gPpOuvI5qO7_aHw1k56UXySp05qnqgUTk2CYNyWBojDFWgMyJwP1KTN7UQQ3toA33x7pcH5ydPtO_QMlfgJQgVAPuIW24ZVrgdWewE/s1600/Thank+you-+computer.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
........ to <a href="https://oupeltglobalblog.com/" target="_blank">OUP</a> for this exciting series of practical and worthwhile webinars, and to <a href="https://oupeltglobalblog.com/2018/01/25/using-games-win-win-learning/" target="_blank">John Hughes</a> for the inspirational presentation today!! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-15764185625444171432018-01-28T07:12:00.000-08:002018-01-29T02:46:54.339-08:00Book Review: Talking Images: Idioms - by Lucy Holmes and Sharlene MatharuI am delighted to be writing a review of a newly published photocopiable teachers' resource book called <b><a href="http://talkingimagesidioms.com/" target="_blank">Talking Idioms: Images</a>,</b> written by two of my <a href="https://www.englishinoxford.com/" target="_blank">Lake School of English</a> colleagues.<br />
<br />
The talented joint authors are Lucy Holmes and Sharlene Matharu and they have been working at the Lake School of English for a considerable number of years between them now.<br />
<br />
Below an image reproduced with kind permission from the Lake School.
It shows the two authors with their book called 'Talking Images:
Idioms'. This resource book is created for teachers by two practising
and very experienced teachers. You can read more about them<a href="http://talkingimagesidioms.com/about-the-writers" target="_blank"><b> here.</b></a><br />
<br />
All the original and brilliant artwork contained in the book has been drawn by Sharlene Matharu herself, seen below on the right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif60ZYwcQzVENmNag7RQ2qVxHT0sNaPmU8FaSdq4LWNX4dVp06wLqb_Jdwmzannwy-moLGU8VThQauHEZwnhEy5XycG3NCt7gkNMuFLPGnK5CwOka_CQJtJwj-fbgT-akdsK8c-PbX1Hw/s1600/Lucy_Sharlene+book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif60ZYwcQzVENmNag7RQ2qVxHT0sNaPmU8FaSdq4LWNX4dVp06wLqb_Jdwmzannwy-moLGU8VThQauHEZwnhEy5XycG3NCt7gkNMuFLPGnK5CwOka_CQJtJwj-fbgT-akdsK8c-PbX1Hw/s400/Lucy_Sharlene+book.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Before I begin the review, I would just like to mention that the Lake School is a hotbed of incredible creativity, talent and innovation. This is thanks to the amazing support and encouragement of the two hardworking and inspirational directors, Carmel Engin and Susan Barber, (seen in the image below).........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLnfSDRkvpECEOS7t3am_Nt9rBYgNZ97sq7dsVOPqYaiT7iY6ekzQ7SRWToiEWF7Mlcba0mFru52v9oAMBZc6MH5sSs4IPTymL1kQrULsGund_BdO6dZiI4rZgn8LMnIvQIccLq31csg/s1600/ssuan_and_carmel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="445" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPLnfSDRkvpECEOS7t3am_Nt9rBYgNZ97sq7dsVOPqYaiT7iY6ekzQ7SRWToiEWF7Mlcba0mFru52v9oAMBZc6MH5sSs4IPTymL1kQrULsGund_BdO6dZiI4rZgn8LMnIvQIccLq31csg/s400/ssuan_and_carmel.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
..........and the warm, friendly atmosphere created by the school by the teachers and staff, and of course, inspired by the many students from around the globe!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iJydbp4Y6BQ1_HqpbjS1kOunsw-6qnrQos9rSG50h8F1rdUQ9-BC-ZEZzK-y9acqn-D4PC8ltB1L_RHOIlvDhZ4AcJPQZJlZe47cP29PEydet83HyOabAbMr0FtDr9B_lU88Yip8WYM/s1600/globe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="934" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5iJydbp4Y6BQ1_HqpbjS1kOunsw-6qnrQos9rSG50h8F1rdUQ9-BC-ZEZzK-y9acqn-D4PC8ltB1L_RHOIlvDhZ4AcJPQZJlZe47cP29PEydet83HyOabAbMr0FtDr9B_lU88Yip8WYM/s400/globe.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
'Talking Images: Idioms' has been primarily designed as a 'pick up and use' resource book, and I honestly believe it is and will be the perfect addition to any busy staffroom. It contains a wealth of idioms, all based around practical themes, and using images to gain maximum communicative effect. All the materials have been trialled at the Lake School beforehand, and given the seal of approval by both students and teachers alike.<br />
<br />
I have recently had the pleasure to have a good look through the contents of the book, which contains 12 thematically based units. Each lesson aimed at B1 level and above, would ideally take 45-60 minutes of classroom time.<br />
<br />
I was most impressed by the following aspects:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN1JaNSa8IKpo1ux1M1UfCn11nKRM8gdLF52nWnO6G9WICtTrWvLQEnFou5M7zSq0uTZ0S3s2nG4lIxBG-8fT5l96_O0Vve_bkNlB5t6U3SwiRPGj6MpXJCVsU6LNkHxHh9ErIZmeunE/s1600/TASKS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="489" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIN1JaNSa8IKpo1ux1M1UfCn11nKRM8gdLF52nWnO6G9WICtTrWvLQEnFou5M7zSq0uTZ0S3s2nG4lIxBG-8fT5l96_O0Vve_bkNlB5t6U3SwiRPGj6MpXJCVsU6LNkHxHh9ErIZmeunE/s400/TASKS.png" width="347" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul></ul>
What I liked most of all was the wide variety of lesson activities contained in the book. They would appeal to new or indeed, experienced teachers, to enjoy using and I have added a few of them below:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwuNDajQiwH4V09bHyvNPtiO3cub9zuiaF63VdcMk8pCOpRHzqQjGhUmdMDxDcktmNHNagiLqaGaiPMqIniZyZEU4tQcbZQysLhYxvOfud2qaNaFDCuHG5d0aRp7yz9u0thTNuae1AfA/s1600/ACTIVITIES.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="467" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwuNDajQiwH4V09bHyvNPtiO3cub9zuiaF63VdcMk8pCOpRHzqQjGhUmdMDxDcktmNHNagiLqaGaiPMqIniZyZEU4tQcbZQysLhYxvOfud2qaNaFDCuHG5d0aRp7yz9u0thTNuae1AfA/s400/ACTIVITIES.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<ul></ul>
Each lesson has a set amount of clear, logical stages, and thus it makes it an engaging book for any teacher to work through.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to try some of the lessons out in real time, and hopefully this will happen in the very near future :-)<br />
<br />
The authors have included a free sample chapter for people to view, and it is available via their website here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://talkingimagesidioms.com/sample-chapter" target="_blank">http://talkingimagesidioms.com/sample-chapter </a><br />
<br />
Once again I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Lucy and Sharlene, a dynamic duo who have worked so hard to achieve this dream of self publishing their materials.<br />
<br />
I would highly recommend this excellent teachers' resource book, and it is a truly......<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA28vHoznViMShrFxqksOQXO6rEJDvNWRupJPGiXoNaxDTXKjcUqyx4xQh3WBQrHTxVdWwzcPBxjEzuMLb0ueYUdeMUcwr2yZCvoGTsVmtNiMuq_vVkhyphenhyphenHnDT6AJLHjYC7umeW7KGtEkA/s1600/awesome.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="337" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA28vHoznViMShrFxqksOQXO6rEJDvNWRupJPGiXoNaxDTXKjcUqyx4xQh3WBQrHTxVdWwzcPBxjEzuMLb0ueYUdeMUcwr2yZCvoGTsVmtNiMuq_vVkhyphenhyphenHnDT6AJLHjYC7umeW7KGtEkA/s320/awesome.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
........achievement for them both.<br />
<br />
I hope I have given teachers, who are reading this post, a little taster of what the book is for and <a href="http://talkingimagesidioms.com/" target="_blank">about.</a><br />
<br />
You can find out all the details of how to purchase it via the writers' own website 'Talking Images: Idioms'<br />
<br />
<a href="http://talkingimagesidioms.com/">http://talkingimagesidioms.com/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>There is also a great competition to win a signed copy for free, and details are on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheLakeSchoolofEnglishOxford/posts/" target="_blank">Lake School of English Facebook page</a>:</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33kg5RSP0PeHkk_MslpO-rbCNv4FSw5-cNa0ZxDRu8t0CpoxMHotB3zYk7RwDLTBRo7iiKMVm0ATUqnCxgKPzDiYNGtqGPcNPuPXTfBr6HYPNsMrv2B_jOryJxe-vJFI8xp48GkHHsKw/s1600/2018-01-25.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="392" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33kg5RSP0PeHkk_MslpO-rbCNv4FSw5-cNa0ZxDRu8t0CpoxMHotB3zYk7RwDLTBRo7iiKMVm0ATUqnCxgKPzDiYNGtqGPcNPuPXTfBr6HYPNsMrv2B_jOryJxe-vJFI8xp48GkHHsKw/s400/2018-01-25.png" width="338" /></a></div>
<br />
Lucy and Sharlene have created their own 'Talking Images: Idioms' Facebook page where you can view comments and updates as they occur:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/talkingimagesidioms">https://www.facebook.com/talkingimagesidioms</a><br />
<br />
To enter the competition, you need to like their Facebook page, and post a funny sentence, using your favourite idiom. If your entry makes them laugh the most, you could be .....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLVE9KB7h5TFD5ipBe2zqczwRFjaGzQblOxkt_594e23Zk3GVd2K9Sian_-dvW8JBH0ijgEqRwBUhZjWD4WMR6fiyrSKJ4Xs1FQRszf_WIDwDxb3v04nysIAw16f6tKUvQA1hXy-mcgY/s1600/winning.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="643" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLVE9KB7h5TFD5ipBe2zqczwRFjaGzQblOxkt_594e23Zk3GVd2K9Sian_-dvW8JBH0ijgEqRwBUhZjWD4WMR6fiyrSKJ4Xs1FQRszf_WIDwDxb3v04nysIAw16f6tKUvQA1hXy-mcgY/s320/winning.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you do win a copy, please DO make sure to add a comment here to let me know!<br />
<br />
Best of luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-15335863650959276822018-01-23T06:25:00.000-08:002018-01-23T06:25:21.530-08:00Natural Born Actor Teachers?What do you think?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS1i7t_H08QEdktjA4wYBDnZc94KZSmVXLADfSlC5Fmm8Cl_jcVXGoqLaID9Pbzdiy1zxK9dQfJeefK0ygq1XBk2_UdiCtkZhadwWHCIaMHOzjDcza-GU5nHNglXOG5gtrYEjjJP_7so/s1600/nat_actors.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="118" data-original-width="639" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS1i7t_H08QEdktjA4wYBDnZc94KZSmVXLADfSlC5Fmm8Cl_jcVXGoqLaID9Pbzdiy1zxK9dQfJeefK0ygq1XBk2_UdiCtkZhadwWHCIaMHOzjDcza-GU5nHNglXOG5gtrYEjjJP_7so/s400/nat_actors.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Which of the following statements apply to your style of teaching? Please DO post a comment if you wish to say what you think :-)<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I usually act a word for the students to guess the meaning</li>
<li>I'm a budding theatrical diva/divo </li>
<li>I'm an aspiring poet and I encourage my students to create their own poems </li>
<li>I always wanted to be a comedian or comedienne so teaching is a nice alternative </li>
<li>I am always cracking jokes in class</li>
<li>I usually enter my classroom with a theatrical flourish</li>
<li>I am prone to using wild gesticulations to emphasize a point</li>
<li>I often change the tone of my voice to accentuate a particular point</li>
<li>I sometimes throw in random quotes to grab my students' attention</li>
<li>I sometimes feign anger when students don't hand in their homework</li>
<li>I often act out dialogues as examples for my students</li>
<li>I encourage my students to do role play at every given opportunity </li>
<li>I love watching Youtube clips of me and my lessons</li>
<li>I give Oscar-worthy performances when I feel like it</li>
<li>I can act happy and teach when I am miserable inside</li>
<li>The show must always go on - that is my personal motto</li>
</ul>
Can you guess which of the above I have done/ I do in my lessons?<br />
<br />
Probably everyone has a little bit of an acting side in them if it is nurtured properly.<br />
<br />
TEACH with passion.<br />
<br />
PERFORM with passion.<br />
<br />
Teach + perform = PERFECT lesson?<br />
<br />
=<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEws7mYpj5VzK_hIAqj8ZpzDxcjZTAfwRD3-bSUpqpk7k3rrmKi38T8-KxFn3PrhrcC4-ZWyJwZf7-Zsg4ojOMcHcSOKFCMSgXIaluc8ShqddPArglJOrhUTtryJioCIOVTRuQC2n7RQ/s1600/index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEws7mYpj5VzK_hIAqj8ZpzDxcjZTAfwRD3-bSUpqpk7k3rrmKi38T8-KxFn3PrhrcC4-ZWyJwZf7-Zsg4ojOMcHcSOKFCMSgXIaluc8ShqddPArglJOrhUTtryJioCIOVTRuQC2n7RQ/s1600/index.jpg" /></a>students?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-5395196583855100102018-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:002018-11-07T07:16:28.547-08:00Little Free Library of AbruzzoI hope the new year has got off to a flying start for everyone!<br />
<br />
My first post of 2018 is about someone who is realising a dream....... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-36cIy23cjdRbuxVsx3o437FmViJQ5YjKQ64rOflOlhOWHtv5Ky1SWof9SfHzhI4NVPw8Cv4AtamaicBA0ZrjbdiHFrbCIy9I-4t9GlNVxIWD2_InbtV8o5HTdo6UeQeR_sGoOG-Pmqg/s1600/Free+Little+Library+word+cloud.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="811" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-36cIy23cjdRbuxVsx3o437FmViJQ5YjKQ64rOflOlhOWHtv5Ky1SWof9SfHzhI4NVPw8Cv4AtamaicBA0ZrjbdiHFrbCIy9I-4t9GlNVxIWD2_InbtV8o5HTdo6UeQeR_sGoOG-Pmqg/s400/Free+Little+Library+word+cloud.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Recently I had a big clearing out of books and I came across an exciting initiative in Abruzzo which proved to be the ideal solution for donating a few of my books in English.<br />
<br />
The initiative was set up by an enthusisatic book lover, Giovanna G. who has created a small bookcrossing library for free. The objective is to take a book and donate a book so that the books are circulated by as wide an audience as possible. This involves trust and respect for each book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AEZWOe4SzrOP1WOt3EDr8xPWEogy2Feins-fe5mjgIVlZR79Fu3-tiFP0S0AnST2wtOvg_ySGLGgj59nMq9QCD2w6C0UY2SMoQYKhsflKV9gKLuBzV2_Ad8h-LeTjx9AHhFX3w6KD88/s1600/FB_IMG_1509980144638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AEZWOe4SzrOP1WOt3EDr8xPWEogy2Feins-fe5mjgIVlZR79Fu3-tiFP0S0AnST2wtOvg_ySGLGgj59nMq9QCD2w6C0UY2SMoQYKhsflKV9gKLuBzV2_Ad8h-LeTjx9AHhFX3w6KD88/s400/FB_IMG_1509980144638.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
I think it is a wonderful idea, and by all accounts it is enjoying a hugely successful outcome. It is part of a larger, national bookcrossing project. <br />
<br />
I am delighted to have played a small part in this initiative, and the books I have enjoyed reading in the past, will now hopefully continue to touch other peoples' lives in some way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl0mnnZRhMnttGZCJpxagbK71wjnqxT7Y9g6g_jii-RyV7FaSYHsuyXWF-Hoc3JIv_a7JYjxkmtYqo4saTC9R7AQonFhd94DK_rH_tEG7BhydFWM3K_0nOGmI1Y6p7ORETIE8KtS0KV0/s1600/Free_library_3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="335" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhl0mnnZRhMnttGZCJpxagbK71wjnqxT7Y9g6g_jii-RyV7FaSYHsuyXWF-Hoc3JIv_a7JYjxkmtYqo4saTC9R7AQonFhd94DK_rH_tEG7BhydFWM3K_0nOGmI1Y6p7ORETIE8KtS0KV0/s400/Free_library_3.png" width="305" /></a></div>
I have been in contact via emails, with the organizer Giovanna G.and it is evident to see how truly committed she is to realising her dream project. I had the pleasure of chatting to her on the phone just before Christmas and it was lovely to hear her voice!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhfnkPX_S0HbZA7wBctsgdbq95Gl5JExE4B2oG85Rv9Qay96rWqHUjrR1cFYetAad7G3YLnS9jIcaVhhlv9ApvbbqMOsaf-zEcRjVdxG3r-cY9TDlloI1pH2x8ExvnpcnimfYa1-3gL8/s1600/Lib-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="689" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhfnkPX_S0HbZA7wBctsgdbq95Gl5JExE4B2oG85Rv9Qay96rWqHUjrR1cFYetAad7G3YLnS9jIcaVhhlv9ApvbbqMOsaf-zEcRjVdxG3r-cY9TDlloI1pH2x8ExvnpcnimfYa1-3gL8/s400/Lib-1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mLewuptS_eRYXHL1zf0uhTECGCAj8OntUkUBJkpdjT-khxQrTXvy7PdVZq9nSbTKngs_5zS5HW9d-aRwl1bLp7eLgAuxVS8dS5_TOTRJreVhW53H5SpVBbkogHEqW3tMW8W_eVASNeQ/s1600/Livb_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="381" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_mLewuptS_eRYXHL1zf0uhTECGCAj8OntUkUBJkpdjT-khxQrTXvy7PdVZq9nSbTKngs_5zS5HW9d-aRwl1bLp7eLgAuxVS8dS5_TOTRJreVhW53H5SpVBbkogHEqW3tMW8W_eVASNeQ/s320/Livb_3.png" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />
Recently, Giovanna has started up another new and exciting library initiative in the local area, and she has been crowdsourcing the materials and doing creative fund-raising projects.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCGhqMODTrEgH8GQLhX23mrBpIrXiAz11yqXldBqdKhuyq208pLGn8kBTP-ImQ6BIW6HOgtMvHzEw11VnLA0ysLUCbsyIW7u8ac9C_S1hk4_WZ1o-mOj9jVx48UoDbZDO_Jhg2zhvf6Q/s1600/Library_shelves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="467" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCGhqMODTrEgH8GQLhX23mrBpIrXiAz11yqXldBqdKhuyq208pLGn8kBTP-ImQ6BIW6HOgtMvHzEw11VnLA0ysLUCbsyIW7u8ac9C_S1hk4_WZ1o-mOj9jVx48UoDbZDO_Jhg2zhvf6Q/s400/Library_shelves.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I hope to meet this amazing lady in person, and visit the new library in Villanova. <br />
<br />
I wish her all the best for a wonderful 2018. <br />
<br />
<b>News Update: 7th November 2018</b><br />
I have just read about the passing away of the original founder of the Little Free Library, called Todd Bol, from the USA. It is a remarkable and awe-inspiring story.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-30030392165304924652017-12-25T02:11:00.000-08:002017-12-26T00:12:23.053-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbh0dsWh3JWh-88VA7rIZqB9yVYA0iChGjIredfE7x_vOIPaZD1oSq4l1qnBgUOWp3S-P8WeUhqNvRF5G8c3adRJY7I-tf1kwNd6SVOy2XKSdJz2xJFTsSVE9agQ6pNgGOghK9TekpUA/s1600/Xmas_2017_collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="638" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbh0dsWh3JWh-88VA7rIZqB9yVYA0iChGjIredfE7x_vOIPaZD1oSq4l1qnBgUOWp3S-P8WeUhqNvRF5G8c3adRJY7I-tf1kwNd6SVOy2XKSdJz2xJFTsSVE9agQ6pNgGOghK9TekpUA/s400/Xmas_2017_collage.png" width="400" /></a></div>
I hope the 2017 festive season brings joy, peace, love and happiness all around.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHAGp37cB907pNMpj5lsUQs3z39B8cOM61auGD_yJFdEfo7HtKY61sjyq8wkIaz35ws7dR3nEhf92lhpGtAC8Fs-BIhB-6a736B6nF-RAd0_41BjIIQa8sReb6NCou6iIYUpPE5Vf9hg/s1600/OCR+xmas+card+on+balcony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="690" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHAGp37cB907pNMpj5lsUQs3z39B8cOM61auGD_yJFdEfo7HtKY61sjyq8wkIaz35ws7dR3nEhf92lhpGtAC8Fs-BIhB-6a736B6nF-RAd0_41BjIIQa8sReb6NCou6iIYUpPE5Vf9hg/s400/OCR+xmas+card+on+balcony.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7T-hp5jZmxQ_x9R2UU8HY53XDosZagewCCV_9zWJHu4RmmSZIbU6WyRrxA4XIR3biFMGbf6vWlyIFtk72Bta7RXct-N6NtSYtgF-znFBNFQcamL7u2KeBZdGo4u1jNqQD-xHuXKyN5w4/s1600/XMAS_TABLE_.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="551" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7T-hp5jZmxQ_x9R2UU8HY53XDosZagewCCV_9zWJHu4RmmSZIbU6WyRrxA4XIR3biFMGbf6vWlyIFtk72Bta7RXct-N6NtSYtgF-znFBNFQcamL7u2KeBZdGo4u1jNqQD-xHuXKyN5w4/s400/XMAS_TABLE_.png" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Have a fun-filled time! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9xqa1iQLTBRXW95XwMQHryYv7l024KxpMfqWptaTw_UWvqLz4tOwZplDhYSLNjMQubGs6YmbS4DgWaDAwkMwh3XC0diuE33eykZ7KEoaBe8g6d0g-OyiL7aDI3iFoj3dAHEiHF0NtkA/s1600/JAN_Xmas_Day_2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="426" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9xqa1iQLTBRXW95XwMQHryYv7l024KxpMfqWptaTw_UWvqLz4tOwZplDhYSLNjMQubGs6YmbS4DgWaDAwkMwh3XC0diuE33eykZ7KEoaBe8g6d0g-OyiL7aDI3iFoj3dAHEiHF0NtkA/s400/JAN_Xmas_Day_2017.png" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-57431550744025230382017-12-20T05:45:00.000-08:002017-12-20T05:45:14.484-08:00Olive Oil Harvest 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06-5ugjr2wXhoH-Y6tf2krXxvrbo7lvaWAQeazRs2jOZ4dvrRKPis57rwC8RtrmppQfcInBQcYfOJhi4OvAK5oHmEUUeuRkCDZwAoqpfPXkbD5mNt4UoOpIhEoLD64rHdVgZcMnOu-5k/s1600/20171031_134854_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06-5ugjr2wXhoH-Y6tf2krXxvrbo7lvaWAQeazRs2jOZ4dvrRKPis57rwC8RtrmppQfcInBQcYfOJhi4OvAK5oHmEUUeuRkCDZwAoqpfPXkbD5mNt4UoOpIhEoLD64rHdVgZcMnOu-5k/s400/20171031_134854_resized.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Thankfully this year was a good one for olives and we were delighted to have a bumper crop in November. <br />
<br />
We picked each olive by hand over 5 solid days and the result was approximately 255 kilos, which was then converted at the local olive mill to about 55 litres of lovely 100% extra virgin olive oil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDoLwpryQetKE9Sgd-Tzw0RFY8EaJhs432rECl5yAkpxA9UWN3CArsifcuixzXuHTe6litM2xqUxj3jZQaSQSM8tsKUiAIn1LOQyNNtVhgB41xuCVb0vMqoT_m0oZNJ9bDm5FW-bNSM/s1600/2017-11-05+22.00.30.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDoLwpryQetKE9Sgd-Tzw0RFY8EaJhs432rECl5yAkpxA9UWN3CArsifcuixzXuHTe6litM2xqUxj3jZQaSQSM8tsKUiAIn1LOQyNNtVhgB41xuCVb0vMqoT_m0oZNJ9bDm5FW-bNSM/s640/2017-11-05+22.00.30.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
The picking was an enjoyable experience, surrounded by nature and peace and quiet. In some areas it was a bit tricky to get at the branches as seen in the image below and I had to be very careful indeed not to fall!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuL7_0pxwCPJM-QM3RfFf5OB-4fHiKgGKqDJQSXRznH_rEZd3zmpuIo4Zp1YDOU62i8tpQbxkjsbprDA5yK-Wk-G1kRLKbys9jFImsokr6NYoMWbYyStIbb0M5XeQEYECo5WkWYIrvxY/s1600/janet_picking_2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="221" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuL7_0pxwCPJM-QM3RfFf5OB-4fHiKgGKqDJQSXRznH_rEZd3zmpuIo4Zp1YDOU62i8tpQbxkjsbprDA5yK-Wk-G1kRLKbys9jFImsokr6NYoMWbYyStIbb0M5XeQEYECo5WkWYIrvxY/s640/janet_picking_2017.png" width="336" /></a></div>
Pouring the lovely 'liquid gold' from the olive mill containers below......<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UixhhkajV0jkvhckavuWfd_-Cl-9FA38B8AQaASUbRUjYlnf03y4yWjEuz8no1CKsMzeAnBba35-tcct5yYvrYkarGVbOHDuXe4VY6h4kXXSV3cS0Fg9nr7XaNgjh6zvvxUsuuYUs3g/s1600/oluve+oil+ci%253Dontainers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UixhhkajV0jkvhckavuWfd_-Cl-9FA38B8AQaASUbRUjYlnf03y4yWjEuz8no1CKsMzeAnBba35-tcct5yYvrYkarGVbOHDuXe4VY6h4kXXSV3cS0Fg9nr7XaNgjh6zvvxUsuuYUs3g/s400/oluve+oil+ci%253Dontainers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
... into our own container, was a magical moment!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx4L-ZPXzcBVo6-m91ss-DKbMZ_pxz9YmKj4Yc-8Y5hQdZIl7DO90ROOTto4vA5UU1lEub1sAiyyoXGwGQsB4GO1x-dpXMyRdiqw4cy0F5Q4jyPwJixgMsX9LbvqT_JNsw9_2J13UMGQ/s1600/olive+oil+pouring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyx4L-ZPXzcBVo6-m91ss-DKbMZ_pxz9YmKj4Yc-8Y5hQdZIl7DO90ROOTto4vA5UU1lEub1sAiyyoXGwGQsB4GO1x-dpXMyRdiqw4cy0F5Q4jyPwJixgMsX9LbvqT_JNsw9_2J13UMGQ/s400/olive+oil+pouring.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Then it was time for clearing all the olive tree prunings and adding them to the bonfire!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx16eSFdsIYXiuNs9KIEw1AjOEbPsVYLxuKxgcc2lSylLfFzoVAc2cKP5cCflSyoW1RFYTfRRwfAyvBvt82MgPgdOxxeXiT7zi0lYXQiNN6BDTmZWDql0rIojNTNtEpKDrIcn5l1_DwQ/s1600/olives_burning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx16eSFdsIYXiuNs9KIEw1AjOEbPsVYLxuKxgcc2lSylLfFzoVAc2cKP5cCflSyoW1RFYTfRRwfAyvBvt82MgPgdOxxeXiT7zi0lYXQiNN6BDTmZWDql0rIojNTNtEpKDrIcn5l1_DwQ/s400/olives_burning.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
A job well done!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm2_Cr3IdnkKmdNxdyVJgHVNbsvWp4AFnCd9XL1VGnyMxeN59SOhRciN1G-VohFOP7ffcYRFHGe9xeT2OOC2yxpcemuUpnpyKtYz78BJ23rPhW-QhF2Av0WOyscvsvWie2nzS9f-Jf1Y/s1600/SUNRISE_15_12_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1433" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicm2_Cr3IdnkKmdNxdyVJgHVNbsvWp4AFnCd9XL1VGnyMxeN59SOhRciN1G-VohFOP7ffcYRFHGe9xeT2OOC2yxpcemuUpnpyKtYz78BJ23rPhW-QhF2Av0WOyscvsvWie2nzS9f-Jf1Y/s400/SUNRISE_15_12_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-9756879100353017862017-12-01T08:00:00.002-08:002017-12-01T08:07:30.832-08:00Congratulations to the Lake School of English!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm9g8_tySbkVOym4jedXlHKXAgBcNxxJb3evOVils6PtMSSnlXiMJZ6fLEuyA10MPVzUQB45i6oR4MGrCjdJVjND5dpEjOskocytErC2fG1UjiXeHR2sDvxz9pPyYjDEGyCZn7ESA1TE/s1600/LS_blog_post.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="660" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm9g8_tySbkVOym4jedXlHKXAgBcNxxJb3evOVils6PtMSSnlXiMJZ6fLEuyA10MPVzUQB45i6oR4MGrCjdJVjND5dpEjOskocytErC2fG1UjiXeHR2sDvxz9pPyYjDEGyCZn7ESA1TE/s400/LS_blog_post.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In 2018 the Lake School of English will proudly be celebrating its 40th year as a hugely successful English language school in Oxford. This is an enormous achievement, and a glowing testimony to the two dedicated directors, Carmel and Susan, and each and every single member of the hardworking members of staff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnaWsfEGWVPt2G_hBPtsmSB-zN0vnu4yNyE-jXZWlJmf-rvh8BgwHQMAM7HqFzht_Bl6Mx3lp1fZZgvZOfouMv-jcbpg884fmlKiR_r9ig1AA2_St1vLNxPsXqtpwkAPGPc7IFX982IM/s1600/LS_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="639" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnaWsfEGWVPt2G_hBPtsmSB-zN0vnu4yNyE-jXZWlJmf-rvh8BgwHQMAM7HqFzht_Bl6Mx3lp1fZZgvZOfouMv-jcbpg884fmlKiR_r9ig1AA2_St1vLNxPsXqtpwkAPGPc7IFX982IM/s400/LS_4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In recognition of this incredible landmark number of years, there is currently a special promotional offer for earlybird bookings!<br />
<br />
Link to Lake School page with more details of this special limited offer is <a href="https://www.englishinoxford.com/offers/index.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNCsr5x9Q7RbyONaxgkLQg_ruj8tatYdhQBjxETC2udLDW_ED-Q6vKRDcbQSMJKO8_0TRpQU0ekz3A46Cga5dVg19aeHuE-mbZVfTFlIYGBsQiihfUGLxxVIt1P3GFopb-VgrUnJWEDU/s1600/LS_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="639" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNCsr5x9Q7RbyONaxgkLQg_ruj8tatYdhQBjxETC2udLDW_ED-Q6vKRDcbQSMJKO8_0TRpQU0ekz3A46Cga5dVg19aeHuE-mbZVfTFlIYGBsQiihfUGLxxVIt1P3GFopb-VgrUnJWEDU/s400/LS_5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Also, for the recent British Council Inspection in August 2017, the school achieved 14 points of strength out of a possible total of 15. Again this is great cause for celebration and congratulations. <br />
<br />
Below a screenshot of the Instagram page with news of the outstanding success:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGarT8quF1nKBkfPxxtYflgj4CFTBkDzJmAJshdmEhfy1Me_1Z4_M-b5ojo67Wl6i6qQZmhOpIW2WHbLcSsi7EcRTNUmjsIH7pQoHms0qBEipUUlAHd2a3dKuDYQvD8wKqJM0cuQDFQw/s1600/LS-6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="639" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGarT8quF1nKBkfPxxtYflgj4CFTBkDzJmAJshdmEhfy1Me_1Z4_M-b5ojo67Wl6i6qQZmhOpIW2WHbLcSsi7EcRTNUmjsIH7pQoHms0qBEipUUlAHd2a3dKuDYQvD8wKqJM0cuQDFQw/s400/LS-6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In addition, the Lake School has been nominated yet again by the EL Gazette as one of the UK's Top 100 British Council accredited English Language Centres in 2017, and it is currently in third position. <br />
<br />
You can read more information on the Lake School of English News page <a href="https://www.englishinoxford.com/news/index.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
<br />
A personal message of congratulations was sent to the school using one of my favourite comic tools.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx-7Z_-n7ZtXmHCq5_8YsTFpSTKOUkLrlnoJBYHuqcm7CZoyidBllZeHz7MPLsxz9TndJuFAQokD75eKy3oUKs7pdZVQBEa-DjspYF9AblcdpfD9ihGeqjuwnJaeOK9cs8uYpkGwIJg8/s1600/BC_SUCCESS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="345" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAx-7Z_-n7ZtXmHCq5_8YsTFpSTKOUkLrlnoJBYHuqcm7CZoyidBllZeHz7MPLsxz9TndJuFAQokD75eKy3oUKs7pdZVQBEa-DjspYF9AblcdpfD9ihGeqjuwnJaeOK9cs8uYpkGwIJg8/s400/BC_SUCCESS.png" width="300" /></a></div>
I am proud to be associated with the Lake School, and I wish the whole team all the very best for the future. May it continue to provide an excellent and outstanding teaching service for many more years to come!!<br />
<br />
If you wish to read more about the school and all it has to offer the discerning EFL student / teacher, then the website offers a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know.<br />
<br />
Link: <a href="https://www.englishinoxford.com/" target="_blank">https://www.englishinoxford.com/ </a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJDpxcJMmN37GrEeY1NJM3T1SlOvrd6wT-I4gGcEf7yxNZVq2CsEeVUoxVdoksB0vVB01W_Hl01Kg73lcosBGfFcuk41tmxLhzIna_J_DE5CWBtCuNcM1Ln-77ZB098ZAxCNgsErD77c/s1600/LS-8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="437" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJDpxcJMmN37GrEeY1NJM3T1SlOvrd6wT-I4gGcEf7yxNZVq2CsEeVUoxVdoksB0vVB01W_Hl01Kg73lcosBGfFcuk41tmxLhzIna_J_DE5CWBtCuNcM1Ln-77ZB098ZAxCNgsErD77c/s400/LS-8.png" width="398" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You can follow and read all the latest news from the Lake School on <a href="https://twitter.com/EnglishinOxford" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLakeSchoolofEnglishOxford/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-43104977119708964932017-11-27T05:26:00.001-08:002017-11-27T05:26:31.791-08:00Castle in The Sky: Roccascalegna<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMT2AjVVy1ZrLowY0MaoX5EKWTrm0GHyr4RjVcFz1XpXKvn5pBppu95o6md_MRB5LR_6jjL4ja8SqJxabApMvjraz0N6p02-GSNZ7BMFSbcc3TEFYKbmMHAo12sa5qRe5-0XyZrQFE7U/s1600/20171029_115009-1_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMT2AjVVy1ZrLowY0MaoX5EKWTrm0GHyr4RjVcFz1XpXKvn5pBppu95o6md_MRB5LR_6jjL4ja8SqJxabApMvjraz0N6p02-GSNZ7BMFSbcc3TEFYKbmMHAo12sa5qRe5-0XyZrQFE7U/s400/20171029_115009-1_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A visit to Abruzzo should include a special trip to the medieval <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castello_di_Roccascalegna" target="_blank">Castle of Roccascalegna,</a> perched precariously high up on a steep rock cliff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRspvSGrlpfcfE9tsU0qTexUpHma-gO0anC68W0-dqyxQrud8FoZI7jt_eUdBqpVXjkQ4y9AUEn0UM92L9O1UibfBzGbboNQiCpSIJ-66OtZQqu3KTNkd_CU3XIic_dqsgCd-Z4y3I6to/s1600/Roccascalegna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1459" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRspvSGrlpfcfE9tsU0qTexUpHma-gO0anC68W0-dqyxQrud8FoZI7jt_eUdBqpVXjkQ4y9AUEn0UM92L9O1UibfBzGbboNQiCpSIJ-66OtZQqu3KTNkd_CU3XIic_dqsgCd-Z4y3I6to/s400/Roccascalegna.jpg" width="363" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I first read about it in <a href="https://www.lifeinabruzzo.com/" target="_blank">Life in Abruzzo</a>'s post <a href="https://www.lifeinabruzzo.com/roccascalegna-abruzzo-castle-sky/" target="_blank">here.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk840mWGyr17LP9BJF3wzFZxpwwpG_ETWISLHgtKwvO-EaJxkvX7pva7EFT4hWdS3gxmXGy3ivwTQJxVWA5YggZdeCZ_8whTZoEbilJgs597ISDxb0OJZWbbJYSo_TTi346o-8sBKaBIw/s1600/20171029_110507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1600" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk840mWGyr17LP9BJF3wzFZxpwwpG_ETWISLHgtKwvO-EaJxkvX7pva7EFT4hWdS3gxmXGy3ivwTQJxVWA5YggZdeCZ_8whTZoEbilJgs597ISDxb0OJZWbbJYSo_TTi346o-8sBKaBIw/s400/20171029_110507.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Image above courtesy of KRB</i></span></div>
<br />
The article and images inspired us to see this beautiful castle for ourselves. So one bright sunny Sunday in mid October, we set off with great anticipation, and we weren't disappointed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ffixs2BuGw7DbUILyZmL3Zq9KtuCXiV7I7Li-AGblzMljgDJtUNA0NlqRw_iWicnIUtfT87x9YGsccHgWomhYqgvuxDGZz21kv6q1uRPzasbC2CccB3npcxdDsFEInUqJ4eLPegxVI0/s1600/20171029_113412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ffixs2BuGw7DbUILyZmL3Zq9KtuCXiV7I7Li-AGblzMljgDJtUNA0NlqRw_iWicnIUtfT87x9YGsccHgWomhYqgvuxDGZz21kv6q1uRPzasbC2CccB3npcxdDsFEInUqJ4eLPegxVI0/s400/20171029_113412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Below a view of the village from one of the open windows: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuURNsy33L2OPe3dXgn7Lo6Tmtam_wjXsYF2wMMyg9HWnlN94dgKbuuPMCXa5G6A28ODOFz2TDKGjVnp5cZP5-8zl006lepXcoHPWdIN8XpD3RrDgpEFljvYjV5RGAKKJf3XXN86bDqiE/s1600/20171029_110941_resized%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuURNsy33L2OPe3dXgn7Lo6Tmtam_wjXsYF2wMMyg9HWnlN94dgKbuuPMCXa5G6A28ODOFz2TDKGjVnp5cZP5-8zl006lepXcoHPWdIN8XpD3RrDgpEFljvYjV5RGAKKJf3XXN86bDqiE/s400/20171029_110941_resized%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
The castle was the dramatic location for some of the scenes from the movie 'Tale of Tales'.<br />
Wikipedia link: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tale_of_Tales_(2015_film)" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tale_of_Tales_(2015_film)</a><br />
<br />
You need a pair of sturdy walking boots to access the castle and its internal areas and you will not be disappointed when you see the stupendous views of the Abruzzo countryside from the top.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM9_1ns5kJC0T4tOnpT4GOEiNgD9an0kVxe9seEv64rtjt9x9GA8CxiETGepH4jm9s0VSOfIr3DI_rpy8amqY6YVuIjvhk7y4O4Y1DCJgvrWltsd9qod3MftdOEsNSgIeOgZepGs-5F0/s1600/20171029_110620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1600" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVM9_1ns5kJC0T4tOnpT4GOEiNgD9an0kVxe9seEv64rtjt9x9GA8CxiETGepH4jm9s0VSOfIr3DI_rpy8amqY6YVuIjvhk7y4O4Y1DCJgvrWltsd9qod3MftdOEsNSgIeOgZepGs-5F0/s400/20171029_110620.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A little rest was needed after all the walking, and the seat below on the way down from the castle provided a pleasant moment of respite, despite a few wooden slats missing!! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcb7wvPsDLLet4GvLTQ9u9u-Xf6r2avDp6efNj_R6N7Vz5O7Pf_RtkiIGPE6MUne3R-2PUt_gbDdYx42UvdAMV2L_tJknhLNC7ODqnhh0-gEhyphenhyphenL9D5drWvCZBPBgDZ33FAer_NdXQqmko/s1600/20171029_114138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcb7wvPsDLLet4GvLTQ9u9u-Xf6r2avDp6efNj_R6N7Vz5O7Pf_RtkiIGPE6MUne3R-2PUt_gbDdYx42UvdAMV2L_tJknhLNC7ODqnhh0-gEhyphenhyphenL9D5drWvCZBPBgDZ33FAer_NdXQqmko/s400/20171029_114138.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
After a leisurely walk around the ramparts, we followed the steps down and passed a few colourful paintings on gas covers such as the one below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCGzC-pYl3TJQCg9Mtm1xhHab0NNPFwCpSlTtEibBpIcvHx76hRVkz4Xekjvok-69ucUC0I1rx0RIKHR4_bTrBXQ3xbFlf0RhMxkBWw2RY-B9YHtPwZSDeyvwg0n3yBYfXD07AoIppy4/s1600/20171029_115440_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCGzC-pYl3TJQCg9Mtm1xhHab0NNPFwCpSlTtEibBpIcvHx76hRVkz4Xekjvok-69ucUC0I1rx0RIKHR4_bTrBXQ3xbFlf0RhMxkBWw2RY-B9YHtPwZSDeyvwg0n3yBYfXD07AoIppy4/s400/20171029_115440_resized.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We had a lovely lunch at the nearby <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LaLocandadelCorvo/" target="_blank">Il Corvo Restaurant</a>. The gnocchi were excellent and the beautifully presented cheesecake was to die for!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOA8nSabdquR-uwO4lX3wuLZ1oTZAUG66Pb9uHDn1UZ7gsJOhcinOGZVW56dowOnV7yldrY-ubakcNkaFzZW5AJJNOzPrILBmU6bg_YClNtrzi40msp5v2x5-h5OiNdoE_CKeLJ4Octk/s1600/20171029_131028_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOA8nSabdquR-uwO4lX3wuLZ1oTZAUG66Pb9uHDn1UZ7gsJOhcinOGZVW56dowOnV7yldrY-ubakcNkaFzZW5AJJNOzPrILBmU6bg_YClNtrzi40msp5v2x5-h5OiNdoE_CKeLJ4Octk/s320/20171029_131028_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
All in all, a pleasant morning was spent in this location!<br />
<br />
During the winter months the castle is open on a Sunday. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-91262505328078737482017-11-20T02:46:00.000-08:002017-12-26T00:41:49.091-08:00Summer Teaching at the Lake!I think I am now .........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsne_MhPJotd1pj8mCqBjvBrfNpXy6V0SLmKBKMwxLmFpEsgiYa_M8i5SIerImXRB395y-gvYYIJhJtDOzy3zvt1zrUOHirsWt0uVg_Fjj0YAx7YtNvrnZr7gS5Ru1zPkdt9FC1Agkzls/s1600/big2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="552" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsne_MhPJotd1pj8mCqBjvBrfNpXy6V0SLmKBKMwxLmFpEsgiYa_M8i5SIerImXRB395y-gvYYIJhJtDOzy3zvt1zrUOHirsWt0uVg_Fjj0YAx7YtNvrnZr7gS5Ru1zPkdt9FC1Agkzls/s400/big2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
regarding blogging for the moment!<br />
<br />
This rather belated post is going to be about my teaching at the <a href="http://www.englishinoxford.com/" target="_blank">Lake School of English</a> during the summer months from July through to October this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQWRMEgiKwxZoEvgueXXwiUSOa0_vEsphpcCD-Bhyphenhyphen5A1crfD2SA0OwatGi6S8Pd7NqQeADht5jLZTjawFnsMjBtCMOOYesUfYnmcfCklPGTbCiEgS8aOJ5T3FbOUd-Abyi_xN13ds1bg/s1600/GARFIELD_001.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="424" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQWRMEgiKwxZoEvgueXXwiUSOa0_vEsphpcCD-Bhyphenhyphen5A1crfD2SA0OwatGi6S8Pd7NqQeADht5jLZTjawFnsMjBtCMOOYesUfYnmcfCklPGTbCiEgS8aOJ5T3FbOUd-Abyi_xN13ds1bg/s400/GARFIELD_001.png" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Comic tool used: <a href="http://www.professorgarfield.org/pgf_comics_lab.html">http://www.professorgarfield.org/pgf_comics_lab.html</a><br />
<br />
I had the great pleasure to teach a variety of levels ranging from AO (Complete Beginner) to B2+ (Upper Intermediate). All the learners were wonderfully receptive and I enjoyed teaching each individual class. It was also as usual, fantastic to be back in the staffroom and be an active member of the dynamic teaching team.<br />
<br />
If you are on Facebook, you can see the many social activities that are organized by the school, and it is plain to see that all the students are happy with their studies and with the school in general. <br />
<br />
Lake School Facebook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLakeSchoolofEnglishOxford/">https://www.facebook.com/TheLakeSchoolofEnglishOxford/</a><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Never Stop Learning</span></b><br />
Not having taught in a physical classroom for a number of months, I was pleased to see that I slipped straight back in as if I had never been away. This was encouraging, and over the nine weeks I challenged myself to be creative and try out new lessons whenever possible.<br />
<br />
Whilst in Oxford, in September, I quietly celebrated my 38th year of being an EFL teacher / Teacher Trainer. Looking back on my very first day of teachng at the Briam Institute in Madrid in 1979, I was able to reflect on how things have changed since those early days when I was a novice teacher. I guess the most important point I have learned along the way is to always strive to develop as a teacher, and to never stop learning. <br />
<br />
I will outline some of the tools I used in my lessons. They are tried and tested ones, and I have used them time and again to create colourful visual aids to help motivate my learners. <br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>The Joy of Teaching Teens </b></h3>
I taught classes mostly consisting of adult learners but also included a
lot of Under 18s. I particularly enjoyed teaching a group of Teens from Switzerland, who really kept me on my
toes and forced me to think quickly during the lessons.<br />
<br />
I hadn't taught a specific teenager class for a little while and with a 40 year+ age difference, I asked myself this pertinent question:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b> 'How can I motivate these lively teens and hold their interest, and how on earth can I gain an insight into their psyche and interests in a short period of time?'</b></span><br />
<br />
Well, the lessons worked out fine and I found the learners to be very knowledgeable with a good level of English and keen to communicate. The age gap did not make any difference to how I felt about teaching them and I really enjoyed the buzz from their collective energy. <br />
<br />
The following articles make for interesting reading:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Teaching Teenagers, English Teaching Professional, Issue 23, 2002 </li>
<li>Teen Power, English Teaching Professional, Issue 39, July 2005</li>
<li>Teenagers! Motivating the teenage brain, MET, Vol 13, No 4, 2004</li>
<li>Motivating Teens to Use English (and not L1) in Class, ELT Chat summary, 19/01/2011 </li>
<li>How to motivate teens to extend their speaking activities, ELT Chat summary, March 15, 2011</li>
</ul>
This article written by <a href="https://gettingdigitalizedinlifeandwork.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">Tiziana Angiolini</a> , outlines a summary of a presentation she attended called <a href="https://gettingdigitalizedinlifeandwork.blogspot.it/2017/08/mmvc-17-motivating-teens-youngster-to.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Motivating Teens and Youngsters </i></b></a><br />
<br />
I have bookmarked it as essential reading for my next class of teens in the future. Thanks Tiziana!<br />
<br />
<h3>
Jazz Chants </h3>
What the class above seemed to enjoy most of all was doing Jazz Chants. This was a good way of drilling them on stress patterns in a fun way. I asked them to create their own jazz / rap chants to recycle some phrasal verbs I had taught them and then to recite them in front of the class. It helped that one of the students was a keen rapper, so he offered to keep the dialogues flowing in a rap style by beating the rhythm on the desk to keep the flow moving smoothly. They did really well on this activity and although they had protested at the beginning that they didn't really like studying phrasal verbs, it was amazing how many verbs came up in their rap chants and all were used in a great context. I wish I had recorded a few of them!<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Wonderful World of Word Clouds</h3>
I used word clouds very often in my lessons for recycling / revision purposes, as lesson summaries and as vocabulary pre-teaching.<br />
<br />
Below a selection of lesson ideas using WordArt<br />
<br />
A summary of one of my classes. The umbrella shape was chosen because it had rained during some of the lessons and I had asked the students if they had all brought their brollies with them!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFkhtGfT08utsF255CB70DdLzLfRyrg55fOEdh9f7VbXfFuKAnXuQdUt1PeYQiFmT6PSJfiJ65c5-Gja4oAJ923pXNvBDbMPcWLuRiWY3qXTLF3GZTmwnKfMp0Zygb2GMP_t2RdWU61A/s1600/RED+ROOM+CLASS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="729" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFkhtGfT08utsF255CB70DdLzLfRyrg55fOEdh9f7VbXfFuKAnXuQdUt1PeYQiFmT6PSJfiJ65c5-Gja4oAJ923pXNvBDbMPcWLuRiWY3qXTLF3GZTmwnKfMp0Zygb2GMP_t2RdWU61A/s320/RED+ROOM+CLASS.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is a summary of the Green Room class I taught. The bike represents my cycling to work every day! The cloud shows what topics we covered in one of the weeks and some adjectives about the group, who were receptive and hardworking!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7OngfyUuJ5eCez_kOzYZPJ2e_SLuMl0ng-TfXTMd5X-xMqV00nL-h1wlezMCVHXGaI2mp8WBvd_qgpt80r3f85iGMx_Agj3R1rhTNlgcwCJB-knhASMk0W4Hx_QV6pijXraM7wAbbFk/s1600/Bike-greenroom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="707" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7OngfyUuJ5eCez_kOzYZPJ2e_SLuMl0ng-TfXTMd5X-xMqV00nL-h1wlezMCVHXGaI2mp8WBvd_qgpt80r3f85iGMx_Agj3R1rhTNlgcwCJB-knhASMk0W4Hx_QV6pijXraM7wAbbFk/s400/Bike-greenroom.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Below a summary of a 1-1 lesson, where we had a cup of tea whilst discussing a wide variety of social topics around the world...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tws26NDXC3KsCzq3HNa3aXDITeM-m-snfnuMKJaUywDzji9OLo1jMxtG4a_r5npcsQXBq4YesYkQt1MpX-4CtFTbY_hHa7zrpDfmLR8J1lVLk9PS0935zANKpHDO-ZvzHT6GxtQr1Mg/s1600/Marta+Lesson+2%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="661" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tws26NDXC3KsCzq3HNa3aXDITeM-m-snfnuMKJaUywDzji9OLo1jMxtG4a_r5npcsQXBq4YesYkQt1MpX-4CtFTbY_hHa7zrpDfmLR8J1lVLk9PS0935zANKpHDO-ZvzHT6GxtQr1Mg/s400/Marta+Lesson+2%25281%2529.png" width="350" /></a></div>
Below a smiley word cloud to recycle phrasal verbs with 'OFF' particle:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTMX8lXHZobNKX7DGop3Mzx7ixKeLBfU36xDrE3fjcug23v9XPtEasEwzWlrS2C6gF9EK079vYFKDDcYH8QbwFDao0NRjMKK1Z3quC8hRejzUqpUKxda3Wk9baQrPwuFYJzSM3lvyXvU/s1600/Word+Art+33%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="726" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTMX8lXHZobNKX7DGop3Mzx7ixKeLBfU36xDrE3fjcug23v9XPtEasEwzWlrS2C6gF9EK079vYFKDDcYH8QbwFDao0NRjMKK1Z3quC8hRejzUqpUKxda3Wk9baQrPwuFYJzSM3lvyXvU/s400/Word+Art+33%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Below a word cloud used with my AO class to review family vocabulary relevant to them:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ1C8qxLOlt7yE6ivqllo1K8HiKXTDGyqesyodm9NZfI3-l2DKNZxh9Twfe-JBP6bfNptziCTGodvKK_1O7P-G7xeuMvKBW8cBUoZs9268OwKH3S6T1u2kRgIZmywiDaApdyyDyioH4U/s1600/Word+Art+31%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="746" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZ1C8qxLOlt7yE6ivqllo1K8HiKXTDGyqesyodm9NZfI3-l2DKNZxh9Twfe-JBP6bfNptziCTGodvKK_1O7P-G7xeuMvKBW8cBUoZs9268OwKH3S6T1u2kRgIZmywiDaApdyyDyioH4U/s400/Word+Art+31%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Reviewing some classroom language with this Beginner group:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviieza1yrwhdw9ymk6D4cMl4OkBTOPyRR9a76H9LPncE6vCxOyGtQuXo718rE0dROLB93Q_99FJEBwYUkaDXVXY2X7JmyyOVPH7Snm7IgVLalvHGHTvPx447tuZsB6o0wfXASivgniQM/s1600/AO+-+Sept+201+Tagul.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="851" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviieza1yrwhdw9ymk6D4cMl4OkBTOPyRR9a76H9LPncE6vCxOyGtQuXo718rE0dROLB93Q_99FJEBwYUkaDXVXY2X7JmyyOVPH7Snm7IgVLalvHGHTvPx447tuZsB6o0wfXASivgniQM/s400/AO+-+Sept+201+Tagul.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I asked B2 students to create a dialogue / short story using some of these verbs in the cloud as prompts:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvabLJHYYymM71nhKg7d_DAXH93wnTEuoTmFiJczxjEnWX49VzABDcCcfrvMGdtA6ch85FptMin93WoOoPgc2usXMwmMg37fT8irIAvaWNA_PsRpMuKI5WhG1LDLAN4RfZ9R_zHJeVe8/s1600/wordsearch+cloud.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="827" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvabLJHYYymM71nhKg7d_DAXH93wnTEuoTmFiJczxjEnWX49VzABDcCcfrvMGdtA6ch85FptMin93WoOoPgc2usXMwmMg37fT8irIAvaWNA_PsRpMuKI5WhG1LDLAN4RfZ9R_zHJeVe8/s400/wordsearch+cloud.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
In the example word cloud below, you can see some informal English expressions which were included in a lesson from OK 4 book. I simply added them into a word cloud and used it for revision and recycling purposes. The students were given a copy to refer to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU7aF-Q1Rd1YLKI0GijckGwXA40DBmll5nicrGp2mfviGeRACap1lgq5ryb4qE0C_LBeFVaYdhHXYKldIIAq99hSa8Alv_7fslNt8XWPBP48LH99IvLucupcQd6dSPPZEiYf77W9qliI/s1600/Now+you%2527re+here+-+OK+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="1001" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU7aF-Q1Rd1YLKI0GijckGwXA40DBmll5nicrGp2mfviGeRACap1lgq5ryb4qE0C_LBeFVaYdhHXYKldIIAq99hSa8Alv_7fslNt8XWPBP48LH99IvLucupcQd6dSPPZEiYf77W9qliI/s400/Now+you%2527re+here+-+OK+4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The general feedback I received was that learners liked the word clouds very much as
it / they helped them to remember the expressions in a memorable and visual
manner.<br />
<h3>
Using Comics to Motivate Learners</h3>
I love using comics in my classes as they can be powerful learning tools for learners. My scoop it site contains many links to comic creation sites and information on how comics can be used in a challenging, creative, and pedagogical manner:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scoop.it/t/comics-and-cartoons">https://www.scoop.it/t/comics-and-cartoons</a><br />
<br />
Here is a comic I created a while back and I always use it when presenting phrasal verbs. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmaeWDTI6KBJ8r6UVO9Pq1B_td1DXnChuIq_tTSOyPDuLL0g57ffUoyal3oyyyHmXRe7EDuLpy353STcLcPebfwuZhFerbkOKjd9pigcCnE8lWUxx3uYlOjhQJWsQTMVXtFv5SAeNKxg/s1600/Phrasal+verb+dialogue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="766" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmaeWDTI6KBJ8r6UVO9Pq1B_td1DXnChuIq_tTSOyPDuLL0g57ffUoyal3oyyyHmXRe7EDuLpy353STcLcPebfwuZhFerbkOKjd9pigcCnE8lWUxx3uYlOjhQJWsQTMVXtFv5SAeNKxg/s400/Phrasal+verb+dialogue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Asking questions about the weekend using informal expressions:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09XfRtZGK9RVQl41GNk7dc6TSm-hTnC1sjPGdnU9D1udyjQwWLGs8yUV8OD1Sfma_b72siKo22CJPJ6CjCWeav6_CL9Q44MhJjssy7u0ICAa_viSJOOBIM_Fo6-u0XeyQoxf6NsEidWM/s1600/weekend_chill_out.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="485" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09XfRtZGK9RVQl41GNk7dc6TSm-hTnC1sjPGdnU9D1udyjQwWLGs8yUV8OD1Sfma_b72siKo22CJPJ6CjCWeav6_CL9Q44MhJjssy7u0ICAa_viSJOOBIM_Fo6-u0XeyQoxf6NsEidWM/s400/weekend_chill_out.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Some sentences my students created with 'OFF' phrasal verbs transfered into comic form:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlZSoC88gerD6tQ8JLIuyxysjpb4uepAw0oWLGdPtQ4h5LOGpMGoy30dMfHm8P8Bfcd_nlrpaLuZyTNJJS7knQ7aZeZFnGWlHigN00b174A08hlqAh_cW5WnDOHg7Wig_v2gD0Z6sybs/s1600/OFF_PHRASALS-_WITTY_COMICS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="769" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlZSoC88gerD6tQ8JLIuyxysjpb4uepAw0oWLGdPtQ4h5LOGpMGoy30dMfHm8P8Bfcd_nlrpaLuZyTNJJS7knQ7aZeZFnGWlHigN00b174A08hlqAh_cW5WnDOHg7Wig_v2gD0Z6sybs/s400/OFF_PHRASALS-_WITTY_COMICS.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<h3>
Mind Mapping Introduction!</h3>
I used Popplet mind map to create a simple introduction to myself, and students had to ask me questions to find out more information. They were then invited to do the same. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1LnPRwHrq1LgDFqwQ651YeAXVPLiBJTs902fWF0KNLx1tMlVcEeuAOe5a7_gdTfSOqR-05-Jc4eIXxrwbqNumHIGvu398P0fcw0s4VagEOQWyYYkRVzBpZXRsa4AFvQjvGxPoWd-Cvw/s1600/POP_4_.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="650" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1LnPRwHrq1LgDFqwQ651YeAXVPLiBJTs902fWF0KNLx1tMlVcEeuAOe5a7_gdTfSOqR-05-Jc4eIXxrwbqNumHIGvu398P0fcw0s4VagEOQWyYYkRVzBpZXRsa4AFvQjvGxPoWd-Cvw/s400/POP_4_.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Quizlet</h3>
I used this tool for revision and recycling of colloquial expressions with one of my groups. I invited members of the class to go to the computer and then the rest of the class had to help them complete the tasks.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="500" src="https://quizlet.com/21558739/match/embed" style="border: 0;" width="100%"></iframe><br />
This was great fun and the students were invited to create their own flashcard sets if they wanted to.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Newspaper Info</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9q48OeaslnLKpsbXrdvV4rsahGhqqV0XXgGYp0Z_Fv77N7dj9Y2WNgYDbG7p37O4Jbrh2_UQNd-l2l1YU-pJ3WSzMlaD1tkifIl4KPoOdivWvWfUkQcPAY98R0I9M0jTNgLf4UYkzZY/s1600/NEWSPAPER+LAKE+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="370" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9q48OeaslnLKpsbXrdvV4rsahGhqqV0XXgGYp0Z_Fv77N7dj9Y2WNgYDbG7p37O4Jbrh2_UQNd-l2l1YU-pJ3WSzMlaD1tkifIl4KPoOdivWvWfUkQcPAY98R0I9M0jTNgLf4UYkzZY/s400/NEWSPAPER+LAKE+2017.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Summary</h3>
The time spent teaching face to face during the summer months went by too quickly. Teaching is in my blood, and I guess it is one of the most satisfying jobs one can ever do. Of course it all depends on the students, the staff, and the working environment.<br />
<br />
All three aspects and <span style="color: red;"><b>many others</b> </span>were absolutely .........<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzwbhxvd8jJQXQD3u1sTKakswbWYBT_kKU7_ZtJ_ZiMa-V9furXFlNZPk-WqN2lUipKj1gxM0BBLh_9zn1Mozj64CqSYa4IvUT0fctnbA27lRZ4rnkrtWNpBihee1Mwsz0kquRBdLcZE/s1600/AWESOME_-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="373" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzwbhxvd8jJQXQD3u1sTKakswbWYBT_kKU7_ZtJ_ZiMa-V9furXFlNZPk-WqN2lUipKj1gxM0BBLh_9zn1Mozj64CqSYa4IvUT0fctnbA27lRZ4rnkrtWNpBihee1Mwsz0kquRBdLcZE/s400/AWESOME_-2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Another post about the Lake School will be written soon. I will include a mention of a very special landmark event for the school in 2018!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dTspHOYIxQOEtRBfsW6lKnd9_M22MebS5A0NMMrwSaCEx0FTxize2lhDhGiT_kggeV9wHifxLd_cA69H45qcqQMI9AKWENof-4jkMiV1TtyikzVKdhM8WqCYRSYrvwyoQXi9chMely4/s1600/watch_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="542" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dTspHOYIxQOEtRBfsW6lKnd9_M22MebS5A0NMMrwSaCEx0FTxize2lhDhGiT_kggeV9wHifxLd_cA69H45qcqQMI9AKWENof-4jkMiV1TtyikzVKdhM8WqCYRSYrvwyoQXi9chMely4/s400/watch_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-39223842724755907802017-11-17T04:40:00.000-08:002017-11-17T04:41:29.896-08:00Janet's Abruzzo Edublog is 9 years old!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZshFdoT6KY76tChmfsLORU2onjVqloYxeYUJJiNz0bnqEDeY9k7al8myeUcJh8ZGHHaE5OOaG9FlpHBUVbIVjPgIBaToYy1Utq8qTjU3XwREuM0RsVlAfNo79VlpQiK9GQUWA_f2lOqI/s1600/9th_birthday_bBanner_balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="324" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZshFdoT6KY76tChmfsLORU2onjVqloYxeYUJJiNz0bnqEDeY9k7al8myeUcJh8ZGHHaE5OOaG9FlpHBUVbIVjPgIBaToYy1Utq8qTjU3XwREuM0RsVlAfNo79VlpQiK9GQUWA_f2lOqI/s400/9th_birthday_bBanner_balloons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image source: <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/9th+birthday+craft+supplies" target="_blank">Razzle.com</a></i></span><br />
<br />
Janet's Abruzzo Edublog is now officially 9 years old! My very first post was on November 8th 2008. It was a short and simple introduction. I remember feeling a bit nervous yet at the same time, very excited about taking such an enormous step in publishing to the world for the first time.<br />
<br />
Back in those days I was a technophobe and did not possess much confidence in using the web. That all changed when I took an informative and excellent course on Blogs with <a href="https://www.theconsultants-e.com/" target="_blank">The Consultants-e.</a> I had a knowledgeable, friendly and sympathetic tutor, and my coursemates were all in the same boat as me. This was a huge confidence booster and I loved every moment of the course. It opened up new possibilities and awakened a passion for writing which had long been dormant.<br />
<br />
I clearly remember pressing the 'Post' button on that life-changing day on 8th November 2008 and the feeling of exhilaration when the deed was done. It was a definite 'Feel the fear and do it anyway' kind of moment, and I have no regrets!<br />
<br />
Thanks so much to my blog readers and for all the comments thoughout the years which have encouraged me to keep going. I have learned so much from everyone!<br />
<br />
A special mention goes to my dear friend and fellow blogger <a href="http://lunas994.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">Natasa</a>, who left me a message on my previous post. That has inspired me to write this post today, so I would like to say a personal thanks to you!! I hope we both carry on blogging for many years to come!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc4ab3RNwwqsMXa75rIvUFoO3e65REh6LXsxH7yAjV0b4wmMqCcUjsz1uUGoiF0BQyJ-zmXxkzhIQQIav44-Jk36pQHVj-dnNA5DaKq42q2O7pnqE27hiiS09H7u46G6OvccgmsCejls/s1600/Keep_blogging.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc4ab3RNwwqsMXa75rIvUFoO3e65REh6LXsxH7yAjV0b4wmMqCcUjsz1uUGoiF0BQyJ-zmXxkzhIQQIav44-Jk36pQHVj-dnNA5DaKq42q2O7pnqE27hiiS09H7u46G6OvccgmsCejls/s400/Keep_blogging.png" width="321" /></a></div>
Image created with <a href="https://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/" target="_blank">Keep-calm-o-matic</a><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-83889785019398577312017-11-16T05:51:00.001-08:002017-11-16T06:29:59.028-08:00It's been a while......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoE_bNN2tFMn2-Br9zRcfs43pLQXm7a0jXVimMNFHSwFC0DFfNviU9o6ioVSgGTlkh3QasIYCPIagejZD9qZa6Phr983wUsk_oZa1_JZbH8c2Hr7gmLj6-cantr8AnASTcQlB1KTIJO0/s1600/BLOGGING_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="527" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoE_bNN2tFMn2-Br9zRcfs43pLQXm7a0jXVimMNFHSwFC0DFfNviU9o6ioVSgGTlkh3QasIYCPIagejZD9qZa6Phr983wUsk_oZa1_JZbH8c2Hr7gmLj6-cantr8AnASTcQlB1KTIJO0/s400/BLOGGING_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
.........since I last posted, and I am now going to set thngs right, before even more time passes.<br />
<br />
The honest reason for my recent lack of posts is that I simply lost 'the flow'. I have discovered over the years that writing blog posts is a special art form and you need to be creative and be in the right frame of mind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDPK6g6VO1j9JwpP6MRK1WxtSDsIszy3GObUhTtg8_swp9atgQPrygbWmzm2TxmT22vqKup72g7BSr_xrCh3PLOndKaUHX7J535wpMcVXdgqEn13emy7n0b0DFvgcRTKraseybiLybS4/s1600/tag+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDPK6g6VO1j9JwpP6MRK1WxtSDsIszy3GObUhTtg8_swp9atgQPrygbWmzm2TxmT22vqKup72g7BSr_xrCh3PLOndKaUHX7J535wpMcVXdgqEn13emy7n0b0DFvgcRTKraseybiLybS4/s400/tag+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I have decided to reignite this lost 'flow' by <i><b>planning </b></i>to write 5 special posts, over the coming weeks, on topics which have inspired me recently. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Summer school teaching at the Lake School of English, Oxford </li>
<li>Lake School of English successful BC Inspection result, and 40th Anniversary in 2018</li>
<li>Bumper Olive picking harvest November 2017</li>
<li>Little Free Library of Abruzzo Initiative</li>
<li>Roccascalegna Castle, Abruzzo </li>
</ul>
Watch this space!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-29244499102558096162017-04-01T00:25:00.000-07:002017-04-01T00:25:00.570-07:00IATEFL Glasgow April 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DUjKqgcNQsTrFa82UMrTy-bvALXK3Fbyi65banM56lJst8p5Pi1WKeGmgMGV8xh8u193Jp-qqxu5JAWijFZvrzM54MMED_IJTs5CGNdcHyXbf1Dl-z0I6Zxq1lKqr3cusdNHXnFg8F8/s1600/iatefl+glasgow.jpg+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DUjKqgcNQsTrFa82UMrTy-bvALXK3Fbyi65banM56lJst8p5Pi1WKeGmgMGV8xh8u193Jp-qqxu5JAWijFZvrzM54MMED_IJTs5CGNdcHyXbf1Dl-z0I6Zxq1lKqr3cusdNHXnFg8F8/s400/iatefl+glasgow.jpg+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It's been a long time since my last posting but now is the time to begin again. It is the IATEFL conference in Glasgow this year and it starts on April 3 and runs until April 7. <br />
It's going to be an action-packed event with guest speakers from around the world. Sadly I won't be in Glasgow in person this year, but I hope to catch a few of the sessions online from the comfort of my own home.<br />
On each day of the conference you will be able to watch live coverage from 09:00 to 17:00 GMT. <br />
<br />
Live coverage starts on April 3. More information on how to view the event here:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2017">https://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2017</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2017" title="IATEFL Online Banner 2017 330x250 v2"><img alt="IATEFL Online Banner 2017" border="0" src="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/banner-330x250_v2.png" height="250px" width="330px" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-10815512250983377482016-05-16T08:35:00.002-07:002016-05-16T08:35:17.767-07:00Amalfi, Villa Rina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4ElyLEMHzWHm83gotf8wlyER61GPe0y6AsrLra6bqSxgY5HBL4pqQXDq2mJEFa20E1KWYyLFBMPiGFZKhPXeHLhvnZhYvKmWPVbpPdGBJR5jDnGU1bbyXJbP3wGm_BFRPps-nFLrm3o/s1600/Pan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4ElyLEMHzWHm83gotf8wlyER61GPe0y6AsrLra6bqSxgY5HBL4pqQXDq2mJEFa20E1KWYyLFBMPiGFZKhPXeHLhvnZhYvKmWPVbpPdGBJR5jDnGU1bbyXJbP3wGm_BFRPps-nFLrm3o/s640/Pan1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Touring the Amalfi Coast by motorbike was a wonderful experience, if a little bit hair raising, especially on the many hairpin bends along the 40 kilometre coastal route!<br />
<br />
We booked a one-night stay at <a href="http://www.amalfivillarina.it/en/gallery-en.html" target="_blank">Villa Rina</a>. Below a youtube video from the website, which shows you exactly what it is like. We enjoyed our short stay very much indeed!!!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3h7i7khjNxg" width="420"></iframe><br />
Reading reviews about the famous 400 steps to get to the villa, was a good
preparation, and the walk was not so bad. We passed stunning views along
the way!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagJsXylXH1BH20rViApbHeMQ-Lm8AxJimDDXRkiEhTBrL7bhnpHn14GVt8I4FNupMpuR-iLmFcIW-HaOJtTuQVOVM9h3Rh86GXKT-FREPlS6rcZGXLpoV6H1geAA0RR5Bpqp0F8G4jWE/s1600/View+from+the+cliff+top.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagJsXylXH1BH20rViApbHeMQ-Lm8AxJimDDXRkiEhTBrL7bhnpHn14GVt8I4FNupMpuR-iLmFcIW-HaOJtTuQVOVM9h3Rh86GXKT-FREPlS6rcZGXLpoV6H1geAA0RR5Bpqp0F8G4jWE/s640/View+from+the+cliff+top.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
The entrance to Villa Rina,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFfEVOniVf4uEzYpNjuQgb_fG0dXRLaVuj_8PzZvpHRTTVViagc7j7GCAzJmJoSAFLPKRH7TWoBfhtXCmYpGaTx1yeXA7ipUQ-yk3hYEFrnzTbwMhVThVaNSKUYjAKdIkJU2gEHWwR1M/s1600/Villa+Rina+entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFfEVOniVf4uEzYpNjuQgb_fG0dXRLaVuj_8PzZvpHRTTVViagc7j7GCAzJmJoSAFLPKRH7TWoBfhtXCmYpGaTx1yeXA7ipUQ-yk3hYEFrnzTbwMhVThVaNSKUYjAKdIkJU2gEHWwR1M/s640/Villa+Rina+entrance.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
with a few more steps beyond it....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2C-yUvbAMcSOYK9vhWJPBR_iqXgvQ5n8SZXQ47MaTbbNvGUQYzdcF1oheTu4H-YggqGMZ3RLZwQNkNNub8Okk83shJ77Q1N8cvhCT5KMFfZGzuS3Cl9L1m8JzFn47vnF9Vqx304FF4U/s1600/view+of+vila+rina+from+path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2C-yUvbAMcSOYK9vhWJPBR_iqXgvQ5n8SZXQ47MaTbbNvGUQYzdcF1oheTu4H-YggqGMZ3RLZwQNkNNub8Okk83shJ77Q1N8cvhCT5KMFfZGzuS3Cl9L1m8JzFn47vnF9Vqx304FF4U/s1600/view+of+vila+rina+from+path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2C-yUvbAMcSOYK9vhWJPBR_iqXgvQ5n8SZXQ47MaTbbNvGUQYzdcF1oheTu4H-YggqGMZ3RLZwQNkNNub8Okk83shJ77Q1N8cvhCT5KMFfZGzuS3Cl9L1m8JzFn47vnF9Vqx304FF4U/s640/view+of+vila+rina+from+path.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQJvPr3u3f8CNfUj4gLTBe_JTMRSxHAbcM2nxNZn0xLjMxz3B9JQoVz8JyBwMJy44x8nVNyOEV0fiaH4OsPqNVJKNXtJxOoTHWk2F4bwSqjF-SFP2lDVSD86i15tjxFZLZw-3I9-zn54/s1600/villa+rina+walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQJvPr3u3f8CNfUj4gLTBe_JTMRSxHAbcM2nxNZn0xLjMxz3B9JQoVz8JyBwMJy44x8nVNyOEV0fiaH4OsPqNVJKNXtJxOoTHWk2F4bwSqjF-SFP2lDVSD86i15tjxFZLZw-3I9-zn54/s400/villa+rina+walkway.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
A one night stay at <a href="http://www.amalfivillarina.it/en/" target="_blank">Villa Rina</a> high on the cliff top overlooking the sea, was peaceful and energising. We stayed in the room called <a href="http://www.amalfivillarina.it/en/scirocco-room.html" target="_blank">Positano</a>, and it was fantastic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj7wucjY_7Iud1PNRb0COlA9CAnaBqhQqPtvkCR3KCGJcmlJYQZuao29eC60Mom0WZg77h2gjSaz19EI1KCVNVIqDqZCzcZiV3wx4k2x_5_ZOfL5Db3RDLNe6Chu-VQ97FiYDYBAHSO0/s1600/lemon+groves+covered+from+balcony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAj7wucjY_7Iud1PNRb0COlA9CAnaBqhQqPtvkCR3KCGJcmlJYQZuao29eC60Mom0WZg77h2gjSaz19EI1KCVNVIqDqZCzcZiV3wx4k2x_5_ZOfL5Db3RDLNe6Chu-VQ97FiYDYBAHSO0/s640/lemon+groves+covered+from+balcony.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We were welcomed warmly by Rina, the friendly and charming owner of the villa. She was waiting for us with a jug of her delicious and freshly made lemonade. We had parked the motorbike in a secure garage below on the seafront, and at 20 Euros a day this is a bargain compared to the 2 euros per hour unsecured parking on the street if you are lucky enough to get a parking space in the centre of Amalfi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We had dinner at the villa as a special anniversary treat, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable affair. Rina is an amazing cook and she prepared some wonderful dishes including bruschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil, stuffed aubergine with pecorino cheese, fried mozarella in breadcrumbs, then delicious cannelloni as a main course, then very tasty meatballs on a vine leaf, with a homemade strawberry dessert. All this was washed down with a lovely jug of homemade wine, and then finishing off with Rina's special Limoncello. We were totally full up after this spledid feast!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5Ih4gnkpW8Pq-KecAL3IY4-kwftR8TchQCVItdr2P6Ty2ERQj3tzDw80825DuzBC1fRIaoQ9PVJCJvii9epDIcRKoBm38VzTNVnTKAW1Bn-NjbvjVXdgcZs7kIg5lF82Z14IY8sjGF8/s1600/Villa+rina+dinner+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5Ih4gnkpW8Pq-KecAL3IY4-kwftR8TchQCVItdr2P6Ty2ERQj3tzDw80825DuzBC1fRIaoQ9PVJCJvii9epDIcRKoBm38VzTNVnTKAW1Bn-NjbvjVXdgcZs7kIg5lF82Z14IY8sjGF8/s640/Villa+rina+dinner+table.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TwC2V_bAB0WBQOEGx5S2qqU7zWfqjquuPSSd4ajg1-hukiqy5BuYlRVJ7nVGtJZY5UVhJGX0kboSaGFfTr0VKEtcwUZ4oEf9qJbXxhk4yXZ2pu-aWLzSwjrrcKZUrCFZnSY17QN8B-8/s1600/bruscetta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TwC2V_bAB0WBQOEGx5S2qqU7zWfqjquuPSSd4ajg1-hukiqy5BuYlRVJ7nVGtJZY5UVhJGX0kboSaGFfTr0VKEtcwUZ4oEf9qJbXxhk4yXZ2pu-aWLzSwjrrcKZUrCFZnSY17QN8B-8/s400/bruscetta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The appetizing breakfast the
following morning was a real treat, with Rina's homemade jam to go with
the fresh croissants and toast, totally delicious. <br />
After breakfast we took the downhill coastal path to get to Amalfi centre to do a bit more sightseeing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpUpez9f3X3222AO410TDv0HHPmiTqakS3040BFNTi8f6CCTPxVLbE1Z1htNb8rBgODLLD4s3-xaLjXdgiMFOkYhLwDa3rHpwYgUQTadV4XjpqdtOc1puNq4ThU8XPpDPpABxvHIJuug/s1600/sea+view+from+above.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpUpez9f3X3222AO410TDv0HHPmiTqakS3040BFNTi8f6CCTPxVLbE1Z1htNb8rBgODLLD4s3-xaLjXdgiMFOkYhLwDa3rHpwYgUQTadV4XjpqdtOc1puNq4ThU8XPpDPpABxvHIJuug/s640/sea+view+from+above.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamXlyA3zFbgXquaxL8lIVmovBZcNwO23dqNc0IEmON7DAehYq448gWM4OcHPwPJxag9Z9go2Pzn7zpXv3rqK24_yqoAAUpX7cYmwWD7HUmOVnSy40yDQrc76oXw0D1m_N-Lq83NbHEeY/s1600/view+from+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamXlyA3zFbgXquaxL8lIVmovBZcNwO23dqNc0IEmON7DAehYq448gWM4OcHPwPJxag9Z9go2Pzn7zpXv3rqK24_yqoAAUpX7cYmwWD7HUmOVnSy40yDQrc76oXw0D1m_N-Lq83NbHEeY/s400/view+from+steps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Visiting the Paper Museum wasfascinating....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzgGNiOq_suZRXLQWtEDkKyGiNVBgHBT6IsPF4K3I3dWdfRBtNqhwsRhSA5U9dkj5GVWHJx0QNboefKzEUcVjZPUy-5P3seRU6hdpT5tMAwb944CAjJ5yY95vu_0gjhMGC1OZOwOhfBY/s1600/20160511_115311_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzgGNiOq_suZRXLQWtEDkKyGiNVBgHBT6IsPF4K3I3dWdfRBtNqhwsRhSA5U9dkj5GVWHJx0QNboefKzEUcVjZPUy-5P3seRU6hdpT5tMAwb944CAjJ5yY95vu_0gjhMGC1OZOwOhfBY/s400/20160511_115311_resized.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
.... and I treated myself to some beautiful handcrafted paper produced locally in Amalfi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7DBlb55im-HO3SNHgRwpqSO29sIUPykba0ktOhqGWaZDrMbdd3ofrfkGaEw3F0s2gNVgy9TLDSQSzOhcpZomPUmlDhpwIuMQ_DUm9dqWJ7tXJXsxvwTkBhmFXLgjFjCHGG6FnD_q0I4/s1600/Paper+Museum+amalfi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7DBlb55im-HO3SNHgRwpqSO29sIUPykba0ktOhqGWaZDrMbdd3ofrfkGaEw3F0s2gNVgy9TLDSQSzOhcpZomPUmlDhpwIuMQ_DUm9dqWJ7tXJXsxvwTkBhmFXLgjFjCHGG6FnD_q0I4/s640/Paper+Museum+amalfi.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
and along the way, away from the crowds of tourists, we came across this neat model village of Amalfi.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0On6ba4SH47_e2kiBGdR_PPAMNBehXZN9tNhO9spJWBkiELteZ53AaXqSEEq89mTz9qAMS99dA-8XjeE847kgOaOvaTqPzwwFOtWI_G1DYYTzddFC6Ii5dKJ5QbFdyS1PT7xwKrr3_A/s1600/water+fountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0On6ba4SH47_e2kiBGdR_PPAMNBehXZN9tNhO9spJWBkiELteZ53AaXqSEEq89mTz9qAMS99dA-8XjeE847kgOaOvaTqPzwwFOtWI_G1DYYTzddFC6Ii5dKJ5QbFdyS1PT7xwKrr3_A/s320/water+fountain.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHZvp1anCVEsoLSeLX6Qta_5K04XqOYFpL8YfhiRtlwpmxLs571MSMOkLNJnVmVQUOB9zGo55Kb3hE6CHEJn5GF4qgfaOSoEyRyZoe6_uEbbvU12NH7bKqKTxJXo0Rlo1X6iFU4_vCn8/s1600/model+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHZvp1anCVEsoLSeLX6Qta_5K04XqOYFpL8YfhiRtlwpmxLs571MSMOkLNJnVmVQUOB9zGo55Kb3hE6CHEJn5GF4qgfaOSoEyRyZoe6_uEbbvU12NH7bKqKTxJXo0Rlo1X6iFU4_vCn8/s320/model+village.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The cathedral was well worth visiting and one of the sightseeing highlights of the trip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilR-zT_nv1P6wyzQLaUYwzXtQETJYB632qYq97336oRDuqqxNKXgJ5O_8SF0_2Oym9NxMBqVsfk2zf6Qf_COic2rSOhnh3DZCXD2BRaDhbg1fAn2ZNUQWx0o2aQwKOWlrmbWBQEl86y7M/s1600/20160510_165603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilR-zT_nv1P6wyzQLaUYwzXtQETJYB632qYq97336oRDuqqxNKXgJ5O_8SF0_2Oym9NxMBqVsfk2zf6Qf_COic2rSOhnh3DZCXD2BRaDhbg1fAn2ZNUQWx0o2aQwKOWlrmbWBQEl86y7M/s400/20160510_165603.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Another highlight was seeing lovely lemons everywhere, the scent was so nice!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf9w0GooizEJpfSd0-aSTzxYgfH25ljwJWSSx98UiNfdKridrfTuZ75r-B1lQ15c8ppm1wRy0x4_zNHlVQoinKvi6CQUJXF20_SnnE3o0gz6RKshfcPDFLuk-99pjqJ3xdvC1NZdKN2A/s1600/20160510_164639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf9w0GooizEJpfSd0-aSTzxYgfH25ljwJWSSx98UiNfdKridrfTuZ75r-B1lQ15c8ppm1wRy0x4_zNHlVQoinKvi6CQUJXF20_SnnE3o0gz6RKshfcPDFLuk-99pjqJ3xdvC1NZdKN2A/s400/20160510_164639.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I bought some to take back with us, and I will be doing chicken with lemon, salad with lemon, and pasta 'al limone' for a little while!! Admiring the many lemons along the way to Villa Rina,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hdu2ETXT65hHrdRBa5F75DXhGEuOYAJcL_H9WAKNcEZ2GhYuVJDz4cxizZwqYcv8yX967JNDDjmMs1Pvou2vD_ySq8irOolcquoVvUIDlhlwy6MbkU_mGkk3JsQLvHDY6FHNeCIBLnA/s1600/20160510_161449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hdu2ETXT65hHrdRBa5F75DXhGEuOYAJcL_H9WAKNcEZ2GhYuVJDz4cxizZwqYcv8yX967JNDDjmMs1Pvou2vD_ySq8irOolcquoVvUIDlhlwy6MbkU_mGkk3JsQLvHDY6FHNeCIBLnA/s640/20160510_161449.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsNDKtCnltU_Qdv6-slc4clww0jc6F11wyQBnHbXjuYRFFYmTwCwV64EBZg7eZyOSXa3OJWYffvk4kFfy4FLlJ_-i2Vpdfk_yG97y1rp9tgQnVU0MhIAkwucuZxTzA-jzvlHyGJXNs5c/s1600/20160510_161644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsNDKtCnltU_Qdv6-slc4clww0jc6F11wyQBnHbXjuYRFFYmTwCwV64EBZg7eZyOSXa3OJWYffvk4kFfy4FLlJ_-i2Vpdfk_yG97y1rp9tgQnVU0MhIAkwucuZxTzA-jzvlHyGJXNs5c/s640/20160510_161644.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
View of Amalfi port below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAfZG2_64cWb0-D1Ma6xzjrwYpd1XXRl5RzcxEWecKf7otX4qj_SJmR9rwSSEwGaP4TSMsOzeWTnrbcXcT-5MV6JMUWQqwZ-KF3CNneWOdKWgA7zh0Hkc84KMgZIQzncqyPK4UrgR1gg/s1600/Jan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAfZG2_64cWb0-D1Ma6xzjrwYpd1XXRl5RzcxEWecKf7otX4qj_SJmR9rwSSEwGaP4TSMsOzeWTnrbcXcT-5MV6JMUWQqwZ-KF3CNneWOdKWgA7zh0Hkc84KMgZIQzncqyPK4UrgR1gg/s400/Jan1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfl5323iu9jLomYUB1nWuaKhtAW4c1L7f_Eoj3WWgh2yhTxnHBj1LvvnV1g_AjlTfASyCIk0fn7QQBW9jqdwuSg-kOr3wrpR-lPxo0Joq-O9CsKIF29uyHM9ogzDgdM9pnfpkwNsyde0/s1600/Pan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfl5323iu9jLomYUB1nWuaKhtAW4c1L7f_Eoj3WWgh2yhTxnHBj1LvvnV1g_AjlTfASyCIk0fn7QQBW9jqdwuSg-kOr3wrpR-lPxo0Joq-O9CsKIF29uyHM9ogzDgdM9pnfpkwNsyde0/s400/Pan2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We had to go through this tunnel to get to the centre.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9RuQCWnZz9LQckespybcr4ynMMY3zgqG3d1Puvoa3yplBhsYtpZzjX5r8A-gcAS-eCaQxf9YteXi0k4GZoB4stGC1AMtxI73lIV_pS9e5a_SNSejTC1ETAQVZIjCIczZmq52OXyPLw4/s1600/20160510_162917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9RuQCWnZz9LQckespybcr4ynMMY3zgqG3d1Puvoa3yplBhsYtpZzjX5r8A-gcAS-eCaQxf9YteXi0k4GZoB4stGC1AMtxI73lIV_pS9e5a_SNSejTC1ETAQVZIjCIczZmq52OXyPLw4/s640/20160510_162917.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Villa Rina is right at the top of the cliff.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWzpfOm4479CTAGG8kLz_XgY4YvCmVc-MmScqA4-71vOHYWUiDiBzsGXwCrCL9WMvG8OyyK7tMQHjt7u__0uEHrVdu1EPV5eWi1LqQ36mxm0A6pVqeSA2vpVdNp4eeomx_uA11KHffas/s1600/20160511_105244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWzpfOm4479CTAGG8kLz_XgY4YvCmVc-MmScqA4-71vOHYWUiDiBzsGXwCrCL9WMvG8OyyK7tMQHjt7u__0uEHrVdu1EPV5eWi1LqQ36mxm0A6pVqeSA2vpVdNp4eeomx_uA11KHffas/s400/20160511_105244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVRhyphenhyphenC8f4h5Flcb7IVGCnl05Yxuws-3JAy2U4hu8Trxk2GBmy6oPff4XxLp9Mvm42swHW-Ta9FqT5lt89RaVbAy00Azgy_9g8TrHDPnGXwM-QhC8HxRqmzpQrEFpAfjkckOk5aq_rOlI/s1600/20160511_110311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVRhyphenhyphenC8f4h5Flcb7IVGCnl05Yxuws-3JAy2U4hu8Trxk2GBmy6oPff4XxLp9Mvm42swHW-Ta9FqT5lt89RaVbAy00Azgy_9g8TrHDPnGXwM-QhC8HxRqmzpQrEFpAfjkckOk5aq_rOlI/s400/20160511_110311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The view of the sea from high above was breathtaking!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l2IIM_N1MZvF5Sepl2QQaqO6mDJ6SiwTILULEuKHqT-fo5_9jvYjx1uYZhtjvcRkS3ll3CkdaJ8Z9-ebhj58FN-HGcMW7gbJGAPsngoREnXsamrexrsF4v-ozJgUC45P19dmmkM3Jiw/s1600/amalfi+red+coastal+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2l2IIM_N1MZvF5Sepl2QQaqO6mDJ6SiwTILULEuKHqT-fo5_9jvYjx1uYZhtjvcRkS3ll3CkdaJ8Z9-ebhj58FN-HGcMW7gbJGAPsngoREnXsamrexrsF4v-ozJgUC45P19dmmkM3Jiw/s400/amalfi+red+coastal+flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnBDDPovQrsArYdlRL_AFPd0WHfPSWnyhBQT9P0alaFLhYm1Zl1NMWkwhXHI34v8cp06mhdNAnSvu7hiiDo1cmlbyKn2OpsJuE6L9Gxd3-PdLXwjEPJv0VIa-4xMF64RxvXHdvxUSaxk/s1600/amalfi+coastal+flowers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnBDDPovQrsArYdlRL_AFPd0WHfPSWnyhBQT9P0alaFLhYm1Zl1NMWkwhXHI34v8cp06mhdNAnSvu7hiiDo1cmlbyKn2OpsJuE6L9Gxd3-PdLXwjEPJv0VIa-4xMF64RxvXHdvxUSaxk/s400/amalfi+coastal+flowers+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We enjoyed a nice meal on the sea front at La Marinella Restaurant with beautiful views of the beach and saw all the tourist boats arriving and leaving.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4rltztxvvgvif58H4qVSsX0Y8fscAO0oxWRG19q9YVHEF-7Ifa6Fn3qzytnubxTINiKKIEawGOI_2FB5pqJQtC2pseLI6AEKhhRsRZ67ljY8SwuCNDUBDajUyQeZgOOaUSKq7xfsu2M/s1600/la+marinella+view+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4rltztxvvgvif58H4qVSsX0Y8fscAO0oxWRG19q9YVHEF-7Ifa6Fn3qzytnubxTINiKKIEawGOI_2FB5pqJQtC2pseLI6AEKhhRsRZ67ljY8SwuCNDUBDajUyQeZgOOaUSKq7xfsu2M/s400/la+marinella+view+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVzQcY0biAgczFz433xoZAbVisfItVjzP6GqzasRcuL718RQkz0MEewkVaGGShYeL3EzymhBzfIwK24ZNIBVvyJo3xPAIe0Rm5g9SPaxMoIU1X8xDM9q8bySxC1Q5LEU9-VtkPBiaGBY/s1600/la+marinella+view+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVzQcY0biAgczFz433xoZAbVisfItVjzP6GqzasRcuL718RQkz0MEewkVaGGShYeL3EzymhBzfIwK24ZNIBVvyJo3xPAIe0Rm5g9SPaxMoIU1X8xDM9q8bySxC1Q5LEU9-VtkPBiaGBY/s400/la+marinella+view+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All in all a wonderful trip to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. I was thrilled that we travelled by motorbike, as it gave us a unique advantage in enjoying the coastal road. For me as a pillion rider it was exciting, however, it must have been quite challenging as a rider, but K coped admirably with the chaotic traffic, narrow roads and hairpin bends!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I would love to visit Naples, see Pompei and Mount Vesuvius and explore the Amalfi Coast further on a future trip.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-88315750848934742762016-04-08T11:46:00.004-07:002016-04-08T11:46:53.876-07:00IATEFL Birmingham 2016<a href="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2016" title="IATEFL Online Banner 2016"><img alt="IATEFL Online Banner 2016" border="0" src="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/banner-336x280px.png" height="280px" width="336px" /></a><br />
<br />
This year IATEFL will be holding its annual teachers' conference from 13th - 16th April in <a href="http://www.iatefl.org/annual-conference/birmingham-2016" target="_blank">Birmingham</a>, and I am happy to be attending on one of the days. You can attend online if you are not able to be there personally, by simply clicking the link below for more information:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2016">http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2016</a><br />
<br />
Hopefully I will write up my impressions of sessions I attend once I am back in Abruzzo. <br />
<br />
I am looking forward to this great event, and hope to meet up with people I know such as members of my PLN, fellow bloggers, and colleagues. It would be interesting to meet new people as well.<br />
<br />
Maybe see you there :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div data-canvas-width="67.88000000000001" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 20px; left: 120.04px; top: 800.017px; transform: scaleX(1.02848);">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-33092092712055479902016-03-27T06:12:00.000-07:002016-04-07T13:14:49.013-07:00Happy Easter Wishes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE8tFnR4Wmjw43eKBV_AK3id4Kw8LrUrqiYO6WdjD_J6ujfkWkIGHI0pgiDp9f1P_3zsZrLhn0ObE7JakQ3eYJEZZzzw9AanB8vRStFojV3NXwhuCMYOm6djdW-N4td35c0YyGOHnVNc/s1600/Easter+bunnies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsE8tFnR4Wmjw43eKBV_AK3id4Kw8LrUrqiYO6WdjD_J6ujfkWkIGHI0pgiDp9f1P_3zsZrLhn0ObE7JakQ3eYJEZZzzw9AanB8vRStFojV3NXwhuCMYOm6djdW-N4td35c0YyGOHnVNc/s400/Easter+bunnies.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
Wishing all my readers a very Happy Easter!<br />
<br />
You can read about what happens here in Abruzzo in this post by <a href="http://www.lifeinabruzzo.com/" target="_blank">Life in Abruzzo </a>blog called <a href="http://www.lifeinabruzzo.com/abruzzo-easter/" target="_blank">Easter in Abruzzo.</a><br />
<br />
I hope to write a new post soon about <a href="http://www.iatefl.org/annual-conference/birmingham-2016" target="_blank">IATEFL Birmingham</a> coming up in April.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-77334546155346164422016-02-14T01:51:00.001-08:002016-02-14T01:51:45.479-08:00EVO Ebook 2016 FeedbackFive weeks have flown past and today is the last day of the Electronic Village Online sessions. I have been co-moderating the<a href="http://ebookevo.pbworks.com/w/page/70262228/Welcome" target="_blank"> eTextbooks session</a> and enjoying the experience enormously. Under Shelly Terrell's expert leadership and guidance, and also our mentor Dr Nellie Deutsch,<a href="http://ebookevo.pbworks.com/w/page/70371602/moderators" target="_blank"> the expert team of moderators</a> have helped many participants to realise their dream of creating an etextbook for their classes.<br />
<br />
Below an Animoto feedback I have created summing up a few points.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="243" id="vp1v4dqv" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1455441438&f=v4dqvQ9OuAuNhpi1driUXw&d=0&m=b&r=360p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" title="Video Player" width="432"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://animoto.com/play/v4dqvQ9OuAuNhpi1driUXw">Janet's eBook EVO Feedback</a><br />
<br />
The Padlet <a href="http://padlet.com/shellyterrell/ebookevo2016" target="_blank">here</a> reflects some of the excellent feedback the session is generating.<br />
<br />
Here is a Voki I created in response to a request from one of the participants (Halina) to say hello to the Uzbek faculty:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0" height="400" id="widget_name" width="300"><param name="movie" value="https://vhss-d.oddcast.com/vhss_editors/voki_player.swf?doc=http://vhss-d.oddcast.com/php/vhss_editors/getvoki/chsm=d8d285d24b9cf241bb2518d6eb6044db%26sc=12403233" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="width" value="300" /><param name="height" value="400" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed height="400" width="300" src="https://vhss-d.oddcast.com/vhss_editors/voki_player.swf?doc=https%3A%2F%2Fvhss-d.oddcast.com%2Fphp%2Fvhss_editors%2Fgetvoki%2Fchsm=d8d285d24b9cf241bb2518d6eb6044db%26sc=12403233" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" allowFullScreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="widget_name"></object> </div>
<br />
Finally a big thank you using a comic:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQynWjky6m8qKz6ZdqQsU5Lap4Rg9yqmPleK3-i9BY2kpLXOVcbYDel7JjzIdOKEt7MkO3ip0pUrAG5pRNt5b7bwgYJLj6Cne5EdHaXx0FkGh_c8QDMPwKpgu4PfnYhbFgEEM2uXm7PIw/s1600/evo_feedback_comic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQynWjky6m8qKz6ZdqQsU5Lap4Rg9yqmPleK3-i9BY2kpLXOVcbYDel7JjzIdOKEt7MkO3ip0pUrAG5pRNt5b7bwgYJLj6Cne5EdHaXx0FkGh_c8QDMPwKpgu4PfnYhbFgEEM2uXm7PIw/s400/evo_feedback_comic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This 2016 session has been a wonderful experience! A huge thank you to everyone involved!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-43467823469574353132016-01-25T06:33:00.002-08:002017-11-17T03:33:56.432-08:00Belated Happy Birthday Wishes, Dear Blog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.fodey.com/generators/animated/talking_flower.asp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Create your own Animation" border="0" height="246" src="https://r11.fodey.com/2403/0c9b8aedfc4a4226aacbf1e88f98c6fb.1.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Seven whole years have passed since my world opened up in November 2008 and a new dimension was discovered. Blogging has brought me much joy and expanded my knowledge of the world. I have met many wonderful bloggers along the way, each and every one of them helping me to continue on this incredible journey.<br />
<br />
I have been inspired to rescue this post from my drafts folder after reading <a href="http://lunas994.blogspot.it/" target="_blank">Natasa</a>'s inspiring post:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lunas994.blogspot.it/2016/01/my-blog-is-eight-years-old.html" target="_blank">My Blog is Eight Years Old.</a><br />
<br />
I have discovered ways of using technology effectively within my classes, made so many new friends and been invited to present at many econferences throughout this period.<br />
<br />
I do hope I will carry on blogging for many more years to come!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-42332433865747465292016-01-05T10:33:00.000-08:002016-01-05T10:33:09.437-08:00Registration now open for EVO 2016 sessions!A very happy new year to everyone! I hope 2016 is going to be a great year for us all full of happy occasions and inspirational events:-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivye9T6bfHmjKZpGWPX5gh2qSuWMDEdIouSaUV5uZl_xriVFQeW4QQfINY82SrdARAoIbo6ikP5AWJSFN5Zq7jSersMW6fdiQbtGMliRZk8GPOvjs3bBI_-HOdQoZHtXtDAE63e0eK-CE/s1600/PhotoFunia-suns+2016+calendar+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivye9T6bfHmjKZpGWPX5gh2qSuWMDEdIouSaUV5uZl_xriVFQeW4QQfINY82SrdARAoIbo6ikP5AWJSFN5Zq7jSersMW6fdiQbtGMliRZk8GPOvjs3bBI_-HOdQoZHtXtDAE63e0eK-CE/s400/PhotoFunia-suns+2016+calendar+small.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>CPD Opportunity for 2016! </b></span><br />
This week from 3rd - 11th January the TESOL Electronic Village Online yearly sessions can be viewed and you can now register to attend one or more exciting CPD opportunities. The sessions are FREE, and they last for 5 weeks and kick off from January 11th and finish on February 14th. They are open to anyone around the globe who wishes to learn about something educational. There is a wide range of fascinating topics on offer, 14 in fact, so there should be something to suit everyone!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhlXVv5UuTPF7GI_M_btzsC5Gv9_Jcvb4cMM3W-TSbf89MVQHOFvYw2mBbj93Qf649NUqF1WCVjBIrGACTCW-nOYygMsD9Q2AoTRSe5btvOwHEdTgt_g-jpK7nwc_tDAkZibScKk4A6U/s1600/evo_main_wiki.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhlXVv5UuTPF7GI_M_btzsC5Gv9_Jcvb4cMM3W-TSbf89MVQHOFvYw2mBbj93Qf649NUqF1WCVjBIrGACTCW-nOYygMsD9Q2AoTRSe5btvOwHEdTgt_g-jpK7nwc_tDAkZibScKk4A6U/s400/evo_main_wiki.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You can view the different session outlines and important information on how to register on the <a href="http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708567/FrontPage" target="_blank">EVO Sessions 2016 Call for Participation wiki page</a>.<br />
<br />
I am delighted to be moderating once again for the third year in a row on <a href="http://ebookevo.pbworks.com/w/page/70262228/Welcome" target="_blank">EVO Ebook for Teachers' session,</a> together with Shelly Terrell's fabulous team of co-moderators.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk8jpwUBoe_wd3DGva0-IgbbutwBygZ8beKlF515iFLzoKGVwVqj_W-cVcLX4Sv6TEe_7zf98KSX1M4-e3Vdtyx6c5mn5xHG605IZowuPRlGMcAhrQplEashh3DNEugOADC9twKVmYxM/s1600/EBOOKEVO+Course+Ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk8jpwUBoe_wd3DGva0-IgbbutwBygZ8beKlF515iFLzoKGVwVqj_W-cVcLX4Sv6TEe_7zf98KSX1M4-e3Vdtyx6c5mn5xHG605IZowuPRlGMcAhrQplEashh3DNEugOADC9twKVmYxM/s400/EBOOKEVO+Course+Ad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Why don't you join the eBook moderators on Friday for a pre-session EbookEVO chat on Twitter? Details in the image below, courtesy of our lead moderator and organizer, Shelly Terrell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSFIUnVz2jwvmg1OyiB4q83MXohFSwuLOBBqN8fLxJggFginDS9nULtgWUP7sjf-83E6we_OhsAMI6MG7wEK8YnYbD9L_TRJ8vqIrYDLs3KTjo3j5vQ3hNN_kPc2W9XT5QAFzKcG4xRA/s1600/EBOOKEVO+Twitter+Chat+Fri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaSFIUnVz2jwvmg1OyiB4q83MXohFSwuLOBBqN8fLxJggFginDS9nULtgWUP7sjf-83E6we_OhsAMI6MG7wEK8YnYbD9L_TRJ8vqIrYDLs3KTjo3j5vQ3hNN_kPc2W9XT5QAFzKcG4xRA/s320/EBOOKEVO+Twitter+Chat+Fri.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Looking forward to seeing you in the EVO sessions. I can assure you they will be fun, educational and memorable!! <br />
<br />
<b>The Electronic Village Online Hashtag is: #evosessions</b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
I did a presentation called The EVOlution of Jan! for IATEFL YLT in January 2015. The slides via PresentMe demonstrate the EVO sessions I have attended since I first joined as an eager participant in 2009. I hope you will be inspired to register for a session in 2016!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://present.me/embed/520/300/256007-the-evolution-of-jan" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="520"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-12276772248238387872015-12-25T03:42:00.004-08:002015-12-25T03:42:56.905-08:00Merry Christmas 2015!Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="243" id="vp12cPmj" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1451043704&f=2cPmjf1iC0tGePvPnjfk2A&d=0&m=b&r=360p&volume=100&start_res=360p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" title="Video Player" width="432"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://animoto.com/play/2cPmjf1iC0tGePvPnjfk2A">Merry Christmas 2015</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-27136184276324741572015-11-13T03:48:00.000-08:002015-11-13T03:48:16.746-08:00Electronic Village Online 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PBqOhGipaxz3c25WJxmXL65M5xVEqL_TpLd6bpVmkYa52hyphenhyphenOfY-m4EkznNY7M0_APS2941yMEbi-t_kxsnZVP6lNj2HEzdgG4CPqgkupbv49JsrAgMW0SxnC70sz2JQ4wyTvzqHVofw/s1600/coollogo_com-119012927.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="53" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PBqOhGipaxz3c25WJxmXL65M5xVEqL_TpLd6bpVmkYa52hyphenhyphenOfY-m4EkznNY7M0_APS2941yMEbi-t_kxsnZVP6lNj2HEzdgG4CPqgkupbv49JsrAgMW0SxnC70sz2JQ4wyTvzqHVofw/s400/coollogo_com-119012927.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I am currently doing the EVO Moderator training for 4 weeks and am enjoying the experience very much! Even though 2016 will be my third year of moderating on the <a href="http://ebookevo.pbworks.com/w/page/70262228/Welcome" target="_blank">eTextbooks for Teachers session</a>, all moderators are required to follow the training again, which is a very good thing. We find out about the sessions that are being proposed for 2016. The outcome will be published in early December. We all help each other with feedback comments and get to know our fellow moderators, mentors and Organization Team a bit more.<br />
<br />
Part of the training involves reading lots of interesting elearning and emoderating articles and then discussing them in a special and private EVO Moderators' Google+ community. I get notifcations on a daily basis of everyone that posts, so I can keep updated really easily. Inbetween picking our olives last week, attending the training has been very nice and relaxing. Each Sunday there is a Google Hangout on Air / Blackboard Collaborate live meeting with the Lead Moderators and the weekly tasks are discussed.<br />
<br />
You can view my wiki page on <a href="http://janetabruzzo.wikispaces.com/Connecting+Online+2015+Resources" target="_blank">The EVOlution of Jan</a>, which also gives information about <a href="http://evosessions.pbworks.com/w/page/10708564/EVO%20Previous%20Sessions" target="_blank">previous years' EVO sessions.</a><br />
<br />
The 2016 sessions will run from 10th January - 14th February 2016. Teachers from around the globe are invited to participate for free. All the dedicated moderators run the sessions on a voluntary basis, and this is what makes EVO so special and different from most online courses!!<br />
<br />
The proposals are all very exciting, and once they are up in the main wiki, I will post the link up in this blog post. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-85275517779577519402015-09-27T06:47:00.002-07:002019-03-21T01:49:03.956-07:00Pennadomo, a Unique Village in Abruzzo<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dXwbBfkYQl60UtjWLFgeipl45AzacdjSshBItD3DpV2K2SEuZJwxDhr8vm9xUgcw6G1vJ1JBPNHZjB7BURbKJs60_kMn53C40UuRJZzECvpzMHwWnWNnIVHVzIdVeKBhgZWOZS76ja8/s640/view+from+Pennadomo+-3.jpg" width="640" /> <br />
Recently we travelled to Pennadomo, a small village about an hour away by car from where we live. It was a memorable visit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5w_zjPOfz6dHs2GIq05ZFtjs7geYnyqU0pgLyWlNJa3oYxe4Fj_7Jx3ii_-ypRWze1rzboI8ZB3_RnGdvGZFBSoNw7jl7tSC2fvNmUaUOU2Bz0LaxjImmaN6SK4BrcjReX_Fmbf5tJ4/s1600/Pennadomo+il+centro+article.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5w_zjPOfz6dHs2GIq05ZFtjs7geYnyqU0pgLyWlNJa3oYxe4Fj_7Jx3ii_-ypRWze1rzboI8ZB3_RnGdvGZFBSoNw7jl7tSC2fvNmUaUOU2Bz0LaxjImmaN6SK4BrcjReX_Fmbf5tJ4/s400/Pennadomo+il+centro+article.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We had read about Pennadomo in the local paper, Il Centro, and found out about the amazing <a href="http://www.ik0.it/fondazione/progetto-pennadomo/" target="_blank">Project Pennadomo. </a><br />
<br />
This old formerly abandoned village has set about regenerating itself
and is piloting the first eco village of its kind in Italy. The founder
and main organizer is Barbara Ciarrapico who has set about transforming
this small hill-top village into an ecological and self-sustaining
tourist destination in the near future. This project will revitalise the
area and bring in a lot more tourism, and hopefully put Abruzzo on the
world wide map.<br />
<br />
You can read more about this in <a href="http://www.ik0.it/fondazione/la-fondazione-ik0/" target="_blank">La Fondazione IKO</a> page.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr89kJH_cgOX6njmu3Tj_6IbN0cxpFbag6gQislz4CNY9FNS82LhJ50ePPzV8msKxIRzedR2CnzlGTbtQjtTdSID0kJRaDSv_KS9Mjfj0JKwpW7q6zEvCDgtdm78gtpKSzQcF9GGGqwc/s1600/Pennadomo+-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyr89kJH_cgOX6njmu3Tj_6IbN0cxpFbag6gQislz4CNY9FNS82LhJ50ePPzV8msKxIRzedR2CnzlGTbtQjtTdSID0kJRaDSv_KS9Mjfj0JKwpW7q6zEvCDgtdm78gtpKSzQcF9GGGqwc/s400/Pennadomo+-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsQdEzW0kl0C9hqPg-cfIoxV5y8L9CwlMmxXOie9Z1Wrea-0eMZRQ-vy1JHmh1m_xU0hSRe2q5ONnR6Kk20g4GW__73Ez5CSqIlKYIDqDfi1rDwCjElZG9fIzWt8UbY-HbfFS0UosuTQ/s1600/view+from+pennadomo+-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsQdEzW0kl0C9hqPg-cfIoxV5y8L9CwlMmxXOie9Z1Wrea-0eMZRQ-vy1JHmh1m_xU0hSRe2q5ONnR6Kk20g4GW__73Ez5CSqIlKYIDqDfi1rDwCjElZG9fIzWt8UbY-HbfFS0UosuTQ/s640/view+from+pennadomo+-2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmRqHml9QQvtKbT2ReYFVutm9u6peCDzdIGExgr9ev7LH6kq912-pcxqaxtUIypmNWyjalKfKQy1YYw5uACW6oMTbgC4E7iCspvsAmdsdKNyI5r2N4FlnSHU5whGnbAgf_WXtfKxb4TU/s1600/Pennadomo+village.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmRqHml9QQvtKbT2ReYFVutm9u6peCDzdIGExgr9ev7LH6kq912-pcxqaxtUIypmNWyjalKfKQy1YYw5uACW6oMTbgC4E7iCspvsAmdsdKNyI5r2N4FlnSHU5whGnbAgf_WXtfKxb4TU/s400/Pennadomo+village.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi061LR0Gn6UKZnshVlX-u9uCX0Mp-aFuT6m0UJAHqU9AnVLexw7AxtM75KbaF73N2HrIu5VbVofFy-c-3ZBWjRfSM4c8-Ax7wduCw9JvqXFslqUTDdmzZ_BzfHZf-LDGKZEyc-b3Q0B9o/s1600/Pennadomo-view+from+PO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi061LR0Gn6UKZnshVlX-u9uCX0Mp-aFuT6m0UJAHqU9AnVLexw7AxtM75KbaF73N2HrIu5VbVofFy-c-3ZBWjRfSM4c8-Ax7wduCw9JvqXFslqUTDdmzZ_BzfHZf-LDGKZEyc-b3Q0B9o/s400/Pennadomo-view+from+PO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The IKO coin</b><br />
We were very happy to buy the beautifully crafted silver and gold <a href="http://www.ik0.it/fondazione/la-moneta-ik0/" target="_blank">Iko Number One coin</a> which cost 50 Euros.<br />
<br />
We are the very proud owners of the coin below..<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPSDRiXvHLDy1d62QmPb23qYbIA9i0W2pFui2BDKIrxpceiFw55SBiph-h89YuGqGGxTMVQEaxHb421JenGiJQk42Ox0v_Aj2C6P6bqVRB5sfxw2gLl_JZb7g3tteElpRtb3n0P6eERc/s1600/iko+coin++%252B+sack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPSDRiXvHLDy1d62QmPb23qYbIA9i0W2pFui2BDKIrxpceiFw55SBiph-h89YuGqGGxTMVQEaxHb421JenGiJQk42Ox0v_Aj2C6P6bqVRB5sfxw2gLl_JZb7g3tteElpRtb3n0P6eERc/s320/iko+coin++%252B+sack.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This money will go towards funding this very
ambitious project which will cost hundreds of thousands of Euros to
complete. With this coin we will be able to use it as currency in the
village and we will also be able to keep it as a wonderful souvenir!
The Pennadomo Project experience will involve local food, artisinal
handicrafts, cultural events and a wealth of exciting activities. A stay
there promises to be a truly wonderful Abruzzese gastronomic delight!!<br />
<br />
Pennadomo is a beautiful village and we were very priviledged to be
given a personal guided tour by Elisa, one of the group responsible for
making the charming gift sacks for the IK0 coin Number One. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5o6M5rR7yC3eQPHQXGIbBwrJd9UPGzG41h70JSYVEoPV6EZDCXjigKJImAI1qkbkSq0Lt61uXNvYUVnrGjQ4U05Tam3w1QffIoebww2vOTvNwdJfwQ4IbvQyDgzvbCDyV2G3usLIt1g/s1600/iko+coin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5o6M5rR7yC3eQPHQXGIbBwrJd9UPGzG41h70JSYVEoPV6EZDCXjigKJImAI1qkbkSq0Lt61uXNvYUVnrGjQ4U05Tam3w1QffIoebww2vOTvNwdJfwQ4IbvQyDgzvbCDyV2G3usLIt1g/s400/iko+coin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
The
building where they produce these sacks by hand is called 'Taglio e
Cucito'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRn9C629iN6PB5RFCgubndKf3BfujkUtfC9TBwIkyCtx2QW__1ydcPQjBO27LoZ4fy7dXlSMlk4TH7dEa3PmDY8jSHz74B6E6cmS4GovhTrfAlLmsjENybSR_67Qkfrxdrfm3l-Ji9E0/s1600/Pennadomo+tailoring+shop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRn9C629iN6PB5RFCgubndKf3BfujkUtfC9TBwIkyCtx2QW__1ydcPQjBO27LoZ4fy7dXlSMlk4TH7dEa3PmDY8jSHz74B6E6cmS4GovhTrfAlLmsjENybSR_67Qkfrxdrfm3l-Ji9E0/s400/Pennadomo+tailoring+shop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We also met the organizing commitee and I had a photo taken with them
all. They gave me and K such a very warm welcome to Pennadomo!! We
explained we had come to the village as a direct result of seeing the
newspaper article in Il Centro, and of viewing the Youtube video! It
was amazing to actually meet the people we had seen in the video.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yguD5h5oDzwophBb3T7gTtxxGr7Htm9ROsJM5k5zLiMp_EVTlRA9FvExhcTOqD2PBBfZmbRRVmafmz9HKdT5NCtzrNTRsGmYBSHk1PryeicVT0Awu2cSu-Yd1x0X89Z0O6W4pAPcfSo/s1600/Pennadomo+Project+IK0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yguD5h5oDzwophBb3T7gTtxxGr7Htm9ROsJM5k5zLiMp_EVTlRA9FvExhcTOqD2PBBfZmbRRVmafmz9HKdT5NCtzrNTRsGmYBSHk1PryeicVT0Awu2cSu-Yd1x0X89Z0O6W4pAPcfSo/s400/Pennadomo+Project+IK0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
With Elisa we climbed 180 old steep steps right to the top of the
village and the views from there were absolutely spectacular!!!<br />
<br />
Abruzzo can be justifiably proud of its title 'The Greenest Region in Europe!'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOfGkRtr2SwMT22H11VBrnQpoSc-hGbXYDRoNBUNtj5uGqVUwV4oZW4h-P1pufPlbwcE6T-5HUNRjvwpibuzw-jzUyxEyqbGmfvj1PWAlyEGycoLiKkqR1LSt3SKzdAa3RB5a1WhuI5I/s1600/steps+in+Pennadomo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOfGkRtr2SwMT22H11VBrnQpoSc-hGbXYDRoNBUNtj5uGqVUwV4oZW4h-P1pufPlbwcE6T-5HUNRjvwpibuzw-jzUyxEyqbGmfvj1PWAlyEGycoLiKkqR1LSt3SKzdAa3RB5a1WhuI5I/s640/steps+in+Pennadomo.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
We saw this charming statue of the Madonna, which was at the foot of the steps.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycv1NTZZBGTPJxUtgeWkBWWV8JbUaQo5GVCsxw5SUbCRNXP6vRy3xiJxJ5Irw9edGSKj-9skbtrlokTAErZcTVzA4HfskJhZhIOQzP0jgEIMMCPEK-dPvzTFfPHK_ZwV98fNdeVU3eLA/s1600/Pennadomo+statue_resized.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycv1NTZZBGTPJxUtgeWkBWWV8JbUaQo5GVCsxw5SUbCRNXP6vRy3xiJxJ5Irw9edGSKj-9skbtrlokTAErZcTVzA4HfskJhZhIOQzP0jgEIMMCPEK-dPvzTFfPHK_ZwV98fNdeVU3eLA/s400/Pennadomo+statue_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHn9wGL1ne5e7DczpD_E6K2zdmynSiGDy6aSOlxaYSBy0q4TaOrccxgZkyO9eiTyZk4lycMAYijE6RRjSz946997ovHBxNdlTrmByV8MU0BRtjs9mj3jbA5Qz97mDJn4wutVfwjWK8RU/s1600/Janet+and+Elisa+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHn9wGL1ne5e7DczpD_E6K2zdmynSiGDy6aSOlxaYSBy0q4TaOrccxgZkyO9eiTyZk4lycMAYijE6RRjSz946997ovHBxNdlTrmByV8MU0BRtjs9mj3jbA5Qz97mDJn4wutVfwjWK8RU/s400/Janet+and+Elisa+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzscP5a7RzmI2y_xmNrWCe4rukqWqo12cVN4AliyzuzWV4L5_Bk7UiPEEpl_8hZ0OTNwjXvJIzqKkMpF3OwJv151VUf3WjJUadNy2oTYBxEVF6PjIYil6OWAxaqBtd93fajJw2bWKUUIk/s1600/Janet+and+Elisa+-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzscP5a7RzmI2y_xmNrWCe4rukqWqo12cVN4AliyzuzWV4L5_Bk7UiPEEpl_8hZ0OTNwjXvJIzqKkMpF3OwJv151VUf3WjJUadNy2oTYBxEVF6PjIYil6OWAxaqBtd93fajJw2bWKUUIk/s640/Janet+and+Elisa+-2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Lake Bomba is below in the distance. You can see a Canadair
fire-fighting aircraft coming in to land on Lake Bomba to load up with
tons of water to fight some local forest fires which have devastated
nealy 400 hectares of land, including oak forests, olive groves and
vineyards in the local Abruzzo area. These aircraft scoop up almost
1,300 gallons of water in 12 seconds. The pilots fly through narrow
valleys and thick smoke, and they do this hour in and hour out. They are
amazing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1iaWsc8b_scExYhZVjx6htFg3i8n9c_bVbeKqHYWXkiD8ZxDQKmiDuo_6AyAFTy_t_wfQITvrqZlVce5-3spFmQnESmCLa1SvAdhV40b3DAmnvHLBU0RNnK3TUlEo4KKEAdL8CMUpgY/s1600/view+of+Bomba+Lake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1iaWsc8b_scExYhZVjx6htFg3i8n9c_bVbeKqHYWXkiD8ZxDQKmiDuo_6AyAFTy_t_wfQITvrqZlVce5-3spFmQnESmCLa1SvAdhV40b3DAmnvHLBU0RNnK3TUlEo4KKEAdL8CMUpgY/s400/view+of+Bomba+Lake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErO0MolID3tLARjNPw5sTp-iVRp30G29yMmgV8jJW5H4HZEKYagkqA4sD1yMNdxbkbcfKCrWwr9ElpqtK_w1Gfae8FOFiqx263KsGarvT0r5I1238rkaPXBNJfUi2BmIpma1RBbtwE5c/s1600/viewfrom+Pennadomo+-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Rugged mountain scenery surrounds the village. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj54-rr-mqgIcNyY16sjCVWtPr4jBQ3u5ApVCL4cqVYyydPXZ6fv2pr6a_fDreNaBA470TtPJangSVtZ12vvG0q8trrpa5tezmW3z_AHkmeGWfQ-zBZwVJoP0FH5hZE3Ep7iwPIKRoFCs/s1600/view+from+pennadomo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj54-rr-mqgIcNyY16sjCVWtPr4jBQ3u5ApVCL4cqVYyydPXZ6fv2pr6a_fDreNaBA470TtPJangSVtZ12vvG0q8trrpa5tezmW3z_AHkmeGWfQ-zBZwVJoP0FH5hZE3Ep7iwPIKRoFCs/s400/view+from+pennadomo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The youtube video below gives lots of info (in Italian) about Pennadomo. Towards the end you can see Elisa talking passionately about her
role in this incredible life-changing project:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RoBkC-OPu-A" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Visiting <a href="http://www.ik0.it/fondazione/progetto-pennadomo/" target="_blank">Pennadomo</a> was one of the best experiences I have ever had here
in Abruzzo. I cannot wait to go again next year to see how the project
has evolved!!<br />
<br />
I wish Barbara, Elisa and all the villagers great success in achieving
the goal of regenerating the village and bringing it back to life!!<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for giving us such a lovely welcome to Pennadomo!!<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;">Post Scriptum - 2019</span></span><br />
Sadly the initiative did not receive the promised public funding or backing of the authorities in 2015, and so for the moment, as far as I know, it has sadly been laid to rest. This is an enormous pity.<br />
<br />
Article from Il Centro:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ilcentro.it/abruzzo/affonda-il-progetto-pennadomo-iko-non-ci-sono-i-soldi-1.1354201?utm_medium=migrazione" target="_blank"> http://www.ilcentro.it/abruzzo/affonda-il-progetto-pennadomo-iko-non-ci-sono-i-soldi-1.1354201?utm_medium=migrazione</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-78470273820083933952015-06-06T08:08:00.000-07:002015-10-09T05:06:01.303-07:00IATEFL Manchester FeedbackI originally wrote this feedback post on another blog, but thought I would like to add it here on my main blog. Better late than never :-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63V6mKy7xwfRr3omOllKnRFtt4yKEBjTS5vAH1vqhJo_HU9Sf1t74ie-j-bGN7Zjgn1qWctJB24f77xhe-64wqFHTJ5AmN82i_06eCpNDY8V5sIvqC4b60hE4vYnqscX4fea5p12OiLs/s1600/IATEFL_MANCHESTER_logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63V6mKy7xwfRr3omOllKnRFtt4yKEBjTS5vAH1vqhJo_HU9Sf1t74ie-j-bGN7Zjgn1qWctJB24f77xhe-64wqFHTJ5AmN82i_06eCpNDY8V5sIvqC4b60hE4vYnqscX4fea5p12OiLs/s1600/IATEFL_MANCHESTER_logo.png" width="400" /></a></div>
I was very happy to be able to travel to Manchester on
Saturday April 11th to attend the <a href="http://www.iatefl.org/annual-conference/manchester-2015">IATEFL conference</a>
for 2 days. I went there by train direct from Oxford. The journey was
very smooth and in no time at all I arrived in Manchester Picadilly and
met my friend and colleague Carol. I stayed in Manchester for one night
at the <a href="http://www.abodemanchester.co.uk/?gclid=CJTj4PGWhcUCFYnLtAodhgEAMw">Abode Hotel.</a><br />
<br />
The conference was a great event all round and it was wonderful to have
the chance to meet up with so many members of my PLN, albeit briefly.
Below the only conference image I had taken from my mobile and this is a
lovely one which includes Dr Nellie Deutsch and Vicky Loras. It was a
pleasure to meet them and so many others. Here's a link to a fabulous slideshow of <a href="http://video214.com/play/rzeQCOiiOcgEFxYL3ExHDw/s/dark" target="_blank">IATEFL 2015 Manchester </a>created by Dr Nellie Deutsch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8JG-V4KtzhsW-wjW1PsDn6F6qnuUpkmALptoL0aOjKvhdDiF347GfZJ_ySz9jyitlLexkaeHqxEnJTlIjXL2yOd1m1ByacPUSb2_WzCyYcsQH5ZPeTUgVt3rZtPn3IzBvbmZ1H0CHbo/s1600/magazinea04d072a1f5607d4556b67d93b74eb9465112193.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8JG-V4KtzhsW-wjW1PsDn6F6qnuUpkmALptoL0aOjKvhdDiF347GfZJ_ySz9jyitlLexkaeHqxEnJTlIjXL2yOd1m1ByacPUSb2_WzCyYcsQH5ZPeTUgVt3rZtPn3IzBvbmZ1H0CHbo/s1600/magazinea04d072a1f5607d4556b67d93b74eb9465112193.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It was also a great pleasure to spend a lot of time with my colleague Carol Rainbow, and some time with Sue Annan from the Project 52
blog, Marisa, who has written an excellent feedback post <a href="http://marisaconstantinides.edublogs.org/2015/05/28/iatefl-manchester-2015-five-years-on/#.VWnkqVJWroA" target="_blank"><b>here </b></a>, and Sue-Lyons in the break times, and members of the
Consultants-e team, on Sunday over cocktails :-) <br />
Sadly, I missed a few people I wanted to meet such as Sandy Millin, and Sharon Hartle, but
being such a huge conference centre with over 2,000 delegates, it was
not possible to see everyone amongst the crowds....<br />
<br />
I attended a super British Council hosted event on Saturday night at the
Manchester Town Hall, and was blown away by the magnificence of its
grandeur and the awe-inspiring gothic architecture. I had a truly super evening there, mingling with so many delegates and people I
knew.....<br />
The canapes and refreshments were delicious and the wine flowed!! I
found out that the bees painted on the floor of the town hall denoted
the symbol of Manchester as a leading industrial power in the
past (as busy as a bee).<br />
<br />
<br />
Below a collage I created using Fotor.com of 4 images kindly shared by Carol Rainbow:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GJudZMpYkRbX80K4PRotrR3iqXbSYglqvarGPt6n8Cq_Zy6oqc4XlxUBxuarTfpmWM18Q6LDkTokRyMfVW9RVyHd7mkBV7HSkrwIdRdScg6t0_jyid50xaqKv9eyf2FLjTlraisD9zg/s1600/Manchestr+Town+hall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GJudZMpYkRbX80K4PRotrR3iqXbSYglqvarGPt6n8Cq_Zy6oqc4XlxUBxuarTfpmWM18Q6LDkTokRyMfVW9RVyHd7mkBV7HSkrwIdRdScg6t0_jyid50xaqKv9eyf2FLjTlraisD9zg/s400/Manchestr+Town+hall.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Prior to that I had also attended a Cambridge University Press party where the new series of <a href="http://www.cambridge.org/empower/">Empower course books</a>
was presented at the Manchester Museum of Science and Technology, and
that was very enjoyable as well. Images below reproduced with kind permission from Carol Rainbow:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yHTA2bG3nPxmoJVdT4MdUm9PcwnFfofpG47u3qandXWgt00c9vEAzMlbSewY_V_1BYAOmSkEOj7m7-wKGFt3L6w5P_FBrDwNmfQ25cfHM32c9del5AgNj-Ot2JkYl6HNpbS9HJkPQoo/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yHTA2bG3nPxmoJVdT4MdUm9PcwnFfofpG47u3qandXWgt00c9vEAzMlbSewY_V_1BYAOmSkEOj7m7-wKGFt3L6w5P_FBrDwNmfQ25cfHM32c9del5AgNj-Ot2JkYl6HNpbS9HJkPQoo/s400/IMG_0349.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicdADbe9zt-q5fY6AmMssgw6PDu7-rBQ-2C0NoyuRwsLJtI2fUYzOR-kPKddtgYbGblN5OVU-4Ab2vIQMsPyn8BcW-IBr7ecFLkQEKSmbldo_7elI-uHjb2_0STsDG5Xs6a02AkZ2ckc/s1600/IMG_0350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicdADbe9zt-q5fY6AmMssgw6PDu7-rBQ-2C0NoyuRwsLJtI2fUYzOR-kPKddtgYbGblN5OVU-4Ab2vIQMsPyn8BcW-IBr7ecFLkQEKSmbldo_7elI-uHjb2_0STsDG5Xs6a02AkZ2ckc/s400/IMG_0350.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
I received a free copy of the new B1
level Empower coursebook, which looks impressive.<br />
<br />
I was lucky enough to be able to sample a slice of the delicious <b>Going Mobile </b>cake. Pictures below reproduced with kind permission of Carol Rainbow :-))<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY683vlCwnA8s5LakI9SNZ3hkmoaiQP3cNPjwS56SeMrp3eumJnJcAhQ3mG_w9Dmf8TJ85_6zqtWeJocPYCGwRkg3YJmy-IHkl5Kb2JgpkOhDj-4wG4H_FVdU7dLir_J-jBPOjxPUiRnw/s1600/cake+GMob.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY683vlCwnA8s5LakI9SNZ3hkmoaiQP3cNPjwS56SeMrp3eumJnJcAhQ3mG_w9Dmf8TJ85_6zqtWeJocPYCGwRkg3YJmy-IHkl5Kb2JgpkOhDj-4wG4H_FVdU7dLir_J-jBPOjxPUiRnw/s400/cake+GMob.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi__oNNyArsZE213K9RTzXoM0h0juLsD_evT7MvJqHWaiDaAVua-5LOkBGjMLviGrFfWPf10hf3ZCPSbfDUqaVWvxUGcglVYtSkWN8HRMJby214C5JlQ7UmysEmZOInRQYwkeCs_ExHE/s1600/cake+gmob+with+G%2526N.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFi__oNNyArsZE213K9RTzXoM0h0juLsD_evT7MvJqHWaiDaAVua-5LOkBGjMLviGrFfWPf10hf3ZCPSbfDUqaVWvxUGcglVYtSkWN8HRMJby214C5JlQ7UmysEmZOInRQYwkeCs_ExHE/s400/cake+gmob+with+G%2526N.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I asked the authors Nicky and Gavin if they could sign my personal copy of Going Mobile, and they did! I hope to write up a book review of it on this blog, so watch this space!<br />
<br />
All the sessions I attended were very interesting and I learned a lot.
It was good to benefit from the knowledge shared and this certainly
enhanced my CPD. In particular I would like to mention the following
ones:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9MjVrAAxo7anJt-zU-JVToPi0xiSrHVgQ5_K0-DPsnvgohY50hdVfq0IE-ol10x3IWaHI0HmtlYT-XMsfOU6Jhm-FM7U4Q8fXpGjd6ccJ3DYws5eIanPYxvUbp7UzZ1coqXB3isqqxg/s1600/pop_songs_session.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9MjVrAAxo7anJt-zU-JVToPi0xiSrHVgQ5_K0-DPsnvgohY50hdVfq0IE-ol10x3IWaHI0HmtlYT-XMsfOU6Jhm-FM7U4Q8fXpGjd6ccJ3DYws5eIanPYxvUbp7UzZ1coqXB3isqqxg/s1600/pop_songs_session.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
'Spice up your lessons with a song' by Sandra Vida from Slovenia was
inspirational and offered some practical and fun examples to use
straight in the classroom. Sandra has an excellent blog called <a href="http://lessonswithmusic.com/"><b>Lessons with Music,</b></a> which contains a huge source of lesson plans and ideas for using contemporary pop songs.<br />
<br />
I discovered some new techniques for using Pink Floyd's 'We don't want
no education' as a topic to get teens to brainstorm what they DO want
from education.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPwK5umM3ia1uCtGvmHPpp4Lx9tbVm-dnNa5xk6JeDhR6t7wz2Q83fgiDX6I24WL9zHMi4lrgh942DECVgjbHREHK9-IESgV12Dzcs8lxNGj_NMsruL3z72pXdCP8uhv1Ah_-fnTXyuo/s1600/songs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPwK5umM3ia1uCtGvmHPpp4Lx9tbVm-dnNa5xk6JeDhR6t7wz2Q83fgiDX6I24WL9zHMi4lrgh942DECVgjbHREHK9-IESgV12Dzcs8lxNGj_NMsruL3z72pXdCP8uhv1Ah_-fnTXyuo/s1600/songs.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also the song '<a href="http://lessonswithmusic.com/chumbawamba-add-me/#more-43"><b>Add Me</b></a>' by Chumbawamba to get students to discuss the dangers of friending strangers on Facebook was thought-provoking:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75rTah4YkSWYCJzsJ8YVK2CPUKR2TSFrXhWV3nkSMIiUOgkHjel-y30Fb8wyoSlyaGzX5zu3ihpU4iVGE7VdvW31UGbSPA4P_evsoqPoLZx1XpGHBZ8QjwW5U3hLplCcFvdNH8sLfMNQ/s1600/songs+fb+friends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75rTah4YkSWYCJzsJ8YVK2CPUKR2TSFrXhWV3nkSMIiUOgkHjel-y30Fb8wyoSlyaGzX5zu3ihpU4iVGE7VdvW31UGbSPA4P_evsoqPoLZx1XpGHBZ8QjwW5U3hLplCcFvdNH8sLfMNQ/s1600/songs+fb+friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Paul Driver's session on using Augmented Reality was fascinating, and
the future use of AR in EFL classrooms is probably just around the
corner for most of us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGBAI-DcW12eiKFGlch9BlURWPSzTouQI1Kp9vrHmRo6AlIe_WChT_m_iKjZkdzObRQQSKaLpeyPEHpjOkgN8FfU-C56W42h1T-XDfa_TduR2q7BTDW6Z43DsNH2-hqwRbIQria3MnFA/s1600/paul_driver_session.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGBAI-DcW12eiKFGlch9BlURWPSzTouQI1Kp9vrHmRo6AlIe_WChT_m_iKjZkdzObRQQSKaLpeyPEHpjOkgN8FfU-C56W42h1T-XDfa_TduR2q7BTDW6Z43DsNH2-hqwRbIQria3MnFA/s1600/paul_driver_session.png" width="400" /></a></div>
He gave us some great examples of work he is already doing with his
students at the British Study Centre, Oxford, in this innovative and
cutting edge area.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw4vQK4iHCqTN13CzSRTtji1W3eAnNUzMWZAyWYgFpLqwZtyS0t18IKSRDryqshAT0iKyKJAVH2ACVvZyIzTpDKbXWLtMiCiu6j2Oo3UDylpG_ut5SUE7ErfkGrM4VAohaa1Pnq5kgg0/s1600/AR+SESSIONvideo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw4vQK4iHCqTN13CzSRTtji1W3eAnNUzMWZAyWYgFpLqwZtyS0t18IKSRDryqshAT0iKyKJAVH2ACVvZyIzTpDKbXWLtMiCiu6j2Oo3UDylpG_ut5SUE7ErfkGrM4VAohaa1Pnq5kgg0/s1600/AR+SESSIONvideo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I also found the talk by Jason Anderson on 'Lying is the best policy',
based around his new publication called 'Speaking Games', very practical
and will implement some of the ideas into my future teaching.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nmLMJT2NZthVuXlePggmoxJLtgB4IriCjGdWOUSy4puIZDa4GXzx-xugi_WrumP1YD82hfG6KKxMBBBfUenhrCd5u-Uezk16f6PribMUpyUthhZDIClol5IJUo5R3TkNz3WYZoqIyao/s1600/Lying_session.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nmLMJT2NZthVuXlePggmoxJLtgB4IriCjGdWOUSy4puIZDa4GXzx-xugi_WrumP1YD82hfG6KKxMBBBfUenhrCd5u-Uezk16f6PribMUpyUthhZDIClol5IJUo5R3TkNz3WYZoqIyao/s1600/Lying_session.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY6bNUIZZBfCgmuMc8H4LuXbtoKaD9chP5Nq22tj0LcxZLa65Y5mU-zWKhcYPY-6ZKD14wqMtspEIyA8KpF33ZsmTYRet9-RS8EFHr0quHtX582SGeO8pNBD_OPBcUB_cJKvzGM2wqAE/s1600/speakinggames.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOY6bNUIZZBfCgmuMc8H4LuXbtoKaD9chP5Nq22tj0LcxZLa65Y5mU-zWKhcYPY-6ZKD14wqMtspEIyA8KpF33ZsmTYRet9-RS8EFHr0quHtX582SGeO8pNBD_OPBcUB_cJKvzGM2wqAE/s1600/speakinggames.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The many uses of 'GET' by Kate Evans appealed to me and I wasn't disappointed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZBQJdb6eNyvGWqcfseJ4m9VXghmhAVdIEr2AMUmldWiQzeEifT-i_HK9dAmXF0hyphenhyphensG4LFb_SLi48bIhR5BJ3tS5DMM4VHmJnydkh4LTACDBMkOj3SBSUQTceUmuUTb9fyZTyOf79yM8/s1600/get_session.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZBQJdb6eNyvGWqcfseJ4m9VXghmhAVdIEr2AMUmldWiQzeEifT-i_HK9dAmXF0hyphenhyphensG4LFb_SLi48bIhR5BJ3tS5DMM4VHmJnydkh4LTACDBMkOj3SBSUQTceUmuUTb9fyZTyOf79yM8/s1600/get_session.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In addition, I will mention the talk by Candy van Olst, called ' How
does chatting become a purposeful conversation'. I think I already
apply quite a few things she pointed out to her audience. I will make
sure I include even more fillers for 'just chatting' with my classes in
the future!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLFMWQlTQlN5qZubfsWDrtBaifjOKQVEz6RTX6ECE6JOi65S6Vfy2Jz8DiMgBZbQQCFO75j3Uw0UpXpyQyXywUgvZBA04R2mY3LUvPEiIyGwdP5kB-zLli0l0rHzVKJN0fhmooxjSR9E/s1600/chatting_session.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLFMWQlTQlN5qZubfsWDrtBaifjOKQVEz6RTX6ECE6JOi65S6Vfy2Jz8DiMgBZbQQCFO75j3Uw0UpXpyQyXywUgvZBA04R2mY3LUvPEiIyGwdP5kB-zLli0l0rHzVKJN0fhmooxjSR9E/s1600/chatting_session.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, I found the Sunday morning plenary session by Joy Egbert to be
very informative and useful. She mentioned lots of tips on how to
promote task engagement and demonstrated a variety of technological
tools, including Bighugelabs Magazine app, which I love using.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNGLNGihEN8q_j1jnocvxmnjvdG0aQb7dZLlmSTzIgPs6PgFQnw6ahptiGF40uwm64SnYY8Il6D_fxLZPoj8gwwnDea8GqNGwWAL-Ol3XGbQKsEikWBBGzjdHzycQAbJ6JON87ICDFhM/s1600/Joy_Egbert.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNGLNGihEN8q_j1jnocvxmnjvdG0aQb7dZLlmSTzIgPs6PgFQnw6ahptiGF40uwm64SnYY8Il6D_fxLZPoj8gwwnDea8GqNGwWAL-Ol3XGbQKsEikWBBGzjdHzycQAbJ6JON87ICDFhM/s1600/Joy_Egbert.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I am so thankful for having had this opportunity to develop my CPD and to meet so many people I connect with online.<br />
<br />
Next year the IATEFL conference is held in Birmingham, and I would love to attend!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-17628131696186688172015-04-23T00:43:00.001-07:002015-04-23T00:43:37.947-07:00SEETA Guest Blogger for April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AAmzIjqLlgCgi4fT5uz60G3D9KiC9vK18FY3SQOt2rGKDp7UQG-mbiFBPrbFZ6NBXa4FEQ6bXhUD8rfCrsfRfSBDSGJWXUkvo6He6O-iSI4tWUxNuSMIIV1lPLpdFx5BCrbsvFTZmwo/s1600/SEETA+blogging+magazine5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AAmzIjqLlgCgi4fT5uz60G3D9KiC9vK18FY3SQOt2rGKDp7UQG-mbiFBPrbFZ6NBXa4FEQ6bXhUD8rfCrsfRfSBDSGJWXUkvo6He6O-iSI4tWUxNuSMIIV1lPLpdFx5BCrbsvFTZmwo/s1600/SEETA+blogging+magazine5.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></div>
I am proud to be this month's guest blogger for the <a href="http://www.seeta.eu/" target="_blank">South Eastern Europe Teachers Association</a>.<br />
<br />
I am currently having a break at the momen, so I am posting reflections and insights into teaching and discussing some of my favourite topics over the five days.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErtGJ-E4pZvehgnn3CngzVIhXwMcoLqMvKLT7xKQgojkopNwTKNJRkofYkAZXEE2IeUBSHogLasTHf0k_pPvCidnr8cnbLekLLvgnlfz_uKCocjDEoNmDdoj1KqPeOxUL4JuRWOjvIiU/s1600/reflections_pic_seeta.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErtGJ-E4pZvehgnn3CngzVIhXwMcoLqMvKLT7xKQgojkopNwTKNJRkofYkAZXEE2IeUBSHogLasTHf0k_pPvCidnr8cnbLekLLvgnlfz_uKCocjDEoNmDdoj1KqPeOxUL4JuRWOjvIiU/s1600/reflections_pic_seeta.png" height="158" width="400" /></a></div>
Please do join in the SEETA community. You will need to register in order to read the Guest Bloggers' posts and have access to many resources. There is a huge archive of past guest blog posts and they make for fascinating reading!<br />
<br />
In the past I have enjoyed many courses with SEETA, including mLearning, creative reading, digital storytelling, digital literacies, and humanism and modern technology. I learned a lot from these excellent sessions and you can find out more by looking at the posts in my <a href="http://civitaquana.blogspot.it/search/label/SEETA" target="_blank">SEETA label</a><br />
<br />
I am enjoying writing daily blog posts on a variety of topics connected to my teaching life, and I hope to see you there.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-28616944519136908862015-03-30T11:28:00.003-07:002015-10-09T05:08:34.556-07:00IATEFL Manchester 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTG6gMXHkKA0xd8I5fGn7DfuzdKrawZO2C6GWBSeDMPHt_25LZr1ZzFbOtXUan-sfkEkhu704MSqjRjz_DLfELCMF_k7AD5_Ft_Rz6z7HB0NWYKWAN9WFIif5qfa2pEgA-ue4nWqxuXs/s1600/IATEFL_MANCHESTER_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTG6gMXHkKA0xd8I5fGn7DfuzdKrawZO2C6GWBSeDMPHt_25LZr1ZzFbOtXUan-sfkEkhu704MSqjRjz_DLfELCMF_k7AD5_Ft_Rz6z7HB0NWYKWAN9WFIif5qfa2pEgA-ue4nWqxuXs/s1600/IATEFL_MANCHESTER_logo.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I have booked my train ticket to Manchester and I will spend 2 days there, more or less. I haven't attended a live international conference like this since IATEFL Brighton 2011, when I presented as well. The past few years I have kept extremely busy attending and presenting at online conferences, and I have to admit, the experiences have all been just as exhilirating and exciting!!<br />
<a href="https://www.storyboardthat.com/userboards/janetb/iatfl-manchester"><img src="http://sbt.blob.core.windows.net/storyboards/janetb/iatfl-manchester.png" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.storyboardthat.com/userboards/janetb/iatfl-manchester/copy">Create a Copy</a> |
<a href="https://www.storyboardthat.com/userboards/janetb/iatfl-manchester">View Larger</a><br />
<br />
I wrote a few blog posts about my time in Brighton:<br />
<br />
IATEFL Brighton 2011 Rocked! <a href="http://civitaquana.blogspot.it/2011/04/iatefl-brighton-2011-rocked.html" target="_blank">http://civitaquana.blogspot.it/2011/04/iatefl-brighton-2011-rocked.html </a><br />
The King & I at IATEFL Brighton 2011: <a href="http://civitaquana.blogspot.it/2011/04/king-and-i-iatefl-brighton-2011.html" target="_blank">http://civitaquana.blogspot.it/2011/04/king-and-i-iatefl-brighton-2011.html</a><br />
<br />
The question is: does attending a conference in person have the slight edge over an online conference? Well the obvious advantage is that you can physically meet and greet someone, you can have coffee, lunch or drinks with them, you can go dancing, you can share jokes, you can take group photos, selfies, swop business cards, swop stories and so on.<br />
<br />
However, believe it or not, at an online conference, you can do all of the above, virtually, 24/7. In 2nd Life I have attended a virtual drinks party and lots of food was present, and dancing too! In online webinars I have shared virtual food and drinks from around the world, and attended farewell parties, the EVO Podcasting webinar, being one of the most amazing and memorable ones. Also singing and dancing along to rap tunes at an online conference closing ceremony springs to mind....<br />
<br />
So, what is the verdict??<br />
<br />
I can't wait to meet members of my PLN on Saturday April 11th and Sunday April 12th!! Please do come up and say 'Hi' if you see me!! I am very excited about the chance to catch up with so many people!! It will be a dream come true....<br />
<br />
I will be meeting members of <a href="http://www.theconsultants-e.com/" target="_blank">The Consultants-E</a> team on Sunday!<br />
<br />
You can find out more about this great international event by clicking on the image below: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/2015" title="Tune in for live coverage"><img alt="Tune in for live coverage from 10th April 2015" border="0" src="http://iatefl.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/web-banner-2015-url-hashtag-text-336x280.png" height="280px" width="336px" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.iatefl.org/annual-conference/manchester-2015" target="_blank">http://www.iatefl.org/annual-conference/manchester-2015 </a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7509800714802303035.post-41498862786559206442015-03-22T12:34:00.000-07:002015-03-22T12:34:11.489-07:00Spring Blog Festival - Slides for A Blogger's Story: Top Ten TopicsI thoroughly enjoyed presenting at the Spring Blog Festival 2015 on Saturday March 21st. <br />
Below you can see the slides for my session. I do hope you like them. There is a
full list of resources from the session and they can be found on the
last page of the slides via QR codes.<br />
<br />
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="" frameborder="0" height="250px" src="https://fliphtml5.com/embed/dist/html/embed-cover.html#!/?w=0&bc=#000&p=1&l=http://online.fliphtml5.com/ravl/pcir/&t=http://online.fliphtml5.com/ravl/pcir/files/shot.jpg" width="400px"></iframe>
<br />
I was able to attend three wonderful presentations and learned a lot from them. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">1. <a href="https://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/928605-sbf15-halina-on-competence-in-communication-and-interpersonal-skills" target="_blank">SBF15: Halina on Competence in Communication and Interpersonal Skills</a></span><a href="https://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/928605-sbf15-halina-on-competence-in-communication-and-interpersonal-skills" target="_blank"> </a></b><br />
<br />
<div id="mainheading" style="padding-top: 0px;">
<div id="lefheadingdiv">
<b>2. <a href="https://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/929583-sbf15-mar%C3%ADa-j-garc%C3%ADa-san-mart%C3%ADn-and-from-ebookevo-to-clil-ebooks" target="_blank">SBF15: María J. García San Martín and From eBookEVO to CLIL eBooks</a></b></div>
</div>
<br />
<b>3. <a href="https://www.wiziq.com/tutorial/930535-sbf15-blogging-and-logging-conversations-among-educators" target="_blank">SBF15: Blogging and Logging conversations among educators</a></b><br />
<br />
<div id="mainheading" style="padding-top: 0px;">
<div id="lefheadingdiv">
</div>
</div>
Hopefully I will view the other presentations as soon as I can :-)<br />
<br />
I would like to thank Dr Nellie Deutsch for organizing such an uplifting day of bloggers showcasing why they blog, and also thanks to Maria Jesus for moderating my session and Brian Boneham for providing lots of links during the session.. Thanks also to everybody who attended my talk. It was lovely to see you all. Sorry you couldn't see me, but I think I could be hard loudly and clearly :-) <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLjL53ByB214LS4yGDFbWlDMbIauFOGzOi2W1VuswR9PLXmmdg2t__fXzuszgiu916g7gtCIOTNKe5jF1RwYpUJdFWnH8Y9-rdti3uXuOv287UCC-UpIrIiH6kpEd3bYPVVtEnIaBGJY/s1600/thanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLjL53ByB214LS4yGDFbWlDMbIauFOGzOi2W1VuswR9PLXmmdg2t__fXzuszgiu916g7gtCIOTNKe5jF1RwYpUJdFWnH8Y9-rdti3uXuOv287UCC-UpIrIiH6kpEd3bYPVVtEnIaBGJY/s1600/thanks.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0