Ready for work
I have just spoken with my new boss at the local college about the teaching work which I will be doing.
I will be taking a Level 1 class in the first two weeks of June. Level 1 students are not beginners, there are three entry levels before this so these students will probably have been learning English for at least three years. As I mentioned in a previous entry, the class will have a number of different teachers over the ten-week course so there is a planning meeting at the college on Friday to allow us to co-ordinate our activities.
The other good news of the week is that I have now been offered the job in Prague. This will involve teaching to individuals and small groups within companies, and will draw on my experience in the corporate world as much as my English. I am waiting to see the details in writing before I formally accept, but it is looking good.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Catching up with the news (from 1914)
One of my interests is Military History, and I have slowly been researching the story of 4th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the First World War. My grandfather was a member of this battalion, which consisted of territorials (part-time volunteers, somewhat similar to National Guard units in the US).
From my previous research I knew that the unit was at its annual summer camp when war broke out, and that most of the unit volunteered for service overseas almost immediately. I spent Friday at the A.N. Palmer Centre for Local Studies and Archives in Wrexham reading the microfilm archives of the Wrexham Advertiser from the Summer and Autumn of 1914. The paper carried reports of the battalion's return from camp, and their despatch first to Conwy, then Northampton before being sent to France in November 1914.
This was fascinating reading, the paper carried a sense of adventure mixed with foreboding, although at that time no-one really knew of the horrors which were to come before the survivors would return home.
One of my interests is Military History, and I have slowly been researching the story of 4th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the First World War. My grandfather was a member of this battalion, which consisted of territorials (part-time volunteers, somewhat similar to National Guard units in the US).
From my previous research I knew that the unit was at its annual summer camp when war broke out, and that most of the unit volunteered for service overseas almost immediately. I spent Friday at the A.N. Palmer Centre for Local Studies and Archives in Wrexham reading the microfilm archives of the Wrexham Advertiser from the Summer and Autumn of 1914. The paper carried reports of the battalion's return from camp, and their despatch first to Conwy, then Northampton before being sent to France in November 1914.
This was fascinating reading, the paper carried a sense of adventure mixed with foreboding, although at that time no-one really knew of the horrors which were to come before the survivors would return home.
Back to work soon.
I had intended to spend all of last week in North Wales but two job interviews came up which meant that I returned home in order to prepare for them. The first interview was at the local college, and I have now been given a firm offer of some work teaching for the summer. There is a planning meeting on Friday where the teachers will discuss the overall curriculum and then plan their individual schemes of work. I will be very much the new boy in this, so I will need to take a close eye on proceedings. I don't want to end up with all the parts that no-one else wants.
The second interview was a telephone interview for a job in Prague, beginning in September. I am waiting to hear further on this one, so I have my fingers crossed.
I had intended to spend all of last week in North Wales but two job interviews came up which meant that I returned home in order to prepare for them. The first interview was at the local college, and I have now been given a firm offer of some work teaching for the summer. There is a planning meeting on Friday where the teachers will discuss the overall curriculum and then plan their individual schemes of work. I will be very much the new boy in this, so I will need to take a close eye on proceedings. I don't want to end up with all the parts that no-one else wants.
The second interview was a telephone interview for a job in Prague, beginning in September. I am waiting to hear further on this one, so I have my fingers crossed.
North Wales
We spent the last two weekends in North Wales. On May 6th we walked in the Berwyn Mountains for about 13 miles. We had originally planned to walk in the Ogwen Valley but the forecast of strong winds and rain persuaded us to pick some hills which were harder to fall off. In the end the weather held good for us, although clouds were gathering all round by late afternoon.
This last weekend we spent Saturday cycling via Mold to the Vale of Clwyd with Sue's sister and her husband, before joining them at a fundraising quiz in aid of the local Silver Band.
We spent the last two weekends in North Wales. On May 6th we walked in the Berwyn Mountains for about 13 miles. We had originally planned to walk in the Ogwen Valley but the forecast of strong winds and rain persuaded us to pick some hills which were harder to fall off. In the end the weather held good for us, although clouds were gathering all round by late afternoon.
This last weekend we spent Saturday cycling via Mold to the Vale of Clwyd with Sue's sister and her husband, before joining them at a fundraising quiz in aid of the local Silver Band.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Sunday cycle ride. We had planned a long cycle ride for Sunday. We were so certain we would do it that in the pub on Saturday night we told everyone that we were going to ride 100 miles on Sunday. We were a little bit late setting off on Sunday morning, sufficiently so that it was clear that we wouldn't be able to ride 100 miles before dark. Faced with this we decided to cut the ride short and just do about 80 miles.
Unfortunately we miscalculated and ended up riding over 94 miles, of which the last six or so were in darkness. We were too tired to even consider adding on another six miles to make a round hundred, so we finished the day worn out and a little disappointed.
Looking back, the ride was still quite an achievement. It was the longest ride Sue has ever done, and my longest for almost 18 years, and even if we missed the target of 100 miles we have the consolation prize of 150 kilometres.
Unfortunately we miscalculated and ended up riding over 94 miles, of which the last six or so were in darkness. We were too tired to even consider adding on another six miles to make a round hundred, so we finished the day worn out and a little disappointed.
Looking back, the ride was still quite an achievement. It was the longest ride Sue has ever done, and my longest for almost 18 years, and even if we missed the target of 100 miles we have the consolation prize of 150 kilometres.
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