Multi Media Exchange.
Click on the link above to see!
Our new Language School!!
I love the interactive map.
What an opportunity we have here in this centre!
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Free writing - I don't know what to write
Thank you to Sara for this exercise for free writing.
Free writing is a great way of getting your creative juices flowing.
It is a technique used by writers to free up 'Writer's block' and can help you collect initial thoughts, ideas even hidden thoughts released by simply not thinking too hard!
Even if you can't think what to write, start by writing 'I don't know what to write' over and over if you need to until you flow into something else.
It can be a really helpful exercise to practice daily and certainly before every writing session.
An athlete would never burst straight into a sprint without first warming up their muscles.
Your brain is a muscle and your imagination needs warming up too - as do your hands and fingers -ever thought your hands can't work as fast as your brain?
A warm up is essential.
TASK
WRITE ABOUT ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING FOR FIVE MINUTES [SET TIME]
eg How do I feel today ? ten years ago I was..... I left because.......
Free writing is a great way of getting your creative juices flowing.
It is a technique used by writers to free up 'Writer's block' and can help you collect initial thoughts, ideas even hidden thoughts released by simply not thinking too hard!
Even if you can't think what to write, start by writing 'I don't know what to write' over and over if you need to until you flow into something else.
It can be a really helpful exercise to practice daily and certainly before every writing session.
An athlete would never burst straight into a sprint without first warming up their muscles.
Your brain is a muscle and your imagination needs warming up too - as do your hands and fingers -ever thought your hands can't work as fast as your brain?
A warm up is essential.
TASK
WRITE ABOUT ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING FOR FIVE MINUTES [SET TIME]
eg How do I feel today ? ten years ago I was..... I left because.......
Pak Do Ik's boots
Pak Do Ik's Boots
Dad brought me a book of autographs after the 1966 World Cup.
North Korea had beaten Italy in the group stages of the World Cup held at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough.
19th July 1966 I was a 10 year old boy, totally mad on football and this was my second ever football match.
The first match was the week before when Russia destroyed North Korea 3-0.
The Middlesbrough crowd got behind the North Koreans, Italy were famous for being physical and as far as I was concerned they were all huge ugly players.
We were sat up in the Gods in the East stand, I had never seen anything like it. The singing and shouting and passion of a football match at it's real best, the underdogs battling against the Italian Gladiators.
I was hooked, and when Pak Doo Ik scored, I had never heard such noise!
18,721 people, mosty Teessiders went bonkers. Oh how many times, I have been in among that since!
If you talk to Teessiders nowadays, there must have been about 100,000 in the crowd as everyone seems to have been there, but does it matter? No, because Pak Doo Ik's boots did the job, they hooked me and I am sure thousands of other kids in the wonderful year of 1966.
Back to the autograph book, for years I thought that my Dad, being as he is had written the menu of the local Chinese takeaway in order to tell me that he had the autographs of the North Korean team, when in fact it is true, I have the real authentic autograph of the man himself!!
Dad brought me a book of autographs after the 1966 World Cup.
North Korea had beaten Italy in the group stages of the World Cup held at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough.
19th July 1966 I was a 10 year old boy, totally mad on football and this was my second ever football match.
The first match was the week before when Russia destroyed North Korea 3-0.
The Middlesbrough crowd got behind the North Koreans, Italy were famous for being physical and as far as I was concerned they were all huge ugly players.
We were sat up in the Gods in the East stand, I had never seen anything like it. The singing and shouting and passion of a football match at it's real best, the underdogs battling against the Italian Gladiators.
I was hooked, and when Pak Doo Ik scored, I had never heard such noise!
18,721 people, mosty Teessiders went bonkers. Oh how many times, I have been in among that since!
If you talk to Teessiders nowadays, there must have been about 100,000 in the crowd as everyone seems to have been there, but does it matter? No, because Pak Doo Ik's boots did the job, they hooked me and I am sure thousands of other kids in the wonderful year of 1966.
Back to the autograph book, for years I thought that my Dad, being as he is had written the menu of the local Chinese takeaway in order to tell me that he had the autographs of the North Korean team, when in fact it is true, I have the real authentic autograph of the man himself!!
Procrastination
The thing about writing is always putting it off.
I love writing my Blog, it is also very useful for our students of course.
So I am going to write what is in my head, just as suggested. first of all my head is full of cogs at the moment.
Why? Well , I am trying to link together what is going on n my career and what I am supposed to be doing.
For example, I have visited a Creative Writing class today and I am trying to explain how to create a Community of Creative Writers in Middlesbrough.
as my friends from France told me last week un ' l'Atelier D'écriture' I love it!
As soon as I start to think in French , the text has changed to italics, that's a bit weird!
Anyway back to the cogs.it must be the way I think, I know am a visual learner, I can see the cogs working together.
For example take the Art programme.
I couldn't see how we could work together with such diverse partners. But now I see the cogs running together, Nunthorpe Academy offering beginners classes and traditional classes and courses, Cleveland Art College offering starter or 'get Into' classes with experts in their field in an establishment that is very well respected, TS1 Artists offering professional courses such as the recent Jewellery course, Self organised groups such as 'aim 4 art ' or the 'Lakeside artists group' offering the more experienced artist the opportunity to work with their peers.
I can see my role, I am the OIL in the system, I need to lubricate the mechanics, I need to make the partnerships.
I can see it very clearly with Café Pierre and the Language programme, but other curriculum are more complicated. I can see the cogs now with sport,
Anyway, lots of food for thought here!
Wednesday, July 08, 2015
A long love affair........
Last Saturday. the 4th July 2015, I went to Newcastle airport to pick up Sylvia Neveu, my French colleague from the city of Bourges in central France.
She was on her way to Whitby for a surprise birthday holiday for her sister Emma.
Again , here I was acting as the guide, as the ambassador of our town, Middlesbrough and of our area.
Sylvia is the senior tutor of English and Spanish at the Institute Municipal d'éducation permanante in the city of Bourges , which is situated in the ancient area of Le Berry in Central France.
This love affair began in 2006, I visited Bourges and asked to meet someone/ anyone! who was teaching languages to adults. I was introduced to Sylvia and the team at IMEP.
I wanted to access authentic resources and native speakers of French for our learners at Middlesbrough Community Learning Service.
The love affair began, we experimented with different methods of transmitting live conversations, at first directly into the classroom, with varying success and a lot of interference, but a lot of fun!!
Then we had chance to share our experience with MOODLE, a Virtual Learning Environment or simply a website. We realised that at this time we , MCL were the experts in Middlesbrough. we shared our platform with IMEP and learners in France used our resources, whilst Sylvia and I developed shared resources.
We applied for a GRUNDTVIG programme and found partners in Greece and Spain to work with.
Our learners used the resources and we exchanged ideas and expertice, our International visitors were shown around the town, with a guided tour of our Town Hall.
A private visit to Bourges took place and the partnership became stronger.
Sylvia and the team worked with us in Middlesbrough, experienced the the Boro at the Riverside, curry, local beer and our hospitality.
Sylvia taught some of us how to wear a French scarf.
A group of learners from Bourges came to the area, rented a house in Staithes and met our learners in Middlesbrough.
In the meantime, possibilities of video communication got better and better. A second project was designed with new partners in Spain at La Escuela de Idiomas in La Corüna, in Germany at the Volkshochschule at Leinfeld Enterdingen near to Stuttgart and of course IMEP in Bourges in France.
We wanted to explore the use of tools such as SKYPE in order to practice our languages.
We used the amazing theme of 'El Camino de Santiago de Compostella' to design the project.
Learners in Middlesbrough, La Corüna,Bourges and Stuttgart were practising their languages through SKYPE informally, in their own time. They were exchanging cultural information alongside the price of everyday shopping and the price of petrol.
Dozens of students are still in touch with each other, they have visited each other, they have visited Middlesbrough, Great Ayton, to the area.
We won prizes for our work with Languages and technology.
The project has exceeded its objectives as it is totally sustainable, it has brought a new edge to the modern Language class, it is real, you can discuss what it is really like to live in France, in Spain, in Germany and in Middlesbrough, the North East and North Yorkshire.
The partnership is continuing, in spite of changes to the way that languages are offered to adults.it is growing stronger with partners in Russia and Italy on the horizon.
This Friday 10th July 2015, Sylvia and Emma are visiting MCL and one of our partner French classes and some students who are still involved or want to get involved with this amazing project, at the CLC on Acklam grange School site, they ARE GUESTS OF HONOUR!
Sylvia and Emma are our diplomats for Middlesbrough, Emma is bringing her granddaughter to see the Moors soon and Sylvia is talking about bringing a group of students back here.
This story has underpinned a fact that I have always argued, English speakers DO! want to learn another language and WE are pretty good at it!!
Sylvia, Bourges, je vous aime!
Because of this, we are now looking at at least 10 different languages on offer in Middlesbrough.
Contact Peter for more information at MCLS
01642 811400
07929781421
peter.samson@mcls.ac.uk
Check it out; www.cafepierre.co.uk
Merci mille fois
Peter
She was on her way to Whitby for a surprise birthday holiday for her sister Emma.
Again , here I was acting as the guide, as the ambassador of our town, Middlesbrough and of our area.
Sylvia is the senior tutor of English and Spanish at the Institute Municipal d'éducation permanante in the city of Bourges , which is situated in the ancient area of Le Berry in Central France.
This love affair began in 2006, I visited Bourges and asked to meet someone/ anyone! who was teaching languages to adults. I was introduced to Sylvia and the team at IMEP.
I wanted to access authentic resources and native speakers of French for our learners at Middlesbrough Community Learning Service.
The love affair began, we experimented with different methods of transmitting live conversations, at first directly into the classroom, with varying success and a lot of interference, but a lot of fun!!
Then we had chance to share our experience with MOODLE, a Virtual Learning Environment or simply a website. We realised that at this time we , MCL were the experts in Middlesbrough. we shared our platform with IMEP and learners in France used our resources, whilst Sylvia and I developed shared resources.
We applied for a GRUNDTVIG programme and found partners in Greece and Spain to work with.
Our learners used the resources and we exchanged ideas and expertice, our International visitors were shown around the town, with a guided tour of our Town Hall.
A private visit to Bourges took place and the partnership became stronger.
How NOT to wear a French scarf!
Sylvia and the team worked with us in Middlesbrough, experienced the the Boro at the Riverside, curry, local beer and our hospitality.
Sylvia taught some of us how to wear a French scarf.
A group of learners from Bourges came to the area, rented a house in Staithes and met our learners in Middlesbrough.
In the meantime, possibilities of video communication got better and better. A second project was designed with new partners in Spain at La Escuela de Idiomas in La Corüna, in Germany at the Volkshochschule at Leinfeld Enterdingen near to Stuttgart and of course IMEP in Bourges in France.
We wanted to explore the use of tools such as SKYPE in order to practice our languages.
We used the amazing theme of 'El Camino de Santiago de Compostella' to design the project.
Learners in Middlesbrough, La Corüna,Bourges and Stuttgart were practising their languages through SKYPE informally, in their own time. They were exchanging cultural information alongside the price of everyday shopping and the price of petrol.
Dozens of students are still in touch with each other, they have visited each other, they have visited Middlesbrough, Great Ayton, to the area.
We won prizes for our work with Languages and technology.
The project has exceeded its objectives as it is totally sustainable, it has brought a new edge to the modern Language class, it is real, you can discuss what it is really like to live in France, in Spain, in Germany and in Middlesbrough, the North East and North Yorkshire.
The partnership is continuing, in spite of changes to the way that languages are offered to adults.it is growing stronger with partners in Russia and Italy on the horizon.
This Friday 10th July 2015, Sylvia and Emma are visiting MCL and one of our partner French classes and some students who are still involved or want to get involved with this amazing project, at the CLC on Acklam grange School site, they ARE GUESTS OF HONOUR!
Sylvia and Emma are our diplomats for Middlesbrough, Emma is bringing her granddaughter to see the Moors soon and Sylvia is talking about bringing a group of students back here.
This story has underpinned a fact that I have always argued, English speakers DO! want to learn another language and WE are pretty good at it!!
Sylvia, Bourges, je vous aime!
Because of this, we are now looking at at least 10 different languages on offer in Middlesbrough.
Contact Peter for more information at MCLS
01642 811400
07929781421
peter.samson@mcls.ac.uk
Check it out; www.cafepierre.co.uk
Merci mille fois
Peter
Saturday, June 20, 2015
John Nicholson / Celebrity local writer
Today I met a group of local authors at an event in Stockton.
John explained how he stuck 2 fingers up at the Publishing world and went as a self Publisher.
He describes himself as an 'Arsey Teessider', ooh who does that sound like then?!!
Here is a link to John's website, he is very popular in the North East.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
My first Exhibition!
TONIGHT AT CLEVELAND COLLEGE OF ART.
One of my drawings was on display for the Short Courses!!
Pretty good eh!!!
Monday, June 08, 2015
Inspirational workshop
Today I went to a Creative writing workshop for the very first time.
The workshop is part of a wonderful book festival called Crossing the Tees.
The title was; How to write: Getting started, getting unstuck and keeping going.
The workshop was given by Allison Agius. Here is her website.
Thank you Allison you have truly inspired me and I will get on with writing!
The workshop is part of a wonderful book festival called Crossing the Tees.
The title was; How to write: Getting started, getting unstuck and keeping going.
The workshop was given by Allison Agius. Here is her website.
Thank you Allison you have truly inspired me and I will get on with writing!
The Frog song
Swallow the Green Frog!
This phrase , which means basically, do something you have been putting off and, Get on with it!
It seems to be cropping up a lot lately!!
Funnily enough as I was gardening on Sunday, I came across the biggest Green frog I have ever seen!
Didn't fancy swallowing that! SO I left it to eat the slugs!!!
This phrase , which means basically, do something you have been putting off and, Get on with it!
It seems to be cropping up a lot lately!!
Funnily enough as I was gardening on Sunday, I came across the biggest Green frog I have ever seen!
Didn't fancy swallowing that! SO I left it to eat the slugs!!!
Edingburgh Half Marathon 2015
A fantastic couple of days in a wonderful city.
I can't wait to explore more of it.
So many corners and hidden treasures.
And to run through the city with thousands of others is a dream.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Harewood House 10k
Today I entered a 10K Trail Race at the beautiful Harewood House near Leeds.
The race was for the charity AGE UK.
I finished in a reasonable time of 1 hour 14 minutes. Considering the amount of Hills, I am quite pleased with myself!
Monday, February 16, 2015
Spanish in Midldesbrough
Spanish in Middlesbrough is now undertaking a revival through Cafe PEDRO languages.
The programme has a distinctive Latin feel about it.
We have Maria from Uruguay working with Pedro on a Tuesday evening in the beginner's class.
Anya from the Dominican Republic will be joining us for an Introduction to Spanish, starting on a Tuesday evening 5-6:30 from March 3rd.
Sandra from Cuba will also be offering a Holiday Spanish course, from March on a Thursday afternoon.
Watch the website www.cafepierre.co.uk for further details or contact Pedro, peter.samson56@gmail.com
The programme has a distinctive Latin feel about it.
Anya from the Dominican Republic will be joining us for an Introduction to Spanish, starting on a Tuesday evening 5-6:30 from March 3rd.
Watch the website www.cafepierre.co.uk for further details or contact Pedro, peter.samson56@gmail.com
Sunday, February 08, 2015
A busy weekend!!
Phew, what a weekend!
Friday, Christine and I went to the Billingham Forum to see a Johhny Cask Tribute show.
Thank you Victoria, this was my belated Christmas present.
.gif)
Saturday morning started with a very fast Park Run, just 1 minute off my PB. Cheers Mark, you are an inspiration!!
Saturday afternoon, off I went on the train to the Riverside. Boro 3 Charlton Athletic 1!
.gif)
Excellent! Still up there with the leaders!
Sunday came and I prepared lunch for the family, then off we went Rigsby and I on an adventure!
8 miles on my bike in the snow!
Back in time for a Skype lesson with Ivan.
Totally Kaput Sunday night!!
I'll have to go to work for a rest!!!
Friday, Christine and I went to the Billingham Forum to see a Johhny Cask Tribute show.
Thank you Victoria, this was my belated Christmas present.
Saturday morning started with a very fast Park Run, just 1 minute off my PB. Cheers Mark, you are an inspiration!!
Saturday afternoon, off I went on the train to the Riverside. Boro 3 Charlton Athletic 1!
Excellent! Still up there with the leaders!
Sunday came and I prepared lunch for the family, then off we went Rigsby and I on an adventure!
8 miles on my bike in the snow!
Back in time for a Skype lesson with Ivan.
Totally Kaput Sunday night!!
I'll have to go to work for a rest!!!
Languages in Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley, an update.
Middlesbrough is now able to say that there is a Language offer for Adults in the Tees Valley.
My company
Café Pierre Languages -
is now offering; French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin,Japanese and Arabic.
We are also working with various levels of English through a SKYPE project with students in Spain and Russia and students in Middlesbrough.
Details on my website www.cafepierre.co.uk
Various projects are in the pipeline, including Cultural Transfer sessions, starting with Japanese Papercraft. Date to be announced soon.
Café Pierre is also offering it's third Cinema evening at the CLC on Lodore Grove.Tuesday 17th February 6:30 to meet .
The film is the extraordinary ' The Motorcycle Diaries', in Spanish with subtitles , of course.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Geocaching
Last week I tried a new activity, geocaching.
A group colleagues from work and I downloaded the app and went on our way to the first site, hardly 5 minutes away from the office.
A strange activity,it has to be said, not for me, but then again, at least I have tried it.
A group colleagues from work and I downloaded the app and went on our way to the first site, hardly 5 minutes away from the office.
A strange activity,it has to be said, not for me, but then again, at least I have tried it.
New venture at Teesside High
My colleague Roberta who was my Italian teacher, has given my business, Café Pierre Languages an amazing opportunity to develop at teesside High School.
We will be offering a short programme of languages in November.
The programme will include, French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese.
Our tutors are all native speakers and I am delighted to be involved in such an important project. I feel as though this is the chance we needed to establish a Language school in the Tees Valley.
We will be offering a short programme of languages in November.
The programme will include, French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese.
Our tutors are all native speakers and I am delighted to be involved in such an important project. I feel as though this is the chance we needed to establish a Language school in the Tees Valley.
The Ryder Cup.
If you want to understand sport, if you want to understand what it means to compete in a sport, if you want to see the pure emotion related to sport, watch Ian Poulter playing golf for Europe in the Ryder cup.
He wears his heart on his sleeve and you can experience his emotion as he chips in on the 14th. Today Saturday 28th September at the home of golf Gleneagles in Scotland.
I don't care if you think golf is boring, I don't care if you think it is a stupid game hitting a little ball with a stick.
Unless you have played this game, you will never appreciate the skill that these players have.
You have to be in awe of the raw talent and for that matter emotion involved in what I would say is perhaps, maybe not as big as the World Cup, but up there as one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
He wears his heart on his sleeve and you can experience his emotion as he chips in on the 14th. Today Saturday 28th September at the home of golf Gleneagles in Scotland.
I don't care if you think golf is boring, I don't care if you think it is a stupid game hitting a little ball with a stick.
Unless you have played this game, you will never appreciate the skill that these players have.
You have to be in awe of the raw talent and for that matter emotion involved in what I would say is perhaps, maybe not as big as the World Cup, but up there as one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Friday, September 12, 2014
The Jacksons at Hardwick Hall
Tomorrow night Christine and I are going to see the Jacksons at Hardwick Hall .
35 years ago, 4 brothers went to see the Jacksons at Sheffield Fiesta.
Myself and my 3 brothers, Ian, Roy and Gordon.
Michael Jackson was a young lad of 21 only 3 years younger than I am.
He and his brothers were unbelievable! Total class!
35 years ago, 4 brothers went to see the Jacksons at Sheffield Fiesta.
Myself and my 3 brothers, Ian, Roy and Gordon.
Michael Jackson was a young lad of 21 only 3 years younger than I am.
He and his brothers were unbelievable! Total class!
Someone said to me, what's the point of going to see the Jacksons when Michael is dead.
Pretty stupid remark really, Jermaine Jackson is appearing, he wasn't part of the Jacksons in 1979 and as far as I am concerned, the Jacksons are Soul Royalty!
Watch this space for a gig report!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Films to recommend
The cinema is a passion of mine, especially in the sense of language learning.
I love the idea of understanding what the French love to watch, what do the Russians watch at Christmas. What makes the Germans laugh? How do the Spanish rate their cinema?
A recent conversation with my Russian student Anya, reminded me of a Russian film that I have grown to love.
I love the idea of understanding what the French love to watch, what do the Russians watch at Christmas. What makes the Germans laugh? How do the Spanish rate their cinema?
A recent conversation with my Russian student Anya, reminded me of a Russian film that I have grown to love.
Тимур и его команда
A story about good and evil portrayed by the Pioneers of Russia.
I am now informed that the most popular film of all time for Russians during the Christmas and festive period is;
Ирония судьбы или с легким паром
THE IRONY OF FATE OR ENJOY YOUR BATH.
I gather that the film is about the Russian Banya.
My favourite Russian TV show is easy!
я люблю Маша и Медведь !!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
