Happy Halloween

When I first arrived in the Czech Republic in 2001 there was no Halloween here. Yup, no pumpkins, no trick or treating and no costumes… I remember my basic attempt of creating a Halloween party for my students – mean less to say only my 7 year old son Andrew came in Harry Potter costume (which I spend days and days sowing and making.) There was no pumpkin pie or there was no pumpkin latte, just crude replies “you’re in the Czech Republic, we don’t celebrate it here.”

15 years later, and I am having a hard time distinguishing between the Halloween fevers here or in the USA. Every child gets a paper as early as first class with pictures of ghosts, witches and pumpkins to color, cut, glue and well… memorize.

Here in Prague there is a very small “American neighborhood” which ironically doesn’t have that many Americans living there but is located right next to the American School. Additionally, years back it was designed and built according to the American suburbian architecture. Given the fact that so many international families live there and have such strong connections to the local school, they organize a yearly trick or treating event.  I went there for the first time last year and was completely amazed. It was almost the best trick or treating even I have ever been to  - even better than the ones in the good old USA.  Not only did my second and now the youngest son, got a basket full of candy but he managed for the first time to experience a true Halloween.

This year I decided to go again and even invite some students. Part of me really didn’t believe that any will show up, but they did and we all had a marvelous time.

With this I would like to thank all the lovely families in NEBUSICE, Prague for organizing such yearly event and to all the students who found some time to celebrate this unusual event. 

Kamila and Michal - I didn't even recognize them at the bus stop

They all arrived on time... and yes that is Tomas

since all my students think I am a witch at times (test time) I decided to really get in the role

this is where I buried the students who hadn't done their homework

who is that? Jan (a bit different than in class)

ooopssss, I forgot to hide all the body pieces

Trick or Treat

Big Apple

Personally, I have no idea why there is such fascination with New York City. It’s big, it’d crowded and it’s expensive – yet somehow it is a city that is known to everyone all over the world and it is one of a few that has its own recognizable nickname “the Big Apple”.

I did have a chance to go there for a week last year and even my mother joined me from sunny California for a nice mother-daughter weekend. We did the touristy stuff and then we got stuck – I mean literally stuck at the airport as it just happened that New York was hit by the biggest blizzard of the century. So yes, there was snow and there were a lot of cancelled flights at the airport.

Yet, despite my hours of boredom at the JFK airport I did manage to think that there is something to the one and only BIG APPLE- yes that is what New York is nicknamed for. Why do we call New York City the Big Apple? While I’ve seen several apple trees in New York City, I don’t particularly recall them as being a notable quantity – there are certainly more pigeons than apples in New York City, but we don’t call New York City the “Big Pigeon.”

Surprisingly, the name is connected to horse races. Who would have thought! At the beginning of the 20^th century, a writer for the New York Morning Telegraph, John Fitzgerald, referred to New York City’s races “around the Big Apple.” It is rumored that he got the term from jockeys and trainers in New Orleans who aspired to race on New York City tracks, referring to them as the Big Apple. Later on, the City’s jazz musicians began to refer to the city as the Big Apple and then in 1971 a campaign to increase tourism to New York adopted the term “Big Apple” as an officially recognizable reference to the biggest city in the USA.

History Comes to Life ( + the Fifty Shades Of Grey guy)

We are often asked to organize, lead and teach…in a way that is the basic definition of a teacher. 

This month, however, I was able to take the student role when I was invited to join my colleague and her class to Berlin. Given that I have visited every continent, I was intrigued by the only major European city which I have never  seen. My curiosity was even more filled with enthusiasm as for years I was more than a bit obsessed with the history of WWII. So when prof. Veronika asked, I eagerly said “ yes”. Of course, I didn't know at the time that I would have to wake up at 4am to catch something which was suppose to be a bus :-)

Well, we got there. We walked, we listened and we learned – or maybe I should replace the pronoun “we” with “I” as at one point the students thought more about the sausages than the architecture… But I was in awe. I swallowed the info about the Reichstag Building and the Brandenburg Gate, as well as Nefertiti at the museum island and Humboldt university...and about the Berlin Airlift. The Topography of Terror and the Holocaust museum left chills down my spine.

And then I chewed some currywursts… Extra spicy.

And although I was more than satisfied with my field trip (and ashamed for the lack of my German language skill,) it wasn't till the day after my return that the true meaning of Germany hit me like a falling star. It was the next day, while I was walking through the streets of Prague that I saw this ….

Not the usual banners....
 And oh …this

Just a bit odd to see them walking towards me

My bewilderment was immeasurable. I was stunned. Nothing like a 6 ft bling Nazi standing next to me. History lesson comes to life. The power of one symbol, the power of one man, the power of one ideology still bring goose bumps to all.

Ps. I did google the film being made at the moment in Prague. It the “Anthropoid” about the Heydrich assassination starting the one and only Jamie Dornan (the Fifty Shades of Grey guy) .

Filming Anthropoid

Why you should take the FCE Exam?

 Listen to why you should take the FCE exam

Students already have a lot on their plate… so why do we add extra work such as the FCE exam? Well there are 6 good reasons? It’s not always easy – but the rewards definitely make it worthwhile. :)

Doing the FCE exam will give you a qualification that could change your job opportunities, give you the chance to travel, and experience a whole lot more! So if you’re undecided, here are six reasons why it’s a really great step to take.

1. You can take the exam whenever you want

Unlike some qualifications, the FCE is really flexible. There are exams taking place virtually every month, which means that you get to decide when to complete it.

That lets you learn at your own pace – when you’re ready to take the exam, you can do it, giving yourself the best chance to do really well on it – first time.

2. The FCE will improve all your language skills

The FCE isn’t just any old language test. Because it covers all aspects of learning English, passing the FCE shows that you have proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking English to a very high standard.

The added benefit of this? Because the course addresses all the different parts of learning English, preparing for the FCE will actually help you improve your language skills while you’re doing it.

3. It’s internationally recognised

The FCE is very highly regarded around the world. Employers in different countries can all immediately see that your English language skills are up to the high, professional standard that would be needed to work in an English-speaking environment.

This can give your CV a real boost – and increase your job opportunities, especially if you are keen to work in a different country.

4. It’s one of the accepted qualifications for Visa applications

If you’re planning to study in the UK and need to apply for a student visa, you’ll need to have some certification of your English language skills. The FCE is one of the accepted qualifications recognised by the UK Border Agency.

So if your goal is to study at a UK institution, this will bring you one step closer to achieving it.

5. It will give you something to work towards

Learning a language by yourself can be rewarding, but can also be quite hard. The FCE is a very well-structured exam, and it gives you a concrete qualification at the end of the process, giving you something to motivate and guide you.

When you have something you want to work towards, this can make learning much easier, and helps you to focus your attention on it properly.

6. It’s a great foundation for further learning

Do you want to take your English studies further? The FCE provides you with a great starting point to develop your skills, especially if you’re planning on adding more qualifications.

One of the most prestigious is the Cambridge Advanced English Exam. This is a much more challenging exam, and completing the FCE will give you the essential preparation to do well in it.

Sneak Peak Behind the Doors

As a child I always looked up to the teacher and saw their little pencil cases with perfectly sharpened pencils, charted notebooks with straight lined papers and properly hand written notes and grades in it- the perfect example of an organized person.

Then I became a teacher. And every week I tell myself “I will get organized.”

Usually, on Monday my voice is full of enthusiasm, zeal of motivation and spirited passion… with eventual degeneration to anguished heartache and gloom.  

So here it is: This is my desk…..

While am sitting here staring at my desk and slowly move my head from left to right, I do notice that there is a lot I may aspire to. After all there are those few who seem to have it all under control.  I mean Prof. Tom without a doubt knows what is important and keeps is simple – coffee and donuts are a must.

Picture curtesy of my colleague Prof. Tom

My eyes spark, my hear skips a bear – I focus… yes, this is what I want:  Prof. Veronika surely has reasons for her daily cheerfulness. Perfect combination of Janus and Hydieia – maybe will rename her the Janudia  - goddess of perfection and organization.Yup, that is her desk… and my mood drops to pure meloncholy.

Picture curtesy of my colleague Prof. Veronika V.

My hand twitches. The black marks on the papers suddenly crawl like spiders… time to clean, time to hide….. and then I glance behind me… well, on I do believe that I am not so bad after all… it could be worse….

Picture curtesy of my colleague Prof. Irenka

Picture curtesy of my colleague Prof. Verinka

In the end…. I still have more than 150 days of school in front of me…plenty of time to clean the desk. 

Baby Got Class

Just this morning I visited my neighbour whose young son (let’d call him S)  will be attending 1t grade with my son. While expecting to see an nice calm morning with a shared cup of coffee and donought , instead I heard “Go get your school stuff ready for school!” scream across her flat.

My heart skipped, my coffee dripped and my dougnut never even made into my mouth. My teacher side of me panicked -“should I be at work?” My motherly side of me panicked -“should I make J get his stuff ready for school?”…

No, way….there is still ……13 days…

However, after a month and a half of a summer break I can really really really get the move on and start singing :

Back2School

Being American, the term “back to school” I immediately associate with yellow pencils and back to school sales in every shop, not to mention the piles and piles of school supplies at the front of each store. From my early childhood days, I vividly remember the excitement of buying new clothes or crayons and the counting of days …

Now, as a mother of two, the term back to school is no longer connected with pure joy and anticipation. Rather, this morning I held a list of things to buy, which was given to me by my son’s future 1^st grade teacher. Yes, it was his first time shopping and catching the “back to school” fever. For me, it was an excruciating hour and a half of looking at one or two aisles filled with a endless selection of pencils, notebooks, book covers, pencil cases, and oh… let’s not forget the most important – the backpack.  (ok, so in all honestly I ordered that one thing way in advance – just to make sure we got the Star Wars one. J )

Then I got to thinking… as a little kid there is a zestful fever and eagerness for the approaching 1^st day of school.  As a parent, without a doubt it’s one of the times when the fake smile covers up the anxious thoughts of things to do and prepare. So today, I did some research – what do teacher need for the “back to school”? After all, I am a teacher.

Surprisingly, the internet displayed a massive amount of articles ranging from “Survival Guides for Teachers”, “10 Things Every Teacher Needs for the First Day of Class”, “Check List- Get Ready for School” and the ”50 Things Every Teacher” needs. While browsing all those references telling me how many pencils I must have, and how to organize my class room I noticed that there is that one thing missing – one major fact that they forget to mention that we teachers must have.

Zeal for teaching.

We need that delight and cheer, the passion and yearning with a touch of frenzy and gaiety- all that is needed to pass on to those little ones who in a week’s time will be looking up at me. So, I think I am going to get a cup of coffee a big chocolate bar and say...