Spanish learning tools

This week I started tutoring and it really made me realise how easy it is to let knowledge go.  I practise Spanish every day both at work and at home but my level is sorely lacking and I'm going to be working on that a lot over the next weeks.

I think I shared a post similar to this earlier in the year but my experience shows it doesn't hurt to have another look.

This is a site I use for all my languages every day - it's best for beginners though.  I need to stretch myself more in Spanish and German.

For reading, it's always great to look at current news articles as the context is usually already there and it normally involves new vocabulary in some way.

This school site has activities for all levels.  I can use some with classes and do the higher ones myself.

Here are some great videos, also at different levels that are great for honing those listening skills.  I already passed this tip on to my tutee.

The good old beeb also has a wide range of activities plus access to Spanish radio channels.

And of course, if you have the money, the good old fashioned book or film can be found here.  Here are some of my favourites:

Books:
Como agua para chocolate
El mar adentro
Diarios de motocicleta
La sombra del viento

Films:
Volver
El mar adentro
El laberinto del fauno
Diarios de motocicleta

Competition time

Today I took six of my Spanish group to the Bremen languages competition.

They were really nervous but they did me proud. There were better and worse groups but despite some technical difficulties, mine represented their groups and the school well.

We were really impressed with the entertainment from the school and with the competition.

All groups received prizes and certificates, which was nice. There were lots of exciting prizes so we've agreed to go back with an English entry next year!

I think both the pupils and I am more prepared for the next time and it's so important to do these 'extra' things for languages.

Wintermarkt

Next week is my school's annual Winter Market. (It's really a Christmas market but we are a multi-faith school and Bremen strictly divides school and religion.)

Each class has its own stand and this year we've added a Spanish and French subject stand.

Each stand has to come up with its own product. Years ten and eight only are allowed to sell food and drink as they are raising money for class trips abroad.

In our first two years with this class, we made ornamental angels out of firewood and plaster. Last year, they opted to make henna tattoos and this year we will be doing the same with the addition of  Albanian cookies.

I'm planning to take Isabella along and, although it will be a long day, I'm quite looking forward to it.

Encuentro Hispanico

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Today I was on a long training course for Spanish teachers. It's the first one I've been on for a while and I came back feeling totally energised and ready to go again.

First there was a talk on Spanish politics from a renowned professor. I was a bit worried but managed to follow and understand for the full hour.

Then came the first workshop on vocabulary training. It was just the right balance of talking and doing and of theory and practice.

Lunch was provided and various publishers were advertising their Spanish books and we were offered a 50% discount so I got a Spanish grammar book for my classes.

In order to get good value for money and get more involved in Spanish again, I joined the DSV (a committee for Spanish teachers in Germany). Their meeting took place after lunch and it was interesting to hear about the situation for Spanish in Bremen.

Then came the second workshop on mediation. This was really practical and interesting again and as with the morning workshop can be applied to Spanish or English.

Finally was an information session about exchanges with Spain and Mexico which is something our school is also interested in.

All in all, a great day!

Graduation

One thing I love about my job is the cycle. This time every year is busy with reports, projects and graduation. I missed it last year and this year was especially moving as the class I have been most involved with graduated.

They were an extra large year group - seven classes instead of four - so the ceremony took place at the musical theatre which gave it an extra special twist.

There was a speech from the headteacher and each class gave a speech, some with videos, and thanked their teachers. It was really moving - for pupils and staff alike.

It's a huge highlight of my work to see how these young adults have grown up and are ready to go out into the world. I can't believe my own class is already half way there.

It was a lovely way to end the week.

Strike!

Yesterday I was on strike.  Here in Germany there are two types of teacher. Civil servants who have more rights, earn more money but are also tied to the state in many ways. Then there are the 'regular' employees who do the same work for less pay.

As a foreigner, I currently fall into the latter category. This is normally reserved for the "old, fat and sick" as one union leader summed it up yesterday.

For a while now, the unions have been in talks with the government to increase our pay in line with the civil servants or at least with inflation. After talks fell through again in February, we were called to strike.

It was an interesting and informative day with the union and there's a follow up strike next week which we are preparing for now.

As my class notice my absence, I explained where I had been and why and they were very grown up and supportive. Explaining polar day and night to them in German today was much more difficult!!

Back to Work

As I've mentioned, it was back to work for me on Monday. Half of me was dreading it and the other half was really excited to go back.

As I'm sure all mums feel, it's a huge step to go back full time and I'm very lucky that Nico is at home now. I don't think I could have left her at a childminder's or nursery yet. I found the mornings okay and actually felt more emotional coming home for cuddles and play time. Luckily we worked my timetable out so that I have no free lessons and that means I'm distracted all day.

The teacher part of me has really enjoyed being back in the classroom. It's been great to see my old pupils and meet some new classes and use my brain for more intellectual purposes. I've also loved seeing colleagues again and having conversations outside of the realm of babies.

I'm starting to feel more balanced again. I feel like I can be a much better mother when I've got other roles again. I'm still tired at night but I have a very different energy during the day.

30 things - File my resources responsibly

It took me the best part of two weeks but I finally filed all of my resources. Everything from my PGCE year onwards is now organised for easy access when I get back to work. I came up with a system that should be more logical for everyday use and save me some time with preparation. It almost makes me excited to get back to work...almost!

Whiteboard course

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 Last week, I achieved the first of my March goals by completing the Promethean Whiteboard course that our deputy head has been pushing us to do since August.

I've worked with Whiteboards before in England, but with different software so it was good to get to grips with this properly.  The courses were interesting and to be honest, not very difficult, but very time consuming.  

In order to not be glued to the computer, I plan to build up my resources slowly but it the meantime, my new certificates are on the wall!

Congratulations!

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A big well done to my wonderful boyfriend as today he becomes a Beamte - that is like a civil servant.  After years of studying and working hard it's all paid off and he has a lot more job security now - well done Nico!

Office Love!

As you may have seen in my goals diary, one of the things I wanted to achieve this year was a filing system in the office for my work.  The office is one of the rooms I use the least in the flat and my section has definitely been neglected since we moved in.  Well, now I've been working on this for a few weeks and finally finished it off this week.  I'm so pleased with how it looks. 

Also, it must have inspired Nico a little as he picked the same day I finished my area, to give his area a whole make over and now the whole room looks more pulled together.  Very happy.

Spot the Cat!

On Monday I finally got round to filing the papers that I have accumulated over the last two years, you can see how that looked above.  You can also see where Pete curled up for a nap and has been sleeping every day since!  Strange creature!

The Saturday Update

It's a been a great week on many fronts this week.  First of all we had a visit from my Mum and Doug.  They stayed Sunday to Thursday and we showed them the sights of Huchting and around (they have been to Bremen before).  We had glorious weather at the start of the week too which made it even nicer.

They brought a lot of my things from England - mainly DVDs and clothes.  The DVDs went straight into our lovely DVD shelves that we bought in January but the clothes will take a bit more time.  They're my inspiration for getting back to goal since there are too many nice ones I can no longer fit into.  It seems to be working already as despite all the eating out and drinking this week, I lost two pounds!  

On Monday we had a quiet day, wandering round the park in Huchting, unpacking and visiting the Mongolian buffet for dinner.  Afterwards, we cracked out the board games, introduced Nico to scrabble, Mum and Doug to Dixit and then had a round of Carcasonne.  Lovely evening.

On Tuesday we headed first to the Baumarkt (German equivalent of B&Q) to buy supplies for finally putting a cat net on the balcony so we can sit out more - another project in the pipeline...  Afterwards, we met up with Loreto and headed out to Fischerhude.  It was my first trip there and we all totally loved it but more on that later.

It was back to work on Wednesday for me and Nico and the nice weather started to disappear.  At least it was a shorter working week that was mainly about returning grades and preparing year eight for London next week.  After work we had a nice, late lunch in Bremen and then headed home for the evening.

Thursday was the last day so we headed into Bremen to meet Loreto and Ed at a Thai restaurant for an early dinner followed by coffees at Cafe Bar Celona and then an early night as they set of back at 2am.

On Friday I had my usual short day at work before getting all my jobs done around the flat.  Today I've got more to do, including those clothes and heading to the Roland Center so we are going to be relaxing tomorrow.

In amongst all this, I completed my last knitting project of a mobile phone holder, took some lessons from Mum who kindly brought me tons of needles, wool and books, and started a new project which is going well so far (touch wood).

Next week should be pretty smooth with four of my seven classes away on trips, I will probably have lots of cover but at least there'll be less planning and marking!  I also have my English conversation group, an appointment at the council about my contract and a day and a half off for marking which is already in the bag!  Have a good one people.