What is happiness, and how can we all get some? Biochemist turned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard says we can train our minds in habits of well-being, to generate a true sense of serenity and fulfillment.
Sometimes called the “happiest man in the world,” Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author and photographer.
“Babies and young children are like the R&D division of the human species,” says psychologist Alison Gopnik. Her research explores the sophisticated intelligence-gathering and decision-making that babies are really doing when they play.
Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play — with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn’t).
What a wonderful resource TED is! Here are some of the latest TED talks I have been watching.
What should be the relationship between teacher and students?
Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, “They don’t pay me to like the kids.” Her response: “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.’” A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.
Reading this blog you will have seen a few entries from Dzung Nguyen, the Vietnamese student who won the Enterprise Ireland scholarship to come to study English at the UCC Language Centre. Here she talks a little more about her experience in Cork.
Hi Dzung, Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me. I really appreciate it.
Brendan: First of all, can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? What are you studying?
Dzung: Hi everyone, I am Dzung Nguyen from Vietnam, a beautiful S-shaped country. I am currently a student in faculty of Finance and Banking at Foreign Trade University of Hanoi, Vietnam.
Brendan: Tell me a little about how you won your scholarship to come to study English at UCC.
Dzung: Enterprise Ireland, Embassy of Ireland and Vietnam Education Online Magazine co-operated to organize a contest call for writing from Vietnamese students. I participated by creating a love story between two Vietnamese guys. After all, my story tells the readers about the Irish education, Irish people, Irish culture, and the love for Ireland from the international students like two characters in my writing. Luckily, I was chosen to be awarded the special prize (two week English course at UCC Language Center, Cork). It came to me as a enormous surprise that I have never imagined.
Brendan: Before coming to Ireland, what did you know about our country?
Dzung: Frankly, not too much. All I know is that shamrock – the symbol of Ireland, that Ireland is the country of the famous band, Westlife, that Ireland is a small country near United Kingdom…
Brendan: When you arrived what was the biggest surprise for you?
Dzung:The weather. Even though I was warned about the cold and rainy weather here,I got a bit shocked with the wind, the snow, the rain here. However, I got quickly familiar with it. It was so cool. Because the time in Cork was the first time I saw real snow.
Brendan: Did you stay with an Irish family or in student accommodation?
Dzung: I stayed with an Irish family in Bishopstown, quite near UCC.
Brendan: Is Cork a safe place for Vietnamese students?
Dzung: Definitely, yes!
Brendan: Are Cork people friendly?
Dzung: Of course. They are always willing to talk to me, help me.
Brendan: What were your classes and teachers like?
Dzung: I was put in an IELTs preparation class. It was a bit different from what I got in my country. Nevertheless, it was very nice. My teachers are so awe-inspiring. They made us focus on the lectures, on the activities. They gave us chances to express ourselves in the way we should, not in the way they wanted us to follow. And, about my classmates, they are amical and lovely.
Brendan:What was the daily routine for you?
Dzung: I got up quite early, then had breakfast with my host. I walked to the bus stop, took the bus number 205 to go to school. From 9am to 13pm, I was in class. After that I walked into the city center, mooched off a bit and tried to find something new. I went home not too late to have dinner with my host. We watched TV together, after that, I was in my bedroom and did my homework.
Brendan: Where did your classmates come from?
Dzung: They come from different countries, such as China, Japan, Arab, Libia, Saudia,…
Brendan: Did you make friends with your classmates?
Dzung: Of course, we have kept in contact with each other.
Brendan:Do you feel more confident in using English now?
Dzung: Sometimes I get up and say “Good morning”(in English) to my family like what I did in Cork when I was there. I owe Cork a big big thank because two weeks in Cork give me confidence to think and express myself in English.
Brendan: You were here for Saint Patrick’s day (Ireland’s national day). Can you tell us a little about that?
Dzung: It was my luck to participate St Patrick’s day in Dublin. People from different parts around the world came there to see the parade, to celebrate the St Patrick’s day. The streets were crowded and full of laugh, smiles,… It was so amazing.
Brendan: What was the best place in Ireland for you?
Dzung: I suppose that it would be Cork. It is enough modern, enough active, enough quiet, enough peaceful. Such an ideal place to live and learn.
Brendan: If one of your Vietnamese friends was coming to UCC Language Centre, what advice would you give them?
Dzung: No need to give any more advice. Because coming to UCC Language Centre is a great decision they have. Just enjoy yourself and immerse yourself in a good English speaking environment like UCC Language Centre.
Brendan: What did you miss about Vietnam when you were in Cork?
Dzung: Vietnamese. I had hardly any chance to speak Vietnamese there in Cork.
Brendan: What do you miss about Cork, now that you are back in Vietnam?
Dzung: Food, especially Irish breakfast; snow; travelling in the left hand side; the two-floor bus,…
Brendan:I hope you will come back to Cork. Will you?
Dzung: Surely I will. Hope to see you soon.
Christoph
Christoph Lens from Germany came to study English in our Summer School in 2012. He continued his studies with us on our Bridging Course and Intensive English classes until November. He was a pleasure to teach. Thanks Christoph.
Hi Christoph, Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me. I really appreciate it.
Brendan: First of all, can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? What are you studying?
Christoph: Sure! My name is Christoph, I’m from Southwest Germany. My region is located next to France, which is why we can enjoy their fresh pastries. I’m studying English and Religious Education in order to become a secondary school teacher.
Brendan: Why did you choose to come to take an English language course at UCC Language Centre? How did you hear about our Language Centre?
Christoph: Well, first of all, the reason for going abroad was that I was obliged to. Language students of my university have to stay for a certain time in a country in which their studied language is spoken as an official language. As our stay abroad is supposed to be communicative and productive, I thought I could make the most of my time when attending a language course. I looked for a language course at a university, because I wanted professional teachers and a strong connection to a student community. Before choosing UCC, I had checked different websites and had leafed through many flyers. UCC Language Centre seemed to be the perfect place, because it combines the quality of teaching with a location worth exploring as well as a welcoming community. I think all the festivals in Cork and the university’s reputation tipped the scales.
Brendan: What about the cost of the courses? As a Saarland University student did you get a discount?
Christoph: The price was reasonable. Needless to say, there are always ‘cheaper’ possibilities…but on the other hand, you’ll get what you paid for. I got helpful teachers and a caring staff, could I ask for more? I didn’t get a discount for being a student from Saarland University, but it would have been grand.
Brendan: Before coming to Ireland, what did you know about our country?
Christoph: Before coming to Ireland, I knew about leprechauns, the black stuff and Penneys. No. I learned some facts about Ireland during my course of studies. Especially, since I attended a course on Irish culture and history. However, the moment I literally stepped on Irish soil, I realized how little I actually knew.
Brendan: When you arrived what was the biggest surprise for you?
Christoph: The weather. No really, the weather. Everyone told me to prepare for rain the whole time. However, I mostly had brilliant weather. There were some cold days and you should always be prepared for a quick downpour, but it all balances out. It was great, after making a raincoat my fulltime companion.
Brendan: Did you stay with an Irish family or in student accommodation?
Christoph: I stayed in student accommodation.
Brendan: Is Cork a safe place for students?
Christoph: In my opinion, Cork is a safe place for students. I’ve never encountered any real dangers.
Brendan: Are Cork people friendly?
Christoph: As far as I can tell, Cork people are lovely. It’s sometimes hard to understand them, because they have a certain intonation. Apart from that, I had only good times with them. I found them very welcoming and open-minded.
Brendan: What about the nighlife and the world-famous Irish pubs? Did you have a good social life?
Christoph: Oh yes, absolutely. Cork features a bunch of good locations, regardless what you are interested in. No matter whether you like live music, dancing, bowling or good food, you can find everything in Cork. Mixing or making acquaintances isn’t complicated, since Irish people seem to be interested in ‘strangers’.
Brendan: What were your classes and teachers like?
Christoph: In sum, my classes were interesting. They helped me to iron out some fossilized errors and gave me the opportunity to improve my communication skills during class time. My teachers encouraged me to ‘go out into the world and learn’. You could say that their intention was to equip us with a good set of skills and then send us out to practice. ‘Learning is a life-long process’ is something I learned at my home university and my Irish teachers showed us that our classroom is not that room in which we sat five times a week, but rather the whole town or wherever we went (as long as we spoke English). What is more, all teachers were interested in their students and were happy to help them. Everyone took the time for an ‘end of class’ chat. In my opinion, they did a great job.
Brendan: What was the daily routine for you?
Christoph: My daily routine consisted of getting up, running to university, learning with my classmates, going to the gym, reviewing my lessons and doing homework, writing a research paper and then meet with people (to learn 
).
Brendan: Where did your classmates come from?
Christoph: My classmates came from all around the world. Since I stayed for thirteen weeks, there was quite some fluctuation in my classes. Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Korea, China and Japan just to name a few of their home countries.
Brendan: Did you make friends with your classmates?
Christoph: Yes, I did. We often organized group dinners or went to attractions in Ireland together. Also, we had some beverages in pubs together.
Brendan: Did the course help your in your university studies?
Christoph: In short, yes it has helped me. I think you can learn something every day and you have to constantly develop (and improve). There is a proverb, which says (more or less): “When you stop improving, you stopped being good.” The course provided me with the scaffolding for that.
Brendan: While you were in Ireland, did you get to visit different parts of Ireland?
Christoph: Oh yes, I travelled around Ireland. When in Ireland you have to travel around! The language centre offered weekly tours to places of interest during summer school and I was lucky enough to go with them.
Brendan: What was the best place for you?
Christoph: That is not easy to tell. Maybe I have to say UCC was the best place, because my Ireland adventure started from there.
Brendan: If one of your friends was coming to UCC Language Centre, what advice would you give them?
Christoph: Speak English, mix with locals, join university clubs or societies, use your free gym access, and use every opportunity to travel around the country. Ah and the most important: Bring your raincoat!
Brendan: What did you miss about Germany when you were in Cork?
Christoph: I only missed what I left in Germany: My girlfriend and my cats.
Brendan: What do you miss about Cork, now that you are back in Germany?
Christoph: First and foremost, the people I met. Thinking back to my stay always leaves me smiling. Second, the city itself. Cork has a certain atmosphere with its little streets, its events and dozens of cafés and bakeries. Last but not least, Ireland’s diversity. You only have to drive 30 minutes by car and you can experience a completely different side of Ireland.
Brendan: I hope you will come back to Cork. Will you?
Christoph: Yes, I’m going to come back. I don’t know when, but I really want to come to Cork again.
Here we continue the series of interviews with CELTA trainee teachers who have just completed the recent January to March 10-week intensive course. This time Michael Beirne tells us of her experience.
Michael Beirne
Honestly I feel great. Having taken a day or two to catch up on sleep and unwind, I’m feeling very pleased with how the course went and I definitely think I made the right choice in doing the CELTA.
I took the CELTA course because I had heard from numerous sources that it was the most recognized and internationally renowned TEFL course at certificate level, and I figured that it made sense to invest my time, energy and money into a top quality qualification. I’m quite a meticulous person and I did not know at first whether or not teaching was something that could really be taught/ learned with any great deal of precision or technical skill. When I researched the CELTA course I was pleased to find that it was a rigorous and demanding course that approached pedagogy seriously and was intended as a starting point for people who were considering a professional career in education.
The application process was quite straightforward. I filled out a simple form that included a brief essay outlining my motivations and reasons for doing the course. I was then sent an e-mail inviting me for an interview and test. The test assessed knowledge of English grammar and usage, and also required me to write similar essay style questions about my motivations for choosing the course. In the interview was asked about some of my test answers and about what other commitments I would have in my life whilst doing the course. I was informed that the course was very intense and required trainees to devote large amounts of their time to lesson planning and assignments (this was an accurate warning).
The first few days are slightly overwhelming. We were quickly introduced to the students that we would be teaching. We conducted placement tests with these students to determine which of the two teaching groups they would be put into. There is a lot of information and terminology given to you in the first few days, but the main concern is apprehension about teaching. Once you have planned and taught your first lesson or two you begin to feel more comfortable with the course and can start to get a handle on how to organize your time.
Your first lesson is twenty minutes, then you teach seven lessons each of forty minutes, and finally you teach a one hour lesson.
The CELTA trainees are divided into two groups- one is assigned the Upper Intermediate students, the other is assigned the Lower Intermediate students. I taught the Lower Intermediate students for my first five lessons, and the Upper Intermediates for the last four lessons.
Yes the students are adult learners from the local ESL community that are given free classes by UCC. Students that attend these lessons are issued an official certificate that states that they have attended English classes.
First draft takes between three and five hours. Then you usually require some kind of feedback, even if it’s just asking a question or two. Then you might have another few hours of editing and rethinking, and then rehearsing the different stages might take another couple of hours (on a good day).
At the beginning you are given supervised lesson planning sessions with detailed one-on-one feedback. Later on detailed and personally tailored feedback is provided by e-mail. In the later stages of the course you are expected to plan lessons mostly by yourself, but the tutors are still ready and available to answer any specific questions and offer guidance.
Yes, you always know exactly what you need to improve. After teaching practice there is a thirty minute session in which you discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your lesson with your tutor and fellow trainees.
The afternoon input sessions provide you with essential theoretical knowledge relating to teaching methodology and technique, with each session focusing on a different area of teaching. Additionally, these sessions are structured and conducted in such a way as to emulate the style of teaching that you are expected to use in your own teaching practice. In this way, these input sessions allow you to observe and learn from the teaching style of your tutors.
The hardest part is sitting down in front of a blank lesson plan and beginning. The choices you make in the planning stage determine how well the lesson will go for you and your students, so it can definitely be slightly daunting to begin structuring and allocating time slots for your lesson stages. It’s great to rehearse with others, but inevitably there will be times when you are just sitting/ standing around talking to yourself. Finessing your teacher language and staging always pays off in the lesson, but at the planning stage it can feel daunting and frustrating, especially trying to predict how long each stage will take.
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses” -Ali
Granted, it’s not quite as dangerous as boxing, but assessed teaching can definitely make you sweat.
The written assignments are not too bad once you allow yourself time to get them done. The latter two assignments (skills and language related tasks) contain many components and require a careful reading. It can be slightly difficult to finish assignments while also planning lessons. It’s good to read some relevant chapters in advance of having to write the essays, so when you are issued the Written Assignment briefs at the start of the course make sure to take a detailed look at them. That way you can have most of the research ready at your disposal when it comes to writing.
Assessed teaching is a little nerve-wracking, but what I found easy was building rapport with the students. These are adults who are very keen to learn English, and interacting with them is for the most part very enjoyable.
I was surprised by how collaborative the course is. I usually prefer to work alone, but this course seem to bring out the collaborative and cooperative side of people, and I found myself consistently working and consulting with my fellow trainees and really enjoying their company
Familiarize yourself with phonetic script. You will be given a pre-course task that covers a lot of grammar points. It’s a large document so give yourself several days to complete it. It’s a good way to re-familiarize yourself with English grammar. Also take a look at http://www.englishpage.com/ for grammar. Jeremy Harmer’s book The Practice of English Language Teaching is worth reading beforehand as well. It also comes with a DVD that features interviews with teachers and footage of lessons that I found useful.
The people who are assessing you both enjoy teaching and take it very seriously; if you have the same attitude, you’ll be successful and benefit from the course.
I am planning to move to Malta and work as a teacher. The island has over forty language institutes, many of which are internationally recognized as being of a high quality. Looking forward to using my teaching skills and getting some sun. In two years I would like to do the DELTA.
Thanks for this. Keep in contact and good luck! You can email our office info@langcent.ucc.ie or for more information click here.
And finally – our winner. We received hundreds of photographs from all over the world and we are so grateful for all who took the time to enter our competition.
Sadly, there can only be one winner. We spent hours looking at all the images and much discussion took place as to which photographs should be chosen.
However, the winning photograph was the choice of all judges. This photograph has a wonderful artistic feel to it. The photographer creates a mood and atmosphere with his lighting and composition. The image is composed in such a way that your eye is taken from the focus point of the photograph – the bicycle – and beyond to the bridge and then onto the main street. This photograph was taken in the late evening on Cork’s Bridge Street. In the background you can see Patrick’s Bridge and beyond that Cork’s main thoroughfare – Saint Patrick’s Street.
Congratulations to Krystian Mastej for taking this beautiful image of our city.
The winning photograph is from Krystian Mastej and his view of Cork from Patrick’s Bridge
In second place, we have chosen a photograph which is the essence of great photography. As the renowned photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson said – “To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.” The photograph, Martina Querini took here demonstrates this so well. While it is true that we can get some rain and wind in the summer months, it is also true that it is part of the real Irish experience. The girl here in the photograph is battling with the elements, but as you can see from her face, she is able to see the funny side of it. It sums up the Irish summer experience – it may rain, it may be windy, your umbrella may break, but you will have a fantastic, fun time in Cork. Nothing beats it. Thanks to Martina for capturing this moment so well.
Martina Querini capturing the moment
And now for our winners. Coming to learn English in Ireland is much more than just learning the language. Our Summer School offers students the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn about each other’s cultures. As part of our program, students get to visit local beauty spots, have nights out experiencing Irish culture, and the best thing is that they make great friends with their classmates. We chose this photograph from Cindy Chomat as our third place photograph because it represents all that is great about Ireland and our Summer School. These three girls came to Ireland, improved their English, got to see the world famous Cliffs of Moher and made new friends. It does not get much better than this. Thanks for entering Cindy.
Cindy Chomat and friends on The Cliffs of Moher
