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GREETINGS FROM GEOS VANCOUVER
Welcome to our new Newsletter. The month of May has started and spring weather is on the way! It’s still a little rainy but everyone in the city is excited about the sunny days that are just around the corner. The mountains look amazing with the snow on them and the ocean looks like a beautiful mirror with the sun reflecting off of it. More and more people are rollerblading and jogging in Stanley Park and the city is looking great.
If you would like to stay in touch with GEOS Vancouver, please join our Facebook group! Feel free to also upload pictures and share your experience with your friends and even former students. You can also be informed about our activities at anytime by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwX_m-SEEes. If you also would like to take a look at all the great events happening in Vancouver, please visit: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors.
MEET OUR STAFF
We are happy to introduce one of our core teachers, Alison Brown. Alison has been with us for almost 2 years and keeps busy teaching our Intensive English Program, our IELTS elective class and an evening Business Communication class. Before coming to GEOS, Alison spent time teaching in Japan, Mexico and China. Alison always plans interesting and useful lessons for her students by using the textbook in combination with lots of ‘real-life’ material such as pop songs and video clips. Her classes are dynamic and fun for the students and ensure that they maximize their learning experience. As you can see from the photo, Alison is a proud Canadian and was really excited to show her spirit during the 2010 Winter Olympics & Paralympics here in Vancouver, BC. She was especially happy to be able to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics and some of the sledge hockey games. Very close to Alison’s heart is the town of Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, where she spent 3 years teaching English. She would like to send her warmest thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan during this difficult time.
STAFFING NEWS
Teacher Training Courses:
Here at GEOS Vancouver, our very popular TEC (Teaching English to Children) Course will be running again from April 25 to May 20, 2011. This 4-week, full-time course will give you the skills and training you need to start a successful and rewarding career in your country helping children learn English. Even students who are not planning on being teachers have taken and enjoyed this course as it helps them better understand the language learning process and gives them skills they can use in the future with their own children.
After you have finished the TEC course, why not continue your teacher training with our TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course? Also a 4-week, full-time course, it immediately follows the TEC course and runs from May 24 to June 17, 2011. The TEFL course will prepare you for a career teaching English to adults in your country. In this course, students will be expected to learn the current methodologies behind language teaching and put them into action by planning and executing demonstration lessons. Feedback from the teacher and your peers will help you become a confident, well-prepared teacher.
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NATIONALITY REPORT
This month we welcomed 100 students of 16 different nationalities to our school!
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL
When I graduated from high school, I came up with the idea that I wanted something different in my life. I wanted to experience new things and know people I thought were very different from me.
My parents supported my decision and gave me the opportunity to come to Vancouver. I have to say that at first I was nervous and I had fear since I didn’t know anyone but with some time here all these feelings run away from me.
Since the first step I put in GEOS, most of my fears had gone. I was surprised to see that all the staff had a smile in their faces. Everyone was friendly, kind and helpful with me and I’m so grateful with them for that and what to say about the teachers. I have to say that I was completely lucky to have the opportunity to be their student. All of them were always very patient and kind with me and I learned so much because of them. Each one helped me to improve my English. They were not only my teachers but also my friends, too.
There people I met here made everything easier, too. I had never imagined that I would have friends from all over the world. This experience make you realize how similar we are to other people even if they come from a culture completely different from yours. Each friend I made here is very special for me; they all are wonderful people that hope to see again.
My host family was an essential part of my experience, too. I’m glad to say that they were always so kind with me and acted like a real family for me. People who always made me feel part of them and that included me in all the activities they had.
About Vancouver, I can say that is awesome city: beautiful and full of things to do and visit. Nothing I say will do justice to this great city but I can assure that everyone who visits it falls in love with its beauty.
I just want to end it saying THANKS TO EVERYBODY. You all are people that I’m sure I will never forget. I hope the best for all of you and thank you for made this experience the best in my life :)
With love
Cristina
Cristina De la Maza
Mexico
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
March was still a little rainy in our city but we fooled the weather by going skating indoors and had a wonderful time. Some of our students thought they might make the Olympics in the future and practiced their jumps and spins! There were no gold medals but everyone had fun!
We also managed to play a game of soccer at the nearby field right next door to B.C. Place Stadium, home of the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics. Someone said that spotted Beckham but I’m not sure they’re right...
As the weather improves, we’ll be going on a couple of nature excursions to Stanley and Queen Elizabeth Parks. They are two jewels in our beautiful city and a great place to see loads of flowers, animals and even a few humans.
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