Sunday, November 23, 2003
Buona sera Maria Pia,
Here...things are busy as always... I was not at school on Friday as I do not have classes on this day ( I went to the countryside and only returned about two hours ago) ...so do not know whether the fax reached our director and what his reaction was.
Last Monday there was an intermediary meeting between parents, teachers and director preparing for the general meeting which will take place tomorrow. Garibaldi will be presented and I will defend it the best I can. I have also received the invoice for the trip, which adds some more information to it.
I do not think our trip to Italy will be possible... for organizational and policy problems...but I will defend it as well as the cultural communication and your trip here. Who knows after you come, we can plan a trip of the Brazilian students for 2005 (if I am still at school). Projects involving such a trip and so many students during school period take a long time to organize and cost money, not an available commodity nowadays. In addition to this, our director has just arrived in Brazil and is still getting acquainted with the school and teachers. I believe he is a bit worried. He also cannot see the point of an exchange with Italy between two teachers of English...but this, he will have to get used to. I told him that our students had more probability in life to communicate in English with a non-native then with a native... As we have lost many students due to the economic situation he is also worried about the school's identity - he does not see how a trip and a project with Italy can strenghten the French identity of the school...
However, I do not agree with him...I feel you are more aware of your identity when you compare and contrast it with other cultures...
" Le monde qui est en train de se construire repose sur des liaisons, des mixages, où il faut savoir conserver son identité tout en collaborant avec d'autres "( Carlos Ghosn - a Brazilian, general manager of Nissan - Japan and Renault- France)
Whatever the outcome is tomorrow, the director cannot stop the project in itself as most of the content is part of our programmes. So at least, our students will go on communicating and exchanging information. We will continue talking and preparing things together. He cannot stop that. The trip will happen when it is ripe.
Hugs my friend and I remain an optimist...because where there is an obstacle, there is also a lesson to learn.
Bee
Here...things are busy as always... I was not at school on Friday as I do not have classes on this day ( I went to the countryside and only returned about two hours ago) ...so do not know whether the fax reached our director and what his reaction was.
Last Monday there was an intermediary meeting between parents, teachers and director preparing for the general meeting which will take place tomorrow. Garibaldi will be presented and I will defend it the best I can. I have also received the invoice for the trip, which adds some more information to it.
I do not think our trip to Italy will be possible... for organizational and policy problems...but I will defend it as well as the cultural communication and your trip here. Who knows after you come, we can plan a trip of the Brazilian students for 2005 (if I am still at school). Projects involving such a trip and so many students during school period take a long time to organize and cost money, not an available commodity nowadays. In addition to this, our director has just arrived in Brazil and is still getting acquainted with the school and teachers. I believe he is a bit worried. He also cannot see the point of an exchange with Italy between two teachers of English...but this, he will have to get used to. I told him that our students had more probability in life to communicate in English with a non-native then with a native... As we have lost many students due to the economic situation he is also worried about the school's identity - he does not see how a trip and a project with Italy can strenghten the French identity of the school...
However, I do not agree with him...I feel you are more aware of your identity when you compare and contrast it with other cultures...
" Le monde qui est en train de se construire repose sur des liaisons, des mixages, où il faut savoir conserver son identité tout en collaborant avec d'autres "( Carlos Ghosn - a Brazilian, general manager of Nissan - Japan and Renault- France)
Whatever the outcome is tomorrow, the director cannot stop the project in itself as most of the content is part of our programmes. So at least, our students will go on communicating and exchanging information. We will continue talking and preparing things together. He cannot stop that. The trip will happen when it is ripe.
Hugs my friend and I remain an optimist...because where there is an obstacle, there is also a lesson to learn.
Bee
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Sao Paulo
Hello,
I have sent you an email with my headmaster's fax and mail and in the meantime let me answer some of your questions.
July is holiday month in Brazil and most families travel during this time...so the best times would be:
- beginning of August when we start classes again and could welcome you at school.
- we also have a two week holiday from Easter onwards so, you might want to do it then...
July and August are winter months here, but the temperatures vary. It may get really cold (5 to 10 C) or it may be very warm. It is usually sunny and dry.
I would still have to ask at school. So if the headmaster is not against it, I could ask the parents if they would welcome your students at their homes so that you would not have to spend money on lodging here and would also get a better feeling of what it is to live in Sao Paulo.
I think food and transport here is much less expensive than in Europe, so I would not worry much about that. I would just need to know how many students you are planning to bring approximately so as start asking around.
Would you like to stay in Sao Paulo only or would you like to travel a bit? Remember Brazil is a very big country so you must think of many hours to get from one place to another. A trip from Sao Paulo to Rio for instance would take 6 to 7 hours by bus.
If you come in August, your students will be able to follow classes but our students will be studying and I will be teaching so I will not have much time for you...unless we can combine the last week of July and the first week of August or a week of our holidays after Easter and a week of our school time afterwards.
How long are you planning to stay?
I loved Walter's photos. Could you explain better what the event was all about and how it was organized?
As for the blogger, how can I help your teachers?
Do they understand some French or English? What we could also do is to fix a meeting together on a chat online, and you would act as a translator for them while I explained what to do.
I have sent you an email with my headmaster's fax and mail and in the meantime let me answer some of your questions.
July is holiday month in Brazil and most families travel during this time...so the best times would be:
- beginning of August when we start classes again and could welcome you at school.
- we also have a two week holiday from Easter onwards so, you might want to do it then...
July and August are winter months here, but the temperatures vary. It may get really cold (5 to 10 C) or it may be very warm. It is usually sunny and dry.
I would still have to ask at school. So if the headmaster is not against it, I could ask the parents if they would welcome your students at their homes so that you would not have to spend money on lodging here and would also get a better feeling of what it is to live in Sao Paulo.
I think food and transport here is much less expensive than in Europe, so I would not worry much about that. I would just need to know how many students you are planning to bring approximately so as start asking around.
Would you like to stay in Sao Paulo only or would you like to travel a bit? Remember Brazil is a very big country so you must think of many hours to get from one place to another. A trip from Sao Paulo to Rio for instance would take 6 to 7 hours by bus.
If you come in August, your students will be able to follow classes but our students will be studying and I will be teaching so I will not have much time for you...unless we can combine the last week of July and the first week of August or a week of our holidays after Easter and a week of our school time afterwards.
How long are you planning to stay?
I loved Walter's photos. Could you explain better what the event was all about and how it was organized?
As for the blogger, how can I help your teachers?
Do they understand some French or English? What we could also do is to fix a meeting together on a chat online, and you would act as a translator for them while I explained what to do.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Avanti Garibaldi!
Thanks for your support Maria Pia. It's good to know you can count on people.
I think it would be a good idea for your headmistress to write...to make this contact and explain how she sees this project and what it involves. I will send you his mail address and fax number of the school by email.
By the way, what are your plans for the Brazilian visit? When are you planning to come? How long are you planning to stay? What would your itinerary be?
I am sorry I have not been posting here more frequently...it's just that it's the end of the year and we have been having meetings everyday after classes.
More students have been asking to sign up for Beeonline. Are they in your class? If they are just send me a list with the names of your students and their mails and I will post them instructions on how to join.
A presto
I think it would be a good idea for your headmistress to write...to make this contact and explain how she sees this project and what it involves. I will send you his mail address and fax number of the school by email.
By the way, what are your plans for the Brazilian visit? When are you planning to come? How long are you planning to stay? What would your itinerary be?
I am sorry I have not been posting here more frequently...it's just that it's the end of the year and we have been having meetings everyday after classes.
More students have been asking to sign up for Beeonline. Are they in your class? If they are just send me a list with the names of your students and their mails and I will post them instructions on how to join.
A presto
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Disappointing News but some hope on the horizon
Last week, there was a meeting with all the teachers and our new director. I asked for permission to gather the parents of the classes concerned to explain it and see if they supported the trip. Our headmaster gave his veto by saying he did not agree with the trip as this would destabilize the scientific classes who would miss 9 days of school. He also does not understand the point of an exchange in English between Brazil, France and Italy. For him, apparently, an exchange led by teachers of English must involve English speaking countries.
I intend to go on with the project, even if the trip does not happen. What do you think? Would you still be interested?
I have made some contacts with people in Europe who promised some help. Brigitte Parry, responsible for school liaison through European Schoolnet has published a note about the project in the October newsletter. Daniel Micolon, the French teacher responsible for Spring in Europe has already given me some tips and advice. Gabriella Vernetto from the University of Val d' Aosta says she will contact other teachers who may be interested in joining the project.
Never say never is my motto!
I intend to go on with the project, even if the trip does not happen. What do you think? Would you still be interested?
I have made some contacts with people in Europe who promised some help. Brigitte Parry, responsible for school liaison through European Schoolnet has published a note about the project in the October newsletter. Daniel Micolon, the French teacher responsible for Spring in Europe has already given me some tips and advice. Gabriella Vernetto from the University of Val d' Aosta says she will contact other teachers who may be interested in joining the project.
Never say never is my motto!
