Welcome New Teachers!!
A huge warm welcome to the following teachers who have just joined BKC: Donna McCool, Juliet Stanley, Andrew Stramentov, Alison McGregor, and Gerard Clancy. Of course, we must not forget to mention our longest serving full-time contract teacher, Mick Calvett, who's back with us after a VERY long holiday.
Kropotkinskaya Report
Happy Valentines! There's lots of love here at Kropotkinskaya, along with several new classes, teachers, and books. First of all, we welcome Sarah, John L., William, Raul, Daniel, and John P. to Kropotkinskaya. Feel free to browse all the new books and make your suggestions for future orders. There is Internet access in the teacher's room - just ask someone in the office to log you on. I'm not always here when you are, so drop me an email or a phone call if you want to chat about anything. Remember to look through the Cutting Edge files in the cabinet for pre-cut resources, and please take the time to file the activities you cut up for other teachers. The envelopes are on the bottom shelf. Farewell to Nik White who is leaving us in a couple of weeks for Mexico City - all the best. And bye to Stephanie, who is heading back downunder at the beginning of March. Good luck to both of you, and we hope to see you again!
I've finally returned from three weeks in Canada, and I've brought a wack of new books with me - Airport Customs and Immigration (Canada), Practical English for New Canadians, My Country, Our History (Canada), The Canadian Heritage Family Traditions Book, The Great Canadian Book of Lists, Gateway to Canada, Mensa - Assess Your Personality, Mensa - The Book of Total Genius, Puzzler's 'Giant Book of Word Games 2', and 1000 Puzzles, Paradoxes, Illusions & Games. The latter 4 books are full of games and puzzles that can be used with any level, either as warmers, fillers, or whole class activities!
Lately I've found that the Penguin adapted readers have become increasingly popular. Giving out a chapter every class or two for homework at every level, with subsequent class work after every 3rd or 4th chapter has definitely increased many students reading ability. Furthermore, these books may provide an interesting reading alternative to those somewhat boring course book activities. Book buying time begins a couple of weeks from now, so please come in or leave a message with your requests for more. You should expect our collection to triple very soon!! (A new bookshelf has also been ordered).
Finally, I would like to ask all teachers at Kropotkinskaya to return all cassettes to the shelves. It's an awful pain in the ass to constantly order and pick up new cassettes, again, and again, and again! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this issue of Unbound, and please consider making a contribution of your creative ability!
Mike Belicic
Borovitskaya News
To begin with a sad ðàñà to Dennis Carr as Senior ADOS. Gone but not forgotten as an off-contract teacher. Things are pootling along with the FCE mock coming up at Tverskaya on the 17th and a number of new classes here at Boro. Some of you may have seen a poster concerning FCE and CAE mock speaking exams. The poster shows that these would happen during lesson time, but there has been a bit of a rethink. Instead we are looking at holding sessions on Saturdays at Boro for students from all schools. The provisional cost will be about $5 for a 30 minute session for a pair of students, which includes the 15 minutes test and 15-20 minutes of feedback. Posters will go to local organizers and I'll try to keep you informed by email (if I have the right addresses). Anybody wanting more info can give me a ring at Boro extension 127. We are also in the process of updating our activity files from the old Headway catalogue system to one based on topics and grammar points. Any comments on this would be appreciated. A WARNING: Neil B. managed to lose an important file in the self-access room this week. The computer system only saves your info if you select it to go to the Ñ drive. If you put it anywhere else it gets wiped at the end of the day. Best to save to disk or ask Evgenny in the self-access room for help. Any questions about things at Boro or about Cambridge exams, come and see me in my cubbyhole. I would love to have an open door policy but with the cat giving Katya allergic reactions and my timetable, it's a good idea to call ahead to make sure I'm not hiding in a classroom or elsewhere The best times to get me are Mondays from 12 to 5 and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am to 2ish.
Guy Edwards - ADOS Borovitskaya
News from the Branches
The New Year has been a busy time in Branches - new classes have started, including beginners at Novogireevo, Proletarskaya and Akademicheskaya, using 'Headstart' and the administrative staff is also working hard to open new branches at Dynamo, Begovaya and Strogino. Wayne and I regularly do 'Open Doors' presentations to promote new and existing schools. Occasionally teachers may be asked to do these if we're not available. So, if you are asked to do a presentation here's what to do. First - don't panic! Speak to Wayne or myself, as there is a file of ready prepared presentations (it's usually kept in Cindy's office). Most of them involve building situational dialogues and coming up with a plan and ready prepared flashcards. Begin the presentation with a brief intro of yourself (where you come from and your teaching experience). Then explain the purpose of the presentation, and that new students are tested so they will be placed at the right level. Ask if anybody speaks English, ask a few people their names and what they do, or how old they are (if they are young). Then, follow the plan - they're tried and tested so they should work well! The whole thing should last between 15 - 20 minutes Thank students for coming and then get on with the placement interviews. These could be done in pairs if you have large numbers to test.
That's about all our news, except I've now moved downstairs into Natasha's office and the extension is 131. Wayne's still in the 'In-company' office on extension 146. So give us a call if you have any problems or questions regarding teaching, students, local organizers etc...
Claire - ADOS Branch Schools
Marfino Winter Camp 2002
BKC's annual winter school camp for Younger Learners was held at Marfino (25 km North from Moscow). This year we had about one hundred and fifty kids at the camp, which is twice as many as last year. There is evidence that our winter and summer programmes for children are getting more and more popular (no doubt due to the high quality of teaching).
I would like to say thank you to the people who took the challenge and went to work in the camp: Sarah Holiday, Sarah Bennett, Tania Polovinkina, Alex Wanng and Mike Greisinger. It was great to work with you! I think we have all gained some very useful experience and I am ready to share this experience with others. We had a few good lessons on 'Chicken Run' and 'Wallace & Gromit' videos. If anyone is interested in using these films in a lesson, I have got the worksheets and the tapes in my office at Borovitskaya.
This camp was quite successful and in the summer we are probably going to have even more students, so if there are people who would like to work at Sosnovy Bor in the summer, please, contact me or recruitment.
Natasha Chernysheva - ADOS, Younger Learners
Tverskaya Report
Just a last minute reminder about the excursion to Vladimir-Bogoliubovo on Saturday, the 2nd of March, which will be taking in lots of the area's history and art. It's only 541 roubles and promises to be lots of fun as it's open to Russian staff, students and teachers alike. Make sure to pay Olga at reception by February 20th.
The CELTA course wound up last Friday at Tverskaya, meaning that it's now possible to get on the photocopier. Thanks go out to all the teachers who 'volunteered' to be observed by the trainees.
The New Cambridge Advanced English book is here now and is being run as a pilot book with one of our advanced general English courses. Also, in the pipeline are our new English clubs (conversation, debating, etc.) so if anyone has any ideas or wants to get involved then get in touch with us here. Cheers until next month!
Glenn Hough - ADOS, Tverskaya
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