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Greetings everyone, as Spring has made a very welcome recent entrance, following a nasty snap of wintry weather, which left many a water-pipe burst. I know, only too well! IATEFL Poland has also been very active, springing into action, as the Webinar programme has grown in intensity. If you look at the most recent period of time, I presented my webinar on quizzes on the 19th of February, and that was quickly followed by Emily Clark, presenting her second webinar for the Association on the 22nd. Then, Joanna Perkowska-Whiley, my wife, directed an audience through some Escape Rooms, as a novel way to deal with Matura-level tasks: this was on the 26th of February. The very next day - the 27th - of February, bore witness to IATEFL’s first ‘Live On-line Lesson’, as the very talented Ula Majdańska-Wachowicz, taught a group of her students, on a Saturday morning, dealing with the language of commercials. Then, on the 3rd of March, Geoff Tranter returned to the Webinar scene, delving deeply into the world of punctuation, especially commas, hyphens, and apostrophes, showing us that punctuation cannot afford to be neglected.
A packed programme, indeed, and in this edition, we shall look more closely at the activities of one of our busiest regions - Wrocław – who, certainly give their IATEFL members ‘value for money’. Geoff Tranter, will be contributing with yet another article in the ‘Not a lot of people know that’ column. The previously-mentioned Ula Majdańska-Wachowicz, has responded to Geoff’s last article on the various language combinations, such as Ponglish, with a relevant update on the very state of it, today. She first wrote on the subject for our 2016 Post-Conference Journal, so Ula can be considered something of an expert on Ponglish, which is close to her heart. As the number of Polish people living in the UK has dropped, has the usage of Ponglish, likewise, been diminished? Read Ula’s article to see! First, though, I have some very sad news for you, especially for those who went to the last face-to-face Conference at Gdańsk. |
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Professor Jerzy Limon, R.I.P. :
At our last Conference gathering in Gdańsk, we were treated to an enthralling evening event on the Saturday. This involved a trip to the Gdanski Teatr Szekspirowski (Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre), where we were treated to a charming talk by Professor Jerzy Limon, the Creator and Director of the theatre, about its history and development. This was followed by a lovely buffet, and a fascinating tour of the theatre. Professor Limon had organised a memorable occasion for all those present, one we shall never forget, and his talk was a wonderful rendition from a true Shakespearian man. Sadly, I have to report that on the 3rd of March, he passed away, aged 71, - far too young.
In the obituary to him, it is written that he was: ….”the best Mentor, an uncommon Visionary, a demanding Director, a true Friend.” You may extend your sympathy in an On-line Condolence book - ftg.pl/ksiega-kondolencyjna/
I include one such condolence, written by Kathleen Cioffi, who declared the following: …”He had a special warmth and sense of humour that made him a joy to work with.”…..”His vision in conceiving the GTS, his persistence in building up the organisation over the years, and his great, good taste in realising that vision, were all awe-inspiring.” This brilliantly sums up Professor Limon, who was a truly remarkable man.
I will also add some elements of his biography, which easily show why he is revered.
He graduated from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, where he studied English Philology and History. He completed his Ph.D. in 1980, and in the same year, he joined the Institute of English Studies at the Univ. of Gdańsk. Between 1983 and 1993, he headed the Department of the History of English Literature and Culture, and this marked his move towards the Arts and love of Shakespeare. Indeed, in 1989, he became the Founder and Chairman of the Theatrum Gedanense Foundation, and set himself the aim of reconstructing the Elizabethan theatre in Gdańsk, as well as co-organising the Shakespeare Festival. He was the Initiator and Artistic Director of the International Shakespeare Festival in Gdańsk, which in 2017, was honoured with the European union EFFE Award. He was also the originator and co-founder of the European Network of Shakespeare Festivals, with its seat in Gdańsk.
Amazingly, the Professor had far more Shakespearean connections: he was a member of the International Shakespeare Society, the Polish Shakespeare Society, the Polish Theatre Historians’ Society, the Association of Stage Artists and Composers, the Association of Polish Writers, and the Poznań Society of Friends of the Arts and Sciences. Last, but not least, he was a Founder member of the Sfinks forum for the Integration of Science, Culture, and Art, in Sopot.
The author of numerous academic books, published in Poland and abroad, as well as 150 articles, reviews, and essays, his work was popular in the UK, the USA, France, and Germany, as well as in Poland, of course. He also translated old plays – Shakespearean, and contemporary ones – Stoppard. His prolific writing saw him also produce 4 novels. One of his most notable works was written in 2018 – ‘Szekspir bez cenzury. Erotyczny żart na scenie elżbietańskiej’ (‘Shakespeare without censorship. The erotic joke on the Elizabethan stage’).
He won many awards, and top of the list was, undoubtedly, an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, in 2014, for his services to Polish-British cultural co-operation. In 2016, he was honoured with the title: ‘Person of the Year’, by the Baltic Daily. Perhaps, his fondest award may have been the International Pragnell Shakespeare Award for outstanding achievements in the popularisation and development of knowledge on the subject of the works of William Shakespeare.
I have left out vast amounts of detail about the Professor, so you can be truly amazed at what he achieved in life. We must treasure such people – they are truly inspiring models for us to follow and admire. |
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Wrocław Region and TT SIG - ‘leading the way in activities’….
What’s been happening in this ‘neck of the woods’? Lots…….so here’s a summary:
1. Webinar – 12-12-2020 – ‘Wykorzystanie metod I technik’ – presented by Urszula Kropaczewska…. (aktywizujących w pracy z dziećmi).
The webinar (4 hours) was a kind of workshop, and Ula showed not only some activities, songs, rhymes, etc., but also how to prepare materials. The participants, approximately 40, followed her instructions, and produced materials, which they could later use in their own classrooms. Conducted in Polish, as some teachers of German were present, the target groups were Kindergarten and Primary school teachers.
2. Webinar - 16-01-2021 – ‘Kreatywny nauczyciel na dzień Babci I Dziadka’ – presented by Urszula Kropaczewska…. 61 participants….(2 hours)…..
Devoted to Grandparents’ Day, Ula prepared materials for activities, which could be used with YL or older children.
Feedback from both webinars, included the following comments:- “Fantastycznie ćwiczenia mnóstwo inspiracji”; “Bardzo dużo ciekawych pomysłow, dziękuje J” „Bardzo mi się podobało”; „It was great, thank you!” „Dużo fajnych inspiracji J” „Super, że takie praktyczne ćwiczenia!” „Dziękuje za fachowy wylad”; and „Bardzo dziękujemy za fantastyczne wskazówki!”
3. 27/2/2021…IATEFL Poland’s 1st Live lesson – (Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz – and her lovely team of students)…..’The Wizard of Ads’…..this lively session was organised by Agnieszka Mirowska (TT SIG) and Joanna Leszkiewicz (Co-ordinator for Wrocław Region). It was a great success by all accounts.
4. Future Planned Event: 27/07/2021……. 3rd Teacher Development Day (TD SIG: Magdalena Każmierkiewicz, Agnieszka Mirowska (TT SIG), and Joanna Leszkiewicz (Wrocław Region)…. A big 6-hour event with 6-7 speakers, or more.
****Full marks go to Wrocław and its teachers for being as active as ever! ……. |
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‘PONGLISH’: ‘TAKE TWO!’ (An update on its status………..Article includes lesson materials)…
Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz has written a follow-up to her 2016 article, based onan IATEFL Poland conference presentation, and it is a fascinating look into the concept of Ponglish, and what it involves, including insights into how to use it, and who speaks it. Is it ‘on the rise’? Read Ula’s precise text and find out. |
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Urszula Majdańska-Wachowicz
Ula has an MA in English (University of Zielona Góra, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań), and an MA in Polish and Journalism (University of Zielona Góra). An English teacher since 2003, and a teacher-trainer since 2013, she works at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Bolesława Krzywoustego and Powiatowy Ośrodek Doradztwa Metodycznego in Głogów. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Linguistics (University of Zielona Góra). She has presented for IATEFL Poland at Szczecin (2016), Bielsko-Biała (2017), Wrocław (2018), and Gdańsk (2019). |
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‘NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT!’ (another gem from Geoff Tranter)…….
Geoff explores the impact of COVID on the English language, plus other languages, and details examples of the new vocabulary arsing. Plenty of lesson material here, so read on and enjoy what is a very humorous article…..as the title suggests.
Cov-Idiomatically Speaking! Creative Lexicology
Do you know what “Zumping” means? Have you heard of “Doomscrolling”, “Coronacation”, or “Infodemics”? Have any of your friends had a case of the “Mileys”? Do you still think that the WHO was just a British rock band from the ‘70s? To find out the answers to all these questions, just read on!
The last twelve months have had quite an influence on language – in fact on many, if not all languages. In a similar way to the recent BREXIT phenomenon, Corona-19 has affected us all, and one way of dealing with this, is via language – in various ways.
We have almost become medical experts overnight, and are able to use specialist language that we had never even heard of in pre-pandemic times. The very word “pandemic” was new to the great majority of people, who had very little idea of the difference between “endemic”, “epidemic”, and “pandemic”. So, nowadays, words like “incidence rate”, “asymptomatic”, “social distancing”, and “furlough”, just roll off our tongues, and teachers talk of “asynchronous learning”, as if it had always been part of their everyday vocabulary.
The reasons for this are manifold: firstly, such words have become part of the so-called “New Normal”, and are actually required vocabulary, in order to describe what is happening and how our lives are being transformed. Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, they are often used in a humorous way, because playing with such words creatively, can offer help in difficult situations, by providing relief. Thirdly, this more humorous approach can help to socially bind people together, as humour is an essential tool to support us when coping with, and surviving tough times.
The very words “Covid” and “Corona” have proven to be a good starting point for portmanteau words like “covidiots” (people who refuse to believe in Covid-19, and/or refuse to wear masks), “covideoparty” (= a virtual video binge-watching party during corona lockdown), or “coronababies”, also known as “coronials” (a mixture of corona and millennials).
Similar words have been derived from “Quarantine”, e.g. “Quaranteams” (= people working in a bubble, as a team during the pandemic), or “Quarantinis”( = cocktails that you mix for yourself at home, or together with friends on-line).
Australians are particularly versed in innovative and humorous lexicalisation.They love to shorten words and produce new lexical items, such as “iso” = “isolation”, or “sanny” for “hand-sanitizer”. In a similar vein to Cockney rhyming slang, they have also shortened the name of the singer, Miley Cyrus, resulting in “I’ve got the Mileys” = Miley Cyrus = virus. Meanwhile, as a result of WFH (working from home), every day has become a “Blursday”.
However, in the race for the title of “Cov-Idiom” Champions, the German language seems to be winning hands down. A research team from East Germany has come up with a list of over 1,200 words and phrases that have been created during the last twelve months. These include: “Hamsteritis” = the urge to stockpile food, and more interestingly, toilet paper, at the beginning of the pandemic; “Coronafrisur” = corona haircut due to all hairdressers having to close down; “Balkonsanger” = balcony singers = people who sing from their balconies to keep up their neighbours’ spirits, and “CoronaFussgruss” = corona foot greeting, the safe alternative to shaking hands during the epidemic. Many people’s favourite, however, is “Coronaspeck” (corona bacon = the extra layer of fat that many people have to deal with, due to the lack of exercise during the lockdown). If you are interested in German, and/or have colleagues who teach German, you can find the complete list under: https://www.owid.de/docs/neo/listen/corona.jsp# .
Another interesting word or phrase to arise out of the pandemic came from the now ex-President of the United States, who tried to shift the blame for the outbreak of Covid onto the Chinese, by referring to the virus as ”Kung flu”.
Perhaps the most fascinating development came from France, where, for a long time, it was unclear whether Covid was linguistically masculine (le Covid), or feminine (la Covid). Initially, most of the press referred to the virus as “le Covid”, until the judges ultimately responsible for the purity of the French language, the Academie Francaise, decided it had to be feminine, because the nucleus word “maladie” (= illness) is feminine. Sorry, ladies!
To come back to the questions I asked at the beginning of this article, here are the answers I am sure you have all been waiting for! “Zumping” means finding out from our boss or your partner on Zoom that your relationship has been terminated; “Doomscrolling” is a word used for intensively reading through as many websites as possible, to find out the latest statistics on corona-related deaths and economic doom; “Coronacation” is a term used to describe the increase in body care, made possible by the extra time that people now have as a result of corona, and ”infodemics” - a combination of information and pandemic, referring to the constant, excessive flow of real, and sometimes, fake information, that contributes to rising anxiety and speculation on the part of the population at large.
How many of these linguistic phenomena will actually continue to exist when things more or less get back to normal is a moot question. Perhaps, they will all become victims of “verbicide”. |
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TRANSITION TO EMERGENCY REMOTE INSTRUCTION SURVEY
Some months ago, in 2020, you were invited, via a questionnaire posted in an E- Bulletin, to post your feelings about the switch to remote instruction. The questionnaires were distributed to nearly 1,500 teachers in 118 countries, from April to September, 2020. The first article on the findings has now been produced, with some interesting results. The title of the project article is: ‘Teachers’ Engagement in and Coping with Emergency Remote Instruction During COVID-19-Induced School Closures: A Multinational Contextual Perspective’, and has been conducted by Magdalena Jelińska and Michał B. Paradowski.
Read what is a very academic, but valuable article – https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v25i1.2492
Teachers’ Engagement in and Coping with Emergency
For further updates, re: future articles, you can go to: https://schoolclosure.ils.uw.edu.pl/publications |
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Final Announcement: 30th Conference
The odds are on an online conference at this moment in time. More news about this will be made available after Easter, and the Call for Papers will be open. The dates are set for the 17th and 18th of September.
The theme for 2021 will be: ‘Maintaining the Human Dimension’…..For all queries about the Conference/Meet-Up - please contact: Anna Rogalewicz-Gałucka at office@iatefl.org.pl |
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That concludes a busy March E-Bulletin…………..hope you enjoyed it. |
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