Greetings, everyone, and welcome to the streamlined, new-look e-bulletin. 4 pages maximum, we will aim at precise, up-to-date news, to keep you informed, thrilled, and eagerly awaiting the next edition! So, enjoy the latest news in the world of Polish ELT.
ON-LINE SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE:
We are still negotiating for our ‘base headquarters’ for the on-line conference. As you can imagine, we need good, up-to-date facilities for transmitting webinar-style sessions. So, it’s not as straightforward a matter as you would think. Keep checking the main website for announcements.
WHAT IS IN THIS E-BULLETIN?
In this E-Bulletin, there is a major story about one of our members who is running for election in December this year, following a cancellation of the March election for posts on the Culture Board in Wrocław. It also details the strong links between Wrocław and Oxford. Jola Ziemba’s story is inspiring: do read it. There is also news about our busy webinar programme, and two webinars, in particular. Magdalena Kaźmierkiewicz, meanwhile, has included two timely articles re: on-line teaching, focused on discipline and on-line testing. As you can see, there is plenty to keep you busy, especially the research survey conducted by Michał Paradowski, which is all about the stresses of on-line teaching, and how we have managed our lives during the pandemic. Very interesting, indeed. You’ll be amazed by the number of questions he has conjured up, and it will give you the chance to reflect on your own on-line work. Hope you enjoy the journey through our May E-Bulletin.
‘IATEFL Member in Election Campaign’ Election delayed
Here is a question for you: which Polish city is Oxford twinned with? Answer: the lucky city of Wrocław. Luckier still to have someone resident there, who is an asset to the teaching profession, and just happens to be a long-term IATEFL member! Jola Ziemba, who has been associated with Oxford for ten years, and previously Chester, is currently awaiting the re-arrangement of election dates, in order to take a place on Wrocław’s Culture Board. The original elections were set to occur on March the 20th, but due to the Coronavirus crisis, were put back, provisionally to September, but Jola has stated the election will now be safely held in December.
Twinning Project
The twinning project between the two cities has been up-and-running since October 2018, and Jola has been at the forefront of it. Launching ‘Wroxed’ (Wrocław Oxford Education), with the aim of promoting cultural and educational activities between Wrocław and Oxford such as book sharing, workshops, and student and staff exchanges, etc., the Wroxed page wall is in Polish and English, and clearly shows the potential of this interactive project. Wroxed’s activities were indeed ‘the trigger’ for Jola to apply to Wroclaw’s Cultural Board, and further her ambitions in this sphere.
I will supply two links to websites giving details of trips by Wrocław’s schoolchildren, in the past two years. However, it should be stated that Jola has been bringing groups to Oxford since 2010, and this helped immensely in persuading the Oxfordshire authorities to twin with Wrocław – their first twinning agreement in 23 years.
The 2019 visit to Oxford
In December 2019 - to enlighten you about what Jola’s planned visits to Oxford have involved - 37 primary school pupils, from 5 schools in Wrocław, were engaged in a “Christmas in Wonderland” -themed theatre project, based on Oxford’s own Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’. The visit lasted four days, in the early part of the month, and included Dance and Theatre workshops, visits to Oxford Playhouse and Oxford Castle, as well as a Harry Potter-themed guided tour.
At Oxford’s town hall, the children performed a concert of Polish Christmas carols. They also went to the Covered Market to shake hands with Życzliwek (well-wisher), the gnome gifted to Oxford by the city of Wrocław. Finally, there was a sharing of Christmas songs and stories from both cities.
Jola, who has been primarily involved in promoting a Theatre-based project over the last decade, within her visits, declared that “Oxford has been an inspiration for our plays since 2010, when I first brought a group of students from Wrocław. It makes me feel happy that this project has grown over the years, and that we can now benefit from and build on the potential of Wrocław and Oxford as twin cities.”
In February 2020, following the Oxford stay, Wrocław’s children would host their Oxfordshire friends, and present a Christmas play. This has been an integral and traditional part of Jola’s annual plans, to see how Oxford could inspire the making of a Christmas play.
Having outlined the strong role Jola has played in building up links between Oxford and Wrocław, you probably realise by now that she should be a “shoe-in” for a place on Wrocław’s Culture Board. If you know her, and would like to support her candidacy, then go to her Facebook page, (she’s on Messenger), and write a recommendation for Jola to be elected. Jola also somehow finds the time to run a small business, selling her educational resources at her stand at IATEFL Poland’s conferences. So, you may remember her for that reason.
Photo of Jola Ziemba
I daresay that there are many ‘Jolas’ beavering away in their communities and implementing worthwhile projects, so do, please, let me know. Jola’s story is impressive, and I am sure others deserve recognition for their efforts. You know the e-mail address, therefore, don’t hesitate, send me your tributes/articles/notes about a special colleague. I’m waiting at: newsletter@iatefl.org.pl
SAD NEWS:
Grzegorz Śpiewak has just released some very sad news via Facebook, that Paul Davis, an accomplished Conference presenter and long-term partner to Hanna Kryszewska, has died. No details known at this stage. He will be sorely missed by the ELT community, and we at IATEFL extend our sympathies to his family, and Hanna, of course.
I will always remember Paul, presenting at a workshop session, congratulating a latecomer, who was so shocked she didn’t know what to reply. Paul stated that students reacted in the same way, and he was truly proud of that strategy. It was typical of Paul to apply a humorous, off-beat approach to his teaching, as he was a talkative, cheerful person. Rest in Peace, Paul.
FORTHCOMING WEBINARS:
IATEFL Poland’s Webinar programme is in full swing now, and on Saturday the 16th of May, Marta Bujakowska, will be presenting at 10am, a webinar on: ‘Mindfulness for teachers in the time of the PANDEMIC: Brain Gym and Neurobics’. She tells you to wear light clothing and create space for movement, apart from bringing something to nibble on, e.g. an apricot or some nuts. Sounds a bit like a yoga session, but I am sure it will be much more than that. Marta has declared that she wants us to find more balance in life, and mindfulness is the key word to bear in mind. What does it mean? Marta states that it helps people to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and body sensations, so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, they can manage them better. Ultimately, mindfulness can help teachers find peace of mind. That is indeed useful when our lives are stressful and hectic due to online teaching demands and frustrations.
By the time you read this text, Marta may well have finished her webinar, but don’t worry, as the session will be filmed, and you will have access to it soon. More details will be posted on the main IATEFL Poland website.
One webinar you should be well-prepared for is being held on Wednesday the 27th of May, 8-9 pm. Titled: ‘ICT Tools for EFL teachers – my personal favourites (part 1)’, it will be hosted by Małgorzata Bukowska-Ulatowska, IATEFL Poland’s Vice-President. She promises to make life easier for teachers, helping them to engage their students, and make the process of learning more varied and effective. She will show a few examples of ICT tools in action, and exchange ideas for using them in the classroom, both the regular and the online one.
Małgorzata is a teacher-trainer and educational consultant for the In-Service Teachers’ Training Centre, Gdansk (Centrum Edukacji Nauczycieli). She is also Editor of ‘Edukacja Pomorska’, a bi-monthly journal, as well as finding the time to be Vice-President of IATEFL Poland, and Representative for the Gdańsk region. Her professed professional interests include empowering teachers and students. You can e-mail her at: vice@iatefl.org.pl
If you wish to be considered for a future webinar presentation, contact Lucyna Wilinkiewicz-Górniak or Marcin Stanowski.
Research Survey into On-line Teaching
Michal B. Paradowski and Magdalena Jelińska, from the Institute of Applied Linguistics, University of Warsaw, have just produced a mega questionnaire survey into the impact on teachers of on-line teaching. It takes 45 minutes (no joke), and is very comprehensive, indeed. Relieve your stresses a bit by completing it, especially those who have recently made the transition to the role of an on-line teacher. Michał promises to send you the detailed results later. Titled: ‘Language Teachers’ adaptation to remote instruction during the COVID-19 epidemic’, it is fascinating to see the subjects covered. Click here on the link: https://www.surveygizmo.eu/s3/90232548/language-teachers Michal’s project has received research clearance and your anonymity is guaranteed.
That’s all for now, enjoy the rest of sunny May, and stay safe,
