Hello Federico
Goodbye and hello
A big thank you to Tricia for all the hard work you've put into the blog over the last couple of months. I'm sure that our audience at home is as grateful for your useful and interesting posts as Alex and Aey, the two student bloggers you've helped.
And now it's time to say hello to Stephen, December's teacher blogger. I won't say any more because Stephen is already here to introduce himself.
William
BBC Learning English
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hello Federico,
As you can see, from the top of the page, my name is Stephen and I’m going to be your teacher blogger for the month. December is, of course, a particularly important and busy month here, and I guess we’ll talk a lot about Christmas and New Year and maybe other celebrations, too, during the month. Perhaps we’ll even exchange ideas and opinions about how Christmas is celebrated.
Right now, however, while I wait for your first blog, I’d like to introduce myself to you, briefly. Then I’ll look forward to hearing all about you and your family and friends.
What could possibly be interesting about me? I’m English. I was born in the north-east of England but I haven’t lived up there since I was eighteen (a VERY long time ago!). I’m a writer and teacher and I have worked in education almost all my professional life. Does that sound a bit dull? I lived in Sweden for a number of years in the 1970s, and in China for a couple of years in the 1980s. That wasn’t dull. It was hard, but it wasn’t dull, and I made some very good Chinese friends there.
I have worked in most of the countries of eastern Europe and have travelled quite widely. This summer, for example, I spent a few weeks in New York, apartment-sitting, in other words looking after someone’s apartment – like baby-sitting, only with an apartment instead of a baby (much easier, quieter, safer and less messy!).
I live in west London, not far from Hampton Court Palace. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? Perhaps not. Anyway, I live here in a small semi-detached house with my daughter, Lucy, who is eighteen and studying very hard for her ‘A’-level examinations. ‘A’-levels are the exams we take here before we can go to university. Lucy is studying History of Art, History and English Literature and she wants to study History of Art at Cambridge (where it’s practically impossible to get a place so she’ll probably have to settle for another university).
I spend most of my time writing and reading, listening to music and running. I’m training for a trip to Tanzania in February to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I like the movies and the theatre and being with friends. I enjoy photography but don’t do as much of it as I used to. I also love the museums and galleries of London, and try to visit most of the important new exhibitions.
There are probably other things I could have told you about myself but you are free to ask for more details if you really want them. Right now I’m keen to hear from you so that I can respond more usefully. Meanwhile, I have typed some words and expressions in bold text because they may be new to you and it could be very useful to learn and use them.
education teaching; pedagogy
dull boring; not very interesting
‘A’-levels pre-university exams
to settle for to accept something which is not exactly what you
really wanted
keen to looking forward to doing something
Alright, that’s probably enough for now. This morning I will start my day in the usual way, for me. I will go to my local coffee shop and have a regular-size cappuccino and a croissant. I will read the paper and try to complete the crossword puzzle. Then I’ll go home and go online to see whether the BBC have sent me any work to do. If they have, I’ll do it. If they haven’t, I’ll go for a run. I might even think about writing a few Christmas cards. In the afternoon I’ll start to think about what to cook for dinner (my daughter is ALWAYS hungry) and I may have to go shopping. In the evening I’m going to visit an old friend and former colleague for the first of what I hope will be many pre-Christmas social gatherings over the next few weeks.
Take care, Federico, and remember to post your blog as soon as possible. I’m really looking forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes,
STEPHEN
Comments
Hello, Stephen. I still have a habbit of reading the teacher blog as a first thing to do in a day. :) I'd like to welcome You at BBC Learning English and looking forward to hear from You about your life as well as about some interesting language stuff. Good luck in your blogging.
Hello Stephen It’s nice to welcome you as a teacher blogger. You must be a wonderful teacher; the way you enter in to the blog before student blogger comes shows that how much commitment you have shown for your teaching. You had a lot of teaching experience in many countries. It will not be a dull month for us. As you are eagerly waiting for the social gathering before Christmas we are looking for the lessons from you. It was amazing to see that how the experienced teacher planed his day from morning till evening. If I plan like that I can do many good work. Your first blog itself motivated me to do that.
Hello Stephen, I'm really glad to read your blog. You have written so many interesting things. I hope everyday I can know something about you and your lovly daughter. I hope one day I could be the author of the student blog. Best wishes for both of us. Wish you happy everyday!
It seems that you are a very lovely and humorous person. I am from China. how many cites had you been to in China? do you still have deep impression of your life in China?
Hi, Stephen, I just feel so good reading your blog. One of my friend is getting married on Christmas, so I am looking forward to that day. And I am quite moved today because the company I work for sent me an email containing a flash and Christmas greetings, showing it really appreciates all the efforts I have put into my job. I will frequently visit your blog and leave comments here.
Good morning/afternoon:)Stephen! It is the first time to visit BBC teacher's blog but already attracted by your blog. Looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow. Could you share with us your experience in China?
Hi Stephen, I'm Monica from Brazil and I'd like to welcome you to our blogging community. Like you I love running and I'm also in the educational field. I'm an English teacher. I live in the centre of Brazil in a capital city called Cuiabá. It is the geodesic centre of South America and nearby we have two famous sanctuaries: Chapada dos Guimarães and The Pantanal widely visited by foreigners. I've already been to England and loved the experience, it's a pity that it's so expensive to go there. Four years ago I was in Newcastle and I simply loved it, the Georgians are really great. I am fond of this blog cause it gives me the chance to practice my English.So will meet very often. See you soon.
Hi Stephen, Although I'm vietnamese and leaving in France, English is always my prefered language. I don't have many chances to practice English in Paris everyday so when I found your blog, I feel so excited. I think it'll be very useful for studying English by reading your blog everyday and I'll learn a lot from hear, not only for English but also for the other interesting things.I'll try to write the comment whenever I can. All the best...
Hi, Stephen : I'm new here. I' v ever learnt English thirty six years ago. I can read something by a dictionary. My listening, speaking is difficult. Especially, writing! It’s nice day. A lucky Sunday .I come here and read your blog. I like it .so I like here. Your talk full friendly. It looks like a river. Take me to know common and colorful life. Take me know English language. Recently, I start to learn English. I hope really applications. I enjoy the process. You and your blog will be my teacher, my friend. I look forward to reading it! By the way, I think your Chinese experience was interesting. I appreciate to share it. Thanks a lot again! See you!
Hi, Stephen : I'm new here. I' v ever learnt English thirty six years ago. I can read something by a dictionary. My listening, speaking is difficult. Especially, writing! It’s nice day. A lucky Sunday .I come here and read your blog. I like it .so I like here. Your talk full friendly. It looks like a river. Take me to know common and colorful life. Take me know English language. Recently, I start to learn English. I hope really applications. I enjoy the process. You and your blog will be my teacher, my friend. I look forward to reading it! By the way, I think your Chinese experience was interesting. I appreciate to share it. Thanks a lot again! See you!
When children become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond. Learning to read is hard work for children. Fortunately, research is now available that suggests how to give each child a good start in reading. Becoming a reader involves the development of important skills, including learning to: · use language in conversation · listen and respond to stories read aloud · recognize and name the letters of the alphabet · listen to the sounds of spoken language · connect sounds to letters to figure out the "code" of reading · read often so that recognizing words becomes easy and automatic · learn and use new words · understand what is read
Thanks for all your contributions. This blog has now closed and can no longer accept new comments.
