Wet Christmas in England!

Most of England is suffering from floods especially the south west of England where the train service from London to the south west has been severely affected,the main lines from Tiverton practically submerged.
On Christmas Day the fire brigade appeared in the street outside the back of Tony's flat,the basement of the block of flats next door had been flooded so two fire engines were stationed in the road with one of them pumping out the water.

On Boxing Day Cirque Soleil did a 15 minute performance outside Harrods' before the department store opened its doors for the Boxing Day sales,there were also some demonstrators protesting against Harrods' selling fur products.Despite their noisy protests it was still enjoyable watching Cirque Soleil.

The next day we went to a dim sum restaurant in Chinatown where the dim sum was served up from trolleys which meant the food was nice and hot so no cold food this time.

Teaching English Radio Live from Gafsa!

This month the Teaching English Radio programme reached the town of Gafsa,down in the south west of Tunisia. Gafsa is the home of the Tunisian mining industry,phosphate mining started here way back in the late 19th century.
It is the first time that Radio Gafsa has broadcasted a non-Arabic programme! In the studio there was Nigel Bellingham,the British Council's country director.The presenter as usual was Hayet and on programme 2 of series 2 the topic was 'Finding and Creating Resources'. When teachers do not have access to books and resources,or access to the Internet, it can be a challenge to find and create resources but with a bit of resourcefulness and imagination they can be created! Just look at the realia around you for inspiration!

click http://www.radiotunisienne.tn/rtci/sounds/anglais/anglais07122012.mp3 to listen to the programme!

We'll be having a break in January but listen out for programme 3 in February when the topic
will be 'Using group work in practice'.

Palm Beach Hotel Tozeur

The British Council Teaching English Radio Team! (me,Kiros and Nigel plus RTCI presenter Hayet) flew down to Tozeur.We are staying at the Palm Beach Hotel,the inner reception area is dominated by an palm filled like oasis.Tomorrow we drive to Gasfa to do the Teaching English Radio programme from Radio Gafsa,the first time a non Arabic programme to be broadcasted from this radio station!

Dave Brubeck 'Take Five' pianist passed away

Dave Brubeck ,the jazz pianist of the hit 'Take Five' passed away.

Last issue of the 'Dandy'!

Today was the last issue of the well known comic the 'Dandy' was printed and is now destined to live on only as an App in Cyberspace.
Click here for more information on the last issue of the Dandy

de tu ventana a la mia

Saw Spanish film 'De tu ventana a la mia' ,at the Cinema Colisee,the photography and images mesmerising stunning and dramatic especially the landscape scenes featuring the character Ines.

Security/first aid training

Gabes

Down in Gabes with Kiros:did a teacher training session with some teachers from the Gabes University in regards to the piloting of the online Learn English Pathways course.
Now at Jerba airport waiting for the plane to go back to Tunis.Have missed the plane back to Tunis due to the long wait to take the ferry to the island of Jerba.

Tozeur and Beyond!

Unfortunately when I arrived home I found my camera was broken,this is the third time!(I'm not very lucky with digital cameras!)

I think the camera got broken when I was using my rucksack as a pillow on the night train,I should have taken out my camera out of the 

inside back pocket and put it in the outside pocket as I usually do but recently I changed my routine/habits.

The monitor screen at the back of the camera is cracked and I can't see anything at all!

Do you think it could be repaired?,I imagine it's not possible.

I always end up breaking or losing things when I change my habits or when I'm tired!

Unfortunately when I arrived home I found my camera was broken,this is the third time!(I'm not very lucky with digital cameras!)

I think the camera got broken when I was using my rucksack as a pillow on the night train,I should have taken out my camera out of the 

inside back pocket and put it in the outside pocket as I usually do but recently I changed my routine/habits.

The monitor screen at the back of the camera is cracked and I can't see anything at all!

Do you think it could be repaired?,I imagine it's not possible.

I always end up breaking or losing things when I change my habits or when I'm tired!

Unfortunately when I arrived home I found my camera was broken,this is the third time!(I'm not very lucky with digital cameras!)

I think the camera got broken when I was using my rucksack as a pillow on the night train,I should have taken out my camera out of the 

inside back pocket and put it in the outside pocket as I usually do but recently I changed my routine/habits.

The monitor screen at the back of the camera is cracked and I can't see anything at all!

Do you think it could be repaired?,I imagine it's not possible.

I always end up breaking or losing things when I change my habits or when I'm tired!

Unfortunately when I arrived home I found my camera was broken,this is the third time!(I'm not very lucky with digital cameras!)

I think the camera got broken when I was using my rucksack as a pillow on the night train,I should have taken out my camera out of the 

inside back pocket and put it in the outside pocket as I usually do but recently I changed my routine/habits.

The monitor screen at the back of the camera is cracked and I can't see anything at all!

Do you think it could be repaired?,I imagine it's not possible.

I always end up breaking or losing things when I change my habits or when I'm tired!

Skyfall Soundtrack

Skyfall soundtrack

Graduation Day!

Teaching English Radio RTCI Series 2!

On Friday Series 2 of Teaching English Radio kicked off!
The  topic was 'Teachers Supporting Each Other ' and among today's guests were Kiros,Teacher Trainer at British Council Tunis,Arbi,Vocational Teacher Trainer,Jawida,teacher coordinator at the Tunis Business School and teacher trainers Rachida and Tarek from Morocco joining the discussion in a telephone link up,unfortunately there were problems with the connection,in fact it sounded like Rachida was talking from the bottom of a well! Hayet said that teachers can feel alone in their profession.There was a lively discussion on the topic of sharing material,the benefits of peer observation and teacher associations culminating with some interesting quotes by the radio presenter,Hayet.

Jawida mentioned the importance of getting feedback from your colleagues and also team spirit so that teachers feel happier and not so alone.

Arbi emphasised the importance of feedback from your peers,in fact he used to create a lot of resources but as nobody gave him feedback he stopped creating more materials,Arbi said 'he was like a blind person ' as he wasn't getting any feedback at all.So if you create great materials please share them and of course give feedback on your colleagues's resources!
It seems that many teachers are afraid of being evaluated by others and keep materials to themselves.
Kiros joked that those teachers should have their materials confiscated!

Talking about the recent teacher training sessions he had run in Algeria Kiros said that constructive feedback was important in teachers going in the right direction.Later on Kiros talked about the forming of new teacher associations in Tunisia,which should be helpful with teachers creating/creating materials and discussing various issues.

Hayet summed up the programme: 'get together and share', 'observe other teachers with a purpose',
'the importance of teachers associations to share/discuss issues' and finally ended the programme with the comment 'encouragement does more'.

If you missed the programme,click the following link to listen to the programme
http://www.radiotunisienne.tn/rtci/sounds/anglais/anglais02112012.mp3

Be sure not to miss the next programme in December on the topic 'Finding and Creating Resources'!

James Bond 'Skyfall' Premiere

James Bond 'Skyfall' premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Skyfall Premiere

Music at the Acropolium

An orchestra of university students from the Tunisian city of Sfax gave a concert at the Acropolium in Carthage.
Here's a view from the Acroplolium during the daytime.

Brazil with Palin

Michael visits Brazil in his latest travels

Art with Biros!

Art with biros!

Skyfall earns praise as best James Bond film

Skyfall earns praise as best James Bond film

Skyfall

TER

Starry Starry Night!

Stars from above! Starry Starry Night!

The British Embassy and British Council closed

The British Embassy and the British Council were closed today (like on Monday) and in addition many of the other schools were closed,actually they had taken their decision before the British Council. It seems that the only school which hadn't decided to close was the Italian School.

This morning there at least 6 police vans near the promenade,later on they with also a fire engine were stationed outside the French Ambassador's residence in La Marsa.

For a few hours in the afternoon the main road had been closed.

The Tunisian government had stepped up security in view of last week's incident at the American Embassy and the American School.On Wednesday a French satirical magazine further inflamed the situation by publishing cartoons mocking the Islamic faith! Crazy!

Yesterday the Tunisian government,without prior consultation with the British Embassy and other embassies had stationed a military truck and placed barbed wire in front of the British Council,and apparently the same thing had been done at the other schools.

US advises Americans to leave Tunisia

US advises Americans to leave Tunisia

American Embassy and American School in Tunis Attacked!

On the 4th day of protests against the anti-Islamist film there have been copy-cat protests in many Muslim countries since the protests in Libya and yesterday they reached Tunisia,today the American Embassy and American School in Tunis were attacked,the Embassy set ablaze and the American School ransacked.Later on the BBC News it was reported that three people had been killed in clashes at the American Embassy.go here for more news

The protests had kicked off four days ago in Libya,where four Americans had been killed in an attack on the American Embassy in Benghazi.

In Sudan even the German and British Embassies were attacked. Senseless! The protestors are not content with attacking American establishments! Apparently the people who made the film are not Americans but Eygptians.What will the protestors do when they realise it wasn't Americans who made the film! Maybe no change!

The attacks are without an agenda,what do these protestors want to achieve?

I first heard of the attacks while at work.As a result of the attacks it was decided to finish work early,especially as there was talk of yet another curfew.
What an introduction to Tunisia for the new teachers!

Andy Murray wins US Open!

Andy Murray finally wins the US Open and his first grand slam!

London 2012 ends!

London 2012 finally comes to an end! What a summer of sport!

Go here for the victory parade

Closing ceremony Coldplay play a big part in the celebrations

Lighting of the Paralympics Cauldron London 2012

The Paralympics Cauldron is lit in Trafalgar Square by Claire Lomas.

Olympic Games London 2012

Great Britain are on the way to a record breaking 30 gold medals,although it was a slow start.
Among the gold medal winners:Andy Murray,Chris Hoy,Victoria Pemberton,Jade Jones,Ed Clancey,Jessica Ennis,Mo Farah,Laura Trott..

The Olympic events I've been to so far have been the tennis at Wimbledon,the Women's Football Final,the Men's swimming and Women's Marathon at the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park and today the Men's Walk Race 50km and the Women's Walk Race 20km.
Re the football there was a great atmosphere at  Wembley and the American women played some exciting attractive football!

WEMBLEY, ENGLAND—The U.S. women’s football team won the gold medal Thursday, avenging one of its most painful defeats with a 2-1 victory over Japan.
Carli Lloyd scored in the eighth and 54th minutes for the Americans, who lost to the Japanese in penalty kicks at last year’s World Cup final.
Yuki Ogimi scored in the 63rd for Japan.
The U.S. team has won three consecutive Olympic titles and four of five since women’s football was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The match drew 80,203 to Wembley Stadium, breaking the record for a women’s football game at the Olympics.
Canada won the bronze earlier Thursday, beating France 1-0.

hot and humid at midnight on La Marsa beach

Midnight and it's still hot and humid in La Marsa even on the beach,where many Tunisians were enjoying a midnight swim.Many of the people were with their families and were content just sitting on the beach.
I sat down on the sandy beach hoping for a little bit of sea breeze but instead just the still hot air surrounded me.Actually it was cooler earlier on in the evening at Cafe Saf Saf where I had been watching Tunisian musicians play traditional music,the only problem after 10 or 15 minutes the music becomes a bit repetitive.

London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

spectacular opening ceremony!

London 2012- the third Olympic Games in London!

London will soon be holding its third Olympic Games London 2012

Paul Young in Tunis

Last night in the Roman theatre of Carthage 80's pop star,Paul Young,showed he still got the style as he rolled out the hits. Even though the Roman amphitheatre in Carthage was disappointedly half empty Paul turned on his beguiling charm.
His back up band provided a superb sound to compliment Paul's soulful voice and mid way through the concert the band were seated for a couple of non- rehearsed songs including the use of the tabla and accordion. In the encore Paul showed off his versatility in an Al Green/Temptations song.
Before the concert started up on the video screen at the back of the stage was a video of a Tex-Mex group singing 'La Bamba' but if the audience had looked closely they would have seen Paul Young among the guitarists for this band is Paul having fun with his group 'The Pacaminos'.


click   photos of Paul in concert
Go here for Paul's web site

Kieron Williamson Artist Child Genius

Kieron Williamson

Briton Johnny Marray wins Wimbledon title

Here comes Johnny! Briton wins Wimbledon double title!

Bond at 50

James Bond at 50

Eric Skyes dies

 Eric Skyes

London 2012 the Olympics Games

Spain win 3 consecutive titles with Euro 2012!

Euro 2012 Champions!

Happy Birthday Paul McCartney

Happy 70th birthday Sir Paul McCartney! Keep rocking and rolling!

Teaching English Radio programme 6

Last Friday was the last programme of the present series of Teaching English Radio to be broadcasted on RTCI but don't worry we'll be back with season 2!

The curfew continues

The curfew in Tunisia continued but from 10pm to 4am. The second evening classes at the British Council were cancelled. The same again tonight? Probably.

Curfew declared in Tunis

After rioting in Tunis and La Marsa this evening a overnight curfew in Tunis,Arianna,Sousse and other cities in Tunisia was announced by the Tunisian government.

The curfew,is from 9pm to 5am,it's almost 10pm but in La Marsa there are a few people and cars in the street.

Last night in La Marsa there apparently were some gun shots.

more details on the riots

Transit of Venus

Venus

Jubilee Celebration at the Ambassador's Residence

Rocking at the Palace

highlights of the concert at Buckingham Palace

Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Diamond Queen

torch in Snowden

Chris Bonington carries torch to Snowden summit

Programme 5 of Teaching English Radio

Doctor Who carries the Olympic Torch

Doctor Who carries the Olympic torch

http://g.co/doodle/wqkqkm

http://g.co/doodle/wqkqkmmoog
moog

James Bond Skyfall trailer out!

BBC News report on Skyfall trailer

Robin Gibbs Passes Away

Yet another pop star passes away,Robin Gibb,only 62 years old could not defeat cancer he'd been courageously battling over the past year.
click here for pictures of Robin's career

The Olympic Torch flame arrives in Britain

Arrival of the Olympic torch flame!

Mallorca

Mallorca in the 1950s!
Click here and see what those beaches were like ! Are they still the same beautiful beaches as in the photo?

The photo reminds me of Thailand and Maya Bay!

Paradise Island Koh Rong

For a taste of paradise visit Koh Rong off the coast of Cambodia before it's too late.

Art exhibition in Sidi Bou Said and free art giveway in London

free art giveaway on the South Bank

Supermoon!

Yessterday the moon really looked spectacular,so big that it seemed it would crash into the Earth!

The bigger and brighter 'supermoon' truely graced the night sky!
What a full moon!
The phenomenon,known as a perigee full moon, means the Moon appears up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is furthest from the planet.
click here for more info   and  click here for some great supermoon pictures!

Teaching English Radio RTCI 'Teaching Reading'

Last April was the 4th programme of Teaching English to be transmitted on RTCI and featured the topic of 'teaching reading'.The most interesting thing about the programme was one of the Tunisian teachers talking about the setting up of a library at her school,at many British Council centres around the world the libraries have been taken out ans converted into classrooms.

Sidi Bou Said

Trip to Madrid and Cordoba

visit the islands of Thailand

the islands of Thailand

click here for a perfect trip to Thailand!

Interactions questionnaire

INTERACTIONS

Teaching English Radio 'Teaching New Language'

This month the British Council's Teaching English Radio series again reached more new listeners in Tunisia as the third programme was broadcasted on the 'The English Programme 'on RCTI.

Apart from the well-known presenter Hayet Toukabri there was a studio audience,which included local Tunisian teachers/trainers and special guest Kiros Langston,Teacher Trainer at British Council Tunis.
This month's theme of discussion on the English programme was 'Teaching New Language' which produced interesting suggestions and a lively debate on inductive versus deductive learning.

Hayet,the radio presenter,and the studio audience preparing before going live!
Click RTCI Facebook for more info
Tune in on Friday the 20th April (2.00-3.00pm) for the next programme of  Teaching English Radio to hear a discussion on ''Teaching Reading'' plus more chances to improve your listening skills and win some great prizes!

Venus and Jupiter!

David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust Anniversary

Ziggy Stardust

BBC David Bowie

Looking at the Stars

Star gazing

British Cuisine

British Recipes

Travelling in a time machine!

travel

Davy Jones Tribute

The Monkees lead Dave Jones Tribute

click here for more pictures!

Davy Jones Dies

Dave Jones of the Monkees dies from a serious heart attack,such sad news,he was only 66!
Back in the 60s I used to watch the TV show 'The Monkees'.
He had a great voice!
click Davy Jones for the complete story

Teaching English Radio 'Using English in the Classroom'

This month the British Council's Teaching English Radio series reached more new listeners in Tunisia as the second programme was broadcasted on the 'The English Programme 'on RCTI.

Apart from the well-known presenter Hayet Toukabri there was a studio audience,which included local Tunisian teachers and special guest Nick Humphries,British Council Regional English Director for the Middle East and North Africa Director.Hayet reminded the listeners of the theme of the previous programme on 'Planning your lessons' before the studio audience introduced themselves.This month's theme of discussion on the English programme was 'Using English in the Classroom' which produced interesting advice and suggestions for encouraging both teachers and students to use English all the time in class.

The studio audience mentioned the importance of creating an English environment right from the first class,so that the students immediately became used to always using English to communicate,even basic classroom language of asking permission to leave the classroom to get a a glass of water or greeting each other when arriving in class.One of the methods that was mentioned to get the students on the right track was a 'social contract' where the students agreed to use English for communication in the classroom.

During the programme there was a question from a fan of RTCI Facebook page:
'Do you think that the English system is likely to produce students who communicate in English?'.
Nick responded that he had been a little nervous about being able to buy an Internet card in a shop in the centre of Tunis.But he was delighted to find that there weren't any communication problems and his impression was that the system was successful in producing people who could communicate in English.

Hayet also mentioned that she had received positive comments from other language presenters ,who said that it was good that there was a good variety of people in the studio audience of the programme who could discuss the topic of English.

Hanan,a teacher who works in Egypt ,said if you teach English then you should use English';one of the studio audience compared this comment to a Chinese proverb 'Teach me how to fish...'

One of the studio audience commented ''it's a pity if you meet a pretty girl and you can't speak English''; Nick responded by saying , ''Ah the language of love is a completely different language.'',causing lots of laughter in the studio.

The issue of translation came up and Ali,said he uses translation if the students don't understand a new word but basically he quickly goes back to using English;Nick mentioned that translation was sometimes necessary but only there if there was a breakdown in communication.

Tune in on Friday the 16th March(2.00-3.00pm) for the next programme of  Teaching English Radio to hear a discussion on ''Teaching new language'' plus more chances to improve your listening skills and win some great prizes! Click the Voacaroo Icon for my feedback!

Voice Recorder >>

Oscars 2012

Oscars 2012 pictures

BBC Oscars 2012 info

The film 'The Artist' won Oscars for Best film,Best Director and Best actor.

Valentine Day Wedding For Ram and Deer!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17009359

Paul McCartney gets his Hollywood Star

Finally Paul McCartney gets his Hollywood star!

Northern Lights from Outer Space

Spectacular moving images of  northern lights seen from outer space.Northern Lights

Blue Balls Fall from the Sky!

Blue balls rained down from the sky in a small hailstorm over the county of Dorset on Thurday afternoon.The balls are jelly-like but not sticky.The person who found the blue balls in his garden is keeping them in his fridge and said he was mystified as to what they could be.Atmospheric pollution caught up in the clouds?

click here for more information on this story

British Food all the rage in Paris!

British food,including the legendary fry-up breakfast,is all the current rage in Paris at local eateries:Rose ,Le Bel Cafe,Marcel;even popular with weekend visitors from London!

Hugo and The Artist both up for best picture Oscar

 

The 3D film 'Hugo' and the film 'The Artist' are both in the running for best picture and best director award in the forthcoming Oscars.'Hugo'has nominations of 11 awards whilst 'The Artist' has 10.

click here for further information on the Oscars

  

Year of the Dragon!

Happy Chinese New Year everybody!

click http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-16675356 for a short video!

click http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-16670305 for some great pictures of the celebrations!

Wish I was in Bangkok to celebrate the New Year New! Nothing happening here!
In London the celebrations take place next Sunday beginning with a big parade in Chinatown and culminating with a big fireworks display in Trafalgar Square!
click http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4733685-chinese-new-year-in-london for more info

Teaching English Radio goes live on RCTI Tunis!

Today the British Council Teaching series of English Radio programme reached many new listeners in Tunisa as the first programme was broadcasted on the 'The English Programme 'on the Tunisian radio station RCTI. Apart from the well-known presenter Hayet Toukabri there was a studio audience,which included local Tunisian teacher/trainers and teacher trainer,Kiros Langston and Project Manager,Christina Phelps from British Council Tunis.As the studio audience was gearing themselves up for the discussion,the song 'The Greatest Love of All ' was played 'the children are our future.. teach them well ' George Benson sang.

The theme of discussion on the English programme was 'lesson planning' which produced many thought provoking comments:
 'you fail to plan,you plan to fail', 'without planning you're heading nowhere'.Later I found out that Olfa,a teacher at British Council Tunis said she'd listened to the programme finding lots of useful advice and ideas,so the programme was even useful for experienced teachers as well as newly qualified ones.

Even,my taxi driver,even though he only speaks a few English words,had listened to the programme.

On the programme there was a call-in quiz with lots of exciting prizes to be won;although many of the callers weren't teachers,one of  the callers was a manager of a patisserie,who listens to the English programme every day,came up with the correct answer.The last caller to answer the final quiz question was a new listener and had decided to tune in after seeing the advert for the show.
Surprisingly none of the callers were able to name the countries that were mentioned in the programme.

Tune in for the next programme of the Teaching English Radio and more chances to win some great prizes on  Friday the 17th February!

Auditions

Went to Sindbad Studio,just 5 minutes from the British Council,to do an audition for a film for the Discovery Channel.An American accent was needed but I don't think I could ever really do accents but the audition was fun to do.

Empty Beaches in Tunisia

Empty beaches,empty hotels!
What should Tunisia do to bring back the tourists?

click http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/9677417.stm
for a recent report on the situation in Tunisia.

Tunisia Revolution :anniversary 14th January

Anniversary of the Tunisia Revolution;14th January has been declared a national holiday but not for the service workers,such as hotel/cafe/restaurant workers or taxi drivers.
There were celebrations in the centre of Tunis with many hundreds of people filling Avenue Bourguiba.

Upstairs at Mille Feuilles bookshop in La Marsa there is an exhibition of photographs taken in January 2011;capturing some key images of that momentous time.This evening,to celebrate the anniversary,many of the photographerswere at the exhibition to sign copies of the book ' Degage! ',which contain numerous iconic images,mostly in black and white with some of them highlighting one part of the image in red.

Yesterday,a cruise ship,the Costa Concordia ran aground off the West Coast of Italy;forty people are still believed to be missing.

Wind swept Tunis

It's been quite blustery in Tunis but probrably not as much in England where storms have battered many places.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve,spectacular fireworks display at the London Eye.
Tony celebrated it with Lucia and their friends from the tennis club;they went to the Duje of Cambridge pub.
At the London Eye met a family who had driven from Hertfordshire to see the fireworks.
Quite a few Chinese tourists but while chatting to them they didn't know about the activist Wei Wei or the recent stikes in Shenshen,in the south of China;the news in China must be censored a lot.
On the way to Vauxhall,to get the bus home;it seemed it was too crowded to get into Waterloo train station,an Indian man had been attacked by a young black guy.The Indian man had desperately held onto his attacker but seemed to have aggravated his injuries as blood was streaming down his face.Two policemen soon came along;one of them on a motorbike.
At Vauxhall bus station
an elderly couple who'd tried unsuccesfully to see the fireworks from the Strand but were stuck in the enclosed area and unable to leave told me they had also seen
an Indian man attacked.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=Xy_9bx6U8_0