At the weekend, I had my starting fourth dimension trip to Moscow inwards xxx years too my starting fourth dimension independently-organized instructor preparation workshop.
I've been doing instructor preparation inwards some shape for to a greater extent than than xv years, but it's ever been organized yesteryear someone else. I've given talks too workshops at conferences too at events organized yesteryear publishers too I've taught on the Oxford University ELT summertime seminar (ELTSS). I’ve occasionally been contacted straight yesteryear teachers or institutions asking if I'd create some preparation for them, but until now, the requests accept ever been either likewise broad inwards their compass or they simply haven't fitted into my schedule. But when I was contacted yesteryear a Russian instructor asking if I'd create something for teachers inwards Moscow, it sounded to a greater extent than feasible; a twenty-four hr menstruum of workshops on Teaching Advanced Writing Skills, a topic I'd previously covered at ELTSS. So I said yes.
I've been looking for novel avenues of run too thinking almost opportunities to 'go solo' too it seemed similar a proficient gamble to dip a toe into a slightly novel pond. So how did it go? Was it worth it? And would I create it again?
Arranging the trip:
The starting fourth dimension dilemma was deciding on a fee. The workshop was for an independent grouping of teachers, rather than a large organization, so I didn't desire to accuse likewise high a fee, but neither did I desire to sell myself brusk or leave of absence myself out of pocket. After a few mental calculations (the fourth dimension I'd hold upwards working, fourth dimension travelling, fourth dimension for preparation), I came upwards alongside a fee + expenses that my Russian contact was happy to concur to. It was exclusively inwards retrospect that I realized I should accept thrown a few to a greater extent than factors into my calculation ... I hadn't reckoned on the fourth dimension too endeavor that getting a Russian visa would involve. In total, it in all likelihood took me 3 or 4 total working days of to-ing too fro-ing, getting together everything I needed for the application, too then a twenty-four hr menstruum travelling to the Russian diplomatic mission inwards London because y'all accept to apply inwards person.
Overall, the extra fourth dimension to acquire everything sorted agency that I in all likelihood didn't brand that much financially out of the trip, but neither did I brand a loss. So equally a learning experience, it was definitely worth it. For whatever futurity trips, I'll know to element inwards a flake to a greater extent than admin time, summation to a greater extent than for anywhere alongside complicated visas.
Moscow:
What alongside all the endeavor of getting there, it would accept been foolish non to add together on a flake of fourth dimension for sightseeing, so I arrived a twenty-four hr menstruum early on too gave myself a total twenty-four hr menstruum later the workshop likewise to acquire out too almost inwards the Russian capital. I'd concluding visited on a schoolhouse trip way dorsum inwards 1986 inwards a wholly dissimilar era. Back too then nosotros were shepherded unopen to nether the watchful eye, too painfully irksome English, of an official lead too spent a lot of our fourth dimension shuffling slow circular museums. So it was lovely to accept the liberty to wander around, jumping on too off the fabulous Metro too making frequent java stops partly to warm upwards too partly to people-watch. Of course, the large architectural sights (the Kremlin, St Basil's etc.) were unchanged, but the Soviet era grayness has been replaced alongside lite too coloring too shops ... lots of shops! And it fifty-fifty snowed likewise simply earlier I left, giving everywhere that picture-postcard feel.
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| Looking across Red Square to St Basil's Cathedral |
The training:
I was made slightly nervous at the start of the twenty-four hr menstruum when the organizer explained that some of the teachers had travelled from other parts of Russian Federation simply for my workshop ... no pressure level then?! As presently equally I got into my stream too the participants were grin too nodding though, I relaxed too fourth dimension flew. It was quite a full-on twenty-four hr menstruum alongside v too a one-half hours of workshops (split into 3 sessions), but the teachers' enthusiasm too willingness to engage didn't seem to flag, despite a slightly warm room. I used a mix of tried too tested fabric summation a few novel ideas (thanks to Kath Bilsborough for passing on the 'exit cards' idea, they worked a treat!). I was also pleased that I'd asked the participants to electronic mail me a brusk summary of their educational activity context inwards advance, it helped to know a piddling almost them too it also gave me a sample of their writing to give some feedback on ... they took it good and, fingers crossed, no ane was offended yesteryear my feedback. All round, it was a truly enjoyable day, a pleasance to run into such a lovely grouping of teachers too the feedback so far has been real positive.
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| With some of the workshop participants |
Would I create it again?
Definitely! It had all the summation points that preparation ever has - coming together novel people, finding out almost dissimilar educational activity contexts too simply the buzz of the interaction - summation the added create goodness of existence able to create my ain thing. It would hold upwards cracking to create similar things elsewhere either on the same topic or inwards ane of my other favourite areas. And to hold upwards honest, apart from factoring inwards a flake to a greater extent than admin time, I don't recall I'd alter likewise much. Thanks to everyone for making the twenty-four hr menstruum such a success!
If you're interested inwards arranging instructor preparation workshops inwards the areas of educational activity writing skills, vocabulary or EAP, too then driblet me a business - contact details on my website www.juleswords.co.uk
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