Odata cu luna septembrie, Big Ben School isi redeschide portile. Se suna clopotelul!

Centrul nostru s-a imbracat in haine noi de sarbatoare si asteapta cu nerabdare cursantii. Clasele sunt reimprospatate si decorate pe gustul copiilor, bancile frumos aranjate si jocurile preferate ale celor mici puse la loc de cinste. In curand, elevii vor veni si vor umple toate clasele cu energia lor debordanta, zambete, rasete si voie buna.

Insa, inainte de toate, apare emotia.

Cu totii ne amintim de emotia primei zile de scoala, nerabdarea de a ne cunoaste profesorii, colegii si viitorii prieteni, scoala in care vom invata si manualele pe care le vom avea. Cu totii ne amintim, insa, si de frica de a ne desparti de parinti, de nesiguranta, scepticismul in ceea ce priveste viitorul an scolar, de intrebari precum ‘Oare o sa ma integrez?’, ‘Oare ma voi descurca?’.
Profesorii Big Ben School sunt pregatiti si vor avea grija ca emotia si nesiguranta sa fie uitate din primele minute de curs. Prima zi de scoala este una speciala si ar trebui tratata ca atare, iar cei mici isi vor face o idee despre cum se va desfasura intregul an scolar.

Pentru prima zi, am pregatit o multime de jocuri prin care elevii isi vor cunoaste mai bine profesorii si colegii, proiecte prin care vor ajuta la decorarea clasei, pentru a se acomoda mult mai usor si filmulete haioase pentru a-i destinde, din care vor avea multe de invatat. Le vom starni curiozitatea prin prezentarea manualelor, personajelor si povestilor aferente. Le vom povesti despre platforma online, vor afla ca pot primi cartonase verzi daca se descurca bine, ca cel mai bun cursant va deveni copilul saptamanii si va aparea pe panoul scolii, ca le vom trimite mereu temele atunci cand vor lipsi si ca vom recapitula fiecare unitate predata, pentru a ne asigura ca nimeni nu ramane in urma.

Cel mai important, le vom castiga increderea, vom fi prietenii lor si ii vom asculta indiferent de situatie.

Scopul nostru principal este ca cei mici sa participe la cursuri cu placere, sa se reintoarca mereu cu zambetul pe buze si sa isi doreasca sa invete limbile straine din proprie initiativa.
Asadar, cursantii nici nu vor mai avea timp sa se gandeasca la emotii, orele de curs vor fi extrem de interactive, atragatoare si diverse, iar acestia vor vedea ca invatarea unei limbi straine este un joc din care avem numai de castigat!

Bine ati venit sau revenit la Big Ben School! Va promitem o experienta cu adevarat memorabia!

The numbers

1 Native Teacher; 16 children; 4 weeks, 6 total hours; 3 great performances and uncountable laughs.

The Main Show

A 4 week drama course conducted by Big Ben’s native English Teacher Mark Wrycraft. Certainly not the star of the show Mark facilitated the children unknowingly for them to collaborate in small teams to achieve more as a collective group rather than as individuals.

During the 4 weeks an overarching theme was presented for each of the sessions culminating in one final filmed performance for each of the three groups to demonstrate what they had prepared over the classes.

Group work was a fundamental aspect of the course but whole group games or activities took place giving the children opportunities to interact and more importantly practice their English skills with all the course participants.

Assistance and guidance was shared amongst each group with acting tips and skills instructed upon all the members of the course to implement within their performances.

The Rehearsals

Week One:
An introductory week with ice breakers and get to know you games with the premise of the course being discussed.

Three groups were also selected randomly with the groups then having a short amount of time to prepare a 3-5 minute skit (Short performance) to demonstrate at the end of the session.

Week Two:
With the previous week’s session placing children randomly they had some shared experience of working together; this week they would be pushed to work together further creating a delicate part of the final drama performance.

Each group was given a theme based on “The animal Kingdom” and within their groups they had to generate ideas and ultimately finalise a script for themselves.

Confidence building games were used and vocal activities played to get the children focusing on their characters voices.

Week 3:
With a script prepared, lines learnt and the children having thought about their characters the next ingredient was to add movement and stage presence.

This was accomplished by games once more and teacher supervision as well as feedback from the other groups.

Week 4:
The final week saw the children work together to finalize and improve their collective performances combining everything they had learnt the previous 3 weeks to produce a final performance with the added pressure of being filmed.

To take the edge off and to celebrate the final week amusing or more creative drama games were played.
Following the final performances the participants received a diploma for the course and each child spoke a few last minute words regarding what they learnt or enjoyed over the period of the course.

The Real Show

Although Drama was at the forefront of the 4 week workshop the overall winner was English; A rule implemented into the course was for the children to use ONLY English.
With this in mind children tried their hardest to make themselves understood or portray their thoughts or ideas by having to explain and choose their word choices carefully.

With this challenge of only using English another task combatted nicely by the children was group collaboration on an overarching drama performance. With the groups combined randomly and not by groups of friends certainly the children were a little nervous and sceptical at having to work with new faces or personalities.

However in each group leaders shone through and new companionships were created resulting in splendid teamwork to achieve a wonderful last dramatic showcase from each of the three partaking groups.

Overall the Drama course was a success in terms of the children vitally practicing their English in various spoken contexts as well as paring groups of children to then see them cooperate together on a group project which they accomplished with smiles upon their faces and a cheerfulness in their voices.

 De ce sa alegem Taberele Big Ben School?

Departe de orasul aglomerat, interminabilele paduri si pajisti verzi, cerul mereu senin si briza racoroasa ne indeamna la distractie. Rasetele copiilor, activitatile amuzante si nenumaratele discutii interesante anima pasnicul peisaj rural.

Povesti remarcabile si amintiri nemaipomenite capata viata prin intermediul limbii straine. Limbajul ne conecteaza, iar engleza si germana sunt sursele de energie care alimenteaza conversatii fascinante.

Pe masura ce se intuneca, stele stralucitoare lumineaza cerul, iar adultii devin din nou copii, in timp ce privesc impreuna bucuria naturii.

A fost o zi incredibila, plina de jocuri si cantecele distractive, copiii s-au ales cu prieteni pe viata si au aflat multe lucruri noi.  La finalul zilei, un moment de liniste este binevenit, moment in care rememoram amintirile placute si ne bucuram de minunatul spectacol al naturii.

Aceasta mica scena nu face parte dintr-un film sau dintr-o carte, ci dintr-o zi obisnuita petrecuta in tabara Big Ben School, unde aventurile sunt la ordinea zilei.

Exista nenumarate motive pentru care sa alegem taberele Big Ben School, insa, mai jos, le-am enumerat pe cele mai importante.

Siguranta

Inainte sa pornim in marea aventura, urmam etapele necesare cu privire la sanatatea si siguranta celor mici. Ne asiguram ca stim totul despre copilasi, inclusiv bolile de care sufera, alergii, temeri etc., pentru a face cat mai usoara trecerea de la siguranta caminului in bratele primitoare ale personalului Big Ben School.

In ziua plecarii, fiecare copil este intampinat calduros de ‘parintele adoptiv’ din tabara, care va avea grija de el pe tot parcursul saptamanii, timp in care va fi tratat cu respect, grija si cu un zambet prietenos. Prioritatea este ca cel mic sa interactioneze cu ceilalti copii, sa-si faca prieteni si sa descopere lucruri noi in fiecare zi.

Drumul pana la locatie este supervizat de personalul Big Ben, care ii distreaza pe cei mici pentru a inlatura dorul de casa.

Odata ajunsi in tabara, dam drumul la distractie. Locatia este intr-un mediu sigur, prietenos, are toate dotarile si este aproape de diverse facilitati.

Activitati

Taberele Big Ben sunt unice deoarece cuprind nenumarate activitati care stimuleaza imaginatia copiilor. De la dans, cantat, activitati de scris, vorbit, pictat, fotografiat, la activitati sportive si relaxante, plimbari si drumetii.

Activitatile sunt potrivite pentru varsta si nivelul copiilor. Cei mici se joaca diverse jocuri captivante si traditionale in engleza sau germana, iar cei mari poarta discutii legate de diverse teme fascinante, care le pun la incercare imaginatia debordanta.

Uneori, activitatile sunt separate, alteori, toti copilasii se reunesc la diverse evenimente, create pentru a-i distra si pentru a-si impartasi cunostintele. Astfel, se creeaza o unitate si un spirit civic comun.

Activitatile create exclusiv in engleza sau germana au rolul de a-i distra pe cei mici si de a-i invata lucruri noi prin intermediul experientelor distractive si interactive.

Personalul

Intrucat ne gandim la siguranta celor mici, taberele Big Ben sunt diferite, raportul maxim dintre copii si membrii personalului fiind de 10 copilasi la 1 membru al personalului. Astfel, acestia chiar sunt ‘parintii adoptivi’ ai taberei, se ocupa cu grija de fiecare copil in parte si se asigura ca cei mici au parte de experiente si interactiuni de neuitat.

Membrii personalului devin repede prietenii celor mici, au experiente comune, iar cei mici se simt in siguranta intrucat majoritatea profesorilor sunt cunoscuti si prietenosi.

Bineinteles, membrii personalului, atat profesorii romani, cat si cei nativi, sunt prieteni la randul lor, lucreaza si se distreaza impreuna si totul se impleteste in frumoasa si marea familie Big Ben.

Cum am spus si mai devreme, exista mult mai multe motive pentru care sa va trimiteti copilul in tabara Big Ben. Distractia va asteapta! Atentie, insa, locurile sunt limitate.

Pentru mai multe informatii va rugam sa ne contactati la numarul de telefon 0751.385.518 sau pe mail la adresa cursuri@bigbenschool.ro.

Atelier gratuit – Heroes (Eroii)

Atelierul GRATUIT cu tema ‘Heroes’, organizat de Big Ben School pentru cursantii centrului

O duminca distractiva, presarata cu informatii noi, jocuri si eroi mititei

Despre ce a fost vorba?

Un atelier gratuit organizat de Big Ben School pentru cursantii scolii. Au avut loc doua ateliere pe aceeasi tema, primul fiind adresat copiilor intre 6 si 7 ani, iar cel de-al doilea celor cu varsta intre 8 si 9 ani. Ambele ateliere au avut ca tema principala ‘Eroii’, toate discutiile si activitatile fiind bazate pe super-eroi sau eroi din viata de zi cu zi. De asemenea, cel mai important lucru a fost ca toate structurile predate la cursurile Big Ben au fost puse in practica in cadrul acestui atelier.

Cum s-a desfasurat atelierul?

Pe scurt, cei mici au participat la atelier duminica, au invatat, au ras, s-au distrat, au vorbit doar in limba engleza si au plecat cu zambetul pe buze. Pentru a descrie mai amanuntit, a avut loc o recapitulare a limbajului invatat de cei mici in clasa. S-a folosit un limbaj familiar, utilizat insa intr-un cadru diferit, cu ajutorul subiectelor noi. O parte importanta a procesului de invatare a limbii engleze este imbogatirea cunostintelor cu ajutorul unor teme interesante si prin adaugarea unor cuvinte noi, pentru a-l ajuta pe cursant sa se adapteze si sa se simta in largul lui atunci cand vorbeste in limba straina. Dupa recapitulare, am adaugat usor cuvinte si structuri noi, avand la baza tema super-eroilor si eroilor. La final, dupa ce am consolidat aceste cuvinte si structuri, un alt pas important a fost exersarea partilor de vorbire, scriere si citire prin intermediul fiselor de lucru si a jocurilor.

Ce am invatat?

Cu toate ca tema ‘Eroii’ poate parea la prima vedere destul de simpla, descoperim ca avem, totusi, foarte multe de invatat. De exemplu: Ce poate sa faca un super-erou? Poate zbura, poate alerga extrem de rapid, poate ajuta oamenii. Avem de-a face cu un vocabular care poate fi folosit in diferite contexte.

Atunci cand discutam despre eroii din viata de zi cu zi, consolidam vocabularul legat de caracterizarea acestor persoane. Sunt curajosi, puternici, neinfricati, inteligenti etc. Din nou, ne lovim de cuvinte care pot fi folosite in continuare de cursanti, in timpul cursului sau in viata de zi cu zi.

Per ansamblu, ceea ce s-a realizat efectiv prin intermediul acestui atelier a fost ca cei mici sa vorbeasca exclusiv in limba engleza si sa asmilieze cuvinte si structuri noi, extrem de folositoare pe viitor, cu ajutorul unei teme indragite de acestia.

Why choose a Big Ben Summer Camp?

Away from the sprawling city poignantly green tress roll endlessly, clear blues canvas the sky and a gentle breeze whispers calmly. Through the winds the day is alight with children’s laughter, amusing activities and discussions fading into the peaceful Romanian countryside.

Unique tales and memories are being told through the power of language. Language is a connector and in this moment English and German are the power sources fuelling such intriguing conversations.

As the evening draws in, sparklingly beautiful stars transcend the façade of the skyline; children and adults stare blissfully with such wonder and youthfulness lighting their eyes.

The day has been magnificent, games have been played, songs sung, friendships formed and the memory bank filled. In this moment of quiet a calmness resides over this group of explorers as they simply enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

This little scene is not from a movie or book, rather the Big Ben summer camp where incredible adventures await every day.

There are many reasons to choose a Big Ben summer camp but listed below are the most prevalent:

Safety

Before the great adventure begins steps are taken to ensure the child’s ultimate health and safety; meticulous research is taken to discover a child’s illnesses, allergies, fears etc. to enable them a smooth transition from the comfort of the parent to the opening arms of Big Bens staff.

Come the big day the child is greeted warmly by his or her custodian for the camp, here they will be spoken to and treated with respect, care and a friendly smile. The priority is then to get the child interacting with his peers, making friends and wondering about the days ahead.

The journey to the camp is supervised and Staff interact and comfort the campers, at the camp a secure location with appropriate facilities is the child’s new home for the week.

The camp location is safe, friendly, and within reach of nearby amenities should they be needed.

Schedule

What makes a Big Ben camp so unique is the intriguing, diverse and stimulating offering of activities and events available for the children.

From singing or dancing passionately, to cooperating through teamwork with sports or to relaxing an invigorating day away by staring at the stars or taking a gentle hike.

Activities are relevant to the children’s ages and language level also; younger campers may find themselves playing a captivating and traditional English or German game. Older teenagers may be heard conversing over a thought provoking and challenging board game advancing their English or German skills.

A similar programme awaits both the English and German learning students but with variants in place where needed; although separate programmes are designed the campers join together for specific events or activities. Thusly this creates a balance, a togetherness and unity between the campers and staff there.

The elegance of the schedule which is conducted completely in English or German is designed to push the children but also to teach them and to learn through fun and interactive experiences. Ultimately they are children and the aim is for them to be free to enjoy their youth with a relaxed and appealing camp adventure.

Staff

Finally many camps oversell or have an unfair balance of children to staff; relating back to safety and the schedule Big Ben applies itself differently, the maximum ratio of campers to 1 staff member is 10 to 1 for the groups with more support staff also helping with proceedings.

Subsequently this allows much more meaningful, inspiring and quality interactions to be had between the staff members and the campers. More time is spent communicating, teaching and allowing the children to practice their English or German which they relish.

Also unique to Big Ben is the familiarity of the staff.

The Big Ben camp staff are employers new and old, they have experience and shared stories with Big Ben. They may know the children or staff through various projects or enterprises.

Of course fresh spirit is always good for a camp and Natives brought in to work are vouched for by colleagues or friends of the Big Ben family tree.

Many more reasons await for you to send your child to a Big Ben camp; places are limited so enquire soon to assure your child’s place.

For more information you can contact Big Ben School at cursuri@bigbenschool.ro or 0751.385.518.