Big Ben School Heroes FREE workshop for Big Ben School children

A heroic Sunday full of learning, fun, games and little heroes

What was it?

A free workshop organised by Big Ben School of languages for students of the centre. There were two free workshops conducted with one being for children aged 6-7 and a second workshop for children aged 8-9. The theme of the workshops was Heroes; with this discussions and activities took place based on superheroes or real heroes. But more importantly structures, vocabulary and English learnt previously at Big Ben were implemented and put into practice.

What happened?

Essentially children came at the weekend, they learnt, they laughed, they spoke and they left with smiles upon their faces.To add more detail however, revision took place of previously used classroom English. Familiar English to the children but used in a different setting with new themes. An important part of the language learning process is taking what has already been learnt and to add upon it with new words or settings to make the learner more adapt and comfortable when using another language. With revision occurring the next added ingredient was to learn new words and structures, of course this was through heroes and superheroes. Finally with the new words learnt and discussed it was then vital to practice through speaking, writing and reading worksheets or games.

What was learnt and achieved?

Although Heroes might seem simplistic in its nature much can be learnt through the theme. For example: What can a superhero do? They can fly, they can run really fast, they help people. All answers and words which can be used in different contexts.

When talking about real life heroes discussion of what characteristics this person has took place. They are brave, strong, fearless, smart etc. Again all great words which can be used in the students’ future use of English.

Overall what was achieved though was the ability for the children to come and use their English base whilst enhancing and adding new words or themes to their knowledge level.

Cu totii ne dorim un sistem de invatare prietenos pentru copiii nostri, care sa le ofere oportunitatea de a invata cu placere, de a fi apreciati si incurajati sa se dezvolte.

Cei de la Big Ben School of Languages fac o treaba minunata iar noi i-am cunoscut indeaproape lucrand impreuna la un proiect online de amploare.

Dar mai intai, cateva lucruri despre Big Ben School of Languages:
Big Ben School of Languages a fost infiintat in anul 2009 ca centru de limbi straine pentru copii iar din 2010 cursurile sale de limbi straine se adreseaza si adultilor.

Big Ben School of Languages este printre cele mai prestigioase centre de limbi straine din Bucuresti si este centru de examinare autorizat pentru examenele Cambridge si Trinity.

Stilul de predare consacrat de Big Ben School of Languages este unic si face ca progresul cursantilor sa fie uimitor si rapid, in conditii relaxante, placute si distractive.

Important este ca la finalul fiecarei ore de curs elevul desprinde nu numai noi cunostinte, ci este impulsionat sa creada in reusita sa, dezvoltandu-si astfel noi abilitati.

Si cum o scoala atat de minunata in care inveti de placere trebuia sa comunice cat mai eficient si in timp real cu elevii, parintii, cei de la Big Ben School of Languages au ales Creative Ones pentru a pune la punct un sistem online de management al relatiei cu clientii, adica un CRM. Si nu numai, un catalog scolar ce poate fi accesat online si de catre parinti.

Va povestim in cele de urmeaza.
Din acest punct de vedere, Big Ben School of Languages este un exemplu pentru orice institutie de invatamant care se respecta si care, mai ales, isi respecta clientii. Practic, stilul de invatare pe care Big Ben School of Languages il promoveaza este foarte bine sustinut de modul in care este administrata relatia cu elevii, parintii, profesorii, modul in care se comunica, se genereaza feedback-ul bine fundamentat.

Catalogul scolii este online – adica este usor de accesat, de oriunde te-ai afla, conectat la internet, este prietenos si usor de folosit. Notele sunt afisate in timp real, la fel si absentele.

Fiecare cursant are propriul sau profil, un folder, de fapt, care inmagazineaza toata informatia si tot istoricul relatiei sale cu scoala in calitate de elev.

Practic, parintele are un tablou complet si poate gestiona usor ce se intampla, ce invata copilul sau si cum progreseaza.
Este vorba despre informatii personale dar si teme ce trebuie rezolvate, calificative, rapoarte periodice care inregistreaza progresele facute pe durata invatarii, mesaje pe care profesorul le transmite, observatii si recomandari utile, competente dobandite, participari speciale (examene internationale, tabere, lectii gratuite etc.), diplome.

CRM-ul dezvoltat de Creative Ones a luat in calcul toate nevoile de informare ale clientilor si de mentinere a contactului cu scoala.

Parintii pot primi notificari prin e-mail atunci cand sunt profesorul incarca documente noi sau apar diverse modificari.
La fel, copiii pot primi temele pe e-mail sau pot fi notificati cand este cazul sa isi verifice contul pentru a accesa noi teme.

Pentru o activitate bine controlata, profesorii au fiecare spatiu dedicat in CRM, spatiu ce contine informatii personale, orar, salile pentru fiecare clasa in care predau, eventualele absente.
In acest spatiu, profesorii pot genera rapoarte legate de progresele elevilor precum si diplome.
De asemenea, CRM-ul inregistreaza implicarea profesorilor in proiecte, activitatea pe blog, punctualitatea introducerii datelor.

Asa cum ne-am obisnuit deja clientii care detin un CRM Creative Ones, componenta de time tracking este foarte importanta. CRM-ul dezvoltat pentru Big Ben School monitorizeaza si timpul petrecut sau modificarile efectuate de fiecare profesor.

Nu au fost omise nici aspecte precum: crearea de albume foto cu absolventii, e-mail-uri trimise automat cu urari de ziua copilului etc.

Toate acestea avand ca scop crearea unei comunitati in jurul scolii de parinti multumiti si de elevi care inregistreaza progrese notabile intr-un mediu prietenos.

Acum ca stiti atatea lucruri despre Big Ben School si despre atentia deosebita pe care ei o acorda clientilor, cu siguranta veti lua mai usor decizia de a apela la serviciile lor.

Acest articol a fost publicat de catre partenerii nostri pe partea de mentenanta web, creative-ones.com

As the winter winds creep in and the autumn colours flourish a plethora of oranges can be seen throughout the busy city of Bucharest.

A bounty of orange can be seen at Big Ben also, what is occurring to warrant such an amount of orange and various other theme related items, well Halloween; from ghosts to skeletons and witches hats the language centre has been adorned with decorations for this American traditional holiday. Strange how it’s called a holiday when working still ensues.

I have conflicting views regarding Halloween, it is not such an English holiday, not such a celebrated occasion, not such an over hyped event to be pursued as our American friends.
Therefore going into Halloween and work I was not so thrilled about the event, however my stubborn nature was soon broken down by seeing such little angels in adorable costumes.

There were no angels to be seen amongst the various costumes but many other creative costumes to be admired. I happened across little vampires, witches, an assortment of animals, friendly devils and of course little princesses.
The majority of the staff also had rather imaginative costumes; with prior commitments I was unable to dress up in a traditional Halloween costume but it seemed people did not believe that my costume was of a Romanian guy.

As well as the fun costumes to be seen there was a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere at Big Ben, possibly due to funny Halloween related activities. However I think it’s because the children had been given sweets (Not Candies as our American friends prefer to say) and were filled with sugary goodness. I may have received a sweet or two which perked me up also.

For now the costumes have been stored away and Halloween rolls on; the autumn oranges will soon be replaced with winter whites and darker days, until then let’s enjoy the beauty of this seasonal period.

Mark Wrycraft

– My first week impressions –

Another teaching year ensues then, where the summer went I am unsure, it either went lightning quick or serenely slow. It is hard to gauge, at times I feel the summer was a quick dream, at other times there were slow uncomfortable periods where time seemed to drag eternally.

Whatever the case may be another summer has eclipsed us, the teaching year is upon us and nerves and excitement are twinging in the air.

How do I feel returning for year two at Big Ben School, there are a constant cohort of feelings that warp my mind, in general not just regarding Big Ben. Overall I am excited, the 1st year was a learning year, much was learnt not just about the ways of Big Ben but also about teaching methods and techniques. The biggest learning however took place within myself, certainly it was an interesting year away from rainy England moving so far east. It is not always easy, Bucharest can drag you down but luckily for me there are people and places that light the way once again.

With starting I was excited but also nervous, last teaching year I started Big Ben in October which meant skipping the chaos of the 1st academic week of the school year. With this being my second year I also want to improve, there is a pressure from within myself to perform to a higher standard, I want my students to learn and be happy as well as their parents to notice the improvements and be joyous with their child’s progress.

Also though I want my colleagues and management to admire the work I am undertaking, I have learnt much from my colleagues and respect the work they do, however I don’t want to be just learning, I also want to give and hopefully teach my colleagues something new along my Big Ben journey. After all, if we are not improving and growing we are just wilting flowers.

The 1st week came and went more smoothly than anticipated, there was an occasional hiccup but nothing major, the children class by class came with eager enthusiasm and smiles of joy upon meeting their new or old teachers. Classes throughout the building were filled with laughter, jokes and an eagerness to get the year started.

I must give special commendation to the reception team, the boss and her support staff during the 1st week, as I descended the stairs my 1st teaching day with a class what greeted me was a sea of parents and children, this is natural for the 1st week.
They children in my classes were all great this 1st week, from the little ones to the teenagers, they have a youthfulness and excitement for life that only a child can possess. I am highly thrilled to be teaching them this year, there are an abundance of characters from the quieter or more reserved children to the louder and more boisterous personas. Each will learn differently and each shall offer something different to the classroom environment, it is up to me to nurture their growth and learning.

The upcoming year will not always be so easy, what is upcoming I have no idea, this is life, but I am eager to see how it plays out and make the most of my continued venture at Big Ben School. I shall finish below with one of my favourite quotes:

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift …………..

………….That is why it is called the present

Mark Wrycraft

A venit vacanța cu trenul din Franța? Asta înseamnă un singur lucru! Se aproprie cu pași repezi tabăra Big Ben School, care nu vine cu trenul, ci cu un autocar plin cu profesori nativi englezi și germani, puși pe distracție, pregătiți să învețe secretele copilăriei veșnice de la cursanții noștri.

Rețeta este simplă și cu efect scontat. Într-un tărâm de poveste din zona Rucăr, Argeș, adăugăm o porție de profesori nativi englezi și germani, pe care îi asezonăm cu un autocar de cursanți gata să învețe tainele limbilor străine la aer curat. Presărăm totul cu activități educative și distractive, stropim cu voie bună, pudrăm cu jocuri inventive pe ritmuri muzicale energice și garnisim totul cu puțină aventură montană, numai bună pentru a da pofta de mâncare și a înlesni somnul celor mici.

Nu în ultimul rând, completăm cu câteva esențe speciale pentru o tabără de neuitat: vreme frumoasă, cer senin, foc de tabără, concurs de fotografie, karaoke, carnaval, plimbări la ceas de seară…și multe alte surprize dulci.

Rezultatul? O tabără numai bună…de rămas în amintirea cursanților.

Haideți să scriem împreună încă o filă din rețetarul celor mai frumoase tabere, alături de Big Ben School.

Puteti viziona poze si filmulete din tabara Big Ben School pe pagina de Facebook si pe contul de You al Big Ben School.