minats_zone

Dear everyona, I've just got back from a rather challenging trip to Ekaterinburg.I really got tired there and it was 2.30am when I finally stepped in. The main problem was that I had to carry a pretty large bag with all the training materials (booklets, videos, instructions etc.). This was not easy and my shoulders are still aching. Nevertheless, the whole experience was worth it. I met so many nice young teachers from all over Ural and Siberia and we had so interesting exam sessions with guinea pigs (volunteer candidates - school kids) that this made up for all the problems. My tranees were really highly motivated and it was not difficult to run the sessions with them. The hotel I stayed at was also rather good (its name is 'Fort'; a small, family-run hotel not far from the centre). The weather was really good and sunny. I even managed to walk along the local flee-market (they sell semi-precious stones there and 'Russian Souvenirs' like matreshkas, ushankas etc. th...

Yes, it was my flying visit to Ekaterinburg on these week days. I gave talks on Garnet Education (books for Academic English and ESP) at the Ekaterinburg State University. There were about 30 local teachers from all over Ekaterinburg and I tried to persuade them that Garnet books are the best choice for them in their teaching situations. They agreed but said that having so many restrictions from their local educational authorities may prevent them from using the books with their classes. Bureaucracy and concervatism are still really dominating over common sense in many towns across Russia, especially in smaller ones. Even so, teachers got interested and they can buy the books for themselves and it's really a good thing for their self development. Well, Ekaterinburg was pretty bright and warm for this time of the year and I hope that my next flying visit to this city (on 24-26 October) doing Training and Coordination YLE for Cambridge ESOL will be almost as good. Anyway, look at som...

Hi, there. Though I've posted recently, I see the good reasons to write again and yes, it's our Moscow Indian Autumn which is here to stay. The gloomy forecasters promised the grey skies and rains by the weekend but they were lying, it didn't happen. The Indian Autumn has given us two really great weeks of fabulous colours and blue skies. Not typical of our lands, isn't it? Well, I had a really busy week before this weekend and spent 2 days excorting Andy Cowle (Marshall Cavendish ELT) around Moscow. By the way, you can see him with a friend of mine - Olga Kut'ina at school 1359. He's a really nice, open-minded man from Glasgow. In the background of the photo, there is an interactive whiteboard - not the only one at school 1359. I wish we could have them at other educational institutions, too. Another news is that Marina turned up on Sunday at our dacha with her new boyfriend - K.... The pictures came out not very good (blurred) as it was evening. But you could ...

Hello there. Some time's passed and I realized that I haven't posted to my blog and said about any news in my life during this autumn 2008. Eventually, good, bright and relatively warm days settled in Moscow and I really enjoy the fabulous colours in the streets and from my kitchen-window. You can have a look and make sure I'm not lying. Well, as for the business matters, I've been teaching 4 groups of 1st year students and 2 groups of 2d year students who are studying to become IT engeeneers and businessmen. Generally, they are good kids from all over Russia. I guess they are the children of some important, high profile people as entering HSE is not easy. To be honest, I don't really understand many terms in the IT coursebooks, but trying to give the impression of being knowleagable and confident is the only thing I can do now. That's the point and a trick at the same time from my side. I hope I can understand IT English better when I'm in the middle of the...

It's a bit sad to write about the ongoing autumn and all the responsibilities it brings about. Well, the top news is that after having been looking for a position with a good university or company in a number of places, I decided to settle at HSE (Higher School of Economics). There are some good reasons for that - firstly, it's fairly close to my place in Moscow (only 10 min drive), secondly, students seem to be brighter than in other universities and,last but not least, I'll be teaching IT students - perhaps, it's going to be a kind of challange for me as I don't know much about this brand new area of ELT. As usual, I'll have to struggle to cope with this difficulty. But still, I hope to benefit from this new experience,too. The bad news is that my elder daughter Marina has split up with her husband Alexandr and left home. I don't want to be judgemental, but I can see many good reasons for that. The worst thing about it is that my grandson Stanislav (who i...

Today, I'd definitely say some words about the annual Moscow Book Fair which is held at Pavillion 57 of the People's Achievements Exhibition. This year it took place in September 3-8. I was on duty there on Thusday, Sarurday and Monday. My overall impression was not much different from that I got the previous years - a lot of people, noise, mess and 'junk' books as well as other publications. When I see so much of that in one confined space - it makes me feel a bit sick. Despite this, there were huge crowds of people whose buying capacity seemed to be endless. I don't know whether this is all about extra money some people have these days or the Russians are really a nation of 'book worms'? But still, I'm sorry for all those trees been ruined for the sake of all that junk. We really take too much from nature not returning anything. I tried to search for some new books and managed to find a few good e-books. It was a set of CDs with some good e-poetry rec...

Hi, there. Our return trip to Moscow from Hanoi was rather tiring as we had to stay at the airport for another 7 hours, for the reason that they checked technical conditions of the aircrafr. I think it took place because just a few days before the Spanish aircraft collapsed in Madrid killing 153 people. So we hanged around the airport, had our lunch then boarded the plane. After that some 9 hours of flight to Moscow (thanks God it was smooth and unadventurous). We, finally, got home at 2am Moscow time. So the whole journey took us some 15 hours. Next day was nothing easy either as we were struggling not to get to sleep. But the following days went as usual. I was at RSSU to collect my job register but they tried to persuade me to go on working for them at non-linguistic faculties with the groups of beginners or something accounting for 20-25 students in each group. I rejected this offer as it's not my cup of tea. So, tomorrow I'll resume my attempts there. On my way home, I mad...

So our visit is coming to an end. It's a great pity as there is some touch of freshness and magic in Vietnam. This country is really very different and the difference is in people. Surely, I don't know so many of them, but from what I can see and feel here, I must admit that it's the people who make the difference. Vietnam is developing so quickly, that we, who belong to, perhaps, more 'civilized' but less hard working nations, can only ask: "How do these tiny people manage to do so much and so quickly?" Especially women who are so friendly, good-looking as well as strong at the same time. Well, of course, there are some people sleeping on the banches in the streets and parks, but they are, probably, rural people unable to find a job in a big city. Anyway, Vietnam doesn't give the impression of a 3d world country. On the contrary, it's a fast growing community of quick minded and hard working people. Well, Stanislav was doing his business here, whi...

Oh, I must say time is really flying here. We're leaving for Hanoi tomorrow and tonight I'm sending the last post from this splendid but a bit weird place - Long Hai (a tiny village near our hotel). The thing is that here I really first realized what the tropical climate is like: sudden downpours, sunny spells, thick fogs, starless nights and the last but not least - sand bugs, Yes, they are microscopic, living on sand and flying only to eat human body ( I've been eaten all over while lying on the beach with a book). Now my body is spotted and no ointment helps to stop itching. I had no such problems during my previous visits so I guess the very southern part of Vietnam is not really good for me. Strange as it may seem, but Stanislav doesn't have any problems and seems to be really unwilling to get back to work in Hanoi, Well, now a few words about fun - today we've been to a place called Binh Chau "Hot Springs & Mud Baths". It's different from N...