Field Trips

Lincoln Castle

As an English language teacher, I know that my practical experience makes me much better suited to teaching professionals than teenaged students; however, I like the field trips that the Heart of England summer school arrange – for both an afternoon and the whole day. This year, although Alton Towers, Cambridge, York and many other very familiar places were on the agenda, there was also a trip along the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal and an opportunity to learn some circus skills – an activity that I particularly appreciated.

The Sedgwick Museum

With a more liberal attitude adopted this year by the new Head Teacher, and with the option to either go shopping or wandering around a fantastic historic monument – such as Lincoln Castle – I was the only one who put my hand up for the latter!

One of the views of York Minster from the city walls

Nonetheless, also given the choice to opt in or out of activities such as punting, I made the most of my free time to explore some new places that I think that older professional students would be more likely to want to see.

A detail of Triassic sandstone at Alton Towers

The Triassic pebble beds at Alton Towers are spectacular, the Sedgwick Museum in Cambridge is unique and a walk along the York city walls reveals details of Permian rocks and views of the city from high ground.

The Dino Trail at Drayton Manor Park

The Heart of England IV

Tabula

After a break of a couple of years, during which the Heart of England summer school was being reorganised, I was asked back this summer to teach a group of students from Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Seville, Málaga and Madrid – and accompany them on their field trips again.

Cambridge

The need to combine field trips with the younger Rotherham group and other late minute changes to the itinerary ate into the classroom teaching time, and it was harder to structure the lessons than in previous years; however, using some tried and trusted methods, I soon got the students talking freely and discussing a variety of topics.

 

At Victoria Quays

Having been learning Spanish myself - and needing to overcome the problems of self confidence when trying to speak another language - I can empathise with my students and I think that this experience made me a much better English language teacher than before.

Planet Pot

There was good humour, as usual, and I introduced a few new ideas into my lessons - including the games of Scrabble and Tabula, which only required the explanation of a few simple rules.

 

Learning circus skills