SUMMARY OF THE PILGRIMS COURSE, BRITISH LIFE, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, CANTERBURY, UK I have been teaching English at NC Mihai

Viteazul, Ploiesti for 21 years and in 2011 I had the fortunate opportunity to be offered by our National Agency a teacher training course with Pilgrims Language Courses at the University of Kent at Canterbury, in the UK. As Im interested in teaching English language in the cultural context of the country and curious to find out new things in a direct, experimental way I chose British Life, Language and Culture in England. Throughout the course, a friendly and supportive atmosphere was created, which encouraged learning and met our professional needs. My linguistic competence has definitely improved especially in the area of spoken English and I have also caught a glimpse of authentic English culture and everyday life. From Monday to Friday, the core course started a 9.00 each morning and we had three 11/2 hour sessions with our trainer Paul Charles Davis(PC Davis as he called himself) finishing at 15.30 each day. From 16.00-17.30 we were invited to join the optional afternoon programme of workshops and seminars. The evening programme of workshops and personal interest and development activities took place from 20.00-21.30. During the course we actively listened to a number of native speakers: - Teresa Adams, Deputy Head Mistress, about the UK school system, - Sally Farley on working with Special Needs Learners, - Jodie Brown, a Community Police Officer, on her work, - Father Geldard, A Catholic Chapelain on the role of Religious Societies in education and education in general, - Noreen Caplan-Spence, Dyslexia Coordinator, about a Black persons life in England. Afterwards we analysed the language they used with the following things in mind: a. language and facts that struck us: -The-stay-in-the-car years referred to a special needs person(better said service user, to be politically correct). - Teresa was on secondment at another school to help the manager as they were having problems and she was a very good manager. - I says was used in spoken English. - A Mickey Mouse degree was mentioned referring to very obscure skills to study such as Golf Course Management. - Jodie, Police Community Support Officer had no weapons, no handcuffs. She just talked to people on the street, getting in a gossip. Surprisingly, she earns more than a teacher. - Very few people in England go to church. b. chunks we liked or wanted to remember: - challenges instead of problems, - travelers for gypsies, - mixed catchement area(the surrounding areas from which students come to universities), - We differentiate, thats a word that we love(said Teresa), - a rough school(there are criminals and the police know about them),

- The students arrive bright-eyed and bushy-tailed(the use of this binomio suggests innocence and enthusiasm), - If you produce three unsatisfactory lessons you will find yourself on a process(Teresa said euphemistically). - One of several British mottos: Dipso, Fatso, Bingo, Asbo, Tesco c. features of spoken English: - First of all the eye contact was very important; we felt as if the speakers were talking to each and every one of us. - Words such as: well, yeah, you know, really, there we go, a bit, quite show that the British often use softeners as they dont like to be too direct. With Shes a bit on the slow side.or They are quite aspirational. when talking about her students, Teresa shows she is a diplomat. - The use of deixis to express annoyance: one of those jobs you dont want to do, - A lot of colloquial English was used, phrasal verbs, idioms and and fixed expressions. d. unexpected cultural bumps: - The English are negatively polite, that is they respect the persons independence and space(e.g. Dont let me disturb you.). - They use a lot of softeners(hedges) and vague language. Sometimes it is difficult for a foreigner to catch the underlying irony. - Humour is also sprinkled in the speeches. At times you need cultural knowledge to understand a little joke or to pay attention to the play upon words(pun). When we went to town we were also encouraged to listen and observe in shops, pubs or buses the language people use, norms of behaviour and to stay away from glitches as much as possible. I noticed that in shops when people pay they give the money in the hand and when the shop assistant gives you the change he or she waits for you to receive it in the hand as well. Another fact that struck me was a sign at the Tate Gallery in London which appears excessively polite: Celebrate the ability of climbing the stairs and give priority to those who cannot to use the lifts. Amoung other areas we focused on during the course were: - spoken grammar, - cliches and twisted clichs, - indirectness and vagueness, - positive an negative politeness, - stereotypes(I was surprised to find out that the top stereotype is their love of pubs followed by weather.), - teenage talk(By using words such as whatever, like, or something, sort of or thing they dont want to sound too authoritative.), - the phenomenon of political correctness(artificial fibres instead of man-made fibers), - the tendency to verbalise in English(objects, parts of the body, animals can easily become verbs. For example, squirrel means hide something or if you carpet the floor you put a carpet on the floor.) - English humour, - Words that the English borrowed from other languages,

Changes in the language and modernisms(chav is a derogatory term for a young working class person who dresses in casual sports clothing;bogof means buy one, get one free; the word like has developed several non-traditional uses in informal speech). I also took part in the afternoon and evening sessions and I want to mention - Drama Activities with Peter Dyer, - Understanding Art and Teachers as Leaders with Robert Gillan, - The Cultural Background of London Used to Promote Language Learning in the Classroom with Alan Green, - Various Approaches to Textbook with Silvia Stephan, - Challenges with Kevin Batchelor. In the end I realize that the real beneficiaries of this training course are my students with whom Ill share the knowledge acquired in England. Theyll be aware of the different aspects of life, theyll know how to behave in multicultural environments and how to adapt to different cultures. The following quotation will guide my future career: A mediocre teacher tells. A good teacher explains. A superior teacher demonstrates. A great teacher inspires.(W.A. Ward) Vasilica Pana, professor lb. engleza CN Mihai Viteazul,Ploiesti