Common Conversation

19th July

2008-07-17T22:05:00.001+01:00

Liv's teaching beginners, Alan's teaching intermediate. Anyone else coming?

Saturday 5th July

2008-07-03T08:18:00.001+01:00

Lead Teacher for Intermediate: Liv
Lead teacher for beginners:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Coordinator:

Saturday 7th June

2008-06-04T11:36:00.001+01:00

Lead teacher Intermediate:
Lead Teacher Beginners:
Assitant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:

Money matters

2008-06-04T11:34:00.001+01:00

Please leave your thoughts/bright ideas/offers to make us money below (leave a comment). Cheers x

Saturday 31st May

2008-05-28T17:43:00.001+01:00

Lead teacher Intermediate:
Lead Teacher Beginners:
Assitant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:

SAturday 24th May

2008-05-22T18:11:00.002+01:00

Lead tEacher for intermediate: Alan
Lead teacher for beginners: Adele
Coordinator: Ali and Sasha
assistant teachers:
:
:
:
:

Saturday 17th May

2008-05-13T16:31:00.002+01:00

Lead Teacher Intermediate: LIV
Lead Teacher Beginners:
Coordinator:
Assistant teachers:
:
:
:
cooking :
Childcare:

Teacher training sign-up for Sunday 11th May

2008-05-08T11:19:00.002+01:00

Don't forget there's teacher training at The Common Place from 5-7 on Sunday. Could people sign up if they're planning to come so we have an idea of numbers please?

Attending:

Duncan

Walk and picnic on Saturday

2008-05-06T10:45:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone,

An early missive this week as we've decided we need to get Common Conversation out of the Common Place next week. The plan is to meet at Parkinson Steps at the University at 1pm on Saturday, go for a stroll down the Meanwood Valley Trail, then have a picnic in Meanwood Park and play some outdoor games, rounders, frisbee, football ect. We had a pretty low turnout on Saturday due to the Hebden Bridge event (and also no doubt to the good weather), so we need to get the message to as many students as possible over the week. Please pass it on.

Amanda, Tom and I are organising some basic food, but if other volunteers could bring contributions that would be great. We're bringing a big cous-cous dish, fruit, some crisps and some drinks, and cups and plates and all that malarkey. If everyone could bring one other thing it would be really helpful!

Also, does anyone have a rounders bat?

Hope we'll still get the usual turnout of volunteers, it's really important that the students get to chat with native speakers on this kind of event. I'm hoping the weather will be good again and we can all blow away the winter cobwebs a bit!

Looking forward to seeing you all on Sat.

Liv

Saturday 3rd April

2008-05-01T10:28:00.002+01:00

Hey kids, weekly CC News: The Common Conversation All-Stars football collective are going great guns, and have a potential match coming up. Looks like it's going to run every Saturday afternoon during the summer months.

Could STAR volunteers please be encouraged to use the email list and blog more - with more of an idea of who was coming down, we wouldn't sometimes have so many volunteers that they are borderline redundant, and other times be short!

Also, anyone wanting to lead classes or coordinate would be very welcome. It's been much the same handful of people for the last 2 months or so, and doesn't seem a fair division of labour. Support provided to any first timers who want to try something new!

This week's rota:

Lead Teacher for Beginners: TOM
Lead Teacher for Intermediate: LIV
Coordinator: AMANDA
Assistant Teachers: ANNA
:
:
:
Cooking:
Childcare:

Saturday 26th April

2008-04-22T11:10:00.008+01:00

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to come down last week, we has loads of students so the volunteers were very welcome!

I was particularly impressed with Kevin, who wandered in off the street to check out the Common Place for the first time and ended up staying to volunteer.

And amused by the student convinced that Golden Brown lives at 10 Downing Street. And by Jafar insisting that the lyrics of Yellow by Coldplay were actually an Iraqi song stolen and translated. He sang it, too.

With such recommmendations, any takers for this week?

Also, Conversation Club is tonight this week, 5-7.

Hope to see you all soon.

Liv

Lead Teacher for Intermediate: LIV
Lead Teacher for Beginners: TOM
Coordinator: Amanda
Assistant Teacher: Claire (doesn't mind cooking and does not have work so can stay later than usual to wash up or whatever)
Assistant Teacher: Sian
Assistant Teacher: Lawrence
Assistant Teacher:
Cooking:
Childcare: Noemi

Saturday 19th April

2008-04-15T10:53:00.005+01:00

Leave a comment or send an email if you're around this weekend.

Lead teacher for intermediate: LIV
Lead teacher for beginners: TOM
Co-ordinator: Harry/Amanda (unless someone else offers)
Assistant teachers:
: Claire STAR plus am bringing a new STAR volunteer
:
:
Cooking:
Childcare:

Saturday 12th April

2008-04-08T10:40:00.004+01:00

As always guys, leave a comment or email if you're around this weekend.

Leading main class: ALAN
Leading beginners class:
Coordinator: HARRY
Assistant teachers: ANNA
:
:
:
Childcare:
Cooking:

Anyone around this eve there's Conversation Club between 5 and 7. Hope to see you there!

5th April 2008

2008-03-31T08:38:00.004+01:00

Yay! We have volunteers!

Leading main class: Alan or Hazel
Leading beginners: Alan or Hazel
Coordinator: Amanda
Assistant teacher: Anna
: Catherine
: Sian
: Lawrence
Childcare:
Cooking:

Thanks everyone! Have fun tomorrow!

Liv

29th March

2008-03-26T09:25:00.002Z

Lead teacher for Intermediate:
Assistant teachers: Anna,
Lead Teacher for Beginners:
Assistant teachers: Catherine,
Coordinator/keyholder: amanda
Cooking:
Childcare:

Volunteer roles 22nd March 2008 (Easter weekend)

2008-03-19T10:02:00.004Z

Hello chaps, I know several people said that they were coming down this weekend despite the bank holiday but I can't remember who!

Lead teacher for Intermediate: ALAN
Lead Teacher for Beginners: LIZ
Assistant teacher: DUNCAN
Assistant teacher: LOUISE
Assistant teacher:
Assistant teacher:
Coordinator/keyholder: AMANDA
Cooking:
Childcare:

Have a great Easter everyone!

Liv

Class topics 15/03/2008

2008-03-19T09:54:00.002Z

Main class: Vocabulary inside the home and fixing problems around the house

Beginners: Parts of the body, "Heads, Shoulders, Knees andToes". Booking a doctors appointment roleplay, at the doctors surgery roleplay.

Meeting minutes

2008-03-19T09:51:00.001Z

Thanks to everyone who came on Monday, we discussed a lot. Edited highlights are: A Wednesday conversation club from 5-6.30 when the Common Place is availableTeacher training set for Saturday May 3rdA short session to explain the coordinator role so that more people can take it on after Easter

Full minutes below:

Common Conversation Management Meeting 17/03/08

Funding:

Current balance is £532.32, and weekly outgoings approximately £100 a week, principally on bus fares.

Amanda has been doing funding applications, asking for £10,000 for 12 months (though we could survive on a lot less!)
She has two pending. Liv is doing some others.
We’ve so far received money from Awards For All and Resourcing the Community. STAR have offered us some money too, which should appear soon.

A party to raise money is suggested, something that the students could organise, perhaps involving food from the different cultures represented. It could be planned and prepped in lessons. This was generally agreed upon, but no date or coordinator set.

A reminder that homemade cakes can be sold at the Green Coop at Leeds University Union, if anyone wants to bake any. Uni term starts again on April 14th.

Duncan volunteered to help with funding applications.

Volunteer Recruitment:

Liz is advertising for student teachers at Trinity and All Saints.
Liv is contacting the National Volunteering Database.
Sian and Lawrence are going to run a poster campaign at Leeds Uni.

General idea that we seem to have enough assistant teachers, and also lead teachers (which is a big improvement). Lacking people to take on coordinator/finance/fundraising roles.

Teacher training Sat May 3rd instead of class. Training of current teachers and any new volunteers.

One other potential training offer, though no date set.

Liv is preparing an “Introduction to CC” document to give to prospective volunteers. This will include info about the classes, the roles, the Common Place and asylum in general.

Food:

Much discussion over food logistics, who does the shopping ect.

Duncan offered to try to get some more weekly food donations.

Several students suggest that the food is not that important, they come for English, not to eat, and if there is no money for food it’s not important.

Several teachers argue that it costs little and adds a nice social dimension. It’s the logistics that are difficult, not affording to buy food.

Money:

Several students repeat that the English is the important part. If there is money for bus fares then that is great, but they would still come without it.

Conversation Class:

A less structured CC during the week that would not require food or a prepared lesson, and would be more like a social club where more advanced students could practice their speaking skills. The venue is free early evening – the suggestion would be an open house between 5 and 6.30 one evening, where people can drop in after work or college.
Can’t get the same night every week – can do most Weds.

Coordinator role:

Lots of concern that too few people are available for this role. Can put enormous pressure on teacher if they have to coordinate as well. We need a dedicated coordinator every week.

The role involves: Getting bus fare cash and veg before 12
Opening up at 12 – unlocking doors, switching on coffee machine and computers
Problem-solving during the classes so teachers don’t get distracted
Getting volunteers to wash up, clean up and do bus fares
Locking up

Callum volunteered to coordinate the coordinator every week. It was generally agreed that we should do a mass training after the Easter holidays, so that more people feel confident with the role.

Finance:

Duncan has a simple book-keeping system, and would like it to be part of the coordinator role. Agreed to set a date for coordinator training, stay back after class one Sat after Easter.

Dictionaries:

Much debate on the subject. Generally agreed that we will buy some in major languages if we can afford it. Callum to investigate.

Class feedback:

Students generally like class, feel that level problems and class sizes are a problem. Also repeated material, and the break goes on too long.

Much discussion, no solution really suggested.

I would request all lead teachers to email or blog their lesson topics after each class, so we don’t repeat.

Message to James

2008-03-11T12:00:00.003Z

Can I have my book back please? Don't think I've got your right email address. Call me on 07854 739595 or email oliviawalker007@hotmail.com.

Cheers.

Liv

Saturday 15th March

2008-03-11T10:06:00.002Z

Hi guys, sorry I haven't been updating the blog - I've had problems signing in.

The last few weeks have seen very big classes, up to 60 students. Also plenty of new volunteers. I'm expecting fewer over the university holidays, so if you are around, please come down!

I'm not sure where we are in the syllabus - mine has disappeared and last week we did an entirely oral class, describing personal characteristics and debating world issues.

Roles for this week:

Lead teacher for intermediate: Liz
Lead Teacher for Beginners: Liv
Assistant teachers:
Keyholder:
Cooking:
Childcare:

We're having a management meeting on Monday 17th March, 7-9 at The Common Place. All welcome.

Hope to see you all on Saturday!

Liv

8th March

2008-03-05T09:36:00.003Z

Lead teacher for intermediate:

Lead teacher for beginners: Amanda

Assistant teachers: Liz , Claire

Key holder:

Childcare:

Cooking:

23rd Feb - Volunteers

2008-02-20T15:11:00.003Z

Thanks to everyone who took part last week, is anyone keen to lead this week? Or to sign up for any of the other roles?

Lead teacher for intermediate:

Lead teacher for beginners: Liz

Assistant teachers: Amanda

Key holder: Amanda

Childcare:

Cooking:

2008-02-13T21:01:00.002Z

Hi it's James - I reckon I can make this saturday. See you there guys

2008-02-11T12:19:00.001Z

Thanks everyone who came to Saturday's class, we had 34 in the main class and about 18 in the beginners - we're very popular!

Please sign up for next week if you're coming along. We have a leader for the main class, but if anyone would like to take the beginners there are already some lessons prepared.

Also if anyone fancies cooking then that would be helpful, I stupidly forgot to ask for student volunteers so we'll have to persuade some on Saturday.

16th Feb

Lead teacher for intermediate: Alan
Lead teacher for beginners:
Assistant teachers: Claire (can assist cook if needed to), amanda (or can attempt childcare!)
Key holder: amanda
Childcare:
Cooking: