Manon

We have two students in our office at the moment, here is the first blog from Manon, a young French student who arrived here on 6th January - she has settled in really well and is already proving a real asset! Particularly when she translated what the different centres were for the beautiful French Chocolates we were given! So here, in her own words...

Hey, my name is Manon I am 17 and I come from France.

In fact, I did not expect to come to Torquay.

Then I made the request at my high school and I was accepted, but in my head I was afraid of the climate and English food.

Once in Bristol, I and six other students were a little lost because everything had changed, such as language, but especially the English driving to right.

Once in place in our family, my two friends and I were at a single lady. She had prepared a room for three, so it was perfect...

The next day we had a meeting in TTPL. In the afternoon, we all had was in our internship I work in TTPL, Gemma showed me where I was working and it was very interesting, people who have worked with me was very interesting, very pleasant, but especially listen, I loved working here. What had been a little more difficult is that the computer keyboard was different, than in France...

On my free time, my two friends and I are going to visit Torquay, and around, for example, Paignton, Exeter to take souvenir photos. In fact, we were very surprised by the time we thought it was more cold and raining more often.

Also surprised by the food itself was very good, our host family was great, the lady did everything to welcome us to help us learn the language, she lead us to the pool or otherwise shopping. In the evening, she talks a lot for us to learn more things about England and even learn new words...

Every Thursday TTPL organized a meeting for the students it was great because we met people from elsewhere, from different countries.

The English were very welcoming, friendly. Here there are no prejudices and everyone is free to wear the clothes he likes without shame ... I love it!

I hope to return because this experience taught me a lot and made progress in the English language and my culture.

I also hope to come back to see my host family because I feel loved...

Teacher Training in Torquay for Christina

Hello everybody,

My name is Christina Möllers and I’m in the third year of my Music and English studies back home in Germany. As I want to become a teacher later on I am very happy that my work placement in Torquay is at the Torquay Boys‘ Grammar School, where I am currently working as a German Assistant for 3 months. At my TTPL Welcome Meeting (on the 8th of September) I was presented with the opportunity of taking part in a training programme in addition to my work placement. In this blog I am going to tell you more about this intriguingly interesting and very informative experience.

The training started on the 18th of September. From now on we would meet every Thursday morning from 9.30-12.30am. The six Spanish teachers in the group, who had mostly come to England to look for an actual teaching assistant job, and me, got to know Bill, our fabulously good-humored and always helpful and well-informed coach. We also got to know each other as we talked about our ambitions and our reasons for taking part in the programme.

At the job centre!

Cross Cultural Training with Sabina

Over the course of the six weeks we were given a broad overview over the general educational system in the UK. In addition we learnt more about the treatment of students with S.E.N. (special educational needs), security at schools and how to relax and motivate students after breaks with brain gym exercises. Furthermore we got to know educational methods like the white board as a means to get some direct feedback from the students. We were given an in depth insight into the application process in Britain including information on the National Insurance Number, a mock job interview and a visit to the local job centre, where we were able to register ourselves in the system. Our fourth session was a bit different. Sabina Rademacher, a former German business woman, who had first moved to Spain and then to England, trained our Cross-Cultural Awareness. We learnt and discussed that different cultures have different values and ways of doing things, that certain signs can mean completely different things in another culture and that we as teachers in another country need to be aware of these differences and make our students aware of them. During the last session we all got our own white board, a check list to help us survive the first day at a new school and, of course, our certificates. 

Group visit to Kents Cavern

All in all, this teacher training programme was a very helpful experience! I have learnt a lot and would now feel ready to look for a teaching job in Britain. I can recommend the programme to anyone who is interested in getting a closer insight into the British Educational System (like me) but especially to those that actually plan to look for a job as a teacher in England.

Daniela's Story

Hi, 

My name is Daniela Ferko , newly graduated from the two-year specialization in Graphic Design at the Academy of Arts in Macerata. In my studies I have in-depth expertise in corporate identity, Web design, editorial design, completing with elements of illustration and photography.

My work experience in Devon was supported by the Leonardo da Vinci project CAIN.

I am very glad to have met with WNW Digital, the company was very confident in my respect and allowed me to work for graphic design and restyling of websites for their clients as Wells Carpet Brokers and Exmouth Bed and Pine and other customers...

WNW is located in the center of Dix's Field Exeter, involved in web marketing, social media, e-mail marketing or any other digital marketing techniques.

My work in WNW Digital, is based on the design and creation of images and promotional materials for different customers and for the company. In this period I'm working on designing corporate image of the company. Starting from the design and creation of a new simple and modern graphics for the website and then apply it to different social media and promotional materials.

Thanks an infinite A Nigel, (my employer) for his charisma, for involvement me in various activities outside of work and for supporting me with the Visa!

Nigel was also pleased with Daniela - "She is good at her job & a delight to have in the office.  This week alone we have had two clients approve website designs that Daniela has done, plus a new brochure for us and lots of ad hoc blog graphics! Thanks again for sending Daniela" - Nigel Wilkinson

Its fantastic when both our students and our employers are thrilled with the placement arrangements - This is what we strive to achieve with all of our students and cements the importance of what we do.

Good Luck Daniela and thank you WNW Digital!

Andra - Romanian trainee in the United Kingdom

Hello,

I was an intern for 3 months at Unit Seven in South Devon. I am a student of the Romanian – American University and I am studying Domestic and International Business, Banking and Finance.

My work at Unit Seven consisted of helping the various businesses, members of the creative bureau, to improve their social media presence and help, from a marketing point of view, in other areas of the business.

The 3 months I’ve spent as an intern for Unit Seven were lovely. The work placement offered me the opportunity to deal with totally new tasks and a completely different working environment than what I have experienced so far in Bucharest, Romania.

I have met wonderful professionals that contributed greatly to my professional and personal development, my colleagues made me feel part of the team the minute I joined and I was really happy to feel that my work was appreciated.

In addition, my social life in Torquay was sustained by the weekly student meetings organized by The Training Partnership and the trips we’ve done on our own. I met many lovely people from all around the world and I am sure I will keep contact with most of them. The United Kingdom is a lovely country, London was an amazing adventure, being a noob to the city, and the people are really great.  

Overall, I believe this experience had a major impact on my life and I will never forget it. Working abroad transmutes one’s perspective on life and lets you realize that you’re adaptable everywhere so the world is yours.

“What gives value to travel is fear. It is the fact that, at a certain moment, when we are so far from our own country…we are seized by a vague fear, and an instinctive desire to go back to the protection of old habits. This is the most obvious benefit of travel. "Travel, which is like a greater and graver science, brings us back to ourselves.”

Albert Camus, Exile and the Kingdom

Andra

x

Laia's Story

My Time in England,

After finishing my Energies Engineering Degree last year, I decided that could be advantageous for me, to spend four months in an English speaking country to improve my English and to have my first work experience related with my degree.

My work experience overcame all my expectations. I worked in an engineering company in Totnes and it was absolutely beneficial for me. I was able to work as a project assistant on different projects that were underway. My colleagues were very thoughtful with me and they spent some time to explain me the operation of the project so that I could get new knowledge.

Another really important part of my stay in Torbay was my host family. They were absolutely kind and nowadays we still keep in touch. They made me feel like at home and it was also a great way to improve my speech.

But best of my stay in England, is all the people I've met (French, German, Belgian, Swedish, Italian, Catalan and English!) The best day of the week was Thursday, because it was student meeting day!!! We spent a wonderful afternoon with different kind of activities (cultural visits, bowling, barbeques, cinema...). It was a great way to meet with people from different countries to practice your English and have a good time together.

After the student meeting, drinking a beer or a cider, we decided what we will do on the weekend. We took the train or the bus and we were visiting the whole Torbay zone or even a little further! Totnes, Darmouth, Plymouth, Brixham, Exeter, Bath, Stonehenge and a little trail for the Jurassic coast!

To sum up, one of the best experiences I've ever had in a foreign country and all thanks to the wonderful TTPL team who made it possible, overcoming all my expectations.

Laia

Words from Nacho!

Words from Nacho - aka John Ricon.

John was a great character here at TTPL and he has sent us a lovely blog about his time here - WE MISS YOU! He even brought us Home made soaps on his leaving day! awww :)

Nacho's Story!

When I was offered this experience in the UK, my expectations couldn't be higher. The idea of getting work experience in an English speaking country motivated me a lot, since being abroad is one of the most thrilling things for me to do. And after having completed it, I must say it did not disappointing me, but quite the opposite: both my work placement –LAL Torbay– and the Training Partnership made my time in England amazing.

The variety of tasks at LAL helped me learn a lot from a professional perspective. I was a student at language schools abroad five times, so I was able to totally put myself in students' shoes and understand them. Therefore, it made me so happy to have the chance to help them, and also to widen my experience at language schools, this time from the other side, not being a student anymore, but a member of the school staff. I also found the internship really amazing due to the magnificent treatment I received from the staff members, who were so friendly, patient, and willing to help.

TTPL weekly Student Meetings happened to be the most enjoyable moment of the week. The fact they were every Thursday made the working week seem shorter. The big variety of activities we had, from cultural visits to barbecues and sports evenings, were a perfect way to interact with the TTPL staff members and other students and trainees, as well as a way to make new international friends. I also appreciate the chances I had to visit London on the one-day trips TTPL organized.

To conclude, I would like to say I really appreciate the experience I had and thank TTPL for the great treatment they gave me.

THANK You Nacho and good luck in your next adventure!!

Kim - Event and Marketing assistant at TTPL

I’m very happy to share my experience. I live in Paris and I’m preparing a degree in Business Development in my University. I was in Bournemouth to improve my English skills then I took a coach to go to Torquay. From 1 July to 22 August 2014, I worked at TTPL as a marketing and event assistant in this town. My first week in Torquay was difficult. I arrived alone with my English level. I was lost and I had no idea how to get my bus. What’s happened during 2 months? I remember my first and long week: “I’m sick about this country, I want to go home”. But the other weeks are spent so quickly!!! Yes the first week is difficult, but also your last day with your friends and your colleagues. The events organized by our team (Boat party, Mambo club meeting and Mambo party, London trip, Cockington trip, Splashdown Quaywest … ), but also the people I had met. Contrary to what is said, the weather in England was good. Sunny for our events and raining sometimes. I was responsible to organize the events and creating guides for the trip that we had organized. But I also participate in the conduct of the event. I have also created a “Survival guide: first week in England” for the students who ask helps. For my first days I just had to prepare the welcome pack for the student who arrived the following week in order to help Sam in his work.

The staff in TTPL is fantastic, even if I had to bring some M&M’s for Lorenzo when I needed his help to correct my mistake in English when I had to send email for the student. You will find a very good atmosphere in the office. With very good peoples and a very good coffee! Just the music when you work in the office which should be updated.