Brat notes
Here are some notes about our school:
Bratislava--The C.S. Lewis Secondary School Meeting
June 21, 2004
Overview of school
There is an elementary school, The School of Narnia, which is 10 years old. Next year will be The C.S. Lewis Secondary School’s first year of its program. The school is associated with the church of Brethren, a Slovak denomination.
The school is located in Bratislava, about a 20-minute direct bus ride from the train station. The bus also takes you right by Old-Town, pass the Castle, and over the Duna. The building is expanding its school site as it has miraculously obtained the second part of the building, which belonged to a public school. The new high school will be moving into this newly acquired part of the school. The school also has lots of sports facilities. Outside there is a street-hockey court, a track, a foot-ball field, basketball courts…it’s pretty big, so there seems like maybe there is even more. Since the school is moving to the entire building, they are also acquiring a gym.
School and religion
The school is very open to Christianity. Although it’s associated with a denomination, it is more educational focused than evangelism focused. The director, who is Catholic, said that “no baptism certificate is needed”, nor do teachers need to be church members to teach there. They do not want teachers to force Christianity on students, but desire their teachers to be approachable to answer questions of Christ as they arise. The school used the example of being approachable and open to having conversations with students after class and/or outside the classroom. They were very inquisitive of Amy and Laura’s nature pertaining to this philosophy. They were happy to find out that ESI shared a similar philosophy of sharing Christ by being the Light and were more excited to know that Amy and Laura’s free spirited and friendly character is that which the students will be drawn to naturally. (Laura's notes: this means that the students are not necessarily Christian, or know about Christianity)
They have a chapel service, which if I remember correctly is once a week.
As for the teachers of English, there should be 3 Slovak teachers and 3 native speakers: one full time, one part time, and then Native 2 – the same person who should be English Science teacher (that's Laura the science teacher) at the Elementary. His/her subjects should be mostly: Conversation, Development Class, Intro to Science, and possibly Refreshment with New Headway Course Book.
Some other facts discussed at the meeting:
· School has curriculum to teach, along with books, etc.
· Class size for English courses will be maximum of 12 students; class size for science classes will be maximum of 24
· According to the high-school principal, he said that teachers will probably have their own classroom.
· The school has other native speakers at the school which are American.
· Church of the Open Door in Minneapolis partner with the school.
· By 8th or 9th grade the students speak English pretty well.
· Would like “deeper” topics ( ie. life, world issues, etc.) to be discussed in the conversation classes.
· There are extra-curricular activities that the school would like the teachers to be volunteers for, i.e. programs possibly in sports, computers, etc. The director was very inquisitive about Amy’s coaching experience and kept asking about her desire to be involved in after school sport activities.
Judi's opinions about the school (with Abi’s agreement):
The school staff whom we met seemed very friendly. The director of the school, Miro, and the director of the high-school are in their 30’s and very friendly, helpful, open-minded, and intelligent. This school seems amazing and supportive—Abi even told the school that if she didn’t like her school so much, she would want to come and teach there (I was along the same train of thought.) Abi and I walked around and looked in the classrooms. The classrooms displayed some amazing projects going on, and it reminded me of an American classroom.
The school is very reasonable and accommodating. It’s going to be an amazing program (possibly the best and most-envied program in CE), with many chances for desired ministry opportunities. Along with that there are many perks, for example, the possibility of having your own classroom and having a curriculum. I think this is unbelievable! I was also floored when they asked if the conversation teacher would be willing to discuss deeper issues in the classroom. I almost cried as I think this is every Conversation teacher’s dream! And to think that the students are at the level in their English where they could discuss interesting topics that a teachers is excited to teach about.
Laura's comments:
Dang I'm excited.
Bratislava--The C.S. Lewis Secondary School Meeting
June 21, 2004
Overview of school
There is an elementary school, The School of Narnia, which is 10 years old. Next year will be The C.S. Lewis Secondary School’s first year of its program. The school is associated with the church of Brethren, a Slovak denomination.
The school is located in Bratislava, about a 20-minute direct bus ride from the train station. The bus also takes you right by Old-Town, pass the Castle, and over the Duna. The building is expanding its school site as it has miraculously obtained the second part of the building, which belonged to a public school. The new high school will be moving into this newly acquired part of the school. The school also has lots of sports facilities. Outside there is a street-hockey court, a track, a foot-ball field, basketball courts…it’s pretty big, so there seems like maybe there is even more. Since the school is moving to the entire building, they are also acquiring a gym.
School and religion
The school is very open to Christianity. Although it’s associated with a denomination, it is more educational focused than evangelism focused. The director, who is Catholic, said that “no baptism certificate is needed”, nor do teachers need to be church members to teach there. They do not want teachers to force Christianity on students, but desire their teachers to be approachable to answer questions of Christ as they arise. The school used the example of being approachable and open to having conversations with students after class and/or outside the classroom. They were very inquisitive of Amy and Laura’s nature pertaining to this philosophy. They were happy to find out that ESI shared a similar philosophy of sharing Christ by being the Light and were more excited to know that Amy and Laura’s free spirited and friendly character is that which the students will be drawn to naturally. (Laura's notes: this means that the students are not necessarily Christian, or know about Christianity)
They have a chapel service, which if I remember correctly is once a week.
As for the teachers of English, there should be 3 Slovak teachers and 3 native speakers: one full time, one part time, and then Native 2 – the same person who should be English Science teacher (that's Laura the science teacher) at the Elementary. His/her subjects should be mostly: Conversation, Development Class, Intro to Science, and possibly Refreshment with New Headway Course Book.
Some other facts discussed at the meeting:
· School has curriculum to teach, along with books, etc.
· Class size for English courses will be maximum of 12 students; class size for science classes will be maximum of 24
· According to the high-school principal, he said that teachers will probably have their own classroom.
· The school has other native speakers at the school which are American.
· Church of the Open Door in Minneapolis partner with the school.
· By 8th or 9th grade the students speak English pretty well.
· Would like “deeper” topics ( ie. life, world issues, etc.) to be discussed in the conversation classes.
· There are extra-curricular activities that the school would like the teachers to be volunteers for, i.e. programs possibly in sports, computers, etc. The director was very inquisitive about Amy’s coaching experience and kept asking about her desire to be involved in after school sport activities.
Judi's opinions about the school (with Abi’s agreement):
The school staff whom we met seemed very friendly. The director of the school, Miro, and the director of the high-school are in their 30’s and very friendly, helpful, open-minded, and intelligent. This school seems amazing and supportive—Abi even told the school that if she didn’t like her school so much, she would want to come and teach there (I was along the same train of thought.) Abi and I walked around and looked in the classrooms. The classrooms displayed some amazing projects going on, and it reminded me of an American classroom.
The school is very reasonable and accommodating. It’s going to be an amazing program (possibly the best and most-envied program in CE), with many chances for desired ministry opportunities. Along with that there are many perks, for example, the possibility of having your own classroom and having a curriculum. I think this is unbelievable! I was also floored when they asked if the conversation teacher would be willing to discuss deeper issues in the classroom. I almost cried as I think this is every Conversation teacher’s dream! And to think that the students are at the level in their English where they could discuss interesting topics that a teachers is excited to teach about.
Laura's comments:
Dang I'm excited.
posted by Laura at Saturday, July 17, 2004
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