In This IssueImportant Dates

Castle’s Teacher Spotlight: Interview with Eva Bietenholz

Adventures Abroad: Youth Programs at Kaplan School in

Salisbury

Youth Study Abroad Programs

News from the E-Learning Platform

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So, here it is, February already, and I find myself wondering where on earth January went.

Every year, as do many people, I set myself some goals for the year--the typical “New Year’s Resolutions.” It’s nice to have a clean slate every year, when I can think to myself “now is the time for action!”

On that note, one of my biggest resolutions this year is to begin studying French again. A couple of years ago, I took the opportunity during the school holidays in August and October to go to the Ecole Suisse de Langues (ESL) in Montreux, Canton Vaud. This gives me an excellent chance to feel what it’s like to be on the other side

of the classrom again and to experience again the joy of learning a language. Last year, however, all of my school holidays were filled with trips to the U.S. (mostly for friends’ weddings), so I had to put my French lessons aside.

This year, however, I’m determined to make more time for French. Perhaps I’ll go back to Montreux or just take advantage of private lessons at Castle’s here in Zug. Whichever way I do it, I’ll hopefully be able to check that item off my New Year’s list. I’d better decide soon, or I’ll have to add it to my list in 2014!

Also as a reminder, we have new courses starting in February. I’ve listed the starting dates for each branch below. Check our website (www.castles.ch) for more information.

FROM THE DESK OF HEIDI NEWITT

C A S T L E ’ S E N G L I S H I N S T I T U T E - I H R S P R A C H P R O F I S E I T 1 9 7 9

Castle’s NEWSF E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

IMPORTANT DATES FROM CASTLE’S BRANCHES

Heidi Newitt is in charge of Marketing at Castle’s.

Spring Semester begins: 18 February

April Break: 14 - 28 April

End of Semester: 6 July

Spring Semester begins: 18 February

April Break: 28 March - 14 April

End of Semester: 6 July

Spring Semester begins: 25 February

April Break: 22 April - 3 May

End of Semester: 13 July

Spring Semester begins: 25 February

April Break: 28 March - 6 April

End of Semester: 28 June

CASTLE’S BASELCASTLE’S THALWILCASTLE’S LUZERNCASTLE’S ZUG

Eva Bietenholz has been teaching English since 1996. Here at Castle’s, she teaches a wide variety of classes at all levels, as well as teaching several in-company classes.

So, Eva, how long have you been teaching English and what got you started?Actually I always wanted to be a teacher. First I 'taught' my dolls, teddy bears and little brother what I had learnt at school but later I thought I'd study music and become a music teacher - I went to an art academy and played the flute. After high school I wanted to go to teachers training college and become a primary school teacher but then everything worked out differently... I did finally fulfil my wish; first without formal training in 1996 and 1997 and then after completing CELTA I started properly at Castle's in 1998.

What did you do before you started teaching?Well, as I said before, everything worked out differently... I took German at school from the age of 13 and because of that I was allowed to come to Switzerland as an exchange student in 1987. I had just finished high school and the world was my oyster! I liked it so much here that I found myself a job and stayed on for a year as an au pair. At that time my family was in the process of emigrating to the USA from South Africa, so when my year was up, that's where I went - to Benton Harbor, Michigan. There I went to college to start studies with the plan to become a language teacher at high school level. But of course everything worked out differently... there was a Swiss boyfriend involved...but that's another story. Actually I did spend a year working for the PTT (now Swisscom) as an information telephonist (the people who help you when you call 1818, back then 111).

You’ve lived in several countries around the world. Is there any place you miss?

I don't miss things from South Africa or the USA, I miss people and times. The odd Cadbury's Flake or mince pie at Christmas can make me feel nostalgic, but nowadays I can get all that here in Switzerland if I really want to. Holidays in the Kruger Park or dropping in for a

cup of tea with my mum I do miss though.

Do you have any funny or awkward stories from your classes?Well, I enjoy laughing with my students a lot but I can't

remember anything in particular. An awkward moment comes to mind though... Years ago I had a class of really interesting people who had had a lot of adventures. One was a surgeon and had worked for Medecins Sans Frontiers in

Cambodia. Wanting to personalise the lesson, I innocently asked him to tell us about his experience there. He started trying to tell us about his work on the children's ward and

ended up in tears - it had clearly been a very traumatic experience. I felt awful and didn't know what to do. He recovered his composure and we went on with the lesson. I had learnt a lesson about asking people personal questions!

And, finally, What do you like to do when you’re not in the classroom?Well, I'm a bit of a culture vulture. I love cinema and theatre and even opera. My whole family (husband, son and daughter) is keen on poetry slamming - the last one we went to was in January at the Rote Fabrik in Zurich (in German, of course). Recently my husband bought a small yacht and now I'm a sailor too. We will be spending a lot of time on Lake Lucerne this year.

Castle’s Teacher Spotlight: Eva Bietenholz

Adventures Abroad: Kaplan School, SalisburyEvery year during the Spring holidays, Castle’s English Institute organizes a two-week trip to the Kaplan School in Salisbury, England for an intensive English study programm. We asked students Cyril Dördelmann and Laura and Nicolas Fontana to share their experiences:

What did you think about Kaplan School in Salisbury when you first saw it?Cyril: It looked old and really beautiful. First I thought that this building was a house to live in and not a school.

Laura: I expected it to be bigger than it was. The school is very well located and easy to reach.

Can you tell us about your classes and teachers?C: All the teachers and students were really friendly and the atmosphere in the classroom was nice. I learned a lot because the teacher took his time for each student to be sure that all the pupils understood everything.

Nicolas: Peter was a “cool” teacher. We learned a lot and the lessons were completely different from school at home. Much more fun! We played games like hang-man and others. I was very well prepared for my PET exams!

L: My teacher, Richard, was very nice. I already knew my classmates from back home. I liked the fact that it was a “girls-class”. The lessons were very interesting and we did lots of different things like interviewing people in the street. I passed my PET exams “with merit”!

Did you stay with a host family? What was it like for you?C: Yes, I stayed with a host family in a nice little house 30-40 minutes away from school. First I was afraid of speaking English with my host father but after a few hours I was talking almost too much. My host family was really nice to me and they also went to Stonehenge with me.

N: I stayed in a family with 3 little boys. It was fun but I would have preferred to stay there with a

friend rather then on my own. On the other hand I did have to speak English all the time which was very good! I didn’t always like the food…

L: I stayed in a house with a young couple and their dog. They were very nice and helpful and we did a lot together like walks in the park. They also

picked me up at night when we had school activities.

What kind of activities did you do outside of school?C: I spent time in Salisbury sightseeing, shopping and talking to locals because I wanted to practice my English. Most of the time I was

with my friends and we helped each other to communicate with local people.

N: We often went to McDonald’s after school. We also did a lot of sightseeing in Salisbury which is a very nice

town. I also went on a day trip to London with my classmates.

L: I once went bowling and sometimes to the park with other girls. We also went to London and Brighton for sightseeing and shopping.

What did you enjoy about life in the UK? What was different to life here?C: I enjoyed spending time in the city of Salisbury because I loved the architecture and I enjoyed the trip to London. I’d already been to London before but it was nice walking through the city again. Life in the UK was different in several points. All the cars drove on the left side of the street, the architecture is very different from Switzerland and there were no tall buildings in Salisbury. The cathedral is still the tallest building there.

L: The food was different! British people are very hospitable!

Would you study in England again, if you had the chance?N: Yes, but next time I would want to go with a friend.

L: Yes, I would even like to stay longer!

Kaplan School in Salisbury, England

Castle’s offers a variety of opportunities for students who wish to go abroad over their school holidays.

SPRING HOLIDAYSFor students wishing to learn more English and experience life in England during their Spring holidays, Castle’s arranges trips to two schools: Kaplan School in Salisbury and Melton College in York. The student interview on the previous page provides a look at three students’ experiences in Salisbury.

SUMMER HOLIDAYSIn addition to Salisbury and York, students who wish to study English during the Summer holidays may wish to do so in one of the beautiful English towns of Brighton, Chester or Eastbourne.

A YEAR ABROADCastle’s also arranges school years in Ireland for students wishing to spend an entire year abroad to fully experience life in an English-speaking country.

This is a wonderful way to fully immerse oneself in a foreign language.

OTHER HOLIDAYS & CITIESMelton College in York also offers intensive courses in the Autumn holidays and Kaplan School in Salisbury offers a study programme during the Winter holidays. Students need not be limited to these schools, however, as Castle’s can arrange holiday courses in London, Bournemouth, Exeter, Torquay, Totnes, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin and Malta.

SPANISH AND FRENCHFor students who wish to have intensive Spanish courses abroad, Castle’s arranges trips to Valencia (or, upon request, Tarragona, Cadiz, Sevilla or San Sebastian). Or for those wishing to brush up on their French, we have schools in Nizza (or, upon request, Antibes).

YOUTH STUDY ABROAD LOCATIONS

Check our Youth Study Abroad catalogue or contact us at info@castles.ch for more locations and information.

Our E-Learning provider is constantly imporving its services so that you can benefit from the best and most comprehensive exercises available. Here are some recent imporvements to the site:

E-Learning News

• Added Coursebook Wizard sections for Headway, New English File, Cutting Edge and Total English

• Expanded business English section including Agreeing and Disagreeing, Being Polite and Small Talk

• Added several units dedicated to Phrasal Verbs

• Started a comprehensive proof-reading of the entire site, as well as added a button for reporting any errors you find

• Restructured several units, including Elementary (to include an A1-level section)

• Added Spelling units

• Long-term plans:

• A Lesson-of-the-Day feature to be emailed to each user

• Updates to the Pronunciation units

• Use of movie clips as exercises on the site