Explore the Centre through time with a new publication from Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. The History of Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University 1883-2008 is based on research undertaken by Marian Williams. After many years away from education, Marian began attending lectures at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. These inspired her to undertake a history degree at Cardiff – at the age of 60 – and she recently obtained her MPhil from the School of History and Archaeology. Marian said: “At an age when most people are thinking about settling down to retirement, I was offered a place on a history degree and so began ten years, first as an undergraduate then as a postgraduate student that were among the happiest and most fulfilling of my life; but it really all started with the courses I attended at Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning”. Marian is just one in an extremely long line of adult learners to have benefited from the lifelong learning provisions which have been a feature at Cardiff University since it first opened its doors to students on 24 October 1883. Her book recounts the fascinating history of these provisions and is available at a RRP of £8.99 but is available for tutors at an exclusive tutors price

of only £1.99 (while stocks last). Details of how to order copies can be obtained from Reception.

Tutor Bulletin

Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning January 2009

Contents Page Exploring the Centre through time 1 Notices 2 LEARN News 3 Student Feedback 4 Staff Profile 6 Marketing Team Update 7 Staff News 8

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New Email System The Centre has recently migrated to the new Cardiff University email system, Cardiff Mail, as part of the Modern Working Environment (MWE) strategy, and you should have received a letter from Dr Richard Evans detailing the background to this and giving dates of training and information sessions. The letter also explained that the University has decided that staff and students should use the new email system for all official communication. There are several advantages in this way of working: you will not need to use your personal email address for LEARN business and we can keep in easier touch with you through an "official" email channel and mailing lists. In the meantime, if you have any queries about your Cardiff LEARN user account details (every tutor is assigned a user name and account on submission of a signed contract) then please contact Vikki Payne via email paynev@cardiff.ac.uk or phone 029 2087 6109.

Your Tutor Bulletin Re-designed This January 2009 issue comes with a welcome facelift. We hope you will like it and look forward to hearing

your views (please see p7 for details on our new survey).

Award Ceremony 2009

The Award Ceremony for students who attained an award at the end of the 2007/8 academic year is likely to be held towards the end of March 2009. All tutors are welcome to attend the ceremony and a letter of invitation will be issued nearer the time. We are already in contact with students eligible to receive their Certificate or Diploma of Higher Education. However, we would be grateful if you could remind your students that if they would like to receive a Foundation Certificate or a Certificate of Advanced Study they need to identify themselves and contact Alison Burt to confirm that they have met the requirements. Students are given the option of having their certificates sent to them or attending the ceremony, which-ever is their preference. If students would like to attend the Award Ceremony to receive their Foundation Certificate or Certificate of Advanced Study they should contact Alison by Friday 30 January 2009. Email: burtar@cardiff.ac.uk Phone: 029 2087 5191.

Award Ceremony 2008

Notices The Tutor Bulletin is the official newsletter for the staff of the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning (LEARN). It is intended to help communication among Centre’s staff, keeping every-one up-to-date with news, events and administrative procedures of the Centre. Is there anything you would like to see in future issues? Please send any comments or contributions to the editor. Editor: Jayne McGill Email: McGillJ3@cardiff.ac.uk Phone: 029 2087 6342 Write: Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning, Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4AG Next issue: April 2009 Copy deadline: 16 March 2009

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LEARN News

Tolkien’s passion for the Welsh language Dr Dimitra Fimi, a Literature and Folklore tutor at the Centre, has launched her fascinating new work which explores how the Welsh language inspired the author of The Lord of the Rings series. Dr Fimi’s new book Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits grew out of her doctoral research. “My book is a new analysis of Tolkien's mythology, looking at his creative vision from the perspective of cultural history. There is also some Welsh interest in the book as it incorporates a discussion of Tolkien's linguistic creation, including his love for the Welsh language and his use of Welsh for the creation of one of the Elvish tongues. I also provide an analysis of Tolkien's seminal O'Donnell lecture "English and Welsh" in which he voiced his views on the interaction and mutual influence of the two languages, and which also touched on issues of English and Welsh identities.” “My main research question was how Tolkien's fiction fits with the cultural and historical milieu of the period he was writing. I wanted to examine Tolkien's work not as a peculiar and idiosyncratic one-off in 20th-century fiction, but as an integral part of it.” Dr Fimi’s lecture-based and online courses at the Centre on Tolkien incorporate a lot of original research on Tolkien's fiction, now developed and expanded in her book.

Additional student support beyond the classroom Widening Access are launching a new project: E-Mentoring for LEARN students. The project is being launched this month and it is intended to help students make the most out of their learning at the Centre. New or less experienced students (mentees) will be paired with more experienced LEARN students (mentors). The student pairs will exchange emails using a safe on-line system. For security and data protection purposes people’s email address will remain hidden and the email exchange will be monitored by selected LEARN staff. The mentors will provide support via email to their mentees, encouraging them to take up the learning facilities offered – the library card and computer account, and to encourage mentees to attempt credits. Widening Access would like your support especially with : • Suggesting suitable students to be mentors (who have the com-munication skills to ‘listen on-line’ and who passed their cred-its.)

• Suggesting suitable students to be mentees (who are currently study-ing (January 2009) an accredited course, and would benefit from some support to help them participate and enjoy the learning process.)

If you are able to help, please contact Louise Gray via email graylm@cardiff.ac.uk or phone 029 2087 5329 and she will approach the student with your recommendation.

Call for papers As part of the History and Archaeology and Humanities initiative, the Centre for Lifelong Learning is pleased to present a free one-day conference. All tutors are welcome to attend, and indeed, contribute. This conference will take place during Adult Learners’ Week 2009 and will be open to members of the public. It is intended to showcase the research expertise of part-time and full-time staff teaching in the Centre. The conference theme will be: History, Archaeology and Identity – exploring the dynamics of the past. The study of archaeology and history is related very closely to national, ethnic and religious identities. As such these subjects are often highly politically charged and furiously debated. Through themed studies this conference will explore the complicated and fascinating relationship between history, archaeology and identity. The conference will embrace interdisciplinary perspectives and will include papers on history, archaeology, literature and music. It will take place in LEARN. Full pro-gramme to be announced shortly. Anyone wishing to deliver a paper at the conference should contact Dr David Wyatt. Email: wyattd1@Cardiff.ac.uk Phone: 029 2087 5397.

“I first found out about the Centre by doing a search on Google. I had previously studied some Chinese by myself and wished to progress further. I am planning on going to China to study Chinese Language for a year then progress onto a Computer Science Master's Degree taught in Chinese, so the course is fundamental to my plans. The course was well organised, the class size was small and the teaching was of very good quality. I now feel more confident in my ability to speak Chinese and am very much looking forward to practicing my language skills once I am in China. I would encourage anyone to find something you really enjoy doing and then find out how you can go about improving those skills and learning new ones.”

Michael Williams studied Chinese II taught by Ying Lin

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Student Feedback

“I have long held an interest in the subject of counselling but wasn't sure if the subject would be for me. However after completing the two 10 week courses, Basic Counselling 1 and Approaches to Counselling, at the Centre I'm pleased to say I found them both really interesting and enjoyable. The tutors were excellent and explained everything with great care and detail. I enjoyed the courses so much that I'm looking to further my training experience and the tutors again offered excellent advice. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone who wants to get into counselling.” Anonymous, Social Studies Student. “Who would have thought that a course entitled Managing Yourself Managing Others would be as fun and

enjoyable as it has been. The tutor, Ann McManus, has a great style of teaching and managed to create an informal and comfortable learning atmosphere. The content of the course was very interesting and current and I found that I could draw from my own personal experiences. The assessment was very practical and worthwhile. I can honestly say that the whole course was very useful in my personal and working life. I had a great time mixing with the other students on the course, some of which I am staying in touch with. Thanks Ann for all of your support!” Jayne McGill, Business and Management Student. Ying Lin teaching

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At a first glance you might think that this strap-line is a clever play on words designed solely for a savvy marketing campaign for our Choices prospectus. Yet, I encourage you to think more deeply about its meaning. Everyday you make choices intended to make life more satisfying. Some choices are easy short-term choices like whether or not you are going to read this feature, what you are going to have for lunch and what you will watch on TV tonight. However, the choices you make about learning at the Centre are choices that may last a lifetime. Some students choose to learn a language so they can order a beer next time they go on holiday. Some students choose to enrol on a few Business and Management courses to help boost their career. And some students, like Ceri Lane, have made ‘crossroad’ choices where the outcome has drastically changed their life.

Learning for Life

Everyday

People

Make

Choices

Ceri Lane

Ian Thomas, our new Music tutor, takes centre stage this month as he starts his new course ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’: The Passion of Musical Theatre. Ian has always had a passion for musicals and he cannot wait to start teaching his course. He has real enthusiasm and energy that will wake any sleeping students on the back row.

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Staff Profile

As a young child, what did you want to be as a grown-up? A Musician. Ultimately, I wanted to write my own musical show. Now that you are 'grown-up'. What would be your dream job? I guess I am already doing it. What have life's experiences taught you so far? To follow your dreams, prepare well and simply enjoy the moment. Major achievement to date? Lots and lots, but for now it is start-ing this ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’: The Passion of Musical

Theatre course. What do you treasure most? Friends, health and Chico my adorable chow chow dog. Any hidden talents? Cooking, cryptic cross words and sudoku. Boring! If you could change one thing at LEARN overnight, what would it be? I am just starting so ask me again in a few weeks. Your favourite hobby or pastime? Looking at the sea, having lived in London for a while I really missed it. I also enjoy spending time with

friends and walking Chico. Your favourite or most useful web-site address? In truth, I am a technophobe so I don’t go online often. If you could learn anything you wanted, what would it be? The key to stop worrying about things that, by tomorrow, have simply not been worth worrying about. What new course would you like the Centre to offer? The course I have just started – Thanks.

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Marketing Team Update

LEARN celebrates Christmas

Approximately 150 staff and stu-dent members came together for our first ever LEARN Christmas Cheese and Wine Event on the 2nd December 2008. Accompanied by a Jazz Quartet, guests were hosted by the Dean, Richard Evans who introduced three new books recently launched from within the Centre, Christmas gift vouchers, a new e-mentoring scheme and a preview of the New Choices Spring/Summer 09 prospectus. The event provided an opportunity for student members to receive their copy of LEARN - the new Members Magazine. The event was a very relaxed and enjoyable opportunity to meet with colleagues and students and we have received lots of positive feedback It would be really helpful to gather YOUR feedback from this event. Were you there? Or were you unable to join us? Would you be interested in similar events in the future? If so, are there any particular activities that you would like to see happening from the Centre? We would love to hear your reflections – please let Scott know by emailing from your new Cardiff.ac.uk email account to andrewss2@cardiff.ac.uk.

“Many thanks to all those who attended and made the event such a special occasion” Scott Andrews.

Membership Scheme update So far we have had nearly 600 students register to the Trial Membership Scheme that was launched last year in August. Membership Figures:

Over the past five months our members have taken advantage of: • Two 30% off course fee campaigns • LEARN Gift Vouchers • Christmas cheese and wine party • Receiving our first edition of LEARN,

The Membership Magazine. Furthermore, our Members will soon be able to claim their 10% discount voucher to use against their next accredited course. However, not one member has taken advantage of their Recommend a Friend voucher. Therefore, we need your help. Please tell your students to spread the word and get rewarded. We offer a 10% voucher to any Member that recommends a friend to the Centre. All they have to do is: 1. Choose a friend that is new to the Centre (or someone that has not studied at the Centre for at least three years.) 2. Get the friend to fill in the Recommend a Friend form that was sent in their Membership Pack. 3. Submit their completed form with their friend’s enrolment form. The friend will get an automatic 10% off and the Member will be sent a 10% discount voucher once their friend’s enrolment form has been processed.

Survey for Tutors In the next few weeks we will contact you by email and invite you to take part in a survey about this Bulletin (its new look and its contents) and the December Cheese and Wine Event (see above).

European Languages 331

Archaeology and History 137

Creative Writing 69

Science and Environment 61

Philosophy 49

Art and Architecture 44

Chinese, Japanese and

Arabic Studies 41

Media 39

Literature and Folklore 27

Social Studies 22

Music 19

Computer Studies 17

Business and Management 16

Law 10

Welsh 5

Religious Studies 4

Membership Enrolments by subject area

Members joining per month:

August 114

September 222

October 215

November 16

December 14

Total 611

Membership Enrolments 891

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Staff News

Dr Peter Webster, one of our Co-ordinating Lecturers, has know Gill throughout her entire employment at the Centre. He wrote this farewell note.

Farewell Gill 2007 and 2008 seems to have been marked by a string of retirements. The latest to test the maxim that the retired quickly find themselves busier than those at work is Gill Boden our Co-ordinating Lecturer in Social Studies. Gill is a Cardiff graduate (she holds no fewer than two Cardiff degrees and a postgraduate certificate) and came to the Department from Berkshire College of Education in 1976/7. A hint of what she found in Cardiff and how she felt about it can be obtained from Gill’s personal contribution to the recently published History of Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University 1883-2008 (pp.51-2). Just one aspect of what the Centre owes Gill can be found in the same volume (pp.44-5), which gives a glimpse of her period as Head of Department between 1994 and 1998. The Department owes a lot to Gill for those four years. There are many who, when asked how they survived the turbulent 1990s in the university, would, but for Gill’s efforts, not be able to answer with the French Abbot Sieyès, in somewhat similar circumstances, ‘j’ai vécu’ – I survived. But Gill is about a good deal more than a successful rescue of the Department. From the start she has combined the radical viewpoint of many adult education pioneers with a feminist approach and an overwhelming concern for the welfare and educational enrichment of her students. She has touched many lives and changed not a few. She will be missed.

Gill’s Award Ceremony flower arrangement

After 31 years of service Gill Boden, our Social Studies Co-ordinating Lecturer, is retiring. One of her students, Ms Janet Williams who has stud-ied Applying Social Sciences and Psychology: Developing Through Life, sent us this email.

“We will miss Gill! On behalf of all Gill's students, I would like to wish her all the best for her future as she has helped countless others achieve the best in theirs! I felt extremely honoured when I was asked to write about this tutor. I have known Gill, as a student for 3 years; however, Gill is so gregarious, that I feel I have known her for longer. As a tutor she is passionate and enthusiastic about her subject. She is patient and understanding with her students and will take time to go through your work and give you constructive guidance before you give it a final polish. Gill encourages her students’ potential as an individual. Her pastoral care is also second to none, she will take the time to listen, then offer any help and advise she can give. I know that Gill will be missed by students and staff at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, also knowing Gill, I expect her retirement will not be a quiet one, as there will be plenty of things she still has to do! “