THIS WEEK IN ISTANBUL

Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield, is currently working with Sercin Duran, new Franchisee in Istanbul. Sercin trained in Bristol in July and is, this week, launching her first classes. What an interesting city Istanbul is! Class was over at sunset last night and there was a stunning view from the studio.

Our self-development classes are designed to build:

• Confidence
• Self-esteem
• Skill in verbal communication
• English language skills
• Social skills
• Listening skills

Yesterday's class was an 'Open House' with children and parents throwing themselves into the lesson with great enthusiasm, even though they didn't quite understand everything we were saying!

Becky explains very carefully about ad-libbing - a new phrase in the children's vocabulary.

The whole lesson was very exciting - the audience joined in with warm up activities and speech work.

Mums, dads and children warming up!

As well as developing the children's confidence, the Helen O'Grady system is a very efficient tool for encouraging English as a foreign language. Each week the students - who already range from 5 to 11 years - will add a handful of new phrases to their vocabulary. Yesterday phrases included:

• How exciting!
• I'm very tired.
• My name is....
• What a beautiful day!
• I feel so much better now.

and they also joined in with several conversations in Turkish as well as in English.

New Principal, Sercin, is fluent in both Turkish and English, so will be her own interpreter in future classes! 

Children playing tricks at the end of the class. Seated l to r - Training Supervisor, Becky Goodield, Training Manager, Margaret Darley and Istanbul Franchisee, Sercin Duran.

Classes start this weekend in Cihangir, Etiler, and Tarabya. Tel: 90 0212 332 10 02
Email: info@helenogradyistanbul .com

Have you had any experience of teaching - or learning - English as a foreign language? Please comment to share your experiences.

SUMMER SEMINAR - AWARDS

During the course of the day, the management team keep an eye out for a worthy Principal to be awarded custody of Grady Bear. This term, the bear went home with new Gloucestershire Principal, Rosie Reynolds. It was really awarded to her husband, Ben, at his first Seminar, for excellent portrayal of a particularly rude child during a morning workshop.

Ben Reynolds recreating his award winning moment!

Rosie & Ben receiving Grady and his scrapbook from previous keeper, Cheshire Principal, Brian Ormrod.
National Director, Nigel Le Page supervises the handover.

Each summer, Nigel Le Page presents his National Director's Award to a deserving colleague. This year, the award went to South Wales Principal and Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield. On presenting the award, Nigel said: "In an area of the country which is renowned for unemployment and low income levels, this Principal has seen good numbers, built up a formidable team of teachers and shown an exceptionally caring attitude to students, parents, staff - and other Principals. This year, I am presenting the award to someone who has gone beyond the norm of what we reasonably expect, and someone who always maintains a postitive and supportive attitude. All of this after having a baby in the last twelve months!!"

Nigel presents Becky with the national Director's Award

Becky with the management team. L to R - Training manager, Margaret Darley, Executive Principal, Alison Mazanec,
Training Supervisor, Becky Goodfield and Nigel Le Page

The culmination of the day at the summer Seminar is the presentation of the Franchisee Of The Year Award. The Management team draws up a shortlist and this year the recipient was, eventually,  a unanimous decision. The Award was presented to Susana Ayala, Bournemouth Principal.

Dorset Principal, Susana Ayala (second from R) with the management team.

Nigel said: "Deciding who to present this award to has proved very difficult again this year. We have been inundated with various initiatives many Principals have tried this year - some with excellent results. This award, however, is being presented for not only persistence over the last year, but for many years of following the tried and proven methods, introducing her own new ideas and maintaining high standards, always with warmth, a smile and total belief in our programme. Susana is also happy to provide advice and help to others".

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AWARD WINNERS THIS SUMMER!

END OF YEAR SEMINAR - THE OFFICIAL BITS!

Principals and their partners met for the end of year Seminar in Bristol recently and were joined by Emma Sargent from The Extraordinary Coaching Company who presented two talks entitled "Extraordinary thinking for business success" which were received very well by the delegates attending. One Principal said; "Emma really made us think about things we usually take for granted and made us realise we could all achieve much more."

National Director, Nigel Le Page, with Emma Sargent.

During the day Nigel Le Page presented Becky Crawley, Principal in the North Lakes area, with the National Director's Award to recognise the hard work and determination she had put in to building her branch in the last twelve months. He praised her tenacity and reminded her she had tried 23 different marketing initiatives during the term.

Nigel Le Page with Becky Crawley

The Culmination of the summer Seminar is always the prentation of the Franchisee Of The Year Award and in 2011 it went to Oldham Principal, Wendy Orrell. During the time Wendy has been with the network, she has overcome personal difficulties and always done that little bit extra to ensure her business is a success. She has been supported all along by husband Geoff, who has had his own share of health problems. Presenting the award, Nigel said Wendy had maintained excellent communication with her students, their parents, local schools, local businesses and the press and it was the building of these relationships which would ensure she can be optimistic about the future.

The Head Office team with the 2011 Franchisee Of The Year

l to r - Nigel Le Page, National Director, Alison Mazanec, Executive Principal,

Geoff & Wendy Orrell, Oldham Principal and Margaret Darley, Training Manager

KINDY DRAMA IN MALTA

New Kindy Drama, for children aged three and four, has really taken off in our Malta branch. Principal, Alan Montanaro, has recently appointed three new teachers to manage the classes, as numbers have soared in the last two terms. Training Manager, Margaret Darley, recently visited to help train the new teachers, Holly, Alison and Coryse, alongside existing teachers, Izzy and Katherine.
Margaret was also lucky enough to attend (and join in!) a Kindy class. Teacher - Miss Holly as the Maltese children call her - did a great job of enthusing her students in what, for some, was their very first Kindy lesson. The two boys below were entranced with her sheer energy and enthusiasm.

Most training took place at the Principal's house and, during a short break in the sunshine, there was time for a picture. Alan (pictured right) and Margaret (centre) are here with teachers (l to r) Alison, Izzy, Katherine, Holly and Coryse.

Margaret said "We at Head Office are delighted the response to Kindy Drama in Malta has been so positive. Alan Montanaro has been running excellent Primary and Youth Theatre classes for several years. We are not surprised his newest classes have proved so popular. It was a delight to work with such committed and receptive teachers and wonderful to see a class in action. They are a great team in Malta and I am certain the new teachers will build and maintain great classes!"