Eating at an agri-risto out in the countryside of Sardinia is an absolute must if you’re visiting the island or live here. An agri-risto (agri-restau in English) is a picturesque, agricultural restaurant that offers high-quality dishes with food that has been locally produced using eco-friendly farming techniques.

I’ve lived in the island’s capital, Cagliari, now for twenty-five years. So, I’ve been to a few of these ‘in-the-sticks’, rustic restaurants in my time. But last Saturday 1st February, for my birthday, I struck gold.
‘Il Bombo d’oro’, translated as ‘The Golden Bumblebee’, is an agri-risto just outside Cagliari.

In just a few minutes, you find yourself in the characteristically idyllic countryside of this beautiful Mediterranean island. By the way, the restaurant is also ideal for families with children. Though close to the main road, it is tucked away nicely for your little ones to play safely.

Run by Viviana, the restaurant’s convivial chef, you get everything you want on your menu for a great lunch out: fantastic food, quality ‘Monica’ Sardinian wines, and service par excellence of the friendliest order. Viviana is Estonian and has been cooking Sardinian cuisine for years. And the word going around is that she’s mastered it better than her local counterparts!

Okay, so let’s talk turkey! The menu.
Everything you eat is locally produced Sardinian fayre. Viviana is a firm advocate of eco-friendly produce, all naturally bred and grown.
Last Saturday, this is what me and my friends got on the menu; slices of cheese, cold meats, aubergine parmesan, mint-marinated courgette, tuna carpaccio, mussel soup, malloreddus alla campidanese, seafood scampi fregola, and roast piglet. Red/white wines, and beer. Fresh fruit, coffee and liquors (e.g. Mirto, Limoncello, grappa).

Malloreddus alla campidanese is a typical Sardinian pasta dish with sausage/tomato sauce while fregola is a seafood pasta-based soup, again typical of Sardinia. My friends, who are a mix of English teachers and Italians/Sardinians, gave both dishes the thumbs up; ‘The best I’ve ever eaten’ was commonplace round the table.
The litmus test for any Sardinian restaurant is its roast piglet. This is the island’s signature dish, and it was cooked to perfection by Viviana.

I asked her how the agri-risto got its name. “There used to be tomatoes grown here. Bumble bees help polinate tomato plants, hence the name Il Bombolo d’Oro.” Though not used anymore, the greenhouses by the restaurant add their countryside charm too.
I will always remember my 56th birthday thanks to my friends, and Viviana and her great staff. We paid €30 each, which included all drinks and liquors.
I’m trying to find something to fault. I can’t. Even the weather for February was gorgeous – blue skies and sun. Oh, and if you are vegetarian or vegan, Viviana will come up with a delicious menu for you too.
I’ll be going back as soon as possible, and thoroughly recommend you follow the buzz to the Golden Bumble Bee.
Best book for lunch or dinner.
You don’t want to be buzzing outside without a table now, do you?

Il Bombo d’Oro, Telephone (Italy 0039)344 241 2745, Via Leonardo da Vinci 115
09045 Quartu Sant’Elena, Sardinia, Italy. Follow il Bombo d’Oro on Facebook.

Note; You may also hear the term’ agri-turismo’. This is the same as an ‘agri-risto’ but the difference is it breeds its own animals and grows its own vegetables too. It may also offer accommodation.

One of the first things I wrote while on the CMP course was to write a slogan that ‘reflects your character.’

Mine was ‘Ticking the funny boxes since 1964.’

It was an interesting, and surprisingly difficult, exercise!

Can thoroughly recommend it if you have time to reflect on yourself and create a slogan.

This is the story of a school. A school that’s going in one direction only, just like its name; UP. A story set on the island of Sardinia, in the city of Cagliari. A story of pupils, from nursery school age through to middle school, who spend their day at one of the three school sites around the city. Each site with a building and grounds more elegant and greener than the last. Where the day starts with thirty minutes of yoga. A school that grows its own vegetables. Which, when possible, get onto the plates of its school dinners.

A school whose motto is ‘Designed in Italy. Inspired by the world.’

And whose reputation of combining the latest in teaching technology with traditional values is taking Cagliari by storm.

The ethos of equilibrium

So, when does our story start? In 2015, to be exact. That was the year that UP School’s founder, Enrica Corbia, started the school she had been dreaming of setting up for over twenty years. Having been working with children in the education sector, her dream was to create a school that not only taught core subjects but also a way of life. Values that would stand its pupils in good stead for their futures.

The basis of UP’s ethos is equilibrium. The balance between;

• the body and mind
• the cognitive and emotional
• knowledge and skills
• tradition and innovation
• homeland and the world.

The school’s aim to help each pupil;

• become a complete person
• understand the importance of wellbeing, fitness and diet
• think for himself/herself
• be responsible and trustworthy
• share and learn together
• see how knowledge and know-how make the difference to the ecosystem.
• dare to dream.

It is a dream that has caught the imagination of parents in Cagliari as demand for places at UP steadily rises. All willing to pay over €500 a month to send their child there. By the way, UP school hopes and believes that a school such as theirs should be subsidized by the government as in countries such as Sweden.  Eventually what they are teaching should be free for parents.

The environment of learning

There are three UP schools in Cagliari. Each one teaches pupils either at pre-nursery school age, nursery school age, or primary school age. Let’s take the site in Viale Trento, in the city centre, where the primary school kids go. The school building is a 1920s villa, surrounded by trees, grass and plants. As with the other school sites, Enrica asked a team of young architects to make sure the external beauty was matched by modern, innovative, airy classrooms and specially designed spaces in which to learn. Latest state-of-the-art digital teaching technology such as smart boards followed. It makes for an exciting and elegant environment for learning.

Teaching and learning English at Up

To find out more about UP, I spoke with one of its English teachers, Kate Jenkins. I’ve known and been friends with her since the mid-90s. I had an idea what she does at the school in Viale Trento but I wanted to quiz her a bit more.

Kate’s been at UP since its opening in 2015.

She says, “When I took the job, it was a great challenge because teaching kids is a whole new ball game compared to teaching adults.

It’s not just about English, it’s about caring for the pupils and understanding what they need. You’ve got to build up their attention span, so lessons have to be varied, fast-moving and always geared to keeping their interest.”

In 2015, she took on the first intake of pupils for Year 1 and Year 2 of the primary school. Ages five, six and seven. Now, she’s just completed Year 4 and Year 5 with them and seen the progress they’ve made first-hand. “You really get attached to them. It’s hard work teaching but when you’re teaching this age group it’s very fulfilling.”

I ask her to give me an idea of the teaching materials she uses in class.

“Well, I’ve been using ‘Kids Box’ books published by Cambridge. I like this series because it contains a lot of activities and songs. The kids like that, too. The series also prepares them for the Cambridge exams they take. This year for Year 4, we used Kids Box (levels 5 and 6) and the class took the ‘Flyers’ exam*. The kids in Year 5 have just taken the Cambridge KET exam and we used ‘Complete KET*’ as the book. We’re waiting for the exam results to come through from Cambridge. “

She adds, joking;” But I’m quietly confident, as football managers say”

*School children can take internationally renowned University of Cambridge exams that get gradually more difficult. The names are ‘Starters’, ‘Movers’ and ‘Flyers’. Then KET which stands for Key English Test.

At UP, the school states that 60% of all lessons, whatever the subject, are done in English. Kate backs me up on that.

Teaching subjects in English is being a CLIL teacher rather than simply a TEFL teacher. CLIL stands for ‘Content and Language Integrated Learning’ and means teaching a subject in a foreign language to pupils. An English CLIL teacher will, therefore, teach pupils a subject in English rather than in the pupils’ own language. TEFL is literally teaching the English language (grammar etc) to pupils.  

English lessons and technology

I move on and ask Kate about her lessons.

She says; “I really enjoy teaching at UP because I’m fairly free to decide the syllabus myself. Based on what other teachers are doing with their subjects. For example, this last academic year, I added History for Year 4 and Geography for Year 5. Next year, I’ll be introducing literature, so very exciting .”

An example of any lessons?

“Sure. When we were studying the Egyptian culture, we made a 3D model of Ancient Egypt in papier-mâché. That was great, creative fun for the kids who really enjoyed working together on it. Visually very impressive.”

“Or with geography, we did biomes. The kids had studied them in Year 3 and 4 in Italian with their Geography teacher. I got the kids to brainstorm what they already knew about them. I gave them my input which they took notes on. Then I got them to do more research on their computers in class. By the end of the week, the class were doing PowerPoint presentations on the biome they’d chosen to focus on. In their small groups, you know.”

“Oh yes, I know.” I nod. And then add “What are biomes?”

If any one of you reading this is as ignorant of geography as me biomes are different types of environment found around the world which share the same characteristics. So, for example, you get a desert biome, and grassland biome etc.

That cleared up, I echo; “Presentations? With PowerPoint?”

Kate looks at me as if I’m mad for the second time in two seconds and says; “Of course. The kids know it like the back of their hand.”

Silly me. That’s what being up on technology means in practice for UP school.

The trip to London

I know that Kate has just come back from a week in London with some of her Year 5 pupils.

“Yes, the kids had been begging me since Year 3 to take them to London. But they were a bit too young. Never been away from their parents. Well, anyway, this year, me and the parents decided the time was right. Parents paid for the trip. A few came too. It was great fun. Though it rained all week! I told the kids it was all part and parcel of the British spirit, as they trudged around in their anoraks like wombles!”

“We went to the British Museum. They loved that as it reinforced what they’d learned about Romans and Egyptians in my classes. We went to the Natural History Museum too and saw the dinosaurs. We also went to the Science Museum which was great because the science teacher had done lessons on electricity and matter. The kids really enjoyed seeing these things ‘in the flesh’ so to speak and literally threw themselves into the interactive Equinox Gallery.”

She adds; “And you know, one of the pupils took his mum shopping. She doesn’t speak English. But her son helped her buy some stuff. That’s what being able to speak English is about!”

Any funny stories?

“Well, it’s not that funny but the kids loved repeating ‘Please do not obstruct the doors’ – the automatic voice message in the hotel’s lifts. At any time, wherever we were. And ‘Mind the gap’ of course. The classic!”

“Talking of funny, the funny thing was that one of the great highlights of the trip was seeing the squirrels in St James’s Park. The kids were mesmerised and didn’t want to leave!”

“It doesn’t take much to please them!”, she jokes.

I’d say the kids at UP know a good thing when they see it. And know how lucky they are to be at such a fun, forward-thinking school.

New Kids on the Blog

UP school has had its blog for the pupils since October 2016. newkidsontheblogweb.wordpress.com

First thing to say is what a great title for a blog (from a copywriting point of view). Got all the key words in there and it sums up what the blog will be about. It’s got humour too.

The blog has a lot going for it;

• Plenty of frequent, up-to-date posts
• Pupils producing the posts
• Posts in Italian or English
• Varied posts reflecting the school’s ethos, values and activities.
• Loads of photos

What strikes me about the blog is how important the environment, nature and green issues are to the children at UP. This, of course, fits in with the school’s ethos. For example, class 3 has its club where they meet in a corner of the school’s garden. The post (in Italian) says pupils in Class 3 Club make orange cake or orange fruit salad from the orange tree there. And, importantly, take seeds from the oranges to plant.

Or, another of the green posts highlights the Swedish teenager, Greta Thunberg’s fight against global warming. The post ends with ‘Save the Planet!’ and ‘Help the Planet!’

This post like many are in English. Kate says the kids write them themselves. With mistakes corrected if necessary. There’s humour too. For example, one post sees the kids imagining what the names of the plants are in the school grounds. It’s not important what their real botanical names are but more important to be creative and make up the plant’s names. Like for example, a squishy medlar (the shrub whose fruit has the same name).

The blog touches on all sorts of subject matter. There are posts on games for technology, poems written by the kids, articles on the Bermuda Triangle, the history of comics, football, dogs and cats, and physical exercise. There are more ‘obscure’ topics such as ‘Epirus – a forgotten civilisation.’ Or more serious topics such as on Holocaust Memorial Day.

Creativity, respect and honesty leap out from the posts. I was particularly impressed with the ‘moral dilemmas’ post coming from philosophy teacher Joe’s class. The post explains that a moral dilemma is when there are two possible answers but neither one is necessarily right or wrong. A series of ‘Would you rather….? questions follow like ‘Would you rather save 100 old men or one little baby?’ Result; sixteen pupils said one little baby, and three said 100 old men. Another question is ‘Would you rather do an important but boring lesson or do a fun but superficial lesson?” The whole class voted for the important lesson!

I’d say they probably think the important lesson won’t be that boring anyway or, if it is, fun will be just around the corner!

Check out UP’s Facebook page, too. Another example of how social media is being used well.

Last word goes to Kate

In talking to Kate, she emphasises how Teachers at UP school continually draw on their own passions and personal experience which they then reinvest in the classroom.

“Last year I went to Australia and got precious material for workshops on rainforests and reefs. This year I’m heading off to do voluntary work in Madagascar. I hope to document my experience so we can do some conservation projects when I get back. It’s all about inspiring the children and broadening their minds.”

And if she had to sum up UP’s teaching philosophy in a nutshell?

“Our job is to give our pupils the tools to grow up with the best possible chances in a difficult world. It’s not about telling them what to think but teaching them to think for themselves”.

Hear! Hear!

Before today, I knew UP school was doing well in Cagliari. Now, I know why.

Hope you’ve enjoyed finding out about UP school, especially if you teach kids yourselves.

School site https://upschool.it

School blog https://newkidsontheblogweb.wordpress.com/

Copywriting is about words that open up a whole wide world.

It uses words to sell. And if it’s done right, it can go global.

Words and oysters

When it comes to words and oysters, where better to start than with David Ogilvy’s ‘Guinness Guide to Oysters’ advert.

It’s an icon of 50s advertising.

It’s as brilliant a concept for an advert as, say, ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ is as a concept for a rock album cover.

This link by Mike Schwaur sums up why it works so well as an advert – if you don’t know; https://swiped.co/file/guinness-guide-to-oysters-by-david-ogilvy/

I’m new to the copywriting world, so I only saw Ogilvy’s advert this year. And I thought it was brilliant. Inspiring.

It made me think about all those copywriting possibilities.

One of the reasons why I enrolled to the CMP (College of Media and Publishing) copywriting course was I thought I might be able to use my creativity with words in a new context.

I’ve been writing poems most of my life. Over the years tried my hand at songs. A few scripts.

Since enrolling at CMP in September 2018, I’ve learnt how Copywriting is a very different kettle of fish. A good copywriter has to be clear and concise. There’s little room for shades of meaning like there is in poems and songs, for example.

Getting into copywriting

I’d been thinking of getting into copywriting for a few months.

Surfed the web for degrees, diplomas, courses in copywriting at British universities.

It was all quite expensive. And would have involved a great deal of upheaval. Moving. Leaving my job. Seemed a bit of a risk.

Then, last September, I started looking at online courses.

CMP grabbed my attention right away. It looked very professional.

I was sold by a mix of things;

• CMP is a recognised college
• You qualify with a recognised certificate
• You do the course at your own pace; there’s no deadline to finish it.
• The lessons and assignments cover a wide range of copywriting skills.
• You have a tutor for advice
• The course doesn’t cost the world.

I took the plunge immediately and enrolled.

Once enrolled, the online CMP platform called OLA (Online Learning Area) is easy to use and reliable. No technical problems ever.

There are eighteen lessons and assignments. I’m on number 15. Once you finish an assignment, you send it to your tutor who marks it within three working days. Without fail. Sometimes quicker.

It’s no mickey mouse course. If you don’t do an assignment to the standard required, you are asked to do it again. Your tutor will tell you where you can improve your work.

It’s a challenge. But that’s what I want. And it’s great when you get a grade A. You know you’ve earned it.

You can see what lessons are coming up in the course, but you have to do each assignment one by one. There’s no skipping back and forth. The course is well structured and builds up nicely.

The lessons are full of clear, concise information and links for you to read up on in order to grasp the concepts. On SEO, writing headlines, leaflets, press releases,  for example.

It’s perfect for me because I work a lot in my teaching job. I can get on with the copywriting course in my free time. Whenever I feel like it.

I’m very happy with CMP. And would recommend it to any of you thinking of getting a recognised qualification. See link to find out about their courses.

https://collegeofmediaandpublishing.co.uk/)

At the end of the course, assignment 19 is about getting a job. CMP will, no doubt, give me some great advice.

I would welcome any further tips and advice about getting a job in copywriting. And any feedback on my copywriting on this blog.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is about words that open up a whole wide world to you.

It’s about teaching a language. And when you get a certificate in TEFL, you can literally get a job anywhere. And quickly.

This article is for those of you thinking of getting into TEFL.

Who gets into TEFL

Most people who get into TEFL tend to be in their 20s or 30s, but there are no age limits at all.

I’ve worked with many different types of people as colleagues. Some people do TEFL for a couple years’ break. Some people get into it and choose to go on an adventure, working in different countries for a time. Some decide to settle down and end up living abroad their whole lives.

Getting qualified in TEFL

Whoever you are, and whatever your reasons, you should get qualified first.

Get a certificate in TEFL. It is also called CELTA which stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.

It’s important you get a certificate that will be recognised.

You can’t go wrong with a training centre recognised by a big fish like the University of Cambridge. Here is a link to start your search;

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/cmp/take-celta-uk-ireland/

A full-time TEFL, or CELTA course will last one month at the training centre you choose. There’s no final exam. It’s continuous assessment.

Such courses are offered all year round. Expect to pay about £1500.  

You don’t need any teaching experience to enrol.

You don’t need a degree, though it helps. And if you do have a degree, it can be in anything. It doesn’t have to be in foreign languages.

You are trained to know how to teach only in English in class. Even with beginners. It’s frowned upon to speak to the students in their own language during lessons.

The advantages of a full-time TEFL course are that it’s;

• Enjoyable – you’re with trainees like you on your course.
• Practical – you get real teaching experience.
• Comprehensive – you learn many aspects of language teaching in a short, intensive, period.
• You are very likely, (if not guaranteed) to get a job in a private language school after qualifying.

You can get a certificate online too. Make sure it’s recognised and serves your purpose. Online courses are much cheaper than full-time courses.

However, keep in mind teaching is a ‘people’ job. On a full-time course you will meet teacher trainers, fellow teacher trainees, and most importantly, foreign students. You will miss out on this aspect online.

My full-time TEFL/CELTA course is typical

I did my full-time course in April 1992 at International House, Hastings because it had a very good reputation.

And got the RSA Certificate in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language to Adults, recognised by Cambridge University. It ticked all the boxes listed above.

When I started the course, I had no teaching experience. I couldn’t explain English grammar. And I’d never spoken in front of a group of people.

All that changed in a matter of weeks!

Be prepared for a pretty intensive month. It’s full on.

It’s full-on fun too. I met so many people from all over the world.

Lesson observations

The most useful, and most stressful, part of the full-time course is ‘observation’ lessons.

These are when your tutor sits in on a class that you are teaching. And then gives you feedback on your strengths. And weaknesses to work at. It’s nerve-wracking. You’re under the microscope.

After my first observation lesson, my tutor commented on various parts of the lesson, and pointed out one major thing to work on; TTT (teacher talking time). i.e. cut it down. The objective is to get your students talking. Teachers should never talk too much.

My next observations went much better. You learn a lot from observations. I went minimalistic with teaching talking time, for example.

Course content

Like any industry, teaching has been changed by internet. But the content for TEFL/CELTA courses is still very much the same as it was in the 90s.

Today, you’ll be graded on much the same as I was more than twenty-five years ago. For example;

• Planning coherent lessons
• Awareness of language terms and concepts
• Identifying, selecting and adapting appropriate aids and materials
• Establishing rapport and creating a motivating classroom atmosphere
• Willingness to benefit from feedback from course trainers, colleagues and students

Getting work after the course

Getting your TEFL certificate is like when you get your driving licence.

You’ve had all the right techniques drummed into you, but you still lack ‘road sense.’

You’re going to spend the next year in your first teaching job learning a hell of a lot.

But you gain in confidence.

I spent the summer of ’92 in Hastings having got a job at a private school.

Meanwhile, I was sending out applications to private schools in Italy.

I got a job at the British Institutes in Monza. And started their academic year in September 1992.

That first year at Monza was brilliant because the school I worked for was extremely well-organised and up on training. So, lesson observations continued. Only once a term though.

When you apply for jobs at private schools, wherever it is, apply to those with a good reputation. It’s important you work for someone that is going to help you develop as a teacher.

For a first job teaching in Italy, pay averages €1300 a month. You can expect to teach 20-25 hours a week. And you’ll have lessons scattered over the week. Almost certainly you’ll be working late; 8.30-10 p.m. Adults finish work at 8p.m so private schools offer that as a popular slot. You’ll probably be sent out to do lessons in companies too. Teaching kids is getting to be a big market.

Other countries such as Saudi Arabia or China offer higher salaries.

Check List for considering a job in TEFL;

• All ages start in TEFL
• Work may be a temporary break or turn into a permanent career.
• No teaching experience is necessary
• You don’t have to have a degree. Though preferable.
• Do a recognised certificate in TEFL (I recommend full-time course.)
• Be prepared for an intensive month on full-time course.
• Online courses are cheaper. Make sure the course is recognised. Or serves your purpose if not.
• Choose a reputable private school to work for. Helps your career.

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, the world of TEFL really is your oyster.

I recommend it even if just for a year or two. You won’t forget the experience.