Teaching Learning Activity 4 in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

 

Teaching Learning Activity as a part of the project Art Nouveau – Art Renouveau, Erasmus +, will take place from 11th – 18^th April, 2016 in Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria. The purpose of the seven-day activities is to learn about the Art Nouveau movement in Bulgaria and to create new ‘art renouveau’ works of art. Students and teachers from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Rumania, Slovenia and Scotland create pieces of art together and  enjoy each other’s company.  The mentor of the project at St. Stanislav’s Institution was Alenka Battelino, teacher of English.

 

 Arrival Day, Sunday, 10th April 2016

On Sunday we met at the airport at 8am and set off for Bulgaria. We first arrived to Sofia, the capital of the coutry, and took a bus to Veliko Tarnovo where we would be staying. From the start, I found Bolgaria very interesting. Within the first few minutes, we saw two horses and a donkey walking across the street. Tarnovo, however, is much different and more similar to some Slovenian cities. /Maja Peklenik/

 

 

 

 

Day One, Monday, 11th April, 2016

On Monday, we met at their school at 8.50. They introduced some history of the country and told us a few facts about it. They also held a talent show, where they taught us some of their traditional music.

After lunch, we had workshops in the theme of Art Noveau. There were three different activities possible: making painted pendants, glass drawing and mirror and felting. We spent the afternoon with our host families.

I can already tell this will be a great exchange. /Maja Peklenik/

 

 

Day Two, Tuesday, 12th April, 2016

On our second day in Veliko Tarnovo we went to the old city center and learned a lot about Bulgarian history and history of Veliko Tarnovo. After the trip around the old town we had workshops in school, during which we created handcrafted flowers out of wool.

This morning we gathered at 9:30 right next to the Mother Bulgaria monument. From there we proceeded to the old town, where we saw sights such as the monkey house, Tsarevets, monument dedicated to famous Bulgarian rulers, a monument dedicated to the Bulgarian merchant Hadji Nikoli and a famous Bulgarian inn.  During our many stops we had a short break dedicated to souvenir shopping and town sightseeing. I was impressed by what a lovely medieval town Veliko Tarnovo looks like and how much history there is behind it. Later on, we went to a restaurant, where we ate Bulgarian mushroom stew, steaks with mashed potatoes and delicious dessert. After lunch, we returned to school where we had workshops. This time I was felting, therefore I created woolen flowers with the help of Bulgarian students and teachers. The creativity of various students and teachers was just amazing, and I think we created some beautiful handwork. We were also pleasantly surprised, when we saw ourselves in a local newspaper. /Matija Trošt/

Day Three, Wednesday, 13th April, 2016

Wednesday started a little bit differently than any other day. We gathered earlier, e. i. at 8 a.m., and filled up three buses prepared for this occasion. I was on bus No. 3 and our group went on a trip to the city of Ruse. Because we drove there for quite a while, I played cards with two of the French girls. It was interesting to see that we have so many very similar games. We also played a completely French game. However, the trip ended, rather too soon to my taste, and we got to our destination. Ruse is a wonderful city with many interesting Art-Nouveau sights. After the guided tour through the city, our team had an hour- long break. Because the temperatures were very high everyone was a little bit lazy, so in the end two of my friends and me went around the city. My first goal was to reach the river Danube and when doing so, a very beautiful view opened. Some minutes and photos later we found ourselves walking back to the meeting point. The most interesting thing that I noticed was how intertwined the present and the past are. I saw an old church next to modern houses and old rotting warehouses as well as a railroad near modern sidewalks and roads. The present does not mind the past, it seems the city wants to give an impression there is no connection between the two. However, I noticed it. Moreover, I will remember it. After the break, we went to the museum that showed how people lived back then. Later on we visited two monasteries near the mountains. Because everything was beautiful, we went hiking for some time. After this incredible sightseeing, we returned into present life. Our (only) time. Everyone enjoyed the trip and nobody will ever forget it. /Peter Berkopec, year 2/

Day Five, Friday, 15th April, 2016

In the morning I woke up to my favourite tune of Bandiera rossa. For breakfast I had burek and some coffee, while sending yesterday’s journal articles to prof. Podlipnik, who had given me the task of collecting everybody’s journal articles. After breakfast my host, my co-partner Ema and me went to school, which was luckily just a 5- minute walk away. I had a workshop, where Špela, Ema and me made a poster entitled Bulgaria through my eyes.

Then we had 4 hours of free time, so we went for lunch in a fancy restaurant, which I do not usually do. We also went to two shops, where the girls bought some make up. Of course, I was suffering like in Tartarus. To make it up to me they bought me an ice cream with caramel spread! Because we had too little time, we took the bus to school. The bus was full of people, and they were not grannies returning from the market with fresh salad, but people from our exchange. When we all went off the bus, only two passengers remained there. (I checked). In school we had an exhibition of the stuff me made during workshops this week. During the final speeches, we were given diplomas, and I must say that the Slovenians besides the French were given the biggest applaud. A group photo was also taken (shame on our teachers, who did not represent Slovenia in the midst of paparazzi). Endless goodbyes followed, during which hands were shaken, hugs were given, friends were added on fb and selfies were taken. We returned to the host’s flat to deposit of our stuff and then we went for pizza. /Nika Podakar, year 2/

 

Two choirs from St. Stanislav’s Institution  won gold at the 25th National competition in choral singing which took place in Celje, Slovenia from 4th – 6th April 2016.

Fifty-two choirs with 2000 singers aged 13-20 from all over the country proved again that the Slovenians are a singing nation and encouraging music making systematically from an early age bears fruit, which is increasing the number of participants and more importantly the quality of singing nationwide.

Both, St. Stanislav Youth Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and The Youth Choir of Alojzij Šuštar Primary School took part in the competition. St. Stanislav Youth Choir of the DCG, which is only one of the five choirs in the gymnasium, won the golden plaque and three special awards for the best youth mixed choir, the most creative programme and the most convincing performance of a contemporary song Miniwanka by Raymond Murray Schafer. The Youth Choir of Alojzij Šuštar Primary School under the conductorship of Nadja Janežič won the gold plaque with honour for their performance of the Slovene folk song Dečva nabira brančur (Gal is collecting brunches) by Jakob Jež. This was their  first appearance at a competition on such level and the jury recognized the primary school choir as one of the best youth choirs in the country.

“For the choir any competition is always a pressing challenge as singers need to achieve their best in vocal, technical and artistic sense at a unique, specific moment”, said Damijan Močnik, conductor of the winning choir, teacher of music at the DCG, composer and member of the jury at the competition. “As for any conductor, my work starts much earlier. It is conductor’s job to find the repertoire that shows off the choir’s strong points and hides the potentially weak ones. The choir needs to impress both the audience and the jury, which happened tonight. On such occasions, it is of outmost importance to be able to focus. I, myself, usually do it by walking up and down in front of the choir. There was a singer who came up to me with a reassuring message – Do not be nervous! We can do this!  – and they did  indeed. I also appreciate choir’s self-confident attitude very much. This is one of the best things music making does to young people!”

Music importantly and decisively underpins the curriculum of all schools in St. Stanislav’s Institution, but this is especially the case in the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, where almost half of the students (about 300) participate in choral singing. Every year the choirs of St. Stanislav’s Institution, together with two alumni choirs (there are eight of them all together) participate in the annual concert. This year it will be on 15th May, 2016 at 6 p.m. in Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana, to which you are kindly invited. Come and see yourselves how music transforms the souls and minds of the young  – even today! /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Listen to the recording of St. Stanislav Youth Choir of the DCG at 25^th National Choral Competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHgNmSa8yDI&list=PLZ4NSqkyW0tV_bH2tyGLtDptLZjOsXg1I

 

The DCG student team is the winner of the Slovene part of international competition of The European Central Bank (ECB) entitled Generation €uro. The third round of the copetition took place on 30th March 2016 in the Bank of Slovenia, Ljubljana. The competitors presented the results of their predictions on the future monetary policy. The jury recognised in their presentation a great deal of creativity and relaxed attitude when facing this rather demanding theme. As a reward the team will travel with ther mentor, Tadej Rifel, Ph. D., and the representatives of the Bank of Slovenia to the ECB Seat in Frankfurt. There Mario Draghi, President of ECB will congratulate the DCG winning team.    /Tadej Rifel, Ph.D./

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  (Luke 24: 36–38)
“Disciples already know that Jesus rose from the dead. However, fear is holding them back so they avoid others and stay behind locked doors. Not expecting him, Jesus enters the room. They cannot hide their fears and doubts. He lets them recognise himself through his words giving them his peace, through his bodily presence and the signs of his death on the cross. His words, with which he explains the Scriptures written on him, bring the light of his resurrection amongst the disciples and ignite them with it.” (Lojze Čemažar, painter)

Dear friends,
the light of the risen Jesus aims to illuminate our doubts and fears and shine into our uncertainty and anxiety. In the Jubilee Year of Mercy, we are all invited to deepen our faith that He is present in the Word and in the poor who need our help. We should not hesitate to walk out of our safe havens and bring this joyful message about Jesus to the world that strives for peace and salvation.
I wish you an abundance of Easter courage.

dr. Roman Globokar
director of St. Stanislav’s Institution

The students of the DCG from the French Drama Club participated for the third time in the International Francophonie Days in Celje, Slovenia. On World Theatre Day, March 25th 2016, 104  students from 15 Slovene high schools gathered to stage a contemporary performance in French, namely Les Migrants by Sonja Ristič. Assisted by the French actress Amélie Vignals and stage director Victor Thimonier, it is the Slovene students who set up this project, which is unique also in a broader context of burning migration issues, and demonstrates some excellent networking. The first night took place on 25th March 2016 in The Slovene National Theatre in Celje, Slovenia. The students of DCG rehearsed under the mentorship of Daša Obrč, teacher of French at The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

St. Stanislav’s Institution hosted the entire teaching staff from Graz with their director dr. Justinus Greifeneder on 12th March 2016. Both gymnasiums have had a long and fruitful history of exchanges in different fields. A day before their visit the (Re)Mixed Choir of DCG returned from Graz where they took part in a joint choral concert ; in April already the fourth language exchange will take place and we are looking forward to hosting Austrian students in the diocasean Classicla Gymnasium in Ljubljana.
Director of St. Stanislav’s Institution dr. Roman Globokar presented in brief the history of the institution, especially the newly opened primary school and kindergarten. The tour of the instutiton which followed, offered an insight view of our work and endeavours. After lunch the staff continued their excursion in Slovenia. Irena Bolta, teacher of German at The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, was responsible for the visit.

The innovation camp took place from 16th-17th March 2016 in St. Stanislav’s Institution. Participants’ aim was to find a creative and innovative solution to the problem of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium’s promotion on social platforms. They were encouraged by more experienced speakers in the field of economics, namely by two alumni (Petra Zoubek, Jakob Vrhovec) and the economist Gorazd Pavlek. Students tried to convince a three-member jury in a short, but persuasive speeches about the applicability of their ideas. By doing so they gained a lot of marketing experience and outside classroom knowledge.  The mentors of the camp were Mirjam Lindič, teacher of German and Martin Čokl, teacher of physics at the DCG. /Anamarija Čuden/

 

A training course for teachers  of Spanish entitled Curso para profesores de español no nativos was held in the city of Puerto de la Cruz located in the northern part of the island of Tenerife between 7^th – 11th March 2016. There were four participants in the course (two teachers from Denmark, one from Norway and myself). The course was held in a language school which is attended by different profiles of learners (groups are heterogeneous with learners from different countries; in addition to high-school and university students there are also quite many adults who want to learn or improve their Spanish). Before the start of the training course, we were invited to fill out a longer questionnaire on the topics we want to concentrate on, the activities we want to become familiar with and the chapters of the Spanish language and culture we want to pay special attention to. We also had a great opportunity to exchange good practice with each other.

One part of the course was dedicated to attending different Spanish language courses ranging from A1 to B2. After the visits, we paid attention to various topics discussed in these courses (such as ser y estar, el subjuntivo, el factor lúdico en la enseñanza del léxico, la teatralización como recurso en el aula, el contraste entre los pasados, la tecnología en la enseñanza de idiomas) and enriched them with examples of good practice, reflections and exchanges of didactic materials. In the afternoons, we took part in different activities (lectures on culture, language, history, sports, holidays on the Canary Islands, etc.) or did some sightseeing (Museum of El Teide National Park, botanical gardens …). I really appreciate the professional and friendly attitude of our teachers both during the classes and in the free time. I would like to stay in touch with them via social platforms to exchange materials for teaching Spanish. The selected topics that were discussed in the course are very useful for teachers of Spanish. It was interesting to see how particular grammar issues are practised at different levels. In the past, the Canary Islands were a link between Europe, Africa and Americas, which is reflected nowadays in the language (vocabulary, intonation, and pronunciation), architecture, culture, and society. Spanish as a world language is very diverse, therefore, it is extremely important to be able to present and spread the knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world to your students.

I informed our foreign language teachers’ group about the training course. In addition, I will also share the materials I got at the course with my colleagues. /Daša Deželak Oberč/

 

 

 

On Thursday 17th March 2016 pupils from Alojzij Šuštar Primary School offered strong and loud support in school for the Slovene Champion Peter Prevc and other Slovene eagels in Planica at the 2016 Fis World Cup Ski Jumping Final in Planica (Slovenia). Thus pupils contributed in their own way to fantastic atmosphere in Planica. Peter Prevc celebrated a record 14th win of the season, Robert Kranjec was excellent third, achieving with 241.5m the distance of the day. The oldest competing jumper, the Japanese Noriaki Kasai, jumped today for the 500th time in a world cup competition. Today it is the fifth consecutive Slovene victory in Planica and a great day to boost the feeling of national pride. /Lily Schweiger Kotar /

I took part in an intensive German language course held at the Language Institute Treffpunkt in Bamberg, Bavaria from 7^th-11^th March 2016. There were seven participants in our group; but we spent quite some time with the learners from other groups as well. Before the start of the course, I took the placement test.

The morning sessions were meant for classroom work, whereas the afternoons were reserved for independent work and group activities. I took part in various activities such as lectures on culture, language, and history, a guided city tour, joint lunches and dinners. I really liked the friendly attitude of our teacher and other employees. I took the opportunity to speak with them during lunchtime. Such small talk enabled me to improve my communication skills needed when I am a tour guide for our students on their excursions to Austria and Germany. In addition, I was also able to improve my grammar.

I informed my colleagues about this course and recommended the experience to them as well. /Matej Petrevčič/