Workshop in Udine Englihs
De wikisenior
Sumario
The outward
You feel like Marco Polo when you traveled from a village in the Alto Palancia (a interior region of the province of Castellon, Spain) to a small town in northeastern Italy. We use all possible transport, except the ship and spacecraft: car, bus, plane, bus, train, taxi ... Udine and finally reached after fourteen hours of travel, spirit intact and waiting and battered body and tired.
We traveled seven people at UJI: Pili, Susana Beatriz, Juanjo, Francis, Anna and Manuel.
The battered accentuated because of the train journey from Venice to Udine did crammed into a regional Sunday best and most time standing ... But we are arrived...
Welcome
We were greeted by the owner of Hotel San Giorgio, who after giving us the rooms and allowed to cool a bit, gave us a welcome cocktail based chips (which in the Valencian Country call "papas") and Italian champagne.
Then we went to dinner at a nearby pizza place and some even had the courage to go to the center of Udine to see the end of local festivals, which we reported was that night ... other forces we had and we went straight to sleep.
Classes
Monday, 21
After breakfast at the hotel we picked the coordinator of the Italian university. It was our first contact with her and with peers. The surprise was that we discovered that we were not all "older" students who were very young (22 to 30 years) of various nationalities.
After a cordial welcome from Pina Raso, the president (presumably the equivalent of our "rector") and the presentation of the course by the program coordinator in Udine, Alessia Fabbro, began classes with the English teacher, Silvio Serafini, Italian-American provenance, a superb teacher, with an admirable diction (praised by all participants). The classes consisted of analyzing the lyrics of several songs, his singing, distinguishing various facets of the same as rhyme, rhythm, metaphor, alliteration ...
We ate at a restaurant near the university where we would also following days, homemade Italian food.
Between the end of the meal and 14.30, we started back in classes at our disposal a computer room with internet, where we sent our first group photo to our coordinator of the UPM in the UJI and began to write this page so that our friends and family could keep up with our stay in Friulian.
In the afternoon of a day in intensive schedule, we had a Caribbean dance class, where there were some moments of what might be called "funny".
After changing the dress, at 8 pm, prepare, all participants of different nationalities, a dinner with the products that previously we had brought our nations of origin.
This we thought would be dinner for participants at the course, but then many people attended, nearly all teachers and staff of the University. Spanish products are over quickly, being praised by most attendees. Based on that almost ate them all and you could just bring to our table, we confirm that it was really appreciated.
Tuesday, 22
In the morning we continue with classes that began with a discussion of Washington DC, the birthplace of Silvio, and the peculiarities of the music of the area, the "Hillbilly" and the folk music of the Appalachian Mountains. Then we explore other lyrics, discovering, with disappointment, that the song "Delilah" by Tom Jones, makes apology for maltreatment.
Guided tour of Udine
In the afternoon we had a class with Professor of Art, Elena Rossi, who explained to us prior to a general tour of the city of Udine.
This visit has been instructive for teaching character that has prevailed there (note the presence of Silvio and Professor of History), which has informed us that the history of Udine dating from 983, as we had previously shown in class using a document of that era that confirms it. The town is completely irregular but
nice and pleasant in his "mess," laying particular emphasis castle set in
a mountain overlooking the city in whole. You have real gems from the point of view
architecture, such as magnificent cathedral and huge in size and works of value, pointing to our view, and for not too many in the world, two bodies facing each other to produce a stereo effect, which gives an idea of its magnitude. It is also worth noting the painting "Resurrection", by Tiepolo.
Wednesday, 23
We continue to study modern music which is a true expert our professor Silvio, (sometimes brings his guitar) but always with a friendly aspect seriously. The truth is that when performing some of the songs we studied lacked a little "spark" but he did correctly.
This day we begin to form discussion groups, four groups in total, which could not
having more than one Spanish. We met in different classes to study, discussing different aspects that we suggested the corresponding song. Sometimes it was difficult to agree, but we had to do so. Later in the class outlining common interpretation.
Again, after school, there was a meeting of Caribbean dance, but after the first class there was a logical screen. Still, there we had our representatives, Beatrice, Pili and Francis have held our flag high in the optional subject.
Then at about eight o'clock, dinner at restaurant "Alta Marea", next to the hotel, whose terrace after dinner we met prolonging talks and taking the odd "Limoncello" ... on these evenings ejercitábamos our learning English intensively, because they had to see the efforts that are needed to translate a spicy joke without offending anyone ... proceeding to leave (some sooner and some later) to sleep to begin the new day with renewed spirit ...
Thursday, 24
Again we focus on the study of American songs, touching the turn of "Hotel California" is like any connoisseur of this kind of music know, a great song, with lyrics that hides a lot of keys, which has given much to discuss ... Given that in itself speaks of "not drinking from that source since 1969," the older we thought it was a reference to WoodstockBut many did not know what we meant, nor who was Joan Baez ... there was much difficulty in explaining all that, but was one of the best times of classes.
After the break for the "coffee break", Massimo gave us a demo of Skype, connecting Finland and our Roger in the UJI.
After lunch (we have discussed, that this is done at noon), we had a special class dedicated to South Africa, very regretfully explained by Prof. Pierina di Santolo,
She lived there his childhood and youth, and also kindly give us a beautiful record of a country whose history has proved fascinating. In addition, one student from UPM, Juanjo, travel had been there and has several acquaintances with whom he has contact, so it was doubly endearing.
Then at dinner was done in a private home, knowing well how is cooked in Italy .....
Italian Dinner House
We move to the suburbs of Udine, to a residential area in the middle of the countryside, in private cars of teachers who picked us up at the hotel.
The dinner was really great getting to know an Italian lady named Elisabetta, who at home, assisted by her teenager son, Francesco, had a magnificent dinner for about 28 people cooking in front of us with a wealth of explanations, in addition to giving us some photocopies ingredients.
Health are acknowledged and remain hopeful that we promised to visit Castello where hosts and cook a paella.
Apart from the dinner, really tasty, stay in the house was very nice, distributed in several rooms, dining room, terrace ... etc ...
Those of us on the main terrace had our funny moments as we were surprised when Manuel Finnish teaching at something on his right arm that made him warmly embraced and kissed him ... turned out to be the Finnish flag embroidered on the sleeve of the shirt he bought on his trip to that country and who had become a tribute to them ... Nor was anything wrong Juanjo effort to explain a joke to one of the Welsh, humorless, understood that only the Spanish do not like Ikea ...
Friday, 25
During the morning we made an assessment of the course to which we gave to each of the groups (grouped by nationality), some forms which we should reflect our opinion. Nor was it easy to agree, as we had to submit only one form per group (had it easy here Czech, German and Estonian ... that were unique), but finally unified express our opinion.
We also collected two photos per person than we had been doing during the week, where we had to write why we had chosen.
Alessia afternoon we made a presentation to the closing of the course, after which Silvio handed us our diplomas in the presence of most of the teachers and the President.
Upon delivery of certificates we gathered in a large room where we had some playful moments, singing several songs, not only in English but also Spanish and Italian, and where one of the Latvian participants gave us a brief concert of piano, an instrument which is a professor in your country.
Visit Venice
As icing on the cake tasty meant our stay in Udine, on Saturday we had a visit to Venice.
At eight o'clock in the morning, about the group we train from Udine to Venice, guided by the course lecturers headed by Silvio, Pierina and Angela, and also accompanied us, the art teacher, Helen, so we traveled twenty-five people , we arrive at Santa Lucia station, about ten ....
Everyone I know knows that Venice is a different city, and the difference lies not only in that the streets are navigable, it is their enclave, a succession of small islands and all inhabited a fluidly communicated through a series of transport shipping of all kinds. Given that the lake does not seem to be very profudidad Transport is more special with the ground plane to avoid hitting bottom, and marked its "streets" in a clear, thus to enable a transit capable of carrying all the world where to go.
As far as its structure from the urban point refers to is of course special, and his art ... Actually all of Venice seems to us a gem, and of course one wonders how a city can hold as much art in so little space?, Narrow streets, admiring everything we encounter, starting with the Piazza San Marco.
From end to end of its extension gasps of admiration, its narrow streets and authentic precious bridges most of them artfully constructed ... (well at some point we thought it could do more in conservation) ... those who had never been loved the idea, promising to revisit.
We also visited the island of Murano where we ate in a restaurant from the standpoint grastronómico simply magnificent, and as the day is soon exhausted, we went back to Udine, where we arrived about eleven o'clock at night.
- Image Gallery: Venice
Canal (1)
Canal (2)
Navigating towards the Plaza de San Marcos
Catedral de San Marcos
Opposite the cathedral in the Plaza de San Marcos
In the Rialto Bridge.
The Gran Canal.
El skyline of Venice.
San Giorgio's sunset
Conclusions
We recognize that a course was well organized in all aspects. Probably also thanks to the dedication prior to our coordinator, Pilar Escuder, which tied all the ends from the UJI before leaving us to go "seven students from the UPM for the first time abroad alone(of course not it was young troublemakers, are older ones and we behave as well as they expect of us.)
- The accommodation near the university so perfect in its modesty. Meals somewhat monotonous, but very homemade and well attended.
- The guys from other countries, very nice with a small and insignificant exception, special mention for the German, Sigrid, and for Neil and Andrew, Welsh (the latter, blind us gave many successive lessons of love life).
- Teachers, perfect. Silvio taught us not only a perfect diction and range of vocabulary, but to think of the songs and their lyrics differently. Pierina was not only a good teacher, but an exceptionally charming person.
- Other tutors, Angela, Cristina, Elena ... fine and vigilant at all times and all dramatically.
- Coordinator, Alessia, and Massimo, his auxiliary, perfect in its mission.
- The President, Pina, very nice and close. Exquisite treatment of Elisabetta partner that offered us a dinner at his home.
- Material endlessly abundant, well prepared and well distributed.
I remain adjectives to sum up in one word: 'simply fantastic' .