My knee :-)

Well, originally, I had hoped to be back at work by today - but things didn't work out the way that I'd hoped, and that is one of the facts of life ;-) They usually don't :-)
What I thought was a simple meniscus problem, turned out to be a more complicated affair of 2nd to 3rd degree arthritis on my left knee. Some bone shaving was done, 3 small holes drilled into the bone to encourage the growth of a cartilage (which was no longer there...and in fact, had not been when we were hiking up & down 2,400 metre mountains in the High Tatras!!)...all this done with the wonders of keyhole surgery - amazing!
However, the main complication for me has been not being able to put my full weight on my left leg for 4 weeks (which finishes this coming weekend!), and the subsequent swelling. I've been doing physiotherapy for just over a week now, and it feels great to be a bit more mobile...but a shopping trip around Kaufland with my wife yesterday, scrunched up over a shopping trolley like a pensioner, followed by a knee that inflated like a balloon, only served to confirm that my recovering is a slow process.
Indeed, I've recently met 2 friends who had similar operations...and both were off work for 3 months!! :-O I know my health comes first, but we've already booked tickets to see my Mom in England over the Christmas period...and I need to be fitter than I am now.
It has been a frustrating experience - a bit like watching grass grow, only I want this particular thing to shrink!! :-) I exercise, then I use ice-blocks & also a priessnitz (named after this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenz_Priessnitz )

I've had some visitors, including some from the English Club, which was great fun...and made me miss my job even more :-( I know some people think I'm crazy, but I really can't wait to get back...but I also know that healing can take time - and in the end, I will choose wisely...I hope...as to when I come back.
At the moment, I will certainly be off for 2 more weeks (in case you were wondering)...then I will see the doctor at the end of the 2nd week at the physio & make my decision.
I'm very thankful to Jindra Blaha & Lenka Valarikova who have covered my hours for me...but it will be over for them after this week...from then on, it will be good old 'spojeno' until I return... :-)

However...!!! I am planning to be at the Open Day this Saturday, sometime between 9:15 and 11:30, I guess...and I hope to catch up with some staff & students & get copious cups of tea!! (and maybe even some biscuits or chocolate... ;-))

Enforced sick leave makes you reflect...and I appreciate the simple things in life...just being able to walk - wow, I can't wait for that feeling! To get out in the countryside, without crutches - wow!! Even to go shopping, to be able to help my wife clean...there's a lot to look forward to ;-)

Remembering the days of the old school yard - part 3 - teachers and subjects

I decided to put these two together as it makes more sense ;-) Here are my subjects, in no particular order, with comments on the teachers too :-)
But before I do, just a memory about one of the Headmasters, Mr Blackhall. He was a strict disciplinarian, and never tolerated students running down corridors for any reason. You would know you were in trouble when he shouted, 'You, boy!' The problem was, everyone would stop and look at him...and he had a glass eye ;-) So, you had to be sure which one was the glass eye...if you were not sure...well, you could own up for something you never did. :-)

English Language & Literature:
Perhaps this was my favourite subject. I loved writing, and very soon began to love reading - and indeed, both of these activities have followed me deep into adulthood. I never really developed writing fiction - I always preferred to relate a good, true story. I won a competition and got a book as a prize. It was called 'Panther', a story about a panther being hunted in Africa. The book that really got me started, but moreso as a film, was 'Kes'.

I loved the story...and perhaps that was where I (deep down) first became interested in birding ;-) My main teacher was Mrs Barnett - a lovely older lady, and wife of the headmaster (who was much stricter). She always encouraged me with her comments on my work. But I also remember Mr Clarke - he was only covering for a short time, but he made a great impact on me - he was one of the few teachers who talked about life, about the problems of growing up, the expectations...not exactly Mr Keating from Dead Poet's Society, but he made me think.

I passed both exams easily for my O-Levels :-)

Mathematics:

This was a horror for me! From the time of my first maths homework, it was then a downhill slide until the bitter end... I think the teacher was Mr Baxter - but it's just a blur. I had a chance to give up maths (or do it at an easier CSE level) when I was 14, but such was the belief at that time (and sadly, even in these days!) that a good job wasn't possible without Maths, that I kept it...and failed miserably. However, long after those nightmare days, I can still count, calculate and play decent chess (which some people say a love of Maths helps...not in my case! :P ). 

Interestingly enough - I recently met an ex-student of SGO, and he told me that one of the 'top' Maths teachers told him that 'he would never amount to anything in Mathematics!' And now? He has a great job in the Finance Dept of IBM :-) I think I've made my point...

This was my only failure in my O-Levels. I got a 'U' - which meant 'unqualified'. My mark was so bad that it didn't even register a grade :-)

Geography:

I enjoyed this subject a lot! This was where my desire for travelling started to grow (though I've only ever been around Europe! :-)). Learning about other countries & cultures fascinated me, and I especially loved the field trips where we would go and visit some interesting places such as Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door, or the Blue John Mines in Derbyshire. 

However, in those days I used to get travel sick on longer coach journeys and was sick on the same friend (Dave Hughes) two times! Which is why he never sat next to me again :-)

Our teacher was Mr Green - I don't remember much about him, but he was ok. He liked to teach, I think, and could keep the subject interesting.

I passed this one for my O-Level :-)

History:

At that time, History used to bore me. I didn't have a memory for dates and just couldn't get excited about 'a lot of old stuff' - it was like sifting through granny's old relics each week ;-) Our teacher was Mrs Henry - she seemed to fancy herself a lot & liked to sit on the desk & show her legs off, but she was not my type ;-) The funny thing is, later on I began to grow really interested in the subject, especially in the 2nd World War, perhaps because of moving to Czech Republic. 

I dropped this subject, quite happily :-)

Biology:

I never really excelled in the sciences, though with more kind, supportive & interesting teachers, it might have been very different. Biology proved to be harder for me to master, and I dropped down to the CSE level at 14. However, I am thankful to Mr Harper, for it was this teacher who realised I had a problem with my eyesight :-) I used to sit at the back of the class (which of course, is where students sit when they are either afraid of or bored with the subject ;-)), and he commented that the standard of my work was becoming poorer - indeed, I was now no better than the guy I sat next to (which was bad!). He guessed it was my eyesight (something I was slow to admit at that time - pride, I guess...or fear of wearing glasses, more likely!), and suggested that I move to the front of the class. I knew I had problems when I couldn't even see what he was writing on the blackboard :-)!!

I passed this at CSE comfortably ;-)

Chemistry:
Similar to biology, though I have absolutely no idea who my teacher was! I used to love explosive experiments, and making stink bombs to throw at the girls, or to put in their bags...or to burn holes with hydrochloric acid in someone's jacket... ;-) Again, it was hard for me, and so I dropped to CSE.

And I passed it too, at CSE.

Woodwork:
I really used to enjoy this subject, and I perhaps regret that I didn't do anything about it after I left school :-( I seemed to have a knack for it, though I was never exceptional. When I was first looking for a job, I did try to become an apprentice for making cricket bats...but it came to nothing. Mr Westwood was strict, but fair, and a man's man of a teacher. In those days, the young men did woodwork and metalwork, and the young girls did cookery and needlework, although they did start to break the mould just after I left. I made myself a bookshelf and some other things. Now...I can barely hammer a nail in straight...my knack has long since deserted me...though when we are at the cottage, sometimes I sense the old craftsman stirring deep within...!!

I passed this at O-Level and was really pleased with this one! It was a tough exam (combined with technical drawing - we had to design something, and then make it), and I was very proud of my success :-)

Technical Drawing:
I used to enjoy this too, which on reflection, surprises me. I don't seem such a technical type now - but at that time I had the ability to plan & create something. Combined with my love for woodwork, it made a happy marriage of subjects :-)
The teacher, Mr Parker, used to worry me though. On the whole he was a pleasant guy, but he was also subject to mood swings...and there was a sign to watch for... He used to have the habit of chewing on his knuckles if he was nervous...and so, coming into the class a few sharp-eyed lads would look at the knuckles and pass the word around. If the skin was healing, it would be ok...but if the knuckles were red-raw...watch out!

As noted with Woodwork, I passed this subject :-)

Metalwork:

In contrast to Woodwork, I hated this subject - mainly because of the teacher, and thus couldn't wait to drop it when I was 14! Mr Caddy (I think it was) was one of the school deputies and a fearsome man - a sort of Brain Blessed Shouts-a-lot type of teacher...and with an angry mood at times. His mood, combined with sharp metal instruments, and fiery blow torches made for an unhappy time for me. 

I dropped it at 14, and never looked back :-)

Music:

I have vague memories of some music lessons...but really cannot remember if they are from Primary School or Comprehensive School :-) All I know is that I was never musically gifted, could never play an instrument (though I tried recorder)...and somewhere along the line, I lost the music within me ;-) 

However, this did not deter from my interest in music...and indeed, my wife tells me that if I'd been encouraged at key times in my life, I may have developed my singing voice more. And you know, I always wanted to play the piano...and I'm convinced that in the new heaven & Earth (that I believe will come) I will finally learn how to play Greig's piano concerto in A Minor :-) 

This subject disappeared without trace...

Art:

When I was at Primary School, I actually had a talent for drawing :-) My proudest moment was having my large charcoal drawing of a stag hanging up in the hallway outside the Art class (thank you, Mr White :-)).

However, at the Comp...Art fell by the wayside somewhere, and I have no recollection of what happened to it :-)

Physics:
This is the one science subject that, on reflection, I could have improved at. However, the teacher, Mr Warren, used to terrify me!! It didn't take a lot to upset him, he seldom gave out any encouragement, and I was happy to ditch this subject at 14...
However, once I'd made my choice & gone for Chemistry & Biology, and discovered that I'd come 2nd in a big test...well, it was too late. Who knows? With a different teacher...well, I 'll never know ;-)

I kissed goodbye to this as 14 :-)

French:
I used to really enjoy French. I'm not sure if there was another language on offer...but I was always attracted to French. I tried so hard at it. My teacher, Mr Pritchard, tried his hardest to encourage me...but he was the one teacher who spoke to me personally and suggested that I drop down to CSE level :-( It was a great disappointment to me at the time, but he was right. I wasn't good enough...then.
I'm sure he'd have been proud when about 4-5 years later, someone told me as I travelled around France, that I 'spoke French like a Belgian' :-) Not sure if that was a compliment or not, but I learnt that spending time in another country is the best way to learn the language - and that's what I teach my students now ;-)
These days, my wife is learning French, and I'm amazed that I can still remember a lot of vocabulary...however, when I try to speak French now, it isn't long before I lapse into Czech :-) The problem of age, I guess :-)

Religious Education:
In those days, I considered myself an atheist and my family had no religious dealings...and so this lesson was (then) pretty much a waste of time for me...but Mr Cowmeadow had the ability to put the fear of God into anyone :-) A frightening man to have handled such a sensitive topic...!!

Physical Exercise:
I was not a sportsman, though my enthusiasm made up for my lack of talent ;-) When I was in my early teens, I actually enjoyed cross-country running in the lessons. It seemed the longer the distance, the better I did. I even managed to come 3rd in an 800 metres race...just being edged out of 2nd place by my good friend, Stephen Eley.

But that was the end of my 'wonder years'. I began to fill out, put on more weight...and a few years later, before my final exams, could barely finish the 800 metres at a crawl. Quite simply, I was not motivated.
I was not an athlete. I couldn't throw anything, couldn't jump long or high, couldn't run fast enough to get the ball. And when I had to wear glasses...well, that was the end of rugby...!! Nothing is worse than having bad eyesight, and being thrown an oval-shaped ball with a pack of blurred figures surging towards you...
With my mates, outside of school, I did ok at football and cricket, and that was enough for me...for us. We enjoyed it, and that was the important thing.
Mr Kennedy was one of the teachers, and he was another strict one. A tough nut.
But one of my favourite memories of PE was always walking into the sports hall and finding it set out for a game of 'Pirates' :-) Pirates was GREAT fun! All of the high tables, chairs, ropes, rope ladders, swings etc were spaced around the hall...the idea being that certain students were chosen as pirates, and their job was to run around and tag those who were not pirates. If you were tagged, you were out...and if you, or the pirate touched the floor, you were also out :-) A lesson of madness & excitement, and that one I did enjoy! :-)

Remembering the days of the old school yard - part 2 - what kind of student was I like?

My name seemed to amuse some teachers. "Everill...are you ever ill?" was a favourite of one teacher, I think Mr Egginton. I had the name 'Clive' because my mother was impressed by the character in British history, Sir Clive of India (Robert Clive - Clive was, at that time, a surname, but became a popular choice for first name because of this man ;-) ). I never did meet many 'Clives' - always seemed a bit 'posh' to me...too posh for a guy living on a rough housing estate! :-)

If I focus on my time at Castle Vale Comprehensive School (from 11-16), then perhaps the word that seemed to encapsulate what kind of student I was was 'conscientious' - according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means:
"very careful about doing what you are supposed to do : concerned with doing something correctly"

This word figured prominently in my end-of-term school reports. I was conscientious about many subjects, so it seemed. (I shall have to find out if my mother has one of my old school reports...that would be cool!) However, it was NOT the word that I wanted - 'clever', 'highly intelligent', 'original', or even 'outstanding' would have been good. But to me, conscientious made me seem like 'middle-of-the-road'. A young man who didn't take risks, who was concerned about not being wrong...too careful. Actually, on reflection, I guess my teachers saw something in me that was very true - though it was a label that I had to fight to get rid of, hence some of my later choices...like finishing school when I was 16... ;-)

I was hard-working, but not spectacular. I didn't like to cheat...in fact, I don't recall cheating at all. This was mainly due to the fact that I wasn't a good liar. If a teacher asked me a question, and I even thought about lying, then my ears would begin to go a strong beetroot colour, and this would spread across the rest of my face! I was also painfully shy at that age, so talking in class was something that I did not often do ;-) 

Even at that age, I had a sweet tooth, which I carried into my adulthood. Indeed, all of my teeth (what's left of them) are rather sweet! I was well-known among my friends for always having 'a bag of rocks' (a bag of boiled, sucky sweets). If they fancied something sweet, they knew where to come. 

I was punctual, always on time, never wanting to be late. I never played truant, or jumped school...except for one time... ;-) Just before the final exams, only a couple of days remained, and they involved some 'unnecessary' lessons, so I skipped them to play cricket with some friends in the warm summer sunshine. Even then, I was still vaguely tormented with the idea that a teacher might come along and rumble us! 

I was also bullied...by one student - Mark Ford. Quite what I ever did to upset him, or provoke him to target me, I guess I shall never know, maybe it was because he knew I just wouldn't fight back...and I didn't. I guess I was a coward back then. I wasn't so strong, was struggling with my weight (as I always have done), and was shy. He didn't harass me so often, but when he did I was shamed by it. It was only for a couple of years...perhaps he grew bored of it? But this experience lodged deep within me, and because of it, I really hate any kind of bullying...and am very sensitive to it. 

And during these years, I was also made aware of my own mortality. Stephen Lawless wasn't such a close friend, but he was okay...but one day, while messing around on a children's playground in the days when they still had concrete/tarmac on them instead of the softer material that now exists...he fell from the top of a climbing frame, head first...and a young life was ended at about 13-14, I think. Tragic. I am so thankful to God that I have lived this life...but I often wonder 'why'...

All in all, my teenage school years were not unhappy, but they were also not my favourite period of life. I was glad when, having just passed my 16th birthday, my parents supported my choice to finish my education and to look for a job - which I found about 2-3 months later. This is sometimes hard for me to grasp now, as I teach many students who are older than 16. I don't think it did me any harm ;-)

Remembering the days of the old school yard... ;-) - part 1

Being laid up from work means that I (at the moment) have no 'fresh stories' of life at SGO...though I'm sure some will come to mind or attention over the next couple of weeks. But perhaps now is the time to tell my readers something of my school-life; well, at least the period of time at Castle Vale Comprehensive School from 1970 to 1975. To do that, I should set the scene. The 'Comp' as it was known, always looked like a battleship which had run aground on the outskirts of Birmingham. 

Castle Vale was, at that time, a notoriously rough housing estate which had been built on old airfields, which is why nearly all of the huge blocks of flats were named after airfields around England. (This building no longer exists! According to Wikipedia: "Castle Vale Secondary School opened in newly constructed, purpose-built premises in 1967, although the buildings were completed and officially opened in 1969. At its peak in the early 1970s, it had 1,100 students, but this declined to 362 students by 1993 as truancy became widespread problem on the estate. Half of the building was empty and this space was occupied by the Castle Vale Housing Action Trust.")

Yes, Castle Vale was rough! Theft, burglary, violence, and vandalism were commonplace - as was bullying at the school. At one time, it was said that the estate had one of the highest suicide rates in Europe - there was a sick joke that people would sometimes chalk an 'X' at the bottom of the blocks of flats for would-be jumpers to aim at :-( And I chose to go there, rather than to a more select grammar school, mainly because it was nearer to home, and I couldn't be bothered to travel too far...and some of my friends would be attending too, though at that time, I didn't have too many, for I was quite shy ;-) As you can see, a LOT of students used to be at the school, and it was the kind of school where you could easily lose yourself as a newcomer. 

My first day was spent in fear. We new ones had heard of a terrible initiation ceremony which was given by older, more 'mature' students, simply called 'The Blue Goldfish'. 

Apparently, if you survived the first day without being initiated, then you'd be okay. I was in dread of an older student gently, and yet forcefully, offering me to go and see the legendary blue goldfish...which involved a trip to the toilets where, if you were naive enough, you would put your head over the big white bowl of the toilet, eagerly looking for a trace of blue in the water...when your head would be pushed down and the toilet flushed! I survived...

I guess over the next few days, I will tell you about:

• what kind of student I was like 
• Favourite/worse subjects etc 
• my teachers...well, those that I remember! 

Hope you enjoy this trip down (for me) memory lane... ;-)

In praise of the Czech health system...

Lately, it is so easy to be negative about life in Czech Republic - what with the politics corruption, just to name a couple of things. But without a doubt, one of the great blessings or benefits about living in this country is the medical care that is provided. Sure, I've heard some negative things about that too - but as a Brit living here, let me assure you that, on the whole, I have experienced far more expertise that I did during my time in England.

Recovering from my knee operation has given me time to reflect, once more, on the system that is in place here in CR. Here, I don't have to wait a week for my blood test results (maybe 2-3 days, at the most), I can arrange an x-ray, ultrasound almost immediately, and if I need a serious operation (as I have done in the past with my gall bladder), then I haven't got to wait weeks or months for it. On top of that, the level of care provided by doctors and nurses (so far) has been of a high level.

Indeed, the only negative experience that I can recall was with one doctor who didn't even bother to lift his eyes from writing on his paper to look at my skin complaint - well, I guess he was such an expert. ;-)
(kind of reminds me of the old joke: "Doctor, doctor! People keep ignoring me!" "Next, please!")

Over this past week, I have had conversations with my Mom, in England, and a good friend in Romania. My Mom has had serious pains in the back of her knee - she had to wait to get an x-ray...and now has to wait a week to get the results of the x-ray! My friend in Romania has a wife & a daughter who are both ill at the moment - they need further tests - which will cost money (i.e: a bribe) to get anything done. Believe me, Czechs are much better off here with the level of treatment that they get, and the access to that treatment too. If there is something worth fighting to keep in this country, the level of medical care would be it, for me!

Even on our arrival in Czech Republic, way back in November 2001 (wow, 12 years ago!), one of our friends who helped us move here, (Bill Landale) had a stroke. Swift action by a friend & the family they were staying with got him an ambulance and into a hospital where he received top quality care and treatment. When he arrived back in Scotland, his doctor was extremely impressed with it all. As Bill later reflected, "Czech Republic is a nice place to come for a stroke..." ;-) !!

To be, or not to be...Czech?

I have been married to Petra for over 15 years. We have been living in Czech Republic for nearly 12 years. The Czech Republic has been a member of the European Union for 9 years...and yet I'm still not able to just 'become' a Czech. It is not such a straightforward issue for me, as most people seem to think. You would think all of the above would surely be enough to qualify me by now...but you'd be wrong ;-)

Recently, my wife went to see the Foreign Police Department to see if I could change my status...and I can...BUT with certain conditions - which have led me to clarify some advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of being Czech:

• I would be able to vote for ANY and EVERY election - at the moment, I can only vote for the European elections and the local one in Velká Bystřice.
• I would have my very own ID card, which would mean that I wouldn't have to take my passport to E.U. countries.
• I would be able to pay for my waste disposal (is that really such an advantage?) 
• I wouldn't have to give up my British passport...

Disadvantages of being Czech:

• I would have to pay for my waste disposal ;-)
• The process would cost me 10,000kč - and that, in itself, gives me a lot of pause for thought!!

At the moment (and the time to do this is running out!! - from next year, I would also have to do a very difficult Czech test!!), I am almost decided not to begin the process. Part of me would love to be associated with this country, even though there are many negative reasons to be embarrassed about it (mainly to do with the politics) - but 10,000kč (around 300 pounds!!) is a lot of money to part with for the honour and privilege...unless, of course, you, my Czech readers, can persuade me otherwise!! :-)

Still, even though I will remain an Englishman in VB, there is a Czech part growing in my heart!

Why I knee-d to be off work for 2 or 3 weeks :-)

In my time at SGO, I have had, on the whole, a good record of health. I can only recall 2 instances of enforced sick-leave during my 7+ years there...the first was a chest infection, and the second was the removal of my gall bladder and the resulting stones which were squatting there...

However, the third period of sick-leave is imminent...
Since the holiday in the High Tatras, I have had a swollen left knee - not painful at all - just quite swollen, and a bit awkward when kneeling down, or coming down stairs etc. After a couple of painful 'punkces' to remove the fluid, nothing changed - so it was decided to send me to a specialist - Dr. Kalina. One look at my x-rays was enough for him to conclude that an operation would be best to 'tidy things up in there' - my meniscus (for the medically-minded among my readers) is the source of my woes. Actually, he assured me that the operation is fairly straightforward - I go to a hospital in Prostejov this Saturday, it'll last 1/2 hour, and after a rest my lovely wife will drive me home, and then my short-term battle with mastering my pair of recently bought crutches will take place....two floors to ascend - should be fun ;-)

If all goes well, I'll have the stitches out after a week, and then be at home to recuperate for another week or two - and if all goes well, then I can go back to work. I hope so. I love my job...but I'm not such a good patient either. I much prefer to be out and about.

But, I can remain positive - it'll be a time to rest, to reflect, perhaps catch up with some reading, mails, films, maybe even some people might come to visit! ;-)

And I hope, that my knee will be much, much better :-)

The honest young man - and teaching about life, not just English

A couple of weeks ago, I had the unusual situation of a student telling me in an essay that 'my English is not so good, so that is why my father translated this essay for me...' :-) As honest a confession as I will ever get! I wrote that while I appreciated his efforts to communicate with me on the topic, it was his English that I wanted, and not his father's - so, his father got a 1, and the student got a 5 :-( However, the happy ending to the story is that I offered him, in view of his honesty, to re-do the essay...which he did, and he got a much better mark :-)

Some people would perhaps think that this student was a bit naive or foolish to admit what he had done (but the truth is, the level of English was too good for him, I could see that!!), but on the contrary, I find it very refreshing to see that some students still have some character, which has not been eroded by the cynicism that comes with the almost compulsory cheating that seems to pervade the Czech education system. Such qualities as honesty, integrity, and honour are admirable and should be encouraged...which made me reflect on what I have been trying to do for the last 7 or so years...

It is one thing to teach English - grammar, vocabulary, tenses, pronunciation, sentence structures etc...and on the whole I enjoy that - but it is much more rewarding and challenging to teach about life; which is basically what the student needs to be prepared for after they leave the relatively safe environment of SGO. In recent weeks in some of my seminars, students have discussed and done some talks on homelessness, and whether anything can be done - on 'my creed'; what I believe in and why (one student later told me it was the BEST seminar he'd ever been in :-)), capital punishment - is it effective, and if we have it, then how should people die...and why? In the past there have also been some great talks on what makes a good marriage/relationship. Isn't this what students really need to learn - instead of 15 types of herbs, or (as one teacher was desperately searching on the internet today) are there really 50 islands in New York!!?? (Who actually cares?? :-O )

Surely more relevant teaching is needed; and if it can't be provided in other subjects, then I guess English is the place to begin.

Of course, one of the biggest challenges to this is to encourage students to think, and to have an opinion, and to be able to express themselves. So often, they are conditioned to repeat by rote, parrot-like, lots of information without any sense of actually exploring a topic. After all, you can teach a parrot to speak English, but not to think in the language... :-)

I know there are a handful of teachers who try to get students to 'come out of the box', and I commend them for it - but it can be a long haul...

Perhaps we need to change the Maturita topics for the future? 

Maybe such a list would comprise of:

• Love and marriage
• How to handle your money
• How to deal with death/dying
• How to get the most out of your life
• What is really important about life?
• Social issues - can you make a difference?
• How to be effective in politics
• How to build up your character
• Learning to live with your mistakes

Well, that's just a taster :-)

Methods of punishment

Following on from my last post of why some teachers get angry, it seems natural to deal with the topic of how teachers punish...and there are a variety of ways, so it seems:

• one of the very old-fashioned ways, which is (surprisingly, in my opinion) still in existence, is writing 100 lines!! Is this really so effective?? It never was when I was a student ;-)
• giving a '5' for pretty much anything - the reasons range from 'not doing the homework' to 'because the teacher doesn't like you' - one teacher was famous for giving out 5's like confetti :-) 
  
• Extra homework - which usually means an essay about why you caused the problem for which you've been given the extra homework...
• getting a 'dudka' (warning letter for your parents) from either the class teacher or director for a variety of offences, which now include proven cheating (essay or test etc) and unauthorised use of the new lift. But is it really a punishment? One of my students said he was proud of his collection of 'dudkas' and used them as a form of wallpaper :-) 

However, I'm not averse to dishing out my own form of punishment:

• forgetting a textbook - singing a song, in English (lyrics can now be provided for a selection of songs)
• using a mobile phone in the lesson - any furtive movement under the desk, in the pockets etc usually indicates use of a mobile phone...in the first instance, the offender gets a yellow card, which is carried forward to future lessons...if they offend again, they get the red card, which is the BIG punishment...and it all depends how I feel on the day...and is a secret until it happens :-)
• saying 'I don't know' in answer to a general question, such as 'what do you think about....?' - this is punishable because 'I don't know indicates a reluctance to think - the punishment? A sweet :-)
• continually speaking in Czech during the lesson - will cost the student a bottle of good quality beer...well, they like Czech so much, they can give me something that is good Czech quality :-)
• coming to a lesson late - a song, in English
• regular failure to hand in a essay on time - a final agreement/deadline is made with a handshake...and if the student doesn't deliver the essay by the agreed date, then they will have a make-over from their classmates...or others, if need be! This happened last year to Tony (then of 4AF!)...

I am always looking to be creative in my punishments. If there are to be punishments, then it should be fun, at least for the students that are disrupted by the others; and my experience has shown me that it works :-)

Why are some teachers SO angry??!!

"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."

Benjamin Franklin

Within a few weeks of the start of the new school year, I was aware of some incidents where teachers got angry. One I actually witnessed. I had entered the building early one morning - a group of students were gathered on the stairs, obviously waiting for someone. As I went up the stairs, I heard a very angry voice - and discovered a teacher (who will remain nameless here ;-) ) shouting at a student (known to me), and getting very upset about it.

I went on my way, wondering what could have been so serious... I thought the student had broken something, perhaps even hurt someone, or said something bad to the teacher. Maybe even some financial misdemeanour? (...though that hasn't been considered such a serious problem at this school in the past!) Later, I saw the student and asked him what the problem had been. He had forgotten to change his shoes for slippers. Really. That was it! I confess to being amazed... First of all, did such a broken rule merit such anger? And then, what was that kind of anger doing to the teacher? Surely there are more important things in life to get angry about?

On discussing anger in some of my lessons, I discovered that teachers got angry over some interesting things:

• homework not being done
• not closing the door to the class before the teacher arrives
• students not coming to collect the cassette recorder for certain teachers - the instant punishment for this one was a test, at 7.05am!! (This happened to 2 different classes, and was after an angry outburst...)
• forgetting exercise books
• dropping papers on the floor which were being collected by another student
• because another colleague disagreed with them :-)

It seems that many teachers adopt the Al Pacino shouting style :-)

And all of this was within a few weeks of the beginning of the new school year :-) So much for the relaxing summer break...

All I ask is - is such anger justified, certainly over what can be considered 'minor offences'? And is it ever ok to be SO angry as a teacher? What will be the after-effects? Respect...or, more likely, fear? 

And if you, dear reader, have had some interesting experiences of a teacher's anger, then please feel free to express it on this thread, and of course, keep the names of the offenders out of it - unless you feel it's absolutely necessary :-)

And just in case you're thinking, 'I wonder if Mr Everill has been angry at SGO?' - well, if you have seen that, then post it here :-) I have been annoyed, yes - but not angry as I know I can be...after living and working for 6-7 years with homeless teenagers, I believe that there is very little that could happen here that would make me as angry as I got back then ;-) - certainly during my lessons. But there are some things that I feel quite angry about...and this subject is one of them - hence, this post :-)

Stories to tell :-)

Well, when the new school year began, I had every intention of writing regularly & giving some insights into the life of an English teacher at SGO in this momentous year...the year of our expansion. The year when we put another notch on our prestigious belt :-) Just hope we don't become flabby :-) !!
But then lessons began, lesson plans had to be done, essays began pouring in & needed to be marked, and before I knew it, we have crept halfway through October and I've written nothing since the first day back!! :-O
It is time to put that right!
I'm just posting this to say - stories are coming!! :-)
Here are some themes: (written mainly to remind myself)
- the honest young man
- why are some teachers so angry?
- methods of punishment
- why I love English Club so much
- teaching about life, and not just about English
- further thoughts about the new building
- to be, or not to be...Czech?
- why I will be out of action for a short time
- and some other stories too :-)

But most of all, I just want to say that I love the work that I do - it continues to be an honour and a privilege, and I'm very thankful for (on the whole) enthusiastic, polite & cooperative students who continue to surprise & encourage me with their creativity :-)
Thank you.

The new school year begins - let's see what's out there!

Monday 2nd September, 2013 - teachers doing 'dozor' like security guards (at Kaufland? ;-) ) - many familiar faces of students whom I've taught...many new ones too...and some old ones from last year, and even further back.
What was a reasonably quiet place last week suddenly becomes a hive of activity. Students greeting each other, and teachers too...a buzz of anticipation, rather than a drone of disappointment at being back :-)
In the buffet, the big screen is working - Abba were playing :-) Marta seems happy & has a helper - lots of snacks on offer.
I showed some students around a little & hoped to impress them with a ride on the life - but sadly, it was not working :-( Not a good start!!
Then back to the office to discover my new timetable (on the whole, I'm happy with it) - can't wait for my first lessons, which should be the seminar on Weds :-)
There's a lot to look forward to - let's see what's out there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqEdLO7kpdQ

Back...to the future? ;-)

Well, the new school year began on Friday! This is a week of 'preparation' for when the hoards of students will come flocking back (many of them reluctantly!) to another year at school...and for most of them, this will be the last year here...Maturita beckons... ;-)
On arriving, I was very kindly given a tour by the cleaner (Mr Partsch) of the new building. This is the building that was for many students, the 'promised land' - but like Moses, they only saw it from a distance...they never actually got there ;-) It has been coming for many years...and it is finally here!
So, after my tour (& another one later, which we had after the porada), I'm left with some impressions - positive & negative.

Positives:

• There is a lot of light in some of the classrooms - big, expansive windows - offering some great views of the nearby skyline. Especially effective now as autumn is coming, and you can see the colours of the trees changing. The Art Room was my favourite, and I enjoyed sitting in a massive bean bag, like a throne :-)
• Some of the classrooms - I'm not into Physics or Chemistry as subjects, but it has to be said that the quality of the rooms is very good :-)
• The buffet - it is a vast improvement on the old one. Modern, good equipment - and a lot more space!! Indeed, students have tables & chairs to sit on without blocking up the corridor. The screen has also been moved from the old position on the 1st floor, into the buffet, and students will be able to relax (assuming they have a break/free lesson) & to socialise. Another place is being prepared for a quiet, study room. It is a sort of common room, such as we have in England...(& have had for a long time!)
• The canteen - I don't frequent the canteen, but I have to say I was impressed with the lay out - spacious - and the teachers have been given a separate space. Of course, the question remains about the quality of the food from Hejcin...but it looks a good place to enjoy a school lunch. 
• The new gym - I was more impressed with the indoor gym - very good quality. Not so sure about the rooftop one...I do see some balls sailing toward the town centre after a good kicking... ;-) It's a novel idea, though.
• The courtyard - though it is not yet a finished product, it holds some promise. The centre part has been seeded & therefore I think access will be denied until the grass is strong enough. But it is hoped that even benches will be there...and rumour has it that even films will be shown there! It could be a good place to relax when spring/summer come. 

Negatives:

• The 'natural' effect of the plain, cement-grey walls. For me, it looks 'unfinished', like it's missing a lick of paint. Some colour would be good. It is hoped that the poster frames along the corridors - and there are a few of them, though empty at the moment - will be filled with something colourful & bright.
• The 'language classroom' - well, it's only that by name. As you enter the door, a long & narrow room faces you, with a window at the end (so, it's not so bright). The teacher's desk is in the far corner - so those students nearest the door...not sure what they'll pick up from anyone speaking on the other side of the room... The desks are in 2 fixed lines - 8 in the front row, 10 in the back. Fixed means no flexibility for moving desks around & for group work. Also a bad idea for having a test in that room ;-) And the acoustics are awful! Apparently, the Physics classroom & the Music one both have sound-proofing...but it seems the planning or the money didn't stretch as far as this room. As a language teacher, it is hard to hide my disappointment - and I hope we'll stay where we are ;-)
• Considering the awful situation when a young girl committed suicide last spring by jumping from a building, there are a lot of potential dangers with this new building. In my previous jobs, I had to do 'risk assessment' for potential dangers (I worked with people who had mental health problems) - so, I just can't help noticing 'risky areas'. Of course, I hope I'm wrong - but I do believe teachers & students will have to be more diligent in watching what's going on around them... Some could say it's an accident waiting to happen...

The jury is out:

• The lift - there is now a lift which can be used, but not abused. You have to use a chip, so it can be monitored. Perhaps it will be of use to some teachers, and also the frequent students who injure themselves on skiing trips or their sporting activities. In view of the lift, I guess having to stay downstairs will no longer be an option... But...it is slow... ;-)

I stress that these are my personal thoughts & opinions. I am optimistic at heart & aim to make the best of any situation that I'm faced with. Change was certainly needed in terms of space & equipment, and on the whole, I think things are positive & I look forward to what is sure to be an interesting & challenging year :-)

Seven years at S.G.O.

So, the last day of the school year is upon me - the end of my 7th year has come. I think this point was highlighted for me yesterday when I met a student who did maturita this year for a coffee, and then later on another student from my very first year came unexpectedly to the cafe too! And so, the wheel of my teaching years had turned full circle, so to speak ;-)

Perhaps a time to reflect... I was so rough & ready & raw when I began back in September 2006. I'd only recently got my TEFL, and it was a big shock to be teaching classes of up to 22 young people. I pretty much learnt as I was going along. There were some hits & misses. I experimented, had a lot of fun - and that first year was a surprising success for me. the feedback from many students was enthusiastic & encouraging. I cut my teaching teeth on those first classes...but they lived to tell the tale ;-) 

Seven years on, and where am I on my teaching journey? A word used yesterday by the recent graduate was 'inspirational'. This is high praise indeed. It is a word that I cherish. An encouragement to keep going. The older student commented that my Czech had greatly improved! I'm not sure about that, but I know it helps me to understand why Czechs have problems with the mysteries of English. It helps to walk in the other person's shoes (or slippers ;-) ) sometimes. 

From my point of view? I love this job so much! Even as I come to the end of this year, I still retain an enthusiasm to continue, to develop my skills, and to be even more creative & spontaneous than perhaps I've been before. English can be fun. My goal, when I got my TEFL, was to be the best teacher of English that I could be. I'm not there yet...but I'm on the way...even if it takes me the rest of my teaching career. It certainly helps to have students who are (on the whole) as enthusiastic about learning & speaking English as I am! The English Club alone would keep me going - but of course, I aim to get the most out of ALL of my lessons. Even 'suplovani' lessons don't get a rest with me :-) 

I have also learnt that it's not enough to teach English - over these years I have come to the conclusion that teaching about life is just as important. It seems to be a big gap in the school curriculum. Life values, morals, how to make good decisions, getting along with people etc etc. This has also become part of my work. 

However, this is only one side of the story... The other concerns the place where I work, and the staff I work with. Of course, this is not the place to write about such things...well, maybe it is...but I guess this is not the time ;-) There is much that I'm not satisfied with, and perhaps much that I'm not able to change (though I pray for it!). The new building is coming to it's conclusion; but I inclined to go along with Jesus's words, and I would slightly paraphrase them for my purposes...the new wineskin needs some new wine. Lest anyone be kidded, all is not 'hunky dory' at SGO. Even in the last few months, some things have been highlighted. I find it deeply sad that some young people find it so difficult to find anyone to talk to about their deepest problems, that they see so little point in living this wonderful gift of life, that they end up taking their own lives. SGO has also been in the news this year with the situation about Miss Schaffnerova losing her job. The reaction from the students is enough to show that something is not right. Teachers have been very guarded with their comments, and rightly so. All I will say is this - I understand the reaction. As a prestigious school, I believe we need to be as open and transparent as some of those big windows that are in the new building :-)

Change is always a difficult thing - and it needs to happen regularly. Perhaps the best thing I can do is hang on in there & try to influence some of this change for good. I have hope. Hope is a good thing. 

I have also noticed that in finishing this 7th year, I have equalled my record for the longest time I have ever spent in a job. I have been a bit of a journeyman when it comes to work. After all these years, it finally looks like I have found a job that I would happily do until I decide to retire, and perhaps become a writer or bird-watcher, or something... The best is still to come - and that is a good thought to end this year on.

The Big Amazing Cake!

One of the great joys for me this year has been the development of the English Club, how it has grown, changed shape, and become something interactive, student-led...original and fun!
The culmination of this year was surely the Big Amazing Cake. The seed for this idea was sown earlier in the year by Radka Tylichová of 2B - all she had was an idea for a 'big amazing cake'...and that was all. Like all seeds, it died, and one day grew into something truly BIG, AMAZING, and BEAUTIFUL! About a couple of weeks before the end of the last English Club of 2013, we talked it over...students decided what was to be done, and how, and also when. The decision was taken to do it in the big break (9:40-10:00) and to invite teachers & students etc to come, have a look at it, and scoff it! All for free! :-)
Radka came the week before & showed us her design, and also fitted together a cardboard template of a map of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (the Republic of Eire was left out because we don't cover it as a Maturita topic ;-) ). Each one of us (9) took a piece of the cardboard & the idea was to make a cake, of any flavour, with a topping (marzipan or coloured icing) according to Radka's design...
I confess a slight trepidation as to how it was going to work out. We each had a piece of the jigsaw, but only a vague hope of how it would fit, what it would look like etc...

On the morning of 13th June, we arrived at room 110. I was first at about 9.10am, and then the others came (even some kind volunteers from 2B!). It was a fascinating process as we watched the construction of the cake unfold! I had no covering for our part (London etc, with the Union Jack) & Anna Havranková kindly did some last.minute.com marzipan work, which as you can see, was awesome! 
We began with Scotland, and worked our way down piece by piece. It felt like I was witnessing an operation in surgery...Dr House meets Kluci v Akci :-) As you can see from the photos on Facebook, it was very much precision work...and amazingly (for it was an amazing cake!) it all fitted together perfectly! 
I have had some special times at SGO - and I don't like to rate them - each is precious to me for its own merit...but this was one of those 'goosebumps' moments :-) The feeling of witnessing something truly special, original...beautiful.
The time passed so quickly, and before we knew it 9:40 was upon us! We brought in everyone in the corridor who was passing, and grabbed teachers from their 'kabinets'...even the deputies from their office along with Mrs Pavlickova! One added bonus was having the student teachers from Durham there at that time...! A couple of speeches were made, and then the cake was cut & passed around.
One of the wonderful things about this idea was the assortment of flavours with each piece of cake - each was a delicious surprise :-) Excellent quality, and no problems with quantity!
And one of the other special things for me was the atmosphere...this was done at a time when the 'Schaffnerová' situation was brewing...after a young girl from 2B had recently committed suicide...The heaviness of those days seemed, at least for a short time, to lift....and we enjoyed not only a great piece of cake, but also a taste of hope for better days...a taste of the potential of what might be... And you know? It tasted great!

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE for their involvement with the Big Amazing Cake - mainly Radka for her inspirational idea...but for all who contributed in any way, shape, or form. This was truly teamwork...and, it has to be said...this is the fruit of I.S.L.I :-)
Thank you!!
Mr E

Time

Though I have posted this on Facebook, I like to use this Blog to collect things that I have done from time to time. The idea for this video came from the English Club - we had some lessons on 'Motivation', and the idea came to me of doing a motivational talk. As I get older, I realise how precious 'time' is - it is a gift (for me, from God). 
One of the most common complaints I hear, and indeed, I have uttered it myself, is that 'I don't have enough time'. I think the wisest thing I can say is that this is a lie ;-) We ALL have the same amount of time - 60 seconds a minute, 60 minutes an hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...We only have to choose what we do with the time that is given to us (as Gandalf would say ;-) ). 
I have been amazed, flattered, and deeply touched by some of the responses that I had to this talk. When I did it in the classroom, I was inspired to speak each sentence to a different student as I went around the room. Such was the positive response that I had from this motivational talk, that I also decided to do it with some of the Maturita seminars in the closing lesson. It moved people...it moves me too. 
So, I post this as a reminder - not just to you, to make the most of your time - but also to myself. 

There is also a short video on this theme which I sometimes use in my classes:

And here is one of my all-time favourite songs on the theme of time - 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' by Sandy Denny:

Be inspired - and make the most of your time :-)

Happy holidays to all of my students (current & ex) and to all my friends too :-)

Variations on a theme of Shakespeare...

During the Maturita exams, it was often amusing how some students would try & get their pet theme into a topic - for example, sport. One student made a valiant attempt to include it in the Commonwealth question, but his teacher limited him & refused a couple of repeated efforts.

With the student who failed with GB & NI, it seemed as if all they knew was Shakespeare - and so Shakespeare HAD to be included...it made me wonder afterwards whether it was really possible to include Shakespeare 'genuinely' in every topic...so, here goes my attempt!

1. Learning English and other foreign languages

"Learning English is very difficult, especially if it is Shakespearian English. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

2. My life, plans for the future.

"The thing I like most about my life is literature, and I really like Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

3. Family life, house and home.

"If I could have a dream home, it would be in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which interestingly is the place where William Shakespeare was born. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

4. Student's life, schools, education.

"I have really enjoyed my time at S.G.O., because during my time here I learnt a lot about Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

5. Friendship, personal qualities.

"To be, or not to be - that is a question about personal qualities asked by Hamlet, who was a character in the play of the same name, written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

6. Hobbies and leisure time.

- same answer as Life & Plans for the Future

7. Sports and games.

"Shakespeare was a footballer who played for Stratford-Upon-Avon F.C. He was in a solid defence which also included Romeo, Hamlet, Othello, with Macbeth in goal. Their greatest victory was against the Merry Wives of Windsor, with Julius Caesar getting the crucial goal..."

8. Health and diseases, healthy way of life.

"Shakespeare had a lot to say about this topic. A lot of his characters, for example, Hamlet, suffered from some kind of mental illness. In those days there was no medication and so he died. Romeo & Juliet died of love-sickness combined with accidental suicide..."

9. Travelling makes the world smaller.

"Even though he never travelled a lot, William Shakespeare had much to say about this topic. He wrote about many far away places, such as Rome & France. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

10. Shopping, money, economy.

"The Merchant of Venice wanted a pound of flesh as payment. It was a different type of economy, but it just shows what a great writer & economist William Shakespeare was! Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

11. Cooking and eating habits.

"'A horse, a horse! My Kingdom for a horse!' These are words uttered by Richard III, who was so hungry that he could have eaten a horse. Indeed, had he been alive today, he would have had no problem having a snack in IKEA. Richard III was a character of Shakespeare's. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

12. Fashion, dressing, youth culture.
"I am old-fashioned, and don't like wearing modern styles. I would love to bring back the fashion from the middle-ages, perhaps to dress as Shakespeare did. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

13. Weather and environmental problems.
"We can have different types of weather. Another word for a storm is a 'tempest'. My favourite time of the year is midsummer. Interestingly, Shakespeare also wrote a play called 'The Tempest', and one called 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who also wrote many other famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

14. Means of communication, mass media.
"There are many different ways to communicate. These days, a lot of people use modern technology, but this was not the case in Shakespeare's time. He could only communicate through his plays and sonnets, and perhaps using pigeons too. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

15. Cultural life here and in English speaking countries.
"I love going to the theatre & watching a good play, especially plays by Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

16. My experience with English and American literature.
:-) no comment!! This is the moment you've been waiting for! You can use all of your pre-prepared information in a parrot-like fashion, hardly pausing for breath. Of course, your teacher will try & guide you to other writers...and it might be tricky with American ones...but hey, you can always keep Hemmingway's 'The Old Man & the Sea' in reserve... ;-)

17. Holidays, festivals, customs and traditions.
"Around the middle of March is St.Patrick's Day. The middle of March is also known as 'the ides of March', which interestingly is a phrase that was used by Shakespeare in his play, 'Julius Caesar'. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

18. The United Kingdom.
"There are many famous places in England, and one of them is Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was also the home of William Shakespeare. He didn't like to travel much, and so he didn't know a lot about other places, though he wrote about them, which is a bit like me. He was a famous British writer who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

19. London and other places in the UK.
Same as above, but you can also speak about The Globe Theatre.

20. Canada, Australia, The British Commonwealth.
A tricky one to do...but using your preparation for GB & NI, you can try & stay focused on The British Commonwealth, exclusively through Britain...but if you must, you could also try: "Britain sent a lot of criminals to Australia, which was then only inhabited by aboriginals. They were uncultured, so they introduced some culture in the way of Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

21. The United States of America.
"The Pilgrim Fathers went to America a long time ago. The winters there were very long and dark, and they had nothing to do at night but to read the works of Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

22. Washington D. C., New York and other places in the U. S. A.
As above - but with New York, you could also focus on Broadway, and the possibility of seeing Shakespearian plays there!

23. The Czech Republic.
"In the Czech Republic we have long winters. "Now is the winter of our discontent" is a quotation from the writer, Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

24. Prague and other interesting places in our country.
"In Prague there is the National Theatre. On a visit there, you could possibly see one of Shakespeare's plays. Shakespeare was a famous British writer who also lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon & who wrote many famous works, such as 'Hamlet', "Romeo & Juliet' etc..."

25. Olomouc, my town, my birthplace.
As above - but use 'Moravian Theatre' instead of 'National Theatre'.

And there you have it!! Perhaps it can be done?! :-