English Banana.com ESL Blog

The latest free material and news from English Banana.com

Tag Archives: English Banana Trust


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We’re giving away 20 FREE hard-copy books: Big Grammar Book & Talk a Lot Elementary Book 1!

Free Hard-Copy English Banana Books!

Free Hard-Copy English Banana Books!

PLEASE NOTE: THIS OFFER HAS NOW ENDED. THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO EMAILED US!

We’ve got 20 FREE English Banana.com books to give away – with FREE postage and package – courtesy of the good people at English Banana Trust! Glyn Purland, who is Chair of English Banana Trust, writes:

“To mark the end of the 10th year online of English Banana.com, the English Banana Trust is offering a number of the two most popular English Banana books, one per person, free of charge including postage and package. We hope that this will help you in your teaching and learning of the English language.”

There are 10 free copies of Big Grammar Book and 10 free copies of Talk a Lot Elementary Book 1. These books are real, not digital – you can flick through them! You can put them in your bag or on your bookshelf at home! You can photocopy them!

All you have to do to get your FREE book is to send us a message with:

* Your full name

* Your mailing address

* WHICH book you would prefer to receive

* A few words to say WHY you would like to receive a free English Banana.com book

This offer is open to teachers and students of English, and is available on a first come, first served basis – one free book per person. If you are not lucky enough to receive a free hard-copy book, please remember that you can still download both books (and many more!) free from English Banana.com.


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More Press Coverage of English Banana Trust – and a Video from the Summer School

Here is a roundup of recent stories about English Banana Trust from the newspapers:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/holt_based_charity_english_banana_trust_celebrates_the_success_of_its_first_summer_school_1_1495988

http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/holt_based_charity_english_banana_trust_celebrates_the_success_of_its_first_summer_school_1_1495988

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/jazz_concert_at_the_auden_theatre_in_holt_to_raise_money_for_the_charity_english_banana_trust_1_1498223

And here’s a short video taken by one of the participants in the recent summer school. It shows us letting our hair down at a social evening at the end of the course. We had a lot of fun! In this activity different teams had been challenged to write lyrics about the summer school to the tune of ‘Let it Be’ by The Beatles. This team didn’t win, but they still really enjoyed performing for us!

 


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The First English Banana Trust Summer School was a Great Success!

Last week the first English Banana Trust Summer School was held at Greshams School in Holt, Norfolk. The focus was on teacher training and how to teach without a course book, and we were pleased to welcome four English language teachers from Russia, Hungary, and Serbia. Course tutor Matt Purland focused on training the teachers to teach without using a course book, based on methods from his recent manual You Are The Course Book. The teachers thoroughly enjoyed the week, which was sponsored by English Banana Trust. Apart from five hours of lessons per day – and plenty of homework! – the participants were able to enjoy a diverse number of outings ranging from a visit to the famous seal colony at Blakeney Point, a guided tour of Norwich with an experienced historian, and several delightful shared meals and get-togethers with trustees and friends of the Trust.

Here are a few comments from some of the participants at the end of the course:

‘I feel I’ve gained enough confidence to teach without materials. I also feel that my creativity has been exposed to the higher level and that’s really good and exciting.’ – Marija

‘I feel the passion to continue my self-education in this area which I consider to be really innovative…’ – Nadia

Course tutor Matt commented: ‘I would like to thank the Trust for all their hard work and dedication in staging the summer school this year. We have all really gained a lot out of it. It was wonderful to watch our teachers in action and to see them grow in confidence and be able to teach their own lessons without a course book – or any printed material.’

If you would like to get involved with next year’s EBT Summer School – as either a participant or a tutor – please contact English Banana Trust at: ebtrust@englishbanana.com

Or if you would like to book Matt to run a similar week-long training course at your educational establishment, please do get in touch at: info@englishbanana.com

Here are some photos of the participants hard at work in the classroom, and (in bottom picture) with tutor Matt after the final session of the course:


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More Photos from our Big Sky Fundraising Event on 31st March 2012

Official events photography courtesy Photographers’ Gallery, Holt, Norfolk. Used with kind permission.

Sian Croose & Big Sky

Hugh Lupton - Storyteller

Hugh Lupton - Storyteller

Big Sky Choir - Warming Up

Big Sky Choir - Warming Up

Big Sky Choir - Warming Up

Big Sky Choir - Warming Up

Hugh Lupton - Backstage

Hugh Lupton - Backstage

Alan Childs, Trustee of English Banana Trust, and Matt Purland

Alan Childs, Trustee of English Banana Trust, and Matt Purland

Glyn Purland, Chair of English Banana Trust

Glyn Purland, Chair of English Banana Trust

 


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Thanks to Everybody who Made our Fundraising Concert such a Big Success!

Our “Big Sky” fundraising event went really well on Saturday night. Thanks to everybody who took part, including the performers Big Sky Choir, storyteller Hugh Lupton, and wildlife photographer David Tipling. Thanks as well to the hard-working team of people who made it possible, including the English Banana Trustees, other volunteers, and the professional, kind, and helpful staff at Cathedral.

A packed crowd gathered in the new Hostry centre at Norwich Cathedral to be enthralled, educated, and above all entertained! First we heard all about David Tipling’s recent visit to Papua New Guinea, and how the relationship between people and birds there is really quite unique. After a short break we were thoroughly spoilt by the wonderful singing of Norfolk choir Big Sky and the amazing, mesmerising tales of Hugh Lupton. A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all, and money was raised towards this year’s English Banana Trust Free Summer School for English teachers.

Norwich Cathedral.

David Tipling's Presentation

Big Sky Choir - warming up!


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Download Free MP3 Audio! – Info about our Summer School

If you weren’t able to get to our Q & A session about the English Banana Trust Free Summer School, you can now download an MP3 of the audio and listen to the whole thing! Simply click the link below to open it in your browser, or right-click to download it:

http://www.englishbanana.com/podcasts/english-banana-trust-free-summer-school-1.mp3


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Listen to Interview with English Banana Trust Chairman on BBC Radio Norfolk

You can still catch a recent interview with EB Trust Chairman Glyn Purland, which took place on Friday 9th March 2012 at BBC Radio Norfolk in Norwich. Click the link below and fast forward to around 37 minutes in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00p6b2h

Glyn spoke about the upcoming Trust concert at Norwich Cathedral and also about the Free Summer School for English teachers, which is planned for August this year. Many thanks to presenter Mark Matthews and all at BBC Radio Norfolk for their kind hospitality.


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Two Free English Lessons this week on WizIQ.com!

This week I’m doing two free lessons on WizIQ.com. You are welcome to sign up below! Hope to see you there. 🙂

How to Teach English without an Expensive Course Book Public Class

Wed, Mar 07, 2012 | 8:30 PM (Central European Standard Time)

http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/778438-how-to-teach-english-without-an-expensive-course-book

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English Banana Trust Free Summer School – Q&A Session #1 Public Class

Sat, Mar 10, 2012 | 5:00 PM (Central European Standard Time)

http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/779030-english-banana-trust-free-summer-school-q-a-session-1


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Announcing the First Ever English Banana Summer School – 13th-17th August 2012!

Glyn Purland, Chair, English Banana Trust, writes:

The Opportunity of a Lifetime for English Teachers Using English Banana Materials!

 Free Teacher Training in the UK!

You are warmly invited to attend English Banana Free Summer School 2012

English Banana Trust (founded in 2008) aims to support teachers who are helping people to find a route out of poverty through learning English.

We are currently inviting applications for the first English Banana Free Summer School, which will be held at the prestigious Gresham’s School in Holt, Norfolk, England this summer from 13th to 17th August 2012.

This summer school gives you the unique opportunity to learn how to get the most out of English Banana worksheets and books with the author of the material – English teacher and writer Matt Purland. As you improve your teaching skills through a series of practical, hands-on sessions, you will learn a wide range of valuable and effective teaching methods that you can take home with you and share with your colleagues. The programme will also include other expert educational input and a range of activities designed to support you in your work environment after the school has finished.

If you are accepted as a delegate to the Summer School, all residential, travel and teaching costs in England will be paid for by the Trust, together with a contribution towards travel to the UK and associated costs, of up to £400 sterling.

Who is eligible to apply?

Professional English teachers (including ESL, EFL, TEFL) aged 21 or over, living in the UK or overseas. You must be able to demonstrate that you are using English Banana materials in your school and have a strong interest in learning how to use them more effectively.

If you would like to find out more, please email the following information to

ebtrust@englishbanana.com

1) Your current CV

2) Your name, postal address, telephone number, and email address

3) A short summary of which English Banana materials you are using/have used and how you are using them (e.g. group size, age, level, frequency, etc.)

4) A description of your current teaching situation, e.g. self-employed, private lessons, language school, college, university, state school, etc.

5) A short note explaining why you think you would benefit from a place at the English Banana Summer School 2012 (minimum 100 words)

The closing date for receipt of your email is Saturday 31st March  2012

We look forward to welcoming you!


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You are Invited to a Concert in Aid of English Banana Trust – 11th February 2012

We invite you to a very special concert in aid of the Holt-based charity English Banana Trust. ~ Spreading the use and understanding of the English language throughout the world… helping people to find routes out of poverty ~

‘When I Fall in Love’ – Saturday 11th February 2012 ~ 8pm (Bar opens 7.30 pm).

The Auden Theatre, Gresham’s School, Holt, UK. A selection of songs from the heart.

Soprano ~ Jayne May-Sysum

Pianist/Accompanist ~ Jonathan Wortley

A romantic programme for the ‘season of love’ including music by George Gershwin, Richard Strauss, Cole Porter and Giacomo Puccini.

Tickets £12.00

Box Office, Auden Theatre

01263 713444

email boxoffice@greshams.com

The Box Office is also open one hour before the performance.


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Buy Hard Copies of English Banana.com Workbooks Here!

Big Grammar Book and Talk a Lot Elementary Book 1 – Hard Copies!

Now you can buy hard copies of two of our most popular books from English Banana Trust. Both books are sturdy wiro-bound volumes with laminated covers, which will prove really handy when you are photocopying them all day! Both books cost £22 each, with all of the proceeds going towards the work of English Banana Trust, which is a charity set up to support the English Banana.com website.

Why not order your copy today from the Trust? Here are their contact details:

English Banana Trust, P.O. Box 35, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 9AB   Tel. 01263 715842

Email: ebtrust@englishbanana.com

Find out more about the books here: