My name is Ingrid

My name is Ingrid. 

I was  a Professor of Educational Science, since I retired from work in 2010. But I’m still giving courses at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

I taught and I’m still teaching Educational Science, and my favorite  fields of research and teaching were

Freinet-Pedagogy  and Intercultural Education (= work with different  groups of migrant     children)

Here are some of my books treating these subjects.

           

Since 1973 until now, I am teaching  students who want to become teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools.  About 1980, I got in contact with Freinet Pedagogy, and since then the ideas and “technics” of Freinet  took a large part in my thinking, writing  and teaching about good school practice.

Later on, I went to national and international Freinet Meetings, and took responsabilities in Freinet teacher training in Germany and in the Directory Board of  the FIMEM (from 2010 to 2012, I was the International Secretary of the FIMEM). I studied French and German, and I speak and write French and Spanish fluently, but I apologize for my English.I even made some  attempts to learn the Turkish language, but I found it very very difficult…

From 1975 to 1993, I worked at the University of Duisburg, in the Ruhr District of Germany, where millions of migrant workers lived (and still live) with their children (most of them from Turkey). There I started – together with a group of young teachers – to introduce Freinet Techniques in classes with a high amount of migrant children, who had to learn German as a second language. We tried to work with Freinet techniques, for instance we went out of the classroom with the children, in order to explore the surroundings of the children’s homes and their (ugly but interesting) part of the town. And we invited them to use the German language in natural situations, such  as buying fruits and vegetables on the market. So they  used their German vocabulary in authentic speech acts, and – back in the classroom –made rehearsels by  “cooking” fruit salad and vegetable soup together.

This is only an example how to refer to Freinet Techniques in order to develop individualized and living instruction of German as a Second Language. It is a shame that school success for migrant children in the German school system is very hard to reach, and that a high porcentage of them still fail. The challenge actually is to insert the children of refugees in German schools. How can we give them a fair chance of success?

Hi, I’m Anastasia !

I am Greek and I teach Italian as a foreign language. I studied Italian Language and Literature at the University of Athens and then I had my master in Didattica della Lingua Italiana come L2 at the University of Padova in Italy, where I spend two wonderful years! In Italy along with my studies I was teaching Italian to immigrants teenagers in a voluntary association; an experience that will never forget.

For the moment I teach Italian in a private school, in Athens, to elementary and high school students. This year I also started a new working experience as an educational coordinator of a Life Long Learning Program based on Non Formal Education. I love teaching very much but I also like directing and supervising educational programs.

I had the chance to participate to many European projects like Youth in Action Projects and Leonardo da Vinci Program, so this European experience has offered me great new skills.

I always like to incorporate Non Formal Education methodologies in my teaching procedure and I believe that The Ridef and Forum Theater will offer my new cultural stimulus.

I speak Italian, English and I can understand a little bit of Spanish.

I am very excited for this workshop and I am willing to meet you all ! !

Hello I`m Iris from Germany. I`m living at Bonn, nearby Cologne, the former capital of Germany ( some 24 years ago). Since 2007 I´m working as a freelancer teacher with adult immigrants round over the world teaching german as a second language. I`ve also some experience in teaching children and teens in italian language, becauce originally I ´d studied french and italian language. But I `ve never worked with a blog till now, so I hope I´ll manage to comunicate with you all. And I already feel like a stranger, how the h.... does it work. I love my work despite the disastrous financial situation of freelancer teachers in germany. Right now I attend a class about alphabetization...I´m changing flat and ... looking forward the summer....
After a little odyssey in the modern world of multimedia I finally hope to have made it to your blog.
cu iris

 I'm Rossella and I come form Napoli, in the south of Italy, but I live in Rome since 1986. Up to 2011, I was science and mathematics teacher in secondary school and I liked very much my work. In the same time I took part of a group of MCE which deals with intercultural contents and methods for educators and teachers training, and still now I partecipate to this group.
The town rapresented in the photo is Napoli, taken by one of the windows of the house of my mother, where you can see, in the distance, a little piece of the MARE, that I love much, with Capri island. The word that I choose is MARE.

Hello and good afternoon to everyone, I am Daniel!

I am Daniel and I am arriving from London where I have been living for the past three years. I grew up in Spain but left some years ago to live/study and work in a number of places. Mostly, I have spent years in Antwerp, Berlin, London and Beirut.

Currently, I work at Goldsmiths University as a library assistant, giving advice to students on bibliography and helping them to shape their research in the field of visual culture. Likewise, I am completing a MA in Global arts, a programme that aims to map out how, in the 21st century, creative practices constitute new realities within globalization.

My personal research analyzes the writings of women during the dictatorships of the Southern Cone (Chile and Argentina in particular) and how they managed to create through literature and language a new symbolic order upon which to begin a process of social renewal in conditions of acute repression.

Parallel to this research, I followed last year a program on Certificate Language Teaching for Adults, which included three months teaching experience at the Cervantes Institute here in London and I have taken courses on languages, dance technique and choreography quite for the past 6 years. 

My teaching experience is so far limited but I am interested in developing it further in the field of informal education through the creation of workshops that would address issues of current importance to the participants. My aim is to put literature, the collective consciousness and choreography in dialogue in an intellectually thriving environment with the hope to clear space for new avenues of research. Hence, knowledge could be disseminated, shared, taught, reflected, and experienced. My interest lays in how interdisciplinary shared knowledge can be made sustainable and conducive towards a more just society in which social cohesion and integration prevail over individualism.

I am looking forward to join all of you in this workshop to share time with you and to brainstorm about new ways of tackling the fascinating and necessary issue of adult education in these very fast shifting times.

See you all soon in July :)

P.S.: before I go, please, if you have time have a look at this great article on informal education practices taking place in London.

  

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/21/alternative-art-schools-threaten-universities

Hi, I am Anne from Finland!

Hello, I am classroom teacher and a special teacher. I usually work with pupils in the age of 6-8 years. I also teach Italian to adults. I like reading and writing, travelling and languages, dialects, animals and riding, poems and theatre. I hope we´ll have a nice time in Italy!

Hi, I’m Valentin!

My name is Valentin. I’m coming from town of Novi Iskar (which is part of Municipality of Sofia - my national capital), Bulgaria. 

I'm a Freelance Journalist for years (with University Degree in Journalism and Communications), writing about the youth policy in Bulgaria and in the EU as well. 

I have background with multiple spheres of work such as journalistic writing in print media and Internet-based news matters. 

I’m also a Part-time Teacher for people from the minorities in my town (I’m teaching them in basic IT competence and History) and Youth worker (on voluntary basis) who working with youngsters from one informal youth group from town of Novi Iskar. 

My participation in this very interesting and extraordinary GW will be very serious professional challenge for me which will strengthen my skills and knowledge as an educator in the fields of adult and non-formal education.

Ciao, amici! Io sono Valentino di Bulgaria.

Hello! I'm Susana and I'm from Portugal. I'm Educational Psychologist, I have been working in many different fields of education from coordinating educational projects, playcentre, afterschool to English Teacher for children, Adult Trainer and educator and usually connected with art education, enviornment education, animation on multicultural realities.

Right now I am on a Grundtvig Assistenship Period on Palermo in Italy. My work here is promote intercultural events for adults, develop Community Dance and Culture Training, European Projects and to be a Pedagogical Observer and Counselor on the Adults Language Courses and on adult workshop.

The Educational methodologies I like to work with are Education through Art, Play Activity and Literacy, Diferenciated Pedagogy, Enviornment Education, Ethic, phylosophy and moral development, Non formal and Informal Education Methodologies.

I like very much developing educational activities in libraries and storytelling events to organize and to tell stories and children book ilustrations. I have a big passion for dance and movement, new circus, contenporary puppet show, clown and non verbal artistic performing arts in general

I love to travel and live on other countries and cultures.

I am very excited with EUTOPIA Grundtvig Workshop, because adult literacy is something that seems to be a very healthy way to gather people through activities of listening and get to know each face to face, which in a  contemporary world that changes so fast is mostly required. I'm also very excited to meet you all. See you in July!!!

Hello! My name is Nina . I am Spanish .Work in Municipal Adult School Alcorcón, a municipality of 200,000 inhabitants ; Madrid metropolitan belt for 32 years .This year I work with literacy groups and immigrants.My school has always had a high number of demand registration and also a wide range of educational .But because the " CRISIS" is in danger of extinction.City officials have decided to cut the number of teachers and therefore restrict the educational offer .Despite all difficulties, the school has great prestige in the town of Alcorcon and work to not disappear from the educational map .I think a unique opportunity to attend and participate in the activities of the Grundtvig Workshop Ridef to exchange experience and to international law to Permannte Adult Education .Translation makes google translator; I have no idea English.

            

¡Hola! Mi nombre es Nina. Soy española.

Trabajo en la Escuela Municipal de Adultos  de Alcorcón, un municipio  de 200.000 habitantes; del cinturón metropolitano  de  Madrid desde  hace 32 años.

Este año trabajo con grupos de  alfabetización e inmigrantes. 

  Mi escuela  ha tenido  siempre un nº  elevado  de demanda de matriculación y también una amplia oferta educativa.

   Pero debido a  la “CRISIS”  se encuentra en peligro de extinción.

  Las autoridades municipales han decidido  recortar el número de enseñantes y por lo tanto restringir la oferta educativa.

     A pesar de todas las dificultades, la escuela  tiene gran prestigio  en la población de Alcorcón y  trabajaremos para que no desaparezca  del mapa educativo.

 Me parece una oportunidad única  asistir y participar en las actividades del Taller Grundtvig en la Ridef para poder intercambiar experiencias y reivindicar a nivel internacional  el derecho a la Educación Permannte de Personas Adultas.

Hi, I’m Eftychia

My name is Eftychia, I live in Athens and I am an Italian language teacher. I work with learners of all ages, but mostly with adults. I love travelling, meeting new people and learning from them. For me, the workshop Eutopia is a great opportunity to enrich my knowledge and share my ideas and experiences with other people! Looking forward to participate!!

Hi, I'm Eunika

     My name is Kislaki Eunika and I am from Reghin, a small town of Transylvania, a historical region in the central part of Romania. I'm a primary school teacher since 1998 in the same public school. I love the children, so I love my work. It gives me challenges and satisfactions every day, but also the opportunity of professional developments. In 2001 I came into contact with Freinet-pedagogy, and I choose to enlarge my pedagogical views with the conceptions of this reformed pedagogy.

   I like to get permanently acquainted with something new, to improve, to innovate my work. So I look forward to participate at this workshop, to meet other people and to share our experiences.

Our town from Vagelis and Sofia, Greece

The town where we live, PAIANIA, was one of the ten municipalities of ancient Athens. Here was born Demosthenes, a great orator of gold century of Athens. Nowadays, it's one of the beautiful suburbs of Athens. It's a nice place to live, quite and calm not far from Athens. It's PEACEFUL.

Hi, I`m Rita

Hi, my name is Rita. I come from Lithuania - a small country near the Baltic sea. I work at Adult education center. I have been teaching English for six years.  I teach young adults, who are returning to educational process after a long break and want to complete their secondary education.
In my personal life I am a happy mother of two daughters, aged 3 and 7. I love nature, travelling, shopping, being with my family and friends. 
I am very happy to join the workshop and hope my personal and professional development. Looking forward to see and work with You in Reggio Emilia!
Greetings from Lithuania, Rita.

I'm Yvonne

My name is Yvonne Onno. 
I am French and live near Nantes in the west of France.
 I am retired, before I was assistant in communication.
 For 4 years I give French courses to the asylum seekers in an association. Within this association we work on the pedagogy. I am happy to take part in this workshop and to meet other persons, it is always very enriching.

I'm Nicoleta

Hi , my name is Dîrdală Nicoleta Ionela . I am from Romania, exactly Focsani . I teaching at kindergarden  nr. 1 Popesti from Vrancea and I work with children aged between 3-6 years old. I finished Faculty of Psychology - Pedagogy with pedagogy specialization in Brasov.  I am a communicative person, socialize easily with people, especially with children who are very fond . I attended specialization courses and developing relationships with children and socio-emotional development of preschoolers.
My anticipated this course are the uptake of new methods of active learning and socializing with preschoolers.

Hi, I'm ELENA!

My name is Elena. I am from Focsani, Roumania. I am a primary school teacher at ,,Nicolae Iorga” School in Focsani. I work with children between 6-11 years old. Since the very first year of my activity as a teacher I have been offered a good environment suitable for educational proposes of the students, to be as much as possible closer to them, reject the idea of being a distant cold teacher that sits at the desk for the sake of a job.

I graduated psychology and sociology and I attended the course “ Child ecosystem - the ethological method to the service of the man cub” in Florence.

 I believe that attending this course will be an opportunity for my professional development. 

HI, I'M MONICA

I am Elena Monica from Targoviste, Romania and I work from Kindergarten No 1 Targoviste.

Children I work with are aged between 5-6 years.

I graduated nursery teaching courses, a master course management policies.

Attending the course in Reggio Emilia is to me an oppotunity for further education.

 

Hi, I'm Bülent.

My name is Bülent Dönmez. I am from Turkey. I am an English teacher. I have been teaching English in Sivas Adult Education Center for 2 years. I am also a certified translator English to Turkish- Turkish to English. Besides my occupation, I am a graduate student in Curriculum and Instruction Department of Educational Sciences in Gaziosmanpaşa University. I got Comenius In-Service Training Scholarship, and joined a course called ‘Language and Methodology For English Teachers – A Blended Approach’ which took place in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England between the dates of 10th and 21th June, 2013. I translated two parts, ‘Reading to learn’ and ‘Learning to read’, of a best seller American pedagogy book called ‘Cognitive Psychology and Instruction’ to Turkish last year. 

I see the workshop Eutopia to have an important experience, and I am very motivated to take part in this workshop.

Hello, I´m Anna!

My name is Anna Mária.I am Hungarian. I have been living in Spain for 12 years. I moved to Spain because my boyfriend was here. I have worked in various places, until after many formalities and much waiting I could homologate my studies. So I can finally work in my field, which is Early Childhood Education Techniques. Few years ago I worked with Primary children, but now I am working in a beautiful nursery school with children from 5 months to 3 years old. I love my job. I love being surrounded by so many people. Above all children, who are always there to give you a tender smile and a big hug. I am studying Social Education, it helps me to understand people who have different problems and want to integrate into our society. And last but not least, I am studying English at a language school as well.

I like reading, crafts and listening to music. I enjoy cooking as well as doing sports. Moreover I like going to the theatre and the opera. My favorite hobby is travelling and discovering the most wonderful parts of the World and meeting new people.

I am ready to take an active part in all the activities proposed and I´ll do my best to contribute positively to the common enrichment.

Hi, I'm Maurizia

Hi, I am Maurizia, the coordinator of the workshop Eutopia. So far we have been in touch only by e-mail, but the time has come to know each other better before the July meeting starts. I am a member of MCE since 1975. I have been a teacher for primary school during many years, but now when I bend towards a child my spine pains. So I decided to care about adults, even if I have discovered they are even more engaging than children!!! I love theatre, music and all performative arts and I like to mix them with pedagogy. I am fond of EU projects as they allow to get in touch with other teachers, exchange experience and learn from them. Eutopia will be a promising opportunity for this.