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Bridges for Education is pleased to announce that it will offer a three- week summer program of conversational English for Human Rights activists journalists, NGO and government leaders.The purpose of Bridges for Education is to promote tolerance and understanding using English as a bridge. This new program will be held at a boarding school in the town of Lebork, southwest of Gdansk, Poland.
It will have internet conections.
Dates: July 5- July 23rd. Students are to arrive July 4th and leave on July 24th. There will be Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Students will be picked up in Warsaw as a group and transported by bus to Lebork.
Cost: $450.00 US dollars per person for three weeks room and board, weekend travel, guides and tickets to museums, movies, and concerts. The cost also includes the services of professional American teachers who will teach conversational English. Travel costs to Warsaw are not included.
What else is provided?
Dictionaries, T shirts, supplies for the classes and activities, and a BFE official certificate for attendance at all activities and classes.How many per class?
BFE will recuit and prepare 10-15 teachers and teaching assistants. Because BFE only accepts 100 students, classes will be small (about ten per class) in order to enourage as much active speaking participation as possible.What is the age limit?
Any age over 18. Working Human Rights activists and working journalists in any media and NGO leaders will be given priority. Students in human rights and journalism programs may also apply.What language skills must the participants already have?
They must have a working knowledge of English: vocabulary and some knowledge of grammar. This is a conversational English language program to require participants to practice English with native speakers of English in an active approach to learning. Vocabulary and points of pronunciation and grammar will be addressed as need arises.What is the day like?
The BFE teachers will host three to four classes in the mornings. All meals will be eaten with the BFE teachers. Afternoon and evening activities will also be arranged by BFE. Human Rights and journalism speakers will be invited to host debates and round table discussions.What is the methodology?
The motto of BFE is that teachers speak no more than 25% of the time, and students at least 75% of the time. Therefore, BFE teachers come prepared with activities to stimulate and encourage the students to speak English as much as possible. These can include games, skits, music, theater, debates, team competitions, a newspaper or journal clubs, dancing, art, etc. It is a time for learning English in an enjoyable atmosphere with serious debates on issues of human rights as well. Students will be expected to demonstrate their speaking skills all the time. This is NOT a lecture type approach to learning.What is the curriculum?
Students who apply are to submit a list of seven topics they feel are important in the field of Human Rights or journalism and they are to come prepared to discuss at least two. The teachers will incorporate as much as possible these topics in the morning classes and activiites. Materials from human rights and journalism organizations will be distributed and used to promote thoughtful understanding of complex issues and problems. Human Rights and media organizations are encouraged to provide their brochures and materials to distribute to the students. They may also offer recommendations for speakers.Speakers:
BFE is accepting recommendations for speakers. They must pay their own transportation. They will receive a $50.00 honorarium and free room and board for one to two nights per camp. Please contact Mrs. Beth Ciesielski at [email protected]. Please submit a resume of suggested candidates. They must be able to speak in English. This will be an outstanding opportunity to meet 100 international professionals and explain your organization and issues which you consider important.What is the enrollment date?
Half the tuition cost $225.00 (US dollars) must be received by June 1st. No exceptions. No return on deposits. Enrollment is on a first come first served basis with a limit of 20 persons from any one country. A waiting list will be created once the limit is reached. The final payment of $225.00 must be paid upon arrival. In case of cancellations before June 1st, final payment will be returned.What is the responsibility of the students?
To attend all BFE classes and activities. To speak English all the time. All students are expected to bring with them genuine human rights and journalism issues in their country to present for discussion. The BFE weekly newspaper can include interviews, position papers, and political issues of interest to the participants. Draft resolutions on international issues may be voted on by the participants and distributed to international media and organizations during the camp. Press conferences, both mock and real can be held. The mix of personalities, experience, education, culture, drive and seriousness of the students will largely determine what they wish to do about the issues they discuss in this three week program.Are there rules for students?
Yes, students must attend all classes. More than two unexcused absences may result in the student not receiving a diploma and/or being asked to leave. No alcohol is permitted in any of the campus buildings. No smoking in any of the buildings. Common courtesy must be shown classmates and roommates regarding use of facilities and sleeping hours. A student council will be elected by the participants to review matters of disagreement and violations of rules. The Camp Director has final authority however in matters of discipline and safety.Is there testing?
Yes, participants are tested before the instructional program to determine what level of English they have in order to place them in three to four groups for teaching purposes. All students will be rotated through all BFE teachers to develop a more flexible ear. There is also a post test to determine inividual progress. There are however, no grades given to the participants. It is up to each participant to decide how serious he/she will be about learning to speak English with native speakers and with other students. The Polish Ministry of Ed has said that three weeks with BFE is equivalent to one to two years in a regular school program.What are the accommodations?
BFE has used these facilities before and found both very clean and modernized with new furniture and lights, bathrooms and showers. Bathrooms and showers are down the hall. They have been recently refitted with new ceramic tiles and bathroom fixtures. There is a washing machine and television and meeting rooms in the dormitory. The cafeteria is in the same building. Three meals a day are provided. The classrooms are a five minute walk away. Students are four to a room and will be mixed by nationality. Men and women have share separate bedrooms and bathrooms. Married couples will have mixed accommodations.How is the food?
Nutritious fresh vegetables and fruits, soups, meat and fish are prepared for all students and teachers. Restricted special diets can not be prepared. BFE teachers have been very satisfied with the meals provided at this camp site and elsewhere in Poland. The cooks try to be accommodating to those who do not eat pork or who are vegetarians, within reason. People with extreme eating problems are urged not to apply.What if I get sick?
There will be a doctor available to all students. Applicants must supply a copy of their medical record and health insurance to Mr. Smyrgala.(address below)Who will take care of the visas?
Each applicant, once accepted will receive an official letter of invitation to Poland. Each applicant must apply then for their own visas. The cost of visas is not included. It is up to the applicants to get these visas on time, so that early application for the program is strongly recommended.What is Lebork like?
Lebork is a middle size town with beautifully restored homes and modern offices and companies. There are plenty of new stores and restaurants for food and clothing and books. There is a movie house and a train station in town providing quick travel to Gdansk and to Leba, a wonderful sea side resort on the Baltic Sea. Weekend trips to Gdansk are planned. Bring your bathing suit and sport clothes. Poland has quickly become a country with new developments in building and modernization evident every day.These are no additional costs for these events and activities. BFE has offered programs at this facility before and has been quite pleased with the accommodations and the organization by the excellent Camp Director. He is a full time Directors of the facilities during the academic year.
Funding and scholarships:
Students are to apply to their national and international organizations and foundations for funding.Soros/Open Society Foundation in each country.
Council of Europe
http://culture.coe.fr- information about funding sources.Sabine Klein
http://www.coe.fr/youth travel grants for groups of ten disadvantage students to international programs- train reimbursement.M. Alfredo Miccio, Head of Confidence Building Measures program
email:[email protected]Who is Bridges for Eduation?
Bridges for Education is a not for profit educational organization incorporated through the New York State Education Department. It was founded in 1994 and has state and federal tax exempt status. It is not a religious or ethnic organization. It receives no government funding. BFE teachers are volunteers who pay their own airfare and BFE administrative expenses. They receive free room and board, a modest stipend, and one week of travel in the host country for their volunteer work.How are teachers selected?
The BFE Executive Director chooses the Group Leaders who must have served at least one year as a BFE teacher. Each receives a BFE Group Leader handbook and share experiences, concerns and input with each other and the BFE Executive Director. They personally interview the teachers, check references and select their own teams.The teachers prepare together as a team prior to departure.They each receive a BFE handbook with a description of their responsbilities, what they can expect, lesson suggestions and curriculum guidelines. The BFE teachers also have rules of discipline.Training of Camp Directors?
BFE provides a handbook for Camp Directors and hosts an Annual Leadership Training conference in the fall for all countries who wish to organize BFE international English language camps. The Camp Directors meet and discuss ways to improve the camps.What programs does it organize?
It has organized language camps throughout Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine (Lviv and Crimea), Romania, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Slovakia. Students from Russia, Chechnya, Finland, Estonia, Hungary, Czech, Italy, Austria, Canada and the USA have also joined our programs.Who are its partners?
BFE works with the Ministry of Education, UNESCO, Soros, and national and international foundations and NGOs. The majority of the BFE programs in the past have been organized for teenagers 14-18 years old. BFE has also organized programs for adults at the Technical University of Poznan, Poland and Technical University of Nitra, Slovakia. BFE will offer programs for educators at Poznan Technical University, Poland, at Timisoara Technical University in Romania and at a boarding school in Krakow.******************************************************************** For applications please contact:
Mr. Wieslaw Smyrgala, BFE International Coordinator
tel: 48-81-886-37-05
fax: 48-81-886-39-36 or 8879-768
email: [email protected]
or copy the simple application below. Fill it out in ink and fax or email to Mr. Smyrgala.Human rights and journalism organizations are encouraged to notify possible candidates for this special program and provide financial support. Recommendations for speakers are welcome.
****Payment in dollars may be sent to:
Bridges for Education c/o Mr. Wieslaw Smyrgala
Bank Depozytowo- kredytowy o/Pulawy
nr. Konta 10701311-1586-2311-0100
Bursa Szkolna w Pulawach ul. Wojska Polskiego 7Deposits to be received by June 1st, no later.
BFE Application:
Name: (first, last)
Address: Home
Address: work
Telephone:
Fax:
email:
Profession:
Name of employer:
education
age
eating restrictions?:
Smoker?:
Seven topics of interest?
Married couple?
Which program are you applying for?Mrs J.Beth Ciesielski
BRIDGES FOR EDUCATION
Executive Director & Founder
94 Lamarck Drive
Buffalo, NY 14226
Tel (716) 839 0180
Fax (716) 839 9493
e-mail:[email protected]
http://wings.buffalo.edu/bfe - USA
http://academic-info.uj.edu.pl/bfe/bridges.html - Europe
www.bridges4edu.org
Last updated: June 1999
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