I was recently in Athens for assessments – it’s nice to
experience the buzz of the capital every now and then, but in the summer heat
it’s a thought!
Nevertheless, off I go with awesome
Aegean and am pleasantly surprised: Attica is under cloud cover and, with a
light, fanning breeze, it’s cooler than in Thessaloniki. And if you can spend
time by the sea – even better!
The
diploma candidates at this centre always have an international flavor – and
this group doesn’t disappoint. They come from three different continents and
currently teach in Asia, the Middle East and Europe – fascinating!
Each candidate, for assessment in
this section of the course, carries out research on a particular area of the
English language, either skills – reading, writing, etc. - or systems – grammar, vocabulary, etc. – and
writes an essay on their findings. In the same area, and informed by their
research, they design a lesson plan which they execute before a live class.
This is where I come in: having received their essay and lesson plan and
materials beforehand, I then observe that lesson. Within 48 hours, the teacher
has to send via the course tutor an evaluation of their planning and execution
to me. After that I am immersed in paperwork, notes, materials, etc., and I
have two weeks to complete and upload the reports onto a platform of Cambridge
University. I send them all the candidate materials and my grades (Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction) for
the research, then the planning, execution and evaluation together.
There is a Cambridge Moderator who
has the final say – she also has the centre materials of candidate essays and
observed lessons during the course, so she has a more global perception of
their abilities. I must say that we very rarely disagree. We assessors undergo
annual standardisation which keeps us on track.
Creativity is not a pretty sight!
I have been assessing since 1987 and have had great
experiences - though being ‘accosted’ in a taxi by a course tutor and more or
less told what grades to give her candidates was not one of them, and it didn’t
work either!!
Being sent to the island of Corfu and to Cyprus – several times- to assess is no hardship whatsoever – any
time! I did miss the chance of heading to St Petersburg but was passed over for
someone with a Russian visa – big disappointment!
I was in Serbia, in early spring, just after the Balkan War ended - where a
teacher told me how excited they were that greens were now in the market. She
assured me that though it had been a horrendous experience, she and her
colleagues had gone to work well-dressed and in full make-up. She explained
that was one of their survival strategies to keep their spirits up during that
Belgrade winter.
On that same trip – all part of a British Aid
project - I visited a state school In Montenegro.
These mountain folks seem to grow to a great height – perhaps the effects of
the rarified atmosphere. As I was
decanted off the plane along with members of their national basketball team I
have never felt so small and insignificant!
The class I observed there was of
primary school children: one kept trying to see what I was scribbling down, one
turned round every time he answered to check I’d seen him, giggling groups of
girl, and boisterous boys jostling each other every time the teacher turned her
back- par for the course. Perhaps the most challenging experience in Podgerica was being taken for lunch by
the utterly charming headmaster – an absolute Anthony Quinn look-alike – who ordered loads of local specialities
for this special guest: me!! L Platters, not plates, were brought to the
table and they were heaped with potatoes, vegetables and huge, massive, immense
slabs of meat. He was visibly disappointed that I could only make a slight dent
in my portion.
Now I cannot remember whether the currency was
in dollars or not, but what I do remember was that the hotel they had booked
for me cost an arm and a leg to the point where Cambridge questioned my
expenses submission. It was a place that had seen better days, with vast rooms
and high ceilings, ‘weathered’ furniture. I guess my basic grouse was with the
staff: the carpet was so stained I hesitated to step on it even in slippered
feet, the bathroom, well, that was not gleam-clean either. But it was the
receptionist who was vying for worst employee of the year award. He looked at me as if I had been accidentally
brought in on the soles of someone’s shoes. To say his attitude was one of
disdain was to put it mildly. He watched my every move as if I was about to set
up a parlour on his premises to practise the oldest profession right there and
then. Next day, he was still at reception and responded to my gay, morning
greeting with a gruff grunt. When I asked if a car had come for me, he
responded rudely, ‘No, just a car from the Ministry
of Education’. Now that last part,
the reference to the vehicle, was expressed with tones of reverence and respect
that I did not know he was capable of. Imagine then his surprise as the driver,
in uniform, greeted me by name and invited me to join him in the
limousine. Oh such sweet revenge!!
And I
have so many other such tales to tell – another time! Now I have digressed way
off my Athenian trip. Before I leave the capital city after my brief stay, I manage
to take in time with two favourite lady-buds: lunch with Angie in Artemida and dinner with Marisa in Voula. Thank you, both, for your delightful company!
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