Page 29 - ELG2309 Sep Issue 486

FEATURE

an Erasmus+ project to support high quality wait seemed like eternity. Countdown began, just approach them. If you do not have
science teaching workshop in Monsaraz, and at last, on April 11th he landed in our anyone, ask the people in your school or
Portugal from February 17-21. Although my school. Although, he is Austrian, and German community. If you still cannot find anyone,
knowledge about astronomy is insignificant, is the national language, I insisted that he then be more active at social, cultural or
my fascination is immense. Thus, I signed up speaks English because it is mandatory in professional events.
for it in zeptoseconds. schools. His English is excellent; thus, Tomorrow is as an unknown journey, but
The workshop was attended by scientists, it was not a problem. by brushing off a setback, being pro-active,
educators, and few students from the Learning science through English and embracing new opportunities, Jupiter,
European Union. Amongst the guests was is Content and Language Integrated the moons and stars might line up perfectly
Dr Gernot Grömer, an analogue astronaut, Learning (CLIL) in action, killing two for you. Before you know it, a VIP could
Director of Austrian Space Forum, and subjects with one speaker! He brought be in your school in T-minus days. My
host of the science TV show ‘Wissen PM.’ a 4.6-billion-year-old meteorite, a fabric first encounter with Dr Grömer was at the
During the workshop he delivered stellar that astronaut suit is made of to touch beginning of the workshop when all the
presentations about cosmic treasures and and feel, and astronaut gloves to try on. participants were spacewalking around
AMADEE, the Austrian Space Forum’s We boarded a spaceship, and he piloted us the model planets on the ground of the
Mars analogue mission research project. along the Milky Way, passing nebulae, white Alqueva Observatory in Monsaraz. I had
We had cordial conversations; he was dwarfs, and billions of planets. The 4-hour, already met other participants, but when
down to earth, showing no indication mind-boggling, zero gravity flight flew by at I saw a man behind the group whom
of fame. At the end of the workshop, the speed of light, and we re-entered Earth I had not yet met, I went over to introduce
I got a certificate of attendance, and felt as stardust. myself. Ladies do not be afraid to take
like Galileo. As a follow up, I commanded my 14-year- the first leap, men are also Earthlings.
Upon my return home, I invited Dr Grömer old 4th graders (who sometimes act like they 3... 2... 1... Lift-off!
to speak at my secondary school, B.O.R.G. are from a different planet) to write about
Dornbirn-Schoren. With almost 900 pupils this experience in our school newspaper in
and about 100 teachers, we are our own English. Instead of grumbling about another Nasy Inthisone Pfanner
planet. He agreed without hesitation, and homework, they exploded with energy. The was born in Laos but grew
colleagues and pupils were starstruck. My printed article is praiseworthy. up in the United States. She
pupils kept bugging me so much about when I saw that bringing in a top-notch speaker has also lived in Thailand
he would come that I became a bit jittery; will increase learning motivation, though and Germany. She now
in fact, I hallucinated about him falling into finding such a person seems like mission lives and teaches English
a black hole, getting hit by a meteorite or impossible. However, if you know people
kidnapped by evil aliens. The month-long with special knowledge or life experience, in Austria.

The Young Learner Specialists
Updated
2023

Have you seen the
Callan Method lately? learn

explore

The best and fastest route to real fluency in English – achieve
as well as exam success
Fully updated and aligned with the CEFR
Includes eBooks, exercises and an online classroom – grow
all available through the Callan App
Find out how to become a Callan Accredited school today

www.callan.co.uk | cmo@callan.co.uk www. .co.uk

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