Katalin´s farewell

Unfortunately the four months of my Comenius Assistantship have passed, and I have to leave Forave and Portugal. These four months in Forave meant a very pleasant and important experience to me. First, I feel very lucky to have been a Comenius assistant in Forave. I think that Forave is a very special school with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Everybody in the school – teachers, students, and other employees of the school – were very helpful and friendly with me all the time, making my stay pleasant and comfortable. I have also learnt a lot of new and useful things about teaching and about the Portuguese education system. I enjoyed the lessons with Forave students a lot, and I hope they liked them as well, and that they found the lessons useful.
I am also very happy to have chosen Portugal as a partner country. Because of the hospitality and openness typical of Portuguese people I was feeling at home here. I enjoyed the diversity of many aspects of Portuguese culture, such as cuisine, architecture, music, and sports – I especially enjoyed Portuguese food and the beaches. I also took pleasure in the rich traditions of Portugal (for example, in the Carnival and in the university festivities) and in the contemporary culture of Porto (for example, I’m referring to the famous institutions such as the Casa da Música or the Serralves Museum). Therefore, I feel very happy about having the opportunity to live here for four months.
I would like to say thanks to everybody in Forave for being so hospitable and accepting, and for making my stay here pleasant, problem-free and delightful. I am glad to have met everyone, and I feel sad about leaving – I hope we will meet again sometime, maybe in Hungary!
I am wishing to all the students good luck for their final exams and training periods, and to have a great summer afterwards.
I wish good luck to everyone, and I hope that I will hear about you soon!

Hungarian-Portuguese Day (29 April 2009)

During the Semana Aberta (the ‘Open Week’) of Forave one day was dedicated to the cultural exchange between Hungary and Portugal. Thanks to the hard work of the students and professors of FORAVE, the school gym was turned into an exhibition hall of Hungarian and Portuguese culture.

Walls were covered by huge flags, and traditional music filled the air. The tables were covered by delicious Hungarian and Portuguese gastronomic specialities, prepared with the help of the students and the teachers of FORAVE.

Countless traditional Portuguese sweets and snacks were presented, such as pastéis de Belém, pão de ló, tortas de Azeitão, Jesuítas… Furthermore, various Hungarian specialities could be tasted, such as the strudel (‘rétes´), the fruit cake (‘gyumolcstorta), the Linzer cookies (‘linzerkarika’), and the Hungarian winter salami (‘téliszalámi’). Special thanks go to the students of AFC and TG 07/10 and to professor Carla and Teresa, who helped me to prepare the delicious Hungarian sweets.


We also learned traditional dances, and we played card games with Hungarian cards. Those who attended the program could also see a little photo exhibition about Hungarian culture, learn Hungarian expressions, and read brochures and books about the two countries.

My arrival and my first weeks in FORAVE

Although my trip was a bit too long and complicated (my route was the following: Budapest – Vienna – Lisbon – Porto) I arrived in safety to my apartment in Porto on 30 January. I stay in a lovely apartment in the centre of the city; I love to walk around in the beautiful streets of Porto, and to be part of the city’s amazing cultural life.

I went to Lousado on the 3rd of February for the first time, and I was welcomed in a very warm way in FORAVE. Teacher Teresa – my coordinator – showed me around in the school, and she introduced to me all the teachers and employees of FORAVE during a lovely reception (I also had the chance to taste “Hungarian cookies” there).

During the first two weeks of February I made a little presentation about Hungary and about myself to all the classes of FORAVE, therefore I could meet all the students of the school. After that I started the English lessons. I enjoy the lessons very much, and for me it is a great experience to teach in FORAVE. I find the atmosphere of the school very friendly and familiar, therefore I feel lucky to be a Comenius Assistant here. I was also happy to participate in the various activities of the FORAVE, such as the Valentine’s Day Tea Party, the Carnival, and the big field trip to Lisbon.

Valentine’s Day Tea Party

Carnival


Field trip to Lisbon

I also enjoy staying in Portugal very much. I my free-time I have a lot of fun in Porto, especially when the weather is nice and sunny. Since in Hungary we have no seas, I go to the seaside as much as possible. I also like to travel around; so far I have visited the National Park of Gerês, the Carnival of Estarreja, Espinho, and Lisbon.

I am sure that the next 3 months are also going to be fabulous here!


Katalin Tarr
Comenius Language Assistant

Our Comenius Language Assistant has finally arrived.

On her first day at FORAVE, Katalin Tarr met some of the students and the school staff.

During the first week of her stay, she´ll introduce herself to all our classes and answer all the questions they´re eager to make her.

After this, "real work" will begin .The Assistant will be helping the English teachers for 4 months and will also offer Hungarian and Italian classes open to local people as well as to pupils, parents and teachers.

Dear partners (specially to the Finnish team),
just to show you that we also have snow in Lousado!
Today it has snowed in Lousado for the first time in 23 years!
Here are some pictures of this unforgettable day.

A new project

Our Comenius Multilateral School Partnership has finished, but a new Comenius Project is beginning.

Next February, our school will have a Comenius Language Assistant from Hungry!
Here is a small presentation sent by her.


Dear FORAVE Students!
My name is Katalin Tarr. I am 25 years old, I’m from Budapest, Hungary. I study Italian Language and Literature, and American Studies at the ELTE University in Budapest. In the spring of 2009 I am going to be a COMENIUS language teaching assistant in your school.
During the assistantship, my most important task will be to improve your English skills, and I hope that we will all enjoy working together. I would like to teach English in a communicative way, focusing on the improvement of your comprehension and self-expression in English. I would like to do a lot of activities and games in connection with interesting topics, such as films and music. I hope I can also take part in the school activities and events outside of the classroom, where we can communicate in English in an informal way.
I would also like to present to you the culture of my country, Hungary, and I hope that with your help I will get to know the culture of North Portugal as well. I’m sure we will find the ways to organize some intercultural events to do that!
I’m really looking forward to meeting you, and I hope that my assistantship will be useful and pleasant for all of us!
Yours,

Katalin

Final meeting at FORAVE

On Thursday, the Comenius students and teachers went for a whole day trip to Guimarães, the city where Portugal was born, Braga and Ponte de Lima, the most ancient city in Portugal.