English trainers wanted: Cologne January 12 through February 6

[Torsten]

Dates: January 12 through February 20
Hours: 9 lesson 45 minutes each, from 8am to 4pm
Location: downtown Cologne, Germany
Purpose: Reviewing the basics, preparation for LCCI Exam

The daily rate depends on your qualification, your experience and the number of students. An important factor is how effectively and successfully you can prepare the group for their LCCI examination. That's why the rate can vary from EUR 130 (up to 8 students) to EUR 145 (more than 13 students).

For more information, please read the English Team Trainer Guideline.

Many thanks,
Torsten Daerr
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[RimcMullen]

This looks interesting. Are you sure that's not January 18th? The 16th is a Friday. Would this group be using Business Basics? Or would they have other exam-specific prep materials?

[Torsten]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for pointing this out. It's actually January 12 which is a Monday. As for the materials, Business Basics will be and in addition the group will be using LCCI prep materials.

Would you be available for that period?
Regards,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[RimcMullen]

Hi Torsten. I am hoting students here in Waterford up to the 11th so it would be pretty tight. Any chance to start a day later?

[RimcMullen]

Or possibly start the course a week later and have it finish on the 13th instead of the 6th - are they at all flexible? I have a training seminar in Berlin on the 16th and 17th so it would be very convenient just to catch the train from Berlin to Koln on Sunday night and start teaching on the Monday.
I am really interested in this though so if not I will try to find some combination of flights to make it work.
I read through the guidelines and there are some good tips there - especially introducing one's self in German. I did that in Nordhausen (not sure why, I've never done that before) and I am sure it helped a lot.

[RimcMullen]

Hi Torsten

I've been checking around for flights and I did find a combination that worked for Sunday 11th. It is fairly pricey though so if there is any flexibility on their part it would be much appreciated. Before I book though, is this one confirmed 100% - I know how these contracts go sometimes. Also can you give the street name so I can start sourcing accommodation?

[Mich111]

Hi Torsten & all,

Happy New Year! I don't see recent posts on this TOEIC course -- did this course begin today?? Or next Monday (19 Jan)?

[Torsten]

Hi Michelle,

Welcome back and Happy New Year to you too! Yes, Richard started this LCCI prep course today and I'm sure he'll post an update soon. How things with you? Have you moved to Germany yet? There will be more opportunities for you this year so please watch this space.

Many thanks,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Mich111]

Hi there,
Yes, I've relocated & now transitioning. I'll take a look at the forum to see how it's going for Richard & what else comes up. I'd be interested in a sort of 'job share' -- perhaps 2 of the 4 days (Mon/Tue), if Richard wishes to split it up. For some reason, I had it in my mind that this would begin later in the month.

M

[RimcMullen]

Hi Torsten/Michelle

It has been a very busy week here in cologne. The group is 16 with 9 men and 6 women and the levels range between A1 bordering on A2 to A2 bordering on B2. There may be another joining tomorrow. I think they will all make a fantastic amount progress over the next few months. There are just one or two who seem overly daunted but that’s normal after 9 hours a day!

This week we began using materials from International Express and Talk Time 2 (both A2) and we are just moving beyond the simple present into simple past. Other than that we have been reviewing basic grammar and today I spent a long time reviewing and teaching preposition uses and noun rules. I used a test from English-test.net and I will continue to access them.

I was going a little fast at first but I have since slowed down a bit as that is what WBS prefers and it is a very long course – after my 4 weeks they do another 8 with Bruce. He has asked me to do another two weeks with them and I am considering it. I mentioned that there is another trainer free but they prefer to have only one or two trainers. If I can’t do it then Bruce will. Personally, I think a little more variety is better for everyone but that means there is no chance for any job sharing.

I picked up a netbook Torsten and I am really loving it (other than no dvd drive) it’s perfect – thanks for the suggestion.

[RimcMullen]

Yikes, I meant to say: There 'is' just one or two who seem overly daunted but that’s normal after 9 hours a day!

[Torsten]

Hi Richard,

Thanks a lot for your update -- it's great to hear you had such a brilliant start with the new Cologne group. How are the learners seated in your classroom -- in rows or in a U-shape like in Nordhausen? By the way, I'll send you a copy of our PDF materials so you can go through them and select those you want to use with the group. Also, which netbook package did you buy, Vodafone or T-Mobile?

Talk to you soon,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[RimcMullen]

Hi Torsten
It’s a U shape. If it weren’t I would try to change it as that’s the best arrangement for language learning I believe. The netbook is an advent – no package however – just bought the day before I left Ireland for Cologne. I got ripped off a little –n it was 349 there and in the UK the same model is about 290.
I read thru the new course guidelines – when I started I introduced myself in German though to make them more relaxed. We then of course spent a lot of time getting to know each other. I used some of my materials for this. I taught them some useful classroom phrases i.e. can you please repeat? I don’t understand, etc, and then they all interviewed each other and told the class about their partners. For fun I had them say one false thing and then guess which statement was true. I did cover just about all of the initial questions you had in your guidelines.

They all seem fairly enthusiastic and there is not too much overuse of German in the class. There are maybe two students who need a lot of instructions translated but I think they just need to try a little harder. That will improve week-by-week.

This week we will learn Present Continuous and Past Simple and study more prepositions and basic grammar rules. I introced the students to English-test and told them they could find more practice tests there if they wanted to review prepositions (which a few did). Many thanks for the PDF file with all the tests – truly an incredible collection!

[RimcMullen]

Hi Torsten

Sorry for the pause writing in – I had to mark tests all weekend 100 questions each and plan so it’s been pretty busy. It is a fairly demanding course but I am enjoying it and the class is really improving. We moved comfortably through the simple past and present continuous last week as well as prepositions of place and comparatives/superlatives. This week we are continuing with reviewing the three tenses and I may introduce some perfect tenses by the end of the week. We began with reviews today and marking tests. Tomorrow we will start on prepositions of direction.
I have been using International Express (which only has 10 lessons for the four weeks) so I have obviously been supplementing that with a lot of on-line materials – they like your tests and with Talk time and Worldlink 2.
Although the Worldlink DVD I have would not play on the computers there I discovered a site called Mediaconverter which converts any video on the web (including all Youtube) to a Windows media file which can be stored on my computer – incredible!
Other than that I have decided to do the extra 2 weeks and told them to make the contract with you.
Those two weeks will be more business focused and they do hqve some materials for that.

I hope all is well in Leipzig.
Bye for now
Richard

[Torsten]

Hi Richard,

Thanks a lot for keeping us updated and posted -- I know how demanding a full time 9 hour course is so I really appreciate your efforts. Can you please tell me what test you used and how you marked it? Did the test consist multiple-choice questions only or where there open questions as well?

For the two additional business English weeks you might want to use supplemental listening materials such as VOA English or our new TOEIC listening comprehension tests.

I understand your group gets access to the Internet in a similar fashion we did in Nordhausen?

Talk to you soon,
Torsten
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary