10-02-2012 - Tallinn Weekend Training

Training in Tallinn

A refreshing and stimulating Debate training in Tallinn on 10th and 11th February. by Eva Sule and Nick Hennessey

The Federation of Finnish British Societies has organised  "debate start-up skills and storytelling" workshops in Tallinn in English.  The trip is to start from Helsinki on Friday 10th at midday).

Workshops on Debating

The workshop will be run by experienced competitor and judge Eva Sule.

First session is to introduce debating:

• What does debating mean>
• What is the benefit to school and to everyday life?
• How does the class debate?
• What should be highlighted in debate training.

Second session is World School format in debating.

This will give good understanding where finnish debating is on its way in the future. We will explore in good details how the next Finnish-British debating competition for upper-secondary schools will be run in autumn 2012.

Workshop 2

Nick Hennessey's workshop is on oral expression and narrative story.

• An understanding of how the language works at creating images.
• What a saga is expected to be?
• Stories in public are very stylized and the trick is to create rhythm and body language in the pattern of the telling.

These workshops are suitable for all users of the language furthering the ability to communicate through speech, listening, and interpretation. The power of the spoken language to communicate  is particularly important for language teachers and all others who need to communicate skills.

The workshops are in the Tallinn English School which also offers an opportunity for networking.

The price for this event is about  100euros (travel and accommodation). The first 30 applicants will get places. Contact kaarina.ojasti@elisanet.fi

04-06-2012 - Summer 2012 Trip to Yorkshire

Yorkshire and summer 2012 on my mind

Happy New Year, everybody!

Here is what we have planned for us  30 Finn-Brits touring Yorkshire in June 2012.

We have reserved rooms at the Hotel MAJESTIC in the town of Harrogate – full details can be found on the web (www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk) – but is one of Harrogate’s premier hotels and has a spa complex with a swimming pool!  We are currently a party of 29 and are still holding a few additional rooms available. If you know of anyone else who might want to come on the trip, please let them and us know as soon as possible.

The cost:  The total cost of the trip will be 1000 - 1200 e per person in twin room. Single room additional will be £35 /night.  The final price depends on the flight tickets (as you know, the prices change every day) and the exchange rate of the pound. However the price will include:

• Flights (see below)
• All travel to and from events
• Accommodation incl. breakfast
• All entrance fees (except for the evening at Wetherby Races)
• The costs of the first evening bistro meal and the mediaeval banque

Monday June 4:                              depart Helsinki 0825            arrive Manchester 0925

Monday June 11:                           depart Manchester 1750    arrive Helsinki 2245

The payment schedule:

The trip will be paid in three installments to the account of the Federation of the Finnish-British Societies

                  Suomalais-brittiläisten yhdistysten keskusjärjestö ry
                  Ålandsbanken Tampere
                  IBAN: FI41 6601 0001 0932 85

By January 15^th   300 e;  The first installment in January will be spent on the flight tickets and it is non-refundable.

By March 15^th     400 e; We should know  the final cost by March, so you will know then how large your last payment will be.

By May  15^th        the rest (300-500e)

Please make sure your travel insurance is in order – it will enable you to get at least some of the money back if you have to cancel.

PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME

Day 1

Flight             Helsinki – Manchester, bus transport to Harrogate 

• Visit to Knaresborough to Mother Shipton’s Cave ( approx 5 miles away) for  a leisurely  walk by the River Nidd.
• A bistro meal in the Montpellier Quarter of Harrogate   “Welcome to Yorkshire Dinner “

Day 2

• Visit Brimham Rocks ( unique rock formations)  - gentle open air walking
• Visit Fountains Abbey  & the gardens at Studley Royal  with a guide.
• Free evening

Day 3

• An all-day excursion to Wensleydale and Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales  (Home of the TV series “All Creatures Great and Small) details later.
•  A pub meal outside Richmond before returning to Harrogate (approx. 75 mins)

Day 4

•  Free time to explore Harrogate and its shops in the morning.
• Afternoon If you want; Depart Harrogate for an evening at Wetherby Race Course – additional cost ! Races from 6 until 9 PM. These are Steeplechase races i.e. jumping over fences so very different from the trotting races seen in Finland

Day 5:               

• All Day visit to YORK with opportunities to visit Jorvik Viking Centre, York Minster Cathedral, different museums, shops and shops !

Day 6:                

• All Day  excursion to the York Moors and Whitby  (Heartbeat landscape) details later.

Day 7:               

• A leisurely Sunday  to explore Harrogate before departing at lunchtime for the market town of Skipton, in Wharfedale  and for a Mediaeval Banquet !

Day 8:                

• Time for a last glimpse at Harrogate & last-minute shopping  before departing for Manchester at about 1 PM

There will be alternative programme  for families with children especially when the rest of us  are on all-day excursions. Also Harrogate and York have lots to offer to children, rest assured.

Depending on the age of the children hotel cost may be different to you as well (be in touch to John  jftuckett2002@yahoo.co.uk ).

Once you have made your first installment (=confirmed your participation ) could you please  send Leena  leena.casagrande@utu.fi an e-mail  with info of

• your street address  and phone number
• your possible food allergies /special diets
• whether you’d like to come to the horse races  (depending on the numbers will start to set this up)

We are now looking forward to your first payments and we will start booking the flights this week.

All the best for the new year,

Federation of Finnish-British Societies

Leena Casagrande                  John Tuckett                                   Tarja Teitto-Tuckett