Day 4 - CMT & Dartmoor

Today its been another half day, I mean, during the morning we've been at IPC and in the afternoon we have had an excursion.

In the first part of the day we have been working on Datmoor information by some activities, getting some extra knowledge of what where we will be in the afternoon.

But our main task in IPC today we have been working on what Creative Methodologies are, the different approaches and how our teaching style and ourselves are into every different theory.

It's so hard when you have to reflect on how you are, and you have to auto analyze the way you do things at your work and with your students. All of us have agreed that this has been an exhausting work.

Then, after the lunch we have enjoyed one of these magic places or, as Roger has defined it, one of the last wild places in UK. Dartmoor is a National Park with interesting wild live around the river Dart.

We have gone to the top of the hills, named Tors because of it rocky compositions, and then down to the valley, where we have seen one of the ancient settlements in the area. Then again up, down and up. The sightseeing from any of the tors was impressive, accompanied by the silence only disturbed by birds or water sounds.

At the end of the day everybody was tired after the walk, but satisfied for having been in such a wonderful place and having enjoyed a rarely sunny afternoon in this region.

Here we are, Ricardo, Carlos and me, the Spanish teachers in IPC Exeter for these 14 days.

Day 3 - Hard working day in English language

Back in the school on our own, we have arrived without problems and in time.

Today, our first session is about Personal Language Development. We've been working the hard part of English, that is, pronunciation, vocabulary, idioms, colloquial language, and that has required the best of us. At the lunch all the group was really tired.

Then after the break the second session has been about Creative Methodologies. We have worked on what they are and what do we already know about them.

The day at the school has finished early and we have time to share with partners. 

At night I have enjoyed the company of some French teachers from different groups in the FireHouse where we have tasted really nice pizzas.

Day 2 - First day in IPC Exeter

I wake up in the morning and enjoy a nice breakfast with my hostess, Jackeline, and my french partner, Didier. After having breakfast Jackie takes us to IPC and shows us some interesting locations on the city.

Once in IPC we are received with honors by some of the teachers and we are given a nice black folder with a lot of information inside. There I meet Vicky, the woman I've been talking to for different issues before coming here. She is as nice as she seemed in the emails.

Time to meet the other students in the same group as me and in the other groups. There are a lot of French teachers, two Czech teachers and other two Polish. I can see everyone as exited as me to know how everything in our respective courses will be.

Down in the basement we meet Julie, the head of studies of IPC. Serious, sarcastic and stereotype of the English woman. She welcomes us and after a brief speech she int oduces us our teachers form the next two weeks.

My group follows Esther to classroom three where most of our sessions will take place.As it is compulsory we make some presentation activities to start meeting each other.

Then a break for a coffee, tea or biscuits and back to class.

Esther gives us a lot of information about the schedule, the trips, the rules and the punctuality. Times flies and it's time for lunch. It 12:30 and we go downstairs to socialize with the other teachers while we enjoymour meal. I m with the other Spanish teachers who I try to know better.

Then time for Roger, our guide in all trips for these two weeks. He has a different and more difficult to understand accent than Esther, but it's a nice man with lots of stories and big experience.


After taking some decisions and giving us the necessary information for the next days, we go out for a city tour. We visit the Quay, the part of,city destroyed by the Blitz during 2nd World War, and finally St. Peter's Cathedral. As the others I've seen before, impressive, huge, beautiful, surprising, ...

Then free time to go for a walk with the new friends and soon back home for dinner. Our hostess waits us at 19:00 to do so. As I said yesterday Jackie cooks really well. She cooked for us spaghetti with mushroom sauce, garlic bread and strudel. Delicious.

Finally time for reading, messaging the family and... good night.
See you tomorrow guys.

Day 1 - There I go Exeter!

7:00 a.m.
I usually wake up early on Sundays only when I go running. One week ago I also woke up at the same time, also for a school task, it was the San Vicente's 5km & 10 km running race and some students and teachers were participating, me too.

Today it's foggy in Alicante, reminiscences from U.K?
No, it's the result of a previous summer like day, here. Beaches were crowded, people stated wearing t-shirts and shorts and, in the meantime, I was having a look at Exeter's weather. As they advice us, it's spring like, so the same day it's sunny, cloudy, windy and rainy. Perfect to prepare your suitcase.

8:20 a.m.
Once in the airport I'm ready to flight to Bristol. Every time I flight I remember how annoying is the process. Luckily the electronic boarding card makes it quicker, but the way to the security control is uncomfortable, having to take part of your clothes off, electronic devices separately, and so on.

And finally you're in, Waiting for the board gate to be announced, going on the row to get into the plane and finding a place for your luggage next to your seat.

The flight was on time and finally I arrived at Bristol. Before picking up the luggage we have to pass a security and document control with the police. There is a big queue of people waiting for that.

Out in the terminal I've decided to start diving in the English culture and I have had lunch at 12:00, while I was waiting for the bus to Exeter.

Surprisingly the bus was late, yes we are in England, and as the ticket machine of the bus was broken the driver gave us a "free ride" to Exeter. The landscape was fascinating because of its green tones and the rural aspect of the area.

When I have arrived to Exeter my hostess was waiting me at the bus stop. It seems so nice and with a good accent. As it happened me the fist time I went on an Comenius project, the conversation started flowing, for me it's something magical.

Once at home, we have been standing in her living room for more than one hour having a conversation about a lot of different topics, politics, economy, education, European Union, Brexit, family,...

Even we have had time to receive Jackies niece, who brought a handmade cake. 

After that, Jackie has gone to pick up from Exeter airport the french teacher who is staying with us for one week, Didier.

In the meantime I have made a videoconference with my family to show them the place and speak with them a little bit. 

Then time for the dinner, Jackie is a good cooker, and time to go to our bedrooms to get ready for the next day..

Today I've woken up in San Juan and now I'm going to bed in Exeter, UK.

Have a good night,

The day before

It's been a long, long day.

First I had to finish all the school tasks before I go.

Then, I had to check that everything was right and prepared, money, plug adaptors, documentation, flight boarding card, ... and finally the suitcases with everything I'll need for the next 15 days in Exeter.

Now, before going to bed, I'm creating the blog to tell my experience while I'm in Exeter, UK, for a Creative Methodology for Teachers course.

This is the beginning of my story. Stay tuned for more rock & roll.