This is ME – Dance 2018

August 18, 2018 David Meddows

Dance Magic

Get Ahead Dance 2018

Class of 2018. Parents! Students! Make a coffee. Take your favourite seat. Find the biggest screen you can. Sit down and prepare to be amazed.

9 hours

We gave students from all around the world just 9 hours to design and deliver a dance show in front of a live theatre audience. They’d never met before. They came from every corner of the world. They had a shared love of dance. This video shows how with a big dose of bravery and using English as a shared language, these teenagers created DANCE MAGIC!

One team > Experienced Dancers & New Dancers

Some of the students were highly experienced dancers. Some of the students were dancing on stage for the first time in their lives. What is incredible about this project is how they worked together to create something amazing – to create some moments neither they nor their audience will ever forget.

What you learnt

A project like this does not just require dance skills. It requires courage. It demands resilience. You can’t do it without incredible team skills.

Creating this show was not easy. You learnt the moves. You learnt to listen to 3 dance teachers speaking in a foreign language. You learnt to conquer your fears and deal with the pressure.

During a project like this there are always going to be moments when you think that you can’t do it. There will be times when you measure yourself against the person next to you and think that you are not good enough. But then, you look at your new friends. You listen to the encouragement of your teacher. You focus yourself. You carry on. You get that on that stage. And you shine! You dazzle! You make magic!

And after all that, how do you feel?

You feel amazing!

Moments we’ll never forget

Dance students! Next time you feel you can’t do something. Think again. Watch this video and remember that time when you overcame all these obstacles, and with your friends around you, achieved more than you believed was possible. Then take another step forward and carry on because “this is you!”

A final bow and a huge round of applause from the audience

Credits

Our thanks to Professional Dance Teachers Laura, Lauren and Bethan. You are incredible!

Thank you to all the dancers!

Agatha – France
Carla – France
Claudia – Spain
Costanza B- Italy
Costanza C – Italy
Daria – Poland
Daria – Romania
Eugénie – France
Florina – Germany
Ginevra – Italy
Laia – Spain
Lucia – Mexico
Margot – France
Marta – Ukraine
Mathilde – France
Naiara – Spain
Nicole – Brazil
Philipine – France
Priscila – Brazil
Sofia – Italy
Taissa – Brazil
Tamara – Lebanon
Tara – Lebanon
Victoire – France
Viktoria – Ukraine

Lead dance teacher Laura congratulations the students

Encore?

OK! Here’s some behind scenes footage that shows all the hard work behind the show.

Day 28 – Saturday 4 August

August 12, 2018 David Meddows

The last full day of summer school

Zvonimir from Croatia gave a very moving farewell speech this evening. He has been a student at More Than English every year for 3 years:

Please, please, please stay in touch Zvonimir! We are very sure that this in just one step in a very long and incredible journey for you.

Presentations

The last evening is always the perfect moment for staff to present a certificate and say a few words about the achievements of our teenage guests:

It’s also the ideal opportunity to take a look at which house scored the most points.

This week, Harry Potter beat Sherlock Holmes and Robin Hood with 106 points!

Finally, congratulations to individual students who gained medals not only for getting the most points, but also for outstanding contributions to summer school:

Prsicila (Brazil) with Magdalena from (Poland)

Two cities

We also went to London and Liverpool today.

Liverpool (north)

Students chose from 2 different Liverpool options:

Titantic Museum
The Beatles Story

Liverpool – home of the ill-fated Titanic

Refreshing: ice cream near the tidal estuary

The first ever rock super group: The Beatles

London (south)

Students chose from 3 different London options:

River Cruise + Walking Tour
British Museum + Oxford Street
Natural Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum + Harrods

Last sleep!

Get a good night’s sleep everyone ready for your journey back home tomorrow!

Day 27 – Friday 3 August

August 9, 2018 David Meddows

Murder Mystery

Today ended with a murder. David, the co-director of the summer school was found lying lifeless in the main reception at around 1930.

Relentless

Luckily, an international team of trainee student investigators were on hand to solve this terrible crime. They listened to all the alibis. They considered all the motives. They examined all the clues. They interviewed all the suspects. They found out ‘who dunnit’ – they found the guilty one.

If you weren’t there, take a look at the suspects (above and below). Who do you think the guilty one was?

Last English lessons

Today was the last day of lessons on summer school and the last opportunity to take photos with classmates and teachers.

Get Ahead ‘came to a head’

Come to a head = if something comes to a head, you cannot delay it anymore: you must deal with it now.

Example:

"Finally the problem of plastic waste in the  sea has come to to a head. The government must deal with this problem now."

Leadership

Get Ahead Business students started a new company this week called Bright Knight, which is an especially good name for a business based in a medieval town!

As well as studying the basics of business, these Get Ahead Business students had to create a company identity, create a product, and create a financial plan. However, that was not the difficult part. The most challenging part of running a business is creating a team and a company culture.

In the course of planning, purchasing raw ingredients and creating their product, these young entrepreneurs discovered the challenges of learning to work together efficiently.

So what was the result?

The result was a healthy profit with high demand for their smoothies. Displaying the ethical underpinning (foundation) of their business, the team then donated all of the profit to a local charity.

However, that was not the only reward. The customers loved the product, including teacher Lucy:

Lucy approves of the business students’ mocktails.

Get Ahead Performing Arts – Film Making

Filming came to a head today on the Get Ahead film project. Students worked together brilliantly to get in all the final shots. The premiere will be tomorrow night.

Trip to Ludlow

Students enjoyed an afternoon trip to Ludlow.

The castle was built by French invaders in 1086. As the students discovered, the best view is from the tower.

Sunset

The day finished with a dramatic sunset. What a beautiful place!

Day 26 – Thursday 2 August

August 8, 2018 David Meddows

Terrifying

Full English breakfast

Terrifying? No not these two – more about them later. We offered students a terrifying start to the morning by challenging them to eat the notorious and much feared full English breakfast.

Fried eggs
Baked beans
Tomato
Mushrooms
Sausage
Bacon
Black pudding

For those not ready for such a test of human endurance so early in the morning we also offered scrambled eggs.

Could you meet this challenge, or would it be “a step too far”?

Inspirational speaker: Antarctica

Summer school at More Than English provides teenagers with the opportunity to ‘step outside their normal lives’ and think about their future.

What job do you want to do in the future?

We are delighted that Jonathan made a second visit to summer school to tell students about his life as an Antarctic explorer and scientist.

A personal story

If you want to get a message across, tell a personal story.

The students were fascinated by Jonathan’s account of his adventures in Antarctica.

Abandon ship

On one occasion, a change in wind direction meant that the the scientists’ ship became frozen in the ice and could not move. The biggest problem was that a giant iceberg was travelling rapidly towards the ship and it was going to completely destroy their ship.

The captain had to give the order to abandon ship and the crew were rescued by an American ship with a more powerful engine.

Happy ending

In the end the wind direction changed and so the iceberg changed direction. As a result, the scientists were able to go back to their ship which then, with the change in wind direction, was able to break free.

Antarctica is place where situations can become very dangerous very quickly. What is essential is planning, teamwork and the ability to keep calm under pressure.

4 strangers. 1 room. 2 years.

Could you share a room 6 metres x 4 metres with strangers for 2 years?

In this situation, you have to do everything yourself: make water from ice, fix your clothes, fix the hut and be a dentist to your friends.

Yes, it’s true. With no medical knowledge and using only a book on dentistry for guidance, one of the team had to extract the tooth of another member of the team.

When you find yourself with strangers (people you don’t know) in a challenging situation “outside your comfort zone” you have to make friends fast. It’s true for summer school students away from home. It’s also true for antarctic explorers. It’s not always easy. In this situation, Jonathan says you need to be “tolerant” and you need “a good sense of humour”. However, decades after his first expedition, Jonathan is still in touch with his friends from Antarctica and has just completed a hike across Wales with them. The lesson is, stay in touch with your new summer school friends!

Life in a tent with -49 degrees outside

10 facts about Antarctica:

It’s in the South not the North
It’s three times the size of Europe
The geographical South Pole is elevated 3 KM above sea level
1899 was the date the first ever Antarctic explorer arrived, which is very recent
1959 Antarctic Treaty: this ensured that Antarctica is not owned by any country
Minerals: Antarctica is full of precious minerals but the 1991 Madrid Protocol ensures that no country attempts to harvest them
Pollution, including radioactive traces and lead can be found in the ice even though it looks very pure
Treasure trove of information: by drilling as far as 2000 metres down into the ice to get samples for analysis scientists can track climate change over time
The temperature goes as low as -49°. At this temperature your arm will become frozen ice in 10 minutes if you aren’t wearing the right clothes.
Antarctica is the last untouched wilderness on earth

Shock

Tonight we were lucky to be visited by a real explorer. However, then, we had the misfortune to be visited by two amateurs searching for the legendary ice monster: Bigfoot.

After a disastrous forest chase after Bigfoot the night ended with a serene and peaceful campfire.

Hunter Jacob mesmerises Big Foot with an orange highlighter pen

Big Foot and House Parent Val ‘photo bomb’ the hunters

The day finishes with serene tribal chants at the campfire

Day 25 – Wednesday 1st August

August 2, 2018 David Meddows

Happy birthday

Lisa – we wish you a very happy 14th birthday!

Special Goodbye to Liska from Germany

So sorry to say goodbye to Liska who had to go home a few days early. You know we are missing you!

Snapshot from Core English

Calvin’s C1 class focus on language register producing a guide for a billionaire’s house. Some sections require technical language; some require informal language.

Ian’s B2 class start to exploit the huge issue of cyber bullying as preparation for a research project. As part of this, they’ll be interviewing other students and making recommendations on how to solve this crisis that affects children, schools and parents all over the world.

Bethan’s lower level class role play ordering food in a restaurant and discover French and English recipes for making scrambled eggs.

A brilliant afternoon

What a brilliant afternoon.

Warning: *English joke

Equipment check:

*Oxygen masks
*Crampons
Water
Compass
Map
Compass
Biscuits
Fudge
*SOS flares
*Night Vision Goggles
*Satellite phone

Some students took on the Mountain Challenge climbing from the bottom to the top of the Long Mynd.

No one said it would be easy. The walk started with a steep 30 minute ascent. Some of the students were used to mountain walking. For some it was a new thing. The important point is they all supported each other and made it to the top.

On the top there is a huge plateau with 360 degree views all around.

The more we walked, the more relaxed and happy we all felt. Mountain Challenge is a great way to get to know your new international friends even better.

Shrewsbury

Some students went to Shrewsbury and enjoyed a relaxed afternoon of coffee, souvenir shopping and spending time with friends in a new city.

Shrewsbury is the home of Charles Darwin, creator of the Theory of Evolution and some students had chosen to visit the fabulous museum.

Charles Darwin – biologist who created the theory of evolution

Canoe trip

With no rain and lower water levels the postponed canoe trip took place today.

Canoeing with Fabian and Julius from Germany, Clara from France, Edoardo from Italy and Martina from Spain

Coming very soon: you guessed it, House Parent Seth was there to take another home movie.

Chaos

Back on campus, Activity Designer Jacob had a surprise in store for students. A new game that has never been played anywhere in the world ever.

It’s called: CHAOS.

Clara from Spain takes the bold step of trying to explain the rules:

Well done Clara on a brilliant explanation!

This is CHAOS:

A desperate bid for glory

Nicole from Brazil proves she’s ‘Queen of Chaos’ with another home run.

Meanwhile, other students prepared for another expedition into Mortimer Forest in pursuit of the Black Panther by refining their archery skills:

Day 24 – Tuesday 31 July

August 1, 2018 David Meddows

Sometimes you wake up, look outside your bedroom window and everything looks even more beautiful than usual.

This morning was one of those days. We were visited by a herd of deer from the mighty Mortimer Forest.

These deer are wild, but they visit the campus every day. A good time to catch a glimpse of them is early in the morning, however, they make appearances at any moment when the campus falls into silence.

Hard work

Students are working hard in Core English classes including Emma’s B1 class who in the last lesson today did presentations on their favourite books.

They followed this with a very in-depth and impressive discussion contrasting the experience of reading a book with that of watching a film. Key points included the fact that there is more detail in a book and that in a book the audience get greater access to the characters’ internal thoughts.

International Night

This week 14 nationalities are present on campus. As part of international night, students made posters with key information about their countries including the greatest moment in history. Not only that, students brought souvenirs and sweets to share from their countries.

Students went around the various stands gathering information, telling notes and asking their own questions.

Mikulas from the Czech Republic offered More Than English director a biscuit and told him a very, very shocking story linked to a famous Czech biscuit.

We’re sure that for David, eating biscuits will never be the same again.

We hope that International Night will have inspired students’ desire to travel, stay in touch and start new journeys to reach other’s countries long after summer school has finished.