2nd August

2^nd August

Wow, the last month of summer is here…I will actually have to start working properly in September. Where is the fun in that!?

In light of that, and a few other concerns, ive decided against doing an Online Masters class while here.

While it would have made very good use of my free time, I felt it would detract from why I am here and what I am supposed to do, which is engage local community members in both English learning, and anything I think is important. If I am spending all my free-time writing papers, that wouldn’t have been possible. Also half of the reason of going to University is to talk with people and professors and make use of the library, all of which cant be done nearly as well online. And the internet connection here is rather spotty.

Soooooo, I have signed up to a 10 week class from Oxford University to do an online class in Islamic Art. It seemed to be a great compromise, as it is worth academic credit, and is relevant to my time here in Kazakhstan, while being far less intensive, and less of a long-term commitment. And if it turns out to be a success, then Oxford runs different classes each semester.

It will also help me understand the art and design featured in the local cemetery and mosque, which will be very interesting. And mean I can say ive studied at Oxford, which is of course my main motivation.

I will be in Almaty (the ex capital city, and the biggest city in Kazakhstan) for the next 10 days for the end of my initial training. It is going to be painfully dull, if the first training is anything to go by, but I will be taking part as an instructor this time, so I hope that helps some of the others. Ill be given a session on improving Speaking in the classroom, and another session on British English. I was given the Speaking one to do, so I am less excited about it, but the British English was my idea, not only because I have a vested interest in improving the speaking of the Americans here, but also as the main text book is hugely British biased, and it will really benefit the teachers and students.

So yes, another 2 weeks with no updates, sorry.