Even if 26th of May was not a proper TETA day it certainly felt that way because the professional English teachers' association in Timisoara gathered on more time to meet a worthy guest: Andy Anderson, Professor of English in The Johnson County Community College from Kansas, U.S.A.
The occasion marked the signing of a Partnership Agreement between APLLET (a "tastier" abbreviation for the Romanian name of TETA) represented by its chair, Dana Valeanu, and KATE (Kansas Association of Teachers of English) represented by Andy Anderson.
The event took place in Colegiul National Banatean in Timisoara and it was preceded by two welcome interactions between the American guest and a group of pupils from the host school. They presented the activities of the Students Council and a fragment from a theatre performance in English by Heavenly Hell, the school's drama group.
We had to congratulate Mariana Bosneac, the capable and enthusiastic teacher responsible for managing both events, and Simona Gosa, the other drama instructor of Heavenly Hell for the pleasant afternoon they offered us.
The debate that accompanied the actual signing of the agreement gave us an idea of how opened and committed our new American partner would be. The main areas of this future cooperation, stipulated by the terms of the agreement, are as follows:
1. Exchange of Delegates
a) Each party will invite two representatives of the partner association to their most important professional events. b) The host association will cover the participation fee, meals and accommodation for the partner association representative to the event. c) The nominees agree to give a presentation during the event, and write a report on the event in their national Newsletter.
2. Exchange of Publications
a) The two associations will exchange Newsletters on regular bases. All material presented in participating Newsletter is photo-copiable, unless otherwise stated. b) Brochures and other publicity materials will be exchanged between the two associations.
3. Exchange of Teaching Materials and Ideas
The two associations will open a Google-Group site to their members to exchange teaching ideas and materials.
4. School partnership
The two associations will help schools to establish special relations and connections, which could provide opportunities for actual visits of both teachers and students. In order for the visits to take place, each association will identify host families for the visiting partners.
It is the hope of the undersigned that this new transatlantic connection will contribute not only to the professional development of English professionals in Timisoara but also to a strengthening of the network that is turning the world we live in into the "global village" visionaries of decades past have always dreamed of.
Dorin Orban, TETA content manager
Created by TETA Content Manager at 31/05/2005 Last modified by TETA Content Manager at 15/10/2005
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