During the first three weeks of April our academy, the teacher training college for primary education at Avans University of applied sciences in Breda, * gasps for air * is hosting
Moving targets
This intensive program teaches students from Belgium, Turkey, United Kingdom, Slovenia and Holland how to go about teaching English to Dutch elementary school children with a variety of cultural backgrounds by means of drama and music.
After nerve wrecking last minute interventions by professor Agnes Taks (the driving force behind the project) finally all visa were cleared and last Monday the participating foreign students of Moving Targets arrived at Schiphol Airport, safe and sound. Amongst other things, the group visited an elementary school to see what Dutch schools are about and had time to enjoy the beautiful city of Amsterdam.
Then yesterday at 9 AM the twenty five students walked into a classroom of Avans university in Breda. The room was brightly decorated with colorful flags. The whole group had spent the night at a house in the neighborhood of Breda, which was filled to the brim with rented bunk beds. Some of them look really tired, but everyone had a big smile and was eager to start with the program.
Agnes opened the meeting by telling a beautiful anecdote about Martin Luther King, and concluded with saying that there is only one race: people; that there is only one country: earth, and one language: love. It was great to see the impact of these words. Our dean Nicole van Son introduced herself and welcomed all to the Avans University, after which professor Muzaffer Yanik spoke a few words. Carla Nijlunsing (drama), Margriet Veenbrink (English) and Kitty van Gulick (music) were also present.
Like last year, I was asked (as bilingual writer) to recite my poems. In 2010 accompanied on piano by Kitty in a wonderful way, but yesterday it was only my voice and thirty pair of eyes. Plus an extra lens of the camera. Increasing the volume of my voice to the crescendo needed at the end of the first poem could pose a bit of a challenge, since my trachea decided to entertain me with an insistent tickling since last Sunday. Bad BAD trachea! Luckily a cup of licorice tea sweetened the coughing fits into temporary submission.
For this special occasion I chose:
After a brief intro, in which I led my audience along the road I had taken to end up writing in English, my poems were handed out on paper.Then I started with Where The Wind Sleeps, forcing myself to speak slowly. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins at an intense pace and my face was glowing. Everybody listened and absorbed my words in silence. When I finished, they spontaneously started applauding ooooh WOW that was so nice! The same with my second poem Spring oh Spring, you are not lost! *happy smile*. I ended by wishing the students great, joyful and instructive weeks and fell down on my chair again. Pfew. Icy cold shaky hands and the rest on fire haha. But it was exhilarating and fun to do.
Language uniting people from all over Europe! I will try to share photos and perhaps films of this wonderful program in the weeks to come.
Figments of a DuTchess 
You’ve got amazing talents. Lucky those with whom you share them. 😉
LikeLike
LOL thanks 😉
LikeLike
What an amazing program to offer children from other countries. I’m sure your presentation was incredible and the poems spoke for themselves. I would have been as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof…and my face would have been as red as a tomato…and forget a tickle in my throat…I don’t think I could have found my voice! 🙂 I have never been able to speak in front of a group…no matter how small it was. Congratulations on a fantabulous poetry reading. 🙂 You deserve a large glass of red wine. 🙂
LikeLike
They are not children but students, grown-ups, who teach children. Agnes told me it was one of the best days of her teaching life. I’m so proud of what they do, accomplish together in such a short time!
And thank you J, for the congratulations and for the wine. It tasted good 😉
LikeLike
Wow, what a special program. Well, indeed i hope you show us more of this in the weeks to come.
And i can understand how you felt; speaking to a group that doesn’t know you.
I know this feeling of adrenaline 🙂
Yesterday i had a bit of that feeling when i had to sing. Sunday the choir perfoms @ the ‘Cour’ and since i joined them only last week….ahem…i had to study hard to get 8 songs in my system.
They sing without music or lyrics on paper, but i made it.
Proud of myself just like you. 😉
Well, go on writing lovely words so you can amaze more people.
You are becoming an international known ‘artist’ now. *smile*
Love and hugs xxx
LikeLike
You learned eight songs in one week? Karin, that is great! Well, I’m proud of you too hehehe.
Good luck on Sunday, I’m sure you will sing the stars down from the sky 🙂
xx
LikeLike
What an excellent program for the children from the other nations to come to Holland and get this opportunity. I am sure you did wonderful and they enjoyed your reading very much. Way ta go my friend!!
Much love,
Jules
LikeLike
These students have a great opportunity indeed, spending three weeks in Holland with fellow Dutch students. Last year I have seen the results of their work in the classroom with the children of elementary schools and it is really amazing and awesome to see how children react to the teaching abilities of drama and music lessons, even if it is in English. The language of music is universal.
Plus this group of students will bond, learning from each other and having a lot of fun. This inter-cultural project is unique! 😀
LikeLike