Season’s Greetings Newsletter 2008/09

English Language Learn the Individual Way

Dear Friends

Another year comes to an end. Kate has completed her busy and exciting term as Mayor of St Albans, with events in 2008 including the annual Civic Ball. Kate set that event in the early 18th century at Sopwell House, the hotel, which was at that time the home of a notable stonemason, Edward Strong. Friends and colleagues dressed the part and it was a very splendid occasion. The re-enactment followed Kate’s theme of exploring the history of St Albans, century by century, in locations where the events took place. Some of our visitors joined in one or two of the events.

Clients have continued to come from Hungary; this year the Isaak family from Nyireghaza, St Albans twin town in Eastern Hungary, joined us. Both mother and son enjoyed their stay with Eileen and Brian and lessons with Gill and Ruth as well as attending some class sessions at St Albans School of Languages.

Contacts continue to develop in Germany. Frank benefits from Christine’s speech programme – still working on the ‘th’ and other strange English sounds, whilst digesting the grammar rules which Kate explains. Individual tuition is the answer if resources permit and we take pride in the flexibility of our teaching styles and methods to suit the variety of needs.

Kate’s beautiful cat Jessie, of recent years adopted by neighbours Reg and Alison, died this year, at the great age of 19. She will be missed. No animals now reside at 74 St Peters Street, though several neighbouring cats have already claimed the garden as their territory.

Following Christine’s last summer repertory season in Sheringham in Norfolk, she has formed a theatre company of her own to produce plays by Alan Ayckbourn with fellow actor Simon Stanhope. The new theatre company, Two by Two Theatre, was launched with a performance in the round in a barn in St Albans, in the presence of this year’s Mayor, Cllr Bert Pawle.

All good wishes for a splendid festive season and a prosperous New Year Kate

Highlights of the Year

Amongst the highlights of the Hungarian experiences for HOMESTAY HERTFORDSHIRE this year were Christmas 2007 in Budapest for Kate and Christine with a magical Christmas Day walk in the nearby national forest in the fresh snow. Then later in the year a visit to meet the first Morris grandchild – Emília, who was born in May. She’s a red-headed beauty of whom Kate is very proud.

Visitors from Hungary included Ferike and his mother who came from twin town Nyiregyhaza on introduction by renewed contact with Pal, whom I met on my very first visit to Hungary.

Later George brought his twin daughters for a short course with Eileen. It was good to see them grown up now and learning English. Marianna spent a whole month widening her British experience and really enjoyed St Albans. She hopes to work here in the future.

Christine Lawrence and Simon Stanhope during rehearsals for Intimate Exchanges

Christine continued to support many clients with speech and pronunciation, although more recently she has been heavily occupied both by development of the new theatre company and also work at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.

Frank arrived in August and has been working on his English assiduously whilst undertaking a project for his German parent company. He had to return to Germany for Christmas but took some English Christmas cheer back to his family in the form of 6 mince pies.

The end of Kate’s mayoral year in St Albans brought an invitation to Buckingham Palace and a Royal Garden Party. Her partner David was able to attend with her and it made a very special end to a wonderful year representing her beloved City.

St Albans School of Languages is thriving too and whether with individual tuition or in a class, St Albans continues to be the place in which to learn English.

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