TECS Blogs

One of the funnest things to do at halloween is to 'carve' (cut out) a pumpkin. As halloween is very soon I thought I would show you how to make your own scary pumpkin!!

Step 1 – What do you need?

First thing to do is gather your supplies. You will need: 
- one medium to large size pumpkin 
- carving knife ( Ask your parents!) 
- thumb tacs or nails 
- baking powder (optional) 
- pen/ sharpie 
- spoon 
- large bowl 
- candle 
- 9 1/2 x 11 white paper 

Step 2 – Creating your design

You can choose anything for template. You can draw any picture you like to cut out onto your pumpkin. 

Here are some I found on the internet.

Step 3 – Create A Lid

Now we need to make a lid, or an opening, into the pumpkin so that we can get inside it!

First, ask your parents permission to cut the pumpkin yourself or ask them to help you!
We need to stick the knife into pumpkin at an angle so that the lid will stay on and not fall inside the pumpkin.
Cut around the centre of the pumpkin in a circle. 

Step 4 – Take out the insides

Take off the lid that we made in step 3 and get a spoon. Use the spoon and your hands (Ugh!) to take out everything inside.
To make carving easier later you can shave down the sides of the pumpkin using a spoon.

Step 5 – Attach Drawing

Attach the template we made, or printed, before using nails or thumb tacks. 
Now make little holes along the lines using the nails/tacks so that when we take off the paper we can still see the lines of the template.

Step 6 – Add powder

Remove the paper template and rub powder into the holes that we made before.
Now we will be able to see the holes much easier!

Step 7 – Connect the dots

Now get a marker and join the dots. Make sure to use the template as a help so that you are drawing out the picture correctly!

Step 8 – Cutting!

Now get a knife and cut out around the drawing. Be careful and take it slowly as this is the most difficult step. 
Start with the smallest pieces.

Step 9 – Finishing touches

Place a candle inside (Be careful not to burn yourself!) and put the lid on top, and you have finished your traditional Halloween pumpkin!!

Don't have a pumpkin to carve? Don't worry you can do it online here!

Recently, Ali was interview about TECS her life! Read it through and click on the quiz at the end to see how much you remember!

So can you give us a little introduction on who you are and what you do outside of TECS?
My name is Ali, I'm from Ireland and when I'm not on camp I study Media and Communications in Liverpool.

How long have you been working in TECS camps? What jobs have you done on camp?
I have worked for TECS for 5 years and I have done a lot of different jobs and camps. I have been a Assistant Monitor, Specialist Monitor, Assistant Coordinator, Activity Coordinator in Family Camp, Go Camp and Family Camp Gredos, TEFL Coordinator and I loved camp so much I stayed there for a whole year as a teacher too!! 

What is your favourite group of campers on camp?
My favourite group are the Sophomores. I love singing songs and playing crazy games and they love that too. 

What is your best TECS memory?
One of my favourite memories was winning the intercamp chant competition with GO Camp. We worked really hard and we were so happy when we won that. 

Ali, what do you think of Spain and its culture?
I love Spain so much, the weather is much better than England. I also really like the culture, especially Feria. I love seeing all the dresses and the dancing too. It's very different to my culture. 

What’s the most fun/exciting thing you have ever done?
The most fun thing I've ever done is camp!! Everyday you get to sing songs, play games and Evening Entertainment is definitely the best. One of the best things is when we get to gunk people!! 

What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up I'd love to be a T.V. presenter I think it would be really fun!

crossword Test

Recently, Lianne was interviewed about her life in TECS and more! When you have read what she said, why not try and remember what she said and click on the crossword at the end!

Hi Lianne, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live in Dublin, Im 20 years old and I am hoping to be a teacher when I finish college. I live with my parents and my brother and sister. I have no pets, only a fish called Dori!

How long have you worked in TECS and doing what?
Last year was my first time working in TECS as a monitor. I was the Adventure Specialist so I was the monitor for rock climbing, absailing and archery. Absailing was my favourite!

What is your favourite group of campers on camp?
I love all the groups and I always enjoyed having different groups at sports time but favourite group of campers are the sophmores. I love playing games and the sophmores ALWAYS want to play games. 

What is your best TECS memory?
My best TECS memory is Casino Night of camp one this summer. It was my first casino night and it was so crazy. All the campers are together running around playing games and winning points. And I will always remember Henry getting gunked!

Had you ever been to Spain before going to TECS? Whats your favourite thing about Spain?
Yes I have been to Spain a few times on holidays with my family. I think my favourite thing about spain is the beaches and the weather! In Ireland it rains so much and it is never very hot. I don’t live near a beach so I love going to the beach in Spain.

What’s the most fun/exciting thing you have ever done?
The most exciting thing I have ever done is a bungee jump. I was on holidays with my friends and we decided to do a bungee jump. It was so scary but so much fun.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a teacher for young children. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was very young.

Can you leave us with a funny joke/song/ rhyme?
Why do birds fly south in the winter?
Because it's too far to walk!

crossword Test

Hi everyone, the edition of a shiny blog and time for revamping your profile as well! We have an exciting new gadget to help you find a new and interesting nickname: Try it!

IMPORTANT! TO DO THE CROSSWORDS AND QUIZZES YOU MIGHT HAVE TO OPEN IT IN A NEW SCREEN! RIGHT CLICK ON IT WITH THE MOUSE AND SELECT 'OPEN IN NEW SCREEN'. PARA ABRIR LOS PUZZLES PUEDE SER QUE HAY QUE ABRIRLOS EN UNA VENTANA NUEVA. CON EL RATON HAZ CLICK CON LA BOTON DERECHA Y ELIGE 'ABRIR EN VENTANA NUEVA'.

Last month we had a TECS competition for our teachers and monitors. They had to design a page with activities for adults and children in English. Jill was the winner of the adult competition. Here is her reaction. Below is a quiz that you can do.

For TECS newspaper page competition, my idea was to give adult English learners a variety of materials, similar to those they’d find in a regular newspaper, but in bite-size format. I made an interactive page where readers can enjoy reading various short news articles , jokes, riddles etc, and at the same time check their understanding of the grammatical forms and vocabulary that occur naturally within these materials. Each item was drawn in a ‘bubble’, with the idea that English learners could pick and choose which item suited their level and their interest – so hopefully most people could find at least one thing on the page that they could understand and enjoy. I tried to include a good amount of photos and pictures, to spark people’s interest at first glance – particularly in the ‘trivia’ section at the head of the page. I really enjoyed putting the page together though it did take a lot of time and a lot of changes before I was happy with it! It was a fantastic surprise to find out I had won the competition – and extra special since I found out on my birthday! It also was a nice change to do some TEFL resource work; I work as a teacher in TECS Cadiz academy, and also at Little Village summer camp, so I see a fair amount of textbooks, activities and resources, so it was really fun to be given the chance to create something of my own…and be rewarded for it! Thanks TECS! crossword Test

Last month we had a TECS competition for our teachers and monitors. They had to design a page with activities for adults and children in English. Danni was the winner of the children competition. Here is her reaction. Below is a crossword that you can do.

I first worked at TECS in the summer of 2008. I was a teacher of the sophomore age group on the Family Camp in El Puerto de Santa Maria. Even though I had already been teaching for two years I learned more in those 8 weeks than ever before. I experienced so many special moments and extreme emotions that have shaped who I am now and that I will remember for ever. Some of the bonds made on camp with both the kids and other staff members I can guarantee will last a lifetime.

Towards the end of the summer I was offered a position teaching at the year round TECS Academy. I was over the moon with the offer and felt that it was a reward for my progress over the 8 weeks. In October I found myself back in the classroom this time with the difficult challenge of teenagers…arrrgh! At the academy I learned the importance of rapport  with these students who can be so hard to teach. It was at the academy that I experienced some of my most rewarding classes.

The following summer I returned to summer camp possessing my new found confidence with teenagers. I opted for the Junior age group to put this into practice. What a challenge! The Juniors were certainly hard work and I came out of the classes nearly always exhausted but proud of my students and proud of myself. The bond you make with the campers can be incredible. You find yourself a teacher, a friend, a sister and a mother all at the same time.  It 's a lovely feeling to be looked up to so much. Within the space of five minutes you can make a campers day with a few comforting words or a nice gesture or just as easily a camper can lift you out of a bad mood with a caring smile or a silly remark in English.

During both my summers on camp I was asked to do some resource work. In 2008 I designed a “Masterpack” for the Sophomore level two age group. I did this in a month using my classes to experiment. I was very grateful for the opportunity to work on a “Masterpack” and I was very proud of the end result.

In 2009 I took up  the challenge of resource work once again. This time the slightly more difficult task of creating listening exercises to compliment the “Masterpacks” in the Junior age group. I took to chasing staff members around with my dicta-phone resulting in my workmates running away when they saw me at the end of the corridor, weapon in hand. I completed my task during the very last hour of camp that summer and I can honestly say that I have never been more proud of a piece of work.

A couple of months ago an e-mail popped up about a competition at TECS to design a newspaper page for the local paper. I'm currently travelling in South America and I was in Colombia when I received the e mail.  I ruled out the possibility of entering almost straight away as I was already working on some freelance work and my newly published blog. However I knew that it was something I would enjoy doing and would be quite good at so I tried to finish my work early and I put aside some time to enter the competition. I really enjoyed doing resource work again and being in touch with the TEFL world and TECS. It's good to set yourself a challenge and keep in touch with the things you enjoy.

When I received the e mail informing me that I had won the competition I was surprised and also really pleased that I can do something I enjoy and do it well.

I am now in Bolivia and I hope to come back to TECS soon for some more crazy fun!

crossword Test

We've got another speaking activity that you can do with a friend (or friends), a teacher or a parent. One person (or more) selects opinion A and the other person (or more) select opinion B. Maybe it is not really your opinion and you might agree more with the other, but try and come up with good arguments to support your opinion.

Opnion A. You are the Director of Little Village and you want to change it completely. You don't think it should be an English camp anymore but an Italian camp, or even better: just a Spanish camp. It is not really necessary to do this whole speaking English programme, it is not that important anyway. Now you have to try and convince the campers!

Opinion B. You are a camper of Little Village and you've heard the Director wants to change the prgramme into a Spanish programme. You totally don't want this, as you love the English programme and the fact that you speak only English with other Spanish people! You have to convince the director that it is really important for you to learn and practice English, as otherwise there won't be a Little Village anymore!

There are different ways of learning English after TECS summer camp. Which do you think is the best one? Look at the statements below and decide whether you agree or disagree. Then with your friends, parents or teacher discuss (in English!) and say why you agree or disagree. Can you all agree on the same statements?

It is very important to learn English if you want to find a good job when you are older.

We should all learn Chinese, not English! Many more people speak Chinese than English!

If you don’t speak English, there are a lot of things you can’t understand: songs, commercials, films…

All our TV programmes should be in English, with subtitles, that would help us to learn English.

If you don’t speak English, you’re silly.

It should be compulsory (an obligation) to study 1 year in an English speaking country when you’re at university

English isn’t really that important. You don’t really need it in life.

This month we have interviewed Patrick about TECS and his life! Read it through, then click on the Quiz to see how much you remember!

Patrick! Why do you work for TECS and what do you like about it?
Hi ! I've been working in TECS for two years now. I began as an assistant monitor in El Puerto and I loved it so much I returned to TECS last summer as a monitor.

I love working in TECS because it is a lot of fun! I enjoy teaching children how to play sports and making sure they are having an amazing time. I have also made some very good friends in TECS. I wish I could see them more often, but that is the problem of living in Ireland. I also enjoy coming to Andalucia because of the beautiful weather and the sun.

Who are your favourite campers?
JUNIORS in FAMILY CAMP are the best!!!! I have been working in juniors for the past two years and I just love them. Juniors have better English than sophmores, have the best evening entertainments, but they are not too old and 'cool' to enjoy camp and get involved!

What about your best TECS memory?
I have so many good memories from TECS but i think the best is seeing Tiarnan (Junior monitor) and Fernando (Sophmores) dress up as Troy and Gabriella from High school Musical, and dance around on stage. It was very funny!

Are you coming back to camp in 2010?
I think I am coming back again to TECS this summer. Why ? Because I love TECS and always have an excellent summer when I am in TECS. I can not wait to see my juniors!

Patrick, you are Spanish, but everybody believes you are Irish, because your English is just amazing! How come?
My father is Spanish and my mother is Irish. I was born in Madrid but my family moved to Ireland when I was only 4 years old! I still speak some spanish with my father but I speak english most of the time.

What do you do when you’re not at TECS and what do you want to do when you’re older?
In normal life I am a student in university in Dublin. I study civil engineering. I like it a lot because I am good at maths and physics.
Since coming to TECS I have decided I want to become a teacher. After studying engineering, I am going to study to become a teacher so that I can teach children english, maths and physics!
I want to live somewhere warm and sunny like Spain! I think I might live in South America as I have been in Mexico and loved it!

crossword Test

Hi! We’ve interviewed Guillermo the Welfare about his TECS experience. Read about it but look out! Some vocabulary is really difficult, you can find more information about the vocabulary by clicking on the vocabulary crossword! Then click on 'quiz' and answer the questions

Hi Guille! Can you tell us about your TECS summercamp      experiences?

Hi! I have worked for TECS for 4 years. My first year I worked as a Crew Member, which I think is a good start for those campers who want to start working on a summer camp. The last 3 years I was working as a Welfare Coordinator: helping the campers with my yellow polo has been very gratifying in the last 3 summers.

I love working for TECS! Since my first year I've been having great summers working for TECS. I have really good friends now who I met at TECS and even if we can't meet very often we are always in touch through Facebook or MSN.

My favourite camp is Family Camp, I also worked in Sports Camp but I prefer the one in El Puerto because after 4 years I know the city very well and I can enjoy my time off better. My favourite age group is Juniors because they are at a very good age, they are old enough to have conversations with you in English but they are still energetic enough to enjoy camp games more than any other age group

I have lots of memories from the last 4 summers in TECS. I remember one from last summer. It was the last day of camp and we (juniors) were about to go to bed after the disco and we all sang the TECS song in a circle. All the campers were very sad because they were leaving the next day.

Are you coming back in 2010?

I think so and I hope so! I don't know in which position yet but i would love to come back next summer and of course I would go to my favourite camp.

What do you do in normal life?

I am a student. I live in Sevilla and I study industrial engineering. It is a tough degree but I like it a lot.

What do you want to be when you’re old?

I would like to be an engineer but if not I would like to be Director of Languages in TECS – lol.

Vocabulary

quiz

Hi campers! how’s it going? My name is Sophia and I´m from the green island of Ireland. I love TECS. My first year working at TECS was in 2004 and now I´m hooked!. I love working for TECS summer camps because I get to meet so many people and the campers teach me things about Spanish culture. My favourite thing about camp (apart from the English classes!) is the evening entertainment. It´s so hard to decide my favourite but I would have to say Casino night is number 1 because everyone is together and there are so many different games and of course someone gets the gunk on their head! I´m lucky, I´ve never had it on my head!. I also love the fashion show! In the fashion show, the campers make their own dresses using arts and crafts materials and a lucky camper gets to model the dress in front of the audience, its hilarious! I hope to see you all next summer! Bye bye!x

crossword Test

Hello everyone! My name is Sophia O´Connor , I am from Ireland, I love TECS. I love working at TECS because I love playing games with the campers and remember TECS stands for fun! My favourite past times are reading, swimming and I am also interested in fashion. I also love cooking. My favourite type of food is pizza. My favourite pizza has got onions, cheese, pineapple and ham. The ham in Spain is amazing, it’s my favourite. I do not like mushrooms on my pizza, they are horrible! See you at camp!

crossword Test