SHAPE Language Centre: Visit of the PO NMR
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The teacher, Maria Lucio, congratulating the prize winner, Mrs Ursula Onasch-Zwingmann. |
On June 10, the Portuguese NMR, Rear Admiral Campos,accompanied by military and family members of the Portuguese community, visited the Portuguese classes, continuing a long tradition of sponsorship and support of the SHAPE Language Centre. The ceremony was also attended by Col Heineken, Commander HSG.
After a speech and discussions with the students in Portuguese, Admiral Campos presented certificates and congratulated the learners on their achievements. In addition, presents typical of Portugal such as handicraft items and CDs of Portuguese music, were distributed. The winner of the writing competition, Mrs Ursula Onasch-Zwingmann, also received a special book personally chosen by Admiral Campos.
Let us not forget our wonderful teacher, Maria do Ceu Lucio, who not only taught the language with dedication and expertise but has been a great ambassador for her country. Unfortunately, Maria and her family are going back to Portugal this summer. Thank you for everything, Maria. We will miss you as a teacher and as a friend.
The ceremony ended with a toast to Portugal (10 June is the Portuguese National Day) with a glass of port wine and delicious pastries, courtesy of the NMR’s office.
Again our heartfelt gratitude to Admiral Campos and his staff for their support for this beautiful ceremony and to Col Heineken for joining us and having his first Portuguese lesson.
SHAPE Language Centre:
Summer Programme
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Photo souvenir of the event. |
The SHAPE Language Centre will be offering intensive summer courses :
French and English
(3 hours per day: 0900 to 1200 hours, Monday to Friday).
Summer Session II: 04 to 25 August
Registration: 28 July to 01 August
Placement Tests: 30 July 08
If you are not a complete beginner, we advise you to take a placement test.
(Call ext 4971 for an appointment before 29 July.)
Especially if you are a newcomer, this is a unique opportunity to get a headstart in one of the two NATO languages and a chance make new friends. Moreover, as a newly arrived Dependant, you are entitled to a 50 % discount on your first beginner course. This offer is only valid for the first six months following the initial date of arrival in SHAPE.
Please note that summer courses are an additional service and not a continuation of the regular program
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| Mrs Walter, Director SHAPE Language Centre, Admiral Campos, Portuguese NMR and Col Heineken, Commander HSG, discussing sponsored Portuguese classes. |
me. Therefore we cannot guarantee that a class can be run nor can we determine the level in advance. It will depend on the number and the knowledge of the candidates who apply. As with the regular programme, a minimum of seven students at the same level is required to run a class.
Enrolments are from 0900 to 1215 hours and from 1300 to 1600 hours.
For more information, call the SHAPE Language Centre, Bldg 211, ext 4971.
Open to all members of the SHAPE community (Minimum Age: 16).
Claudine Walter
Director
SHAPE Language Centre
SHAPE Language Centre (SLC): Teachers Needed
URGENT: The SHAPE Language Centre is looking for teachers of English and French for its “special courses” programme.
For the summer and fall programmes, the SLC will also be needing teachers for English, French and the various languages regularly taught at the Centre.
Candidates should be qualified teachers. Only native speakers will be considered.
If you are interested and would like to help the international community to improve their language skills, contact us on ext. 4971 or stop by the Language Centre in Building 211.
We all look forward to welcoming new colleagues!
Claudine WALTER / Director
SHAPE Language Centre
THE SHAPE LANGUAGE CENTRE
FROM LANGUAGE CLUB...
...TO PROFESSIONAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL
The
SHAPE Language Centre (SLC), formerly known as the Language Circle, is
a Morale and Welfare Activity created more than 25 years ago in order
to facilitate and improve communication among the nationalities
represented at the Headquarters.
Over the years, it has developed
into a professional language school for adults with expanded programmes
and additional duties particularly since the closure of the
Internationally Funded Programme in 1993. We now also have to meet the
requirements of a more job-orientated category of students at all
levels of the SHAPE, NMRs, PCC and KFOR hierarchy. At the same time, we
have not lost our ‘’social vocation’’ in a growing international
community. Both aspects of our mission make us equally happy and proud
whether it be the excellent results of students taking the Cambridge
University Examinations or the many long-lasting friendships born in
our classes.
If you are interested in getting to know other people’s language and
culture or if your job requires a better knowledge of NATO official
languages, come and join one of our classes.
We all look forward to meeting you.
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Classes have resumed... |
THE PROGRAMMES
The
SHAPE Language Centre provides language training in English and French
and in a variety of other languages namely Dutch, German, Greek,
Italian, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish and Russian.
Courses are organized in 4
sessions:
1. Autumn Session: September to January (All languages)
2. Spring Session: February to June (All languages)
3. Intensive Summer Session I: July (English and French)
4. Intensive Summer Session II: August (English and French)
The SHAPE Language Centre
offers daytime, lunchtime and evening programmes in order to enable
everybody to attend.
When requested, the SHAPE Language Centre also runs special courses or
individual tuition in various languages on a personnel and space
available basis.
The SHAPE Language Centre is located in Building 211, Industrial Area, close to the SHIPPS Building. (Tel: 4971)
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Taking the Cambridge Entrance Test |
PLACEMENT AND ENTRY TESTS
If
you are not a total beginner, you will be asked to take a placement
test prior to enrolling. This way you will be sure to be placed in a
group corresponding to your level of knowledge.
Admission to
classes preparing for the University of Cambridge Examinations is
subject to a mandatory entry test, which will take about 2 hours.
Test dates are publicized together with the announcements of the
sessions.
Call the SHAPE Language Centre office for an appointment or for further details (ext:4971).
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Enrollment |
ENROLMENTS - COURSE FEES
Course
fees are kept at a reasonable level. The total amount is payable in
advance i.e. during the week preceding the beginning of the session
(the week before for students who are already in the programme and want
to re-enroll).
HALF PRICE COURSES:
Family members who have not been at SHAPE for more than 6
months at the time of enrollment are entitled to a 50% DISCOUNT ON THEIR 1ST FRENCH OR ENGLISH TOTAL
BEGINNER COURSE.
Transfers of fees from one session to the other are not
possible. Refunds cannot be made once the session has started.
Late
registration is possible on a space available basis providing the
student has achieved the level of the class he is entering. However, no
registration will be accepted later than 3 weeks after the session has
begun.
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An English class |
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: ENGLISH AND FRENCH
The SHAPE Language Centre
provides language training in English and French throughout the year in
4 sessions:
1. Autumn Session: September to January
2. Spring session: February to June
3. Intensive Summer Session I: July
4. Intensive Summer Session II: August
Whether
you need to know English and /or French for your job or you realize
that speaking these languages will make your life at SHAPE and in
Belgium more enjoyable and enriching, the SHAPE Language Centre can
help you.
We offer :
a wide variety of levels from total beginners to advanced
day time, lunch time and evening programmes
some 120 different classes per year
small groups (between 7 and 14 students per class)
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A French class |
3 hours of tuition per week
(extensive sessions)
3 hours of tuition per day (intensive sessions)
free placement tests
methods completed by material developed in-house
reasonable fees (NO refunds or transfers once the session has started)
50% discount on the 1st Beginner course for dependant newcomers.
emphasis on oral communication at lower levels
special courses when requested (on a personnel and space available
basis)
the possibility to buy the books used in class, an extra service that
saves you time and money
individual tuition
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE: EXAMINATIONS OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE:
The Cambridge Certificates of English as a Foreign Language are
internationally recognized and prestigious qualifications. More than
600.000 candidates sat the Cambridge
examinations last year in 1.900 centres located in over 135 countries.
Eighty per cent of these examinations are taken in Europe. They have
been organised in Belgium for more than 50 years and at the SHAPE
Language Centre for some 20 years. We prepare students for the June
examination sessions at different levels, the FCE (First Certificate in
English), the CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) and even CPE
(Certificate of Proficiency in English).
The pass rate of our students has always been excellent. Admission to
an examination class is subject to an entry test.
RELATIONS
WITH THE HOST COUNTRY.
Our
French teachers are either Belgian or French with a long experience of
life in Belgium. They will be able to tell you everything you want to
know about the country and answer all your questions. They will give
you first hand information on Belgian customs, traditions, culture,
geography, food, you name it. All this will facilitate your relations
with the host country and will make your tour more enjoyable.
OTHER LANGUAGES
The SHAPE Language Centre runs a lunch time programme in a variety of
other languages: DUTCH, GERMAN, GREEK, ITALIAN, POLISH, PORTUGUESE,
SPANISH, TURKISH and RUSSIAN.
This is another aspect of our mission: to promote a better knowledge of
the language and culture of countries represented at the Headquarters.
There are many reasons for learning another language: profession,
interest in art and culture, tourism, friendship, etc. Whatever your
reason might be, your experience at the SHAPE Language Centre will be
enriching and you will never regret it.
We offer:
2 extensive sessions: September to January
February to June
lunch time courses
different levels
small groups
2 x 1 hour per week
reasonable fees
NMR - SPONSORED CLASSES
For many years now, the GREEK,
PORTUGUESE and TURKISH NMRs have been actively sponsoring the SHAPE
Language Centre in many ways.
They also help the Centre find teachers and assure the continuity of
the programme in these 3 languages.
The NMR-sponsored classes are all free of charge .
The National Representatives themselves show their personal interest in
the programme by visiting classes in order to congratulate and
encourage students.
OUR TEAM
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
A
small but dedicated team will try its best to help you and advise you
in several languages from Monday through Friday from 9:00 hours to
17:00 hours.
THE TEACHING TEAM
At the SHAPE Language Centre,
you will have the chance to learn a foreign language with native
speakers.
Some 25 qualified and experienced teachers will not only teach you the
ins and outs of their mother tongue but they will also familiarize you
with their culture and traditions, an aspect which should not be
neglected.
OUR STUDENTS
The
student population is very international. According to the latest
statistics, members of 45 different nationalities gather under one roof
with a common goal: getting to know each others language and culture.
Military and civilian
personnel represent 45% of the students, the
other 55% being adult dependants (minimum age is 16 years).
SELF-STUDY