Happy Halloween!

Plenty of Jack O' Lanterns lit in the front gardens for the Halloween season.
 

La Castanyada is coming!!!

Some pics that show Catalan traditions in all the Saints' Eve 

Roasted Chesnuts, some "Panellets" and the sweet liqueur named Mistela
 for the All Saints' Eve

A Chestnuts' cone

Roasting the chestnuts

"Panellets", the typical marzipan balls for La Castanyada

A Little Bit About Me

Hi everyone!

As I am going to be with you all for the year, I would like to tell you a little bit about me...

My name is Clare McCurdy and I am twenty-three years old. My first languages are English and Irish, so if you want, you can talk to me in one of these ;) In my family there are my parents, me and my two younger brothers. I recently graduated from Queen´s University Belfast where I was studying for four years, some of the best of my life. I think that I would like to use my qualification to be a teacher or to work within the law sector. Or, I would like to continue my education and study a Masters. I have a lot of ideas, but after this year, I hope I will make a decision!

I am from a small town in the north of Ireland called Cushendun. It has a population of only 300 people and is situated on the north-east coast, so we have fantastic views of Scotland on a clear day. Although the village is very quiet, I think that it is one of the most beautiful places on the island. If you were going to visit, I would recommend you to go for a walk by the river and forests, take a picnic and enjoy the views of the sea and mountains. It is a very special experience.  It is also very near to the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and Glenariff Waterfall´s which are very popular with tourists. Some parts of the TV series ´Game of Thrones´were filmed in my village and areas near to it, so many people like to visit these places too.

When I have some free time (and money!) I love to travel. This summer I went to the east coast of America where I visited places like New York, Boston, Rhode Island, Washington DC and Philadelphia. For sure, it was one of my favourite trips. For two summers I also did the ´InterRail´, when you travel by train to a lot of countries in Europe. For me, my favourite places in Europe are Berlin and Krakow. I love learning about the history of cities, trying typical food and meeting some interesting people.

I am also a big fan of sports! In Ireland we have two typical sports, Hurling and Gaelic Football. Hurling is like a mix of hockey and lacrosse, while Gaelic football is like a mix of soccer and rugby. They are very popular in the country and everyone supports their home team. Other sports I enjoy are swimming, rugby and football. Just don´t ask me who my favourite football team is...

Well, that´s some information about me. If you have any questions for me about Ireland or myself, please feel free to ask. I´m looking forward to getting to know each other better :)

  

Welcome to our Language Assistant Clare

Having a Language Assistant in our high school makes a real difference to language learning!!! 

It has meant bringing the world of language and culture alive in our classrooms! It is a unique way to broaden our pupils' understanding of the world, improve their language skills and increase their cultural awareness.

The experience of hosting a language asisstant in our school is really an ideal way to bring language learning to life for our students.

Our language assistant Clare McCurdy is a young graduated in History and Law, who brings fresh ideas and energy to a classroom, making it easy for students to relate them and boost their confidence. Clare, as a native speaker is enthusiastic and dynamic. She is able to connect with our pupils on their level. The fact of having just arrived from Northern Ireland, means she is up-to-date on her local culture, language and news, meaning she is best placed to work with students on developing their conversational skills and increasing their awareness and understanding of another culture. In fact, she provides the kind of learning experience that cannot be found elsewhere.

Enjoy your experience with us and the best luck to you along this school year!!!

The English Department

Welcome Clare to our high school!!!

The English Department in Josep Vallverdú High School