9 minute read

Loren Parker

Englisch-Assistentin

You are here in South-Tyrol for the first time. What were your expectations before you came here? And what was the reality then? I have actually studied in Trento for one semester last year, so I knew a little about the area before I came to work here, as I visited a few places when I had time off from University. I was expecting a different dialect, but it surprised me the first time I heard people actually speaking it! I felt that I didn’t understand what people were saying and it was very confusing! Although, when people talk to me in German, they do try and use Standard German, and for that I am very grateful. I was also expecting the weather to be colder than the UK, but I was not expecting to be told that sometimes the temperature can be as low as -10/15°C! You might see me walking into school with lots of layers of clothing and more than one scarf if it gets that cold!!

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As a native English Speaker: how do you rate the English proficiency of the students? I always say that if I can understand you, then you are doing really well! This is my first time working with students of this age group, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but I would say that -in general -the ability of the students is very good. English is not an easy language to learn, so my advice is to keep up the good work! Also, when I am in lessons, don’t be afraid to ask questions –I will try my best to answer them. Even if it is in the corridor between lessons, come and say hello!

In my free time I ... I love listening to music, but mostly singing along! I am a member of four choirs and societies back at home in Sheffield and one of the hardest things I find about being away from home is that I don’t get to sing with those people. I sing with my family and we are all part of the same choirs. In fact, that is how my mum and my step-dad met! We perform shows by the Victorian duo Gilbert and Sullivan and although they are a little bit old and out-dated, a lot of the dialogue and songs are still very funny today! I particularly love the costumes we wear and the set that is built to make the show feel more real. I also enjoy reading, particularly fantasy and sci-fi novels, and watching Netflix with my family. I recently had my first skiing lesson, so maybe that can be added to the list!

Things that I like and I don’t like here in comparison to the UK... One thing I really like is how much cheaper the train tickets are! When I came back from Innsbruck at the end of the Christmas holiday, I bought a first class ticket for around 30 euros. First class tickets in the UK are nearly double that! Another thing I like is being so close to the mountains. I love watching the sunset reflect off the snow on the peaks in Winter and it really reminds me how amazing nature is. I do think that one of my favourite things here is multivitamin juice! I first tried it when I was on holiday on Lake Garda a couple of years ago and now I can’t get enough of it! It is something we don’t have in the UK, so I am always happy when I can get some to drink. It is difficult to choose, but if I absolutely had to, I would say that something I don’t like about life here is that I can’t get my favourite flavour of Nesquik (Strawberry), but I brought some back when I came back from the UK after Christmas, so now I just have to make it last until my family comes over at Easter.

The weirdest thing about South-Tyrol is... I would have to say the accent and dialect! I am beginning to get used to hearing the different pronunciations, but sometimes it still takes me by surprise and it takes me a while to respond. I am, however, very interested in the dialect and love to hear it spoken, so it isn’t the bad kind of weird.

You grew up in a more rural area in Scotland (Loren is from Sheffield), how do you feel about being here in the country, does it awake childhood feelings in you? It absolutely does. Although Mull doesn’t have the mountains and the snow! I do feel very at home here in Bruneck, which could be because I grew up on the Island and know what it is like living in a small community. I also feel like my love of languages started when I was little, as I used to be a member of the Mull Junior Gaelic (pronounced gal-ic) Choir, where I would compete in what is known as the Mòd (Mod) both as part of the choir and as a soloist. I won one gold and two silver medals between the ages of 6 and 7 for the poetry recital competition and learner’s solos.

To cut a long story short, I am reminded of being surrounded by a language that I don’t fully understand and it does take me back to growing up on a small Scottish Island.

What languages do you speak and what other language would you like to learn? I am currently studying German and Italian at university, but to say that I speak them... that might be a bit of a stretch! I can get by, but I am by no means fluent! I also have a very basic understanding of very specific topics in Russian (I did Russian to GCSE-Level in secondary school), but I have forgotten most of it. I pride myself on my ability to count to at least ten in seven foreign languages though! I also tried to learn High Valyrian (from Game of Thrones) a few months ago, but I keep forgetting to practice –I think the Duolingo owl may be a little annoyed with me! •If I had to choose another language to learn, I would possibly think about learning either Gaelic (to go back to my roots) or Russian (I would love to be able to speak it again!)

What do you think about Brexit? As you may have heard me say in my presentation about Brexit, I mainly think it has been going on for far too long. If you didn’t have a piece of homework for your teacher, how many extensions would you get? One? Two? I am pretty sure not Three! So why should the fate of how the UK will agree its future be so delayed? I do feel that I have seen some of the positive impact of how the EU works in a nation that profits it, but at the moment, I think the UK does not profit from the EU and what it offers. I think the UK should be able to take control back for themselves and work towards a future where things remain friendly, but with changes. I mean, it works for Switzerland, so why not for us? I also feel that it perhaps shouldn’t have gone to a public referendum in the first place –this is what politicians are there for and what they are paid for. On the other hand, that is what democracy is, so I can understand why it was agreed upon.

How would you describe the Harry Potter Franchise if somebody didn’t know it? First of all, I would say get reading the books!! Then to explain, I would possibly say that it is one of the best-selling franchises/series in the WORLD, with seven books, eight films, a theme park and a studio tour, along with thousands of products of merchandise! Even if you aren’t into the fantasy genre, you should give it a try! The books have also been translated into more than 60 languages (so there is no “I can’t understand it” excuse!) and I absolutely recommend reading them, or even just watching the films! I remember when the books were first coming out and I would go to the local bookstore to collect my copy at midnight! It was always so much fun and a treat I looked forward to every time.

If you could change one thing on earth, what would it be? I suppose I wish that people would be more understanding and less hurtful towards others. I have never understood why people feel the need to say or do mean things to and about others. There are a lot of things I would want to change in the world, but I think this one is, for me, one of the biggest. I have had personal experience with this – and it hurts. I know it may seem like an insignificant thing to change, in the grand scheme of things, but there are a lot of serious consequences that can occur from bullying, and that shapes a person’s life. Could you describe the TFO -Bruneck in a few sentences? TFO -Bruneck is a technology-based high school in the Pustertal valley with students from all over the valley travelling to learn more about science and technology and the impact they can have in these sectors in the future. It has a friendly atmosphere and all the staff and students are very welcoming!

What makes our school different from British schools? In the UK, we don’t really have specialist schools like the TFO, and we aren’t able to choose when we have tests in class. The biggest difference I think though is the timings. At my secondary school, we had 5 lessons a day – each an hour long – with the day starting at 8:35 and finishing at 2:45. The only time I had lessons later than that was when I took Russian and had to have it as a ‘twilight class’ (2 hours after school on a Wednesday).

What do you like about our school? I like that it gives people the chance to learn more about a changing world and how they can make an impact through new technologies and discoveries.

What could we improve? It would have to be the classroom numbering system! I still forget where I am going for the first-and second-year classes, even with my timetable in front of me! Other than that, I don’t think I can think of anything in particular!

What will you remember about the TFO? I will definitely not remember everybody’s names, but I will remember the classes I have worked with! I am really enjoying my time here and I know I will be very sad when it ends. I will also remember teaching you all about British culture and a little about my homeland of Scotland as well!

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