Little insight into....I dare to say....MY SUCCESS STEPS

Lets start from the very start! STEP 1 Scientific Bachelors Degree in English Linguistics and qualification of English teacher in 2000; STEP 2 5 years experience at school teaching the English Language for pupils;

STEP 3 Experience of teaching English for unemployed people in Balvi Centre of Further Education and Human Resources beginning with 2005;

The Further Education and Human Resources Development Centre Address: Partizanu street 16, Balvi, Latvia, LV Phone: FAX:

The staff DIRECTOR: Maruta Castrova Gunita Laicāne Sanita Daukste Biruta Kindzule Edīte Kaufmane

Short history The Further Education and Human Resources Development Centre was established in 2001 on the 1st of October iniciated by Balvi Town Council. The Further Education and Human Resources Development Centre organizes practical courses, seminars, practical trainings and conferences. The important aims of the Centre are: –To provide the education for different (aim)audiences (unemployed, police-officers, doctors and nurses etc.); –To create an available education for adults; –To give a chance to get the education closer to peoples home.

Statistics The courses of optional education have attended and finished as well as received certificates 1299 people More than 30 educational courses are being offered In 2008/ people finished different kinds of courses About 1500 people attend The Further Education and Human Resources Development Centre in a month People from Alūksne, Gulbene, Madona, Riga and Valka regions study here The Further Education and Human Resources Development Centre celebrated the 8th anniversary. In May 2007 there was issued the 1000th certificate!

Statistics Higher education: –43 students are acquiring the professional Masters programmes Community and Establishment Administrator, Balvi Branch of Daugavpils University –36 students are acquiring the studying programme Bookkeeping, Accounting and Financial College Balvi Branch –28 students are acquiring the studying programme Public administration Accounting and Financial College Balvi Branch –62 students are acquiring the studying programme Business Administrator, Graduate School of Information Systems Management, –20 students are acquiring the studying programme Nurse, P.Stradina Health and Social Care Collage

BALVI FURTHER EDUCATION CENTRE OFFERS THE FOLLOWING COURSES: Projects Management Computer courses for all levels Language courses: German everyday speech English everyday speech French everyday speech Latvian language for Russians Wicker weaving Floristics Leather Decorative Arrangement Machine embroidery and materials in interior Material printing, hot batik Silk painting Garden Design Creative games workshop Actor mastery, direction,stage speech Bathshouses traditions Photo Workshop Computer studies of all levels Digital photo and video processing with computer Acquiring fast writing skills etc.

STEP 4 Experience of teaching English at International Language Summer Camp in 2006, West – Finland College (Lansi - Suomen opisto) - the oldest Finnish- language Folk High School founded in the year 1892;

STEP 5 Teaching English for adults group from Latvia ( 3 months of studies: Finland + UK) in Huittinen, Finland;

STEP 6 Experience of being abroad, numerous international contacts broadened my horizon....and I started to learn writing projects in 2005;

STEP 7 The 1st success was an approved GRUNDTVIG project meant for acquiring Business English in Rome, Italy, and I went there...and it was a success!

STEP 8 3 years experience of being a coordinator in international exchange of experience GRUNDTVIG project : NEW STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTING LANGUAGE LEARNING IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS

STEP 9 The change of teachers work at school to project specialists at Municipality Council;

STEP 10 Studies to get the Masters Degree in Public and Institutional Management in Balvi branch of Daugavpils University; The title for my Masters paper is: Implementation of EU projects for Human Development in Balvi;

My main goal is to emphasise and prove the facts that the lifelong learning and exchange of experience as well as projects in the realm of adults education, help to widen an individuals intellectual level, communication of information and personal growth.At the same time it contributes to the development of local territory as such,more and more international festivals are taking place in Balvi during last years.

In cooperation with Balvi Further Education Centre, I have increased the quality of adult learning and motivated learners to study languages using new methods. Communication skills, social skills, and team working skills are developed as well.

It is extremely important to motivate people to study because studying offers a lot of possibilities to change our lives!!! There is a Latvian proverb: LIFE LIVE AND LEARN !!! We have understood this and try to follow this idea!!!

At present my work is connected with different projects including scholarships for teachers and teaching English for groups of unemployed; I dare to say that Im a good Learning Ambassador and I am sure each of us has to study throughout our lives and share experiences and skills gained.

Aims to be reached in the near future: In cooperation with Estonian, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian friends and partners- why not - you – to open a INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE COLLEGE for the sake of teaching the Nordic languages!!!

May the road rise up to meet you, the wind be always at your back, and may the God keep you in the palm of his hand until we met again! Thanks for your attention!