English in Cornwall 2010
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| Swedish Television Channel 1 broadcast a travel programme about us mid-February (mostly in English) please click this link if you would like to view it (now on youtube) : Packed & Ready |
Summer courses for the whole family!
You now have the opportunity to join us for a few weeks, here in Cornwall, to take part in a Spring or Autumn course in English, or why not bring your family for a relaxing Summer Language Holiday. Our courses are held in Polruan on England's idyllic southwest coast. This Celtic landscape, which is rich in myth and legend, offers a wide choice of leisure pursuits. Here you will find wonderful sandy beaches where you can relax or swim in the Atlantic breakers. There are countless small picturesque fishing villages and hidden coves to explore. Breathtaking ocean views can be enjoyed from cliff-top walks that stretch all along the coast. There is pony trekking, fishing, diving, surfing, and, for the golfer, several delightful golf courses within striking distance of Polruan.
Polruan is a genuine little fishing village with narrow streets and winding alleys, and, nestling as it does between the sea and the river, it has a special character all its own. There are a few small beaches close at hand, but the finest beach, Lantic Bay, is found just a couple of kilometres away. Right across the river from Polruan, connected by a small ferry, is the larger town of Fowey with its pleasant atmosphere and interesting history. Here you can enjoy a meal or a drink in one of its many pubs and restaurants, there is a greater range of shops, as well as banks and a chemist. The nearest large Cities are Truro and Plymouth, both approximately 45 minutes away by car, but easily reachable by public transport. Penhallow is to be found at the heart of Polruan, a stone's throw from the quay. It has a garden, in which coffee breaks and conversation classes often take place, with lovely views over the river. After breakfast we study English for three hours each weekday in small groups of four to nine. Lessons are generally structured around conversation. We use the media about us, newspapers, TV and radio programs, as well as literature, and the specially written Penhallow workbook we have prepared. Fowey behind sail (photo Gunilla O'Connor) |
Our aim is that you should learn to speak and understand English in everyday situations. We try to approach the teaching of grammar in a natural context as we help you develop your sentence building skills and expand your vocabulary. Each lesson is adapted to your individual capacity and we try to maintain a light, informal atmosphere. In general the lessons are conducted in English, though bilingual teachers are available for Swedish students who may need that help. We encourage everyone, wherever possible, to maintain Penhallow as an English-speaking zone both during course time and even socially.
To get the best out of our courses adults should have a basic grasp of English, though we do accept beginners in the junior groups. Experience has shown that the younger children are when laying a foundation in a foreign language the better their future mastery of that language will be. Our courses for younger students are part of our overall concept of involving the whole family. We will help them to improve their comprehension, and to overcome any resistance they may have when using English. Through a variety of practical projects it is often possible to make contact with the local people. The junior group may, for example, be able to visit the nearby school and meet pupils of a similar age. One of our aims is to create a sympathetic understanding of local customs and culture.
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Your hosts at Penhallow are Kevin and Gunilla O'Connor who both have academic backgrounds and experience of teaching English as a foreign language. They have run Penhallow Language Holidays together in Polruan since 1994. During these years there have been many satisfied students and many have returned year after year. Kevin, who studied Communication and Design at Oxford, and Graphics at St Martin's, London, has taught English both one-to-one for various Swedish companies, as well as for adult education courses in Stockholm. He is interested in art and literature and writes himself. He has written several short stories for the BBC and has worked as a Swedish-English translator. Gunilla is a Swedish born journalist who has worked for several newspapers. She has also worked as an editor for many years, her latest editorial work being for, Sida, the Swedish International Development Agency. She has also taught Swedish and English to international students, and has written a variety of educational literature. She has produced such teaching material as Plain Language for Brevskolan and for the Swedish Educational Radio Corporation, as well as writing a school psychology textbook for Liber. |
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Cornwall has always inspired writers and painters, amongst whom Sweden's own Anders Zorn figures. Like many others he was fascinated by the special light of western Cornwall. In fact, so many painters chose to live and work around St Ives that the Tate Gallery of London chose to open an auxiliary gallery here to house the work of these artists. For many years Fowey was a meeting place for some of Britain's most famous literary personalities. Kenneth Graham was one of the writers who loved to visit the area, drawing inspiration here for his children's book Wind in the Willows. Rosemunde Pilcher, the author of the international bestseller The Shell Seekers, drew on her childhood here, as did Virginia Woolfe, whose novel To the Lighthouse was inspired by her childhood in St Ives. Daphne DuMaurier is another local writer whose stories and novels, such as Rebecca and The Birds, were made famous by Alfred Hitchcock who made them into films. Each year in May a Daphne DuMaurier festival is held in Fowey/Polruan, at which many famous writers and critics hold seminars on literature and creative writing. In Plymouth it is possible to see theatre of the highest quality as, amongst others, the Royal Shakespeare Company regularly perform there. There are also many local amateur theatre groups in the area, not least Polruan and Fowey's own companies, which often give highly entertaining performances in the summer months. |
Eden- A Visionary Project Eden Project (photo: Gunilla O'Connor) |
In a disused clay quarry near St Austell, where for years man has been scarring the landscape by exploiting nature, has now developed an incredible ecological adventure, The Eden Project. Some of earth's climatic zones are being recreated, from balmy Mediterranean to wet tropical rain forests, in gigantic domes. So far three connected domes have been constructed, though more have been planned. Eden has ambitions of becoming a major forum for ecological and economic discussion on how we must husband the worlds diminishing resources. The project has already received international recognition, both for its aims and as an architectural eighth wonder of the world. The founder of the project had distinguished himself as the restorer of Heligan Gardens (also only about 30 minutes from Polruan), a forgotten Victorian garden, which has since developed into a major attraction, and been the subject of several television programmes. Cornwall, with its mild climate has many other beautiful gardens and stately parks open to the public. |
Summer 2010
| 2 week course for adults & children (separate classes) | Summer 1 FULL | wks26/27 | 28 June - 9 July |
| Summer 2 | wks28/29 | 12 July - 23 July | |
| Summer 3 | wks30/31 | 26 July - 6 Aug |
One study hour = 45 min.
| Courses for adults - 16.5 study hours a week | Two week courses: £380 |
| Junior courses (for children under 13 yrs) - 16.5 study hrs/wk | Two week courses: £240 |
Summer courses
Why not share a house? Polruan is a small village and has a limited number of families able to accommodate our students. An economic alternative is to share a large house with other students. Your own room in a shared house is a good option for independently minded people who wish to cater for themselves. It is also a good way to make new friends. We will do our utmost to arrange for you to share with like-minded people. Stay with a family If you come by yourself staying with a family may be a good option. It can be rewarding in several ways, not least as a way to practise your English on a daily basis. If you wish to eat dinner with the family it can often be arranged for an extra cost of 35 £ a week. Alternatively, you may wish to eat dinner in one of the two cosy pubs in the village or one of the many good restaurants over in Fowey. |
| Cottage prices per wk (approx.) | Summer1, | Summer 2 & 2 |
| Cottage suitable for 2 to 4 people | from £350-390 | from £490-550 |
| Cottage suitable for a group up to 8 | from £492-555 | from £550-712 |
| Private accommodation | per week per person |
| Room with breakfast in host family (shared bathroom) | £175 |
| Guest house with breakfast | £210 - 235 |
Eating out Both pubs in the village serve good lunches and dinners at reasonable  prices. In the evening you may wish to visit one of the many excellent and varied local restaurants across the river in Fowey. And on Sunday don't forget to try a typical Sunday Roast Lunch at one of the local pubs, usually good value! There's also a small store in the village, open every day of the week, where a good variety of goods can be purchased including bread, meat and wine. Milk, yoghurt, fruit and greens can be also be delivered straight to the door every morning by the local milkman.
Cancellation and Insurance We will pay back to you any deposit you may have paid us for course tuition fees should you have substantiated reason to cancel your course (such as a doctor's note) when cancelled at least one month before the start of your course. We will however deduct a 50 £ administration fee for each person cancelling. However, any monies paid to third parties for accommodation will obviously be subject to their own terms and conditions, which can be supplied to you on request. It may be advisable to take out cancellation insurance to cover you for the above eventuality. Your home insurance often covers you for journeys abroad, so why not talk to them. |
Things to do in Cornwall
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Language Holidays
Gunilla
& Kevin O´Connor
5 Florizel, Polruan by Fowey, Cornwall
PL23 1PH
and Alviksvägen 70, 167
53 Bromma, Sweden
tel England 0044 (0) 1726 870322 tel Sweden 08-269285
Skype: k.g.oconnor
