What you should know before coming to Ceuta

Los tres cursos del I.E.S. Abyla hemos querido ser partícipes de llevar a cabo un plan de acogida y bienvenida tanto a los nuevos alumnos que se incorporan este año como a los futuros profesores asistentes que vengan de Gran Bretaña; y ayudarles en su proceso de adaptación, destacando una breve muestra de los aspectos más maravillosos de nuestro entorno, Ceuta y nuestro I.E.S ABYLA.

!Bienvenidos a todos!

Un cordial saludo, de todos los alumnos del I.E.S ABYLA

Desde este blog disfrutarán del trabajo realizado por los alumnos de 1ºB de la ESO (curso escolar 2010-2011) y si quieren visitar el trabajo realizado por los alumnos de 2º ESO y PCPI del I.E.S. Abyla (curso 2010-2011) les invito a que visiten la siguiente página:

http://maravillasdeceuta.blogspot.com/

This blog was created by the students of 1B-ESO class from Abyla Public Secondary School in Ceuta (school year 2010-2011). They have published their class essays with the purpose of being a guide for the new English teachers who come to our school in the future. Here they will find out some interesting and useful facts before coming to our city. (With no economic purpose.)

Photo taken from:

http://www.ceuta.es/servlet/ContentServer?idioma=es_es&nS=&pagename=CeutaTur%2FGaleriaMultimedia%2FGaleriaMultimediaDetalle&cid=1122879409081&idP=1122879408138&anteriorSiguiente=si&idA=1131952428373&idG=1122879409081

Student's class list:

01	Mariam A.
02	Naryish C.
03	Naual E.
04	Mariam E.
05	Francisco José G.
06	Hamza H.
07	Hanan I.
08	Alejandro Jesús L.
09	Sumaya M.
10	Moshaab M.
11	Nyhad M.
12	Mohamed M. K.
13	Mohamed M. M.
14	Mohamed M. M.
15	Ramón M.
16	Ayoub M.
17	Mª de África M.
18	Dunia M.
19	Hassan N.
20	Teresa P.
21	Alejandro S.
22	Elena S.
23	Marina S.
24	Andrea T.
25	Elena V.
26	Mohamed Nadir Y.
27	Esther Y.

MY SCHOOL: ABYLA PUBLIC SCHOOL (CEUTA)

My school is huge. It has some classrooms, a playground, a basketball and a football court and a cafeteria. There are different grades in the morning: 1^st E.S.O, 2^nd E.S.O, 3^rd E.S.O, 4^th E.S.O and 1^st and 2^nd Bachillerato.

Students from 1º E.S.O to 4º E.S.O are between 13 and 16 years old and students of Bachillerato are between 17 and 18 years old.

We study subjects such as Designing, Social Studies, Science, French, English, Spanish Language, Mathematics, Music, Physics and Chemistry, Technology, Gymnastics, and so on.

The school schedule is:

1st period: 8:30-9:25

2nd period: 9:25-10:20  

3rd period: 10:20-11:10

Recess: 11:10-11:30

4th period: 11:30-12:25   

5^th period: 12:25-13:20

6th period: 13:20-14:15

Photo taken from:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101699575283

At Abyla you can eat anything you want at recess. We usually eat what we bring from home: a snack, some juice, some fruit or whatever we want. We do not have a Dinning Hall at school, but we have a cafeteria where you can buy a coffee, a chocolate muffin, a sandwich, some juice, bubble gum or any other junk food.

Elena V.
Mariam E.
Marina S.
Dunia M.

Interview with the Headmaster of Abyla Public Secondary School: Mr. Juan Fernández Maese

1. What do you think about that fact that we have a native English speaker teacher to promote students’ learning?

I think that it is a very interesting idea and, certainly, we have enjoyed the help of an English or French assistant for many years because I understand that it is good to ensure that our students achieve a good level of proficiency in other languages.

2. How did you come up with the idea of bringing a native English teacher?

Traditionally, the issue of native speaker teachers is the Ministry of Education’s call, although it is true that every year we ask for a new native speaker teacher.

3. Do you see improvement in students' work?

We believe that most students take the opportunity to communicate with native speakers in their language to improve their level.

4. Have you thought about asking for more native speaker teachers for next year?

The problem is that there is a limited number of positions at a national level and the Ministry of Education only offers six positions in Ceuta and we have to take into account that there are six other Public Secondary Schools in Ceuta, besides the Official School of Languages, and we all are interested in having a native speaker teacher.

 
5. Have you ever considered creating the “British Council'' (a British School of Secondary Education)?

I think it would be interesting that our students could study a subject in English and it could be achieved through either the “British Council” or by becoming a bilingual school. Hopefully one day the circumstances change so that one of the two can be achieved.

Teresa P.
Esther Y.
Alejandro Jesús L.
Elena S.

Interview to Dave, our present British native speaker teacher (teacher assistant)

1. Do you like football? 

Yes, but I’m not a big fan. My favorite team is Barcelona because they are the best!                

                  

2. Do you like swimming?                                                          

Yes, last summer I taught swimming at a summer camp in the US.

                                                                                                         

3. What do you do at the weekend?         

Normally, during the day I don’t do much and at night I go out to eat with my friends.

4. How many brothers and sisters have you got?   

I’ve just got one brother. He’s a year younger than me and is called Matt.

                                                                                                          

5. What music do you like?    

I like all types of music, but mostly Country music and Rock music. My favorite groups are Lady Antebellum and Skillet.

6. Do you like watching TV?          

Yes, I watch a lot of American TV, like Criminal Minds and How I Met Your Mother.

                                                

7. What is your favorite food?    

My favorite food is probably Falafel or Ice Cream.

8. Do you like being a teacher?  

Yes, I love the job because I can talk with lots of people everyday and help people with their language skills.

Mariam E.
Dunia M.
Marina S.
Elena V.

Languages and currency in Ceuta

Ceuta is located in the South-West of Europe (Spain) and North Africa.

Spanish is the most spoken language in Ceuta, although people also speak other languages due to trade, tourism and the fact that there are different cultures coexisting in our City.

The second most spoken language is Arabic since the Muslim population here is very large.

The Spanish language spoken in Ceuta is similar to that spoken in the rest of the Peninsula. It is not exactly the same since the accent is very different to the one in Andalusia and much more similar to the one spoken in Mexico or Argentina. It is not only in accent, but also in the use of certain words.

Arabic is widely spoken in Ceuta due to the large Muslim population that we have but also because Ceuta borders with Morocco. People in Morocco also speak French and this is why it is not strange to hear people speaking in French in the streets.

Photo taken from:
http://museodeltraje.mcu.es/virtual.jsp?id=15&ruta=3&sala=3&tsala=Belle+Epoque+(1898-1914)&vitrina=36&tvitrina=La+moda+diminuta&pieza=772&tpieza=Vestido

There are two other minor cultures in Ceuta: Indian who speak Indian and English and Jews who speak Hebrew.

Photo taken from:
http://museodeltraje.mcu.es/virtual.jsp?id=15&ruta=3&sala=14&tsala=tiempos%20actuales&vitrina=62&tvitrina=De%20la%20moda%20al%20espect%E1culo&pieza=692&tpieza=Traje

Photo taken from:
http://www.es.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/528233/jewish/La-Kip.htm

Nowadays it is surprising that Chinese is also spoken in our city, but this is, above all, because of Chinese traders.

Also, different currencies have been used in Ceuta in the past (for example “pesetas”) but now we use the Euro (€) because the European Economic Community introduced it in Europe. One of the reasons that the system currency changed was because it is easier to move all around Europe using the same currency.

Photo taken from: http://www.fonisol.com/es/espana/ibiza/index.htm

Nyhad M.

Mohamed M. K.

Moshaab M.

Mª de África M.

There are four main cultures in Ceuta which differ by:

1^st Hindu culture:  

The temple, in “Neo –Vedico style”, that follows the canons of the Indian sacred architecture manual with granite from India. It was carved in Malaga and its construction has been possible by the agreement of the Ministry of Culture of the Autonomous City for a total of 310,000 euros.

The interior is made of wood, a material that is used almost excusively in the state of Hierala in South India. The altar is called “graba grifa” in Sanskrit which means that it is the matrix or center of the temple. It is made of wood with marble on the floor in “rasthani” style from northern India.

Photo taken from: http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/indra-regalos/dioses/panteon%20hindu/brama.htm

2^nd Jewish culture:

The Jewish community of Ceuta has also recently completed the renovation of the synagogue. It is located in the heart of the city.

Photo taken from: http://laaculturajudia.blogspot.com/

3^rd Muslim culture:

Ceuta's Muslims have about twenty mosques scattered throughout the city. Their most traditional festivity is Ramadan, when they break the fast with dates and milk for a month. The special dish for these days is the “chubarkia” and “harera” which they eat after going to the mosque. Another traditional festivity is the Day of the Lamb when all members of the family join together at lunch.

Photo taken from: http://www.sierradearacena.com/menu_general/pueblos/almonaster/AJC_Almonaster_002.jpg

4^th Christian culture:

Ceuta's main church is at the center of the city. Christians usually go to this church to pray on Sunday. Their most traditional festivity is celebrated in December for Christmas, and they also celebrate Easter in April, which is a sacred week.

Photo taken from: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Cristo_crucificado.jpg

Mariam A.
Sumaya M.
Naryish C.

Getting to Ceuta:

Ceuta is in the North of Africa and is connected to Spain by ferry. There are four companies: Acciona, Euroferrys, Balearia and FRS. There is only one ferry line that will take you to Algeciras in 45 minutes. They can make a total of between 15 and 20 crossings a day (there is a departure almost every hour).

These ferries admit passengers in tourist or club class, as well as cars, motorcycles and trailers. If you are a resident in Ceuta a return ticket costs about 28 euros, and if you are not a resident in Ceuta a return ticket is about 68 euros. Once the English assistant who is coming to Ceuta arrives in our city, if they want to take advantage of the resident rate, they have to go to the City Council and ask for a certificate that will allow them get the lower price at the ferries ticket office.

In case you prefer to travel to Morocco, there is a ferry service via Tangier and Nador.

Photo taken from: http://malagamaritima.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

Ceuta is also connected to the Spanish Peninsula by helicopter. You may travel by helicopter from Ceuta to Algeciras or to Malaga. There are about five or six departures each day and about nine seats (you may carry a small luggage with you), that is why it is also a good idea to book your flight at least a couple of days before your departure. A one way trip Ceuta-Malaga for a resident is about 74 euros (a return ticket is about 148euros) and a one way trip Ceuta-Algeciras is about 32 euros (a return ticket is about 54 euros). If you are not a resident a one way trip Ceuta-Malaga is about 141 euros (a return ticket is about 282 euros) and a one way trip Ceuta-Algeciras is about 57 euros (a return ticket is about 94 euros). You may check prices and schedule at http://www.inaer.com/es/lineas

Photo taken from: http://conoceceuta.creatuforo.com/linea-regular-helicoptero-ceuta-malaga-tema238.html

Mohamed M. K.
Nyhad M.
Moshab M.
Mª de África M.

BEACHES OF CEUTA:

LA RIBERA BEACH: This is the most frequented beach in the city. Facing South, it is ideal for spending the afternoon lying in the sun or simply taking a walk. By day or at night, it is the best option for enjoying the sea, the sand and walks.

Address: Independencia Street.	Blue flag: yes.
Length: 270 meters.	Waves: smooth.
Width: 40m.	Ground: white and fine sand.

Photo taken by Mª Ángeles Avilés, English teacher.

EL CHORILLO BEACH: This is the most visited beach by young and old people in the city. Facing southeast, it is ideal for spending the morning lying in the sun. It is very close to all of the establishments and shops in the centre of the city. It has signs and municipal equipment for sports and night-time lighting.

Address: Martinez Catena Avenue.	Blue flag: yes.
Area: South Bay – Mediterranean sea – Down-town.	Waves: calm.
Length: 1.200 meters.	Ground: White and fine sand.
Width: 30 meters.

Photo taken by Mª Ángeles Avilés, English teacher.

BENÍTEZ BEACH: Swimmers can choose between areas of sand, pebbles and stones. It is located on the Atlantic Coast. There is municipal equipment for sports.

Address: Playa Benítez.	Blue flag: no.
Area: Benítez.	Waves: variable.
Length: 870 meters.	Ground: course gravel.
Width: 22 meters.

 SARCHAL COVE: This is made of coarse grey sand and gravel. It is on the Mediterranean coast and it has pedestrian accesses.

Address: Sarchal neighborhood.	Blue flag: no.
Area: South Bay / Hacho Mount / Sarchal neighborhood.	Waves: variable.
Length: 350m.	Ground: rocky area.
Width: 10 meters.

Naryis C.

Mariam A.

Sumaya M.