Sam Palmer BSc Geography (Hons) PGCE (Spain)

During my time at university studying Geography I took part in a number of smaller research projects designed to practise practice and to give ideas for my final dissertation. When I was provided with the chance to undertake my own study project I was happy to have had funding from the British Cave Research Society who bought the four data loggers which were used.

While working at Cheddar Caves I had noticed that during particular external weather conditions the air within the cave would move, after conducting some limited research I found that this was a normal process for underground airspaces and so when I had the chance to study this further, I did. Mt dissertation was titled "Predicting the weather from underground pressure changes." The paper that I wrote was not well received at the University, or by the British Cave research society. However I had discovered a weak link between an internal cave pressure system and the external weather system. Sadly this paper was never published.

I carried out my teaching training in an international school in Spain, I trained as a secondary teacher of Geography and after my training year I took up employment as an academy based English teacher, my position working with children as young as four, proved a real challenge for me, later I concentrated on English for special purposes to the Spanish Army and later took a job teaching just adults.

Within my current position, aside from giving high quality, objective lead lessons I have also taken part in the assessment of students in terms of language level which then informs the type of course that they follow. During the time that I teach adults I have also continued to teach children on a one to one base.

The positions that I have held to date have allowed me to develop my teaching style and classroom presence, as well as classroom set up and after class evaluation.

I have proven myself to be professional and reliable as well as personable. I feel that I can work well within a team or department, but equally so on my own. As I look to the future, I can see myself continuing to teach English for now until the position I really want is available. I still harbour a hope that my University dissertation will be published and recognition will be given along with the key principles of the scientist method.

Contact:

Name: Sam Palmer
E-Mail: Sampalmer1982@hotmail.co.uk

Career Summary:

September 2010 to present:
Infoidioma Language Centre
SLP classes, military one to one and business English

Summer 2010:
Mission English
NATO STANAG Exam Preparation course for Spanish Army
4 weeks intensive.

C.P La Font, October 2009 to June 2010
I was teaching English as a second language for two hours a week in a lunch time club to children of 6 years.

Brigsol Language Academy, September 2009 to June 2010
Teaching English as a Second language within an academy setting to a full range of age groups including nursery, primary, Secondary and adults. This was a full time position.

Cambridge House Community College, September 2008 – May 2008
I was tasked with supporting the Geography department and from September onwards I was teaching a single class of IGCE Geography. I have also covered Personal social health education lessons and ICT.

English Tutor, April 2006 – September 2006: Tutor of one to one English lessons.
For this period I was tutoring friends who wished to further their English speaking. One of which went on to complete the First Certificate in English.

Cheddar Caves and Gorge, Cheddar, Somerset, April 2002 – September 2005.
Well working for Cheddar Caves I qualified as an outdoor activities instructor, leading mixed groups around a beginners caving route. I found this a challenging environment in which a number of ‘soft skills’ were developed. I was also tasked with selling the product to customers. I was also qualified as a first aider, providing initial first support to injured individuals.

Education/qualifications and training

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Non stage specific) - University of Sunderland. Distance learning course completed at Cambridge House Community College. (September 2008 – June, 2009)

Bachelor of Science with Honours in Geography – Bath Spa University, Bath. September 2005 – June 2008.

NOCN Access to higher education - Bridgwater College, Somerset. September 2004 – June 2005

BTEC National Diploma in Public Services – Strode College, Somerset. September 1998 – June 2000

GCSE (7), GNVQ Leisure and Tourism – The Blue School, Wells, Somerset. September 1995 – June 1998


Other achievements:
Local Cave Mine Leaders Award (Level 1) – Completed in December 2003.

Red Cross First aid certificate: Completed September 2003.

Interests and Activities:

While living in the UK I became interested in the hobby of caving and was very active both as a professional caving instructor and hobby caver. In January 2005, I and a team of cavers successfully opened a new route between two separate cave systems, in a cave dig that lasted a year. I also have a fondness for the outdoors and have spent many summers touring my local area, camping and walking. I also enjoy computer gaming and eating out with friends.

Personnel details and languages spoken:

Driving Licence: European, clean.
Language: English fluent, Spanish beginner.

Getting married

Just wanted to say a few words to my special person.

It's magic each time we hold each other, each time we cuddle, and each time we kiss. I feel goosebumps all over again. I never want to let you go for fear of losing you, so I just hold on a little bit tighter each day, refusing to let go. You will never know the warmth I feel inside me when I'm with you. You're all I ever wanted.

A long struggle.

5 years ago, I decided that I want to enter into the teaching profession. I went back to college and then onto University and today I have heard that I now have the qualification to teach. After five years I'm now a teacher.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years.

Mountain degrees

Okay, kind of bad of me not to update my blog. But then the more I settle in, the less things seem to surprise me and hence the less I blog. Anyway I wanted to share what happened to me today.

After getting burnt on the beach yesterday we decided to take a drive up into the mountains. I was very surprised to see the temperature actually rise as we got higher. When we arrived at the top it was 40 degrees! Just like to point out that we drove up the mountain not walked!!

Anyway on the way up, we had to cross some pretty nasty ground, and we met two cars coming the other way, one of which had got a flat tyre. 700 metres up, in the middle of no where and he has a flat tyre. They asked if they could use my tire iron, which of course I let them. But my tire iron didn't fit. In the end the other car went back into town to try and find something to help. But it got me thinking, about the type of equipment that you should put in your car, if you intend to drive into the mountains.

For instance, we had our lunch on board, 1 bottle of water, I had also decided to put in my long trousers, even so I didn't use them. So here is summer list.

1. Water - more then one bottle
2. tire jack, spare tire, warning triangle, spare bulbs
3. Tow rope - I don't have.
4. Sun tan lotion
5. First aid kit - I carry a very small one in the car, but I should really up-date it.
6. Pair of trousers and warmer top - just in case.
7. I suppose I could add a spade to the list, just in case you get stuck in sand.
8. Knife and lighter. I care lighter but not a knife.

Maybe I'll stick some pictures up, when I've downloaded them from the camera. If anybody can think of anything else, please comment.

Human Kindness - alive in Valencia

We spent Sunday site-seeing in the centre of Valencia. I have surpised to see English newspapers for sale and anEenglish bagel shop, the menu in English. I guess nobody has told these people that bagels are an American construct and in England we eat TOAST.

I few years ago I attended a beach paty, in which I was the only English person. One of the guys, a pretty nasty bloke even by Spanish standards, nudged me on the shoulder and rattled off the words.

Toro, toro, paella, paella, Sangria, Sangria - that is Spain for you, yes

At the end, I considered all the nasty things I could do to this bloke to cause him a life time of pain. But after I spending the morning in the centre of Valencia. I can see that this image is not created by brits arriving back with stories of beach life and party life, but by Spanish. I lost count of the number of shops that sold post cards of bulls, t-shits with bulls on, cups with bulls on, plates with bulls on, bull magnets, bull caps, and fridge magent shaped Paella. The Airport they do it with taste, but these people are selling the Spanish down the river, look at us, somehow we can't quite leave this tacky American habit of sticking a magnet on crap and calling it at souvenir, the image is in instilled and created by this people. A different type of Spain almost as far removed as those ex-pats that spend their days asleep by their pool in Denia or Murica, slowly pickling their liver with English bought Gin.

Anyway

We stopped for coffee and watched a man working with wire, he spends his days making little wire sulptures, selling them for three euros each. Seconds before we sat down, a man has passed him whispering something into his ear which caused him great stress. Sitting on the street surounded by all these people, he began to cry. Never are we so alone then when we are surounded by people. I suggested that we buy something from him, in order to cheer him up and as your see, his work is great. He started to make something, must of took him a few seconds to wrap the wire. He moved down the rows of table, removing a napkin, in which he wrapped the wire sculpture, to steps later he had placed the 'present' onto the table in front of me. Telling me that I needed to give it to Monica, which I did. After he had sat back down, I handed him three euros, he shook my hand, his hands rough from working with the wire and a life on the streets.

I don't care what he does with the 3 euros, he showed a type of kindness that is only displayed among friends. And he worked for his money, unlike the buggers outside the church or supermaket who just beg. He has a skill and is tyring. I've included a picture, if you see the guy,go and give him a euro and say hello. He's as a mad as a hatter, but thats okay.

Ever wondered

I've often wondered why Spainish people walk so slowly. Now I think I have the answer, it's all do to with time and space. You see when a bunch of Spanish people start walking, they drop out of rotation with normal time and space, so for a fraction of a second they are actually going backwards.

When the time and space 'globe' as gone full circle it picks them back up again and they gain forward movment. This happens everytime they change direction, everytime they walk around a corner or everytime they cross the road.

Of course I know the real reason, it's all about living la vida loca. Taking time over speaking, walking, eating and anyway when it's 40 degrees outside who wants to rush anyway/. But some times, like when you need to get the best seat for the fire bull, some times speed is important.

So my friends, a picture for you. I'm sure you will recognise this, because you are all this!

A little story

This is a little story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.

Anybody could hav done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Think about