News

	Kestrel is now launching 'Just Connect' and 'International Students Connect', both parts of our Connect package for overseas students in the UK. Written by Robert Teed and illustrated by Felix Bennett (the team that creates the 'Lexiconfusion' and 'Yooni' cartoons for The Times) they offer students a fresh and irreverent but deeply educational look at all things British. It is supported by a substantial and surprisingly free Resource Pack for creative and resourceful teachers who like to offer their students quite a lot extra.
	Kestrel recently attended the IATEFL, Exeter Conference where Colum Regan entertained delegates with songs from Kestrel publication 'Ready to Fly'. Winners of the competition draw are James Cooper and Alasdair MacDonald, from Nottingham, UK and Jeffrey Mattison, Salinas, California. They corectly identified 'stretcher' as the answer to Teed and Bennett's homograph puzzle. Many thanks to all who took part. However, the highest score achieved on the 'Ready to Fly' multiple choice questions was 3 out of 5!!! We won't tell your students - you must have been tired or jet-lagged.
	'Searching for Beauty: Letters from a Collector to a Studio Potter' by Richard Jacobs, a Californian Professor Emeritus who is also a passionate collector of ceramics and a champion of crafts. With wry wit and deep learning, Richard Jacobs reinstates the word 'beauty' as a meaningful and unapologetic description in our daily lives. Not content with that, he challenges not only studio potters but all craftspeople to think deeply about the real meaning of what they do and to establish the enduring integrity and significance of their 'whole other world of knowledge'.
	Ready to Fly, our English through song material, is finding increasing numbers of enthusiastic teachers and learners across the world. View and listen to samples. Free Ready to Fly materials are now available, including a complete new unit with a song, Scarborough Fair, associated material and pronunciation practice in downloadable pdf and MP3 format.
	There is more information about the development of our new publications. We have formed new partnerships and signed up new authors. You can rest assured that our educational materials have been widely evaluated and used in classes before publication.

Kestrel's new partners

Swansea University

Kestrel is developing a partnership with the English Language Training Services Dept at Swansea University under the directorship of Kevin Child. This will include evaluation of current materials including Connect, Kestrel's cultural awareness material for international and immigrant students. Plans are also being made for the development and authorship of new publications.

Swansea University has won the Times Higher Education Award for Best Student Experience. Over 10,000 undergraduates assessed their institutions, and Swansea emerged the clear winner with students saying that their experience at Swansea had exceeded their expectations. Outstanding ratings were recorded for facilities, prospects, social life, and course satisfaction.

Bournemouth and Poole College

The International Operations Team at Bournemouth and Poole, is helping Kestrel evaluate and develop Connect, its cultural awareness materials for teachers, students and immigrants. Led by Mike Humphries, the International Operations Team at Bournemouth and Poole has won a Beacon Award for International Student Support.

Maes Yr Haul Primary School
(Maes Yr Haul is Welsh, meaning Sunny Meadow)

Kestrel has begun an absorbing partnership with staff and pupils at Maes Yr Haul Primary School at Broadlands, Bridgend, to develop a new EFL / ESOL song resource for younger learners. Head Teacher Pam Mahoney, literacy co-ordinator Ian Davies, music co-ordinator Cath Jones and teacher Karen Williams are organising the pupils' exploration of their favourite songs as well as the dance movements and hand games associated with them. Many of these songs have a long history, and the team will be investigating and recording these for the final publication. Pupils in Year 6 are having fun researching and performing the songs they already know as well as learning a few new ones.

See Maes Yr Haul work in progress

Thanks to the Bridgend area's considerable history as a host to major international companies, particularly from Japan and Germany, Maes Yr Haul Primary School has always had a considerable intake of international pupils. The school is famous for its cultural awareness weeks with focus on the cultures and customs of other countries.

Lewis School of English

Kestrel has always had a very productive relationship with staff at Lewis School of English in Southampton. Led by owner Alistair Walker, himself a highly experienced and dedicated teacher of English, staff at the school have been involved in evaluation and materials creation since Kestrel Books was founded. They were the first school to host a presentation of 'Ready to Fly', our English through song material for teenagers and adults. This was followed by a live performance by Colum Regan and Kerry Sanson attended by two hundred summer school students.

Staff at Lewis are currently using our Connect cultural awareness materials for overseas students and are evaluating new modules in development.