Another week goes by.

Just a quick update on the week's happenings before I tell you more about our summer holiday (is that a cue for a song?).


Last Thursday HCT and Cambridge University hosted a joint conference for ESOL teachers at Dubai Men's College. HCT has decided that it would be a good idea to use the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) as a guideline to describe the achievements of both Arabic & English learners in the UAE. In this way, it will be easier for teachers and employers alike to compare qualifications and see how they relate to one another. This maybe gobbledigook to many of you, but it's an important step for education in the UAE. The Minister of Education gave the opening address and then presented a cheque to Cambridge.

His Highness Sheikh Nahayan addressing the delegates.

Later in the afternoon, Jan & I went to Mirdif City Centre, one of our more moderate shopping malls, for coffee and cake and a quick bit of shopping before heading back to RAK. The mall currently has a promotion where you can enter in a draw to win a limited edition gold plated ipad 2! Jan & I put in an entry each, but goodness knows what will happen if I win it?

Jan taking a picture of the aforementioned ipad with her iphone.

One of our colleagues has suggested that we could melt it down! Maybe not.