Newsletter – ESU Loire Valley

ESU LOIRE VALLEY NEWS

May 2023

May Day walk

The May Day Walk 2023 was a great success, thanks to our organiser, Tony. 14 walkers clocked up over 8 kilometres whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery of the countryside around the village of Grezillé, situated between Brissac and Gennes.

There were bluebells and cowslips along the way, reminding all those present that spring had arrived. The walk was a great opportunity to meet and chat to new acquaintances. On arrival back at the starting point, the walk was followed by an aperitif and a convivial picnic next to the lake in Grezillé

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ESU LOIRE VALLEY - Upcoming events

More details on our What’s On page>>

Head Office, Dartmouth House

After nearly three years of closure, predominantly due to the pandemic, Dartmouth House opened its doors on Monday, 9 January 2023. Opening hours will be from 09h00 to 18h00, Monday to Friday, and it is hoped that members will return with friends to help make Dartmouth House the vibrant and inclusive setting for the ESU’s charitable work it has always been.

With an ethos based on sustainability, Graysons will be taking over the in-house catering and will serve delicious menus with mouth-watering options for breakfast, with an array of tempting small plates and sharing dishes at lunchtime, not to mention cakes and afternoon tea and tipples. There is something for every occasion and every appetite.

Staff at head office look forward to greeting ESU members in 2023 and wish to remind everyone that membership fees help to provide young people with the life-changing speaking and listening skills and cross-cultural understanding they need to achieve their full potential and to change their lives and communities for the better.

ESU Debate Academy

The unique English Speaking Union residential summer school, Debate Academy, is open for bookings for 2023. Taking place at Stamford School in Lincolnshire, this friendly, immersive summer school for 14 to 18 year olds offers top-quality coaching in debate to all ability levels. It’s a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange, in a supportive and fun environment.

If you would like to send a student to Debate Academy, full information and booking can be found online here: https://www.esu.org/programmes/debate-academy/

VIOLIN CONCERT

Monday, 26 June, 6-8pm. Early bird tickets from just £10.
ESU music scholar and winner of the 2018 Royal Overseas League String Competition Emmanuel Bach will perform pieces by Beethoven, Grieg and Sibelius.

Other ESU branches in France

Paris branch

Thursday 8^th June 2023, at 7 pm, the Paris branch is hosting an Indian dinner with guest speaker, Mr. Vijay Phadke, an international lawyer with offices in New Delhi and in Paris. Mr. Phadke’s speech is entitled “India’s prominent place in the 21^st century world” and will focus on the political, economic, and constitutional challenges India is currently facing.

The dinner will take place at the restaurant ‘Kha Juraho’, 14 boulevard de la Tour Maubourg, 75007 Paris. This will be the last event organised by the branch before the summer recess

Bordeaux branch

Awaiting update.

International Branches

ESU PAKISTAN

International Council Meeting

Congratulations to the ESU Pakistan team who worked hard to organise a successful and friendly International Council Meeting in Karachi 28 and 29 October 2022.

Although few delegates were able to attend live, many branches around the world were represented virtually at the meeting which was chaired by Jonathan Callund, outgoing President of the International Council. Jonathan was assisted by Jane Easton and a team from Dartmouth House, along with Aziz Memon of Pakistan, who replaces him as International Council President. Their hard work and dedication resulted in lively, inclusive discussions and a most stimulating meeting which reinforced the principles of the ESU and left all delegates with much to think about.

The social events enjoyed by the guests in Karachi were planned with as much care as the meeting itself. “Thank you” to all involved for a most successful ICM 2022.

ESU USA

Happy Hour

The ESU USA is streaming a series of talks that are engaging, fun, and informative. Speakers are live and cover a wide range of topics. All free of charge. The custom is for speakers to suggest a unique cocktail to create and enjoy at home during the talk, hence the name “Happy Hour”.

Sessions are recorded and can be viewed at any time.

For more details: http://www.esuus.org/esu/activities/happy-hour

Attending other ESU events

A reminder to all that once you have subscribed to the ESU you can pay members’ rates to attend events organised by any branch in France or elsewhere in the world.

A full list of member countries can be found on the main website: simply click the continent you are looking for under ‘Show Me’ at the top of the page: https://www.esu.org/international-network/

Don’t forget to check out the other sites on our Links page.

BIBLIOTHEQUE ANGLOPHONE, ANGERS

60 rue Boisnet, 49100 Angers

Open to the public: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 13h00 to 18h00 and Thursday 18h00 to 19h00

Meet the New Library Director Mandy Torsey-Guillet, shown here on the left with retiring director, Phoebe Marshall-Raimbeau.

Summer book sale

6 June to 1 July the library will hold a summer book sale. 2 euros a book.

Reading & performance by “Write Here, Write Now”

Members of the group “WRITE HERE WRITE NOW” will perform monologues and duos on Friday, 16 June between 10h00 and 10h45 at the last Coffee House meeting before summer. Free and open to the public. No need to reserve.

For more details of the many social activities that are available through the library, please contact the front desk on 02.41.24.97.07, or consult the website.

PLEASE NOTE that the library closes for the summer on Saturday 1 July at 18h00 and re-opens on Friday 1 September at 13h00

Loire Valley Voices

Do you like singing in French and in English? The Loire Valley Voices choristers have a repertoire that includes pieces by the Beatles, Sting, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Womach, Laurent Voulzy. They would welcome new members to their multicultural group, led by choirmaster, Stéphane Claire, who encourages each individual to find their true voice.

For more details please contact sylvie.reeves@club-internet.fr

Bilingual families in Angers

We have been asked to advertise the activities of this group.

Please see below.

Join our community of bilingual (English/French) families in the greater Angers area for fun outdoor activities this summer. If you’d like to attend any (or all!) of the events, email Hilary Hodge at hilarylynnehodge@gmail.com. She will send out an email before each event with more details.

The Joy of Teaching English

The regional education board, the Académie de Nantes, is currently looking to recruit native English speakers to become full time or part time English teachers, either on a temporary or permanent basis.

They are looking for people from a whole range of different backgrounds, such as legal, medical, athletic, military, tourism, etc. Applicants can select the region in which they would prefer to work. If this is of interest, you can get in touch with the Académie via this link.

You will be asked for a CV, a short letter of motivation and your qualifications. If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an interview during which all details will be fully explained.

beauville arts

Beauville Arts brings together young people and performing arts professionals to stage inspiring high-quality performances. With an ethos close to that of the ESU, their courses and summer camps “develop talent and boost confidence, helping to create lifelong friendships and precious memories”.

The company works with schools during termtime and provide courses and camps during the holiday period. Themes for 2023 include: West End Medley, High School Musical, Lion King, James Bond, High School Musical, Les Miserables, The Rise of Hamilton, The Greatest Show, Mamma Mia, and Fame. Some courses take place in Beauville, others on the Côte d’Azur and others in Germany.

Courses are taught in English and help develop skills in the English language as well as nurturing performing arts talent. More details can be found on the website: https://beauvillearts.com/ or by contacting claire@beauvillearts.com

DAILY ENGLISH

Daily English is an association that provides French young people with the opportunity to learn English by being immersed in a British family and provides British in France with the means to earn an income by teaching and hosting them. Click here to visit the website.

There’s a clear structure to these visits: the youngsters arrive on Sunday afternoon, and the hosts spend the first evening putting them at ease. From Monday to Friday, there’s a lesson after breakfast each day, then an outing and lunch. In the evenings they all play board games or watch English films. On Saturday, they leave by 11am. Lessons are prepared by Daily English Daily who provide a whole teaching programme and the hosts simply print off what they need.

For more details either on how to host or how to find a suitable placement contact Sally on 04 99 65 21 63 or send an e-mail to sally@dailyenglish.fr

ECOLE SAINT NICOLAS, SAUMUR

30 Rue de la Petite Bilange, 49400 Saumur

Since September 2021, in association with Language Connexion, this primary school has been offering all its pupils every assistance to learn English from an early age. A young British teaching assistant motivates learning by using songs and rhymes for the early years and by using English to teach various subjects to primary and junior pupils.