VI Challenge winners!

Team TTPL are extremely pleased to be 2016 WESC Foundation VI Challenge winners.

The event, organised by Listen2Win and held at the WESC Foundation in Exeter on Wednesday 13^th July, was a chance for teams to enter challenges without the aid of sight. These included a blindfolded penalty shootout, 50 metre sprint and traverse climbing wall.

The series of challenges were ran by three England international blind team players. Without the aid of sight, the simplest thing can become extremely challenging and watching professionals set the precedent for the challenges was astounding.

Six teams competed in the games and Team TTPL was made up of five staff members and two fantastic students. Cosmin, currently on a work placement with TTPL in Exeter was a fantastic addition to the team and set an unbelievable sightless 50 metre sprint time of under 7 seconds! Enrico, also on a work placement in Exeter also made a fantastic contribution, competing in a ‘Chinese whispers’ challenge. The game hinged on good verbal communication – to have somebody using their second language for this is a real credit to Enrico.

As for the TTPL staff members, a mixture of competitiveness and never-say-die attitude resulted in the team lifting the trophy. The evening highlighted how much can be achieved with communication and also showed the incredible level that visually impaired athletes can reach.

The event was raising money for the WESC Foundation - a specialist centre for visual impairment. For more information visit: https://www.wescfoundation.ac.uk/

A universal language

With UEFA Euro 2016 coming to an end, TTPL’s Dan talks about the role football plays in uniting people.

It’s been a tough few weeks being English and a football fan. With Brexit talk and football violence dominating the news, it’s been easy to feel negative. Although I feel the EU exit is a disappointing result and violent scenes in France were horrible, I can say that what I’ve experienced on a first-hand basis has only filled me with positivity.

It’s a real pleasure frequently meeting new people from across Europe – it’s the biggest perk to my job and I feel lucky to have the opportunity. It’s inspiring meeting such motivated people, coming to another country to further improve language skills and enhance career prospects. With the level of English being so good, it’s easy to communicate, but I do speak one other language – football!

Football is a universal language and so often the icebreaker. Recent violence has again unfortunately damaged the reputation of the sport, but it shouldn’t hide the fact it unites and brings more people together than any other activity I can think of.

It was tough walking in to our student social the day after England exited UEFA Euro 2016 to minnows Iceland. I could see the faces of certain people just waiting to ask what I made of the game. Losing to a country with a population about the size of Torbay and Exeter wasn’t the happiest moment in my time as an England fan!

This week, our Exeter student social moved to Allstars Sport Bar so we could all support Daniel, Ricardo and Luis, our Portuguese contingent, as their team faced Britain’s last nation – Wales. With an even split of fans from both nations it was a fantastic atmosphere and our Portuguese boys songs and celebrations were fantastic. I may have joined in – sorry Wales!

With Portugal winning 2 - 0, there were some serious celebrations and no doubt our Portuguese and French students will be creating another big atmosphere for the final on Sunday. Although the real excitement will come when we have our alternate European Championship at our next weekly meeting!

Five reasons why we love Exeter

Max working at Radio 1's Big Weekend

1. Fantastic employment opportunities

Exeter has and continues to be a fantastic place for professional employment. We’ve heard some amazing stories from our students based in Exeter. From managing marketing projects to representing businesses at events and ceremonies, Exeter provides amazing opportunities.

Just look at our student Max – attending BBC workshops and working at Radio 1’s Big Weekend!

2. All the perks of a city with a small town feel

Students at Artigiano

Exeter has everything you’d expect a city to offer but retains a community feel. There can’t be many cities that have somewhere like the quiet and cosy Gandy Street – supposedly inspiration for Harry Potter’s ‘Diagon Alley’, tucked away in the city centre.

3. Shopping, eating & drinking

From boutique shops to the big names in Princesshay, there’s just about everything to satisfy even the biggest shopaholic. There’s also a host of amazing options for eating out – we love our weekly student meeting at Artigiano Espresso & Wine Bar in the High Street.

4. Coast and countryside is just around the corner

From the hills of Dartmoor National Park, to the beautiful coastline around Dawlish Warren and Exmouth, Exeter is nestled in the perfect location.

Dartmoor National Park

5. Exeter continues to grow

There’s lots to look forward to with the development of the city. The science park continues to grow, more employment opportunities are on the horizon with big names like Ikea coming to the area and the success of Princesshay continues. A £75 million development has been announced this year, which involves transforming part of Exeter’s bus and coach station site into a new retail and leisure destination incorporating a new cinema, restaurants, cafes, shops, as well as a new public square.

We’re currently looking for more host families in Exeter - contact andrea@ttpl-uk.com or call 01803 321210 for more information

UK EU Referendum Vote

We are sure that you have all heard the unfortunate news of the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU.  It is a very sad situation and whilst we are happy that democracy allows a country to join together in a shared conversation about its future, it was a conversation unfortunately manipulated by propaganda despite the best efforts of our business leaders.

We would like to reassure you that it is business as usual for us here.  This is only the first step to withdrawal and the very beginning of negotiations.  There must now be a majority vote by both the European Council and the European Parliament, this means that 20 out of 27 member states must agree with the decision to allow us to leave and there must be a simple majority of the 751 MEP’s.  We cannot comprehend that this will happen easily and in addition this must all be agreed within a 2 year time frame which is just not achievable.

With regards to the free movement of people, mobility and Erasmus+ funded projects, the Council of the European Union made its view on this issue clear in December 2014: ‘the free movement of persons is a fundamental pillar of EU policy… the internal market and its four freedoms are indivisible’.

Erasmus+ funding is agreed and allocated over a 7 year cycle so we do not foresee that this will be affected, we will still need to remain a part of the EEA and continue working with EU countries much like Switzerland does.  In order to do this the UK cannot reasonably enforce border restrictions for EU citizens so programmes should continue to run as they currently do.

We hope that this helps alleviate the uncertainty, we do not think that there will be any major changes to the way we operate within the next 5-8 years.  The UK could not consider leaving the single market so it is our considered opinion that it will be business as usual and we can be trusted to provide the same exceptional service that we always have.

2016 to date has been a very successful year, 97% of participants are happy to recommend us and as you can see they are very happy with the service we offer. 

Student Feedback

            

Please rest assured that we will continue to work at the exceptional level we always have.

I’m available on Nadine@ttpl-uk.com

Kindest regards

Nadine Stroud

Director

Striving for the best service – a look at 2016 so far…

It’s hard to believe we are approaching the half way point of 2016 already – it’s been a busy and brilliant year so far. It’s always a pleasure to read some of the feedback we receive from students, employers and hosts.

We pride ourselves on having one of the highest customer satisfaction rates in the industry, so it’s great to see some of the figures so far in 2016:

•          97% of students in 2016 would recommend TTPL

•           96% of students rated TTPL 8 or above out of 10

Student comments on TTPL:

“A great experience that changes your life”

“An enormous improvement to your CV” 

“Helpful and kind persons to assist you”

“A chance to make new friends”

“A big improvement of your knowledge of the English language”

“A possibility to visit new beautiful places”

“Lots of events and places to have fun”

20 years of TTPL: the Devon dictionary

This year, TTPL is celebrating 20 years of creating inspirational work experience, vocational training and language study programmes for international students and graduates.

The Devon Flag

In the coming weeks, there’ll be a variety of themed blogs starting with 20 local words and sayings. Many of these are often used in Devon and if you’ve heard any and wondering what on Earth it means, then here’s a quick guide:

1) Grockle

A grockle is what Devonians call holidaymakers.

Example: Sorry I’m late, the roads were full of grockles!

2) Proper job

A general way of saying something is good.

Example: It’s a bank holiday this weekend? Proper job!

3) Handsome

Another way of saying something is good, or ‘me handsome’ can be used as a greeting.

Example: Alright me handsome?

4) My lover

Use the word ‘lover’ carefully, as it can mean something quite different outside of the Westcountry. In Devon, ‘my lover’ is a nice way to refer to anyone.

Example: Alright my lover?

5) Maid

Similar to ‘my lover’ but used to refer to females.

Example: She was a lovely little maid.

6) Directly

Often used as a way of saying something will happen soon, pronounced ‘dreckly’.

Example: I’ll be with you dreckly.

7) Get on

Shortened to ‘geddon’, can be used to answer pretty much anything!

Example: “Alright mate?”

“Yeah geddon!”

8) Where’s it to?

A Westcountry way of asking where something is. Can also be used with ‘you’.

Example: Where you to?

9) Gurt

Usually used in place of the word ‘great’, gurt can mean ‘big’ or ‘very’.

Example: That’s a gurt big tractor!

10) Tiswas

A way of describing someone who is confused

Example: She was in a bit of a tiswas

11) Ee

Many Devonians will replace ‘it’ and ‘he’ with ‘ee’.

Example: Put ee over there.

12) Bey

A male friend, usually used in a greeting.

Example: alright bey?

13) Wasson

A shortened way of saying ‘what’s on?’  

Example: Wasson bey?

14) Ooh arr:

A way of expressing joy or satisfaction.

Example: ooh arr I'm excited for the weekend!

15) You beauty

Pronounced ‘you beaudy’, said to someone who’s just done a good job of something.

Example: Gedon you beaudy!

16) Innit

A shortened way of saying ‘isn’t it’.

Example: Innit lovely weather today!

17) Jammy

Used to describe someone who is very lucky.

Example: Ee just won money on the lottery, ee’s so jammy!

18) Gannet

A gannet is a type of seabird, but is used to describe somebody who’s always hungry and always eating.

Example: I can’t believe you’re still eating you gannet!

19) Janner

A slightly derogatory term used to describe somebody from Plymouth.

Example: Geddon you janner!

20) Yer tis

‘Yer tis’ is simply a short way of saying ‘yes it is’.

Example: “Is this the end of the blog post?”

“Yer tis!”

A celebration of collaboration at Artizan Gallery

The Training Partnership have been busy celebrating continued collaboration this week ahead of Paignton Zoo’s Great Big Rhino Project. The fantastic Artizan Gallery played host to an evening for supporters to discover more about the project and featured talks from Paignton Zoo’s Simon Tonge and Pippa Craddock. The talks highlighted the tragic reality of rhinos in the wild and the threat of extinction among certain species.

Nadine with Dino Rhino artist Jess

The Great Big Rhino Project will see life-sized rhino models brilliantly decorated by local artists on display across the streets of Devon this summer, raising money for vital conservation and education work. 

TTPL have sponsored one of the 40 rhinos set to be on display – the magnificent Dino Rhino! We think artist Jess Miller has done a fantastic job with some amazing and intricate painting.

The evening at Artizan, hosted by Anthony Blackaby of Scribble & Ink also featured canapés and prosecco courtesy of Pier Point and special-edition Rhino Ale by Bays Brewery. Over £70 was raised on the night through generous donations. 

We’ve all been very touched by the collaboration and partnership shown  between businesses and individuals to raise money for such a fantastic cause through such a brilliant idea.

 

The trail of painted rhinos across Torbay and Exeter will come alive on Saturday July 30 – be sure to look out for Dino Rhino!

Click Here If you would like to find out more and make a donation