Friday, May 30, 2008

June Bank Holiday Week-End

Hi Everyone,

We are taking the opportunity of this weekend to carry out essential maintenance to the our site, www.courses.ie. The site will be down between 1pm - 4pm approximately today.

We are delighted to be carrying out this maintenance to improve certain functions of the site, thanks to you making it such a part of your information searches :-)

Probably you won't even notice as many of you will be heading off to enjoy the holiday weekend.

As the song says,'Summers here and the time is right for dancing in the street...'

Have a great time and mind yourselves,

See you soon,

Courses.ie

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

How do I become an ISTD Teacher?

As a worldwide examinations board, the ISTD provides teaching qualifications to ensure ISTD teachers are fully trained and supported in their teaching vocation from a teaching, health and safety, psychological and dance genre specific perspective.

Depending where you are in the world, and which dance genres you plan to offer, the ISTD has the teaching progression route for you, as detailed below.

If you have further questions after reading any of the information listed, please contact the Education and Training Department who will be able to assist you.

How do I become a Theatre Faculty Teacher within the EU?

The ISTD's teaching qualifications for Theatre Faculty teachers within the EU (including the UK) are as follows. (Please click here for the progression route for Theatre Faculty teachers outside the EU)

Please note, this is only a brief outline and there are some requirements not listed below. For further details you will need to read the appropriate Faculty syllabus outline obtainable free from Education and Training on edugeneralassistant@istd.org

Foundation in Dance Instruction

Candidates must be 17 years of age or over within the academic year they start the qualification and hold the Intermediate qualification from a QCA approved awarding body in the genre in with they wish to teach. For further information on this qualification please see our article on Foundation in Dance Instruction per the guidelines of the ISTD.

Certificate in Dance Education

Candidates must be 18 years of age or over within the academic year they start the qualification, hold the Advanced 1 qualification from a QCA approved awarding body in the genre in with they wish to teach and hold the Foundation in Dance Instruction. For further information on this qualification see our article Certificate in Dance Education

Licentiate

Candidates must be 23 years of age or over, hold the Certificate in Dance Education and have been teaching for 5 years

Fellowship

Candidates must be 28 years of age or over, have passed their Licentiate, have achieved their Advanced 2 qualification in the genre concerned, hold their Applied Anatomy and Physiology Parts 1 and 2 (for Fellowships being taken before 31 August 2006 only), and have been teaching for at least 8 years .

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Ten easy ways to alleviate stress - by Ann Bracken


Lowering our stress levels helps us feel healthy and have a positive outlook on life.




  • Organize your time and write a list. By keeping a wall planner or diary, you can prevent double booking appointments.

  • Do unimportant routine tasks when you have less energy and the most demanding jobs when you are more energetic. Do not over plan and allow yourself time to complete tasks.


  • Dedicate some daily time to ‘being’ instead of ‘doing’. Many of us feel guilty for taking necessary time out.

  • Surround yourself with Mother Nature. Taking a 30 minute walk at lunchtime clears the mind and all exercise releases natural endorphins, which lifts the mood. Other tension taming exercises include yoga, swimming and pilates.


  • Visualisation is a very effective self-help technique for stress. Find a quiet space where you know you will not be disturbed. When sitting comfortably or lying down, close your eyes. Breathe slowly and visualize a calm, beautiful scene. Use your senses to make it real. Imagine the sounds you would hear and the smells you would experience in such a place. Repeat to yourself “I am relaxed and happy”.


  • Aromatherapy can be used to relax the mind. Burn a few drops of a relaxing essential oil, or add four drops to your bath. Bergamot, Camomile, Clary Sage, Jasmine or Lavender are all calming oils. Juniper, or the citrus oils, such as orange and lemon uplift the spirits and get your day off to a good start.


  • Use colour therapy daily. Wear blue or black to feel relaxed, green to promote harmony, red to feel energised, orange for happiness and yellow for concentration. Not altogether of course!


  • When you experience muscle tension or headache, ask a friend or work colleague to massage you head, neck and shoulders. Ideally, allow yourself to benefit from a relaxation therapy weekly. Reflexology, massage, shiatsu and reiki all relax the body and balance energy flow.


  • Drink plenty of water. Still water, stills the mind. It is recommended to drink a litre of water per day. Tap water can contain high levels of copper, iron, chlorine and fluoride (which contrary to widespread belief is harmful in excess) and other pollutants. It is advisable to drink bottled or filtered water.


  • Adding foods with a high source of Iron is an excellent way to avoid physical exhaustion. Lentils and Soya beans contain a high source of Iron. Wholesome grains are very grounding such as brown rice, oats and millet. Cut down on your intake of coffee, white sugar and processed or refined foods. Apart from having no nutritional value, stimulants create mood swings.


  • If you find you are a ‘yes’ person, try saying ‘no’ sometimes. It is impossible to be all things to all people and actually not agreeing to every request of your time and energy allows you time to relax and focus on your own needs. When you are rested, your outlook will be positive and once again you can reach out with the hand of friendship.


  • Laughter helps to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol - so as John Cleese so famously sang, “always look on the bright side of life”.

Courtesy of Irish Institute of Nutrition & Health

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Meetings to help families at exam time

Parents can learn how to keep their child and themselves calm during the stressful exam season, thanks to a free public meeting in Dublin tonight, May 13th.

Child psychiatrists Prof. Fiona McNicholas and Dr. Therese Thornton will give their expert advice.

The meeting will be held at the lucena Clinic, 59, Orwell Rd, Rathgar, Dublin 6. It runs from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Register by phoning 01 499 9349 or online at www.lucenaclinic.ie

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Time for Tennis

Ireland is still waiting to find her answer to Borg, Connors, McEnroe...Ok, OK, I am showing my age.

Tennis Ireland remains ever hopeful though! Every year Park Tennis coaching is carried out for those aged between 6 to 17 and this year it kicks in again.

A Tennis Coaching programme takes place this Summer at various venues around the country.

Hourly classes are divided according to age and standard.

This is a low cost programme subsidised by various sponsors.

The only cost is a small once off registration fee - and that's it.. All equipment supplied, racquets and balls - Free T-shirts for all.

Get going and enjoy this fun programme with your friends while learning tennis. Dates and times vary according to locations but are mostly during July or August. The full 2008 Timetable.

Quoting an interview with John McEnroe for the BBC Sports

Tennis does have a stuffy image.

That's not just here, but everywhere, even the United States.

But I can tell you tennis is one of the best all round games that I've been lucky enough to be part of.

It combines a lot of strategy and the mental part of the sport is huge because you're out there by yourself.

It can be difficult being on your own, I know this myself.

When you lose you feel really naked out there and it's difficult to accept it but that's part of the process.

Tennis is one of the most difficult sports to learn, but when you do master it, it's so enjoyable because things happen without you even thinking.

You can win points in lots of different ways and be totally creative on the court too.

People talk about attitude and in the UK it seems very important to be a good loser.

While in America you are taught to win at any cost. I personally feel that somewhere in the middle of that would be ideal.

I always say that the greatest match I was ever part of was the 1980 Wimbledon final which I lost to Bjorn Borg.

Even though it sounds corny, I felt like I came out of that match a winner.

My respect level among players and fans went up by 20 or 50 times more and that's the match people always ask me about.

It's a lot harder to go out and fail or lose than to try at all. I give automatic respect to people who are willing to get themselves out there.

You should take great pride in giving 100 per cent effort.

Maybe you don't always win but you'll be amazed that a lot of good things will happen.

Never give up!

Sunday, May 04, 2008

BBC Exposes Facebook Flaw

According to the BBC's Technology site Facebook has some security issues regarding the privacy of your own information and that of the people you link to.

Friday, May 02, 2008

Career Doctor: What qualifications do I need to become a legal secretary?

We sourced this interesting question on the Irish Independent....

Q

I am 25 years old and work in retail, but something about the job isn’t right for me. For a long time, I’ve had a huge interest in the legal profession. I would like to know what qualifications I’d need to become a legal secretary and how to look for work experience. I would appreciate any advice you could give me about my career prospects in this area.

A

In relation to your first question, I would suggest you check out two websites: www.careerdirections.ie and www.fas.ie.

The first gives a comprehensive list of courses that will help you qualify as a legal secretary. The second outlines the details of the FÁS legal secretary traineeship.

Many of these courses are full-time day courses, typically lasting one year. When investigating courses, you should ask whether they include work experience. Would a full-time day course be an issue for you? FÁS offers a legal secretary traineeship, which is a full-time day course, but only lasts 29 weeks. This may be a better option.

Something you didn’t ask about, but I’d suggest is very relevant to your decision, is salary expectations. This depends on where you are located and the size of your potential employer’s business. Entry salaries range from €18,000 to €25,000, but good legal secretaries with more than five years’ experience typically earn up to €35,000.

In terms of the second part of your question, the good news is that legal secretaries are in demand, and the prospects of getting work, once qualified, are very positive.

Therefore I’d suggest you keep an eye on the appointments pages in both the local and national press. There are also some recruitment companies that could help you out.

Finally, consider the work you will do as a legal secretary. Do you like this type of work and does it make the most of your strengths? For example, you will need strong communication, planning and organisational skills. In addition, you will be expected to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.

It is a brave but not too daunting move you are contemplating. Best of luck with it and bear in mind, when you find work that you love, you will never work again!

Terry Judge is a career coach with Mind Solutions.

www.mindsolutions.ie

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Guest Authors In Conversation with Dermot Bolger

I have read novels by 5 of the guest authors who will be in conversation with Dermot Bolger at a series of readings over the next few months.

What a joy to hear treasured authors read and discuss their work. I for one will be getting some tickets.


The Irish Writers’ Centre is delighted to announce an exciting new series of fortnightly readings by leading contemporary authors at the Irish Writers’ Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

This unique and intimate series of hour-long public readings has been curated by leading novelist and poet Dermot Bolger. In conversation with Bolger, writers will read from and discuss their work in the beautiful surroundings of this Georgian building in Parnell Square in Dublin overlooking The Garden of Remembrance.

The series kicks off on 20th May with acclaimed author Jennifer Johnston, followed by Roddy Doyle and Colm Tóibín in June and Joseph O’Connor, Claire Kilroy and Glenn Patterson in July. Anne Enright is among the authors due to read during the series in the autumn.

The programme for the first series (May-June) is as follows:

May
20 Jennifer Johnston

June
3 Roddy Doyle
17 Colm Tóibín

July
1 Joseph O’Connor
15 Claire Kilroy
29 Glenn Patterson

Tickets available two weeks prior to the reading by calling 01 872 1302

For details of how to book, please contact the Irish Writers’ Centre.
Tel: 01 872 1302; Email: info@writerscentre.ie