Being grateful!!!

When we reach out to people we can help, we confirm that we are not alone in our own need for support and inspiration, and we also remind ourselves that we are powerful and capable in certain ways.

When we decided to start offering Facebook events, we did it because in various academic gatherings there were many teachers asking for academic events at affordable prices and on dates when they could attend.

And so we did, knowing that there is always someone else who can use our particular gifts and energy to help them out. They, in turn, remind us that we are not the only people in the world with difficulties or issues. We all struggle with the problems of life, and we all feel overwhelmed from time to time, but we can almost always find solace in service.

Join us in CTS last Academic Facebook event of the year to thank you and thank each other for all the support, encouragement and good will that has been passed on along the year.

Fourth Summer Course for Top Teachers of English

What I like about working for Customized Training Services is the possibility of meeting colleagues who come to find knowledge but also find friends and keep with us along the passing years taking different courses to improve their teaching practice.

They come from different backgrounds and display different levels of performance but they all share the same drive to succeed and commit to their course.

Once again, we are ready to run another Summer Course for Top Teachers of English, this time is our Fourth and we feel really happy and hopeful about the future of our participants.

We look forward to meeting new friends.

Being Real
I´d like to share this article since I believe we all need to grow being who we really are.

Most of us are familiar with the idea of keeping it real and have an intuitive sense about what that means. People who keep it real don't hide behind a mask to keep themselves safe from their fear of how they might be perceived. They don't present a false self in order to appear more perfect, more powerful, or more independent. People who keep it real present themselves as they truly are, the good parts and the parts most of us would rather hide, sharing their full selves with the people who are lucky enough to know them.

Being real in this way is not an easy thing to do as we live in a culture that often shows us images of physical and material perfection. As a result, we all want to look younger, thinner, wealthier, and more successful. We are rewarded externally when we succeed at this masquerade, but people who are real remind us that, internally, we suffer. Whenever we feel that who we are is not enough and that we need to be bigger, better, or more exciting, we send a message to ourselves that we are not enough. Meanwhile, people who are not trying to be something more than they are walk into a room and bring a feeling of ease, humor, and warmth with them. They acknowledge their wrinkles and laugh at their personal eccentricities without putting themselves down.

People like this inspire us to let go of our own defenses and relax for a moment in the truth of who we really are. In their presence, we feel safe enough to take off our masks and experience the freedom of not hiding behind a barrier. Those of us who were lucky enough to have a parent who was able to keep it real may find it easier to be that way ourselves. The rest of us may have to work a little harder to let go of our pretenses and share the beauty and humor of our real selves. Our reward for taking such a risk is that as we do, we will attract and inspire others, giving them the permission to be real too.

From "The Daily Om"

If we don't change what isn't working in our lives, we will continually have the same day over and over again.

"We have all had the experience of realizing that something in our lives is not working. This knowledge can come as a sudden realization or a nagging feeling of doubt that grows stronger, waking us up to the fact that something needs to change. Some people have a tendency to act rashly and make sweeping changes before even understanding what the problem is. Other people fear change, so they live with the uncomfortable awareness that something needs to shift but won’t do anything about it. Between these two extreme responses lies a middle way that can help us powerfully and gracefully change what isn’t working in our lives. 

The first step is remembering that your life is made up of parts that belong to an interconnected whole. Changing one thing can change everything. Because of this, small changes often have a big effect. Sometimes much bigger changes are necessary, but the only way to know for sure is to take the time to really understand the problem.

 Examine your life as an entirety—your work, your relationships, where you live—and determine what specifically is not functioning the way you would like. Once you have figured out the problem, write it down on a piece of paper. For example, “I am not happy with my relationship” or “I don’t like my apartment.” The next step is to figure out the adjustment you would like to make and how you can go about making this change.

 If you are unhappy with your relationship because you spend too much or not enough time with your partner, you may want to discuss this problem with them and come up with a compromise. On the other hand, if you realize your relationship is not working to such a degree that it needs to end, begin working through that process. Writing down the truth can be a powerful catalyst for change. 

The key to making changes that work is to accept the necessity of change as part of life. As we change, we may find it necessary to fine-tune our relationships, work, and living situations. Our lives are living, breathing entities that reflect our dynamic selves."

Today I found this article in my daily "DAILY OM" delivery and found it powerful and commanding. It has made me reflect on how important it is to change what is not working well and accept that it will not be immediately accepted but the benefit will be worth.

Independence Day

I read an interesting article about hope today. It was about how much hope the new President and the Government plans have arisen in Peruvian people since his speech this past July 28th.

I hadn´t realized this but now looking back at what I saw and heard last week, it is true. Many people looked happy and full of hope - even the ones who did not vote for this President. In my case, for the first time I also felt like celebrating Independence Day and organised a karaoke to sing some of our Peruvian folk songs. 

We were just a bunch of people: I had my Mum, who in spite of her Alzheimer could remember many of the songs we sang and I also had some friends who represented different stages of my life: school friends, friends from the university and friends from work. We even started our karaoke singing the National Anthem and we all did it with pride and joy.

I believe it is important to celebrate these events, not only because they provide you with a good opportunity for fun and relax but also because we all hope next year (or the next 5 years, as in this case) will be even better than this one. 

Let´s pray for never losing our hope!

Singing and Dancing Tondero

More than once I am asked why I insist on running academic events and preparation courses for teachers when I could happily enjoy my free time and my pension- which even if not huge, is sufficient for meeting my few needs. The answer is always the same, I love exchanging ideas with people and learning from them, I feel comfortable with other teachers and at this stage of my life I have nothing to prove and no need to be approved so I can happily teach and learn.

On July 28th, in Peru, we celebrate Independence Day and these days I have been thinking about what being independent is. I have come with the realization that it means being free of prejudices and pressures for being someone who you are not, being free from the obligation of meeting standards imposed by other people and having to do things because you are expected to.

I am happy not have to make statements and prove my ideas or disprove others. I am happy watching my flowers, petting my dogs, reading tons of things cuddled in te comfort of my bed and wrapped up in three blankets. I do have my duties as everybody else but nothing that I cannot cope with. I feel free, I feel independent. This is what my Dad wanted for me when he said that only a good education will give me choices. I choose to be happy, I choose to be free!!!!

Qué lindo leer tantos saludos por el Día del Maestro, saludos muy profundos, algunos con figuras muy bonitas y todos con palabras muy sentidas que nacen del corazón de personas generosas y dedicadas a esta inmensa labor.

Yo no empecé mi carrera laboral como maestra pues en la U de San Marcos estudié Ciencias, empecé a enseñar inglés mientras duraban las huelgas de aquél entonces... y algunas fueron tan largas que me permitieron estudiar más y perfeccionar el idioma hasta que me fue ganando.

No sé cuánto tiempo tengo enseñando inglés, lo he hecho en Perú en el Británico, mi Alma Mater, en ESAN, U del Pacífico, USIL, de manera particular para organizaciones como FAO,UNDP, OIT, UNESCO, REPSOL, MOBIL y también fuera del país y ahora lo hago para mi propia empresa CTS y siempre es un placer poder compartir y aprender con mis colegas.

Ayer celebramos también el Día del Maestro con nuestras alumnas maestras quienes a pesar de tener el día libre o haber estado celebrando en sus instituciones, acudieron a tomar sus clases pues saben que lo mejor que podemos hacer es estudiar y capacitarnos para ser no solamente mejores maestros sino también mejores personas.

Aunque no pude estar con ellas por estar un poco delicada de salud, tienen mi admiración y mi promesa de seguir apoyándolas para que consigan sus metas.

Feliz Día del Maestro, siempre, siempre,  porque un Maestro nunca deja de serlo.

Whenever I read the paper I get overwhelmed and feel that it is impossible to make a difference without unlimited funding or free time. However, I come to my senses and realize that each

of us is more than capable of helping the world, despite our fears and limitations and the uncertainty that holds us back.   

I have always believed in the multiplying effect that our actions have in this world and I think that if we vow to make the world a better place one day at a time, the true significance of small good deeds reveals itself to us.

We make our homes, workplaces, communities, and countries better and brighter when we think positive thoughts that echo outward, give donations of time or money- if we can afford it, and smile at everyone we meet.

As we learn, we inadvertently improve the universe because we can only be truly involved when we are informed. This is why my favourite quote-which I borrowed from Mahatma Gandhi- is Live as if you  were to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were to live forever. Even enthusiastically sharing ideas with others generates positive energy that then serves as the motivation for more tangible change. This is another reason why I love hosting the Customized Training Services Facebook events, these allow me to share and to receive valuable knowledge and feedback from my peers.

Helping the world often takes no more than a moment, just a wish for the world is a beautiful gesture and can be done by even the busiest of people effortlessly. I normally do this when I wake up after thanking God for another day. I know that the gift of a wish for the world is not grand or  or attention-worthy, yet I believe the benefits are the same no matter the literal repercussions.

I am convinced that at least once a day we can affect reality, and  reap the rewards of knowing that  we are making the world a better place, day by day.

I´ve just read this and wanted to share it with you.

"I am old but I am forever young at heart. We are always the same age inside. Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, you can only live it once.

Do not regret growing older, it is a privilege denied to many."

"The choices you make upon waking can have a profound impact on your day.   By beginning your day in a focused and centered fashion, you make it your own. You set the tone of your expectations and choose the mood you will use to respond to your circumstances. A gentle, reflective, and thoughtful morning will prepare you to create a gentle, conscious, and thoughtful day. "

"The simplest way to eliminate the rush from your morning routine is to rise earlier. Though this may seem like a hardship at first, you will soon grow to love the extra minutes or hours that afford you an opportunity to really enjoy watching the sun come up or connect with your loved ones before you go in your separate directions."  

 "If you want little more than to enjoy your day, devote a portion of your personal time to activities that both ground and delight you, such as meditation, yoga, chanting, singing, reading, or listening to music".  Today I decided to catch up with some friends who I had not written for quite a while and It felt really good since writing to them made me think of them and the various reasons why I loved them filling my heart with a warm feeling.

"Your morning is yours and should reflect not only your practical needs but also the needs of your soul. When you center yourself at the start of your day, you will likely find it easier to remain centered during subsequent work, play, and downtime because the overall sense of serenity you create through your choices will stay with you throughout the day".

I had already made plans for my day so there is not much I can change and to be honest I fell rather sleepy now but let´s see if I can follow the advice from the quoted recommendations from the Daily Om.

At home, getting ready to celebrate the New Year. We have many expectations about this year and hope that everyone will make their dreams come true.
Live well
Love much
Laugh often

Happy Chinese New Year!!!!

 

 

Dear Friends

 

I wanted to share this message from the Executive Director of Customized Training Services with all of you since I know most of you share our vision for improving education in our country.

I can´t help  feeling really proud for having contributed to the success of our colleagues and feel happy for providing our little grain of sand to Peru´s educational goals.

 

Queridos amigos,

Feliz Año 2016!

Además de saludarlos y desearles lo mejor de lo mejor para este año que estamos próximos a iniciar, queremos aprovechar la ocasión para agradecer a cada uno de ustedes por haber sido parte de nuestra historia en el 2015 y sobre todo por habernos permitido ser parte de vuestra historia y haber podido colaborar y alegrarnos con sus triunfos académicos y profesionales. Podemos resumir nuestro 2015 en:

-          Dos profesores alumnos nuestros que obtuvieron becas docentes a UK y una a USA.
-          Tres alumnas nuestras, profesoras de inglés que obtuvieron sus resoluciones de nombramiento en la carrera pública magisterial.
-          Cinco jóvenes que se han graduado en IB en el 2015 y además inician su vida universitaria con un Diploma Internacional en mano.
-          27 profesores participantes al Second Summer Course for Top English Teachers 2015
-          18 profesores participantes al Curso English Pronunciation
-          Cuatro participantes al Pre-CAE 2015-2
-          174 participantes a los diferentes Facebook Academic Events 2015
-          43 Cambridge English: First
-          52 TKT-Young Learners y TKT-CLIL.

 

Gracias a todos ustedes por contar con nosotros, por hacernos parte de sus éxitos y de muchos otros triunfos que tal vez no conocemos pero que demuestra el gran interés de ser cada vez mejores profesionales no sólo para ustedes mismos sino también para sus alumnos como es el caso de todos los docentes de inglés que participaron con nosotros.  

 

Feliz Año 2016!

 

Best regards,

 

Liliana Cheneder

Executive Director

Customized Training Services

Telephone: +51-1-744-5948

Mobile: +51-9898-52363 (RPC)

             +51-9944-53348 (RPM)

www.ctsperu.com

liliana.cheneder@customizedtrainingperu.com

Happy New Year, dear friends! 2015 was a wonderful year for my family and for Customized Training Services, my company  and for me personally. I turned 60 and also moved to a new stage in my family life with more responsibilities for domestic issues.  I felt a shift within myself as I headed into my next decade of life, and I’m so looking forward to see what this coming year will bring into my life. 

 

It is funny to think that new beginnings need to start in January when we all know we can start a new routine at any minute of any day. However, I have read somewhere that a powerful energy happens when so many people are heading for the same goal and it is inevitable that we get swept up into the energy of change.

 

I am dreading the work of having to put away the holiday decorations but I have decided to do it with a sense of cleaning to start anew on a fresh track and that´s what I am going to do. I am sure, life has wonderful things waiting for me.