Letter 1

Hania,

(…) In November, I took part in an activity created by an old friend of mine, and it was an amazing experience - students in groups, some out on the streets, some based at a computer, trying to identify and then follow (without being seen) a supposed spy. The spy is trying to cross from one side of the city to the other and hand over a briefcase of top secret documents to his (it was a him this time) contact. The students have clues as to the spy's appearance, and the spy, unbeknownst to him , has a GPS tracking device in his briefcase. Some students are based at a computer, tracking the spy on a map (accuracy variable to give the spy a chance). They then communicate with their teams on the street by mobile phone. All conversations are recorded. Students who think they have spotted the spy record (on voice recorders) descriptions of the spy, his movements, their movements etc. They are also supposed to take photos. Huge amounts of real language generated, and it's an amazingly involving experience - everyone gets really into their roles, it allows for team players, individualists, most people get completely paranoid, wondering if they've been spotted, and this spy was even seen doubling back and dodging, Bond-like, between a very narrow space between two buildings to get behind some people he thought were following him. Much animated conversation after the activity, too, also all recorded for subsequent use.

Well, I don't know if my brief description does it justice, but you can see more here:

http://web.me.com/paul_driver/Spywalk2/spywalk_II.html

And do check out that video - you might just recognise the man in the hat... ;)

Hope all's well with you. Hope to be back at Pilgrims some time in the not too distant future, too!

Very best wishes,

Mark 

Letter 2

Dear Authors and Readers,

World Journal of English Language has just published its latest issue at http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.php/wjel. We invite you to review the Table of Contents here and then visit our web site to review articles and items of interest

Thanks for the continuing interest in our work.

Sincerely,

Ms. Lauren F. Liu
Editor, World Journal of English Language
Sciedu Press
 

Letter 3

Dear Hania,

Thank you very much for the invitation to the April Issue of the HLT Magazine and for the news on its growing accessibility. I can confirm that it is being read quite widely. I have recently received a complimentary acknowledgment of my article in  Issue 2 of 2009, from Canada. Although it appeared to be only  pro-forma praise, the Magazine is known widely. I am very happy to hear from you and I am interested in the publications in this Issue. Thank you.

With kind regards,

Marija

Letter 4

Dear Hania,

I am honoured to be invited to publish again in the HLT Magazine. I will think about that soon as I have already written something which I haven't finished. I would like to congratulate you for extending the importance of the magazine.

I would gladly come again to Pilgrims as I was very happy to attend the course and meet the wonderful people there. The Comenius grant is given once in four years as far as I know. I still have to wait one more year, i.e.2012 , but I have recommended it to other colleagues to try and get the grant. There was one who contacted me a while ago, but I do not know whether she has got the funding or not.

I will surely read the articles in this issue, they are very interesting and useful. I would like to thank again for reminding me to write and read again.

Best wishes,
Angela Popescu
Teacher of English
School Nr. 1 "Nicolae Simonide", Pitesti

Letter 5

Dear Ms Hania,

(…) I am quite sincere when I speak about HLT (maybe Mr Rinvolucri, as he knows me better, can tell you more abut this feature of mine). I am quite uncomfortable as a person for all those people that do not like the truth and  I  value this ability of speaking my mind . I view this as a profound ''must" -also in my attempts with the task of a linguist/humanist writer(I hope)!.I have been wounded in life like many people and I have discovered that, at any risks, we must express ourselves and the world will be better. The humanist feature/trend is the best school of thought for us.

Maybe it is a feature of my mind as well as of my free spirit, hungry for justice) and also I can be very convincing when I see good features in something because I try to avoid hypocrisy, unnecessary flattering and I believe in what I say.

When I pray to God, which is quite often, one of my wishes is that this spirit of HLT that I grasped so many times and that I  benefit from should not die, it should be passed on- its missionaries and pilgrims must carry on, they must pass on the light and not let it extinct .   

Unfortunately, the spirit of mediocrity and unfairness, still exists in our nowadays world,  the spirit that buries talents instead of helping people. This spirit, which, unfortunately again, except for  very few good things in life like HLT, has started to prevail, creating a non-cultural "global", community, must be stopped, and through stuff like HLT we can do that if we are true to ourselves!  

HLT, as designed initially by Mario Rinvolucri, does not only reflect his spirit (a real mastermind in its very sense) , but it was created with such inspiration that it aims at achieving some fundamental goals, universal, that are valid for any place and times, for us, as linguists and teachers. And as humanists, above all!  

And one feature that is very important-I have spoken to many people, personalities in their field, but Mr Rinvolucri has got that unique trait of being, besides a bright inspiration and a real value, that of  elegance, class,  and most important, to my mind, humbleness, modesty, fair-play-features that, with all the respect, lack in many "VIP's" or education environments of today. And I think that this modesty is one really divine feature that can make people like you, already known in the field, be fair-play enough so as to pass the light on- encourage us to write, have faith in ourselves and become missionaries of this spirit. And HLT does that  by not talking alone, but by giving a helping hand to all those who wish to do their job and teach, write, and make a difference. This helping hand  was something that helped HLT be so cherished.  It is just like a good Christian feature, or, in the field of languages, it is like a necessity, parallel to what the duty of spreading the Bible’s message is for the Christians. As "Pilgrims", of this other kind, as teachers and linguists we should do that by all means! We should keep up the HLT spirit !

HLT was designed by, and carried on, by people who had the essential human value(since we speak about the "humanistic side"), of giving up all pride, and share their spirit with others and associate their image with that of missionaries and pilgrims of a better cause, a humanistic one.

And last but not least,  I must end  this letter by thanking you, Ms Hania, for your being there with us always when we need you !

Sincerely yours,

Consuela (a "converted" HLT friend and I hope, a good pilgrim too!)