Hello,
Just another footnote on the British Council: I worked for a
British Council sponsored language centre in Poznan, Poland, and I
also worked as a EFL teacher in Germany. During those times I went
to several BC sponsored events, including poetry readings. I remember
in particular an outstanding reading by Benjamin Zephaniah in
Frankfurt. I wouldn't say that BC events were representative of only a
section of British culture. The policy was to promote Britain abroad,
and I think the events gave a very rounded and interesting portrait of
the country.
By the way, our centre library in Poznan from 1987-9 included several
magazines donated by individuals, and books as well. I'm glad the
Katowice library had Denise Riley and Ian Sinclair. The University
library in Poznan was wonderful, with collections of Shaw, Dickens,
and current issues of the TLS, The New York Review of Books, Punch,
the Atlantic, Harper's, etc. I remember that other materials were
available at the main BC library in Warsaw; I used a Plath reading on
tape for some lessons. I visited Katowice before I left
Poland and I loved it.
Does anyone know a poet named Alan Malley who wrote "The Mind's
Eye" other creative writing texts for the EFL classroom? I
held on to my copy of Poem into Poem for ideas for exercises.
I remember meeting him when the BC sent him to Poznan. A very nice
man.
Yours,
Ivy Garlitz
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