British Romanian Educational Exchange
Encyclopedia
BREDEX is the British Romanian Educational Exchange. It is a volunteer student-led organisation which sends university students from the UK to a number of cities in Romania to teach conversational English.
The programme runs during the summer vacation and students go for between 5 and 7 weeks depending on the city that they are in. Initially, the students came from Oxford University and Cambridge University. Now the students are being recruited from a wider pool of universities including Queen Mary, University of London
, University of Southampton
, Durham University
, King's College London
, the University of Cambridge
and the University of Oxford
. They are sent to various cities in groups ranging from 2-6. The cities include Bucharest
, Craiova
, Galaţi
, Iaşi
, Sibiu
and Timişoara
. BREDEX has also, on occasion, provided courses in the smaller settlement of Bozovici, situated in the south west of Romania.
In each city conversational English classes are taught for around three hours a day to both children and young adults. The classes are as varied and flexible as the teachers wish to make them. Complete creative control is entrusted to the teachers who are all selected through a rigorous interview process. Typically, those being taught will be split into groups depending on a combination of their age and ability. Class sizes can range depending on local interest in the scheme and how many teachers there are. A lot of the teachers' time is usually spent absorbing the local culture with fellow teachers and local students. The atmosphere is quite informal and often more English is taught outside of the classroom than inside. By the same token, TEFL careers have also started from BREDEX so teachers be as serious as they like.
In the middle of the programme the teachers are given one week's leave for independent travel.
According to testament handed down to the current organisers from previous participants, BREDEX has been running since 1991.
In Galaţi there is also a close link with the International student organisation AIESEC
whose offices are next door to the accommodation provided to the teachers. AIESEC provides the teachers with access to other university students both Romanian and international. There is also a burgeoning relationship with the United States Peace Corps who are setting up an English language library.
In 2010, classes took place from the 12th of July to the 27th of August, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 13:00 with a week off in the middle.
The programme runs during the summer vacation and students go for between 5 and 7 weeks depending on the city that they are in. Initially, the students came from Oxford University and Cambridge University. Now the students are being recruited from a wider pool of universities including Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. They are sent to various cities in groups ranging from 2-6. The cities include Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Craiova
Craiova
Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief...
, Galaţi
Galati
Galați is a city and municipality in Romania, the capital of Galați County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, in the close vicinity of Brăila, Galați is the largest port and sea port on the Danube River and the second largest Romanian port....
, Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
and Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
. BREDEX has also, on occasion, provided courses in the smaller settlement of Bozovici, situated in the south west of Romania.
In each city conversational English classes are taught for around three hours a day to both children and young adults. The classes are as varied and flexible as the teachers wish to make them. Complete creative control is entrusted to the teachers who are all selected through a rigorous interview process. Typically, those being taught will be split into groups depending on a combination of their age and ability. Class sizes can range depending on local interest in the scheme and how many teachers there are. A lot of the teachers' time is usually spent absorbing the local culture with fellow teachers and local students. The atmosphere is quite informal and often more English is taught outside of the classroom than inside. By the same token, TEFL careers have also started from BREDEX so teachers be as serious as they like.
In the middle of the programme the teachers are given one week's leave for independent travel.
According to testament handed down to the current organisers from previous participants, BREDEX has been running since 1991.
Galaţi
In Galaţi the teaching occurs at the city's university. A tutor at the university liaises with the students organising rooms and advertising the classes locally before the students arrive. The teachers are housed in student accommodation a short walk from the main University building.In Galaţi there is also a close link with the International student organisation AIESEC
AIESEC
AIESEC is a global youth organisation that develops leadership capabilities through their internal leadership programmes and engaging students and graduates in international student exchange and internship programmes for profit and non-profit organisations. Its international office is in...
whose offices are next door to the accommodation provided to the teachers. AIESEC provides the teachers with access to other university students both Romanian and international. There is also a burgeoning relationship with the United States Peace Corps who are setting up an English language library.
Craiova
Similarly to Galati, a tutor at the university organises rooms in the main building of the University of Craiova and accommodation in one of the student hostels, as well as advertising in local highschools and various university buildings.In 2010, classes took place from the 12th of July to the 27th of August, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 13:00 with a week off in the middle.