WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH...

 Intimate Conversations for Viola and Piano
 What Sound does Color Make
 Colombo Art Biennale 2009
 Teacher Conference on History and Civics
 E-languages for teachers

MORE ON OUR SERVICES....

 Opportunities for our library members
 English – courses, workshops and examinations for students and
     teachers
  Professional Skills Workshops



INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS FOR VIOLA AND PIANO
featuring Ashan Pillai(viola) and Eshantha Peiris(piano)

British Council in celebration of its 60 th year in Sri Lanka is proud to present this classical music evening featuring the critically acclaimed Sri Lankan-born British violist Ashan Pillai described as a "brilliant professional", with Sri Lanka's renowned pianist Eshantha Peiris.

The duets by the two - no frills, no gimmicks - will demand nothing less than your full attention! The proramme will include works for viola and piano by Bach, Schumann, Schubert, C M von Weber, Gavin Bryars and G P Telemann

Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-arts-and-culture-intimate-conversations-for-viola-and-piano

When: Thursday 6 August | Where: Lionel Wendt Theatre
Time: 1930| Tickets: Rs.1250, 1000, 750 and 250 on sale at Lionel Wendt


WHAT SOUND DOES COLOR MAKE
A lecture by Rohan De Livera

For a few artists, Art has always been an experience of multiple senses. Their works combine fields as diverse as music, architecture, performance, the graphic arts and installation.

In this lecture/presentation, Rohan De Livera will trace the history of multidimensional art through the Synestheist experiences of Kandinsky, the Symbolist poetry of Mallarme, the philosophy of Schopenhauer, the opera of Wagner and the architecture of Le Corbusier, culminating with the work of several contemporary British and international artists who work in multiple medias to realize what Richard Wagner first coined, Der Gesamptkunst or the Complete Art.

Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-arts-and-culture-what-sound-does-colour-make

When: Wednesday 12 August | Where: British Council Colombo | Time: 1800 | Admission: free


COLOMBO ART BIENNALE 2009

Art Biennale Arrives in Colombo with official Sri Lankan Tourist Board Endorsement. Colombo will host its first Art Biennale to take place from 10 to 14 September 2009.

Joining Dubai, Bangladesh, Singapore, New York,  Sydney and Venice, Colombo’s Biennale aims to encourage and show contemporary art from Sri Lanka. International artists have shown interest and, plans are underway to accommodate artists from the region and the EEC.



Colombo Art Biennale is the brainchild of Annoushka Hempel who has made Sri Lanka her home for the past seven years. Annoushka is passionate about contemporary art-- using her experience in public relations work for blue chip clients in the UK-- has seen an energetic drive to promote the Biennale concept to Sri Lanka.

Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-arts-and-culture-colombo-art-biennale

When: 10 to 14 September | Where: Park Street Mews, Park Street, Colombo 2 Admission: free


TEACHER CONFERENCE ON HISTORY AND CIVICS

This is anassembly of secondary level History and Citizenship Education teachers from the schools that are a part of DFID Global School Partnership programme. It provides an opportunity for them to generate ideas for History & Citizenship Education related curriculum based collaborative projects with the partner school in the UK. The aim of the conference is to create awareness of collaborative projects on History and Civics within secondary School curriculum (grade 7 -11). Additionally how to develop and manage a project creatively and effectively.


When : 24 to 28 August | Where: MAS Institute of Management & Technology, Thulhiriya | Admission: by invitation


E-LANGUAGES FOR TEACHERS

This is a workshop to promote the E-languages website for joint-curricular-collaborative projects. This workshop will focus on how the schools that a part of DFID Global School Partnerships (DGSP) will use the e-languages website to create their own classroom projects, upload text, pictures, videos, podcasts and how to share & swap the classroom work done with a partner school.


When : Saturday 15 August | Where: British Council Colombo | Time: 0900 to 1400 | Admission: by invitation



OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR LIBRARY MEMBERS

Long ago and far away...
Long ago and far away… is an interactive story time for our very young members. This month our story teller is Tracy Holt with Little Red Riding Hood written by Maggie Moore.

Admission: A limited number of passes will be issued to members (from 5 - 8 years) at the Young Learners Centre from Saturday 1 August between 1000 and 1600 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Find out more @ /www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-library-services-yl-activities-colombo

When: Saturday 22 August   |   Where: British Council Colombo 
Time: from 1100 to 1200. Please report at the Young Learners Centre at 1045

Quest Seekers
Get hooked on books; fire up your imagination…Quest Seekers” motivates young readers; encouraging reading habits which will last a lifetime…. which also gives kids a real sense of achievement. It boosts their self-confidence making them feel rewarded for their reading. For more details please contact Poorni/Rizani on 4521587.

When: Saturday 15 August | Where: British Council Colombo | Time: 1000
Admission: Complete and hand in the Quest Seekers application form to the Young Learners Centre Colombo. Limited places available on a first come first served basis.


Library Tour
 Join the Library Tour to learn about all the services and resources the library offers. The library tour will provide you information on how you can; browse the library catalogue, reserve and extend library material, use computers and make use of the Teachers corner and the Young Learners collection.

When: 8, 15, 22 and 29 August | Where: British Council library, Colombo Time: 1500 to 1600  |  Admission: by invitation only

ENGLISH: COURSES, WORKSHOPSAND EXAMINATIONS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

Courses
Most of our students want to improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills and so they choose to study General English. If you want to improve your skills and work on improving your grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary, then these are the courses for you.

Term 4: 11 October to 19 December in Colombo
Term 3: 19 July to 26 September in Kandy

Appointments for Placement Tests are now being issued for:
    o English courses for adults in Colombo for Term 4
    o Young Learners’ and Adult Learners’ courses in Kandy for Term 3

To make a placement test appointment you need to bring:
    o National Identity Card/passport (birth certificate or a postal ID for children)
    o Placement test fee of Rs.700/-

Find out more about these courses and registration details @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-english-courses.htm
E-mail us at: info.lk@britishcouncil.org (in Colombo)
                      enquiries.kdy@britishcouncil.org (in Kandy)

Speaking club
Speaking Club is a great chance for any ELZ member to develop their speaking skills.

When: 5 and 12, 19, 26 August | Where: British Council Colombo
Time: from 1100 to 1300 | Admission: Rs. 150 per participant. Places are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-library-services-elz-workshops.htm

Workshops for English language learners
These workshops are aimed at improving learners’ knowledge of English and ability to use pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary effectively. Passes are issued for British Council Library, Exams, and Teaching Centre members on a first-come, first-served basis.

For a full list of workshops visit www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-library-services-elz-workshops.htm

Examinations and Qualifications
IELTS
IELTS is designed to assess the English ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication.

When are the next available test dates?
Academic and General Training: 8, 22 and 29 August

Where:
British Council and PIM–Colombo | Mahaweli Reach-Kandy

Time: 1300 | Fee: Rs 16,000
How can I register for IELTS?
Come to our office in Colombo or Kandy, or download the application form from our website and post it with your payment (cheque, bank draft, bank transfer receipt) and other required items.
Find out more @: http://www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-exams-register-for-ielts.htm

How can I prepare for IELTS?
When you register for an IELTS test at the British Council, you will be able to use the IELTS preparation materials free of charge in our library, open every day for IELTS candidates in Colombo and on designated days in Kandy. Also, sign up for our mock writing test or mock speaking test service. Get valuable feedback and corrections from one of our experts. Details at Examinations Services.

If you register for an IELTS test at the British Council, you will be able to use the IELTS preparation materials free of charge in our library, open everyday for IELTS candidates in Colombo and on designated days in Kandy.
Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-ielts-practice.htm

Come to a 90-minute session on IELTS Top Tips on 13 and 27 August at the British Council Colombo from 1700 to 1900. Pick up a pass from Examinations Services or register online. Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-ielts-free-presentations.htm

Participate in an IELTS one-day workshop on Sunday 23 August at the British Council Colombo.
Find out more @ www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-ielts-worshops.htm

Register for our IELTS Express Course (General/Academic). The Express Course offers 25 hours of intensive preparation for either the General or Academic IELTS exams.
Find out more @www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-ielts-express-course.htm

Register for our IELTS Preparation Course (Academic). The 50-hour Preparation Course offers you the best way of improving your score.
Find out more @www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-ielts-preparation-course.htm

For full details on the exam, registration, courses etc visit www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-exams-ielts.htm

Examinations Services opening hours:
British Council, Colombo - Tuesday to Saturday: 0930 - 1800

British Council, Kandy
Enquiries: Tuesday to Saturday 0900 – 1700
Payments: Tuesday to Saturday 0900 – 1600


PROFESSIONAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS

Join one of our one-day (6 hour), two-day (12 hour) or three-day (18 hour) workshops. This is hands-on training that is both enjoyable and memorable. Our workshops are highly interactive and involve pair-work and group discussions with a small number of participants. The participants leave every workshop with a clear outcome, either something they have produced using their new skills or an action plan that they can apply in their work.

Morning and afternoon refreshments and a buffet lunch are provided at the workshops.

For full details on the workshops, registration, discounts etc visit www.britishcouncil.org/srilanka-learning-train-your-staff.htm