Functional English News - November 2006

Change of building

In September 2006, we moved into the Sneaton Castle Centre in Whitby. We have the use of the Margaret Cope Centre, a modern building on the campus of the Sneaton Castle Centre.

• We are continuing to offer English courses - we will be running our courses as normal.
• Homestay accommodation for all students will be with hosts in Whitby, where they will find a comfortable room, meals and a warm welcome.
• We are still in the process of selling the school building in Chubb Hill - we hope this can be finished by the end of 2006.

The Sneaton Castle Centre has a wide range of facilities, including:

• Christian Bookshop
• Tennis Court
• Football Pitch
• Gardens and Grounds
• Music room

We are working to start to set up a network of teachers and hosts all over the UK for 2007. More news on that later in the year.

Celebration Service

We marked the closure of our building at 5 Chubb Hill with a celebration service, on Friday 1st September.

Our theme was taken from Hebrews 12:1:-
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
TNIV (Today's New International Version)

We remembered the many people over the years who have contributed to making Functional English special. Among those who gave testimonies to the service were Richard Atherton, Pat Stephenson, Cath Wheeler, John Winter, Alan Newton and Judy Vyvyan.

Video clips of the occasion are available at: www.funenglish.co.uk/video/videopage.htm

Planning Permission

On Thursday 19 October, we were granted outline planning permission on the site at 5 Chubb Hill, by the Planning Committee of Scarborough Borough Council. There was a lot of last-minute anxiety when a survey suggested that there might be bats living on the building, but the councillors granted the permission subject to a full bat survey next Spring. This means that we are significantly nearer competing the sale. Thanks to all those who have been praying for us.

 Neil McKelvie, Principal

As always, we have much to give thanks for, and it is easy to forget all that God does. We have to thank Him for:-

• Providing Sneaton Castle as a place we can go to
• Progress towards a sale of our Chubb Hill building
• The many hosts who have welcomed students into their houses since Jan 2006.

Please pray for…

• Completion of the sale of Chubb Hill
• Continued student bookings

Please pray for everyone affected by the changes to the school over the next year.

50 Plus programme

In May 2006 we ran another 50 Plus course, our two-week programme for students over 50.  We had the following message from Lydia Rohr:-

"I did enjoy staying at Functional English school for the 50 Plus course, I've had a happy time. The teachers are kind and the lessons very good and interesting. The trips I also enjoyed very much - many thanks to all the teachers who have spent so much time with us, have taken us round and have shown us many beautiful, interesting things and places. Lunch time with the students in the Dining Room was pleasure, and getting to know different English houses was nice".

For more details, click on our 50 Plus webpage on: - www.funenglish.co.uk/courses/page9.html

School news

Students from Functional English have been welcomed by many people from Whitby.

Here is a group of students on the 062 term visiting Rev. Stuart Gunson of the Methodist Church.

Whitby Leisure Centre

Students can take advantage of a  

News from former students

In response to our last newsletter, we had a lot of messages from former students. Here are just a few of them.

I’m really happy that I could visit the Functional English School. I had a beautiful time. I’m nearly learning every day a little English. Thank you very much that I could stay by the host lady as the same price as in a bedroom in the Functional English School. I wrote many applications for to find a job. I’m happy and grateful now that I found a winter season job for four months in a Christian Hotel in Wengen in Berner Oberland. I’m living in Berner Oberland too but in Adelboden. Wengen is car free. I’m going to work in the kitchen and in the bedrooms in that hotel.
Nelly Allenbach S064

It is always a true pleasure to read what the Lord is doing at Functional English, and how He is leading all of you through a brand new journey. Years have passed since my very first day in Whitby (September 7th, 1996), and I smile when I think at those who considered me "part of the furniture" for my five terms spent at F.E., two of whom spent with my wonderful wife Santina. As you probably know I am married, and the Lord gave us two kids.

I am currently serving the Lord in Montréal, Canada. And though ministry here is really difficult I thank Him for sustaining my faith, and protecting the entire family. My love for your organization has never stopped, and my sincere admiration for the staff has grown together with my age. The Lord has taught me many lessons, and He has shown me from time to time the importance of my precious time spent in Whitby.

I often think about those great days, and even those when I was a bit down. But above all I remember your encouraging and calm words during a serious talk  we had once. It's amazing how words can affect people lives, and yours affected mine in a very positive manner. I truly pray our Heavenly Father will give us the chance to sit with you again, and have a nice talk together, in front of a real cup of English tea. I know how hard must have been to take the decision to sell the building of Chubb Hill, where the story of F.E. started, and I also know how much courage, and faith was required. Together with my faithful wife we pray the Lord will multiply his blessings upon you, your family, and Functional English. Sorry I took some of your time, but I really wanted to express my gratitude to you. (You can find more about the Chinnicis at their website: http://www.freewebs.com/thechinnicis/index.htm)
Giovanni Chinnici S984

Thank you very much for all the news from Functional English. I visited the Website and saw all the changes about this School. May God bless you and all your colleagues for this new system of working. When are you going to move to Sneaton Castle Centre? Many people asked me about this school and would like to go there for improving their English. I did only two terms and would like to stay more. I didn't regret the time I spent there. It was a wonderful time in my education period. Everyone was friendly with me. I have been preparing my TOEFL and GRE exams for further theological studies in USA for Autumn 2007. I finished to book the TOEFL which is for the 14th October. Please remember to me in your prayer time. I'm living now in Bamako the capital for one month.  Once time more thank you very much indeed for everything you did for me. I greet you and all the staff of Functional English. May God bless you and provides to all your need for this School.
Pastor Moussa Coulibaly S054, 061

I am glad to be at home now with my family again. The last days in Whitby I missed them. It was my first time to travel somewhere without my children or husband. But it was a very wonderful experience. Not only the school and the really interesting and good lessons, but also to meet so many nice and friendly people, all the open conversations we had, to see, that independent from the nationality , culture and age, the big questions in life for everybody are the same. I wish you all the best for the new challenge, for the new start, the move to the new building, and that you, also when you don't have holidays, will find energy and strength for your work and other tasks!
Andrea Gamper S063

In 1985. I stayed in the School. I had my room under the roof, with the first stairs of the main entrance. My room-mate was Mr. Uusiku from Namibia - he was a headmaster in Namibia, South West Africa. He got to be a "big number" in Whitby, all the fishermen from the town and from Norway they knew him too! I have not got any contacts to the students of 1985. But I have got still contacts to Scotland to a church member and to my relatives in Glasgow too (they are Scottish) My aunt was an Englishwoman in former times.
Markus Krofitsch S853

Thank you for your e-mail. I have already checked news letter of FE. It is always fun seeing website of FE , because it reminds me of the happiest time in my life. Yesterday my friend,  visited to FE , as you know. He said FE and Whitby is always nice places. But also said that it was a little bit sad that nobody can stay at FE. Next week , two Swiss girls who were studying at FE together are coming to Japan. I am meeting up to them in Osaka with my friends.  Swiss girls are now in Korea , and having nice time with many Korean friends, of course they are FE students as well. The circle of FE is still continuing to our life. It is so fantastic. From next September , I am going to Sunderland University to study nursing for a year. Sunderland and Whitby is not so far. I am planning to visit to FE during my study.
Rie Goto from Japan S034, S041, S043, S044
 

Website update

• Date and Price update to the website

Dates and prices for 2007 are now available from the website at www.funenglish.co.uk/main/page6.html

The Enrolments Secretary,
Functional English,  Sneaton Castle Centre,  Whitby,  North Yorkshire  YO21 3QN,  UK
Tel: +44 1947 603933                 Fax: +44 1947 820703
Email: office@funenglish.co.uk    Website: www.funenglish.co.uk