Learning English with Grandmas Stories

Our first book is Launched
in English and Latvian

Saturday 26 November 2005 was a very important day for Grandma’s Stories.

We published our very first book – The Ice Journey – the first in a proposed series of 14 books about European History and culture from The Ice Age to The Roman Empire.

The Books are designed to be printed in two languages so that, while reading exciting stories about our earliest ancestors children, and adults, can improve their English language learning skills. A parent, or teacher with no English at all can read these stories and learn with the children.

We decided that we wanted to launch this series in one of the 10 countries that came into the European community at the enlargement in 2004. All the countries in Europe share the wish that, while wanting to be a part of a greater Europe, they also want to retain their individual identity. While helping people improve their English language skills, we want to create a greater understanding of our common European history and culture and by telling stories based in the individual countries of Europe.

So why Latvia? We are based in Wales, a small country with a similar sized population to Latvia. The government of Latvia and The National Assembly of Wales recognised that these two countries have a great deal in common and signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries that seeks to strengthen trade and cultural relations between these two countries.

We are very grateful to The British Council in Riga for inviting us to launch this new series in their Library. Agita Kalvina, The Director of The British Council in Latvia, welcomed everyone then Andris Taurins, The Hon Consul for Latvia in Wales and chairman of Grandma’s Stories Ltd, spoke about The Memorandum of Understanding and explained how and why he became so closely associated with Grandma’s Stories and why he had wanted the company to launch our first book in the country where he had been born. Then it was Grandma Valerie’s (Mrs Valerie Wood-Gaiger MBE, author of the stories) turn to tell the story of how and why she, and her friend Carroll Nunnerley, decided to set up the company. These two grandmas, who live in the same village in rural Wales, wanted to reach out to children everywhere and, through play and activities, bring history to life and make learning fun and more memorable.

The company will use this first book printed in Latvian and English as an introduction to publishers in other countries. We hope gradually print in as many languages as possible.

After the launch Valerie went on a very quick tour of Latvia meeting people and telling them of plans for the future. On Monday 28 November she spoke to children at Riga Grammar School. On Tuesday morning she, and her eldest grandson Adam, set of for Limbazi to show the book to English teachers there. Tuesday afternoon and they spoke to children in Valmiera Vidus Skola before making the long journey to Kuldiga. After a talking to children in the school there they drove on to Ventspils. An early start the next morning to visit Liepaja before driving back to Riga to talk to Riga Rotary Club. Valerie was honoured have to been made a Paul Harris Fellow, one of the founders of Rotary International.

Friday morning Valerie was in Ogres where children from the local school packed the bookshop Ogre Gramatnica and where she was interviewed by the local newspaper and local television station. Then back into Riga for a meeting at The National Library of Latvia. A very full week and Valerie hopes that the friends she made during the visit will help with the next exciting development.

A National Competition throughout Latvia.

Working with The National Library of Latvia we will seek a Latvian grandmother, or grandfather to record the story in Latvian. An interactive audio CD will accompany the books. Valerie has already recorded the story in English, so that children, and adults, can hear English pronunciation by a native English speaker. We want someone to read the story in Latvian too so that people learning to speak Latvian can also hear Latvian pronunciation.

We are currently deciding on the best way to organise the competition. Please register for information to be emailed to you or do visit www.4learningenglish.com frequently for the latest new.

Adding a Latvian speaker, and lots more educational fun with the interactive material does mean that people who have already bought the first book will have to wait longer for the CD but it will be so much better when it finally arrives.

The Ice Journey can be bought now via the internet.

At The British Council office in Riga, Blaumana iela 5a, 2 Riga LV-1011;
Ogre Gramatnica, Brivibas 16, Ogre;
Sia BT Gramatnica, Rigas lela 20, Valmiera LV4201.

We hope that bookshops throughout Latvia will stock the books when the National Competition is announced.

The Ice Journey can also be seen at The National Library of Latvia. Terbates 75, Riga.

info@4learningenglish.com for more information.

For latest information on all other languages and dual languages, please email us.

Alison Shotbolt