Established poets will be helping primary school teachers explore ways of using poetry to stimulate pupils’ creative writing skills at the Barbican Centre, London EC2. The series kicks off with Valerie Bloom on sound and poetry, followed by Mandy Coe on storytelling (March 14), and Michael Laskey on poetry cities (June 29). pound;5 per session.

Tel: 0845 120 7550 www.barbican.org.uk

Geographical events From February 27

Forthcoming events organised by the Royal Geographical SocietyInstitute of British Geographers, London, include: ‘Rwanda: recreating the past’ (February 27) with the producers of the film Shooting Dogs, and ‘Going Wild in Africa’, an illustrated talk by the presenter and producer behind the BBC series on Namibian wildlife. Student rate pound;100; other standard rates Pounds 175.

Tel: 020 7591 3030 www.rgs.orgeac

Talking matters July 24-27

Conference organised by the English Speaking Board (International) at Morton Hall, near Oswestry, Shropshire. Speakers include Sue Palmer, literacy consultant, and David Rudkin, dramatist and screenwriter.

Tel: 01704 501730 www.esbuk.org

Summer study visit to South Africa Application deadline: February 20

Initial teacher educationcontinuing professional development (CPD) tutors are invited to apply for the course ‘Seeking Ubuntu: education for democratic citizenship - learning from South Africa’, taking place in Durban, August 5-14. Fee: pound;975 (subsidised by Teachers in Development Education).

Tel: 0121 202 3290 www.tidec.org

Teaching abroad survey Closes February 28

Language teachers in the UK are invited to share experiences online of teaching and training abroad for a European Commission report due out later in 2006. You can either answer a questionnaire, available in seven languages, by February 28, or join a discussion forum on a new topic each week, which is active until February 24.

www.uoc.eduin3mobility