Newsletter March 2014 Issue 3
Contents 3…….Welcome 4…….The term in pictures 6…….Exam results 7…….ARTICLE: Tips for IELTS 8…….Term Timeline 10…...SHORT STORY: Journey into the Past 12…...World Cookbook Recipes 14…...Student Seminars
15…...Interviews with our students 17…...Interview with our staff 18…...Interview with a home stay host 19…...ARTICLE: The Origins of Easter 21…...Quizzes and Games 23…...COMPETITION: Write a Restaurant Review 24…...Restaurant Reviews 25…...Letters to Excel College 26…...Volunteering Opportunities 27…...Adverts and Special Offers 30…...Next Term
Welcome to Excel College’s March newsletter. This term, as ever, has been very busy. We’ve welcomed two new teachers to the team, started a new Business English course and had our first full term with our new Principal, Mark. We’ve welcomed lots of new students and congratulated many of you on some great exam scores. Congratulations to our students who took exams last term, see their results on page 6 and Marta, who got an 8.0 in IELTS on her first try, has written an article on how she prepared for her IELTS exam on page 7. Our students would tell you that the most exciting thing this term is a new chalk wall in the reception area. Any one can write on it (English only!) and so far, students have told us their favourite teachers, written their football team’s results, drawn cartoons or just said “Hello” to everyone. It is also useful for us because we can tell you about trips or social events, things happening in Manchester, and give you new words for you to learn! Catch up with what has been happening at Excel College and in Manchester with our Term Timeline on page 8. From Chinese New Year to St Patrick’s Day, there’s been lots going on! We’ve also seen the first of our Student Seminars, one on volunteering in Manchester and one on tips for IELTS writing - see page 14 for more information. As always, we’ve got some tasty new recipes in our World Cookbook, spring quizzes and grammar puzzles on page 21 and a new writing competition on page 23. Our competition this term is to write about a local restaurant, café, takeaway or bar. Tell us about your favourite restaurant or about the worst restaurant you have ever been to! Send your review to us for a chance win English lessons or Amazon vouchers and get some inspiration from the reviews on page 24. As always, if you have any photos, letters, recipes or suggestions for the newsletter, please email them to admin@excel-college.com. We’re looking forward to a successful spring term at Excel College and hope you are too!
Anna Bartholomew Admissions and Student Services 3
The term in pictures
Exam Results Student: Marta Country: Poland IELTS: 8.0 Course: IELTS Advanced Preparation Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
8.0
9.0
6.5
8.0
See Marta’s article on page 7 for tips on how to get a great IELTS score!
Student: Maria Chiara Country: Italy IELTS: 6.0 Course: IELTS Advanced Preparation Listening 5.5
Reading 5.5
Writing 5.5
Speaking 6.5
Student: Fajer Country: Kuwait IELTS 5.0 Course: IELTS Foundation Preparation Listening 5.5
Reading 4.5
Writing 5.0
Speaking 5.5
Student: Michal Country: Poland IELTS 6.5 Course: IELTS Advanced Preparation Listening 7.5
Reading 6.5
Writing 6.0
Speaking 6.5
Congratulations to Marta, Maria, Fajer and Michal on their results and good luck to students taking exams next term! 6
My Tips for Getting a Good IELTS Score. IELTS is a goal for many students in Excel College. I am one of the lucky ones, and achieved an 8.0 on my first attempt.
The most difficult part for me was writing, it always was my weakness and something which I still hate to do! However, I got a 6.5, which is enough for me. To be honest, just doing writing is ok, but I have done a lot of it and it did not really help me. Working with someone and correcting each other’s mistakes really helps. Like the reading, timing is very important in the writing part. Unfortunately, on my exam I had no time to finish checking my essay and correct some of the mistakes, which probably had a negative influence on my score. The more you write, the quicker you will be able to write, leaving you more time to look over your answers.
I could say that I have achieved mastery in the reading part and I am very proud of my result, which was 9.0. Many people asked me how I did it. Well, I believe that the key to my success is just a lot of reading to improve my reading speed which is very important. I ignored all the techniques, like “skimming” and “scanning”, because I thought that for me, they were not useful - I missed things in the text and had to read everything again!
When I practice my reading, to save some time to consider my answers at the end, I usually do all the task at once. What I mean is that I try to remember the first few questions and answer them during the reading. I then remember the next few and carry on with the reading. This means, I read all the text only once but thoroughly. Because of this I feel I understand it and do not waste time going back over different lines and searching for the answers. For me, the listening and speaking parts are also fairly easy and to be honest, I do not have a special approach for them. If you want to improve, just do a lot of tests. A good tip is to record yourself speaking and listen for any mistakes and correct your pronunciation.
Well, I hope that this has helped and given you ideas on how to improve your IELTS skills. And you must remember that IELTS is not so difficult, it is just another exam. Without being stressed it is much easier to sit it. Good luck!
Marta Skorzewska
Do you have an IELTS or Cambridge (FCE, CAE or CPE) exam soon? Why not take a practice test? All tests include: Example scores for each skill and overall score
Guidance notes on the most important points to improve Practice Test Options Reading, Listening and Writing + Brief Feedback
£35
Reading, Listening and Writing + 30 minutes tutorial
£45
Reading, Listening, Writing and speaking + Brief feedback
£45
Reading, Listening, Writing and speaking + 60 Minutes tutorial
£70
Just email info@excel-college.com for more information
7
Term Timeline What has been happening at the College, in Manchester and in the UK this term? Have a look at our timeline to find out. 7th January New term started with two new teachers, a new business class and lots of new students.
3rd February Lunch at Richmond Tea Rooms We went to Alice in Wonderlandthemed Richmond Tea Rooms for afternoon tea and some huge slices of cake!
24th January Manchester Beer & Cider Festival The Festival (in the National Cycling Centre) was held from 22nd to 25th. We went along on the Friday to try lots of different ales and ciders and to watch the Team GB cyclists training.
14th February Valentine’s Day A day of romance, chocolate, flowers and Valentine’s cards!
11th February Student Seminar: Northmoor Community Association Ulrike from Northmoor Community Association came to the College to talk about her charity and how they help people in Manchester. See page 14 for a synopsis.
10th January National Football Museum Trip We went to the National Football Museum and learnt about football history, the offside rule and George Best.
31st January Chinese New Year As the year of the horse approached, the trees in Manchester were filled with red paper lanterns. Over the weekend, the dragon paraded from Albert Square to China Town and the day ended with some fantastic fireworks.
8
28th February Student Seminar: IELTS Writing Task 1 - Our freelance IELTS consultant, Vicky, gave a talk about how to write about numerical data for IELTS task 1. See page 14 for a synopsis.
21st - 30th March Manchester Histories Festival Helping people to discover Manchester’s history, the festival had an extensive programme of events. We went on a guided walk around the city, exploring it’s politics and peacemakers.
8th March International Women’s Day Manchester celebrated with a month of activities and events in March. (See page 22 to test your knowledge of famous women in history!)
4th March Shrove Tuesday Read our blog to find out how and why we celebrate with pancakes!
17th March St Patrick’s Day This is a celebration of Ireland’s patron saint which generally involves lots of live music, big hats and Guinness. At the College we celebrated by going to the local Irish pub for a party!
26th February Manchester Museum We went on a guided tour of Manchester Museum to see mummies, dinosaur skeletons and some live reptiles.
9
27th March-1st April Future Everything Festival The 19th edition of the festival showcased exciting new artworks and live music in venues around the city.
22nd March Manchester Central Library reopened after a four year redevelopment. There’s now a new place in the city for students to study, borrow books or just meet for a coffee.
Short Story Competition Winner This term’s short story competition received lots of high quality entries. Students could pick any genre, theme or topic but had to include five specific words: explore darkness sunshine tail boat Here is the winning story:
Journey into the Past By Thanaphat Pattamareakha Seven years ago my friends and I went to Kudee Island, Thailand. We went by speed boat. It took 30 minutes from Rayong. First we had lunch, while the sunshine streamed from a clear blue sky. I couldn’t wait to get started on our programme of activities so, while everyone else went to have a rest, I went kayaking.
I stepped out of the boat and started walking around the hall. I found many old pieces of steel, and I supposed that they had been part of the plane outside. I walked along a wall and found a path leading deeper into the cave. I followed the path until I came to a dark room. I found many old tools. It was strange; so many relics from World War II, and all of them perfectly preserved. Why were they here? Nothing looked as old as it should have done. Why not?
Kudee Island is a small island. It is surrounded by beaches and there is a cliff in the south. I paddled out and started to explore from the north side. I had a most bizarre experience when I arrived at the cliff. The sun was shining through the water, showing something huge and black underneath. I quickly put on a snorkel and jumped into the water.
Suddenly, I heard someone. “Hello, boy!” It was the voice of an old man, coming from the dark corner of the room. He stood up, and in the dim light I saw a white beard on his face. “Who are you?” I asked. “I was a Japanese fighter pilot. You have already seen my plane outside, haven’t you?” he answered, coolly. Unbelievably, I had nothing to say. “Please sit down. I’ll tell you.”
It was the tail of a plane. I saw a big red circle on it – it was a Zero, a Japanese fighter plane from World War II! My heart started beating fast. While I was looking around, I noticed a tunnel on the cliff. It was at water level, but covered by many roots and vines. I went back to the boat and investigated the cave from outside. Then I went slowly inside, into the darkness. The ceiling was quite low, and sometimes I had to duck to avoid stalactites. Soon I came to the cave hall. There was a big hole in the high ceiling which allowed the sunshine to pass through. It struck downwards in beams, creating dancing reflections on the water below.
He started talking. In 1944, when Thailand had been invaded by Japan, he had been only 17 years old. He had been ordered to protect the Japanese command centre in Bangkok from American bomber aircraft. His flight had taken off from the aircraft carrier Shokaku, operating in the Gulf of Thailand.
10
After heavy fighting his plane had sustained damage serious enough to force him to return to the carrier.
An hour later, I understood everything. He didn't want to get off the island any more. Now his family had passed away and he was happy to live there.
.
However, while he was flying back, the engine had cut out and he had crashed on the island. After that he had removed all the equipment that had seemed useful from his plane and repaired it. The intercom still worked but he hadn't been able to make contact with anyone. He had learned the Thai language and kept up to date with the news on his radio. The island had been deserted until 20 years before.
Then he alerted me to the fact that the tide would come in in the evening, meaning that the water level around the cave would rise. If I didn't go soon, he warned, I would have to wait until the following day. Before I left he requested just one thing from me: “Don't let anyone know about me!� So now, after reading this, like me you are bound to keep his secret.
Well done to everyone who entered and special congratulations to our three prize winners: Thanaphat, Antonio and Celia. 1st Place Thanaphat Pattamareakha
2nd place Antonio Gadaleta 3rd place Celia Marteel
If you want to practise your writing and get the chance to win English classes or Amazon vouchers, see page 23 for next term’s competition. 11
World Cookbook Hundreds of students come through our doors from countries all over the world and we love to learn about different cultures; their celebrations, holidays and, of course, their food. English recipes take ideas from many different countries thanks to our diverse and ever-changing culture and we want to create a cookbook that celebrates the food of our students and our staff. Please send your recipes and photos to admin@excel-college.com and join the discussion on twitter #Excelcooking
12
Condensed Milk Pudding
by Silvia
This is a very tasty pudding that Silvia made for the College Christmas party.
Ingredients
Method
2 cups of sugar 1 small can of
Firstly, put the sugar into the cake tin
condensed milk 1 small can of semiskimmed milk (or full-fat if you want) 5 eggs Zest of 1 orange
Halawa Sharers
Ingredients
2 cup of cut vermicelli 1/4 cup of oil 1 cup of sugar 2 spoons of rose water 1 spoons of cardamom 1 cup of water
mould and cook on low heat until smooth caramel. Now spread the caramel all around the walls of the tin using a spoon. Pour all the milk, eggs and orange zest into a blender and mix. Pour the mixture into the tin and cook in a bain-marie for 40 minutes. (i.e. put the cake tin in a pan of boiling water) Remove the tin from the stove and leave it to cool. Put the tin in the fridge for 20 minutes. Flip the pudding onto a plate and serve.
by Shaymaa
Method Put the oil and vermicelli in a pan
on the heat till the vermicelli turns reddish then add the water and rose water and ground cardamom. Stir in the pan till the water has been absorbed, then add the sugar whilst stirring. Pour it in to wide dish and decorate it with ground pistachios.
Chinese Hotpot
by Na
Ingredients Little Sheep Hotpot Mix
Spice Pack (available at Hang Won Hong, Connaught Building, 5860 George Street, Manchester M1 4HF) Any kind of meat: lamb, beef, fish, chicken or meat balls Vegetables of your choice: i.e. spinach, potato and tomato.
Method Unpack the Little Sheep Hotpot Mix Spice, put
everything in a pot and fill the pot with boiled water. Put in the meat and vegetables and use low to medium heat to keep the soup boiling for a few minutes until the meat and veg are cooked. Enjoy!
13
Student Seminars This term has seen the first of our Student Seminars. These are free talks for past, present and prospective students covering EFL and IELTS related topics as well as other useful themes such as life, volunteering and working in the UK. From now on, we aim to have Student Seminars every term, so keep an eye out for upcoming talks on our events calendar.
Charity in the Community Ulrike from Northmoor Community Assocication came to tell us about the work she and the charity do for the local community. The association is based in Longsight in South Manchester. Ulrike told us that Longsight is the most ethnically diverse area of Manchester, with immigrants from all around the world. It is also one of the poorest areas of Manchester. The community centre runs a wide variety of projects. They have a credit union where people can borrow or save money on fair terms, a homework club for local children, a cookery club which encourages home cooking and healthy eating and they also run a community café and laundrette. Ulrike was telling us that, whilst lots of people visit the centre to access these services, many just come in for a chat and a cup of tea. Because the activities at the centre are so diverse, they can usually match volunteers to an area of specific interest. If you are interested in volunteering with Northmoor Community Centre, you can contact admin@excel-college.com for more information.
Approaches to IELTS Writing Task 1 Vicky, our freelance IELTS consultant, came to give a seminar on IELTS Writing Task 1 and ways to approach it. The focus of the seminar was the most common type of Task 1 question, writing about numerical data. Vicky talked about how you can analyse the data presented to you, how to write accurate introductions and how to organise information logically in your writing. She also discussed how examiners calculate final scores and what they are likely to give and deduct marks for, from forming complex grammatical structures and showing awareness of collocations to simple things like just making sure you write enough. Vicky went on to help students to correct some common Task 1 mistakes and explored some grammar structures which are useful to talk about future data. Above all, Vicky’s top tip was...don’t panic! With knowledge of the assessment criteria, a structured approach and some practise, tackling IELTS Task 1 will be more manageable and much less scary. 14
Interviews with our students We asked some of our students about Manchester, England and why they are here. Our students come to study for many different reasons and each of them have different reasons for liking (or disliking!) the UK. Let us know what you think on Twitter #excelstudents
First Name: Talal Age: 20 Nationality: Yemeni Course studying at Excel College: General English, Intermediate How long have you been in England? 2 weeks. Where's your favourite place to go in Manchester? Rusholme. What places have you visited in the UK? Just Manchester! What’s the best thing about the UK? Meeting new friends. What's the worst thing about the UK? The weather. What's your favourite British food? The English breakfast. Why are you studying English? Because I need to improve my speaking. What do you think is the best thing to do to improve your English? Work hard and meet friends. Why did you choose Excel College? Because it’s great!
First Name: Oksana Age: 31 Nationality: Russian Course studying at Excel College: General English Intermediate How long have you been in England? One year. Why did you choose Manchester? Because my husband lives here. Where's your favourite place to go in Manchester? Manchester Art Gallery, La Tasca and Tiger Tiger. What places have you visited in the UK? York, North Wales, Cornwall, London, Windsor, Liverpool, Edinburgh... What's your favourite thing about the UK? I like going on a cycle ride, playing tennis and shopping. What's the worst thing about the UK? It rains a lot. What's your favourite British food? Rhubarb pie Why are you studying English? I want to understand English language like a native speaker. What do you think is the best thing to do to improve your English? Review students’ programme after class and read as much as possible.
15
First Name: Hermann Age: 23 Nationality: French Course studying at Excel College: General English, Pre-intermediate How long have you been in England? 3 months Why did you choose Manchester? Because I like football. Where's your favourite place to go in Manchester? The pub and the museums. What places have you visited in the UK? Old Trafford Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Museum of Science and Industry and the People’s History Museum. What is your favourite British food? Nothing! Why are you studying English? Because it’s an international language and I want to study in an English country. What do you think is the best thing to do to improve your English? Speak every day with someone who is speaking English very well. Why did you choose Excel College? My friend recommended it and the city isn’t so big.
First Name: Park Age: 18 Nationality: South Korean Course studying at Excel College: General English, Pre-intermediate How long have you been in England? I have been in England two months. Why did you choose Manchester? Because my father’s friend lives here. What places have you visited in the UK? I have visited London, Scotland and Liverpool. What’s the best thing about the UK? Football. What's your favourite British food? I don’t like any British food but sometimes fish and chips is delicious. Why are you studying English? I want to go to university in the UK. What do you think is the best thing to do to improve your English? Speak and be confident. Why did you choose Excel College? My friend recommended it to me.
First Name: Daniele Age: 30 Nationality: Brazilian Course studying at Excel College: General English How long have you been in England? 7 Months Why did you choose Manchester? Because my boyfriend lives here Where's your favourite place to go in Manchester? Peak District What places have you visited in the UK? Belfast, Edinburgh, Liverpool and London What's your favourite thing about the UK? The facility to travel around. And the countryside is very beautiful. What's the worst thing about the UK? The weather. What's your favourite British food? Fish and Chips Why are you studying English? To in the future be able to find a good job. What do you think is the best thing to do to improve your English? Speak with natives. Why did you choose Excel College? Because it is approved by the UK border so I could trust that it’s a good school. 16
Interview with a Teacher Every term we interview a member of staff, finding out what they did before they came to Excel College, what they like doing in their spare time and what special skills they have! This term, we’ve interviewed one of our newest teachers, Phil. Name: Philip James Job title: English Teacher Favourite food: Gumbo from New Orleans Favourite drink: Coffee Favourite place: Buenos Aires Special skills: I play the guitar and piano; I speak rudimentary Vietnamese; I have also worked as an instrumental tutor, teaching the guitar privately, in school and with various community groups. Why did you become a TEFL teacher? I was made redundant from my job as a theatre orchestra musician with P&O cruises. I had friends who were well-travelled English teachers and who recommended the job to me so I did my CELTA, became certified and started teaching. Tell us about your first ever teaching job My first ever post was a summer school in Reading. As my training was with adults, having to teach children was very different. They have shorter attention spans and you need to manage them more than adults. Years later, I trained to teach children, too. It was a lot of fun though. In what countries have you taught? I have taught in Manchester and Reading in England. I also taught in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for three years. What is your best teaching memory? In Vietnam I taught a Business English class. The students were quite mixed level and had to study after a full day at work. Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun in class and many of them could be promoted upon completion. They treated me to a banquet and karaoke at the end of the course. What is your worst teaching memory? Having to teach in a busy classroom in Vietnam when the air-conditioning had broke. It happened more than once! There’s nothing worse than having to teach when you are pouring with sweat! Where’s your favourite place in the UK and why? My favourite place in the UK is definitely Manchester. It’s cosmopolitan and international with a lot of energy, good music and food but it’s not as big as London so it still retains a smaller town atmosphere and the people are tremendous. Can you think of another question to ask yourself? “What do you think of Excel College?” The school is great. My colleagues and the admin staff are all wonderful and the students are motivated, enthusiastic and entertaining. 17
Interview with a Home Stay Host Every term, we feature an interview with one of our Home Stay hosts. This term, we’ve interviewed Colette. Colette and her family have been hosting with us for the past year and she has looked after lots of students during that time! We thought we’d find out some more about her experiences of hosting and what she likes (and dislikes) about it.
Who do you live with? I live with my husband David and we have two dogs, a Cocker Spaniel, Josie, and a Papillon, Coco Monsieur. How long have you been hosting students? Since April 2013, but as we have three children (who have now grown up), we have often had young people staying with us - exchange students or basketball students from the USA or Australia.
What is the best thing about hosting? We love finding out about other cultures and traditions. Often our students cook for us and we have had Korean, Chinese and Spanish food, all delicious! What food do you like to cook? I love cooking a traditional roast dinner and like to see if the students like eating sprouts and roast parsnips!
Colette and David with Excel students, Carmelo and Ji Young.
What is the best thing about where you live? It is very green and leafy, excellent transport and there are some nice cafes/pubs at the top of my road.
What is your favourite thing to do in Manchester? I love history and love my city so I love looking at our fantastic Victorian buildings. I also love the theatre - the Royal Exchange and the Lowry are great. What is the worst thing about hosting? Having to cook every night I suppose! What is the most interesting thing you have learnt from hosting? That there are more similarities between us than differences. What is your favourite hosting memory? Having our three students with us at my husband's 60th birthday party and us all having a lovely time. 18
The Origins of Easter Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ long before it was called Easter. In the second century, the Christians called this celebration Pascha, a Hebrew term of Aramaic origin known in English as Passover, a Jewish festival that celebrates the story of The Exodus in Egypt. m
In Christianity, Easter signifies new life and rebirth. Easter Friday, or “ Good Friday” is said to be the day that Jesus died on the cross and on Easter Sunday he came back to life and visited all his friends and family. The people in my family have many different beliefs, from Buddhism to Jehovah's Witnesses to Roman Catholics to atheists. My Grandmother, someone who I never saw going to church, was the only person in our family to send an Easter card. My mother’s parents, who are Roman Catholic would invite us round over Easter and we would have a huge a roast dinner with all the family. x
As English is a magpie language, we are not sure where the word ‘Easter’ comes from. Some people believe it comes from the pagan word Eostre, where Pagans celebrate the Spring Equinox. In the UK, the four very different seasons mean that every year, we know that spring is when the baby animals are born. The Spring Equinox therefore, is a celebration of new life or a time to make a fresh start.
Unlike Christmas, Easter is not on the same day every year. Easter Sunday is always the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the Spring Equinox. It follows the forty days of Lent, a time of fasting and prayer for Christians. This is because the Pagan calendar is known as a Lunar calendar. In other words, the days and months follow the phases of the moon. It might sound confusing but we generally don’t work out the dates ourselves, we just look at our calendars and diaries each year. Easter falls either in March or April. My sister’s birthday is in March and if she was lucky, the Easter school holidays would fall on her birthday and she would have a whole two weeks off school! v
Traditionally on Good Friday, Christians are not allowed to eat meat. They can have one full meal and must only eat snacks for the rest of the day. Easter Sunday is a day for celebration. Like with my family, usually everyone comes together to eat a roast dinner, usually lamb, and a special fruit cake called a ‘Simnel Cake’.
Nowadays, the idea of new life and a new start is celebrated by buying eggs made of chocolate and giving them to friends and family. Many children will decorate chickens’ eggs with paint and glitter to celebrate new life and will make their own Easter bonnet and will wear their new clothes to signify a new start. 19
For most people, Easter is a time to eat more chocolate than you should. There are loads of Easter themed recipes such as chocolate nests, hot cross buns (these are delicious if you toast them and spread them with butter!) and Good Friday fish recipes. Have a look at UKTV Good Food for some ideas and remember to share your photos and recipes if you make anything. Now it’s your turn. Look at the words in bold and use the clues to complete the crossword! Sam Barham
Easter Crossword Across 2. Not eating anything or not eating certain foods for a specified period of time
Down 1. A language that uses words from lots of other languages 3. Shows or represents 6. The act of rising from the dead or returning to life
4. Tiny bits of sparkling material used for decorating
8. Crisps or chocolate; not a full meal
5. Usually; what normally happens
9. Story in The Bible where the Israelites, having been treated very badly, leave Egypt with God's help
7. People who, before Christianity, believed nature was sacred and that birth growth and death were spiritual
11. Born again
10. The time of year, usually around the 21st March where there are equal hours of day and night 12. A type of hat 13. The start or beginning of something
(Answers on page 22)
20
Quizzes and Games Spring Crossword
1
Across 2
2. The Easter .......... The rabbit who comes to deliver Easter eggs (5)
3
5. The things we eat on Shrove Tuesday, made from flour, milk and eggs (8) 7. Yellow Spring flower (8) 8. Flowers on a fruit tree (7) 9. A coloured arch in the sky caused by rain and sun together (7)
4
11. The name of the saint we celebrate on 14th February (9)
5
12. A Chinese light - there were lots of these in Manchester to celebrate Chinese new year (7)
6
7
8
9
10
Down 1. A baby sheep (4)
11
3. A thing that protects you from the rain (8) 4. The name of Ireland's patron saint (7) 6. We eat eggs made of this at Easter (9) 8. A flying insect, usually brightly coloured (9)
12
10. A bird's home (4)
Mini Grammar Used to, be used to or get used to?
4.
His mother________________ (work) as a doctor but she is retired now.
1.
I ____________ (go) to the gym three times a week but now I go once or twice a month.
5.
2.
He ____________ (still not) his new school. The teachers are much stricter there than at the last one.
When James moved to France, he ___________ (live) there very quickly. He is very adaptable.
6.
I will __________ (never) Windows 8. It is so difficult to use.
7.
I’ve lived in the UK for three years so _____________ (drive) on the left now.
3.
Catching the 6am train wouldn’t be a problem. I ____________ (get up) early. I get up at 5am every day for work.
21
1
Famous Women Quiz This term, the UK and countries around the world, celebrated International Women’s Day. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1909 and in some countries it’s a national holiday. But can you match these famous women to the descriptions
2
Simone de Beauvoir Joan of Arc
Florence Nightingale
Rosa Parks
Aung San Suu Kyi
Angela Merkel
Margaret Thatcher
Emmeline Pankhurst
Marie Curie
Catherine the Great
1. Campaigned for women in the UK to have the right to vote. 2. Refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus.
3
3. First woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize (for her research into radioactivity). 4. First, and so far only, female Prime Minister of the UK. 5. Nurse during the Crimean War. 6. Fought for France against England in the Hundred Years War. 7. Feminist writer, intellectual and political activist. 8. Ruler of Russia in the 18th Century.
4
9. First female German Chancellor. 10. Politician who spent almost 15 years under house arrest. Answers Easter Crossword Across 2. Fasting, 4. Glitter, 5. Traditionally, 7. Pagans, 10. Spring Equinox, 12. Bonnet, 13. Origin, Down 1. Magpie language, 3. Signifies, 6. Resurrection, 8. Snacks, 9. Exodus, 11. RebirthSpring Crossword Across 2. Bunny, 5. Pancakes, 7. Daffodil, 8. Blossom, 9. Rainbow, 11. Valentine, 12. Lantern, Down 1. Lamb, 3. Umbrella, 4. Patrick, 6. Chocolate, 8. Butterfly Mini Grammar 1. used to go, 2. still not used to, 3. am used to getting up, 4. used to work, 5. got used to living, 6. never get used to, 7. I am used to driving Places in Manchester 1. John Rylands Library, 2. Piccadilly Gardens, 3. Printworks, 4. Manchester Cathedral International Women’s Day 1. Emmeline Pankhurst, 2. Rosa Parks, 3. Marie Curie, 4. Margaret Thatcher, 5. Florence Nightingale, 6. Joan of Arc, 7. Simone de Beauvoir, 8. Catherine the Great, 9. Angela Merkel
Do you recognise these places in Manchester?
22
Restaurant Review Competition Send us a review of your favourite restaurant in Manchester. If it’s a posh, expensive place or the takeaway round the corner, we want to know what you think of it. What is good about it? What is bad about it? What is the best thing to eat there? Take a look at the reviews on page 24 for some inspiration. And don’t forget to send some photos too!
1st Prize £50 Amazon voucher OR 15 hours of English lessons
2nd Prize £25 Amazon voucher OR 9 hours of English lessons 3rd Prize £15 Amazon voucher OR 6 hours of English lessons m
Maximum 300 words Closing date 13th June 2014 Please email all entries to admin@excel-college.com
Terms and Conditions
All entries must be in English and must be suitable for all audiences.
Any entries that arrive after 23:59BST 13/06/2014 will not be counted.
If you win, you will be asked to confirm whether you would like English lessons or Amazon Vouchers. You will not be able to change your decision once you have confirmed.
If your visa is refused, you will not receive a cash alternative, however we will be happy to keep your hours for a future course and advise you on how to improve your visa application.
If you use the English hours as part of a longer course and your visa is refused, you will receive a refund for the part of the course you have paid for as per the terms and conditions on our application form. Alternatively, we will be happy to keep your hours for a future course and advise you on how to improve your visa application.
English hours apply to group classes in the morning, afternoon or evening and cannot be swapped for one-to-one lessons or practice tests.
Amazon vouchers will be emailed and no cash alternative will be given.
Results will be emailed and posted on social media sites on the 19/06/2014
The judge’s decisions are final and no debate will be entered into.
23
Restaurant Reviews Yuzu Manchester 39 Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4EE 0161 236 4159
I love Japanese food so it was only a matter of time before I found myself sitting in Yuzu in Manchester’s Chinatown. It’s a small restaurant with an understated atmosphere, extremely polite staff and jazz music playing in the background; quite a contrast to most other restaurants in Manchester that seem to compete with each other to be the loudest. Surprisingly, Yuzu doesn’t serve sushi, the food people most associate with Japan. A note on their website explains that “sushi has to be made by a properly trained sushi master, which we are not”. To me, this is a bit like a steak restaurant saying that they don’t sell beef but don’t let it put you off. The food at Yuzu is superb and you can still get your fix of raw fish.
fried in a light batter). All of these dishes were delicious but the highlight of the meal was a beautifully presented plate of sashimi (raw slices of the freshest salmon, tuna, scallop and prawn).
We started with some lip-smacking yakitori (chicken skewers), mouth-watering gyoza (prawn dumplings) and a steaming bowl of miso soup. To follow, we had chicken katsu (chicken in Japanese breadcrumbs) with a sweet, sticky sauce and vegetable tempura (vegetables deep
We drank Japanese beer and a strong, tasty cocktail made of sake (rice wine) and, appropriately, yuzu juice. If you love Japanese food or if you are interested in trying it then I recommend you give Yuzu a try.
Reds 22 Lloyd Street, Albert Square, M2 5WA 0161 820 9140
Like virtually all of the restaurants that have opened in Manchester recently, Reds serves American style food. Their slogan is “Let there be meat!” and they market themselves as a temple for carnivores to worship in. This place is all about burgers, ribs, steaks and slow-cooked meats. Everything about the interior is big and brash and the menu is huge. If you are on a diet or if you like salads or lighter dishes then you are likely to leave disappointed.
I ordered a combo of Texas beef brisket and pulled pork with a side order of BBQ pit beans. The meat was incredibly tender and in a tasty sauce. The beans were just spicy enough and were a good accompaniment to the meat. However, my meal was crying out for a salad or something green to contrast with all the rich, sticky meat. My friend went for a BBQ Rib Taster with side orders of Mac -n-cheese (a pasta and cheese dish) and Grilled Cheese Texas Toast. Again, the food was tasty but lacking variety of flavour. We left feeling very fat and that we’d eaten enough meat to last us a lifetime. If you are a big meat lover then you will enjoy eating at Reds but if you prefer your food to be subtle or served with a few vegetables then it may not be the place for you.
Letters to Excel College We receive lots of lovely emails and letters from our students and are proud of how many good things they have to say about our staff and their experience at the college itself. Here are a couple of our favourites from this term.
25
Volunteering opportunities Volunteering is a great way to practise your language skills and meet people who live in the Manchester area. These are just some of the charities we are working with at the moment. If you are interested in volunteering, come and see us in reception or email admin@excel-college.com for more information. The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) TCV is an environmental charity which works to improve green spaces in and around Manchester. Every Wednesday and Thursday (9.30 – 16.00), TCV picks up volunteers from Manchester city centre and takes them to work on conservation projects. Activities include cleaning ponds, building fences, planting trees and much more. Volunteers need to wear clothes that they don’t mind getting dirty but can borrow boots, gloves and tools from TCV.
Northmoor Community Association Northmoor Community Association aims to help the local community in Longsight, one of the most ethnically diverse and poorest parts of Manchester. They run a local community centre which includes a laundrette, a café and an IT suite. The centre provides ESOL classes, healthy living classes, a credit union, help with applying for jobs for local residents and a homework help club for children. They are looking for volunteers to help out at the café, in the launderette, with general administration and with their homework club.
LINK Good Neighbours LINK Good Neighbours is a charity with bases in Fallowfield and Rusholme. They aim to help isolated people in the local community - people who are ill, disabled or elderly. By organising regular day trips and activities and arranging for volunteers to visit people in their homes, LINK offers a social lifeline to people who may otherwise spend a lot of time alone. With research showing that loneliness can be as harmful to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, just having someone to chat to for an afternoon a week could make a huge difference to a person’s quality of life. They are looking for volunteers to help with activities and to visit and befriend isolated people in their homes.
Unity Arts Unity Arts run youth club activities for young people aged 11 to 19 every weekday. These activities are art-based and include sessions in the music studio, arts and crafts, drama, games as well as discussions and guidance. They are looking for volunteers to help the staff who run the sessions. Volunteers can practice their English, learn new skills and get some experience working with young people.
26
Can you volunteer? All EU students are allowed to volunteer. If you need a visa to study in the UK, you need to check your visa for information on what work you can and cannot do. Already volunteering? Tell us about it. Write an article about your organisation or what you do there on a typical day and send to admin@excel-college.com
PINK 10 Reflexology “your feet are in good hands” PINK 10 REFLEXOLOGIST
EXCEL14
20% discount for Excel College students and staff. ONLY £16.00 per treatment. Ring Lynda for an appointment on 07909700199 Based in Salford M6
This voucher entitles you to a free placement test and one free trial lesson
Choose from: General English IELTS Preparation Business English Communication Class Writing Clinic Offer excludes one to one lessons and IELTS practice tests. Offer available to new students only. One voucher per person. Students must have a valid visa that allows them to study in the UK
If you’re looking to meet new people in Manchester, join Meet Up! You can find lots of different groups in the city who host regular activities, with something for every interest: hiking, reading, international exchange, dancing and cycling to name a few! You can also keep up-to-date with Excel College social activities by joining our Meet Up group—http://www.meetup.com/Manchester-Excel-College/
27
Want to see your advert here? Prices start from just £30 for 1/4 page.
Email admin@excel-college.com for more details
Friday 7.30pm
Tuesday 7.30pm
John Eddlestone Centre Main Street Billinge Wigan
www.wiganaikido.com
Ryu Do Karate & Fitness Academy Landgate Lane Ind Est Ashton In Makerfield Wigan
Aikido (Way of Spirit and Harmony) is a Japanese martial art unlike any other. Rather than relying on strength and power, Aikido relies on technique , timing and using an attackers aggression against them. Through the use of throws, joint locks and strikes, you will learn something that is much more than a regular fighting art— Aikido is a “Budo” (Way) dedicated to improving the well being of all
No Physical strength Required –Suitable for all Promotes and improves fitness and flexibility Improves self defence skills and Promotes self confidence Weapons classes available (Sword / Staff / Knife) No prior experience required – Affiliated to Aikido Headquarters, Hombu, Japan
All Are Welcome. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch! For More Information Speak to Matt on 07754 765 739 Or Email matt@wiganaikido.com
Film Club Watch films in English with
English subtitles A new film every week Bring your friends All films shown on the projector in
2B
Mondays at 15:00, Wednesdays at 17:00 28
Address: 27 Withy Grove, Manchester, M4 2BS | Tel: 0161 385 8080 | Mob: 07889723075
29
What’s happening this term? There’s lots to look forward to this term. Spring has sprung and summer is on its way! Manchester will be very busy with the BUPA Great Manchester Run (Europe’s biggest 10km race), Parklife Weekender music festival, Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival, The Cake & Bake Show (with classes, demonstrations and a cake market), Manchester Day Parade, Salford Music & Art Festival, Stockport Beer & Cider Festival and an exhibition on the large hadron collider at MOSI. At the College, there will be more student seminars with advice on how to improve your English and find work in the UK and lots of social events including include trips to Old Trafford Stadium, to the Imperial War Museum and to John Ryland’s gothic library for a tour of its secret staircases. You can take a look at our events calendar for more information on where we’re going next. We’ll also be having an Easter Party on Thursday 17th April where we’ll be painting Easter eggs, playing games and eating food from around the world, as well as lots of chocolate. To all students returning to Excel College after the break or starting classes for the first time, we hope you have a fun and successful term!
EASTER PARTY Thursday 17th April Morning classes will finish early and afternoon classes will start later so everyone can join in. Bring food from your country! Play games! Go on an Easter egg hunt!
Write for the College Newsletter! Put your writing skills to the test! Want to review a book, film or restaurant? Love or hate something about Manchester?
Student Cards now available at Excel College For only £10! The ISIC card is an internationally recognised student card giving you over 40,000 discounts in the UK and overseas as well as access to exclusive discounted student airfares when booking flights through STA Travel. These cards usually cost £12 but are available to Excel College students studying 6 or more weeks for only £10! You can either order it when you book your course or when you arrive in the UK to start saving money.
Want to give a big thank you to your favourite teacher? We’d love to hear from you!
See http://www.isic.org/benefits/, email info@excel-college.com or come to reception for more information.
Send submissions to admin@excel-college.com 30