Student Newsletter
Date: Friday 15th January 2010 Issue No: 10
Happy New Year!
We hope that you have had a wonderful Christmas season, and enjoyed your New Year celebrations. There’s an article in this issue about New Year’s Resolutions (and if you haven’t made one, it’s not too late!)
If you were in England 31st December did you join in some English festivities? Why not tell us about your experiences, or tell us about how you experience New Year in your country? Just let you teacher know that you want to write something, and we’ll get back to you.
Wishing you all a successful (and studious) 2010!
The Editorial Team
Student Events Coming Up….
Bowling Friday 15th January
Get practising your arm movements, because it’s bowling night again! It’s not just bowling, there’s a whole lot of entertainment under one roof at Gunwharf Quays, including the Sports Bar & Grill and Video World.
Meet in reception: 2pm
January Sales Shopping – London
It wouldn’t be January without a trip to the sales. And bargains are sure to be super good this year. We’ll be taking the train to central London. You’ll have the opportunity to visit Oxford Street, where you can found just about every shop under the sun, from a huge Top Shop to big department stores like Selfridges. Music lovers will be able to immerse themselves in the large HMV store.
If you’re of a technical persuasion then pop into the spacious Apple Store on Regent street to get your latest Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. If you really know how to haggle, then you can compare prices on a huge range of electrical goods when you go in to any of the shops along Tottenham Court Road.
When you’re done with shopping you can wander down into Soho and enjoy a cake and latte at one of the characterful cafes. Or go and see the traditional building – and maybe stop for tea - of Liberty’s and then have a look down Carnaby Street.
For designer labels, from Ralph Lauren to Armani, head towards New Bond Street, where you’re bound to pick up some bargains, nevertheless!
(Check out http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/oxford/os_intro.htm to see all the shops listed above).
Meet: 9am at the college. Price: 13.50 return
Isle of Wight Trip
by
Abdalla from Libya
The Isle of Wight is a great place to visit, to see several places and to do many activities. One of most enjoyable things to do is ice skating. I have been there with a group from Spinnaker College and two of my teachers; it was great fun and we enjoyed it very much. We went ice skating, although it was the first time for me to do this kind of sport, but it was an absolutely fantastic time.
We also visited “Osborne House” which is a huge house. It was one of the Queen Victoria's houses around the period of 1850.
It is like a castle and it was designed perfectly in a gold colour, by a very intelligent designer. And you can see things you wouldn't expect existed at that time. When you go around the house you find a gorgeous garden and an amazing landscape. As well as fresh air, you can also can see the wildlife. As far as the eye can see, there are huge green fields and big trees, and there’s also the view of the sea from a high place.
It's not just this, you can visit the zoo or walk along the fields and do shopping in the Isle of Wight, as well as buy traditional food and other stuff. But you will get home extremely tired after spending a great day, which you will never forget.
Film Review
It’s Complicated:
Maryann, from Iran, went to see It’s Complicated, starriing Meryl Streep, Steve Martina and Alec Baldwin. She thought it was hilarious and Meryl Streep was very good. The language was strong, with interesting idioms.
The story is about a husband and wife who are divorce. After 10 years they get together. He has married again but he falls in love with his wife again. She’s since fallen in love with someone else. Their children don’t want them to get back together because they’ve been separated for so long.
How does cinema going compare to Iran? Unfortunately Maryann reported that it only costs around £1 to see a film in Iran. The cinema’s are just as nice as the one in Gunwharf and and the seats are always full. Perhaps if our films were cheaper more people would go!
New Year’s Resolution Article
The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays, first being observed in ancient Babylon around 4000 years ago. The tradition of the New Year’s resolution, however, goes back to ancient Rome in 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of Rome with two faces, was placed at the head of the calendar and was the ancient symbol for many Romans who looked for forgiveness and exchanged gifts at the beginning of each year.
These days, a New Year’s resolution refers to a commitment we make to reform a bad habit, or change our lifestyle for the better. Stuck for ideas for your New Year’s resolution? See if any of Britain’s most common New Year’s resolutions inspire you.
1. Quit smoking 6. Enjoy life more
2. Lose weight / Get in shape 7. Help others by volunteering
3. Get yourself out of debt 8. Get organised!
4. Spend more time with the family 9. Fall in love
5. Learn something new 10. Help save the planet by recycling
Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and togetherness. All that remains is to say Happy New Year! And if you decide to make a resolution, make sure you stick to it!
Do You Watch the English Soaps?
(and no, it’s not a bar of soap)
Soap operas, or ‘soaps’ as they are more commonly known, are ongoing fictional television or radio dramas, which usually focus on the important emotional issues affecting family life. The term "soap opera" comes from the original radio dramas in the 1930s, which were sponsored by soap companies back in the days when serial dramas were aimed predominately at women. These days however, Britain has a wide variety of soaps for everyone, which focus on communities in different parts of the country.
Watching a soap is not only a great way to get involved with an exciting story, it is also a great way to develop your understanding of the English language. Not only will you enhance your listening skills, but you will also be able to increase your knowledge of English as you discover the different accents and slang used across Britain. The two most famous soaps in Britain are EastEnders and Coronation Street. Coronation Street, which is set in the North of England around Manchester is the 3rd longest running British television programme, whereas EastEnders is set in the fictional London borough of Walford. Hollyoaks is a soap that is generally watched by younger audiences, the majority of whom are between 15 and 29. There are also plenty of other soaps such as Emmerdale which is set in Yorkshire and Neighbours which is an Australian soap.
Watching a soap is a great way to develop your English, but more importantly, to have fun whilst doing it!
What’s on?
Premiership Match - Portsmouth v West Ham
26th January 2010
K.O 7:45pm
Fratton Park
Contact Ticket Office on 0844 847 1898 for
ticket availability and prices- from £20
Farmers' Market
17th January 2010
All day
Free Admission
Palmerston Road, Southsea
Sample & savour some of the finest, fresh, traditional produce of Hampshire
Kico Cowan's Expression Cubana
16th January 2010
7:30pm
New Theatre Royal
www.newtheathreroyal.com
Tickets from £8
Sit back and relax, or dance to some of the most exciting and exotic music.
Let's Make it Great with Sheila Hancock OBE and Friends
On Sunday 17 January at 7.30pm
The evening’s performance will be compered by the inimitable Sandi Toksvig and include drama from Sheila Hancock OBE and Christopher Timothy, comedy from welsh comic extraordinaire Elis James, music from ex Manfred Mann star Paul Jones and world class magic from Fay Presto who counts Paul McCartney and JK Rowling amongst her biggest fans!
Other events over this fundraising weekend to rebuild the back-lot of the Theatre Royal – right next to Spinnaker College - include a Friday variety night celebrating the history of the theatre from celebrated local companies and on Saturday, a free event in Guildhall Square featuring Chesney Hawkes in order to break a Guinness World Record!
Tickets £35 (£25 concessions) box office on 023 9264 9000
www.newtheatreroyal.com
Compered by Sandi Toksvig, drama from Sheila Hancock OBE and Christopher Timothy, comedy from welsh comic Elis James, music from ex Manfred Mann star Paul Jones and magic from Fay Presto ( who counts Paul McCartney and JK Rowling amongst her biggest fans!)
Friday variety night. Saturday, free event in Guildhall Square, featuring Chesney Hawkes in order to break a Guinness World Record!
"My host family was very welcoming and I celebrated Christmas and the New Year with them. It was my first experience of an English Christmas and I loved it. Also they have been really helpful with me and they are always willing to do me some favours. "
