One of the worst regrets I can feel is losing or missing something important because I arrived too late. It can be anything, from the tube that just left the platform to the most fun of the party just because you missed the tube. Therefore, I always try to arrive early everywhere I go.

We all might have noticed some signs at our classroom’s doors reminding us about the importance of being on time for our classes. A 20-minute delay can be tolerated. If we arrive after that, we can only get in class after the break.

Set up your alams. And no more snoozing!

Hey guys,

Last night I went to the cinema with a very good friend and had a great time. I woke up this morning hitting myself as today is Orange Wednesday which means 2 for 1 on cinema

tickets at any cinema if you have orange pay as you go or contract. Just text “film” to 241 and they will send you a special code.

The film I saw last night is one which has got pretty much the whole world talking and cringing – BRUNO. I haven’t laughed so much in the cinema for a looooong time. . The basic plot of the film is a very camp Austrian who will do ANYTHING to become famous. I definitely recommend it.

There are two versions, the “snipped” censored version or the full on uncensored which will involve a lot of hiding your eyes from the screen.

Let me know what you think….
Stuart

To make it in the world of music they say you need to be talented, hardworking, lucky and extraordinarily good-looking (or in the alleged cases of Mariah Carey and Westlife, make a deal with the devil at the crossroads in the pale moonlight). Well, ladies, I’m sure none of you would say that the strange half-man-half-mole creatures depicted above are blessed with all those gifts: certainly not the last one.

Yet it does not matter one whit because the Proclaimers have been charming these islands with fine songs of love, loss, power, glory, misery, degradation and redemption for over twenty three years now. Why do I mention them here in the blog? Well, there are two reasons: one is that I think they are fantastic and have been thoroughly enjoying their new album, Notes and Rhymes, since I downloaded it (the deluxe edition no less!) on Sunday morning. However, the reason why they merit precious blog space has more to do with the fact that a lot of my students have told me that they plan to take a trip to Scotland this summer and have asked me about the accent north of the border.

Though for sixteen years I have been teaching Received Pronunciation, for what it’s worth, I consider the Scottish accent to be the most beautiful and melodious of all the myriad accents with which people speak English: I love the way vowels are softened, the harsh Celtic  ch sound in words like loch, how the letter r is rolled in an almost Mediterranean way – and here’s the real clincher, it simply sounds more honest. more….trustworthy. If you were to think that’s just my opinion, you’d be wrong. Listen to the world around you: the amount of finance and insurance ads with Scottish- accented voiceovers is disproportionately large, as is the number of Scottish call-centre staff employed by banks, mobile phone companies and other such organisations.

The Proclaimers hail from Fife and sing with  an unashamedly Caledonian burr, which, especially when alchemically fused with the perfection of  their ‘Everly Brothers meet The Beatles in a pub in Leith’ harmonies makes for a potent musical cocktail, far more powerful than, for example, anything young Master Gallagher of Burnage has ever produced. Compare the woefully nihilistic narcissism of ‘Maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me,’ with the sheer  down to earth exuberance of Ah love ye, an’ ah wanna stay with ye, Let’s get Married!’  Once again I address the ladies: Who do you think you’d have a happier life with?

If I’ve only made you slightly interested in perhaps listening to one Proclaimers tune with this blog, then my work is done. If you’re looking for a starting point, I’d advise you to check out their most recent single, Love Can Move Mountains, a sentiment that outside of the realms of metaphor is a ridiculous assertion of the topographically impossible. Nevertheless, when Craig and Charlie Reid’s voices soar ecstatically on the chorus, you may, if only momentarily, believe that they are stating fact.

It must have something to do with the accent…

Mike

Hi guys,

Some of you who have been here a while may remember that we asked you to bring your passports to reception to make a copy for our records. But why? The lovely Home Office requires us to do this.

Some of you have had your visa’s extended since then and so we need you to bring them in again. Someone will be coming around to your class asking you for your passport to be scanned so be prepared.

Any new students who didn’t have their passports scanned need to do get them scanned. Another option is that you could send us a scanned copy if you don’t want to carry your passport around with you. We need the page with your personal details and the passport number, we also need the visa. If you are here on a student visitor visa and you only have a stamp, we need a copy of this too.

If you have any questions, just email me at students@the-englishstudio.com and put “passport scanning” as the subject.

See you around

Stuart

It was Friday evening around 7.40. I’d had a long day and wanted to get home but the 207 and 607 buses didn’t seem to be running and the throngs of people assembling at the bus stop, ‘Umbrellas arranged in a sad bouquet,’ did not make me hopeful of getting a seat – or even comfortable standing room. Having read an article about the recent rise in pickpocketing on public transport, I decided to take advantage of Shepherd’s Bush’s recent revamp and get the overground train home…..

However, when I got to the rain-lashed platform, it seemed many other people had been struck by the same idea. I dutifully queued by the door as the passengers got off, but then realised to my horror that everyone was getting on the train at the other side of the door and if i didn’t get on soon I was going to be stranded and standing. I tried to cut onto the bus and a young woman pushed me out of her way, and then after I’d managed to stumble onto the train, she turned around and glared at me. Well really!

I’ve done anger-management classes so I  heroically fought back the urge to roar out something offensive about her appearance,  figuring people in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones – and as the train pulled away  and I squirmed in my seat I imagined, in that tried and tested manner, that my anger was a helium-filled red balloon and, having let it go, I was watching it soar up up and away into space.

But it kept returning , like a fairground stray dog who’s determined you will adopt him, nuzzling your shins and yelping pathetically.. I had to think this one through..Maybe she’s just one of those pushy career girls who wear a mask of aggression to hide their Bridget Jones loneliness.

Maybe she’d just been sacked that day and wanted some way to vent her anger.

Maybe she was a psychopath and I’d had a narrow escape because if I’d said anything she might have knifed me.

Maybe I look exactly like the boy who broke her heart so badly years ago that she hasn’t been able to love since.

But the through the fog of all the maybes, the truth eventually alighted and stung me on the nose. I’d been in the wrong.

Getting on my connecting train at Willesden Junction ten minutes later, I boarded most gingerly, making sure I wasn’t invading anyone’s space.

Lesson learnt.

Mike

It was my birthday on Friday! I had a lovely time, but of course most of my family were in Venezuela and couldn’t celebrate it with me. That was a little bit heartbreaking. It’s at times like birthdays and Christmas that I miss them the most. But still, we had fun and even though my folks weren’t with me in person, i know they were with me in spirit. It was bittersweet to speak to them on the phone.

It’s easy to get homesick in London, but with friends you can get over any sad feelings, so make sure you don’t allow yourself to be lonely in the big city.

Anamaria

Hi Thre!

It’s umbelivable that we are in the midle of July alread- and I just want to remind you about the Cambridge Exam. From today 15/07 till 21/07 we are open for the exam registration . If you are  interested to do FCE exam pop at reception to register .Don’t forget to bring with you a permission slip from your teacher. The registration fee is £95 . Good luck

BRANCA

Hi guys,

I would like to give you some important information regarding class changes here at The English Studio.

If you want to change time, from an earlier class to a later class, this is fine, just let me know what class you want to change to, and I’ll see what I can do.

If you want to change from a later time to an earlier class, you will have to pay the price difference in reception. Once you pay this, I can change it.

If you want to change to a higher level,  this is a little more complicated. You need to take the test in e-reception and prove to me that you are ready for the next level.

If you want to change to a lower level, email me and let me know. You don’t have to take the test.

EVERYBODY If you email me, please tell me your name and ID number (or date of birth). I need to be able to find you on the database and I can’t if I don’t know who you are.

We have also been having a few problems with the server and I haven’t been receiving all requests or my replies are getting lost somewhere in cyberspace.

All changes are made for the following week, so the latest you will have a reply is Friday 6pm.

Stuart

students@the-englishstudio.com

Well, as the more observant among you will have noticed, it’s summer and,like most English schools in London in these balmy months, we are very busy in the morning. It may seem like you’re in a different school with all the new faces and names, but you must admit it’s exciting too!

With the popularity of the school we find that most of our morning groups are, as they say, chock-a block, and this is why we have had to move some low attenders to other classes. we have had the low attenders sign up for months and it is part of our terms and condition, but this is the first time we have had to use this rule> those of you who are disappointed by being moved might use this as a wake-up-call and start attending more frequently in future!

Remember, if yoiu’re a long term student and you don’t weant to study in a class that’s operating at capacity, you could consider either taking your holiday entitlement or going to a less busy class later in the day. If you miss the ‘ good old days’ then don’t worry, the summer rush will soon be over.

Keep learning!

Mike

Hello everyone!

Did you know that the school is going to provide you with a modern and useful ID card?

Not only will you have proof that you are a student which could entitle you to many special discounts but it will also help you remember your ID number.

This is a very important detail for us at the school because with this you can access your record at the E-Reception and print all types of letters you might need.

And it is also important for Transport for London because they ask you this when you are applying for your Oyster card online.

We will let you know as soon as possible about how we are going to work out the schedules for you to get it.

Don’t worry there will be a chance for all of you.

I’ll keep you posted.

Have a nice weekend!

Anamaria