Language Fairs are arriving like buses.  Having just got through ALPHE this weekend, today we are off to The Fair on the south coast.  ALPHE was a great opportunity to meet new schools and agents from around the globe.  We were also invited to the Gala Star Awards on Sunday night which was entertaining.  Over the next couple of weeks I aim to fill you in on all the new courses and schools that I met and what is happening at our partner London Language Schools.

Brighton plays host this week to the cream of the language industry.  Representatives from Language Schools all over the world are descending to the British seaside to meet up with agents, and amongst them Answer English.  Dubbed The Fair, this event is being organised by English UK, the leading association for promoting the study of English in the UK.

We hope to find out as much as possible about what is going on in the industry, to discover new innovations for 2007, and bring to you the best of English Language Learning.  This does of course mean that we won’t be in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, so if something is urgent please give me a call on my mobile: +44 7946 534 814.

Going back to Brighton will be a trip down memory lane for me, as this is where I used to visit often with my grandparents as a child.  I can remember building sandcastles, playing pitch and putt, eating Cornetto icecreams and of course going down the Pier.  Somehow I imagine I won’t be doing a lot of that this week!  Brighton is a great place to visit for a day trip.  If you are interested in going we can help you organise your trip with our partners Anderson Tours.  Their excursion includes coach travel, guided tour of the town, entrance to The Royal Pavillion and a free afternoon to explore the sea front.  Let us know if you are interested by Contacting Us

Name: Shashi Ingale
Job Title: Doctor
Age: 28
From: Bombay, India

How long have you been in the UK?
I’ve been living in Stevenage just on the outskirts of London for 9 months now.

How are you finding life in England?
Stevenage is a cool place.  The facilities are good.  It took a while to adjust to the weather here, coming from India which was so hot.  It was amazing when I first arrived and it was snowing!

What were you doing before this?
I was a Doctor for two years in my home town.

Why did you come to London?
My wife, Smita, was given a job opportunity to work as a nurse.  She came out here first for one year and then when I had the chance to join her, I came over.

What did you hope to achieve?
Well there are some restrictions on what foreign doctors can do.  So I’m studying for my British Medical Council Exams at the moment so that I can work as a doctor here.

What does that involve?
First I have to get my English up to the necessary level.  The requirement is for doctors to have an IELTS score of 7.  I already have achieved a 6.5 so I’m hoping by December I will have got a 7.  Then in January I will sit the medical exams.

Is that tough?
Well the medical exams I think will be okay as I’ve been studying hard.  I do around two hours a day English study and another 6 hours on the medical side.  I’m confident I can pass them.  Then I need to try hard to find a medical posting.  I also plan to study a PHD so that perhaps one day I will become a consultant.

What are the best bits of being a doctor?
The public service.  I enjoyed being able to service my community in India.  One day when I am better qualified I would like to go back there.

And the worst?
Probably the working hours.  There is not much privacy, you can perhaps work 24 hours in one shift, which is pretty heavy and you are constantly on call if there is an emergency.

How is the English coming along?
I’ve been taking The Linguist study from home course.  This involves a once a week, tutorial that we do over the internet with Skype.  We are normally 4 people including the tutor and we discuss issues and get to practice our speaking skills which is where I was weakest.  It’s interesting, this week we were talking about the situation in the Middle East and it was good to hear the different perspectives of people from different countries, Germany, Russia, Japan.

And you’ve got a podcast as well haven’t you?
Yes I started my podcast so that I could practice my spoken English.  It’s a bit of fun, I’ve interviewed my friends from The Linguist and even my wife!  Who never normally speaks to me in English.  We normally communicate in Marathi, so that was fun!  You can check out my blog and podcast at this address: http://shashiingale.wordpress.com/

How much do you think your English has improved?
Quite a lot, my English was poor, I couldn’t speak properly or fully understand what people were saying.  Now I feel I can communicate a lot more fluently.

Thank you Shashi for the interview.  We wish you the best of luck for the future.

Do you remember that famous 80’s Fosters ad, where the ‘Professor’ steps out of the flash car, surrounded by women and one barman goes to the other ‘okay so he’s got the looks, the car, the brains but would you want to have a drink with him?’ and he strides up to the bar and orders a pint of beer, Fosters naturally.  The imagery saying that this is the complete alpha-male, the man that has everything.  I couldn’t help reminiscing about this popular TV ad when a report came out this week about the need for young school leavers to have practical experience not just academic qualifications.

Educational foundation Edge have found that ‘76% of adults believe that too much emphasis is placed on academic learning.’  Whilst ‘over two-thirds of employers admitted to saying that school and college leavers lack the necessary practical skills valued by industry.’  This got me thinking back to that advertisement, how lots of young people today become perpetual students.  The number of people getting higher qualifications is at an all time high but do they have the practical work experience so valued by employers?

Jesus Garza Garcia is a 26 year-old Mexican MBA graduate who felt he needed more practical experience before entering the job market.  He found an Internship through Aspect with Brandenburg Securities, a Financial and Business Advisory firm.  During his time there Jesus conducted a research project on the performance of the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), evaluating the price performance of stocks based upon monthly pricing statistics.  He also developed a share price assessment model and formed part of the Brandenburg Securities team.  This experience coupled with the improvement of his spoken English will prove invaluable for Jesus in the future.

Taking an internship is one of many ways to improve your prospects and become the ‘complete package’ just like the 80’s Fosters professor.  For more information about Aspect Internships Contact Us

It’s always interesting to see the difference in people’s written and speaking levels.  We had a student recently studying in London who was a very able student, probably intermediate maybe even upper intermediate level in her written English.  But in her spoken English - it was if she was a complete beginner!  It seems that often if students have only learnt English in a classroom in their own country when faced with a grammar exercise they can excel, but when asked to open their mouths some people fall to pieces.

That’s why we feel the Fluency Workshops at Central School of English, an English language school in London, are a great idea.  These are included in the price of your course and are optional twice a week in the afternoon.  They are specifically designed to build confidence in speaking English fluently and are held in groups of 12 students maximum.

The format is simple, students are given topics to discuss and debate and are assisted by a teacher.  In the Fluency Workshops they also like to imitate real life situations like selecting a new flatmate or going for a job interview.  The ultimate aim is to develop fluency, encourage the students to speak on a wider range of topics and improve accuracy in their spoken English.

If you are interested in Central School of English’s Courses you might like to take a look at their Intensive General English class or their Business English Course: Executive and Professional Programme.  If you wish to take one of these courses please Contact Us.

The UK is a nation of ‘Accent Chameleons’ according to research by ntl:Telewest.  Two thirds of business people have confessed to changing their voice in the workplace.  Their results make interesting reading, especially for language learners trying to master English in London.

London and South East accents are seen as the best for finance, sales and customer service.  71% of people surveyed under the age of 30 were inclined to change their accents when talking to elder workers.  Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish people were deemed to have the strongest accents.  In fact the Scots were most likely to change their voice in the workplace with over two thirds admitting altering their accents.

I’m not sure what conclusion to take from these findings, but at least it shows if you want to talk ‘proper’ head to London.  Click here to download the Full Report

Steeped in history, a bastion of democracy, the Houses of Parliaments are an inspiring place to go to when visiting London.  Unfortunately now non-UK nationals are not allowed to visit when Parliament is sitting.  However if you aren’t a UK national and still want to visit you CAN do so during the annual Summer Opening.  And thanks to our Members of Parliament like for an extended summer holiday you can visit anytime during the whole of August and September.

The Houses of Parliament are actually a Royal Palace, the Palace of Westminster.  The site was originally a royal residence dating back to Edward the Confessor’s reign (1004 - 1066).  In 1512 Henry VIII decided to move out of the Westminster Palace and St.Stephens becamse the first permanent home of the Commons in 1550.  Unfortunately the building no longer survives and what you see today is the creation of architect Charles Barry after the last one was destroyed by fire in 1834.  The latest creation is Victorian coupled with some more modern additions following the bombing of the Houses of Parliament during World War II.

Starting at the Sovreign’s Entrance on the tour you will visit Norman Porch, the Queen’s Robing Room (where the Queen dresses ahead of the State Opening each year), the Royal Gallery and the Prince’s Chamber.  From here you will go on to the House of Lords Chamber, Peer’s Lobby and Corridor, the Central Lobby, the Commons Corridor and ‘No’ Lobby (where the votes against a motion are counted).  Then finally the House of Commons Chamber and St. Stephen’s Hall.

For more information go to the Parliament Website.  You can book tickets on-line or call 0870 906 3773.  Similarly the Ticket Office is open and is located adjacent to the Jewel Tower, opposite the Houses of Parliament.  Tour times are as follows, in August : Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday 09:15-16:30; Wednesday and Thursday 13:15-16:30; and in September: Monday, Friday, Saturday 0915-1630; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 13:15-16:30.

On the bank holiday weekend, the language industry is descending on London for ALPHE’s UK Workshop.  This is an opportunity for language schools to get together with businesses in the industry like Answer English to talk shop.  For us at Answer English it is a great chance to hear what fantastic offers there are for learning English in London, the UK and the rest of the world.

Sunday evening there is the Language Travel Magazine Star Awards where prizes will be given out to amongst others the best English language school, the best agency (we’re not taking part in the awards this year) and the best association.  Best of luck to all those taking part.

I hope following two days of meetings on the Sunday and the Monday I will then be able to post up lots of what is going on in the industry so that you get up-to-date information on what the best course choices are for you.

London has been the backdrop for many motion pictures.  Think thrilling crime movies like The Krays and The Long Good Friday, through to chick flix Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill.  Now you have the chance to to learn how to shoot a film here in London with The Metropolitan Film School and its partner language school Wimbledon School of English.

If you’ve dreamed of working in film then this course could be for you.  First of all you can take a month’s english course in London at Wimbledon School of English that will help you get up to speed with the language used in film production.  Then you can proceed with the Metropolitan Film School’s one-year practical film-making school.  You will finish the programme with an extensive set of skills, months of filmmaking experience, two professionally-made films, contacts, a diploma and a road map into the industry.  The course by Wimbledon, one of the best english schools in London, equips those who are not fluent in English with all the language required for such study.

Learning technical terminology and common expressions form the industry, you will master language used in Directing, Cinematography & Lighting, Sound, Scriptwriting and storyboarding and editing.  Wimbledon School of English’s course starts on 27 November or next year on 3 April.  By completing the English for Film Makers course you are guaranteed a place at the Metropolitan Film Course.  If you are interested in this course Contact Us

The heavyweights of clubland are on their way to London.  Next Saturday, 26 August, giants of the DJ world are descending to Clapham Common for SW4.  The line up includes a who’s who of DJ talent including Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold, John Digweed, Pete Tong, Judge Jules, Steve Lawler, Danny Howells, Seb Fontaine, Mauro Picotto and Tall Paul.

SW4 boasts 4 Arenas, the Main Stage Outdoor Arena with its 10,000 capacity will feature Carl Cox & Friends following Carl’s succesful set last year, Arena Two is hosted by Pete Tong the DJ well known for his ‘Essential Selection’ Radio 1 dance show broadcast every Friday since 1991, Judge Jules and Italian techno legeend Mauro Picotto are on Arena 3, and the Ibizan Underground finish the line up on Arena 4.

This is set to be a huge event and a must for clubbers everywhere.  As some of the worlds finest DJs go to work in London.  SW4 is on Saturday 26th August 2006, between 12pm – 9pm.  Tickets are £30 and are available via www.ticketmaster.co.uk or calling 0870 5344444.  Nearest tube is Clapham Common.  For more information go to: www.southwestfour.com

High drama and emotion, The Scoop are performing their most ambitious project to date: The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht.  Performed in the open-air on South Bank, The Caucasian Chalk Circle is his epic fable that draws on motives taken from the Bible, Buddhist & Islamic narrations and the 13th Century Chinese piece Li-Xing-dao.

The story unfolds when there is a coup and Governor Georgi Abashwili is murdered.  The Governor’s wife choses to abandon her son as she plans to flee from the city.  Grusha her maid is the heroine and is left with the Governor’s son.  This is an emotional drama and poses questions to the audience of who should bring up the child, and is there any justice?

This production, that combines live music, comedy and song, captures the imagination of an audience of any age.  It is a fantastic opportunity to see live open-air theatre and best of all the event is FREE.  The Caucasian Chalk Circle will be performed on: August 03, 04, 05, 06, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 8pm. August 23, 30 at 6pm; September 01, 02, 03, 08, 9, 10, 15 at 8pm.  September 06, 13 at 6pm.  September 17 at 9pm.  The Scoop is between London Bridge and Tower Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames.  The nearest Underground Station is London Bridge.