Olga talks about London and Rose of York

Our colleague Paula has visited Olga, one of the people who came to London with POLAR CHOICE. After 5 months she is still in this beautiful city.

Among all the schools that POLAR CHOICE offers, Olga chose to study at Rose of York.

Do you want to see how her experience was and the advices she had wanted to give us? Don’t miss the interview!

Tell us more about you

I’m Olga and I am Spanish. I am 25 and I came to London because I was looking for a personal and professional change. After I had finished my Advertising and Public Relation studies, cinema and dressing studies I looked for a job in my country but the current labour situation didn’t allow me to access to a job in relation with my studies, so that I decided to improve my English and have a try in London.

How did you get to London? 

I  establish quickly due to I contacted with POLAR CHOICE beforehand to have my room the same day that I arrive. I am still in the same flat after 5 months, here I met my first friends and we have a really good relationship.

How were your first days in London?

 At the beginning I was a bit lost, but I adapt rapidly.

Why did you choose this School?

I was thinking over it and finally, I chose Rose of York because I knew people who had studied there. Furthermore, the price and the schedule.

How was with your partners? Where do they come from?

Very good. I'm happy that there weren't a lot od Spanish people because I wanted top communicate in English exclusively and get used to listent to different accents.

I had the opportunity of meeting people from Iran, Turkey, Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, Brazil and Germany

How are the classes? How many people per class?

The teacher encourages the participation and the speaking, so that you not only study grammar but reading and writing.

We were about 5 and 7 people in class

What was the methodology?

We start with the speaking and you talk about the day before to remember. the teacher expalins a bit of theory and vocabulary, we do exercises individually and later you compare them with your partners. When you don;t know an expression or a word the teacher explains it through examples.

Did you like the experience?

Yes, a lot. The relation between the students and teachers is very good. They make a good feecnack. The teachers organise weekly activities for the students so they can meet each other and know different theatres, pubs and places that the city offers.

Thank you so much J

In a few days we will come again with another interview or may a visit to a School? Or with a reportage? Find it out soon.


Extra Ball: Remember that we can find us in the social nets as well as follow us. Click here for visiting us:

  

Truly Olympic

¡¡Ya tenemos otro concurso entre manos!! 


Si no tuviste suerte y no respondiste que la Selección Española iba a resultar la vencedora en la Euro'12 no te preocupes. Te hemos preparado un nuevo concurso que, como no podía ser de otro modo, tratará sobre los juegos olímpicos de Londres 2012. 


Para participar debes acceder a nuestra página en Facebook  y responde a esta simple pregunta:


¿Cuántas medallas de oro crees que ganará el equipo olímpico Británico?
      
¿El premio? ¡Ah si! Lo olvidaba, si aciertas el número, podrás ganar una prenda original del "TEAM GB ". 


Suerte a Todos!!!

  
 

Dice are Rolling Again!!!

If you were unfortunate enough not to correctly guess that Spanish National Team would be the winner of the Euro 2012 don't worry. We have devised another contest for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Do you want to play? Great! Just go to our Facebook Page and answer this simple question:

How many gold medals will the Team GB win?

The prize? Yeah! You're right, I almost forget about that. If you give us the correct answer, you will win an official Team GB  T-Shirt. 

Good luck!

Londres and Oxford House College... trough Carlotta 

This week we didn’t visit a School but we don’t need it because we have been with Carlotta who is going to tell us either her experience in Oxford House College or her experience in London.

Tell us about you... How did you arrive to London? Why?

My name is Carlotta Pagani. I’m 20 and I come from the north of Italy, to be precised from Novara. After 2 months in Ireland I decided to come to London to continue improving my English before going to University in Italy.

 How were your first days in London? Tell us what the most difficult thing was for you...

At the beginning I was a bit afraid because of the accommodation. That is why I decided to book a place to stay for 1 week at least.

The house was in Brixton and the neighbourhood seemed to me a bit dangerous, I didn’t have a problem though. I started working there and I met Livia, a Swiss girl with who I got on well quickly. Both of us decided to move and then, we found out POLAR CHOICE. The truth is that everything was so easy, we liked the house and most of all the area, Clapham.

I think that if I come back to London I will live in the same place again.

Anyway, we were visiting other houses before getting with POLAR CHOICE and it is really hard. If you work like us, in a pub, loads of hours, the last thing you want to do is to visit houses in your free time. Furthermore, everything is very expensive and sometimes we were asked exorbitant amounts for houses in poor conditions. In this sense POLAR CHOICE is the best option, the value for money is really good.

After a year in London, why did you decide to enrol an English Course now?

After a year I can see that I have no problem to understand people.

I felt like if I was struggle in my process to learn, so I thought it was the moment to take advantage on what I had learnt and try to pass the First Exam of Cambridge. Thereby, i would work the grammar, which is the part you more abandon if you don’t go to a school. Also, the certificated would be perfect for my future in Italy.

Why did you choose Oxford House College?

I found out that POLAR CHOICE had start working with several schools in London and I went to the office. Even if they work with a lot of schools, it was easy to find one which was good for my schedule and for my economic possibilities.

What I did was to explain them when I could take the lessons, my budget and the zone where I would like to study. From there, they gave me a list of schools with their information and I chose Oxford House College.

Why exactly?

I thought it has an affordable price due to you have to count with its location and premises. Also, i was looking for preparing the First exam, that’s why I chose it..

This was before the Course, now that you have finished it, what do you tell us about the School? Would you come again?

I have no doubt. The teachers have been very kind and they were totally keen to reach that we pass the exam.

How was with your colleagues? Where do they come from?

 

I have met people from Spain, Italy, Japan and Poland… The truth is that there is a big mixture and I like that because it gives you the opportunity of meeting new people from around the World.

How are the classes? How many students?

The rooms are good-size and the average is 15 students per class which allows you to learn and interact with your partners as well.

My teacher was very dynamic what helps you a lot when you are in a room where there are people with different nationalities.

What were the methods?

Although we had to follow a book, we did a lot of activities in Group and we reviewed the grammar through practising.

Also, the schools has extra activities for practising the language, but I couldn’t take it due to I had to go to work in the afternoon.

Did you like the experience?

Definitely yes! I liked the School a lot as well as the atmosphere that they have and its great location! Today, the 12^th of July I come back to Italy and I am really happy with the experience that I had lived in London, everything I learnt, the people I met and the help I had from POLAR CHOICE.

I’m waiting for the results of the exam and I am totally nervous as I want to know if I have passed the First. Although we had problems with the listening, as it was an advanced level and the volume was terribly low, I hope I will have a good result.

It would be great if in the future they modify the listening part by doing it with headphones!!! J

I’m leaving so happy! This experience has been unique!

Thanks to every person who made my stay in this city an unforgettable experience!

Instead eggs…..now booths!!!

Those who enjoy the 200 eggs in Eastern, which were distributed among London and designed by several artists I am sure you are happy to know about the new idea that is taking place now in London.

The typical booth, which was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, has changed its image due to the Olympics in London and the Jubilee of Queen.

Several artists and designers have changed this well-know booth.

To those who don’t know what we are talking about, we leave you here some pictures of the booths which we can find out if we walk through London.

For these little things we love London!!!