Try something for 30 days

Hello friends  

We have decided to take up two things in our life for 30 days. First thing is writing diary entry everyday. It is a good idea to improve your writing skills in another language and it test your memory. It is likely to remind you of good time or your interesting experience when you write.


Another thing is listening  to BBC radio every morning. You can figure out what's going on in the world and keep up with the news. You will gain knowledge about current affairs. You will more likely to able to join in any conversation even with strangers.


                                                                                                                         From Aarti & Nydia

Hello everyone. I'm Josh

Hello everyone. I'm Josh from South Korea and work in the advertising sector. Today, I'm going to introduce my new 30days idea. I normally go to the gym when I have free time. But, nowadays, I don't have enough time. I'm so tired when I get back home. I don't have any energy. Then, I thought, It's related to weather... exactly British weather. I need the sun.

I plan to cycle to school. It will change my life in London. I can get some fresh air, the sun and keep in shape and get a flatter tummy. I usually use the tube or the bus when I go to school. I'll never forget the time when I took a bike on Los Angels beach in the USA.

To sum up, At the moment I'm stuck in a rut. I really want to change my routine. I'll cycle to school in the morning. I can do it. I hope it will work. I can't wait any longer! Is there anyone who want to join me? Please let me know 24/7. (increator.sj@gmail.com) Thank you in anticipation. Cheers!

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bike+london&view=detailv2&&id=D9FC976D638336FFFB9D36017BBFAAB39D71CA28&selectedIndex=18&ccid=Cam5UHwU&simid=608011918197130905&thid=OIP.M09a9b9507c1464e319821e102b57c299o0&ajaxhist=0

To say a compliment to at least one stranger a day!

Why: It makes both one person and yourself happy a day. It will make someone's day and maybe it will create a chain reaction when this stranger after your  compliment will decide to say something good for another person and so on and so on.

It will be a good way to meet a new people and practice your English. Then, it will make the world better.

My idea about 30 days challenge:

Drink a glass of hot still water every morning on empty stomach!

They say that it's switch up you body in the morning, clean digestive system and speed up metabolism!

Good for body, fit and soul)

Feedback

Hi Team,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the blog, I have learnt some very interesting things about you and how you view language learning. Winner to be announced tomorrow!

Macha tea Not for me!

Hi Class!!
After lunch, I was walking around Notting Hill while i saw a total white, radical-chic bar. It caught my interest so I entered in and took a sit with my brother and his girlfriend. I read the menu and I was very glad to see the "macha tea" on the list!
Reading cultural magazines such as Cosmopolitan and website articles on the same level, I was aware of this powerful drink health benefits and I chose it with no doubt. A lot of fancy bloggers suggest to introduce macha tea in the diet to boost metabolism, prevent cancer and so on.. but no one talks about it's taste... it's terrible taste! It was such a delusion, a quite expensive delusion: hot milk with a fishy taste, because this is what macha tea seemed to me!! Did you ever taste it? Have you ever made a decision just because a magazine or a newspaper suggested you? Let me know! :)

Wendy

Few years ago, I learned Japanese, Because my favorite singer. I wanted to watch on tv, If I didn't watch on tv, I was waiting subtitle. So I learned Japanese. But It wasn't change me. However when I came here, I didn't speak anything. Also I didn't understand what they said. So I afraid of them, finally I had a homesickness. After than I met many people, I changed my mind so I got confidence!

Thoughts about my personality

Hi Lutsa,

I strongly agree with you that learning languages can change your personality and the way you think. I am an inhibited person when I talk in my native language, but I feel that talking in English have made me less inhibited. And not just that. Even you don't believe it, I am more confident and extroverted person when I speak in English rather than in Spanish. This is because I am the kind of person that doesn't care about making mistakes while talking a language, as well as you. And having travelled to English speaking countries have allowed me to open my mind a bit and so think differently about things.

Suin

When I  speak English, I think it makes me much shier and more quiet than speaking in my native language. Because I think a lot before saying something. I'd like to speak much louder and have confidence.

Learning another language can make us different people, you start to think differently for example, studying English. You need to be brave and not scared of making mistakes. If you have high
self-esteem it would helps you in this situation. Learning languages broadens the mind and creates opportunity to understand other people and their culture.

Hello!

I would like to start talking about my personality and what this signifies for me. I can be very  intense in all my feelings, but sometimes in English I become more shy because I feel like I can't express them. I would like to be more confident in English. On the other hand, this new language permits me to be more creative and witty, because I need to improve the answers and questions when I'm speaking with someone and this is very important to me. Learn a new language is amazing and challenging and I love this.

Does anyone share this feelings with me?

Personality and Language Learning

Hi there,

I can be very inhibited at times, I never liked to be the centre of attention, but somehow learning languages has always helped me come out of my shell.
A new language adds a new dimension to my personality and therefore I am a very enthusiastic language learner. A different language allows me to 'be wrong', I'm one of those language learners that will not worry about making mistakes :)
However, being shy has an unexpected advantage: I'm a very good listener and observer, therefore I can really notice the difference between what I'm saying and how native level speakers express themselves - which is the best learning opportunity there is :)

What are your thoughts?

Desert island Discs Interviews

Hi there,

I am looking forward to your interviews very much... Remember, you are welcome to send it to me first if you would like to me to check your writing: luca.tenyi@ihlondon.com

Happy blogging :)

New task

Hi Upper Ints and welcome new students :)

Here's a link to the 'Desert Island Discs' podcasts we were talking about today. Choose a famous person and listen to the interview. Remember, don't worry about things you don't understand, but focus on what you do. Try to answer as many questions on the worksheet I gave you as possible.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/find-a-castaway

Enjoy!

Next task and my 'silly' story

So, Dear bloggers,

Thank you for all your contribution. The next task is to post a 'silly' news story from your country.

Here's mine about a Hungarian bank robber:
This guy somehow managed to become a very popular criminal. He was very smart and never hurt anyone. At the height of his fame, he was seen as some kind of a modern day Robin Hood, taking from the rich and helping the poor. Hungarians never liked authority much, like the police or banks, so the whole country was on the robber's side, who worked alone and managed to trick the police many times. Of course he got caught eventually...

What are your stories?

In our culture expressing love openly in front of our parents is an impolite way to communicate between couples. While saying this kind of words is not polite I have a liking to use these words indirectly. But sometimes I make mistakes. For example we have a family group in WhatsApp and my father/mother-in-law are in this group. Few days ago I wanted to write some special words to my wife but unexpectedly the message was sent to the family group. I would have done anything to take message back before they saw it but it was late. I felt desperate while the message was going. I was really embarrassed by this situation. Although this happened I am trying to enjoy myself in London because by the time I go back home they will have forgotten this, I hope..

Hi Lucha
Thank you for organising this. It's good opportunity to extra writing practice in informal way. It helps in writing to present our idea and experience.

Thank you to Suin for sharing your plan of making diary so we can get a chance to do this.

The best night of my life

Two years ago I went to Toronto, Canada, During my stay there I went on a weekend trip to Chicago. Once there, me and my friends realized that a famous music festival was taking place called Lollapallozza with important and popular artists such as Eminem or Skrillex playing. Obviously, when we checked the entrance prices they were way too expensive, so we decided to go to the resell for trying to get them cheaper. We asked to two black guys and they said to us they got bored in the festival and didn't care for the artists during the second day of festival. So, they reduced the tickets to half price, but we still couldn't afford it. But guess what, they gave us for free at last, with all included. I remember in that moment being so baffled and I couldn't believe it, although once inside I was the most happiest person in the world.

Amazing Holidays

About two weeks ago I was on holidays in Menorca, a small island in Spain.  I went there with my best friend from Brazil and we had a great time. On the first day we didn't rent a car, so we had to stay at the beach near the hotel that was not as beautiful as others. But, on the second day we went to a beach that we needed to do a trail about 2 hours walking and we were absolutely exhausted but we saw an incredible beach, very blue, with a lot of types of green around and empty. We felt delighted and very grateful for this view. After 2 hours walking in the sun, we could enjoy the prettiest beach that we have ever seen on our life. This trip ended but the experience was very important for me, and for sure I'll show all the photos to my children and tell them about this trip and about the beaches that I saw.

Hi friends,

I want to share my feelings with you.

At the beginning I felt isolated in London as culture and customs are very different and of course there’s the language barrier. One of my friends accompanied me on a train but all the station seemed the same to me. I was really mystified and had no idea how I would ever be able to travel alone in London. Now I am used to it.

Aarti.

Suin

This happened 3 or 4months ago. I don't remember exactly when it happened. I saw advertisement while I used a computer. I went into some website and new pages popped up suddenly. They said that this cream is only for £3. So, I just absessed with cheap price. I ordered and get it perfectly. But they took £200 from my account one month later. I was mortified and baffled. I had called them and found out the reason. It was only for trial duration. So, if I didn't want to use and pay more, I should have returned it. I regretted not reading information as well as buying that on impulse. Also, I realised that there's no such thing as a free lunch.

wendy's appalled story.

When I was 16, I went to paris.
In the metro, i saw a lot of pickpocket. Also I saw someone get attacked by pickpocket. I was very appalled. Because I never met pickpocket. And more than half people was pickpockets in the metro. So I was shock and nervous. But 2months ago. I went to again, It was changed. So I was very delighted and relieved. At the moment i enjoyed travel!

blogging etiquette

To make the most of this blog, let's set up a few rules:

• You need to comment on other student's work - but only on the content! If someone makes a mistake I will help them with it, please don't start correcting each other, it's really demotivating.
• You are very welcome to e-mail me before you post if you're worried about mistakes, or not sure how to say something. luca.tenyi@ihlondon.com
• Write your entry in Word first and then copy and paste (it can be very annoying if you lose your work because of the internet connection, and this way you have more time to think about what you're going to write.
• Have fun! (and share interesting stories, ideas, links to interesting things, photos etc) 

Happy blogging!

Your first task :)

Dear Bloggers,

 I think ity would be very nice to share one of your stories about being delighted/mortified/appalled etc. The first person to post will get a cafe voucher from me - get blogging!

Hi there,

Welcome to your very own blog!