Third Conditional

Third Conditional

Source: www.falibo.com 

The UK's 10 Best Christmas Markets

You may think that Germany is the home of the Christmas Market and to some extent you would be right. But if you are planning to come to the UK over the festive period, why not check out one of the best Christmas Markets the UK has to offer. List courtesy of Independent Online.

1. Leeds Christkindelmarkt
Until 18 December, leeds.gov.uk
Leeds' Millennium Square turns into a little bit of Germany with 40 visiting German traders, and there's even an authentic bierkeller.

2. SouthBank and London Eye Christmas Market
Until 24 December, xmas-markets.com
Pay a visit to Santa in his grotto-cum-chalet or marvel at the illuminated London Eye.

3. Belfast Christmas Continental Market
Until 19 December, belfastcity.gov.uk
Stalls from 27 countries transform the city hall's grounds into a chocolate-box Christmas scene.

4. Caerphilly Medieval Market
10 and 11 December, christmasmarkets.com
Experience a medieval Christmas, complete with castle jester, while roaming around 150 craft stalls.

5. Manchester Christmas Market
Until 21 December, manchester.gov.uk
Mooch around chalet-lined Albert Square and a small forest of plants, and sample the multicultural fare.

6. Gateshead Christmas Market
Until 11 December, newcastlegateshead.com
This is a winter fantasia of carol singers, mulled wine stalls and a whole host of food stalls.

7. Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham
Until 23 Dec, birmingham.gov.uk
The Frankfurt market has German foods and trinkets, as well as local handmade stocking-fillers.

8. Bath Christmas Market
Until 11 December, bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
Possibly the prettiest of all the markets, between Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, with 120 gift stalls.

9. Winchester Christmas Market
Until 21 December, winchester-cathedral.org.uk
This showcases local painters, glass-makers and textile artists.

10. Edinburgh German Christmas Market and Fair
Until 24 December, edinburghschristmas.com
A German market with sausages, crêpes and handmade gifts

Sadly Oxford's application for a Christmas market was turned down this year but I have been reliably informed that it looks set to return next year. Grab a mulled wine and a mince pie or two and enjoy the festive fun!

Source: 'The 10 Best Christmas markets', Independent Online

British Wedding Fever Hits France

The Kate-effect is taking France by storm

An unexpected trend is emerging in the land of l’amour. Today’s French couples are increasingly ditching the wedding traditions of their homeland for the Anglo-American customs of tiered wedding cakes, bridesmaids and bigger budgets. The so-called ‘Kate effect’ has taken France by storm and French designers have been inundated with requests for bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses inspired by the royal wedding. Not only that but the popular period drama, Downton Abbey, is said to be partly responsible for the craze, triggering an increase in the popularity of veils and gloves. Favours (small gifts given to guests at a wedding) are another element of the British wedding that are said to be catching on on the other side of the Channel. And the traditional French wedding dessert, the ‘croquembouche’, a towering pyramid of profiteroles is being exchanged for tiered sponge cakes.

But what is it about British-style weddings that appeals? Some think it is the effect of films like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually, whereas others see it as a move towards modernity. Parisian TV director Celia Riviere explains, "British style is seen here as fun and a little bit quirky, not so traditional," she says. So is the traditional French wedding at risk? Riviere doesn’t think so. "I guess British-inspired weddings are very much the style of my generation. I can see them remaining popular. But I don't know if our children will also choose these fashions."

Read the full article at www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20411273

Keeeeeeeeeeep Dancing!

The favourite: Denise Van Outen with dance partner James

As the cold winter nights roll in, there’s no better way to to pass a Saturday evening than to tune in to one of Britain’s most popular reality TV shows, BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. The show started back in 2004 and has gone from strength to strength. It now attracts a whopping 10 million viewers every Saturday evening!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show ,(where have you been hiding?) , it is a ballroom dancing competition where professional dancers are paired with well-known British celebrities. The professionals train the celebrities and perform with them on live television every Saturday night. They perform the Waltz, Cha Cha Cha, Quickstep, Rumba, Tango, Jive, Foxtrot, Paso Doble, Samba and many more. Each celebrity and professional pair is then given a score by a panel of judges, all of whom are ballroom dancing experts. Finally the public vote for the pair they would like to stay in the competition, as one pair is eliminated each week. This year the show has had a great variety of celebrity contestants, including two British Olympic medalists, two pop stars and an ex - English cricketer.

Of course the popularity of ballroom dancing goes all the way back to the early 1900’s in Britain. However, as the years went by, its popularity dwindled and it is only since the arrival of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ onto our screens that its appeal has skyrocketed, with many fans of the show taking classes to learn the steps they see being performed every Saturday. Many of our students are familiar with the show before they arrive in Britain, as the show now has versions in over 40 different countries. And of course the show is a great inspiration to language learners, as one of the judges is Italian. Bruno Tonioli is a great model of a non-native speaker who has a achieved a great level of English, an inspiration to all language students.

The competition is now reaching a climax, with only seven celebrities remaining. Denise Van Outen is the clear favourite, having topped the judges leader board for the past few weeks. However, as we have seen in previous years, there is no telling what will happen in the coming weeks. One slip or sprained ankle could mean the end for any of the couples. It is because of this excitement that ‘Strictly’ has become a global success story and will continue to be the hot topic of conversation here in the OISE Oxford office every Monday morning in the lead up to Christmas.

Student Spotlight: Claudia Tomas

Last week we welcomed Claudia Tomas, possibly our first ever florist, to OISE. She tells us a bit about herself and her experiences in the interview below:

First of all, where are you from?
I live in northern Italy, in the mountains. It is a very popular destination for tourists as it is a great place for walking and skiing.

And where do you work?
I work at a florists called ‘Verde Primiero’ in Mezzano who arrange flower displays for balconies and occasions such as weddings, birthdays and christenings.

How long have you been a florist?
I have been a florist for around 20 years now.

Do you have a favourite flower?
Yes, orchids.

Where are most of the flowers you use from?
I mainly use flowers from Holland and northern Italy.

Do you have a favourite British flower?
Yes, we often have requests for David Austin roses. People like these old English roses.

What was your reason for coming to OISE Oxford and have you enjoyed your time with us?
Out of personal interest. This is a holiday for me. Yes, I have really enjoyed my time here and I have learnt a lot.

How was your experience with your host family? 
It was fantastic! I particularly enjoyed talking to my host mother over meals. That really helped me with my English.

Do you hope to come back?
Yes, hopefully at around the same time next year to celebrate my birthday again!

The Falkland Islands - Who Should They Belong To?

Most of our blog posts until now have been rather lighthearted. We have written at great lengths about British food, the weather, English language learning and a touch of sport. While trying to keep the British theme in tact, today's blog is about a slightly more sensitive subject that is very close to the hearts of many - the Falkland Islands (also known as Las Malvinas).

The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic, 350 miles off the Southern tip of Argentina. The weather is cold and the Falkland Islands are quite barren, supporting more sheep and penguins than people, with around 2,300 inhabitants.

The Islands have been colonised many times since they were first sighted in 1500 by a Portuguese voyage, but they have been under British ruling since 1840. Argentines claim that the British abandoned the Islands in the 1770's, and are, mainly due to their close proximity, part of Argentina. This debate has caused much tension between the two countries.

Simmering tensions between Britain and Argentina reached its climax in 1982 resulting in the Falklands War, but the debate of who the Islands should belong to continues to be very topical in the British press. According to the British government, as well as being rich in oil and having an excellently positioned military base, it's the fact that the island's inhabitants themselves feel British and do not want to be governed by Argentina that makes them reluctant to hand them over.

Argentine Oxford University lecturer, Esteban Hubner, expert in International Relations and Political Science, asked his students their views and whether they could think of a solution. The majority argued that the British people living in the UK do not feel passionate about the Islands and simply see them as a distant far off land. Some felt that 'the Argentines have as much right to reclaim the land as the Romans have to claim back England'1, while others were adamant that they should be returned. 

After the students had discussed a number of different solutions, there was one that was narrowly voted as being the best. That was to make the land autonomous, for it's inhabitants to have two passports and three flags.


What are you views on this debate? Do you think there is a better solution?

Rugby vs. Football = Man vs. Boy?

History of the sports

Football (AKA soccer) has been around for a very long time. According to our most "reliable" source, Wikipedia, the first evidence of an activity resembling football was documented between the 3rd and 1st century BC, in China!

'Contemporary codes of football can be traced back to the codification of these games at English public schools in the eighteenth and nineteenth century.[2][3] The influence and power of the British Empire allowed these rules of football to spread'.

The first evidence of an activity resembling rugby came quite a few years later, in 1883. It's invention was credited to William Webb Ellis while he was a student at Rugby School, a private boarding school situated in the north of England. It was during a game of football that William decided he would break the rules by picking up the ball and running with it. The rest was history!

Man vs. Boy?

What is funny about these games is that nowadays an Englishman is either an avid follower of football or rugby. It is not very common to meet an Englishman who's a fan of both sports. Rugby fans argue that rugby vs. football is like man vs. boy.

In the north of England there are certainly more rugby supporters than in the south. It's probably also true to say that a lot of rugby's fanbase went through the English private school system. Private boarding schools in England tend to prefer rugby as their main sport and consider football to be a game for the working classes (though they'd never admit this, obviously!).

Do they play both sports in your country? If so, which game do you prefer and why? 

When is an appropriate time to start talking about Christmas?

(NOTE: Please listen to this song while reading this blog post)

The office staff at OISE Oxford are torn. Half of us are adamant that we simply cannot start discussing Christmas festivities until at least the beginning of December, while the other half are finding it hard to suppress their bubbling excitement. 

Some of the dangers of starting Christmas too early:

• Too many mince pies can lead to a sharp increase in body mass
• Christmas tunes can lead to acute irritation with everyone around you
• By the time Christmas day arrives, you have already had enough of it all

Personally I can't get enough of it all. The more Christmas related chat, the better. Bring it on, ho ho ho. This Friday the Christmas lights will be turned on in Oxford, and there's an evening of festive cheer to follow. Get your crackers and stockings out and let's have a good time!

The image above is of a character called Scrooge from Charles Dickens' famous novel, A Christmas Carol. Click on the image to read more!

Nerds and Geeks are making a comeback!

Let's start by looking at some definitions of the word "nerd" and "geek", which both basically mean the same thing.

Nerd:
An intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession

- source: Wikipedia

Geek:
a peculiar or otherwise dis-likable person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual.

- source: dictionary.com

Were you a "nerd" at school, or just a little bit "geeky"? I was never either I don't think, but I remember clearly the people that were. Back in my day to be called a nerd or a geek was considered to be a little bit of an insult. These words would generally refer to:

a. Kids who would be more interested in reading the latest Lord of the Rings book than playing with their school mates (often because their mates were few and far between).
b. Completing the last level of Tetris on the hardest setting
c. Working out how to crack the school computer system

It wasn't just acting like a geek that gained you this rather unpleasant title, you had to look the part too. It wouldn't be unusual for the a so-called geek to wear glasses and wear clothes that were clearly different from their peers.

My colleague Jo rather reluctantly admits that she too was a little geeky. She argues that it was only a phase, though. The less forgiving types would say that once a geek, always a geek - Sorry Jo!

But it appears that geeks are now making a comeback, and this is largely thanks to our international superstar, Harry Potter. Click on the picture below to read more.

Gangnam Style - The British Version!

Have you seen the famous South Korean rap artist, PSY, perform Gangnam Style? It has been a Youtube sensation and has a dance routine that is being copied all around world!

'The phrase "Gangnam Style" is a Korean neologism that refers to a lifestyle associated with the Gangnam District of Seoul. The song and its accompanying music video went viral in August 2012 and have influenced popular culture since then. "Gangnam Style" is considered by some to be a worldwide phenomenon, while others have praised "Gangnam Style" for its catchy beat and PSY's amusing dance moves in the music video and during live performances in various locations such as Madison Square Garden, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Samsung commercials.'[1]

People are now beginning to make their own video to the song, posting it on Youtube. One British Gangnam Style parody video that has gone viral was made by a York University student. See the original below and click here to see the York University student's version!

The English Premier League - The Best in the World?

In almost every country in the world, it's virtually impossible to get through a day without hearing someone mention the latest footballing news.

The English Premier League, closely followed by the Spanish 'La Liga', is arguably the most talked about league in the world. You could be in a country thousands of miles away and find supporters of all ages and nationalities sporting the latest Manchester United or Liverpool kit.

Did you know that Oxford also has a football team? While Oxford United is not exactly a top flight  side, they are still rather entertaining to watch, perhaps for the wrong reasons, though.

However, back in their hey day, Oxford United used to be a top class team. In 1986 they won the Milk Cup (the equivalent of the Coca Cola cup). Hopefully the glory days will return soon.

If you're in Oxford for a few weeks, why not check out their home fixtures and make a trip to the Kassam Stadium!

Click on the image below if you're interested.

Get Your Tash Out, It's Movember!

Over the last week you may have noticed the emergence of some unusual facial hair amongst the male population. Is this the latest trend in male fashion? Or is it a means to ward off the winter chill? Whilst in a handful of instances this may be the case, the likelihood is they are sprouting these furry specimens for a more altruistic reason.

Handle-bar, curly, pencil and military are just some of the wacky styles of moustache being sported around the country to raise money for male health – in particular for prostate and testicular cancer. Those taking part begin with a clean-shaven face on 1st November, then for the entire month of November they must grow and groom the perfect tash.

As the wife of just such a ‘Mo Bro’ I can’t say that I am too fond of the furry friend appearing on my husband’s upper lip, but at the end of the day, it’s all for charity. So, whether you love it or hate it, embrace the ‘mo’ and raise money for this great cause!

Check out the official Movember page below for more info:

Has Political Correctness Gone Mad?

Think of any English person you know. Have you noticed that they are reluctant to talk about certain subjects? This is probably due to a covert form of censorship that has taken Britain and its inhabitants by storm.

In every culture there are taboo subjects that people try to avoid - some of the more common examples might be religion, race, gender and sexuality. But the British just take it one step further. Even mentioning something that could be seen as making reference to the aforementioned subjects is a risky business, for fear of offending someone. So let's keep away from them.

One example that springs to mind is that we are no longer able to use the word 'brainstorm' (which means to gather ideas), as it is deemed to offend epileptics. Instead you should use the word 'thought shower'. God forbid should you ever be caught singing Britain's epic nursery rhyme, 'Baa Baa Black Sheep', for risk of being called a racist. For more political correctness gone mad, have a click on the image below, because quite frankly... I don't want to offend anyone!

Monumental Day, Monumental Men..

Today is a monumental day in American politics. Obama has successfully been re-elected as president of the United States. This was met with a very positive reaction by all of the staff and students at OISE Oxford. Of course, here at OISE Oxford, we are extremely interested in political leaders. After all, 26 of Britain's Prime Ministers were educated at Oxford University. Interestingly enough, 50% of Britain's 26 Prime Ministers attended Christ Church College, a stone's throw away from our school (see map below):

But if you're thinking it's only British leaders that were educated at Oxford, think again. Bill Clinton also studied here, along with leaders from India, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago among other countries. And let's not ignore the fact that several of OISE Oxford's legendary tutors studied among the great world leaders at Oxford University. 

Do you have a brain for languages?

Some people are naturally gifted at speaking and understanding foreign languages. Their ears become tuned to the new sounds and with a bit of practice they are able to reproduce these new sounds with little difficulty.

Others find it virtually impossible, and no matter how hard they try, the words just don't seem to flow. 

So is there something unique about certain brains that enable some of us to speak and understand foreign languages? Is it in our genes? Or is it simply a question of starting from a young age?

What do you think the key is?

Click on the image below to read more

Are the French hopeless at languages?

Till Gins, director of Oxford Intensive School of English, is adamant that this is not the case. He claims they are no worse than anyone else, rather they are victims of an education system which will not accept its failings. The French-Brit has been director of the first language school in Oxford for 40 years and has seen millions of students come and go, attracted by his intensive, ‘one to one’ teaching method. He explores what lies behind the cliche…

Born to a French father and an English mother, Till grew up with dual heritage. After graduation, he came to Oxford to write a memoir on John Locke and it was then that he began to give individual lessons. The more he taught, the more he realised the effectiveness of tutorials, a teaching method specific to the universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Dublin. He concluded that the best way to master a language was to have ‘one to one’ classes which enable the teacher to tailor their teaching to the student.

The school’s programmes are first and foremost aimed at executives and business managers. But we also welcome students and prépa students (students preparing for entrance examinations to the Grandes Écoles).  Whatever the age of the pupil, it is difficult to undo the damage done by their education and culture.

Of all the students OISE receives, Till believes that the French have the most inhibitions. They are not bad at languages, as we often hear, but they are afraid of making fools of themselves and this psychological block is so deeply rooted in their national mentality that they have real difficulty taking risks. They would prefer to calculate what they are going to say beforehand or just remain quiet rather than make a mistake, the result being that they cannot communicate spontaneously in a foreign language.

Till traces this mental block back to the way many French children are brought up. For example, if a child is given a sweet and does not say thank you, their mother would often say to them ‘What do you say? What do you say?’, giving them the sense that they have done something wrong. According to Till, the French education system only reinforces this idea, meaning that many French children are afraid to try for fear of making a mistake.

Consequently Till felt that his role was not so much to teach English but eloquence. That is what makes the difference, whether you have mastered the basics of a language or not. Many French students have spent years learning English grammar and vocabulary in school but still do not know how to use it spontaneously. Till considers risk taking and engaging in debate to be a much more effective way to learn.

Summarised by OISE Oxford's in-house French linguist, Joanna Shaw

Click here to read the full article in French.

The name's Bond, James Bond!

Smooth, silky, sexy, seductive, suited and booted - there's only one man that springs to mind, it's Bond, James Bond! The 23rd Bond movie is out on the 26th of October. Whether you're into the gadgets, the girls, the colourful villains or the quips, you're sure to be in for an absolute cracker!

Since the release of the first Bond movie, this iconic figure has grown to be a national treasure. Six different Bonds have graced our screens over the last 50 years and everyone has their favourite - whether it be the dashing Scot, Sean Connery, the smouldering Pierce Brosnan (grandma's favourite), or the most recent spying hunk, Daniel Craig.

The last time Bond visited Oxford was back in '97. He was focusing on Danish at the time, so unfortunately he didn't pay OISE Oxford a visit. Sit back and enjoy the trailer.

Oktoberfest has come to Oxford!

Thursday marked the start of Oxford's very own beer festival, with over 160 different types of lager and ale to choose from!

Our very own OISE Oxford representative made her way to Oxford's Town Hall yesterday evening, and here's what she had to say:

"A huge choice of ales, a friendly atmosphere in a hall charmingly lit by chandeliers.  There was great mix of people in very "good spirits", and the night went on relatively late by Oxford's standards!"

The festival will be on until Saturday 13/10 and admission is £2. Please click on the image below for more information.

The Loch Ness monster, Britain's greatest monstrous mystery!

Where does this monster live?

Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately 37 km (23 mi) southwest of Inverness.

What on earth does it look like?

Shape: long neck; horse-like head; humped back (one or two humps).
Color: dark or elephant gray.
Weight: estimated 2,500 pounds.
Length: 15 to 40 feet.

'A scientist has spent four painstaking decades studying the loch best known for the creature affectionately known as "Nessie". Why does this mythical monster hold such fascination for so many people?'

Click on the image below to read more:

L’anglais, c’est super cool!

English has, for several decades now, been an important language in the world of international business, trade, politics, and law, and consequently, is the most taught language in European schools. Unsurprisingly, English words and phrases have started to see use in other languages, and France is one country that has experienced first-hand the rise of Anglicisms in its national language, primarily by young people through use of technology and exposure to the pop cultures of English-speaking countries.
Le Dark Knight and Les Avengers

We can start by looking at the influence of English-language film and television in France. If you go to the cinema in Paris, you might even see some familiar titles, since two of this year’s highest grossing films worldwide, The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers, did not translate their titles for the French market. (Interestingly, though, The Dark Knight Rises was translated as L’Ascension du Chevalier Noir for the Quebecois market – perhaps a sign of their fierce desire to maintain a Francophone identity in English-speaking Canada.) But if one looks at each of these titles individually, the vocabulary is relatively complicated for the average French young person. So why not translate the title to make it understandable for everyone? The answer: English sells. Living in a world where you can carry the Internet around in your pocket, there is little worry that French teenagers won’t figure out that The Dark Knight Rises is the next installment of the Batman series, nor is there any real need to understand what an ‘avenger’ is.

That said, it is not uncommon to change the title of English-language films to simpler English. Interesting examples are The Hangover and No Strings Attached, released in France as Very Bad Trip and Sex Friends respectively. We see the same phenomenon here, but because these film titles use idioms and do not already belong to an easily identifiable series, the titles are changed to more aptly describe the film, but maintain the cool-factor of English.

English represents something young, modern, and fun, and would you really want to see a film called La Gueule du Bois anyway?
English: reinterpreted and redefined

There are several well-known English words that have been used in French for some time. Le week-end has long been used in place of la fin de la semaine, and le sandwich has always been known by its English eponym, but it is interesting to also see how certain brand names have influenced the French language too. The American Scotch tape, synonymous to Sellotape in the UK, has also made its way into the French lexicon. Shortened to le scotch (not to be confused with le Scotch), French has taken this word one step further to create a verb, scotcher, the French for ‘to tape’. Likewise, the French term klaxon derived from the Klaxon brand of horns used in cars, and the verb ‘to honk one’s horn’ is klaxonner.

However, French has also taken English phrases and given entirely new meanings to them. One such phrase is ‘fashion victim’, which, in English, is a derogatory phrase used to describe one who has fallen victim to the fashion industry. Cross the Channel, and you’ll find the term is used positively to describe someone who dresses well and has great style. Though the English word ‘victim’ is virtually identical to the French victime, there is nothing in the meaning of the French fashion-victim to imply victimization at all, rather, it is an English phrase that has found new meaning.

There are other English words that have lost their original meanings in French. Le brushing, coming from the English ‘to brush one’s hair’, means ‘blow dry’ when translated back into English, and le living was shortened from the English ‘living-room’ to mean just that in French. The verbs ‘to brush’ and ‘to live’ are translated as brosser and vivre in French, so the concepts of ‘brushing’ and ‘living’ being used in these contexts does not seem strange for a French speaker. They are, quite simply, words of English origin that have migrated and developed new meanings in a new language.

As well as giving new meanings to English words, there are also instances where English words have been entirely invented for the French lexicon. Le fooding, a term coined in 1999 by two French journalists as a portmanteau of ‘food’ and ‘feeling’, is the name of the current food movement happening in France. One of the journalists behind the movement described it as ‘a new element of design, a new element of casual yet serious food. The old choice between la cuisine de bistrot and la grande cuisine française was ending.’ They wanted a word to give the movement a more modern, contemporary voice, to show how the landscape of French haute-cuisine is keeping up with the rest of the culinary world, and le fooding did what no French word could.

L’Académie française and the fight against Franglais

Unlike for many languages, French has an official authority to monitor and regulate its language. L’Académie française was established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, and re-established in 1803 by Napoleon Bonaparte. It is one of the longest standing authorities in the world that deals with matters pertaining exclusively to the use of language. Over the course of its existence, members have included Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and Louis Pasteur.
Unsurprisingly, the Académie does not promote the use of Anglicisms, which it sees as a threat to the purity of the French language. In response to the rising use of Franglais, the Académie has devised a list entitled dire, ne pas dire, literally, ‘to say, not to say’, in which it offers acceptable, and in some cases, official, French alternatives to Franglais words and phrases. The word ‘email’ is a classic example. Although the English word is used across the world, including in France, the Académie has decided courriel should be used in its place (a mélange of courrier and électronique). To take the place of ‘prime time’ in France, the Académie suggests les heures de grande écoute. One should use l’entraîneur instead of the English ‘coach’, and the list goes on.

It is unlikely that the Académie’s French alternatives will gain much traction. Even to say something is great, commonly used phrases among French young people are c’est top and c’est classe. English prefixes ‘super-’ and ‘hyper-’ frequently preface adjectives to add emphasis. English is ubiquitous in France, and is too prevalent in popular culture not to have any influence over language.

At this point, I recall my time in Paris, teaching English at a lycée in the 16th arrondissement. In my last lesson with a sixième class, I asked what they liked about studying English. Without hesitation, and without a hint of irony, one boy yelled out:
"L’anglais, c’est super cool!"


Source: Oxford Dictionaries