The greatest pop band in the history of Mankind

Some of you may remember that a good few blogs ago we had a look (and listen) to some of Oxford's homegrown musical talent. While Oxford has indeed produced some truly excellent music, the true kings of British pop music arrived to the scene in 1960. Four Liverpudlian men with floppy hair took the world by storm and began to pelt out some of the greatest songs ever made. Girls adored them and would cry and faint with excitement when they strutted onto the stage. Of course we are talking about no other than the Beatles!

What was particularly astonishing about this band wasn't just the sheer number of quality songs that they produced, but the range of musical ability that they had. It would be impossible to group their music into one type of genre as there are many different elements (and instruments) involved. For example, George Harrison's passion for Indian culture brought in instruments such as the sitar (see photo below). They were a breath of fresh air to the music industry.

Their popularity has far from faded. When the remaining live Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Star, finally gave their permission in 2010 for their music to be downloaded on Apple's Itunes, in the first week alone 2,000,000 individual tracks were sold.

To conclude this post I would like to play you one of my personal favourites, 'Sexy Sadie' - enjoy!

Technology gone bonkers!

More and more people are becoming dependent on their mobile phones. Whether it be for checking their emails, tweeting nonsense, buying plane tickets or taking photos of their favourite OISE Oxford teachers. 

We have reached a stage now where it is hard to tear people away from their phones. It's actually quite difficult to have a conversation with someone between the age of 15 and 50 without them getting out their mobile telephone to check the weather or to take a peek at the latest Facebook updates.

Technology is developing at such a rate that it's hard to keep up. Next thing you know they'll be bringing out a bendy phone that can project films and TV documentaries on their friend's foreheads! Wait a second, I think these kind of phones may already exist!

Click on the image below to read more about some of the new technology coming our in 2013!

Essential packaging vocabulary

Although we encounter it on a daily basis, the wide range of packaging vocabulary in the English language can be mind-boggling. Here are a few essential types of packaging to help you choose which one to go for:


Box a rectangular cardboard container, usually with a lid or removable cover
of chocolates
of tissues
of cereal





Packet/pack a plastic bag or wrapper or a small cardboard box
of crisps
of biscuits
of sweets
of cigarettes





Carton a cuboid container of waxed paper or plastic for liquids
of orange juice
of milk
of eggs





Tub a deep plastic or cardboard container, usually with a lid
of ice cream
of butter






Can a sealed metal container 
of coke
of beer
of deodorant







Tin any pot, box, can, or other container made of tin
of tuna
of baked beans
of biscuits






Bottle a glass or plastic container for holding liquids, usually with a neck and mouth.
of wine
of milk







Jar a cylindrical glass container, usually with a screw-on lid
of jam
of honey
of mayonnaise







Bag a container or receptacle of plastic or paper, usually sealed at the mouth
of flour
of crisps







Tube a small, cylindrical, plastic or paper container, sealed at one end and with a capped opening at the other
of tooth paste
of smarties

Mega Monday Madness! (All I want for Christmas...)

As we have now entered the festive month of December, the argument of when is an appropriate time to start talking about Christmas is now well and truly something of the past. The hubbub, hustle and bustle is now underway as shoppers are officially on their mission to find the perfect little Christmas present for their husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers etc.

Today is a particularly significant day in the shopping calender as it is the first Monday in December (dubbed Mega Monday). 'It has become the trading high point of the year for online operators because it is normally the first opportunity for shoppers to open their wallets and get out their payment cards after the arrival of the last pay packet before Christmas.'1

So what are you waiting for? Get your credit cards at the ready and head to the high street for an evening of shopping, frenzy and frolics!

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. 

Don't ask me, speak to Mr Elephant!

Many of us have difficulties learning a second language. Sometimes it's the vocab, other times it's the grammar, and quite often the simplest words can seem impossible to get your tongue around.

If learning another language is hard work for a human, imagine how difficult it must be for an animal! 

I've never tried learning Korean myself, but there's an elephant who is really giving it his best shot. He can say words like "hello", "sit down", "no", "lie down" and "good".

If you don't believe me, click on the image below to read more!

Let's analyse who you are and how we can help you!

This blog has now been up and running for approximately one month and we have had a total of 3,200 views. What we, the staff at OISE Oxford, find particularly interesting is not the quantity of views the blog gets, but where you, the people viewing the blog, come from. Blogger (ran by Google) very kindly provide the owners of their blogs with the nationality breakdown. Excluding the English fan base we seem to have acquired (mainly from Burton-on-Trent and Leicester FYI), please see below a list of the top 8 nationalities to view this blog:

Russia - 24%
France - 21%
Spain - 14%
Italy - 13%
Japan - 10.5%
Turkey - 7%
Germany - 6.5%
Czech - 4%

You might be asking yourselves what is the point in us telling you this information. The answer is simple. Every so often we are going to pick one of the top viewing nationalities of our blog and briefly discuss one of two specific difficulties that this particular nationality has when learning English. We figured that this would be an effective way to interact and provide relevant information to our readership.

We will start with France. I asked two of our highly experienced tutors to pick one difficulty each:

1) The Present Perfect
The French sometimes struggle to comprehend the unique nature of bringing past and present actions together in one present perfect continuous tense. For example the French would say 'I am studying English since two years' instead of 'I have been studying English for two years'. In English, the logic is this; I started to study English two years ago. I am studying now = I have been studying for two years.

2) False Friends (Les faux amis)
There are many words in English that resemble French words and vice versa, but that have completely different meanings. Here is a list of some of the most common French false friends:

to control = diriger, maîtriser * contrôler = to check
deception = tromperie * délais = time, time-limit
to demand = exiger * demander = to ask
deputy = adjoint * député = Member of Parliament
eventually = finalement * éventuellement = perhaps, possibly
to resume = recommencer * résumer = to summarise, to sum up
sensible = sensé, raisonnable * sensible = sensitive
to support = soutenir * supporter = to stand, bear, put up with

If you are a teacher or a French student and can think of any other specific difficulties that the French have when learning English, please feel free to comment below!

Next time we will focus on the Russians! If you are a Russian learning English, or have experience in teaching Russian students English, please let us know the difficulties you think Russian students have while learning English.