Scenic walks in Oxford

The weather is just glorious at the moment so it is a perfect time to get out and about.  Oxfordshire is blessed with some spectacularly picturesque scenery. One of the great things about Oxford is that within 15 minutes walk of the centre of town, you can find yourself trailing into the heart of England’s green and pleasant countryside. Check out one of these fabulous walking locations to make the most of a dry weekend:

Within 20 minutes of the centre of town:
Christchurch Meadows 
Port Meadow
Shotover

And a little further afield:
Blenheim Palace grounds
The Cotswolds

If you are in Oxford and have a free day, then click on the image below to see some great country walking routes:

And why not listen to this song while you are planning your route: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg7KsemZGIc

Where do the British ginger roots come from?

What do Prince Harry, Nicole Kidman, Rupert Grint and Geri Halliwell all have in common? No, they don’t all have royal roots…they have ginger ones! Many international students are fascinated by the abundance of red hair when they come Britain and it is true that, especially amongst the Scots, gingerness is at its most prevalent here. Whilst only about 1 – 2 % of the world’s population has red hair, a whopping 13% of Scots are ginger, closely followed by Ireland with 10%. Traditionally there has been a bizarre prejudice against redheads in Britain but more recently it has become a more desirable feature with many people choosing to dye their hair red. But why are there so many more ginger people in Scotland? A recent study by researchers at the ScotlandsDNA project shows that a much higher proportion of people in Scotland carry the ‘ginger gene’ and Mr Moffat, their Managing Director, believes the origins of the gene may be an adaptation to Scotland's poor weather.

Mr Moffat explains: "I think it's to do with sunshine - we all need vitamin D from sunshine - but Scotland is cloudy, we have an Atlantic climate and we need light skin to get as much vitamin D from the Sun as possible."

Click on the image below to read more!

Oxford’s Dreamy Pub Scene

Oxford is famed for being a “city of dreaming spires" but it is also home to many dreamy public houses (pubs), which are a popular drinking establishment choice for residents, students and tourists of Oxford.

One of our favourite pubs is The Royal Oak, which is situated along the Woodstock road. It is a short walk from the city centre and offers a wide range of world beers, wines and spirits – including English potato vodka (obviously something not to be missed!) It is a cosy 18th century pub with many small rooms and corners to relax and drink in. I would thoroughly recommend the traditional Sunday lunch, which is very comforting on cold, winter day. 

Another firm favourite is The Trout, a 17th century pub in Wolvercote, North Oxford. This pub is a great summer option with its large terrace which opens onto the river Thames, it is a perfect place to sit and slowly sip on cold drinks on a summer’s day. I would recommend a gin and tonic (double). The Trout is also a form favourite in Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse novels and in the television adaption. You may spot a star here while enjoying a pint!

Another absolute cracker of a pub is the Perch Inn. Ensconced in the heart of beautiful Port Meadow, this 17th Century pub has been a place of much pleasure for all the Oxford community. In the winter months, the blazing wood fire oozes a warm tingly feeling throughout, and in summer its delightful beer garden overlooks the weeping willow trees and meandering waters of the river Thames. The garden also boasts a giant Alice in Wonderland-style chess set and a children's recreation ground to keep the little ones entertained.

Finally, it would be rude to talk about pubs in Oxford without making reference to one of the city centre's finest (and oldest - 13th Century would you believe!). Yes, you've guessed it, it's the Turf Tavern. Anyone who has been (including Bill Clinton, a regular visitor in his University days) will tell you  that this hidden gem has a very special feeling about it.  The mouth watering selection of real ales and the top quality traditional pub food it serves is a killer combo.

I think you will agree that a pub crawl in Oxford is more than just a beer or two in any old boozer. We, at OISE Oxford, see it as a cultural experience which is why it makes a regular appearance on our leisure programme. Even if beer and ale is not your 'cup of tea', grab a pie and a glass of OJ and soak up the traditional vibe of Oxford's Dreamy Pub Scene.

Grab Some Grub in Oxford

Oxford is a lively city with many pubs, bars and restaurants to keep all the locals, students and tourists entertained. Sometimes when you're visiting a city for a short period of time, it's hard to know where to go. Of course, there are online reviews and guide books to point you in the right direction, but wouldn't it be nice to hear what the locals have to say? With this in mind, the OISE Oxford team have chosen three restaurants that they would recommend to all of Oxford’s beloved visitors.

Quod Brasserie

The Quod is conveniently located a very short stroll from OISE Oxford, along the High Street.  It is a popular meeting spot for lunch, afternoon tea, evening dinner and drinks.  It has a friendly, relaxed feel with attentive, smiley staff and the service is quick.  Thee menu choices are varied, though rather limited for vegetarians.  The scones for afternoon tea are just delicious and are a great British treat!  There is a terrace area to the back of the restaurant which is perfect for summer lunches, however as it is heated it can be a year round option for hardy diners!  


Pizzeria Verde

Trattoria Verde is a family-owned Italian restaurant on the Cowley Road situated in East Oxford. They serve excellent food and the staff are very friendly and helpful. I would recommend the Pasta Frutti di Mare (pasta with shell fish), not to mention the delicious selection of thin based pizzas on offer! There are also many other restaurants with cuisine from around the world, including Greek, Morrocan, Indian, Thai and Chinese. While this area of Oxford is not known for being the most historical or traditional, it is very multi cultural, has a lot of character and is home to the majority of Oxford's student population.


Jamie’s Italian

Jamie’s Italian, located in the restaurant hotspot of George St, is a relatively recent addition to Oxford’s food scene. Nevertheless its popularity is evident from the queues of people who can often be seen waiting for a table and its buzzing atmosphere. It is certainly a trendy place to eat with its industrial modern interior, graffitied brick walls and basement dining area. The menu, too, steers away from the traditional Italian staples, experimenting with fresh, new, seasonal dishes and wacky names. It is a little on the pricey side but there is a good choice, friendly service and in my view, it is worth paying a bit extra for the experience.

Warming Beverages for the Weekend

As we get deeper into winter, it is natural to turn to warming drinks for comfort and cheer.  At this time of year the great British pub starts serving a super selection of warm drinks for the discerning punter.  My winter favourites include mulled wine, hot spiced cider and eggnog.  

Indeed, at the weekend to embrace the cold weather and as an offering to a Thanksgiving celebration I decided to make eggnog.  The result was rather mixed...  

Eggnog is a popular drink throughout the United States and Canada, and is usually associated with winter celebrations such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. 

The origins and the ingredients used to make the original eggnog drink are debated. Eggnog may have originated in East Anglia; or it may have simply developed from a medieval European beverage made with hot milk. The ‘nog’ part of its name may stem from the word noggin, a Middle English term for a small, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol.  The British drink was also called an Egg Flip.  It was during the 18th century when the drink crossed the Atlantic to North America.

I somewhat followed a combination of two recipes.  It consisted of milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, brandy, rum, nutmeg and also many lumps – which were not included in the original ingredient list.  The lumps I thought added extra texture, but sadly were not to everyone’s taste.  For future attempts I will consider using a sieve.

This weekend I would recommend to all readers to make a warming beverage as the temperature is set to plummet.  Here is a very handy list provided by BBC Food.  At OISE Oxford, we look forward to hearing the results.

Remember, Remember…

Remember, remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

If the British bonfire night traditions leave you stumped then hopefully this well-known 17th century rhyme will give you some clue as to what all the fuss is about.

On this night in 1605, Guy Fawkes and his cronies famously tried and failed to blow up the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder, putting the life of King James I in peril. As a result of this treason he was sentenced to the cruelest form of execution – being hung, drawn and quartered, and people commemorate the failed Gunpowder plot to this day.

The rather gruesome tradition of burning effigies of Guy Fawkes is gradually dying out but not so the fireworks displays and bonfires which will be taking place all over the country this week. So if you happen to be in Oxford this Saturday, why not join in the festivities and head down to South Parks where yet another spectacular fireworks display will be lighting up the Oxford skies? Gates open at 5pm.

Mind your P’s and Queues

Whether it’s waiting at the bus stop, a shop counter or a public toilet, no visitor to Britain could fail to notice this much-loved British habit in action. The ability to form an orderly line is a must for anyone who aspires to live harmoniously among the Brits.

Lest you wish to seriously rile your fellow queuers, queuing etiquette must be observed at all times. Woe betide anyone who commits the heinous crime of queue-jumping or pushing in.

According to researchers at The Telegraph, we Brits spend 6 months of our life queuing. After discussing the weather, a fascination with queuing is our second most popular national trait. But why the obsession?

It is thought that this habit dates back to the days of rationing in the long years during and after the war, when queuing effectively meant the difference between an empty plate and a plate filled with the delights of powdered egg and leaden bread.

So next time you’re in a queue, swallow your frustration and while away the minutes contemplating the cultural heritage of this most British of traits.

Takashi, OISE Oxford's Tennis Supremo!

The word around the OISE Oxford block was that we had a pro tennis player in town. His name: Takashi Kawamura. Takashi first started playing at high school, following a 5 year bout of severe illness. He was introduced to the game by his mother and brother, both of which were and continue to be keen players.

After playing for his high school, he then entered St. Pauls University, Tokyo, where he was made 1st team captain. While in those days baseball was the most popular sport (closely followed by football), St Paul's prided itself on the tennis team, which started over 95 years ago. We thought it would be interesting to ask Takashi a little more about his tennis career:

Q. When did you start playing professionally?
A. I started playing professionally when I left university. I started working for a big IT company, and was soon asked to play for the company tennis team. In Japan, some employees are hired only to play for the company team. The company pay you a basic salary, and then on top of that they give you money for playing, travelling, event registration, coaching etc. Of course, at the tournaments, the company's name and logo are sprawled across your shirt. Many of the players stay with a company for two years and then move on. Fortunately I was hired for my academic achievements, and so the tennis was just an added bonus for them.

Q. What are you best at? Serving, forehand, backhand?
A. You would be surprised. Of course the very best players have everything, but the main thing at all levels, I would say, is to be fit, mentally and physically. For the two years that I played for my company I was extremely fit. It took a lot out of me. Training during the weekends and then games and tourments during the week, as well as work!

Q. Who is the best player you have ever played against?
A. It has to be Mitsuru Takada, at the time one of Japan's top 10 players. Yes, he was very good, an ATP player.

Q. What was the score?
A. 0-6, 1-6, he laughs.

Q. How do you see the future of Japanese tennis?
A. Well, I think tennis is certainly becoming more popular. This is partly thanks to Kei Nishikori,
Japan's current number one and #11 in the world seedings. He is doing very well at getting the youth of our country engaged in the sport. I think Japanese tennis has a bright future. Who knows, it may overtake baseball soon!

*Note: OISE Oxford's Academic Assistant, Karol Bucky, and fellow student Mikhail thought they would challenge Takashi and another student to a doubles match at the grass courts in North Oxford. It was clear that Takashi was of a different calibre. "He was strong and played very elegantly," said Karol.

Big Black Cat Alert

Snakes, piranhas, deadly spiders, crocodiles and killer bees are all animals that you would not find in the UK. In fact, there aren't really any wild animals that we need to worry about. Instead our green pastures are filled with sheep, cows and horses. Or are they?

 

In Somerset, a county west of England, there have been 'a “substantial” number of reported sightings of big cats in the past year,' thought to be either lynx or pumas. Sir Benjamin, a man living in the area, owns a large estate where these big cats have been roaming around. Allegedly they have also left the remains of chickens and foxes scattered over his lawn.

He said: “They don’t exactly stand still and pose, which is the problem. It’s got a long tail and seemed to be quite big.

“Apparently these things will do 30 to 40 miles in a night. We are next to the Somerset Levels, which are 250 miles of fields and bogs where nobody lives.

“There is a possibility that this thing is bigger than a puma – it is probably quite frightening.

“We have put signs up telling people to keep their dogs in the car because there is a big cat about.

“We need this thing out of the way before it eats somebody. I’ve got a wedding business here and we are very worried about our guests – they might wander off-piste and get gobbled up.”

 

So, next time you decide to do some hiking through the Somerset Levels at night, don't say we didn't warn you!

 

 

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/10202296/Aristocrat-warns-visitors-after-big-cat-photographed-on-his-estate.html

Lets keep tip top with these snow tips

Ears, fingertips, bald heads, toes are all prone to the vicious bite of coldness. As the snow flakes fall all around Oxford City, one can't help but feel a desperation for warmth. The OISE Oxford team have decided to share four tips with their readers on how best to deal with the snowy weather that is affecting us at the moment.

Tip one:

Get jogging. If you have to walk somewhere, jog instead! Sounds like quite a bit of effort, but it's a great way to kill two birds with one stone - it's exercise and keeps you warm!

Tip two:
If people are going to travel they need to be well prepared. That means packing food and drink, a shovel, warm clothing and making sure their mobile phones are fully charged in case they break down.

Tip three:
If you are travelling by car, a top tip is take some old carpet. It can be useful in the event you get stuck in the snow. It can give you some traction.

Tip four:

Don’t try and fight it – embrace it! Whip out the sledge and run for the nearest hill. There’s no better stress remedy than a snow day.

Zip it! The mile-long zip wire, coming soon to the UK

The UK is soon to be home to the northern hemisphere’s longest zip wire when a mile-long zip line is erected in Snowdonia National Park in March. This well-known area of outstanding natural beauty in North Wales attracts around 12 million visitors to its stunning peaks and coastline each year. Why then, you might wonder, is there need for a 1,750m long zip wire as well?

According to Zip World’s owner, ex-marine commando Sean Taylor, the attraction at Penryn Quarry in Bethesda is not just about the adrenaline rush but also the educational benefits. “This is not just a zipline experience – it’s about diversifying the use of the quarry and teaching people about the local history.” The two hour adventure experience will also feature a guided tour of the quarry in a former military vehicle. But the incredible views will no doubt be the main attraction for many thrill-seeking visitors, which, on a clear day, are said to take in the Isle of Mann and Anglesey. 

Whilst it doesn’t quite reach the lengths of the world’s longest zip line in Sun City, South Africa at 2000 metres, it is sure to draw intrepid visitors from far and wide to experience the thrill of being transported in a horizontal position at speeds of up to 80mph and at heights of over 200 metres. 

I’m game. Are you?

Visit www.zipworld.co.uk for more info!

Sorry!: The English and Their Manners By Henry Hitchings

Book Recommendation from OISE Oxford

The English are famous for their obsession with manners, but how did it all start? Henry Hitching's most recent book traces the history of a very particular national trait.  In this new study he explores how language, manners and morals are closely related.

The synopsis:

Most of us know a bit about what passes for good manners - holding doors open, sending thank-you notes, no elbows on the table. We certainly know bad manners when we see them. But where has this patchwork of beliefs and behaviours come from? How did manners develop? How do they change? And why do they matter so much to us? In examining our manners, Henry Hitchings delves into the English character and investigates our notions of Englishness.

Sorry! presents an amusing, illuminating and quirky audit of English manners. From basic table manners to appropriate sexual conduct, via hospitality, chivalry, faux pas and online etiquette, Hitchings traces the history of our country's customs and courtesies. Putting under the microscope some of our most astute observers of humanity, including Jane Austen and Samuel Pepys, he uses their lives and writings to pry open the often downright peculiar secrets of the English character. Hitchings' blend of history, anthropology and personal journey helps us understand our bizarre and contested cultural baggage - and ourselves.

Let's Analyse Who You Are and How We Can Help You

It is always interesting to know who reads our blog posts and their nationalities. Blogger (owned by Google) is the site that we use to host our blog, and they very kindly provide us with the nationality break down. Below are the stats of the top 5 non-English speaking nationalities that have been viewing the blog since its launch 4 months ago.

France - 11%
Russia - 9%
Spain - 5.5%
Italy - 5%
Japan - 4.8%

So why are we telling you this? Well, for those who do not know, OISE Oxford is an intensive English language for ambitious learners situated in the heart of Oxford. We thought that every so often we would target a particular nationality and discuss some of the difficulties they have when learning English. The last country we targeted was France, and two of our highly experienced tutors discussed and touched on two particular difficulties that the French have when learning English (click here to read this article). 

This time we will be targeting the Slavonic language speakers. Tony Evans, Oxford University graduate and expert in Slavonic Studies, is one of OISE Oxford's in house English tutors, and this is the article he wrote today:

'The Slavonic branch of the Indo-European language family comprises some twelve languages (argument still rages as to whether e.g. Cassubian should be considered a language or a dialect), divided into three groups: the Western (Czech, Polish, Slovak, Wendish/Sorbian), the Eastern (Russian, Belo-Russian, Ukrainian), and the Southern (Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian and Slovene). They share many characteristics, whilst exhibiting many differences. The two languages which differ most from other members of the group are, Bulgarian and Macedonian, which have developed a definite article and tenses that the other 10 languages have not. All the Slavonic languages, except Bulgarian and Macedonian, retain the extensive case system (by which nouns, adjectives and pronouns change their endings/forms to express grammatical relations within the sentence, and of which only a few distinctions remain in English, e.g. I/me). All twelve languages have retained three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter) and two numbers (singular and plural).

The absence of a definite article results in the problem well known to TEFL teachers. Speakers of such languages have no concept of the importance of the definite article. It can take a long time for them to acquire a feeling for the role of the article in languages which have one. On a practical level it is perhaps best to emphasise continually that a singular countable noun must have a determiner of some kind (a, the, this, that, my, etc) and that singular uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns take the article when used of particular examples (e.g. they like the flowers of that garden),  and no article when used of generalities (e.g. they like flowers).

Another problem for speakers of most Slavonic language is the relatively rigid word order of English, which must in general adopt the word order subject – verb – object). The Slavonic languages often use the word order object – verb- subject to emphasise the object. Take the English question “who killed the lion?”. The “hunter killed the lion” would probably also have the subject – verb – object  word order in Slavonic languages, for example  Russian “Kto ubil l'va?” “Okhotnik ubil l'va” (the lion being clearly shown as the object by the ending “a”). The answer to the question “Who(m) did the lion kill?” Russian “Kogo ubil l'ev? “Might well be in Russian  be “Okhotnika ubil l'ev”, where the word order is Object – verb – subject, the unfortunate hunter being clearly marked as the object by the ending “a” and the lion appearing in the subject form “l'ev”. Clearly the answer would appear in English as  “The lion killed the hunter.” Speakers of Slavonic languages often do not appreciate the fundamental  importance of word order in languages like English, and end up saying the opposite of what they mean. Much work, then, to teach the importance of word order, and to emphasise the extensive use of the passive voice to express such ideas as “This poem was written by Pushkin”, which might well in Russian appear as “Etot poem napisal Pushkin”, literally “This poem wrote Pushkin”.'

Click here for a summary of this article in Russian


Tony Evans, OISE Oxford

The modern joys of Christmas past

Happy Christmas Eve!  At OISE Oxford we all hope everyone is enjoying the festivities.

On this festive day many may question who invented Christmas? The typical answer is “The Victorians”, or if not that, then “Coca Cola”. However Britons have been celebrating Christmas for at least a thousand years. The western Church adopted December 25 as the official date for Christ’s birth in the fourth century and the term “Cristes Messe” crops up in Old English two decades before 1066.

By the Middle Ages it is very clear that Christmas was a thriving popular holiday, which had combined pagan and pre-Christian traditions, bound them together with the story of the Nativity and come up with a festival of hymns and games, worship and gluttony, which still endures today, when virtually every other Christian feast day except Easter has slipped into obscurity.

In 'The Telegraph' there is an interesting article examining the modern joys of Christmas past.  The Middle Ages hold the beginnings of many familiar rituals:

Timing 

If you feel that Christmas has already been going on for months, rest assured that at least your complaint is not new. The idea of Christmas as a seemingly long festival stretches back more than a thousand years. In 829 AD, at the court of Louis the Pious, Holy Roman Emperor and King of the Franks, festive celebrations began at Martinmas (November 11) and were still going on at Epiphany (January 6).

Carols 
Here your medieval Christmas comes alive. The carol was once among the most popular forms of song. Plenty of carols, especially from the 15th century onwards, still survive, such as Adam Lay Ybounden.

Clothes 
The geometrically patterned Christmas jumper is a modern creation, but a medieval approximation may still be found.

In 1322 Thomas Earl of Lancaster – the cousin and nemesis of King Edward II – ordered two new scarlet suits for himself and a “cloth of Russet” for the Bishop of Anjou. Lancaster’s household trimmed their Christmas best with miniver or ermin, and wore purple hoods. All of this sounds not dissimilar to the modern “Santa Suit”.

Decorations 

Christmas in the Middle Ages adopted many folk traditions and pagan rituals that had been rife before Christianity. These include the ancient Yuletide custom of hanging up holly, ivy and – if you are too idle to do anything but raid the kitchen storecupboard – bay sprigs.

Food 

Christmas has always been about feasting.  However, a Middle Ages Christmas dinner would be void of the traditional turkey. There were no turkeys in England until they were brought back from Mexico after the 1520s. Before then, the classic Christmas dish was boar’s head – served, as one carol went, “bedeck’d with bays and rosemary”.

Presents 

Sadly, there is no place for Father Christmas in a medieval Christmas. In the Middle Ages, gifts were exchanged not at Christmas but at new year – the “yeresgive”, as it was called.

Merry Christmas!

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/9764194/The-modern-joys-of-Christmas-past.html

Does anyone really care about the British Royal Family?

1,141 years ago King Alfred (the 32nd great grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II) became the first effective King of England. Since then we have had a healthy supply of Henrys, Georges, Williams, Arthurs, a few more Charles, and a sprinkling of Elizabeths and Victorias. One cannot deny that the royal family have been around for a very long time. For better or for worse, it doesn't look as though this will be changing any time soon. Just the other week we heard news of our precious princess Katie soon to deliver the next of kin.

This is all well and proper, but many people do not understand what the point of the Monarchy is. Ok, they bring tourism and publicity to the UK economy, and probably overall the money that this brings in is more than the gastranomical amount of public money spent on polishing their silver spoons. But could these funds not be invested more efficiently elsewhere?

What are your views on the British Royal Family? I pose this question to my OISE Oxford colleagues and got some mixed responses:

Office worker 1: "On the one hand the Royal Family seem fairly pointless as they do not have much political influence and it doesn't seem very democratic for someone to be born into power. However, they do raise a lot of money for charity and bring in a lot of money through tourism which is obviously an advantage. We should count ourselves lucky that we do not have a corrupt Queen. She is so inoffensive at the moment that people aren't too bothered about getting rid of her but once she's gone, who knows how long the monarchy will last."

Office worker 2: "I do not see a point of the Royal Family at all! I don't understand the political system where there is a government and a monarchy. Those two should not exist simultaneously. We either chose our leaders or we don't. The monachy doesn't bring much to society, if anything they eat up too much of our public funds."

Office worker 3: " From a rather uninformed standpoint, I believe that the Royal Family is a positive feature of modern Britain. For many people in Britain and from abroad they are inspirational figureheads and offer huge amounts of goodwill and support to a wide range of charities and other organisations. The Queen has been a central and steady influence on British society for 60 years. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year were a time of great fun and provided a boost to international opinion on the UK. In many ways could the royal family provides the great in Britain?"

Office worker 4: "In politics, you never know what you're going to get Politicians have so much to prove.. The stability that our Monarch has brought to our country over the last 60 years is immense. 2012 has been a terrific year with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, a Royal wedding, and a future heir on the way. What is there not to be proud of?!"

Interestingly today marks the first time that a monarch has attended a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in over 200 years. Whilst this might be interpreted by some as an attempt by the Queen to re-assert her political authority, it seems the real reason for her attendance is the announcement that a portion of Antarctica is shortly to be named after her in celebration of her Jubilee; perhaps not the most pressing matter on the political agenda.

English footballer, Joey Barton, who recently appeared on Newsnight, is known to have some pretty controversial views. Click on the image below to read his article about the pros and cons of the Royal Family.

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!

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!