Trip To The Pantomime?

For those of you who do not know what a pantomime is, it's a form of theatrical spectacle common in England during the Christmas season, generally adapted from a fairy tale and including stock character types who perform songs and dances, tell jokes, etc.  It is often referred to by the abbreviation 'panto'. Some of the more popular pantos include Jack and the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Dick Whittington and His Cat, Peter Pan and Cinderella.

If you haven't yet been to an English pantomime, it's definitely worth a go! The audience is primarily made up of families with young children, but the entertainment is for all ages. Typically they involve a lot of audience interaction and include frequent calls of "He's behind you!", "Oh, yes it is!" and "Oh, no it isn't!". The audience is always encouraged to boo the villain and "awww" the poor victims.

A healthy selection of pantos will be churned out across the UK this Christmas. The most popular place to see one in Oxford is at the Oxford Playhouse, and this year they will be showing Robin Hood. If you are interested and would like to find out more, click on the image below to be redirected to the website of the Oxford Playhouse.

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.

"Afternoon Tea" by Stephen Smith

If you consult an English Dictionary, you will find that "tea" can be a drink or a meal.

High Tea is a (usually cooked) meal served in the early evening, when the children come home from school, in place of a somewhat later dinner or supper.

Otherwise, "tea" means Afternoon Tea, normally taken in the late afternoon, consisting of cake and a pot of tea - most often the black English breakfast tea. Popular cakes include crumpets and teacakes - the latter containing dried fruit. Both are eaten hot (the teacakes sliced), with butter.

The Queen, however, of Afternoon Teas is the English Cream Tea, a cornucopia of scones (small, round cakes made from flour, milk and a little fat), jam - most commonly strawberry jam - and thick, clotted cream (ideally, the famous, rich Devonshire clotted cream), again with a pot of tea. You slice the scones, spread a thick layer of jam on each half, and then a thicker layer of clotted cream on top of the jam. Two scones per person will probably suffice. On balance, this mini-feast probably excels even the Great English Breakfast as Britain's finest contribution to the pleasures of the table.

There are tea shops (or Olde Tea Shoppes) in many of our villages, so you can combine this delight - perhaps enjoyed in a typical English garden on a hot summer's day - with vigorous country walk, to burn off any extra calories absorbed.

Although we live in an increasingly global market, good scones, crumpets, teacakes, clotted cream, lemon curd, rhubarb crumble and other English specialities are usually difficult or impossible to find outside their country of origin - so make the most of them whenever you have the chance.

Why do British people drive on the left hand side of the road?

A lot of people wonder why British people drive on 'the other' side of the road (the left hand side). Although some seem to think that is quite a strange idea, not all of us are aware that left-hand-side driving is more natural and it has been present in most countries around the world for some 100 years.

Great Britain in not the only country driving on the left. Other countries, mainly former British colonies, also use the left-hand side of the road. Some of those countries include: Cyprus, Malta, Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand. Altogether, there are 75 countries or areas in the world that drive on the left-hand side.

What is more interesting is that a lot more countries used to drive on the left in the past. In Europe, the idea of driving on the right hand side came to life only some 300 years ago. Before that, everyone used the left hand side because it was simply more comfortable. Why? Knights wore their swords on the left side of their body and it was easier for them to defend themselves from someone who arrived at their right hand side. Coachmen always sat on the right hand side so it was easier for them to drive and use the whip.

In the 18^th century in France, at the time of Napoleon, right hand driving started to get more popular. Europe had gradually started going to over to the right side. In Sweden, left hand side driving was in force until 1967 and in Iceland until 1968. Driving on the left didn't only apply to roads, but also rail and tram tracks.

Driving on the left also means that steering wheels need to be installed on the right side of all the cars. However, pedals and gears are exactly the same as in the cars with steering on the left side.  Both countries who drive on the left and the right use the 'right hand' rule. But how do you deal with roundabouts which are present around every corner of Great Britain? Well, that is a whole other story...

Have your Cake and Eat it!

Whilst British cakes may not have the world-renowned reputation of the French patisserie, they are nonetheless a delightful, and I would say essential, addition to the British diet. Not long ago we did a feature on the afternoon tea and no afternoon tea is complete without a good slice of cake to accompany a steaming cup of tea. As a huge cake fan myself (and I really would be huge if I ate all of the cakes in this blog post), I feel it is my duty to share the very best of British cakes with you so that you too can experience the pleasure of these delicious delicacies. Here are some of our favourites:

The Bakewell Tart (voted by Sam, our Client Manager)

I had the pleasure of visiting the birthplace of this specialty whilst visiting the quaint Derbyshire town of Bakewell, not far from my university in Sheffield. Mr Kipling put icing and a cherry on top of this shortcrust pastry treat, but the Bakewell pudding (a puff pastry and almond paste delicacy) is thought to have been made as a mistake by the cook of Derbyshire landlady Mrs Greaves who misunderstood her instructions.


The Scone (voted by Will, former Sales Executive)


A traditional choice, the humble scone is a must-try for anyone educating themselves in English specialties  Traditionally served topped with jam and clotted cream, the scone is of a bread-like consistency and originates from Scotland. Simple but tasty.



The Eccles Cake (my choice)

This lesser known treat is ram packed with flaky, buttery pastry and currants and can sometimes be topped with demerara sugar. It is named after the English town of Eccles in Manchester.





You may also like to try:- Victoria Sponge, Battenburg, Lemon Drizzle, a Chelsea bun, a Welsh cake or a Fondant Fancy.

Dig in!

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.

'Take the biscuit'

OISE Oxford has a prime position in Oxford – nestled within the historic Covered Market. Our students have the opportunity to explore a whole host of unique shops and cafes, a particular favourite of ours being “Ben’s Cookies”. Crisp on the outside with delightfully soft and chewy middles, their cookies are a must-try for any peckish OISE student.

“Ben’s Cookies” have been making cookies since 1983.  The original store is in Oxford’s Covered Market where they still bake cookies every day. “Ben’s” was founded by Helge Rubinstein, author of The Chocolate Book and many other publications and an ardent chocoholic.

The cookies are sold by weight and can be bought individually or packaged in bags, boxes and tins, each bearing the logo created by Quentin Blake, the well known artist and first ever children’s laureate.  They make great Christmas presents for chocolate fans!

Ben’s Cookies currently has ten stores in the UK and a selection worldwide, which is perfect for certain students returning home.  On a recent visit to South Korea I met an OISE Oxford alumnus who said his favourite thing about Seoul was the “Ben’s Cookie” store in Gangnam!

How to be British

What are some typically British characteristics that make us who we are?

Telegraph:
'Talking and direct eye contact are banned on British public transport.The only acceptable activities are reading, listening to music and playing games on your smartphone. If you attempt to converse with someone on public transport in Britain, it will be interpreted as a request for money.'

Guardian:
'Ask a British person for a date, and they are more likely to hand you a dried fruit. British people do not date. They pull. This rather more ­violent verb conveys the more chaotic ­approach to romance than you might have known in your home country. The British method of coupling is as follows: go to a party, get extremely drunk, drunkenly kiss someone you have been making eyes at for some time but obviously never spoke to ­because you were sober then, go home with them, move in with them the next day, marry them.'

BBC:
'As any self-respecting Brit will tell you, there is not a lot that a cup of tea can't fix. Rough day at work? Put the kettle on. Broken heart? Pour yourself a cuppa. Alien invasion? You'll be ready for an apocalypse as soon as you've had your brew. But it's not all so straightforward. Choosing how to take your tea is a deceptively complex task - it's almost a political statement. Black with lemon immediately identifies you as a frequenter of Sloane Square, daaaaahling. Lots of milk and more than three sugars? You must be a builder - we'll assume you want a fry up on the side. If you take your char(coal) with minimal milk and maximum brewtime, we'll know you were born and bred up north, pet. Even new-fangled inventions such as camomile, peppermint and dandelion tea have their place in society (among new age hippies). The British relationship with tea is so important that employers have traditionally allowed their staff tea breaks to enjoy some alone time with their beverage of choice. We even have a mealtime named after it. So you see, tea is more than a drink to us Brits - it's a way of life. Phew, I'm feeling rather emotional after that - now, where's my mug?'




How would you describe a typical British person?

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.

The Big Red British Telephone Box

One of the many quirky attractions in Britain is the big red telephone box.  They were introduced in 1924 and were the result of a competition to design a telephone kiosk that would be acceptable to the London Metropolitan Boroughs. You can also find them in many of the current or former British colonies around the world. You can even find one ensconced in the beautiful countryside of the Isles of Scilly - please see below photo of goat in phone box in the Isles of Scilly.

There are still quite a few in Oxford, too, and tourists like nothing more than to get a photo of themselves piled into one, or pretending to be on the phone. That's about the only use they have these days, though, as due to the increase of mobile technology, people are using them a lot less. Many of them are now even up for sale to the public! If you are interested and have a spare £2000 to spend, why not splash out for one in your sitting room?

Life After OISE Oxford

As I approach the final 3 hours of my time at OISE Oxford, life over the last year and a half goes whizzing before my eyes. From the Monday morning 8:40am presentations, to Friday's farewell drinks and nibbles, from summer punting, to the legendary historical pub crawls.

Things I will miss:

1. Colleagues
I will miss them all, the teachers and the admin staff on floor C. I will be reading this blog on a regular basis to keep up with what is going on. Weather articles from Sam, food related blog posts from Jo and of course Kit's predominantly Oxford related posts. 

2. Students
They are great. Not only as people but as English language learners. I have seen students that when they first arrive can hardly string more than three words together, and then to hear them confidently chatting away after only a few weeks is amazing.

I will be off to run a pub in the centre of Oxford called the Duke's Cut. According to Google maps, it is 8 minutes walk from OISE Oxford. There's a lovely terraced area looking on to the canal, great home made food, and we will also be showing live national/international football along with other sports. It would be great to see you there.

Goodbye and good luck all!

Will

A British Obsession: The Weather

The British are fascinated by the weather.  It’s a typical feature of daily small talk for all.  Popular phrases peppering daily conversation include:

 “It’s breezy today!”, “There is a chill in the air”, “It’s just tipping it down”, “It’s blowing a gale”.

“Do you know what the weather will be like today?” is one of the most well-used weather phrases.  And indeed, the weather forecast plays a significant role in the UK.     Michael Fish MBE is one the UK’s best know British weather forecaster.  He became infamous in the wake of the Great Storm of 1987.  On 15 October 1987, a few hours before the storm hit, he infamously said during a forecast: “Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way... well, if you're watching, don't worry, there isn't!”. That evening, the worst storm to hit South East England since 1703 caused record damage and killed 18 people.

The UK is often characterised as a damp and windy island with unusually changeable weather. Recent weather here has done little to dispel this impression.  This week heavy downpours and gale force winds caused flooding across the South West.  There are warnings that five inches worth of rain, the equivalent of one month's worth, would fall.  Scotland too is experiencing heavy rain and strong winds, causing flooding and transport disruption.

The Oxford Dictionaries blog have compiled a list of unusual meteorological terms to describe some very specific weather conditions. So, next time you want to join in weather small talk consider using one of the following words:

airish
Now chiefly Scottish and U.S. regional (south. and south Midland). Of weather: cool, fresh, breezy, chilly.

dreich
Scottish. (especially of weather) dreary; bleak.

letty
Now English regional (Somerset). That lets or hinders. Chiefly of weather: making outdoor work difficult; rainy.

maumy
Scottish and English regional (chiefly north.).  Mellow; soft and insipid; (of weather) mild, humid.

mizzle
Chiefly dialect. Light rain; drizzle.

mochy
Scottish and Irish English (north.).Damp, moist. Of weather: damp and misty; muggy.

Places to visit in the UK

The BBC Magazine have compiled a wonderful list of rather odd places to visit in the UK. So after soaking up the historical wonders of Oxford, why don't you consider more curious options and truly explore the UK!

Have you ever wondered how big the world's largest pencil actually is (unlike the normal sized ones pictured below)? Then head to Cumberland Pencil Museum, Keswick, Cumbria.  Do you heart hats? Then you must head to Stockport Hat Works Museum, Stockport, Greater Manchester.  Do you dream of lawnmowers? Then you should most certainly head to National Lawnmower Museum, Southport, Merseyside.

I personally will be heading to Diggerland in either Yorkshire, Kent, County Durham or Devon at the earliest opportunity for the chance to actually dig using a digger. Just wow.

Click here to check out the other attractions on offer.

Source: BBC Magazine

London's first cat cafe!

Great news cat lovers, London is soon to open a cat cafe! While they are popular in Japan and Austria, Britain's capital has so far been refused the pleasure of tea and coffee shops where customers can relax while stroking a moggy mate.

That is set to change in the coming months, after entrepreneur Lauren Pears announced a difficult permission process was finally over and an address for Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium – in Shoreditch, east London – confirmed.

The project received a wave of support online when it was first put forward for crowd-sourced funding. Members of the public donated over £100,000 for this rather unusal scheme to get going!

Its not open yet, but construction work is underway.  So keep an eye on 152-154 Bethnal Green Road for its grand opening. I am sure its going to be purrfect!

Source: The Independent 

5 Ways to Keep Fit in Oxford!

Running has to be one of the easiest ways of keeping fit. All you need is a pair of running shoes and you're set. One of the great things about Oxford is that there are so many open green areas, all within a short distance of the city centre. A great place to start is the University Parks. Running along the river towards Summertown is my favorite route. The scenery is simply delightful; Punters, weeping willows and great open fields. 

If you're looking to beef up your upper body muscles, why not grab a few of your classmates and go punting. It's not the easiest of activities to master but with a bit of practice you'll get there. The secret to beginning punting is not to worry about the speed, but more about the direction - trees are the most common obstacle! If you need any tips, just ask one of the OISE Oxford students, most of them have reached pro level standard.

If you're into your swimming, there are a number of indoor and outdoor pools for you to try. Starting with outdoor pools, there's the Hinksey Heated Outdoor pool. Like most outdoor pools, It's currently closed for the winter, but will reopen again on May 3. There are also a number of leisure centers with indoor pools in and around the centre of town. Right in the centre there's LA fitness, and then heading north of Oxford there's the Marston Ferry pool. If you're looking for something a little more up market, there's the Virgin Active Health and Racquets Club.

Last but not least there's golf. There are many golf courses in and around Oxfordshire. In the UK, compared with the rest of Europe, the price for a round of golf is relatively cheap (average £15 - £30). This is probably because we have more rain to keep the grass green! Near to Oxford there's Hinksey Heights (inexpensive, but a little rough around the edges), North Oxford Golf course (well looked after but a little narrow), and Southfield Golf Club. To reach the more picturesque courses, you really need to have your own form of transport as they are out in the sticks. My personal favorite is Rye Hill, as it has excellent drainage for those oh so frequent rainy English days!

Views on the Great British Brew (AKA tea)

For centuries, tea has played a pivotal part in British culture. We are the largest consumers of tea in the world. We love it. Sip here, sip there, sip everywhere. But why do we love it so much? We ask four experienced OISE Oxford tea drinkers what the fuss is all about?

So Will, why do you love it so much?

"Personally, I never have a cup of tea by myself. It's not just about the cup, it's about the company. Drinking tea is a fantastic communal activity from which a great little chinwag can be created."

And Sam, what is it about tea that floats your boat?

"Tea, sweet-lovely-kind-tea, I love a cup of tea! I love tea at any point of the day, anywhere! I love a cup of tea first thing in the morning with my muesli, I love a cup of tea with cake, I love a cup of tea on a long train journey. I love tea. I love the way it is so comforting and so perfectly joyful."

Jo, I know you're a massive tea drinker. Why do you like it so much?

"There is nothing like a cup of tea to get me up in the morning and to keep me going at regular intervals throughout the day. It’s irreplaceable – a coffee or a glass of water just doesn't have the same effect! I particularly enjoy it accompanied by a slice of cake or a biscuit (or two)."

Last, but certainly not least, Stephen Smith, what are your views on the subject?
"The cup that cheers but not inebriates!" Ok, thanks Stephen!

An Insiders' guide to Oxford

The Guardian provides a very thorough insiders guide to Oxford from those who know it best, including the opinions of Philip Pullman, Colin Dexter and Richard Dawkins.  

The Guardian's guide selects 11 highlights from which OISE Oxford have chosen 5 which particularly receive our seal of approval.

1) OPEN-MIC NIGHTS AT THE CATWEAZLE CLUB...

take place along the kaleidoscopic Cowley Road, where there is an array of places to eat, drink and listen to music -  it has blues nights, jazz nights, reggae nights.  Brian Briggs, lead singer of indie band Stornoway recommends that "It's the ultimate open-mic night. Poets and mandolin players share the stage with beatboxers. You're not battling with people standing at the bar; people go there to listen. It's where we started as a band and we still try out new material there."

OISE Oxford recommends you arrive early to guarantee yourself a seat, otherwise you will have to sit on the floor sometimes with or without the benefit of a cushion - not ideal for those with bad backs or long legs.

2) CHORAL MUSIC IN CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL...

is a regular feature on OISE Oxford's cultural activities programme.  It is a chance to enjoy excellent choral music and to see inside the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral.  Colin Dexter points out that "Oxford is known everywhere for the excellence of its singing. Go to hear Christ Church choir. They are absolutely first class."

3) SAILING PAST PORT MEADOW...

has yet to feature on our cultural activities programme, but a leisurely walk around Port Meadow and taking in a drink at the excellent pub, The Perch, does.  Port Meadow, mentioned in the Domesday Book, is an expanse of common land that has great views of Oxford, and a place to relax and watch grazing cattle below vast spans of open sky.  It is a perfect picnic location.

4) PUNTING UPSTREAM FROM MAGDALEN BRIDGE...

is very popular during the summer with OISE Oxford's students.  It offers the chance to view Magdalen College Tower, the Botanic Gardens and the unspoilt Christ Church Meadows from inside a punt - often more relaxing for those sitting than those who are attempting to punt!

5) CYCLING AND COFFEE AT ZAPPI'S BIKE CAFE

Cycling is the preferred method of transportation for many in Oxford, it offers the chance to navigate Oxford with ease and speed.  Zappi's bike cafe is located in central Oxford, off Cornmarket Street.  It is great for bike and cafe enthusiasts.  Flavio Zappi, former Italian pro-cyclist, claims it serves the best coffee in town.  OISE Oxford claims it does a very good toastie.

Read the full Guardian article here.

The Full English Breakfast

The English are famed for the 'Full English Breakfast'.  This hearty breakfast is a perfect start to the day, especially at the weekend when there is time to savour its culinary delights.

The Full English is a personal thing and it is possible to swap in and out of its famed ingredients.  Though it is typically seen to favour meat eaters, it can be most definitely be adapted to vegetarians.

The key components are the following:

Eggs
Scrambled eggs are my preferred choice, they are the perfect accompaniment to toast.  However, others rate poached and fried eggs.  In any case, you can't go too wrong.

Mushrooms
Must be pan-fried and seasoned properly, perhaps with parsley.

Baked Beans
My favourites are Branston's baked beans which are super tomatoey and delicious.  Many do favour the well-known Heinz variety, but I would encourage trying Branston - you are certain not be disappointed.  I recommend heating them at a low heat, over a fairly-long-sih period of time for a perfect stewed consistency.  Yum!

Toast / Bread
I am a great fan of toast. It offers the perfect platform to pile baked beans, eggs, sausages etc on top. Whilst bread is an option for those who want to mop-up the remains of this great breakfast.

Sausages
It is generally thought that a a plain pork sausage, moderately seasoned with salt, pepper, maybe a little sage is perfect for this morning meal.  More exciting sausages, such as chilli and caramelised onion, are best for evening suppers with creamy mashed potato.  As a big fan of the vegetarian sausage, I especially favour the 'Cauldron' variety.

Tomatoes 
Best to be cooked in the oven at a low temperature with a little oil, salt and thyme.  Grilled tomatoes offer the danger of being blazing hot on the outside, but still raw in the middle.  Best to get the tomatoes in the oven right at the beginning of cooking.

Other favoured ingredients include bacon, black pudding and hash browns.

Though, the 'Full English Breakfast' is just a taste sensation, I would say you can't beat starting the day with a nice bowl of porridge.  The oaty goodness is wonderfully warming and just every so tasty.  Breakfast is truly the best meal of the day!

5 Hot Spots of Oxford

1)      Christ Church College and meadow

Picture yourself, a nice sunny day soaking up the sunshine and the architectural wonder of Christ Church – one of Oxford’s most famous colleges.  Simply sublime.



2)      Ben’s Cookies

Picture yourself, hungry and pining for a bakery treat.  This is the place for you!  Conveniently located just under OISE Oxford.  Perfect for break time snacks.  This place is known by many to be one of the 7 wonders of the world.



3)      Port Meadow

Picture yourself lying amongst the grass with cows and horses in Oxford’s large open common land by the river Thames.  Bring a fishing rod, a dog and catch some cod (perhaps!).  A countryside idyll in Oxford city.



4)      Bodleian Library

Picture yourself as a young wizard learning the tricks of the trade with Oxford’s local hero Emma Watson.  Visit the Bodleian where you will be transported to a scene from JK Rowling’s famous magical books.



5)      OISE Oxford

Picture yourself learning English amongst fellow ambitious students from a team of experienced and dedicated English tutors.

Exclusive interview with Hannah Murphy, OISE Oxford's Director of Studies

It's Monday morning at 9:40am and Hannah has already been at work for two hours. After a busy morning of organising the new students into their groups, she manages to find a few minutes to speak with us.

Good morning Hannah, thank you very much for taking the time talk to me today. I would like to start by asking how you organise the students into their Quatorial groups?

There are several factors that I have to consider when organising each Quatorial group, which we always separate into Business Quatorials and General Quatorials. The first is the level of the student. We want all of our students to be in a learning environment that is going to help them to achieve their individual objectives but that is also challenging for them. Working in a group with students of a similar level allows our teachers to ensure that all four students are learning new material and being suitably challenged. I also try to ensure that the Quatorials have a variety of nationalities as this helps develop students' listening skills and also leads to interesting discussions and comparisons of different work environments and cultures. I also look at the students age, profession and objectives to ensure they will be working with other students who are from a similar peer group.

I see, and what about the individual tutorial classes, how do you choose which tutor would be best suited to the student? 

We are very lucky here at OISE Oxford to have a large number of tutors who specialise in different areas. These include a lawyer to teach legal English, an IELTS examiner to work with IELTS students, a financial expert to work with our business students and many many more. This allows me to ensure that each student is working with a tutor who has a vast amount of knowledge in the subject area the student wishes to study. Our tutors all work closely with each other to ensure that if a student has more than one tutor there is a clear plan of which areas they will focus on in each lesson. I never have any difficulty matching students and tutorial teachers as I am so confident in the abilities of the tutors on our team.

At OISE Oxford the students are of all ages and come from a variety of different profession and academic backgrounds. Which common characteristics, if any, does an OISE Oxford student share?

I think the characteristic most of our students have in common is their determination and their motivation. Our courses are intensive and so we only attract students who are extremely focused on achieving their aims. All of our students are also extremely communicative and social which creates a wonderful atmosphere in the school. They are all individuals who are hard working and successful and it's a privilege to work with them on a daily basis.