Tell the other students how you felt when you first came to Manchester.
 Did you find the city beautiful? Is the city bigger or smaller than you expected? Is it expensive to live in Manchester? What about the facilities? Is there a lot to do? Have you travelled to other places nearby? What do you like to do in Manchester in your spare time? What about the food?
What about the weather?

If you agree or disagree with your classmates, add a reply to their comments!

Studying in a new country is amazing, as you get to learn English by making new friends and speaking to native people, you can visit some cool places and its nice to experience a different culture!

However, sometimes things happen that you are not happy about.  If you are not careful, it could end up ruining your trip out here!  Do you know that you can speak to us at Kaplan if you have any problems?  Doesn't just have to be about visa or University applications!  If you are ever unhappy - maybe about your class, homestay, not making many friends or not feeling comfortable generally, then let us know!  Jenna is the welfare officer here, and that means she is here to help with any problems you have. 

Also, you can help each other!  Lee's class are going to write some problems and solutions below...do you agree with the advice?

Because the students enjoyed looking at old photos of the teachers sooooo much - here are some more!  This time we have pictures from the administration staff too!  Can you guess who they are????

This week the students have been studying the past, especially the grammar 'used to'.  I thought it would be fun to see some old pictures of what the teachers used to look like!  More will be coming soon so watch this space!  Lets see if you can guess who they are.....are you suprised?  Do they look very different?!  You can put your mouse over the picture for a clue.....What do you think they used to be like?  Do you think they are the same now?

I know most of you have come to Manchester to learn English - but you should try and visit other places such as the Lake District, the Peak District, Edinburgh, York...and also Europe if you can!

I have travelled to many countries around the world such as China, New Zealand, America, Canada, France, Spain, Australia, Germany, Turkey - just to name a few!  O.K. I haven't been to Saudi Arabia, but I almost feel I am there when I work here (haha only joking!!!).  It is definitely the next new place I want to visit though!  Just to see my student, Abdullah's pet tiger! (I know!!!!  A tiger in his house!!!)

Anyway, because I have travelled to so many places, I have stayed in many hotels and hostels.  The best one was in Fiji.  It was so beautiful and I could see the sea from my window and I had my own part of the beach! 

But I have stayed in some TERRIBLE places!  One place had cockroaches, another, the people were very rude.  But the worst hostel I have ever stayed in was in Hawaii.  There was a strange man who sang to himself in his bed - even though it was dark and we were all trying to sleep!  He was very messy and one day he flooded the toilet and I couldnt have a shower because the dirty water was everywhere!  I left the next day as quickly as possible!

So, what about you?  What are the best/worst hotels/hostels you have ever stayed in??  Are they worse/better than where I stayed??? Remember to 'name and shame'* any bad hostels/hotels by giving their name and location!

Sarah Davies.

*Name and shame - To identify people or places to embarrass them

Moving to a new country can be exciting but it also can be scary!  It's a great way to make new friends and learn about new cultures...of course coming to Manchester you learn more about football and the beautiful English weather!  What did you think about England when you first arrived?  Can you remember the day you arrived in this country? What were your first impressions?  I lived in China in 2007 to teach for one year and I remember when I first arrived - I could not speak/read/understand a word of Chinese!  I needed my Chinese workmates to help me all the time and that was hard for me.  After a few weeks, I felt 'at home' but those first few days were scary! lol
 
Do you speak English outside the classroom?  Or is it easier to just talk in your own language?  In the last week, can you think of three situations where you spoke English outside the class? What happened?
 
Can you remember a situation where you had a problem communicating in English?   I remember when I was in China and I wanted some milk, and when I asked the shop assistant, she pointed to something that looked like it.  So I bought it and took it home and poured it into my cup of tea...it was yoghurt!!! :S 

What are the most difficult things about talking to native speakers?  Do you understand the Manchester accent?  What has made it easier to understand?

Sarah Davies

Soooo - last week the Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate students studied crime.  Here are some phrases you might have looked at!  If you didn't study them, then look at the comments below - some students did and they will give an explanation.  If you did study them, then this is good revision!

Have you ever been a victim?  Has anything you own been stolen?  Are there any safety tips to give new students to Manchester??

By the way....the students will be thinking of their opinion of the death penalty in the next blog - so make sure you have an opinion on that the next time you look!


1. to pull something off
 
2. to meet up
 
3. to own up
 
4. to beat up
 
5. to set upon
 
6. to make off with something
 
7. to fight off
 
8. to let someone off
 
9. to get away with something
 
10. to run off

So...you have arrived in England and you need to change the money from your country to English currency!  How did you do that?  Do you have a bank account in England?  Did you do it yourself or did you get your host family/ the staff at Kaplan/your friends to help you? 

Do you know where you can exchange money?  Where can you get the best exchange rate?  Which places charge commission?

Maybe you changed the money in your country?  If so, how did you feel about bringing so much money in your bag?  Did you have problems at customs?  Do you know how much cash you can bring into England?

Do you usually pay by card or cash in England?  Which is the best way for you?  Do you keep lots of money in your pocket?  Have you had any problems with losing money in England?  What did you do?

What do you think about the price of food/shopping in England?  Did it surprise you?

Here are some idioms - do you know what they mean?
1. Put your money where your mouth is
2. To be made of money
3. Put your money on it
4. Money is the root of all evil
5. Time is money

Soooooooo many questions!  So now it's your turn!  What do you think......?

Today's blog asks a simple question:

Is learning a foreign language an obligation or a privilege?

Please share your thoughts below.  Remember to reply to other people's comments if you agree or disagree with them.

This week's topic for pre-intermediate students is food.  We want you to share your thoughts about British food on this blog.

• What is your favourite kind of food that you have tasted here in Manchester?
• What do you think of British food?  What are the differences between food here in the UK and food in your country?
• What do you think is the best food in your country?  How do you make it?