OXFORD (some info & photos)

My fav. building in Oxford, Radcliffe Camera

•  Oxford is a beautiful city of stunning architecture, history and culture. Yo'll find ancient and modern colleges, fascinating museums and galleries, plenty of parks, gardens and green spaces in which to relax.

• Visitors to Oxford often ask "Where is the University?". The answer is  "You're standing in it!" Unlike most universities which tend to be purpose-built on distinct intergrated sites, the University of Oxford has evolved as a sprawling federation of largely autonomous colleges, which, for the most part, are found in the centre of the city. Each college has its own rules and constitution, and individuals are at the University of Oxford only by virtue of their membership of a college.

• The city centre is small enough to cover on foot, and only a few minutes' walk from then main rail and coach stations.

Course Evaluation & Certificates

Oxford University!

What were the highlights of my time in Oxford?

I have to admit that my decision to go to Oxford was 200% correct! (even more!!!) I truly think that Oxford with its 38 colleges, its world-famous Oxford University, its best lectures and courses is absolutely utmost priority to choose it for your course destination!

I had a whale of a time! It was never boring, there was always something to do!

The atmosphere was fab!

The course was bee's knees!
My opinion is that for overseas teachers  it's better and more reasonable to choose a course lasting for 2 weeks. Then you can really enjoy being in the native language speaking environment and you can really use the city as much as yoyu can!

 The materials and tuition we got there were absolutely essential and useful! And what is more- they're ready-made and could be used in my everyday lessons! My students will definitely enjoy them!

Our tutor Geraldine Power was born to be a teacher! Sh'es incredibly fantastic!

The weekend excursions as well as the afternoon cultural programmes were very well organised and our guide Rob could attract us with his informative and spellblinding stories!

The food at the Said Business School canteen was scrumptious!

My host family was brilliant! They were really very hospitable and supportive!

The groupmates were fantastic! We all had a feeling that we've already  known each other for al long time.

The sights (museums, colleges, the  Botanic Garden, White Shark, theatre evening -Much Ado About Nothing etc.)   in Oxford  were out of this world!

The city is impressive and unforgettable! It's like walking in a working but on the other hand ancient museum!

I'm grateful to myself for visiting Windsor Castle on my own and having an experience with travelling by train in England!

I had a precious possibility to improve my language skills!

I'm so proud of myself!!!

I'm so thankful to The Lake School of English, Oxford!!! Thank you so much!

 

Me and my best teacher!
 

Our fantastic group!

I'll definitely recommend The Lake School of English to my colleagues!

If I could I'd visit this magnificient school and city and my host family once more!

I'll miss the course, the atmosphere and my groupmates!!!

 

The Museum of Art and Archeology "ASHMOLEAN" & University of Oxford BOTANIC GARDEN &The SAXON TOWER

The Ashmolean is Oxford University's museum of art and archeology. Its world-famous collections range from Egyptian mummies to modern art, telling human stories across culures and across times.

Admission to the museum is free.



To discover the treasures of the Ashmolean is almost impossible as it's gigantic! You would need days to go it through and see everything!!! 

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 I spent toooooo little time there but still,  it WAS worth visiting!!!!

University of Oxford BOTANIC GARDEN

The Danby gateway to the Botanic Garden built in 1633.

 The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain and one of the oldest scientific gardens in the world. The garden was founded in 1621 as a physic garden growing plants for medicinal research.

It is one of the most diverse yet compact collections of plants in the world and includes representatives from over 90% of the higher plant families.

The Garden consists of three sections. 

The Glasshouses contain plants that need protection from theextremes of the British weather. The area outside the Walled Garden contains classic garden features such as a Water Garden and Rock Garden as well as the innovative Black Border and Autumn Borders. Within the Walled Garden plants are grouped in a number of different ways such as by country of origin, botanic family or  economic use. 

Tropical water lilies




THE SAXON TOWER

 The Saxon Tower is Oxford's oldest building. When visiting it you're about to follow in the footsteps of people who first climbed the Saxon Tower nearly 1, 000 years ago.

The Saxon Tower in this photo is behind the sign on the right hand corner  

                                                                                 At the top of the Saxon Tower. 

                                                                                Cornmarket Street 

Critical Thinking & Songs & Music in the English Language Classroom

Critical Thinking

• gather your information
• apply the information
• formulate your question
•  consider the implications
• explore other points of view

USEFUL LINKS: 

Ted.ed Lessons for Sharing

Pixar short films

 Songs & Music in the English Language Classroom 

Different ideas with these songs:

• The Ting Tings                      That's Not My Name           
• Coldplay                              Yellow  
• John Lennon                         Imagine
• The Killers                            Human
• Taylor Swift                          Shake It Off                

Summer Shakespeare "Much Ado About Nothing" at Oxford Castle

The Great White Shark in Headlington, Oxford

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Using Text & Using Film

Short films and websites you might find useful:

Short Films on Youtube: 

• The Black Hole
• Octopus
•  Paperman
• I Forgot My Phone
• Whodunnit
• Scots Elevator 

Websites:

• http://lessonsdream.org/browse_lessons 
• http://film-english.com/2012/09/10/sight 
• http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com 
• Worksheets for lots of films 
• For entire filmscripts 

Bodleian Library

The facade of the library

 The Bodleian Library is the University of Oxford chief library. It's one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It was founded by Sir Thomas Bodley and opened in 1602 with 2,000books in its collection. The library now has more than 12 million printed volumes. Sir Thomas Bodley arranged for his library to become a Legal Deposit Library, entitling it to request  ONE FREE copy of every book published in the country. The Bodleian is a reference-only library, so it does not lend books to anyone. Even King Charles I was refused permission to borrow a book in 1645!

The ceiling of Divinity School

Divinity School Room

The Divinity School building is physically attached to the Bodleian Library (with Duke Humfrey's Library on the first floor above it the Bodleian Library), and is opposite the Sheldonian Theatre where students matriculate and graduate.

  Inside the Library (google pic)

To visit the famous library you have to book your ticket on the same day of the tour (but not in advance the day before)! Before going to the library, all the personal belongings, e.g. bags, are locked into one of the chests. No photos are allowed to take. The photo here is taken from Google. The place- the library- was just something to see- out of this world! All those books and the the wooden decorated ceiling! Just one more breathtaking view!!!!

ICT & Digital Media & Colloquial English & Slang

Got some really useful websites for:

Some ov my lovely mates in action!

• writing
• listening/speaking/recording
• lesson plans
• vocabulary
• pronunciation
• exams
• quizes
• karaoke

At home I'll give you the links as well! :) 

Colloquial English:

 

Some examples of Slang:

• It's a toddle = it's really easy
• to be sozzled = to be drunk
• It's a cinch = it's really easy
• to be gobsmacked = speechless
• bonkers = crazy, mad
• to be niffed = irritated or annoyed

Christ Church College, Oxford University

If you want to hang out with Harry Potter, be amazed at Alice (from Wonderland), this famous Oxford University College is just for you! And you have to be aware that Christ Church College has its own time: when it's e.g. 5 p.m Oxford time, then it's 5.05 Christ Church time! Th bells of Great Tom  ring       at 9.05 p.m- 101 times and evening services start at 6.05 p.m!

The Cloister with an olive tree

Christ Church College is a unique joint foundation of College and Cathedral. Christ Church is one of the largest Oxford Colleges, with approximately 430 undergraduates and 215 postgraduates.

College is students' home while they are in Oxford. This is where they study, live and eat. 

Great Tom, Tom Quad   

A Statue of Mercury

Tom Quad is named after the six-tonn bell, Great Tom, which hangs Sir Christopher Wren's Tom Tower. Astatrue of Mercury, the  winged Roman god, stands in the fishpond at the centre of Tom Quad. 

The Staircase at Christ Church College may seem familiar to some visitors! Several locations at Christ Church were used for scenes in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Professor McGonagall welcomed Harry and his classmates to Hogwarts for the first time at the top of the staircase and the Hall inspired the appearance of Hogwart's Halla nad was recreated in in a studio for filming. 

 The Hall is at the centre of college life, the academic community congregates here to dine each day and on special occasions banquetes are held. The Hall has a specific 'hammerbeam' ceiling. Portraits of many famous members of Christ Church hang on the walls, including John Locke, six of the 13 Prime Ministers educated at the college, and Charles Dodgson.

                                                                Photos taken in the dining room (above)

Alice's Secret Grden

 Charles Dodgson- Lewis Carol- studied, taught and lived in Christ Church College. The then Dean's daughter, Alice Liddell, was immortalised in his Alice in Wonderland stories and so too very many of the places and people encountered at Christ Church, For example, the brass firedogs have long necks (right): Alice opens out a telescope after taking a bite from a cake marked 'eat me'. Above the High Table is a portrait of the college's founder, King Henry VIII, who famously executed two of hios wives. In Alice's adventures, the Red Queen continually shouts off with her head!

                                                                                              The shop is just across the street