1. The Royal Crescent and stunning Georgian Architecture
2. The Jane Austen Centre
3. The Pulteney Bridge
4. The natural Thermae Bath Spa
5. The Roman Baths
6. The Botanical Gardens in Royal Victoria Park
7. Sydney Gardens, the oldest park in Bath
8. The Oldest House in Bath, Sally Lunn’s Refreshment House and Museum
9. Artisans blowing glass at Bath Aqua Glass workshop in Walcot Street
10. Boat Trips On the Avon to Bathampton Weir under Pulteney Bridge

If you are interested in visiting Bath check out our Language Coach.

Award winning motion picture Days of Glory is on at the Cine Lumiere until 19 April. Answer English is taking a group from our French Language Learning Experience down there to see it, next Thursday. The film traces the footsteps of 4 young Algerian Men enlisted into the French Army in World War II. Saïd, Abdelkader, Messaoud and Yassir along with 130,000 other ‘indigenous soldiers’ are sent to liberate the ‘fatherland’ from the Nazi enemy. Days of Glory portrays the story of these forgotten heroes, the human injustices they faced in war time, and the discrimination they have subsequently encountered from the French authorities.

Alexa Ryan-Mills has kindly organised for Answer English students to go to the film for just £5 a ticket on Thursday 19 April. The film starts at 20:45. The idea was to meet Alexa at 20:00 for a drink before hand. If you are interested in going please send her an e-mail at: Alexa.Ryan-Mills@bm.com or by all means call her on: 07792 269 988

Today, Answer English welcomes the chance to speak to Ian Campbell, Retail Branch Manager at HSBC Bank plc. HSBC are offering a simple solution to Banking requirements specifically designed for students arriving in the UK. Ian tells us more…..

Who is this account designed for?
Our Passport Service is specifically designed to assist individuals to overcome the difficulties of opening bank accounts in the UK. It’s aim is to enable the individual to be in control of their money, stay in touch with home and feel informed and secure. It is a unique, tailored relocation service designed to make your arrival in the UK as smooth as possible. This includes new employees or international students recently arriving to the UK.

What does it consist of exactly?
Passport will provide individuals with the essentials needed in the UK for banking purposes. These include:
- Bank account with international Debit Card
- Great offers on international and UK mobile calls
- Savings on international money transfers
- Exclusive UK relocation guide and on-line services
- Flexible savings account

So how do our Students go about getting an account opened?
It’s simple!! All students will be required to visit HSBC Bank plc at 156 Tottenham Court Road in London with their Passport and proof of their overseas address. (Utility Bill, Bank Statement) If this is not possible, then a letter of introduction from Answer English confirming the overseas address. In all cases, please quote Answer English as your source of information when applying for this service. The process takes approx. 15-20 minutes.

British Banking has had a lot of new regulations put in place in the last few years? Why is this?
British Banking has always been regulated. Over the last 5 years, these regulations, controlled and monitored by the FSA (Financial Services Authority) have been tightened to help reduce the number of cases where Fraud and/or Money Laundering have been a factor. Whilst these changes can make life difficult, particularly for those individuals based overseas, it does make banking safer in the UK and also regulates the procedure so that all Financial Services, including HSBC Bank follow a strict guideline on account opening in the UK.

Why did HSBC start this new service?
As a result of the changes in the regulations, the Passport Service is designed to help make this process as easy as possible for an ever increasing market of individuals arriving in the UK for study/employment, whilst staying within the requirements of the FSA.

Some of these ‘restrictions’ have in the past been unfriendly towards International Students. Do you think this new service will help to demonstrate that HSBC, at least, wants to accommodate Students?
Yes. Firstly, I would like to stress that HSBC has always welcomed International Students. Whilst it has been difficult in the past to secure these types of services, HSBC have designed this service specifically to make the process as effective and hassle free. Secondly, it is worth mentioning here that all applications are subject to checks in the UK. Whilst most applicants will have no problems as they have no financial history in the UK, a small percentage of applicants will experience situations where this service is not applicable for various reasons. In any case, we will always explain this action.

Changing the topic, as a matter of interest, do you personally speak any languages Ian?
Unfortunately, my language skills are basic. However, I do understand French and could conduct a limited conversation. On the other hand, HSBC is a very diverse environment, with language skills covered in most cases. In my branch alone, I have Indian and Arabic speakers. This is not limited to these only. If there is a genuine language gap which we need to address, then HSBC can make arrangements for a member of staff to be present who speaks the language accordingly to assist with the application process.

And finally, have you any advice in general for students arriving to the UK?
Quite simply, those who research and prepare prior to arriving in the UK find things easier and less stressful. In any case, it would be advisable to speak with Tourist Boards and Information points scattered around London for directions and useful information.

In terms of banking, be sure to always be secure. This includes not sharing personal information regarding your banking to anyone, including friends and family and always cover up your pin when using the ATM’s. If ever you go to use an ATM and you feel uncomfortable with those around you, the best thing to do is not to use it and move on. In any case, try and use ATM’s situated inside the Banks for additional security.
Finally, please be advised that using banking facilities not based in the UK can be very expensive and time consuming. Another reason for using HSBC for your banking requirements in the UK.

Thank you to Ian for talking to Answer English. Ian is based at the HSBC Branch at 156 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 7NH (nearest tube, Warren Street Tube on the Victoria/Northern Line) Cliek here for a Map

We sent Federico down to the Natural History museum, this is what he reports back:

A dinosaur is staring right at me. What can I do? Shall I run? Shall I hide? When a Tyrannosaurus Rex stares at you and roar you can feel the adrenaline! Perhaps you could try to imagine how it can be if that animal was true. Luckily, it’s only a robot.

The Science Museum is one of the three main museums in the Exhibition road near South Kensington station. This museum is home to life and earth science collections. There are five main collections: Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology. Its exhibition of dinosaur skeletons is located on the left as soon as you pass through the entrance. There is a lot of skeletons of many types of dinosaur, from the smallest one to the biggest, and also some movies that try to reconstruct dinosaur’s habitat. The dinosaur’s exhibition is very well done and i think you will enjoy the visit.

Continuing across the museum you can see fishes, reptiles and amphibians. There is also a very big hall containing a whole blue whale! Other zones are dedicated mainly to primate, birds and insects, and mineralogy. When you enter the red zone you will notice the big earth sphere located in the middle of the room and the escalator that passes through it. There is a room dedicated to volcanoes, explaining how they work and how they’ve influenced the history of the planet. A simulation of an earthquake is also there, and some other rooms that talk of the threat to the inner structure of the planet.If you want to visit, the Natural History museum is free and is open also on Sundays. You can find some other useful information on its website: Natural History museum. If you are looking for a course in London that combines English classes with visits to the points of cultural interest like the Natural History museum check out this English Course.

1. Bath is built in the mouth an extinct volcano
2. Bath is a Roman city with the original Roman baths remaining today
3. King Edgar AD 943 - 975 was crowned in Bath Abbey
4. Historic writers like Jane Austen, Architects and designers John Wood and Goodridge, Inventors John Oliver and Artists such as Gainsborough have all made their home in Bath
5. Bath was badly bombed in 1942 during the Blitz
6. Jamie Cullum the succesful solo artist comes from Bath
7. Many Hollywood film sets have used Bath as the backdrop, inlcuding recently the film Vanity Fair
8. In May Bath stages its own International Music Festival and draws artists from around the globe
9. The only museum of Americana outside the United States is in Bath
10. Bath is a World Heritage City

If you are a language student interested in visiting Bath, on Saturday 28 April Answer English together with Anderson Tours are taking a coach down to the Roman City. Unlike your ‘average coach tour’ on the Language Coach included are English exercises with a teacher, and the bus will be filled with other language students from London. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to meet new friends, practise English, see the historic city of Bath and get out of London for the day.

To book a place online for the Language Coach go to Bath English Learning Day Trip. For more information please send an e-mail to James: info@answerenglish.com or call us on 020 7402 8651.

Are you considering taking an exam to test your English ability?  Well choice certainly isn’t a problem.  You’ve got the Cambridge FCE, BEC, CAE, the IELTS, the TOEIC, the TOEFL.  Starting to regret the decision of even mentioning it?  Seems to me that choosing the right exam for you is a little like crossing the metaphorical minefield.  To make things simpler we will over the next few weeks bring you information on all of the above exams.

First up, IELTS - the International English Language Testing System which measures your ability to communicate in English using all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.  This is designed for people who want to study or work where English is the primary language of communication.  The IELTS board is based in the UK and jointly managed by University of Cambridge, British Council and IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia.

IELTS tests are administered at accredited Test Centres throughout the world - there are currently more than 300 Centres, in over 120 countries covering Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Timetables may vary according to test centre but typically IELTS exams take place on Thursdays or Saturdays every month. Fees are set by the local test centres.  You can expect to pay around £90 GBP per exam.

Most of the English speaking Universities demand a score of 5.5 or higher.  Oxbridge requires an IELTS score of 7 as one of their entry requirements. Many IELTS preparation courses exist to help you get the best score possible.  Before taking one of these courses, we highly recommend that you find out what the entry requirement is from your university of choice.  This way the language school can help advise you on how long a course you should consider taking to ensure you meet the entry requirements.

If you are considering taking an IELTS course, Answer English can help advise you:  Contact Us

Federico writes in his native Italian about his experiences and impression of London (English translation follows):

Veniamo a noi. Io sono uno dei tanti italiani che sono qua a Londra per imparare la lingua, mi sono laureato lo scorso anno in ingegneria informatica. Amo la musica, e per un po’ l’ho pure suonata. Ora pratico Aikido qua a Londra, cercando di proseguire una strada che ho iniziato in Italia più di 3 anni fa. Nel tempo che mi rimane mi piace stare con amici, e leggere un po’ di tutto, anche se il mio argomento preferito restano le religioni, specialmente quelle orientali.

Di Londra mi piacciono molte cose: La mentalità, Le possibilità, La cultura e la storia.

Non c’è una mentalità comune, non c’è uno stile di vita più o meno simile perchè Londra, essendo uno dei punti di riferimento a livello mondiale, ospita gente di ogni razza esistente. Si va dai quartieri in cui prevale una certa etnia ai quartieri centrali in cui prevalgono gli inglesi “inglesi”. Ed è proprio per questo aspetto che la gente non giudica, non constringe a certi atteggiamenti, e rispetta la diversità. A Londra non puoi sapere a priori che tipo di persona hai davanti, e ciò è positivo perchè ti permette di incontrare tante culture diverse e imparare a vedere le cose in modi differenti.

Ho menzionato le possibilità perchè Londra offre veramente qualsiasi cosa, da musei, biblioteche, a tutto quello che riguarda la vita notturna, pub e club di qualunque tipo, da quelli tematici (ex. jazz club) a quelli più conosciuti, “internazionali”.

Personalmente, apprezzo molto anche l’aspetto culturale, pur non essendo un esperto in letteratura o in arte, è comunque molto bello poter ammirare certe opere d’arte, la storia contenuta nei musei, la letteratura, ciò che ha reso l’uomo diverso dagli altri animali.

English translation:

Let me introduce myself. I’m one of the many italians here in London to learn the language, i graduated the last year in computer science. I love music, and for a while i’ve also played it. Now i practise Aikido here in London, looking for continuing a way started in Italy more than 3 years ago. In the remaining time i like to stay with friends, and read some of everything, also if my best subject still remains religions, especially the oriental ones.

Of London i like a lot of things: The mentality, the opportunities, the culture and the history.

There isn’t a common mentality, there aren’t more or less similar lifestyles because London, being a world-level point of reference, hosts people of every sort. From areas which are likely to be prevalent in one ethnic to central quarters in which most of the people are english “english”. And it’s exactly for that reason that people don’t judge, don’t force certain attitudes, and respect dissimilarities. Here in London you cannot know before what kind of person you have in front of you, and this is positive because it allows you to meet many different cultures and learn to see things in different ways.

I mentioned opportunities because London offers almost everything, from museums, libraries, to all regarding nightlife, pubs and clubs of any kind, from thematic ones (ex. jazz club) to ones more known, “internationals”.

Personally, i greatly appreciate the cultural aspect, also if i’m not an expert in literature nor in art, is however very good the possibility of admiring certain masterpieces, the history contained in museums, the literature, everything that render the man different from the animals.

I recently discovered this FREE Spanish learning resource on the internet: www.jiffyspanish.com. The site is filled with Free Spanish Lessons, Spanish Vocab, Phrase Builders and Pronunciation exercises. If you are interested in learning Spanish or simply maintaining the level you’ve already achieved but perhaps haven’t got the time or money to go on a course, then this site could be for you Jiffy Spanish.

I got in touch with the editor Anthony Dwyer and he had this to say, ‘I created JiffySpanish.com with the idea of creating a great resource that anyone, regardless of financial situation, could use. I realised there was a huge number of people wanting to learn Spanish online, but I found very few decent resources. So I decided to create one myself. While I have limited resources myself, I am doing my best to ensure that my vision comes to life. I expect to be closer than ever in just a couple of weeks, with some serious upgrades in the works.’

Buena suerte!

What fascinates me most about learning languages is the personal human interaction. It’s all very well being able to decline irregular verbs but if you can’t communicate with people from other cultures, frankly what’s the point? We are running a series of interviews of language learners with our partner Get Fluent Fast. The idea is to investigate what languages people speak, why they are learning and what tips they have. The first in our series is Dawn Ablitt, a Zimbabwean living in London, who is learning Spanish.

Dawn Ablitt
From: Zimbabwe
Speaks: Beginner in Spanish
Job: Works for the London Underground (though not driving trains!)

Which foreign languages did you learn at school?
Back in Zimbabwe Shona and Ndebele are the primary spoken languages. However in the majority of schools English is the primary language of teaching. Shona dominates the northern part of the country whereas Ndebele is spoken more in the south. French and Afrikaans were the two language options in city based schools with an international leaning, like I went to. I wouldn’t say that I managed to pick up any of them particularly well.

Why do you want to learn Spanish?
I’m visiting Cuba and Mexico next month! I’m keen to do a “blitz” on my Spanish before I go and use this to better connect with the people in the countries I visit. It’s a really strong motivation. I also find the phonetics of Spanish attractive, above any other European language. After I return from my travels I intend to do a longer term course in Spanish and cement my knowledge.

What are your tips for language learners?
I think it’s important just to “have a go”. I’m not too worried about my accent and pronunciation initially, I just want to communicate!

Thanks Dawn!