Back in the summer of 97 we welcomed TV3 Catalunya into the lives of Answer English students.  This is their report: www.tv3.cat/videos/237400735 if you don’t speak Spanish / Catalan - you may struggle to understand.

TV3 came to report on Catalans living in London.  Amongst others you will see Amanda, star of BBC6 Music, Ibiza and Answer English Student Advisor, and Jordi - one of our English language students.

Enjoy: www.tv3.cat/videos/237400735 (for those that haven’t been to London before, The Temperance Pub is round the corner from our office).

Christmas mood in London!

These shows will definitely help you to remember what Christmas was like when you were a child. Feel the fascination!

1) Hansel and Gretel

The famous fairytale from Brothers Grimm linked with great music from the German composer Wagner will be an experience you’ll never forget!
Where: Royal Opera House
When: 10/12/2008 – 3/1/2009

2) Oliver!

This fabulous show with Rowan Atkinson will enthuse kids as well as adults.
Where: Theatre Royal Drury Lane
When: from 12/12/2008

3) The Nutcracker

This ballet from Tchaikovsky is definitetly one of the loveliest Christmas Shows ever. Adorable music paired with a great performance from English National Ballet promise an unforgettable evening.
Where: London Coliseum
When: 17/12/2008 – 30/12/2008

If you prefer to spend your free time outside you have the chance to join Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  The event includes a 53-metre observation wheel, ice rink, roller coaster and a German Christmas market. Winter Wonderland is open from 10 am to 10 pm every day until 4/1/2009 and the best thing is that entry is free!
More information on hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Merry Christmas!

Earlier in the year we alerted you to the fact that there had been some important changes to the way that Insurance can be sold in the UK.  Answer English no longer can sell insurance as part of a package from the end of this year (31/12/2008).  Any policy that you have bought through Answer English from Endsleigh will still be valid if it runs into next year 2009.

However from the 01/01/2009 if you wish to take out insurance to cover yourself whilst studying you will need to book up your policy direct with the Insurance Provider.  Our preferred supplier is Endsleigh Insurance, one that is endorsed by both the British Council and English UK.  To do so click here

We will be updating our site in the next few months so that the booking section of our site is adapted to reflect this change in the law.  In the mean time please read the following and click on the link at the bottom.

Before you arrive in the UK, we strongly recommend that you take out insurance for your own financial and personal security.

You can take out your own insurance or take out the International Student Policy offered by Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited which has been specially designed for overseas students studying in the UK.

The International Student Policy covers:

emergency medical expenses

repatriation

cancellation or curtailment charges

personal money, passport and documents

baggage

course fees

personal liability

legal expenses

Please read the International Student Policy in order to establish the full terms of the cover, which is available through the link at the bottom of the page.

NB It is advisable to take out your student insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for pre-departure cancellation from the policy issue date. This will, therefore, provide cover should you have to cancel your course for an insured reason such illness or serious accident preventing you from travelling.

To take out the International Student Policy please click here

Attention all teachers within the European Union looking to enjoy financial support for Teacher Training programmes.  The deadlines for Comenius funded Refresher Programmes are as follows:

16-January-2009 for training activities from 1 April 2009 onwards
30-April-2009 for training activities from 1 September 2009 onwards
15-September-2009 for training activities from 1 January 2010 onwards

What does this mean?  The majority of our teachers that Answer English assisted came during the summer this year.  The deadline was in March – now it is in the middle of January so if you wish to apply you need to get a move on to avoid missing out on funding!

For more information about Teacher Refresher courses in the UK and Ireland please contact Answer English

Great News for students!

We have new accommodation available in Rathbone Place in Central London during December and January.  If you are looking for a short-term place to stay then these are the flats for you.
These shared apartments are located in Zone One - three minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road underground station.  These very spacious rooms are in a wonderful location within walking distance of schools, colleges, bars, theatres, department stores and restaurants.

All rooms are equipped with modern furnishings, desks, a wide plasma screen TV and wireless broadband internet connection is available as well.  Also the shared baths and shower rooms are new. The kitchens are fully equipped with washing machine and a dining table.

The prices per week will be:

Twin room per person (half twin available) £195.00
Double room per person £170.00
Twin room with single occupancy £340.00
Double room with single occupancy £260.00

The price includes bed linens, towels, weekly cleaning/linen change, utility bills, council tax and TV license.

Please note that there is accommodation booking fee of £80.

If you have any questions about these apartments please contact Answer English.

Answer English has been nominated as agency of the month in the distinguished industry title Language Travel Magazine.  We were very kindly nominated by Karen Bowring, Managing Director of Internship UK.

Each month the magazine asks a different language teaching institution worldwide to nominate one of their preferred agenceis and they explain why this company is worthy of their nomination.  Karen said ‘They feel like a student one-stop shop, pointing students in the right direction for work experience, getting a foothold on London life, sorting their accommodation and of course getting them the experience best English courses around.”

Karen is very well respected in the industry.  Prior to starting her ever expanding internship business Professionals UK, she was principal for a number of years of UIC London.  You can download the article here: Agency of the Month

If you are interested in an accommodation in London you have the chance to choose a studio, shared flat or a room from this list.

“Play It By Ear Club” - November Winter Warmer

It’s cold outside - so come into our party playground and we’ll warm your bones!!

Amanda, our top Student Advisor, is organising the November Social Event for Answer English students. If you are free on Saturday 29 November it would be great to see you at The Monarch Pub in Camden for a night of live music.

Play It By Ear is what happens when a group of friends got tired of finding nothing exciting to do on a Saturday night. Always on the lookout for a new adventure, their nose for a good party meant that somehow, someway they’d stumble across a legendary night.
All it took was a bottle of rum, a few phonecalls and a handful of great CDs and they were off, collecting acquaintances and strangers on their journey to dance the night away wherever would have them - flats, parks, old offices. Anywhere.
Well, now we have a home. The Monarch. An up and coming new venue in the heart of Camden. And a time. The last Saturday of every month.
Whether you want to experience a vibrant atmosphere or be involved in creating it - we want you there. In your glad-rags, in all your glory. Hats, boas, trinkets and fancy footwear.
It’s the end of the month, it’s Saturday, Come out to Play, It By Ear.

Hosted by:Play It By Ear Club

Type:Party - Night of Mayhem

Where:Monarch Bar ( see map )

When:Saturday, November 29 from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am

How much: £5 (£4 for our Answer English students)

Please feel free to bring along friends!

Whilst the world goes into financial meltdown there is again more good news for foreign students.  After the latest downturn in the economy the consequences begin to grow and grow for people who bought second homes to rent.  They are unable to sell the houses at the value they bought them, so there is now a rental market with many properties coming on to the market at lesser rates.

This is fantastic news for those looking to rent in the capital, especially those that considered London to be too expensive for living in the long term.   As Richard Moriarty wrote in The London Paper: “While it’s a bad news for landlords, it’s good news for people looking to rent”. In fact, they have the possibility to demand for a lower price and at the same time ask for more benefits.  For this reason, for all students who plan to come to London, this is just the right time.

Like all companies our schools will also have their Christmas Holiday.

What this probably mean to you you can check in the following list:

London - British Museum: Closed from 19/12 till 5/01

London - Camden: Closed from 19/12 till 5/01

London - Central: Only closed on 25 and 26/12 and 01/01. If you book Christmas week you lose 2 days

London - Holland Park: Closed from 20/12 till 04/01 for group classes but it is possible to have individual tuitions

London - Muswell Hill: Closed from 19/12 till 5/01

London - West End: Closed from 25/12 till 05/01. If you book Christmas week you lose 2 days

London - Wimbledon: Closed from 19/12 till 5/01