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Dear Student,
This newsletter finds us in the middle of a heatwave! It has been exceptionally hot in London since the middle of June and there has hardly been any rain. This is very unusual weather for London but we are not complaining!
July and August are the busiest months at the school. There is always a lot going on and it is always a very exciting and lively time here. Check out the social events we have had recently.
Another great new development is the 12 new websites we have developed and which are now live. These sites are in 12 different languages and so will make booking a course at SGI so much easier.
I hope you are having a good summer. Enjoy the newsletter
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Best Wishes
Max Loach
School Director |
Learn English in 5 mins!!!
Everybody needs more time these days, don’t they? So, wouldn’t it be great to hear about a method that helps you learn English in just 5 minutes? That would save a lot of time and hassle, wouldn’t it?
Well, of course we all know that it isn’t really possible. However, I’ve got a tip that only takes about 5 minutes every day and will give a boost to your English vocabulary and grammar.
Every day, read a news article in your own language from an online newspaper. Choose something that is international news, like reports from the World Cup, Tour de France, the BP oil disaster, a review of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, Obama’s latest speech, a G8 protest, a national strike or a weather disaster like Hurricane Katrina. Every day you can find something that makes the news in every country around the world. Once you have read the news in your own language and you know the story, go to an English news website, like The Guardian, The BBC, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail and read the story in English.
You will find that the story is almost identical and you can compare lots of vocabulary. You can also see the language in action and find lots of grammar patterns that you will have practised from your textbooks, but now you can see them working in reality.
Just think, if you pick up 3 new bits of vocab every day, you will have 15 new words or phrases by the end of the first working week. That’s 60 new words after a month. Also, this will be relevant vocab that is actually used by native speakers.
5 minutes a day is nothing! So, fill that time with productive learning. Remember the golden rule with languages: Use it, or lose it!! Bren Brennan
English teacher
12 new websites - SGI in your language!
Finally we have done it! It has taken a long time but now we have 12 SGI websites in 12 different languages. We see this as a great new development, enabling people to read full information about our courses in their first language as well as book a course in their mother tongue as well. Have a look and see what you think!
SGI: in the neighbourhood of Fitzrovia; Interesting Fact no 4 (the fourth in a series)
As you know, SGI is based in Central London, close to Oxford Street and Regent Street. Our neighbourhood is known as Fitzrovia, a district with a wonderfully long and colourful history. Here's the fourth in the series about SGI's fascinating local area.
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The Social
The Social is a very popular music bar in Little Portland Street, just two minutes from the school. Students always say they have a good time when they visit here. The bar people are friendly and there are plenty of seats, a small dance floor and the drinks are not too expensive for Central London.
Mostly though, the Social is a great place to go because of the music. There are live DJ’s and live music in the downstairs area most nights of the week. The place is very popular with people who work and live locally and thei hip hop karaoke evening is legendary across London. This makes for a great night out in the city centre that everyone can afford!
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New Evening course dates!
English lesson of the month
My English course was SGI - tastic!!!
Have you ever heard someone say that something or somebody was
"chav-tastic"???
Maybe it sounds a bit strange? You might have tried to think about it and
thought that the only word you can think of that sounds like that is
fantastic.
Well, when you are talking with friends in an informal situation, you can
put 'tastic' on the end of most words to strongly emphasise the qualities of the
first part of the word...it doesn't matter if it positive or negative.
EX:
Dan: How was your Friday night out?
Neil: Amazing. I was drunk-tastic.
(Here, Neil is emphasising that he was VERY drunk. There is also a sense
here that even though he was drunk and probably had a hangover the next day, he
really enjoyed being drunk)
Gulnaz: How was that lesson that I missed this morning?
Angela: Oh, it was Bren-tastic!
(Here, Angela is emphasising that the teacher, Bren gave a lesson that was
very typical for his style of teaching. It was the kind of lesson that you would
always expect to receive from Bren)
So, I hope you have a fun-tastic day speaking English!
Note
CHAV:
informal , derogatory ( Southern English ) a young working-class person whose tastes, although sometimes expensive, are considered vulgar by some
School's social activities
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Treasure Hunt - 2nd July
Four teams took part in a treasure hunt around London. They started at the school and had to solve the first clue to find the name of a local pub. A teacher was waiting there to play a game with them and give them the clue to the next pub. Using the map they had to find five different places in total and play lots of games and answer lots of questions along the way. It was loads of fun and everybody enjoyed it! |
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Boating in Hyde Park - 13th July
This is a must for all visitors to London in the summer. Hyde Park is really beautiful and a group of us went there to hire boats and have an hour relaxing on the Serpentine. We hired a row boat and a pedalo, in a race to the bridge the pedalo easily won! After using all that energy we went to the park café and enjoyed a drink and some cake. |
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Blues Band - 15th July
It was a lovely sunny day when we went to the amphitheatre near Tower Bridge to watch a free concert by the blues band, Pacifico Blues. We enjoyed the fantastic music, great atmosphere and a walk along the river at sunset. |
SGI Summer Party - Friday 30th July
We will be celebrating summer in style at the SGI Summer Party - we have hired a beautiful roof terrace and will have a great night full of fun, games, prizes, dancing and Pimms! If you are still in London why not come down? Henessy's at 36 Jewry Street. A pub just around the corner from Aldgate station.
What's on in London
There are some great events going on in and around London… below is a small selection
Know more London events at our Visit London page
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In this issue
2010 Fees
Please see our 2010 fees now
Contact us
Call us:
+44 (0)20 7299 1700
Email us:
info@stgeorges.co.uk
Visit the school:
www.stgeorges.co.uk
Test your English now
 Are you wondering what your level of English is? Do a free test now and discover it quickly.
Our students speak for us
"Thank you for your teaching!! I had a nice time. I will keep studying English in Japan and now I want to come back to England!"
Seki Minori from Japan 28/6/10 – 23/7/10
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Meet friends and learn English together
When you study with us, you'll have access to the E-learning community page, where you can study, interact with other students and make friends. 
Reach us here:
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