Find here some of the best events and things to do in London this autumn
Have you just arrived to London and are looking for things to do in this amazing city? Perhaps you came here to study English or maybe you are just visiting as a tourist and want find interesting events in London. We will give you some ideas to get the best of this town.
1. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Until 21 September 2019
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is an award-winning theatre based in the Regent’s Park. A well established event of summer in the city, the theatre provides a cultural hub in the green surroundings of a Royal Park.
One of many events in London for food lovers wanting to discover new flavours and places to have an interesting meal. During that time London celebrates its eclectic food scene. This month-long festival is a city-wide homage to great food in the capital, and the perfect excuse to try out some of the London’s world-class restaurants. You can discover cuisines from around the world, go restaurant hopping or attend special themed nights pairing food and film. You can also enjoy great-value special menus at some of London’s favourite eateries, from local neighbourhoods to Michelin-star restaurants. Read more
We wrote before about about English jokes in our short article ‘British Humour‘. We have been writing lately about English exams preparation and other topics related to English language learning. That’s why we thought it’s time to take a more light-hearted approach to our blog again. So, what do we find funny?
Mr Bean… Monty Python… Charlie Chaplin… Shakespeare… British humour is well known across the world, but what are the most common types of English jokes? And why are they funny? Let’s have a look at 3 popular types of English jokes.
1) ‘Knock-knock’ jokes
A – Knock knock B – Who’s there? A – Claire B – Claire who? A – Claire the way, I’m coming through.
Knock-knock jokes take place at a front door. It always begins ‘Knock knock’ with the reply ‘Who’s there?’ The next part uses a pun. A pun is a joke using a word that sounds like another word or it may be a word with different meanings.
‘Claire’ sounds like ‘clear’, so in the joke above it sounds like ‘clear the way, I’m coming through’. Here is another example:
A – Knock knock B – Who’s there? A – Harry B – Harry who? A – Harry up, it’s cold out here. (Harry up sounds like ‘hurry up’) Read more
How to improve academic English skills for university study
3 tips on improving English for university
Going to university will likely be the most challenging test of your academic English skills. You will probably need to pass an English language exam such as Academic IELTS or another English exam. However, even after obtaining the required certificate you may still want to build up your English speaking confidence and continue improving your English. Whether you have started or are soon to start your degree, the following tips will help you make the most of your time at university.
How to improve academic English skills
Engage
Try to meet English speakers who are doing your degree. If you are passionate about your subject, this could be one of the most effective ways of honing your academic English skills. It has the potential to be a crash course in subject-specific vocabulary as well as a way of improving your speaking and listening skills. If you want to make friends in the UK, you may be more motivated to learn this way than with self-study. Read more
Please note, we work on first come first served basis. The number of places in limited – arrive early to secure your place.
Our weekend IELTS workshop is for those who are planning to take the IELTS exam and want to find out what more about the test requirements and how to prepare for IELTS. During this IELTS session we will give you an overview of IELTS task types in reading, writing and speaking modules. Apart from that, you will be able to try and complete some IELTS task on your own and ask questions to an experienced IELTS teacher.
Shall I choose individual English lessons or a group course?
When is it better to take individual English lessons?
This is a very common question our students ask: what is better for me, English lessons one-to-one or in groups?
There are many things that you need to think about, when deciding whether you should learn a language in a group or have private one-on-one English lessons. You might think that it is just a question of money, and that the answer is obvious, i.e. private lessons are the best. But it is not so simple. Actually the answer depends on some important factors. The key questions to ask when deciding whether to take group or individual English lessons are:
What English skills do you want to learn?
Can you commit to regular class times?
Are you under a time pressure?
Do you need to improve your English skills quickly, for an exam or job?
How much time do you have for classes?
Do you get bored easily? Can you concentrate for long periods?
Are you a very shy person, does it bother you if you make mistakes in front of others?
Are you easily distracted by others, maybe too sociable?
How much homework are you able to do?
How much money do you want to spend on your English language lessons?
The short answer is: general English classes cover reading, writing, listening and speaking as well as grammar and vocabulary. Conversation classes focus on speaking and listening skills in everyday communication.
General English vs English conversation classes
In addition to general English and exam preparation courses, Link School of English offers regular English conversation classes. All of our courses help students improve their speaking through a range of communicative activities. However, conversation classes place the most emphasis on speaking and offer a unique experience for learners of English. They are usually built around a specific theme or topic which students discuss in pairs or as a group. This may sound like something you have done at an English class before. What are the main differences?
Tips from a teacher on how to make the most of your part time English course
Have you signed up for an evening or weekend English course and want to know how to maximase your learning?
When you’ve made a commitment you certainly want to make ensure you make maximum progress in English. Here are some tips from an English language teacher on how to make the most of a part time English course.
Attend all lessons
My top tip for making the most of your part-time English course is simple: Attend all the lessons. It may be tempting to skip a lesson if you’re tired or if you have a lot on, but keep in mind that your course may only last for two or three months, while resting and socialising will always be possible later. It may also be tempting to miss a lesson if you are already familiar with the grammar or topic vocabulary that is coming up. But this is not a good reason to skip, because grammar and vocabulary are only part of what learning a language involves. The rest is skill-building. That is, most of what you do on an English course will involve improving your skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Make friends with your class mates
Another good reason to turn up is that doing so makes it more likely that you will to get to know your classmates – which is another very effective way to get the most out of your course. Striking up an acquaintance with fellow learners may allow you to create a support system for learning English, not only helping each other to complete the course but also continuing to practice your English outside the classroom.
IELTS Preparation Open Day in London Friday 17th August 2018
IELTS Tips and Advice How to Approach the IELTS Exam
Free IELTS Event
Please note, we work on first come first served basis. The number of places in limited – arrive early to secure your place.
Are you planning to take the IELTS exam? Not sure what to expect or how to prepare? A bit nervous? Come to our free IELTS Open Day at Link School of English. Find out what what to expect on the exam and how to maximise your score. If you are considering taking an IELTS course, you will be able to attend a free demo lesson to help you decide on your exam preparation.
Please note, we work on first come first served basis. The number of places in limited – arrive early to secure your place.
Are you thinking of taking the IELTS exam? Not sure what to expect? A bit nervous? Come to our free IELTS Open Day event at Link School of English. Find out what what to expect on the exam and how to get the score you want the first time.
Things to do in London during Spring and Summer 2018
Discover the best things to do in London in 2018
After long months of cold weather and much more snow than we expected, it’s finally time to get in the Spring/Summer mood and start planning all the fun activities in the city. London is definitely a very generous place when it comes to Summer activities. Expect food markets, pop up bars, rooftop bars, new art exhibitions, music festivals, open air cinemas and a lot more attractions. Also, be sure to spend lazy days laying in the grass on one of the many beautiful parks in London. If you want a more immersive experience, maybe an English Course in London could be a great way to explore the city and learn a new skill at the same time. The list of fun things to do in London during this time of the year is endless. In this article we share with you the best art exhibitions, music festivals and new theatre releases to attend and make the most out of your time in London.
Although most theatres are indoors, it’s still a nice thing to do in London during the warmer months, since during this time of the year there are many new releases. Head over to the National Theatre to watch Macbeth, the famous tragedy from Shakespeare. Otherwise, watch Quiz, a fictional West End play about an scandal on the TV show game ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’. If you are a fan of Tina Turner, then you cannot miss the West End musical about the singer’s life since the beginning of her career. These are just a few highlights from the new shows releasing this Summer (2018). You can also watch classics like Lion King, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and so on.
Check amazing art exhibitions in London
If you like art exhibitions then London is a great place to be during the sunniest months of the year. Visit Tate Modern to discover one year (1932) of work in the life of Picasso. Then head over to The Design Museum to see the ‘Hope to Nope’ exhibition about graphics and politics. If you are a fan of the French Impressionist Monet, then you have to visit the National Gallery to check this new exhibition showcasing 75 of his paintings related to architecture.
If you wonder what the nightlife in London looks like from the nineteenth century to now a days, you can visit the Museum of London to check over 200 pictures. Also for the photography enthusiasts, Tate Modern has a new exhibition called Shape of Light, that shows the interaction between abstract art and photography. For a more innovative exhibition, head over to the V&A Museum and check Future Starts Here. You can find out there about the inventions and designs that will shape our future.
Enjoy many Music Festivals
Spring/Summer is a fantastic time for all the music enthusiasts living or visiting London. There are many music festivals happening during the warm months on a variety of music styles, from rock’n’roll to folk, jazz, reggae and a lot more. Keep an eye on the line ups and be quick to buy your tickets as these festivals are quite popular among londoners. A few of the big names include:
Arcadia Festival – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – May 5 and 6
All Points East – Victoria Park – May 24,25 and 26/ June 1,2 and 3
We Are FSTVL – Upminster – May 25, 26 and 27
Hampton Court Palace Festival – June 5 to 23
Meltdown Festival – Southbank Centre – June 15 to 24
As you can see, there are lots of great things to do in London during the Spring/Summer months. Besides going to the theatre, checking art exhibitions and attending music festivals, be sure to take the time to visit some of the amazing rooftops that are only open during the warm months. You can also plan day trips to nearby cities such as Brighton, Bournemouth and Cambridge. Take our tips and start planning your Spring/Summer activities to be sure you’ll enjoy most of what London has to offer.
We hope you enjoy the fun things to do in London!
Do you have more ideas? Share with us in comments!
