English in Bournemouth

Last Friday, after the morning classes we went to Swanage. We took a bus, and the journey took 1 hours, including the time of ferry. Swanage is a very lovely town, it's  architecture  is amazing and we could see lovely views! We walked in a coast trail, it was easy but in the end we were a little tired. After the trail we went to a coffee shop, we wanted some coffee and a piece of cake. The coffee shop offered dinner too, but as we asked only for coffee we couldn't use the tables inside. We had to stay in outside tables, and it wasn't a niece and nite place as the inside room. But the coffee shop was empty! I can't understand this English logic in terms of customer attendance... They prefer to follow the rules than understand the customer desires, even when it's not good for the business. Suprisingly, I could see this behaviour in other situations. In my country people try to meet the customers expectations if it is possible, as a way to ensure that ...

We had a marvelous weekend! On Saturday we went to Durdle Door and Lulwoth Cove. We contracted a tour with a company called Discover Dorset Tours. We had to wait for their bus at 11:20 in the Savoy Hotel. We arrived at this hotel at 11, and at 11:25 we started to suspect that something was wrong, because they never be late in England. So I read the reservation again and I saw that we had to wait in the bus stop in the side of the hotel and not in front of the hotel!! So we called the company and they said that the bus passed and we weren't in the correct place. I got nervous about that because it was the only day available in our schedule to this tour, and the weather was perfect! I asked toto t company tour a solution, and he called a taxi for us and we reach the bus in another stop 15 minutes ahead. So, after a stress moment we could follow the guided tour. We could see stunning views!! These places are so beautiful. We had 3 hours to explore on foot the area. There are some st...

Yesterday we had a cloud and rainy day, but we went to the Japanese garden near to Poole. As you can see in the pictures below is a very beautiful garden, even in a bad weather day. The costs to arrive and enter there are expensive! We spent only 20 minutes commuting to there, but the single bus fare was 3.7 pounds! In my country it would cost like 1 pound. And the ticket to the garden was 8 pounds, I think that 4 pounds would be fair. Anyway I have no regret about went there, I just think that could be cheaper. The last classes were more about writing, speaking and some grammar. Specifically about speaking I believe that is difficult to practice in a class with 12 or more students. The writings are good for me, I still mix the verb tenses in a wrong way. I would like to see more grammar, I think that I will talk to some teacher about it. Maybe they could consider my need and give more lessons with grammar.

Yesterday we had a true sunny day in Bournemouth! Although, we didn't go out, we study and arrange some things. The classes yesterday had no grammar, it was all about vocabulary and reading. Today, my first class was more about writing and speaking. I'm feeling that my speaking has not improving...I think that I need to speak louder and in a more articulate way. When I have to speak I mess up with verb tenses and vocabulary. It's really difficult to me.

Today we went to Brownsea Island. To get there, we took a bus and a ferry. The ferry's price is very high, 7 pounds per person, to go and back, but the distance is very short! The other ferry to another point near to there is just 2 pounds! Arriving at the Island, you are not a National Trust member you have to pay another 7.5 pounds. So it is not a cheap excursion. Besides the price, the island is interesting and with a nice atmosphere. We could see a lot of birds, a deer 🦌, red squirrel and peacots. I have never seen a deer, it seems a quite docile animal. The seaview from the island is very beautiful too. See you, Mr. Student

Hello, in our first Saturday in Bournemouth region we went to a little town called Chrischurch. We went by bus and we spent like 30 minutes to arrive there. This weekend they have organized the Flowerfest. So we could see a lot of beatiful flowers and a nice atmosphere in a pic nic area. The town's architecture is very nice and quite lovely. The weather had been bad until the lunch time, afterwards we could enjoy a sunny afternoon! When we came back to Bournemouth we ate a hamburger at Five Guys. It was good, but I think it didn't worth it. I think that hamburgers here are quite expensive. Some pictures of our nice Saturday: Mr Student

Hello, today we have the first sunny day in Bournemouth since we have arrived! The classes today are ok, but it had games, and I think I learn more without games After the classes we tidied up our flat and went to the beach. It was a lovely afternoon and we are some fish and chips in a restaurant in front of the beach! Regardless the sun, we felt a cold wind in the beach. You colud see some beatiful pictures I have taken today.

Hello, these last 2 days has been cold and rainy again :( At least the classes has been very good! These I have learned about relative clauses and phrasal verbs. This last subject is impossible to cover as a joke! There thousands of them! I think we have to memorize the main ones and go on. I like that the classes doesn't have so much games and dynamic groups! I prefer much more the grammar and expository lessons. My wife and I have been cooking every day, so the expend less and eat healthier!  Regardless the bad weather, we are going out to shopping and buy some stuffs at the supermarket. As soon as the weather will become better we will make some day trip to know better Bournemouth region. Meanwhile the security of the city's center hasn't live up to my expectations... There are more homeless people than I could imagine! See you Mr. Student

Hello, today we had the second day of classes. Each block of class takes 1 hour and half. And we have 3 blocks, with a break between of 30 minutes first and the second ones. And a interval of one hour for lunch time between the second and third block. In the first block today we studied some vocabulary about films. And the second block was about grammar. I like more grammar than others subjects. The grammar topic was conditionals, a little bit difficult for me, but I understood. Now I have to practice these topic. After the last class we went to another coffee timeシシ! And we had homework to do...it took one hour of our "free time" at afternoon! We are tired now! See you tomorrow! Mr. Student

On June 10th we had our first day at ETC International College. In the morning we did the test to know our English level and we did a short tour at the schools installations. I expected that my performance would be better in the test. I gave the correct answers in 57% of the questions. But I think that is a good idea start the course at the B2.2 level. It means that I am an independent user of the language and I near to reach the competent use of it. My wife's performance in the test suprisinsu me. She didn't have a big opportunity to study English before. And she got the B2.1 level!! She was very smart! We don't like very much the test process. We didn't receive the orientation about the exam time. And after 45 minutes they started to rush us because the time was over! But they should explain it before! And in my test there was a wrong question, it had 2 identical answer! So, I think they could be more careful about this test. It is very important to put you in th...

Hello! I start this blog because I want to practice my English. I have just arrived in London this morning, and tomorrow my wife and I am going to have our first day in ETC International College in Bournemouth. So, in this blog I would like to practice my writing skills in English during my course at ETC. And maybe it can help others that want to study English in Bournemouth. We will stay here for 5 weeks, and I would like to write in this blog every day during this period. I will write about the experience of studying English here. See you! Mr. Student