Big Apple

Personally, I have no idea why there is such fascination with New York City. It’s big, it’d crowded and it’s expensive – yet somehow it is a city that is known to everyone all over the world and it is one of a few that has its own recognizable nickname “the Big Apple”.

I did have a chance to go there for a week last year and even my mother joined me from sunny California for a nice mother-daughter weekend. We did the touristy stuff and then we got stuck – I mean literally stuck at the airport as it just happened that New York was hit by the biggest blizzard of the century. So yes, there was snow and there were a lot of cancelled flights at the airport.

Yet, despite my hours of boredom at the JFK airport I did manage to think that there is something to the one and only BIG APPLE- yes that is what New York is nicknamed for. Why do we call New York City the Big Apple? While I’ve seen several apple trees in New York City, I don’t particularly recall them as being a notable quantity – there are certainly more pigeons than apples in New York City, but we don’t call New York City the “Big Pigeon.”

Surprisingly, the name is connected to horse races. Who would have thought! At the beginning of the 20^th century, a writer for the New York Morning Telegraph, John Fitzgerald, referred to New York City’s races “around the Big Apple.” It is rumored that he got the term from jockeys and trainers in New Orleans who aspired to race on New York City tracks, referring to them as the Big Apple. Later on, the City’s jazz musicians began to refer to the city as the Big Apple and then in 1971 a campaign to increase tourism to New York adopted the term “Big Apple” as an officially recognizable reference to the biggest city in the USA.

History Comes to Life ( + the Fifty Shades Of Grey guy)

We are often asked to organize, lead and teach…in a way that is the basic definition of a teacher. 

This month, however, I was able to take the student role when I was invited to join my colleague and her class to Berlin. Given that I have visited every continent, I was intrigued by the only major European city which I have never  seen. My curiosity was even more filled with enthusiasm as for years I was more than a bit obsessed with the history of WWII. So when prof. Veronika asked, I eagerly said “ yes”. Of course, I didn't know at the time that I would have to wake up at 4am to catch something which was suppose to be a bus :-)

Well, we got there. We walked, we listened and we learned – or maybe I should replace the pronoun “we” with “I” as at one point the students thought more about the sausages than the architecture… But I was in awe. I swallowed the info about the Reichstag Building and the Brandenburg Gate, as well as Nefertiti at the museum island and Humboldt university...and about the Berlin Airlift. The Topography of Terror and the Holocaust museum left chills down my spine.

And then I chewed some currywursts… Extra spicy.

And although I was more than satisfied with my field trip (and ashamed for the lack of my German language skill,) it wasn't till the day after my return that the true meaning of Germany hit me like a falling star. It was the next day, while I was walking through the streets of Prague that I saw this ….

Not the usual banners....
 And oh …this

Just a bit odd to see them walking towards me

My bewilderment was immeasurable. I was stunned. Nothing like a 6 ft bling Nazi standing next to me. History lesson comes to life. The power of one symbol, the power of one man, the power of one ideology still bring goose bumps to all.

Ps. I did google the film being made at the moment in Prague. It the “Anthropoid” about the Heydrich assassination starting the one and only Jamie Dornan (the Fifty Shades of Grey guy) .

Filming Anthropoid

Why you should take the FCE Exam?

 Listen to why you should take the FCE exam

Students already have a lot on their plate… so why do we add extra work such as the FCE exam? Well there are 6 good reasons? It’s not always easy – but the rewards definitely make it worthwhile. :)

Doing the FCE exam will give you a qualification that could change your job opportunities, give you the chance to travel, and experience a whole lot more! So if you’re undecided, here are six reasons why it’s a really great step to take.

1. You can take the exam whenever you want

Unlike some qualifications, the FCE is really flexible. There are exams taking place virtually every month, which means that you get to decide when to complete it.

That lets you learn at your own pace – when you’re ready to take the exam, you can do it, giving yourself the best chance to do really well on it – first time.

2. The FCE will improve all your language skills

The FCE isn’t just any old language test. Because it covers all aspects of learning English, passing the FCE shows that you have proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking English to a very high standard.

The added benefit of this? Because the course addresses all the different parts of learning English, preparing for the FCE will actually help you improve your language skills while you’re doing it.

3. It’s internationally recognised

The FCE is very highly regarded around the world. Employers in different countries can all immediately see that your English language skills are up to the high, professional standard that would be needed to work in an English-speaking environment.

This can give your CV a real boost – and increase your job opportunities, especially if you are keen to work in a different country.

4. It’s one of the accepted qualifications for Visa applications

If you’re planning to study in the UK and need to apply for a student visa, you’ll need to have some certification of your English language skills. The FCE is one of the accepted qualifications recognised by the UK Border Agency.

So if your goal is to study at a UK institution, this will bring you one step closer to achieving it.

5. It will give you something to work towards

Learning a language by yourself can be rewarding, but can also be quite hard. The FCE is a very well-structured exam, and it gives you a concrete qualification at the end of the process, giving you something to motivate and guide you.

When you have something you want to work towards, this can make learning much easier, and helps you to focus your attention on it properly.

6. It’s a great foundation for further learning

Do you want to take your English studies further? The FCE provides you with a great starting point to develop your skills, especially if you’re planning on adding more qualifications.

One of the most prestigious is the Cambridge Advanced English Exam. This is a much more challenging exam, and completing the FCE will give you the essential preparation to do well in it.