Great weather meant a lovely walk to Ludlow this morning across the fields and woods.
In 1066 the French led by William the Conqueror invaded England. To control the new territory the French built a network of castles including Ludlow Castle in 1086.
Here we all are taking in the view at the top of the tower.
Taissa from Brazil scales the castle walls
Did you know that King Henry VIII's wife Catherine Aragon was locked up in Ludlow Castle?
Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio
They’d read the books.
They’d seen the films.
Finally, fans of Harry Potter got the chance to go to the incredible Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio. Did they enjoy it?
Here they are mixing potions:
Mixing potions at Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio.
Here they are casting spells:
Here are the boys who got turned green by the girls:
Here they are on platform 9 3/4.
Did they enjoy it?
We think so, yes!!
Finally…
This weekend we were all excited to welcome new guests including: Clementina, Constanza and Ginevra.
Here they are being ‘checked in’ in the main reception:
Some students chose Oxford which is home to Oxford University, established around 1000 years ago.
After punting on the river they enjoyed a tour of the centre of the city where the university colleges are.
The Radcliffe Camera, which is actually a library!Centre of Oxford outside the university
Locked in the stocks
However… some chose Warwick Castle with Stratford.
In the castle dungeons the students met people dying of cholera together with a jailer and a judge.
Cholera corpses.
It got worse…
Unfortunately several students were found guilty by the judge of terrible crimes and they were locked in the stocks.
If you go before the judge, your fate is sealed.Warwick Castle
Some brave students led by House Parent Rachel besieged the castle using a trebuchet hurling balls of burning tar at the castle walls.
Students attacking the castle using a trebuchet
A close up of the trebuchet.
Next these brave students charged the castle guards on horseback.
Attempted rescue of the students from the stocks.
However, unfortunately all the rescue attempts failed and we are hoping these poor students will be released before their flights home.
The More Than English eagle messenger
All petitions to the judge begging for mercy should be emailed to info@morethanenglish.co.uk. We will use the More Than English eagle to fly from Ludlow to Warwick to pass your pleading messages on (as you would expect, they have no email in Warwick).
Until then, may God have mercy on the souls of all the prisoners.
This evening, teams worked together to create Lip Sync Dance routines.
Have you ever seen a TV programme with judges? One is always kind? One is always… not quite so generous. Take a look at the judges – who do you think was “the severe one”?!!
Did you guess correctly?
The show was amazing. Stunning. It’s incredible how the students chose routines so quickly (and in some cases created routines “from scratch”) and worked together to deliver them to the audience.
The audience went wild on many occasions including when Finn took to the stage with his group and “stole the limelight”.
But you know, behind every show there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes. Here’s a taster of all that preparation in action.
Would you like to see more behind the scenes footage? Look out for an exclusive special edition Lip Synch blog full of behind the scenes footage.
One more thing… if Lip Sync was such a high standard, what is next week’s Get Ahead Dance Performance in the Theatre going to be like? We’ll have to wait to find out.
It’s Day 5 and everyone is getting to know each other really well now. Today is Guest Speaker day.
Core English
Lesson 2 is for tasks. A task is when students do something with their English.
Interview
Design an event
Create a video
Presentation
Conduct research
Here is mini-presentation on food trends in different countries:
Food
Speaking of food, travelling to a different country is all about trying new food.
Do you know what the most popular food in the UK is? More Than English manager David asks some students in the dinner queue:
Did you get the answer?
Answer:
<<< Curry >>>
Super creative Chef Paul cooked a mild chicken version and a spicier beef curry.
Lucia from Mexico: we’ll get you some extra chillies during our next trip to the supermarket. PROMISE!
For the evening meal, we’re having a traditional British meal: “Bangers and Mash”
Club Time – The GameZ
Two strange men carry water in a bin across the field.
What are they doing?
Why are they doing that?
5 minutes later
What is happening… over there?
Answer: what is going on is The GameZ. Water, Sponges. Slides. Organised Mayhem!
What are the rules?
Sorry – that’s a secret.
Inspirational guest speaker
Antarctica
Arrival in Antarctica
Summer school means space. Space for children to move. Space to think. Space to try new things and explore new directions.
Jonathan is an explorer and scientist who has worked in Antarctica for many decades.
In Part 1 of his talk, Jonathan explains the science behind climate change in Antarctica.
Antarctic explorer and scientist – Jonathan
Could you share this 1 room shack for 2.5 years with 4 other people?
In Part 2 he captures the students’ attention with his stories of living in a small one bedroom shack, hundreds of miles from other humans for 2.5 years with just three other scientists. They had to rely entirely on themselves. There was no one from the outside to help them. They fixed the shack. They cooked the bread. And when someone had toothache, they removed each others’ teeth using a basic book of dentistry to guide them.
Sometimes they fell out. Sometimes they argued. But in Antarctica, if you don’t help each other, you won’t survive. They had to learn to forget arguments.
Why do you think this is Jonathan’s favourite picture of Antarctica?
Jonathan told many stories including what they ate in order to consume 4500 calories a day; an 18 day whiteout; and meeting the Queen. And of course, don’t forget the penguins.
Most importantly, Jonathan emphasises to the students that he was just a ordinary person who chose to lead an extraordinary life.
Camping in Antarctica – average winter temperature -49°C. The average temperature of your fridge is -15°C
In Lesson 3, which focuses on Writing, Jai delivers an ambitious lesson on academic essay writing with his B2 students including:
Paragraph building
Topic sentences
Thesis led approach vs Discursive approach to academic essay planning
Teacher Jai – expert Academic English teacher
Academic skills
B1 teacher Lucy explains how she combines teaching writing and speaking:
Speaking plus Writing together.
Learning aims
Yes, we are learning English, but not just English.
For example: B1 teacher Louise is teaching Creative Thinking.
Food glorious food
Master Chef Paul is giving us another day of wonderful food:
Italian Breakfast
Lunch
Pulled pork followed by chocolate pudding and ice cream
Pulled pork – simply deliciousMaster Chef Paul visits the dining room to serve his best chocolate pudding personallyChocolate pudding and ice cream
Dinner
Lasagne and salad
Freedom
Best of both worlds
Ludlow is in the countryside. however, Birmingham, the UK’s second city is only 1 hour a 15 minutes away. We’re ‘getting the best of both worlds’.
International friends go shopping: Michael from Poland, Alfonso from Spain, Shusei from Japan.Shopping in Birmingham – the UK’s second city4 Film stars visit Birmingham
Evening time
Let’s try something new!
Archery
Archery – equipment ready and safety checks doneChristian from Denmark takes in the targetMargo from France takes aim
Finally… The World Cup
England lose to Croatia so it’s France and Croatia in the final.
Congratulations to all our students from Croatia and France!
Think about it. These days, everybody is a reviewer. Everybody is reviewing everything. You can write a review of the hotel you stayed in. You can write a review of the new phone you just bought. Your parents might even write a review of the washer machine they just bought!
The internet means that everyone can give their opinion on anything at any time.
Last night we watched the film. This morning, in Lesson 3 Writing, many of the students are writing reviews of Oceans 8.
Next, time for some trifle
Chef Paul says making this trifle was easy. Please tell us the secret Paul. It was delicious… so delicious that More Than English manager Claire might take the whole tray of trifles for herself!
Club Time
Late afternoon 1630-1800 means Club Time:
Swimming
Some students choose swimming…
Cool down in the pool
Hockey
…other students choose hockey…
Cricket…
…and some very adventurous students try cricket.
Level 2 Cricket Coach and Activity Designer Jacob shows how its done:
Evening – the Big Event
This evening we are doing Bubble Football with Ed.
First Ed does the warm up:
After that, Ed organises a very special warm up… with a little help from Florina from Germany.
Let’s race!
Shusei from Japan experiments from Bubble Football wrestling
Taissa from Brazil learns some tricks
Finally, it’s time for football (that’s football with a twist)
Students from all over the world: from Asia, from Latin America, from the Middle East and from Europe travel to Ludlow, England. They travel by coach, train, plane, mini bus and taxi.
Pocket money and passports
Staff take the pocket money, passports and medicine to look after and lock it all away!
Young Explorers
Some students travel with a friend, or a brother or a sister. However, most travel alone. Returning students help the staff to make the other students feel welcome and at home.
Returning students
Welcome back Daniele from Milan!
New students
Taissa travelled from Rio de Janeiro on her own!
First meal of summer school 2018
For the first meal of the summer students tried a delicious roast dinner!
Just the beginning
After all those miles. After all those kilometres. This journey of a lifetime is just beginning.
International Summer School
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