Thursday 26 January 2017

Celebrating Robert Burns at ELA!!

As all Scots know January 25th is Burns Day in Scotland, the annual celebration of our national poet and a good excuse to let our hair down in the dark days of January! At ELA it was a golden opportunity to get our students involved in learning at little bit about Scottish culture and tradition.
ELA Burns supper 2017

Scottish people across the world celebrate the poet-farmer from the South West of Scotland every 25th January with traditional Scottish food and drink, his poems and songs. Copious amounts of haggis, neeps and tatties are eaten while whisky and Irn-Bru (Scotland's national soft-drink) wash down the food. Scots believe Robert Burns is worth celebrating not only because of his beautiful poetry and songs but also because of his eloquent commitment to equality and fairness.
The Immortal Memory
Typical Burns Supper nourishment
Students and staff tuck into their Haggis
We held our Burns Supper on Wednesday afternoon after class, but not before our teachers made sure that the students knew something about our famous poet. As all good teachers know, it's very important to let the students do all the hard work. So we decided that the students would make the speeches at our Burns Supper. The first speech gives some information and thoughts on the life of Robert Burns, this is the Immortal Memory. Our students delivered it in their own unique style, drawing on their own national traditions for support!

The highlight of any Burns Supper is very often the 'Toast to the Lassies' (or girls). This should be funny and self deprecating but ultimately complimentary. Our toasts quoted Bob Dylan and featured some original poetry, written especially for the occasion.  At all Burns suppers the lassies have the last word with the 'Reply to the Laddies' (boys). Our reply went down a storm and was greatly appreciated by students, teachers and guests.


The toast to the lassies
To put it in a nutshell, everyone at ELA had a wonderful time celebrating Robert Burns and we believe that this kind of fun is part of learning a language. At ELA we are lucky to have such amazingly friendly staff and students to make events like this a great success!


The reply to the laddies













Vocabulary builder:

Can you guess what the under-lined words from the text mean?

Let your hair down: a) Dance b) Have fun c) Read poetry
Golden opportunity: a) Perfect chance b) Lots of hard work c) A small chance
Eloquent: a) Elegant and persuasive b) honest and caring c) long and difficult
Supper: a) Breakfast b) Lunch c) Dinner
To draw on: a) Using an experience b) Remembering c) Ignoring
Toast: a) Hot bread b) Drink to health c) Joke
Tuck into: a) Start eating b) Enjoy eating c) Stop eating
Self-deprecating: a) Have no fun b) Make fun of others c) Make fun of yourself
Go down a storm: a) Be controversial b) Be very funny c) Be very popular
Put it in a nutshell: a) Talk for a long time b) Tell a lie c) Say something in just a few words

Tweet us @E_L_Academy when you have the answers!!!

Friday 6 January 2017

New Year’s Resolutions to help you study in 2017

As Edinburgh welcomed 2017 in style at our world famous hogmanay street-party, the ELA team are here to help you start 2017 with an academic bang!!
Edinburgh started 2017 with a bang and so can you at ELA!!
Make sure this is the year you make the improvements you want in your English; take control of your learning and become a better student. All our teachers at ELA encourage our students to take responsibility for their own learning. We know it is our job as teachers to make our students better at learning.
Here are some resolutions for 2017 to make this come true:
Be Prepared
Come to class with a pen and a notebook for new vocabulary and grammar. It’s amazing how many students expect to remember language without writing it down! Sadly, most people do not have such good memories….
Write down new vocabulary!
Don’t be shy!
Tell your teacher what you need and what you want to study. Be ready to give your teachers feedback on the lessons and let them know if you want to change anything.
Move your cultural life into English
Remember that most language is learnt out of the classroom so the most important thing is exposure to the language. Learners who become fluent all really enjoy using English to socialise, read, watch TV or listen to music. Even if you don’t think you’re learning anything, your brain is busy remembering things.
Take advantage of the UK
Here in Edinburgh you will be surrounded by English. You can never understand all the new language you meet everyday but be prepared to guess its meaning. Use the context to help you and don’t be afraid of making a mistake!
Use your teacher as a resource
Will you be the teacher’s pet?
Write down some of the new words you have met in your cultural life and check their meaning with your teacher. You’ll soon be the teacher’s pet!
Set yourself targets
When you study a new piece of grammar look for opportunities to use it! Remember that satisfaction you feel when you use the 3rd conditional perfectly. After all, what’s the point of using the language on paper but not being able to produce it in conversation?
Be Honest
When you don’t understand something or get confused please do tell your teacher. Mistakes are good because we can learn from them and they give your teacher an idea of how to help you.

If you follow our advise and take advantage of the great teachers we have here at ELA, we’re sure 2017 will be a successful year for you!
You will be as successful as this young student