Staff at Embassy

Study visit for New Beijing Oriental Vision Overseas

From 21st January to 15th February we were delighted to have three different groups of Chinese students sent by New Beijing Oriental Vision Overseas. Each group came for two weeks and were full of energy and enthusiasm for both their English classes and the exciting tailor-made programme of activities and trips that were arranged for them. All the groups were a real joy to have in the school.

The group pictured here were studying during Chinese New Year and did a tremendous job of decorating their classroom noticeboard in celebration of this, winning a competition for best board from the Principal. Their reward? Our famous English Hot Cross Buns (delicious sweet buns made with dried fruit and traditional spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon) along with a selection of fresh fruit and fruit juice, served to them in their mid-afternoon break!

Click through to read some of the students' comments about their stay:

Embassy CES Brighton - official opening

After a few months of operation, during which our students have settled happily into their new city-centre surroundings, Embassy CES Brighton at last had its official opening.

Guided tour of the building, with guests including the Mayor of Brighton & Hove (second from the right).

Guest of honour was the Mayor of Brighton (whose full title, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Carol Theobald, is something of a mouthful!). Also in attendance was Lord Tomlinson, Chairman of the Association of Independent Higher Education Providers, and member of the House of Lords. Other guests included staff from all departments of Embassy CES' parent company, Study Group, including teachers, administration staff, and directors. Naturally, students were invited too.

The event began with tours of the building, showing off its special features and facilities, from the fully-equipped classrooms to the flagship central atrium.

Four students were invited to unveil the plaque to celebrate the event. After this ceremony, drinks and canapes were served, while the guests were entertained by a Chinese dragon dance (it was, coincidentally, Chinese New Year just a few days before - and the dance also allowed us to celebrate this with our Chinese students).

Then it was time to showcase the many abilities of our talented students and staff. Brian Lin Ka Shing and Joy Yi Zhao played Beethoven sonatas on the piano; teacher Derek McAleese played classical Spanish pieces on the guitar; Assa, from Kazakhstan - and once a member of the Kazakh National Dance Troupe - performed the Kazakh national dance; and the college rock band (who are so new they do not yet have a name!) also played. In short, it was a marvellous example of a truly multi-cultural celebration - very fitting, given the atmosphere of our international school.

(left:) Guests watch the Chinese Dragon dance with admiration.

See more photographs on our Facebook page for Embassy CES in the UK.

Embassy CES San Diego Students Give Back

Embassy CES students in San Diego expressed their support for the millions of people in China that are struggling through one of the worst snow storms in the country's history. Embassy CES San Diego students donated over USD 400 to the Chinese Red Cross whom will use the donation to help get Chinese workers home so that they can enjoy the Lunar New Year with their families. Read more about the storms in China on the CNN website. See the photos below in a larger format by clicking on them.

A trip to see Manchester United

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Jafar Naghiyev (pictured) was amongst students from Oxford who recently made a gruelling mid-week eight-hour round-trip to see footballing heros Manchester United play Portsmouth at Old Trafford. The squad, who are famous across the globe, call themselves 'The World’s Most Popular Football Team', and didn’t disappoint their Oxford visitors. They beat their rivals 2-0 in a display of superiority that made their victory seem a foregone conclusion.

Manchester United are currently commemorating the disaster which struck their team in the air crash in Munich in 1958 when they lost 11 of their top players. 50 years on, and the footballing world has changed significantly, but the team have fought their way back to the top. Their website is even translated into Japanese, Chinese and Korean to keep their millions of fans in Asia informed.

So, what was it like to finally see this much-admired team? “Well, I’m glad I went because it's a rare opportunity to see such a famous team, and it's an impressive stadium and they're good players, but I was so tired the next day. It's too far away from Oxford”.