Students at Embassy

Top Tips For Practicing Your Listening Skills

If you are interested in improving your listening skills, there are other ways to practice when you are outside the classroom. The easiest, cheapest and fastest way is just to turn on the TV in your accommodation and watch it.

New Zealand has four channels that broadcast a good and interesting variety of programmes. I am always surprised when I switch the TV on and the newest American series hit is on air. It is not the same as in my country. If I want to watch American series, for example, I have to pay a cable TV company. In New Zealand, you can watch it for free.

There is also a nice selection of movies that are always aired in prime time (not too late, neither too early). If you are more into non-fiction, the national channels broadcast interesting documentaries as well. The TV news is an excellent way of not only being updated with current national and international events, but also of becoming more familiar with the New Zealand accent (or the accent of the country where you are studying).

If you love music, you can try to listen to the radio stations. It is more difficult than watching the TV, but if you can understand most of what is said, then you can be certain that your listening has reached a reasonable level. Also, it is a good opportunity to get to know the local music, bands and singers.

My favourite way to practice, however, is going to the movie theatre. It is always a challenge watching a movie with no subtitles at all. You have to be more focused than usual, but it is not an impossible task. There is always a feeling of satisfaction when the movie ends and you were able to understand the plot. And going to the cinema is always fun. Invite your classmates, watch a movie and, afterwards, go to a cafe or restaurant and have a good time.

That is the difference when you study English abroad. In an English speaking country, you are always surrounded by the language, and you practice it all the time. The best thing: you don't even notice!

by Andre Campos.

Andre is studying the Certificate of English course at Embassy Auckland.

Food: The World On Your Plate

One of the advantages of living in a cosmopolitan city like Auckland is the opportunity to try a variety of ethnic food. If you are aware that food is an important part of any culture, then having a meal is more than just eating something because you are hungry. It is also an opportunity to learn more about cultures of the world.

If you are really interested about that, invite one of your fellow foreign classmates to go to a ethnic restaurant that she or he enjoys. It is important to go with a native (of the food you are eating). Firstly, because you may not know what to order, and you will need some guidance.

Secondly, you will need somebody to explain what exactly the dishes contain (remember, this is not the food you are used to, and even though you are trying, there is always the chance that you won't like it).

Finally, while you are eating (or after) you can ask questions and learn more about your classmate's country and culture. Of course, you are practicing your English and making friends at the same time, so a routine activity like having lunch gets another meaning when you are taking an exchange course.

Auckland is one of the best places to do this. As I said in previous posts, the Embassy Auckland school is located near many different restaurants (as a matter of fact, there is even an international food court on the school's street, just five minutes walking).

You can choose Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Brazilian and even Australian for your lunch (these are the ones that I remenber right now). If none of this pleases you, there is always the option of regular fast-food.

I personally got quite addicted to the Malaysian cuisine. My favourite is the chicken with cashew nuts with a bowl of rice. Superb! I had no idea that Korean barbecue could be so good (and I thought I was hopeless with chopsticks, but with the help of all my Asian classmates, I managed to learn).  

Many people ask me if I miss Brazilian food. And I always I say, "Not yet!"

As with everything related to an exchange course, this is a time to try new things and be more open minded and a little less proud of your own nationality. And that includes food.

You can find out more about the attractions local to the Embassy Auckland school at the main Embassy website.

Homesickness

So, you have come to an exciting foreign country like New Zealand. You have travelled around, seen breathtaking landscapes, taken millions of pictures. You have met amazing people and made everlasting friendships. You have practiced and improved your English to a satisfactory level. You are having a good time, and feel completely comfortable with the culture, food and weather.

Even so, sometimes you catch yourself thinking about your hometown, your house, family and friends you left behind. Too often, you picture what your friends might be doing, or where your family will spend that particular national holiday. Then you start calling your parents on a more frequent basis, and before you know it, you finally realize it: you are homesick.

This is something that every exchange student will have to face sooner or later in their courses. There is no way to prevent homesickness, and you have to know how to deal with it. It is, of course, something totally natural to feel. You have been living your entire life in one place, and suddenly, you move to another where nothing and nobody is familiar.

What you can not do, however, is let the feeling spoil your whole experience. Even though you miss your bed, your pet, parents, friends, favourite pub (and restaurant), it is always a good idea to remind yourself why you decided to take an exchange course in the first place: the opposite feeling. That warm feeling, where everything is new and seems to be possible. 

Time goes by so fast that, before you notice it, you will be back. You can let familiar feelings to when you are back to your home country.

Photo: Lynda W1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27948818@N05/3521185529/

/ CC BY-NC 2.0

Andre is studying at the Embassy Auckland school of English, find out more about the English courses available at Embassy.

Making International Friends

One of the most amazing things about being an exchange student is the opportunity to meet people from all around the world, and actually become friends with them. I am talking about creating special types of bond with really nice people, the same way you have in your home country, but who otherwise you would never meet. It is the same friendship, but amongst different nationalities and using another language.

 

Most likely, this is your only chance to exchange opinions and share information about cultures and backgrounds that are completely different to your own. A conversation with a foreigner seems to never end. There is so much to talk about, to learn, to share. These are, at least for me, the most important moments. Only by actually knowing another culture and its country can you appreciate your own. 

Also, if you are not fully satisfied with life in your home town, and you feel uncomfortable with aspects of your culture, perhaps you will find a more suitable country to live, in the future. You finally realize that the world is a big place indeed, and there is a place for everyone.  In order to understand that, you have to give yourself the chance to know people from other places, talk to them, listen to them. If you have only had conversations with people from your own nationality, perhaps you will have to try to be a little more open-minded so that you will learn something.

The tool that makes this happen: the English language. There is something almost poetic about it. You are in a car, travelling somewhere with four people from four different nationalities; you are completely able to understand them and to be understood; you share information and feelings with them; and suddenly a friendship is born.

At the same time, you are aware that your mother language can be totally different. You realize, once again, why you study English. Yes, it is important for jobs, CV's and so on. But, the most important aspect is communication. With English, you are able to speak to the world.

Finally (and maybe mostly important), with friends from all over the world, you can (hopefully) have free accommodation when you visit their country. I hope I might when I go to Spain, Japan and Korea.

by Andre Campos

You too could make friends from all over the world whilst learning English in New Zealand, find out how by visiting the Embassy Auckland website