How long are you studying, or have you studied at WSE?
Approximately 9 months.

Why did you choose to study English in England?
My blood sisters recommended it to me.

What do you like about WSE?
The variety of the nationalities

What do you hope to achieve whilst studying at WSE?
Get a 9 score on my IELTS test.

What are you going to do when you’ve finished your course at WSE?
I hope to study in university for master degree in the UK.

What is/has been your favourite moment at WSE (so far)?
Every day is wonderful particularly after-school activities.

How would you describe WSE?
Fascinating!

We have found that those students who record their vocabulary more systematically and regularly in a personalised notebook can improve their English more successfully and easily, so we decided to run a competition for the best vocabulary notebook in the school. We asked students to show their teacher their wonderful notebooks so they could nominate them.

The winner was Samaporn Thunyalukpong, from Thailand, who is currently studying at Higher Intermediate level. Samaporn won a £10 book voucher.

“I’m really happy to get a prize. It’s helpful for me because now I can buy a new book.”
Samaporn Thunyalukpong, Thailand

You can see a page from Samaporn’s beautifully organised notebook below.

Here are some study tips too to help you improve your English as quickly as possible.

1. Spend time!
Read, write, listen to and speak English as much as possible. The social programme is a fun way to use English whilst getting to know other students and learning about British culture. Listening to the radio also helps with this and improves your listening skills..

2. Learning vocabulary
New words? Guess what they mean first and then look them up in your English-English dictionary or your bilingual dictionary.

Too many to remember? Get a vocabulary notebook to record all new words, collocations and useful phrases!

As well as the meaning of the word, it is a good idea to note down its grammatical function, its pronunciation, including word stress, and some example sentences. You can create topic pages for easy reference; you might prefer to write them down in alphabetical order or use mind-maps.

Read, read and read more!
No matter what level you are there is a book for everyone to read, understand and enjoy in the self-access centre. Those students who read a lot tend to improve their English much more quickly than those who don’t. Newspapers, magazines and comics are also useful.

Sometimes reading for general understanding is enough – don’t expect to understand every word. Try to improve the speed at which you read by giving yourself a time limit to read something quickly. Pick out 7-8 collocations, check their meanings and add them to your vocabulary book.

Try BBC Learning English- www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice for not only fascinating reading material but also very useful exercises for learning English.

Start writing a diary or a blog before you come to the UK and keep it up when you arrive. You can record all your new and wonderful experiences whilst improving your writing fluency and activating (using) any new grammar or vocabulary that you have learnt. Plus, if you write a blog, you can share all the fun things you have been doing with your family in English.

4. Have a plan!
Studying alone can be fun but can also be difficult. It is often hard to motivate yourself when you have no-one to share your learning with, and it is very hard to see how much progress you have made. However, if you set yourself some good goals, it can give you a real boost! Make sure:
• You have long-term goals- ‘I want to get an IELTS score of 6.5.’
• You have short-term goals- ‘I’m going to learn 5 collocations by the end of this week.’
• Set time limits.
• Keep a record of your scores.
• Reward yourself when you have achieved what you set out to- treat yourself to a massage, buy yourself something nice or just give yourself a pat on the back.

If you need a chat, come and see me in the SAC from 1.30-4.30.
Good luck!
Shanel (WSE Learning Technology Manager)

Introduction – Last Thursday a group of students from Wimbledon School of English carried out a poll of students and staff, plus a blind tasting, to find out whether people preferred Pepsi or Coke. Participants were asked to answer some questions about their gender, age, country of origin and which drink they preferred – Pepsi or Coke. Then they were asked to taste a sample of each and tell the researchers which one they like most.

Results – Of the 50 people who took part, 52% preferred Coke in the blind tasting. However, the questionnaires showed that 72% had thought that they liked Coke best. The figures for women were similar to the overall results, on the other hand the figures for men showed a different pattern, with 54% preferring Pepsi.
Demographically, the Europeans preferred Coke to Pepsi, whereas the students from South East Asia chose Pepsi rather than Coke.

In conclusion our observations were that it is a myth that there is a strong difference between Pepsi and Coke. However, in general the results show that Europeans and women have a slight preference for Coke, whereas South East Asians and men have a slight preference for Pepsi.

Here is a group of vast Victorian buildings, containing the nation’s principal law courts with over 1000 rooms. This is where the most important civil law cases are held. People are allowed to sit in the viewing gallery to watch any trial they like, however you are not allowed to take any pictures or use your mobile phone while watching a court case. There is also a small museum in the Minstrel’s Gallery where law court outfits are displayed.
Arnuttikan Archavakhom, Thailand

I was extremely impressed while visiting the Royal Courts of Justice, because it was something unusual for me. I have never thought a lawsuit can be heard in such a beautiful place. It looked more like some theatrical action, rather than a serious case. I felt like a character from my favourite book; “To kill a mockingbird”. The magnificent, elaborated building makes you believe you are in the past. The wigs and robes of a judge and lawyer look so impressive that sometimes I thought it was rude not to be wearing similar clothes.
For me it was amazing to see a museum in the building of a court. Even though the building itself looks like a castle, I think it is priceless keeping rules and customs throughout hundreds of years.
The case I viewed was about a traffic accident that took place several years ago, the interesting part was the vagueness of details that has been built up over the years.
I have never been in any court, so this was my first experience and it was really memorable. I think English people must be really proud of a wonderful place like the Royal Courts of Justice.
Nadezda Chichina, Russia

Thanks to the students from the Business and Professional English class for their contribution:

Qasem Ayesh Alali, Saudi Arabia
Arnuttikan Archavakhom, Taiwan
Bruno Matarazzo Lombardi, Brazil
Nadezda Chichina, Russia

1. I would have liked to known about Oyster Card, because it makes travelling through London easier.
Meret Gurtler, Switzerland

WSE: Oyster cards can be used on train, bus and underground. You can either get an Oyster ‘Pay as you go’ card, or an Oyster Season Ticket. For all Oyster cards you need to pay a deposit of £5.00 when you get your card You can buy your Oyster card at any tube/train station, newsagents, garages, off-licences and hundreds of other shops in London.
For every journey you make you need to swipe your Oyster card on the yellow readers before boarding a bus, train or tube. The appropriate fare will be deducted from your Oyster card. You also need to swipe your card when you leave the station to make sure you pay the cheapest fare for your journey.

For more information visit: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14836.aspx

2. Prepare PIN card (credit or debit), because in my country we need to use our signature when paying with a credit card.
Tae Yeon Chio, South Korea

3. Bring an umbrella and a raincoat.
Alper Korustan, Turkey

4. Go to class every day and do your homework. You will have plenty of time to go out and have a good time in the evenings.
Dario Di Giorgio, Switzerland

5. Make sure you take part in the social programme; it will be good for you.
Hyein Park, South Korea

WSE: See our facebook page for the social programme, which will be uploaded every month.

6. Spend a few days in London before school begins.
Joelle Elsenhans, Switzerland

WSE: These websites will help you plan what to do & where to stay:
http://www.visitlondon.com/
http://www.timeout.com/london/

7. Look up some tourist places you want to visit so you can plan ahead.
Sunghee Hong, South Korea

WSE: check out these websites to help you!:
http://www.visitlondon.com/
http://www.timeout.com/london/

8. Get an English SIM-card for your telephone, because it’s cheaper calling with an English SIM than keeping your own.
Erwin Kooistra, The Netherlands

WSE: You can get a SIM card from the school.

9. On your first day of school make sure you bring your passport, a pen and a photo to get your student card.
Petcharat Spoungpol, Thailand

10. You need to know the map of the underground as well as the map for the trains, they are not the same.
Gina Barragan, Colombia

WSE: You can download the underground map here, and if you have a Smart phone you can get it on a free app too: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/standard-tube-map.pdf
and here’s a map showing all the trains routes in South West London (which is where we are):
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/networkmapnov11.pdf

How long are you studying, or have you studied at WSE?
6 Months

Why did you choose to study English in England?
England is close to Holland and if you want to learn how to speak proper English, you should do so in England.

What do you like about WSE?
Great teachers and the social programme is a great way to meet new students. The classes are small which make them very personal and I have the possibility to take the CPE exam.

What do you hope to achieve whilst studying at WSE?
Getting my CPS certificate.

What are you going to do when you’ve finished your course at WSE?
I am going to study International Business Law at the Leiden University.

What is/has been your favourite moment at WSE (so far)?
I don’t have one favourite moment. I really enjoyed the musicals and playing tennis, but I also like the lessons.

How would you describe WSE in 5 words?
Personal, professional, competent, small-scaled, friendly.

How long are you studying, or have you studied at WSE?
I’ve been here for 10 months.

Why did you choose to study English in England?
Actually, I couldn’t decide where I wanted to go. One alternative plan was going to New York. However, my Japanese agent suggested this school, because of the high quality teachers and courses.

What do you like about WSE?
First of all; definitely the teachers, there are a lot of high experienced teachers, they are very good at teaching and are very friendly. Secondly; the location is also great; it’s not very crowded and has great transport links to travel to central London. And the Wimbledon tennis stadium is also nearby, which was important for me as well. Finally, WSE arranges a lot of social activities, which is great for meeting new students, improving your English and building up friendships.

What do you hope to achieve whilst studying at WSE?
I wanted to be able to have daily conversations in English. When I got used to communicating in English I changed my class to IELTS preparation in order to raise my score.

What are you going to do when you’ve finished your course at WSE?
I’m going to find a new job which requires me to speak English. I’m really keen on using English in business situations.

What is/has been your favourite moment at WSE (so far)?
I have many favourite moments. I can’t decide which one is the best, but if I had to pick one; watching the Wimbledon Championship tennis in centre court was a fantastic moment.

How would you describe WSE in 5 words?
Best teachers and great fun!

We are featured at the beginning, & then there’s a longer piece about us 2 minutes 50 seconds into the report. The students & their teacher Cathy were brilliant! Cathy is one of our long-standing teachers & an IELTS examiner, & the class in the film is her Pre-Sessional Academic English & IELTS class. Our Principal makes a brief appearance at the end

Wimbledon School of English on BBC News

*The link only works in the UK, our apologies*

Before starting our excursion, we talked about attractions in the South Bank. While listening to the presentation my friend gave, I felt even more excited.
Our departure point was St. Paul’s Cathedral. We took some pictures and then we started listening to an MP3. The MP3 was amazing; I was surprised by the sound effects and easy explanations. We dropped by the
Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, The Anchor Pub, The Clink Prison Museum, The Golden Hinde and Borough Market. In my case, the best three places were the Millennium Bridge, The Anchor Pub and Borough Market. The weather was really wonderful and perfect! While walking on the Millennium Bridge, I thought: “I want to live here forever.”

I interviewed a man who sold organic bread in Borough Market. He was very friendly. He gave us some bread and answered my questions in a kind way.
I had a good time and I felt lots of emotions during this excursion. I thank my teacher Kathryn for giving me the opportunity to be able to make precious memories with my lovely classmates.
Minji Kim, South Korea

For me the excursion started at The Anchor Pub, because I love pubs! After we had a drink we continued the excursion. At Borough Market we made a video about us interviewing the sellers. We all felt like journalists.
Although it wasn’t my first time visiting Borough Market, it is an absolute fantastic experience. In the end some of the classmates decided to stay in Central London. So only me, Marie and Kathryn walked back to Waterloo Station. My charming teacher Kathryn recommended some of the places and restaurants during our free time. It will be useful for me and my future girlfriend.
Sangsoon Park, South Korea

Yesterday, with our class we went on an excursion to the South Bank. It was really interesting because the weather was quite nice, we could enjoy being outside the whole day.
We started at St. Paul’s cathedral, but first we needed a drink to wake up our minds. While listening to “MP3 Language Experience”, we walked to the Millennium Bridge, took some pictures of the view and walked again. We stopped at the Shakespeare’s Globe, walked into the shop and found some crazy items. After that we went to the famous Anchor Pub, which was built in 1615. We could really enjoy a beer or a juice outside with the sunshine. We walked again for a moment around the Clink Prison Museum and the Golden Hinde and finally we went to the Borough Market to have our lunch. Our teacher gave us something quite funny to do: We had to interview two different market sellers and ask questions like a real journalist. We were given some delicious food for free!
Marie Geneste, France

2011 is turning out to be another good year for Wimbledon School of English. This year we have welcomed students from 68 different countries onto a wide range of daytime and evening courses including English for Business, Law, Finance and preparation for the popular University of Cambridge and IELTS examinations, and have been full for most of the year. We have had a lot of wonderful student studying here this year – here are some of their comments on the school:

“I arrived at WSE in September 2011, I chose to take part in an exam class (FCE) and I don’t regret it! The school is situated in a very beautiful and old building in central Wimbledon. It’s really easy to get there and there are a lot of facilities close to the school. The teachers are really helpful and try to make the lessons as interesting as possible with different type of activities. Moreover, you get the opportunity to have a personal relationship with them so that you can speak easily about any difficulties and get the chance to do excursions. I found the course too intensive at the beginning but then I get used to it and saw a real improvement. I speak more fluently and have learnt a lot of new vocabulary.”“Taking part in a course at WSE gives the opportunity to make new friends from different countries. I spend most of my time with a Swedish, a Dutch and a German student. A really good way to broaden your view of the world and to practice your English of course!!! Although I chose at the beginning of my stay accommodation from the school (Host-family), I decided to rent a flat with a classmate to become more independent. So I changed my plans and I’m going to stay until April instead of December! In the End, if you need to improve your English quickly and want to discover London, WSE is a good way to do it!”Esther- 20 Years Old- French.

“When I first arrived in London I thought I was going to die, it really felt like that. However, after few weeks everything changed, I was having the best experience ever in my life. Being in The UK was nice, being in London was really nice, being in Wimbledon was really really nice but being in Wimbledon School of English was like a dream, it was absolutely perfect. I have spent 6 months in the best school of English I know, I have learned, I have known people from everywhere in the world, I have laughed and I have cried (I cried when I cut open my leg and lost my passport) I have done many things in WSE, and it is something that I will never forget, I think no one after being here even for 3 weeks can forget the experience. Now when it’s time to leave I think I am going to die again but this time is because I am leaving WSE!!” Juan- 17 years – Colombia.

“Wimbledon School of English is an excellent place to study English; the teachers are very kind and friendly. The school has a lot of activities such as football, tennis, squash which is very nice because I met a lot of people trough this activities. It was a wonderful experience studying here. If you have the change to study at Wimbledon School of English, you should take it.” Rafael-31 year-Argentina.

“I took the opportunity to study at Wimbledon School of English for 3 months. During this period of time I gained many useful insights into the English language and culture. As far as I am concerned my English improved significantly. It took a special course to prepare for the CAE, which at the time of writing this I am going to take next week and I feel very positive about it. Our teachers supported us with a wide knowledge and they really put an effect into preparing us. During my FCE time I made use at the social programme the school offered us. There are many musicals (I can recommend We Will Rock You) or one city trips to other cities or places (Stonehenge and Oxford for example). Furthermore, there are many sport activities. If you have any questions you can always ask the reception staff , they are always friendly and supportive in many ways. To sum up I really enjoyed my time although it flew by very quickly. I am sure that I will always remember the valuable experience I gained here.” Janine -19-Switzerland.

“Wimbledon School of English is a lovely school. Everybody tries to make you feel comfortable and they are always keen to help. The teachers pay a lot of attention to our progress and in my case they supported me in my preparation for Cambridge exam. Concerning the accommodation I can say that I experienced both of the options: Home stay- in which I was able to improve my English with native speakers- and student house where I met friends who I definitely expect us to keep in touch with. The social programme is something that always amused me and allows the students to get together and have fun while practicing their speaking. In general I can say it was a rewarding experience and hopefully I will have the chance to come back some day”. Luna-21-Brazil.