Heatwave Leaving Ceremony - July 31st

Men and Women which differences?

Some people are under the impression that men and women speak different languages, which leads to unconscious conflicts and misunderstandings between the two genders. It is also estimated that during working hours, people spend 70% of the time on communication, and 30% of it is talking. Those reasons make understanding communication appropriately so crucial. The way men and women communicate differently results from both nature and nuture. Different genetic brain structure and hormones indeed cause different behaviour. However, physical influences are much weaker than environmental ones. It is estimated that 99% come from the latter. The most significant example could be illustrated by different stereotypical activities in childhood.

Role playing plays an importnat part of a girl's childhood, which results in the collaboration-oriented communication style on females; while boys' activities in playing the Lego, robots, cars and other work-oriented games contribute to a more competitive, aggressive communication style. In addition, because of traditional gender values, ways parents behave towards and talk to their different gender children are also various. Mothers tend to be more controlling whilst fathers usually provide advice and supportive messages.

Referring to what was mentioned above, communication difference in gender are mainly caused by childhood experiences and stereotypical social assumptions. If people can provide a great diversity of no-gender-oriented activities for children, this may help to tackle gender difference problems in adults. Only when differences between men and women are not contentious, then every one can find out the best balanced way to communicate.

Author: Ting-Yen Tsai

Image credit: http://www.thomasthecoach.com/blog/

Letter of Complaint

Dear Mr Cabas

Last week I chose your restaurant to celebrate my birthday, my purpose was to enjoy a succulent meal but probably I was expecting too much.

It took about a century until the waitress came to us so I could not wait more for my paella, but what was put in front of me cannot be described as restaurant food by anybody. Looking at the menu my vision was a tasteful dish of paella, but, unfortunately, I got an amount of totally insipid rice with some pieces of rubbery and underdone meat that was impossible for me to guess from what kind of animal it came.

Finally, I finished that experiment of paella and I asked fo rmy dessert. My hope was to forget the experience by tasting sweet fruit, but it turned out to be horrible. It was like the MRE's I had to wolf down during my training in the army. I cannot understand how anybody can cook food even worse than the food of the MRE's.

Have you thought about making a deal with the army? Today I do not know how I was able to pay for that meal, but now I urge you to refund me my money.

Yours sincerely,

Miguel Carras Miguez

Guess Who?

Congratulations!

Waiting for our names to be called

Professional camera angles

(Audio disabled)

Eek! I've got something in my eye!

Where's my fan club?

Here it is!

Wii R apart!

Huh! Take that!

Listening to our latest podcast...

Can't you hear what I'm saying - that's THREE planes on my runway!!!

Baby Face big guy says 'I didn't do it!'

Swine flu precautionary measures - wear a ball on your nose!

Host family gardens

Now is the time of year that English gardens are looking at their best. British people take a lot of pride in their gardens, and many people spend many hours cultivating plants and mowing lawns. Here are some photos from one student's host family's garden. Such beautiful colour!

PANSA present dear Anna with flowers

In a lovely gesture at the farewell ceremony, dear Anna was presented with a lovely bouquet of yellow roses to compliment her outfit. Thank you to our most recent air traffic control group from Poland. It was very sweet of you! ("I felt emotional" - Zoe, ed.)

Go Team Saudi!!!

Over the summer months, we are having regular social programme sessions at a nearby sports centre. Students interested in working out by themselves, can use the gym privately between the hours of 5.30pm -10.30pm at a cost of 4 pounds per session. Alternatively...

...instead of gruelling pumping iron all alone...

...take some of the weight off your shoulders, and...

...you can join in with us to play football (a.k.a. soccer)...

(The Saudi students have been in indomitable form so far)

...or squash.

(Again, the Saudis are on top form in this game)

(Stanislav, you're being thrashed!! - But nice try!)

Long-term students say farewell

Anais and Saleh - goodbye!!


Yuki and Ekaterina - goodbye!!

My new life in Huddersfield

(Painting of Huddersfield in the times of the Industrial Revolution in Northern England by L.S. Lowry)

My name is Abdullah Alshuaibi, I am from Saudi Arabia. The first day for me in Bristol was 7/2/2009 and I have seen my second family in OISE - all staff have had a good experience to adapt all students with them. After 1 month the teachers gave me the confidence to do the IELTS exam and first, I got 5, then I got 5.5. Again, I would like to say thank you to them.

I have met many students, and I still keep in touch with them from many countries. I studied in OISE till 21/6/2009 and then started with a new experience in Huddersfield University. I have started the Pre-sessional course, and I will study for an Msc in Financial Services in September. However, I did not hesitate to choose for the many subjects available. I selected Finance in order to I knew what is important about it in the future, also I have had experience when I was Banker.

I miss many things in Bristol and I hope to go back to visit my best school as soon as possible.

Image credit: http://www.modernbritishartists.co.uk/lowry_huddersfield.htm

My first impression

My first impression

By Emilie Dupiech


When I arrived in the OISE school, one week ago, my first impression was very good. Indeed, the staff was hospitable because it explained all and helped if there was a problem.

The teachers were nice and professional. They helped us when we had need and afforded us a lot of solutions to improve our English quickly.

In the school, we can find several methods to learn the English language: books, tapes, exercises, DVSs….

As Bristol is students’ city, there are a lot of activities and beautiful monuments.

For example, the City Museum has some good art, the Clifton Bridge and this park has nice and quiet. If you wanted to relax, you could go to the zoo where the animals are very funny!

On the other hand, if you want to go out and discover the night life, you can find a lot of pubs and disco. The ambience is very interesting because the all students, English and foreign ones, go to this place and speak a lot together.

I think that you would enjoy here!

Image credit: Z. Smith

OISE Students' Shopping Habits

Has the trend changed? Is the credit crunch affecting what you buy? What is the difference between OISE students' shopping habits in 2009 and 2005, as was written by former student, Fahed Alzeer?

I interviewed six students in my class about their shopping habits. Most of them go shopping two or three times a week.

They like many different kinds of shops, four people said boutiques and clothes shops are their favourite places although two people said supermarkets and markets.

Some people have more money to spend than others. For example, they spend their money on clothes, food and perfume. All of them spend money on sweets each week but some of them spend money on clothes.

Finally, most people prefer to shop in department stores because they can find a lot of things there. Not many people prefer to shop in a market because the quality there is not very good and sometimes it’s very bad, although two people think a market is best for fresh fruit and flowers.

Fahed Alzeer, December 2005

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Don't forget that if you are in Bristol this August, you can witness the fabulous hot air balloon festival. This used to feature the world's largest balloon ascent (It's somewhat scaled down in recent years). These photographs of a previous festival at Ashton Court were taken by Hiroshi. You can witness a morning ascent and an evening ascent as well as a night time glow and visit lots of stalls and activities.

Not sure what they have in common, but...

Craig's meeting with the honourable Mr Einstein:

SS Great Britain

A recent trip to the S.S. (= Steam Ship) Great Britain, a ship with an incredible history.

Memoirs of ASECNA

Remember our beloved ASECNA students who braved the cooler weather of Bristol and enjoyed such delights as going to visit Concorde...