Narrator: Exercise 5.2. Lecture 5:
Today, I wish to give you a look at the first day or two in London as seen through the eyes of a young visitor to the country on a temporary student visa. For most visitors, the first taste of England is touchdown at HeathrowInternational Airport which is only a ￡20 taxi fare from the heart of the city. As soon as one gets off the plane,the busy, commercial atmosphere of London immediately becomes apparent. The traffic is dense, and movesslowly. The buildings are old and the weather is usually cloudy. Many students arrange to stay with an Englishfamily while they study at an English language college, and are therefore met at the airport.
Having met the family and settled into his or her new home - most families in the city live in semi-detached houses- a visitor is usually tired after the trip and takes a day or two to recover from jet lag. But it isn't long before thedesire to look around and discover the sights and sounds of London overcomes the shock of being in a foreigncountry. First on the list is a trip to the college chosen while overseas as the place to study English in Britain.
Most colleges are located close to the city and are surprisingly modern and welcoming. They are always easy travel distance of a bus route or a tube station, and the buses are modern and comfortable, although it is moreexpensive than taking a train. Most commuters to the city prefer the tube because the system is extensive and alot faster and cheaper.
On intake day, students gather in the common room of their chosen college and are given an orientation to theprogramme they are about to embark upon. After they have been welcomed to the college, and know a little moreabout how the school works, it is time to take a short test to determine the best class for them to begin their studies.
Come lunchtime, of course, it is necessary to find a place to eat. Some students sensibly bring their own lunchor else find a restaurant nearby that suits their palate. Of course, London has a vast number of restaurants at whichto choose food from countries all over the world, and prices are generally quite acceptable.
In the afternoon, a student usually discovers that the way in which the language is taught in a British environmentis different to what they are used to in their home country. Some students might be surprised at the differencein teaching methods. Students in English colleges are always treated as adults and the onus to perform is thereforeon the student. Attending their first lesson of the course, they meet their classmates for the next few weeks. Itis time to get to know each other and the opportunity for an exchange of personal information. After class, studentsmake their way home, enlightened and sometimes a little confused about what is expected of them. But most agreethat the experience they have had on their first day of college is worth all the hardship of leaving the comfort ofhome. |