ROUTINE MORNING, DIFFERENT AFTERNOON

Today we woke up and we went to breakfast, and then to class. It was a special day because we had a test but we also had activities based on computer games. One of the groups listened to the song called "Waka waka", famous because the World Cup. Finally, we went to have lunch.

In the afternoon, we went to Birmingham and we were divided in age groups and we visited the canals (1st group), St. Philips cathedral and St. Martin's church (2nd group) and Symphony Hall and BBC (3rd group). Once we finished visiting them, we had free time in the "Bullring", a famous shopping centre of Birmingham

When we returned to BCU we had dinner and did another new sport, baseball.

Now we are going to continue watching the film, Fantastic 4 and the Silver Surfer.

Carlota & Carolina

FIRST DAY OF RAIN

This morning, after having English breakfast again, we realized we had a new teacher because Stacey had to leave the city for some days.

After classes we had lunch, and then we had English activities where we practised some different games. Once finished it, we went to the Sports Center of the University of Birmingham, where we could play tennis, badminton, table tennis and had fun at the swimming pool.

When we arrived at BCU, we had dinner and then we went to play sports. Today, we played anew sport, basketball; everyone liked it.

Now, we are going to start the second part of Fantastic 4.

Curiosity: Today at the swimming pool, our leaders Victor and Pablo played with us and we enjoyed a lot

When we went to have breakfast it rainned for the first time in this week.

Carles D. & Marti

A DAY FREE OF CLASSES

Today, although being Sunday, we got up at the same time, but instead of having classes we went to the Catholic Cathedral of Birmingham after having breakfast. We went by bus, and then we walked along the canals before getting there. We participated to the Mass in English, and we tried to understand as much as possible; however, we could also follow the Mass with a book that the priest gave us.
When the Mass ended we went to BCU to have lunch before going to a big park where we did a gymkhana. We spent a good time among friends and we went back to the residence. Now we are getting prepared to have a barbecue and watch the football match: Spain vs. Netherlands.
We wish that Spain won the World Cup Final.
Today we have finished the first week in Birmingham.

Maria G. & Marta B.

ROBIN HOOD'S LAND

Today we woke up at 8 o'clock; when we got up we went to have breakfast and when we finished we went to have classes. Then, we had lunch and we went to our next trip, Robin Hood's village.

When we arrived to Nottingham, we visited the famous castle and the statue of Robin Hood. In the square of the city hall we found a kid playing drums really well and we also saw different stalls, one of them with paella. Finally we finished our visit having some free time.

At 6p.m. we took the bus back to BCU. When we arrived we had time for studying and tidying up our rooms.

Now we are going to finish watching Robin Hood film that we have been watching all the week.

Curiosity: the breakfast was like yesterday, an English breakfast with with sausage, bacon and fried eggs.

Nacho & Luis

HOT BREAKFAST, COLD SPORT

Today we had a typical English breakfast which includes bacon, sausages, beans, toasts and scrambled eggs. After that we've done an English lesson. It was different because we've done a little bit of grammar like the superlatives and a lot of new games where we practised our speaking.

Later we've eaten pizza, one of the best meals we have eaten here. When we were prepared to go skating, the bus arrived late, 30 minutes. For some of us, it was the first time that we went to an ice rink. We've skated twice. At the beginning it was very difficult but the second time it was easier. When we returned to BCU we played volleyball and dogeball.

Finally we've had a shower and watched a film.

Roger & Guillermo

A SPORT DAY

Today we got up at quarter past eight. we had breakfast and we went to classes. we learned a lot of things and we went to the break. later, we had lunch and came back to the classes. In the class we prepared a dance for the last day.
In the afternoon, we went to the swimming pool, but some people preferred staying in the gym. In there, people played table-tennis, badminton, basketball and so on. After that, we went to play football in groups.
Finally, we went to the theatre and we saw a part of the film "Robin Hood" and the monitors said the penalties

Esther & Carmen A.

FROM YORK TO THE FINAL

Today we visited York we wake up at half past seven. We visited the York Minster and Clifford's Tower. Around York there are walls that protected it in the past. After we eat we have free time and we buy lots of souvenirs. We do a quiz of York.

Then we saw the match of Spain and we won Germany 0-1 Spain, gooooooooaaaaaaal of Puyol with the head. Netherlands is waiting us in the final. We are going to win!!!

Pablo C. & Borja G.

BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE

Today after lunch, we've gone to the centre of Birmingham. First, we divided the group into three smaller groups depending on the year that we were born. The youngest of the group visited the canals; the monitors were Victor and Elena. Those born between 1997 and 99 visited some buildings of Birmingham, and the BBC, and they went with Laura, Pablo and Anna. And the last group went to see the Cathedral of Birmingham, where a woman guided us through it. The leaders of this group were Edu and Ricard.
After that the whole group went to the Bullring (a huge and nice shopping centre in Birmingham).
After having dinner we have done sports: today we have played football.

Curiosity: when we were in the Bullring some of our friends from last year staying this year with a family have come to meet us.

Maria B. & Maria O.

FIRST DAY

The travel with the plane has been better than the travel by bus.

Today we got up at 10.00 and we were so tired because yesterday we arrived late at night at the residence after travelling by plane and by bus. Then we went to have breakfast. After that we met the teachers at the University and there we had an English class. Then we went to the dinning room and there we ate food from a buffet. After that we did a level test to organize the groups. Then we went to the swimming pool and we returned back at the BCU residence to practice some sports.

We are so tired but we're making lots of friends.

Javier C. & Pablo V.

Welcome to our blog!

Aquí intentaremos informar del día a día del Cursillo de Idiomas que tendrá lugar el próximo mes de julio en la Birmingham City University, organizado por Idiomas Padre Manyanet.

Los artículos seran redactados por los propios alumnos. También intentaremos ir publicando fotografías de las diferentes actividades que realicemos.

En el menú de la derecha hemos añadido enlaces a los diferentes blogs de la organización, un álbum de fotos provisional que iremos actualizando periódicamente con las fotos de nuestras actividades, enlaces a webs de las diferentes visitas que tenemos programadas y un calendario en donde poder consultar la actividad diaria.

Esperamos, que como en anteriores ocasiones, sea un espacio de gran utilidad para todos.

¡Hasta pronto!

HASTA SIEMPRE

Un año más cerramos nuestros cursos de Idiomas, con la confianza que todos nuestros estudiantes hayan alcanzado los objectivos que nos habíamos marcado. Quiero pues, agradecer desde aquí, en primer lugar, todo el trabajo llevado a cabo por los directores de grupo y los monitores responsables de cada uno de ellos.
Asimismo, agradezo a los padres la confianza que habéis tenido con Idiomas Padre Manyanet. Que todos terminemos de pasar un feliz verano en familia y hasta siempre.

P. Antonio Sorribes S. F.
Director de Idiomas Padre Manyanet

Last day of sports!

The day started with a special breakfast. We love English breakfast! After having eaten, we went to classes to practise our sketches for the final show of tomorrow. Then we had lunch and we also had English activities. As it was raining, we stayed inside the building and we kept on practising the final show. After that, we went to the University of Birmingham, where we could play tennis, badminton, table tennis or have a swim. Later, back at BCU, we had dinner. Finally we practised sports with our teams but it was quite sad beacuse it was the last day that we did sports (we can't wait to see the final classification!). Now we are going to watch the end of the film: "Eight Below".

Curiosities

The boys of the flat number four stayed out during the study time because the leader had forgotten his keys!

Fernando, Pablo, Borja, Daniel, Antonio, Carlos

Traditionnally London

We have gone to London!

The trip took 3 hours by bus, but it was worth seeing it.

We were left in front of the the British Museum and then we made a fast visit in it. After that, we went by foot to visit the main buildings and monuments of London. What we liked the most was the Big Ben and the Buckingham Palace. Nevertheless, we also visited: London Eye, Trafalgar Sqaure, Oxford Street, Picadilly Circus...
We also had free time at Hamley's - that is the biggest shop of toys in the world with seven flats and lots of toys, soft toys, collections... - and in a Souvenir shop at Carnabie Street.

We arrived very late at BCU, but still we had some hot dinner and finally we finished the diaries.

That is why this morning we have published the blog from yesterday, because we did not have access top the computers.

Curiosities
The Queen was in Buckingham Palace because the flag was on the top of the mast.
We have been in the trip with two of our teachers.

Ana, Sara, Maria, Maria, Noemi, Nuria

BBC: British Bloodthirsty Channel

Today we did a trip!

In the morning, at class we did an artcraft. It consisted on wrapping an egg into paper balls inside a bottle. It was funny because some of the eggs broke an another didn't do it luckily. In the other classes we tried to prepare speeches and dancings for the last day ceremony.

We went to Birmingham City Centre to visit the Canals and the BBC. We made a lot of photos and played with the cameras at the BBC building. When we finished it we had free time in the BullRing shopping centre! It was the last day that we could go shopping so we bought a lot of things.It has been raining all day but now it has stopped.

Curiosities

Today Alex got hurt when he cut his finger with the scissors. He is very clumsy!

Enrique, Carlos, Alex, Marcos, Jaime

The Bij Baj of the Bloj

Today we got up at the same time as the other days. In the morning, we have learned some grammar, and after the break we have started practising our dance for the final show. In English activities, we have had free time to do sports, dancing...

Then we have caught the bus to go to the Sports Centre of UB. There, we could swim, play badminton and tennis. When we came back to BCU, we had study time, and we changed our clothes and had dinner.

Then we played sports with our new teams. Now, in the TV-room, we are going to continue watching "Eight below".

Curiosities

Today, in the Flat 8 from Sycamore House Perez Mouse is going to do a visit because Valeria lost a tooth.

At dinner, we have realised that "cheese" was in fact broccoli.

All the people was signing their school bags at the Sports Centre.

Ricard knows how to say "BLOJ".

Natalia, Valeria, Elena, Leire, Ana Maria, Ana

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

When we woke up, we dressed properly to go to the mass at Solihull. But before, we arrived some time early and had some free time on the shopping centre next to the church. After it, we returned to the Coppice and had some study time.

We had lunch because we were very hungry and, right after, we headed to the Birmingham Centre. To do so, we caught a special bus with two floors that leaded us to New Street Station. There, we went to the Odeon Cinema to see the new Harry Potter film."Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is a film full of action, love, friendship and magic. So, we liked it very much but we wanted more snogging.

Curiosities

As it is sunny and also raining, we are seeing the rainbow while we are doing the blog.

Joan, Gerard, Gorka, Joan

Trip to Oxford!

This morning, everybody went to Hannah's class and we watched a film called Nanny McPhee. After lunch we went to Oxford and we visited some colleges. We saw the place where Harry Potter's film was set. We also saw the main monuments of the village. During the free time, we went to Broad street where there were lots of souvenirs shops. Nearly everybody bought an Oxford jumper! We came back to BCU at 8 o'clock. There, a monitor took a picture of everybody who had bought an Oxford jumper! Then, we had a BBQ and we could eat hot dogs and chicken with vegetables. It was great!

Curiosities
The favourite colour for the jumper of the girls has been the purple!

Natalia, Ana, Laura, Elisenda, Irene, Maria

The campus, Apu at the Union and a woman who lived among car factories

Today in class we did a quiz about the University where we were staying, the BCU, and it was curious because we had to know how many stairs were at the Galton Building, the different names of the buildings as the Attwood building and the Kenrick library (listed alphabetically)... But we liked a lot the man at the Union Station, commonly called "Apu of the Kwik-E-Mart", who was very nice when we asked for the price of the bread.

Then, we had lunch and we went to the skating in Coventry. Yesterday, our leader told us about the history of this town, and today we have seen that some things are still important in this town. For example, we saw that there were car factories all along the road, and that it seemed to be a renewed town (let's remember that Coventry was bombarded at WWI and totally destroyed). There, we skated a lot and we enjoyed a lot because it was the last day of skating.

Curiosities

We think that Apu is a nice man because he is kind with us in our questions and we found funny that he seems to be like the one in "the Simpsons".

Alex, Oscar, Pedro, Xavier, Gabriel

Blogger's note:
On the former write, it seemed quite confusing the fact that there was a "Barcelona's team". It is referred to 's class since they wanted to have a football team name and the majority was from that team.

Besides, we wanted also to point out that in sport we had eight different teams, only mentioned some of them in the blog since perhaps the writers do not come from every team. Each one has the name of an animal: Kangaroos, Lions, Gorillas, Rhinos, Hippos, Eagles, Sharks and Dragons.

A wetty day!

This morning we have had an English breakfast, although not everybody liked it. Then, in class, we talked about Alton Towers, and we made an amazing poster to remember it. We stuck a map and we wrote our opinion about the rides, even if we didn't like them.

After lunch, we did English activities outside as it was sunny we played football and baseball. Then, we went to the Sports Centre at University of Birmingham, where some of us played sports and the others swam for an hour.

Later, back at BCU, we have had dinner and we have gone to the TV room because it is raining .

Curiosities

Our teacher, Shaz, was ill so we had to go and do class with "Barcelona's team".

Brenda, Victoria, Celia, Montse, Meritxell