Dolmen Tomb Sligo

Students! Summer is coming to an end

We should  all take a break from learning English in Dublin and have some weekends away, before the winter comes.  Yes. I know the weather isn’t great at the moment but winter is definitely worse!

Top Ten Places to See in Ireland!

10.   Sligo

The small town of Sligo is in the West of Ireland.   The town itself is small but there’s so much to see and do around that it’s well worth a visit.    Learn about the famous poet W.B. Yeats at the Yeats Memorial Centre.  The beautiful mountain of Bel Bulben is closely as are the well-known surfing beaches of Strandhill.  Travel by bus or train.

9.  Westport

Westport is in Country Mayo in the West of Ireland.   There’s a sense of magic about this town. You can walk by Clew Bay. Or if you have the energy you could join the thousands of Christian pilgrims who climb nearby Croagh Patrick every year. They walk up the mountain without any shoes but you don’t have to do that!  Travel by bus , train or air.

8.  Enniskillen

Enniskillen is in Country Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It’s a  beautiful town, built on an island in Lough Erne. The Castle is really interesting.  You can shop at the famous Belleek Pottery centre or travel out to the Fermanagh Lakelands for some peace and quiet.  Travel by bus.

7.  Kilkenny

Kilkenny isn’t far from Dublin and is a fun place to spend the weekend.  The Castle stands in the centre of the town and is surrounded by all the theatres and pubs that you could ask for in a weekend.  Try out the Karting Track to get some excitement!  The Celtic Festival takes place next month, don’t miss out!  Travel by bus or train.

6.  Derry

Derry is another great town to visit in Northern Ireland.  Known as the Walled City, it has a special place in Irish history.  Take a walking tour along the Walls of the city which were built in 1618 or take a  boat cruise down the River Foyle.  Learn about poet Seamus Heaney. And visit the beautiful beaches of Portrush. Travel by bus or train.

Check back next Friday for the Top Five Places to visit in Ireland

WEEKEND TIP

Why not take a trip to Donegal for the Donegal Food Festival? Learn how to cook some new dishes and eat them, of course!

If you’re staying in Dublin, take the Dart or a bus out to Dun Laoghaire for the Festival of World Cultures: 2 days of music and dance from around the world. And it’s all by the sea

What parts of Ireland have you been to?

Irish Teddy Bears in Dublin

Last week we talked about the Beauty and Makeup Course here at Abbey College, and this week we are looking at the Business English course!

When you have a great idea for a company or business, you shouldn’t let language problems get in the way.  And we know you have some great ideas which is why the FETAC Level 5 Business English is perfect – brush up on your Business skills and learn some English too

We talked to one of your teachers, Bernette to find out what’s been going on in the classroom.

Bernette studied Business herself at university so she’s been really interested in this course. She said: ‘ The projects we do for the exams are really like what I did in university. The students can be more independent and they have lots of time to prepare at home.’  She was excited about how creative you are with the presentations and said that you really took the time to work on things and put your own mark on the material.

It sounds like you are really getting into the hands-on side of the course, and really improving your Business knowledge as well as English.  Bernette says “I like this course, it’s realistic.”

And of course it helps that she says ‘ They’re a great bunch of people!”.

WEEKEND TIP

Summer is coming to an end so make sure you get out and about this weekend! August is a good month to get out to Newgrange, a 5,000 year old pagan site.  It’s older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Egypt and is a great introuction to Celtic culture in Ireland.

Read here about tours from Dublin – find the price that suits you! It’s only takes about an hour to drive so you can easily do the trip in one day.  Have fun!

What do you think about the Business English course at Abbey?

Smithfield Festival Dublin

Some of you have been working hard learning the secret to fabulous makeup.  The morning class and evening students have just finished the first part of the Beauty and Makeup course ‘  English for the Media Makeup and Beauty Industry’ here at Abbey College. The next part of the course ‘ Fashion and Media Makeup’  takes place at LA Makeup, just down the street where the students will get to use all the new language they’ve learnt here.

We talked to your teachers, Anna and Karolina, to find out what’s been going on. They both really enjoyed the chance to talk about beauty and makeup at work!

Anna said that one of her students from Brazil had already worked as a makeup artist in Brazil. So he really enjoyed learning the right terms and phrases for working in English. Karolina said it was great for the students to act out some makeup salon situations and practice all the new vocabulary. Both said you really enjoyed learning the practical language of makeup  – everything from different types of foundation to how to describe product application.

Of course, it isn’t all hard work and study. Students watched lots of videos with professional makeup artists in action, and learned where to buy makeup products in Dublin.  And with a FETAC Level 5 Component Certificate to be earned, you also had the chance to improve your written skills.

The final parts of the course are the Customer Service and Skin and Cosmetics modules. These should be just as useful as you start out on an exciting and glamorous career as a makeup artist

Check back next Friday for what’s it’s like to learn Business English at Abbey College.

WEEKEND TIP

The Smithfield Festival comes to town on Saturday and Sunday.  This is a mix of two smaller festivals so you will get music, dance, artists and some urban gardening. The fun starts at 12 on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday and it’s all free
What are you studying at the moment?