Things to do in Eastbourne in March

Eastbourne’s March is set to be just exciting as it’s February this year, as plenty of events are lined up to entertain everyone; there’s no better time to study at Twin’s English Centre in Eastbourne than now.

On March 8^th 2014, you can enjoy a fascinating evening of stargazing at the Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum with the Eastbourne Astronomical Society. This is a brilliant opportunity for new stargazers to learn the basics of spotting the best parts of the night sky, including galaxies, star clusters, constellations, nebulae, planets and the surface of the Moon. There will also be the chance for keen astronomers to discuss and exchange ideas. Feel free to bring your own telescope; you’ll learn how to get the best out of it!

The evening of March 22^nd could prove to be one of fun, singing and dancing, if you choose to join in at the West Side Story film party visiting the Royal Hippodrome. The famous adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’ is a great example of how timeless Shakespeare’s work is and how it is still relevant and can still be enjoyed today, in the year of his 450^th birthday. So, get dressed up and get singing and dancing at this unique film experience.

Staying with the theme of Shakespeare, between 25^th and 29^th March, Filter Theatre Productions will be visiting the Devonshire Park Theatre to perform their interpretation of Twelfth Night. This production of one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedies has been praised by critics as creative, fresh and rock-and-roll, so is sure to be accessible to any audience.

Half an hour along the coast from Eastbourne, Brighton boasts plenty of exciting things to do in March too. On 12^th and 13^th March there’s even more Shakespeare to enjoy at the Brighton Dome if you fancy reminding yourself of the original Romeo & Juliet story before going to the film party, and similarly to Twelfth Night, this performance is sure to be accessible as it brings Shakespeare to life using contemporary language with a live DJ soundtrack. Also on in Brighton is the Chilled to the Bone exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. The exhibition allows you to explore Ice Age Sussex; how the ice age drove evolution, why Neanderthals perished yet we survived, and what will happen if global warming destroys the ice at the north and south poles. On 29^th and 30^th March, for animal lovers or those just interested in trying new things, Vegfest 2014 will be coming to Brighton, with a variety of delicious plant-based foods to try. The festival will also offer plenty of entertainment in the form of live musical performances and comedy hours.

Whether you’re fascinated by space, theatre or food, Eastbourne is a great place to visit in March, and of course there’s no shortage of year-round attractions to take advantage of either, such as Eastbourne’s marina or the pier, so plan your trip today!

English Language – History & Facts

If you are thinking about learning English, then why not learn some history and facts about it as well? I mean, it will only benefit your understanding of English, and even if you’re a native English speaker it’s still great to learn the language’s heritage and some groovy facts, and also to learn how some of the words have been adapted and how new words have been born. So, sit back and read some of the most surprising facts about the English language…

Bit of History

The English language changed the most when Britain was invaded by tribes from different countries; for example the Angles, Saxons and the Jutes, (we won’t go too far down this road though, as this isn’t a schoolboy history lesson). Since 450AD, the English language has evolved dramatically; from Old English between 450 and 1100AD, to Middle English between 1100 and 1500, and finally into Modern English between 1500 and 1800, at which point vowel sounds were becoming shorter and shorter. Late Modern English is still spoken today. 

Origin of Words

English has developed a lot over time, and has taken on many words from different languages. Here are words from six different countries that have been added to the English dictionary…

Indian Origin
Jungle	Pyjama
Bungalow	Thug
Pundit	Loot

African Origin
Cola	Zombie
Jumbo	Banana
Zebra	Voodoo

Arabic Origin
Assassin	Safari
Mattress	Zero
Admiral	Algebra

Chinese Origin
Chi	Silk
Chow	Tea
Ketchup	Kung-Fu

Spanish Origin
Platinum	Hurricane
Siesta	Cigar
Vanilla	Macho

Italian Origin
Balcony	Saloon
Cartoon	Villa
Medal	Dome

 

The English language was also very quick to spread around the world through the English empire, with England, America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada adopting English as their main language.

Fun Fact!  Words are added to the English dictionary every year. Last year the word ‘selfie’ was added; this means a photograph being taken of oneself.

The English language has a huge range of vocabulary with over 250,000 different words listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, (originally published in 1928), and is still a fast-growing language, with new words being added every 2 hours! There are many interesting facts about English; here are a few we have thrown together for you, our top 6 English language facts…

1.       More English words begin with ‘S’ than any other letter

2.       The oldest word in the English language is ‘town’

3.       The first ever English Dictionary was made in 1755, (it was made to help people spell words correctly)

4.       The word almost is the longest in the English language where all the letters are in alphabetical order

5.       There are only 4 words in the English language that end in ‘dous’; these are ‘hazardous’, ‘horrendous’, ‘stupendous’ and ‘tremendous’

6.        ‘Copyrightable’ is the longest word in the English dictionary that doesn’t repeat the same letter twice.

It is not only extremely beneficial to be able to speak English; it also very interesting for new learners. English is a great asset to any CV, as it is so widely used around the globe, (although Chinese Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world). 

We hope we have inspired you to learn English and taught you some interesting facts. Thanks for reading, and hurry up and get kick-started with your English adventure!

Things to do in Eastbourne this February

If you study with Twin at our school in Eastbourne this February, you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable stay, as when you’re not in class the town offers a variety of great things to see and do to keep you entertained.

For those of you who love music, on 8^th February 2014, for one night only, Eastbourne’s Royal Hippodrome will be hosting a night of music through the decades in the form of The All New Chicago Blues Brothers Revue. You will be able to enjoy not only the songs from the Blues Brothers’ movies, but also a mixture of classic Soul, Blues, Motown and Funk. Make sure you make the most of the lively atmosphere and get up and dance!

Eastbourne has plenty to offer art-lovers too. The Towner Art Gallery has a wonderful variety of art on display from across the ages, and regularly launches new and exciting exhibitions. Opening in February, visitors are invited to explore the point at which day becomes night, in the ‘Near Dark’ exhibition, curated by John Skoog. You could also check out his solo show, ‘Redoubt’, in which he uses classic Scandinavian film techniques.

Opening on 1^st February, the Eastbourne Ancestors exhibition is a great way to spend some time if you’re interested in history. The exhibition provides visitors with an insight into human remains dating back as far as the Bronze Age, thanks to scientific analysis revealing everything from our ancestors’ social statuses to how they looked.

If you fancy a laugh, on 7^th February Eastbourne will be hosting a night of brilliant comedy in the form of the Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club. The line-up consists of three acclaimed comedians, the cynical and bitter Rob Heeny, the intelligent and sharp Jessica Fostekew, and the hilarious storyteller, Elis James.

If you do manage to end up exhausting the variety of things to in Eastbourne, just over half an hour away by train you’ll find Brighton, which has plenty of its own exciting attractions and events to entertain you. Throughout February you can enjoy the Brighton Science Festival, which boasts a huge variety of events, from ‘Love Late at Brighton,’ which explores the scientific side of attraction, to ‘Into a Blue,’ an exhibition dedicated to the colour blue! 

Aside from all the fantastic events on offer in February in Eastbourne and Brighton, there are, of course, a huge number of year-round attractions available that shouldn’t be missed, including some beautiful parks and gardens, and Brighton Pier. We are therefore sure that your stay with Twin in Eastbourne will be a truly unforgettable experience, and you’ll never be short of things to do!