We know you are all sad that our fantastic social programme is over, however there are still plenty of events going on around Liverpool to keep you entertained.!Here’s a few fun things to do in Liverpool before you start your degree programme.
Mind the Gap, This weekend (11th – 13th September) visit the Unity theatre for a new show by a critically acclaimed theatre company called ‘Immersive theatre’. In this play you follow Nina, a young Liverpool woman travelling on the tube when it shudders to a halt. Trapped, Nina talks to her fellow passengers. Immerse yourself and experience the character’s external and internal thoughts as their interlocking stories unravel. The tickets are £10 you can book online or at the box office at 1 Hope Place Liverpool (L1 9BG).
That Is All You Need To Know, is another amazing theatre production also at the, Unity Theatre which starts on the 18th September at 8pm. This award nominated Idle Motion’s stunning show tells the untold stories of Bletchley Park and the extraordinary genius of Alan Turing. An insightful celebration of Britain’s greatest minds and how they saved a nation, living and working together in this eccentric country house. Using personal testimony, multimedia and inventive staging, this is an innovative and immersive celebration of the people whose heroism changed the course of history. Tickets are £12 and you can book online or at the box office at 1 Hope Place Liverpool, L1 9BG.
Hope Fest; on the 19th – 21st of September there will be a multi-venue music festival all in aid to raise money for charities that support homeless people in Liverpool. There is no entry fee however they require a donation of an item (food, clothes, and useful items) for Liverpool’s homeless. Contact annagracehenney@gmail.com for more information. The Hope Fest is a great way to get involved with a charity and to give back to the Liverpool community.
Liverpool Food & Drink Festival starts on the weekend of 19th – 21st September in Sefton Park (L17 1AF). Tickets are £5 if bought online in advance.The festival is a celebration of the city’s fantastic restaurants, bars, and cafes, as well as some of the finest regional food producers. Sefton Park will be transformed into a weekend ‘food heaven’, bringing together more than 160 talented local chefs and producers to serve up a giant feast for the public.
Liverpool Food and Drink Festival
Although you won’t be able to take advantage of our amazing social programme anymore, don’t panic – the Liverpool Guild of Students (LGOS) have a fantastic range of trips and activities called ‘Give it a Go’ (GIAG) which you can take part in when you begin your degree programme.
Here are some of the fun activities they have lined up for you when you start your degree programme:
University of Liverpool Welcome Week runs from 20th-28th September and there are lots of events to get involved with. It is a great way to make new friends. Below are our highlights from Welcome Week.
University Of Liverpool’s Welcome Fair begins from the 25th and 26th September around the Guild of Students area. This fair is very important because it gives you the opportunity to join societies and also make friends within the University. They also give away lots of useful items completely for free. Expect bags of free pizza vouchers, highlighters, sweets and pens!
Campus Orientation, as part of the Give it a Go scheme the Guild of Students is offering a free tour of the University campus on Monday the 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd of September. The tour will help you find your way around campus as you are likely to be in new classrooms and laboratories in your next studies, this is also a chance to ask any questions that you might have about the guild and the services they provide. You need to book the tour online at www.liverpoolguild.org/events for a ticket, there are multiple times of the tours throughout the day to suit your needs.
Draw the Line Workshop; find the Art Society in activity space 5 in the Guild on the 23rd of September to have a go at drawing. It is a very casual event in which everyone is invited to produce somea fun art, you don’t have to be a Di Vinci to attend! The workshop lasts from 7pm-8pm, a nice easy-going evening event.
Shiverpool Tour, on the 25th of September from 8.30pm come and join in with other new students for a spooky tour around Liverpool. You should expect a lot of hidden histories and mysteries, and some theatrical performances to bring the scary past to life! Tickets cost £7.53 you can book online atwww.liverpoolguild.org/events.
City Sightseeing Open top bus tour, you may have seen the big open top buses driving around Liverpool and you have the chance to try it out on Saturday the 27th of September. Our city is renowned for its glorious maritime history, musical heritage, two of the Premiership’s biggest football teams and two majestically different Cathedrals. The city offers fabulous new shops, a buzzing café culture, hip hotels and trendy wine bars so you will never be short of things to do. City Sightseeing Liverpool’s open top double-decker tour provides spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Come along on this Private Tour just for University of Liverpool Students. Tickets for this trip can be bought online or at Liverpool Guild of Students’ Reception – just make sure you get one fast to avoid disappointment! Tickets cost £7.53.
Roof Garden. On the 27th of September visit the Guild’s very own roof garden! Come and volunteer to meet new friends, learn some horticulture skills and have a positive impact on the environment. These sessions will let you get your hands dirty harvesting produce to be sold at the University’s Farmers’ Market. You might even get to take some vegetables home with you! You are free to visit from 2pm-4pm.
The new-look Guild of Students after it’s £14 million investment
We really do encourage you to get involved in LGOS in your time here. Why not join a society or sports club or do some voluntary work? It’s up to you how much or how little you get involved in, but it will definitely enhance your experience as a student here.
We were so excited to meet our new University of Liverpool arrivals this summer. Many of you had a long journey to get here with a fair few bags too! Settling in to the university way of life can be difficult, even for home students, but it was great to see everyone trying their best and pushing the limits of their English speaking.
Our 10-week arrivals at the beginning of the summer!
Film Club
During film club we provided a mixture of movies that ranged from British dramas to American classics. It was an amazing event because we had a whole lecture theatre to ourselves; it was practically like an exclusive ELC cinema, all for free! Afterwards our students got the chance to practice their speaking and listening skills and discuss their opinion of the film. ‘Philomena’ was a hit – the students that came found the true story very emotional and sad, and we could all relate to the main character played by Judi Dench We also discussed themes surrounding forgiveness and friendship.
Conversation Club
From the first week when Conversation Club was introduced we had the opportunity to get to know everybody and hear about why they chose to study here at the University of Liverpool. We even learnt new things about different cultures and education. It was great to see how many new friends everyone made each week.
Our first Conversation Club was Tea and Talk, and it was a big hit! We all split up in to groups and chatted about our first impressions of Liverpool while drinking tea. We had a great mix of students that week – Russian, Chinese, Brazilian, Iraqi, and beyond!
Our first Conversation Club – Tea and Talk – was a great success!
Another week we playedgames – board games indoors and charades outdoors in Abercromby Square which was such fun! It was a lovely sunny afternoon and everyone enjoyed relaxing on the grass whilst trying to guess which film/book/person/play people were trying to portray! We played in two teams which got quite competitive! This was an excellent way for the students to practice their speaking skills and develop quick reactions in English. It was great fun working in teams and seeing the students make new friends!
Playing charades in the sunshine!Playing boards games!
The team buildingexercises were a nice way to break the ice; we played ‘Two Truths and One Lie’ in a huge circle. Here everyone playing had to reveal three facts about themselves, but one of the facts was a lie, and everyone else had to guess which the lie was! We learnt a lot about our peers and colleagues that day, things that would not come up in normal conversation. A fantastic game to get to know each other which often had the whole room in bursts of laughter!
Playing ‘Two Truths One Lie’ was great fun!
The mixer session was full of old and new Pre-sessional students eager to get to know each other! It was nice for the 6 week students to hear what the 10 week students had to say about their experience of Liverpool so far. This was a great opportunity for the students to share tips on their favourite restaurants, bars and shops in town! We particularly enjoyed hearing the students compare their different cultures and experiences from home.
Students enjoying some free cake, tea and chat!
During our International BakeOff we were treated to a traditional Brazilian sweet from Cintya! Other treats made by the ELC Support Team included cheese scones, banana cake, mini Victoria sponge cakes, shortbread biscuits and crunchy/slightly overcooked flapjacks! This Conversation Club got everyone talking about food and their national dishes; it was also a chance to swap recommendations of restaurants in and around the city and to try traditional British cakes!
Trips
Our students outside St George’s GardensOur students at Pier Head
During the weekends of arrivals week we enjoyed showing our brand new students around their new city on a fact-filled Walking Tour. Liverpool has so many fascinating and interesting features, from buildings to shops, parks to cafes, there was simply far too much to introduce on the first tour! However everyone enjoyed themselves – including the ELC Support Assistants!
A beautiful photo of Ness Botanical Gardens taken by our student TiantianHappy after an afternoon of shopping!
The trip to Ness Botanical Gardens was relaxing and educational as we were immersed in many different types of flower, fruit and vegetable varieties. From the calming gardens we travelled to Cheshire Oaks for a hectic shopping spree!
Our students enjoying the Crosby sandsOur students and Support Assistants on Southport Pier
To give you an idea of what British sea side resorts were like we organized trips to sandy Crosby&Southport and also to the pebbled shore of Llandudno in North Wales! We surprisingly had excellent weather whilst down at the beach, there were donkey rides, ice cream, fish and chips – the ultimate British Summer collection! Not forgetting of course our visit to the historical Conwy Castle.
At the top of a tower at Conwy CastleEnjoying Llandudno beach in spite of the wind!
Tatton Park proved very popular with our students, who enjoyed the historical landscaped gardens and beautiful orginal mansion house! Thankfully we had lovely weather on both trips so we were able to enjoy the spectacular estate in its full glory.
Our students and Support Assistants in the Library of Tatton MansionOur students and Support Assistants at the centre of Tatton Park Maze
The trip to the Lake District was extremely popular, as many of you were keen to experience the natural beauty of the Lakes – and you weren’t disappointed!
Our students in the Lake DistrictOur students and Support Assistants enjoying ice cream in Ambleside
On the Sunday of the last of the summer trips we treated ourselves to a visit to Sefton Park after an historic tour of the Williamson Tunnels. The day was warm with a cool breeze and there was a buzzing atmosphere in the air. We were also lucky to catch the Tour of Britain cycling race speed past us on the way back to campus!
Students in front of Anfield StadiumOur students before exploring Williamson Tunnels
My Highlight
Rachel
My personal highlight of the Pre-sessional English course was meeting so many lovely nice people. I love walking through campus and smiling and waving at everyone, and I have had very enjoyable moments on trips and at the social events getting to know the students. I understand what it’s like moving to a culturally different place for a long time, it is daunting and scary at first but once settled in there’s the opportunity to see new things and meet interesting people. These chances wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for you being brave and taking the exciting step of studying abroad. I have no doubts that by this time next year you will all speak perfect English and some of you may even adopt a scouse accent?! We’ll see. I would just like to thank you all for being so patient during our busy office times, and most of all thank you for being our friends.
I wish you all the best in your future studies.
Mel
I’ve had such a great time getting to know everyone and it’s been a pleasure making new friends from different countries! One of my highlights is definitely conversation club where I was always impressed with how friendly and outgoing everyone was. It’s been so nice working with you all and we all appreciated how grateful you were for our help! In particular I enjoyed the walking tours, these were the first two times we were able to really get to know the 10 week and 6 week students and it was so enjoyable sharing my love for Liverpool with you all and showing you the best parts in the city centre. I hadn’t been to the Picton Room in the Central Library before and like you guys I was amazed! My favourite trips had to be to Conwy castle and Tatton Park. At Tatton Park it was lovely to spend some time with the students finding deer and relaxing on the field. My advice for you all now is to really make the most of being in the UK by making friends with people from all different countries (not just your own!) to develop your English and gain new experiences! Best of luck in your next course and I hope you all feel settled and at home in Liverpool in no time!
Ilona
This has been my second summer at the ELC, and I have enjoyed this one as much as the last. My highlight this year has been Conversation Club – it’s been great to see so many students keen to chat and meet new people. I especially enjoyed the ‘Tea and Talk’, where we had students from Russia, China, Brazil and Iraq all chatting together! I also enjoyed the week when we played games and had the mixer session between the old and new students, when we had a really good turnout. I’ve also had great fun on the trips. My favourite was Tatton Park, which I visited last year when it was raining, so it was nice to enjoy it in the sun this time!
I hope you have all enjoyed this summer as much as I have. I really recommend that for the new academic year you throw yourself in to getting involved with as many student societies, clubs and events as possible. Go to the Welcome Fair (in the Guild, 25th-26th September 10am-4pm) and sign up for everything that interests you! Not only is this the best way to make friends, you can also improve your English, learn new skills and (maybe most importantly) get a break from your studies to unwind and have fun.
Thank you for being patient when we have been busy and so keen to get involved with the social events – they would not have happened without you! I wish you the best of luck with your studies, and encourage you to enjoy every minute of being a Liverpool student!
George
The highlight of the summer for me has actually been the whole summer as I have enjoyed every minute of working at the ELC; it was a great experience, both professional and personal. I have made a lot of friends among the students and I have met some amazing people who I am proud to call ‘my colleagues’. In particular, I have enjoyed the ELC Trips and the Conversation Club because these allowed me to get to know better the students and also find out some amazing and interesting facts about various countries. I would like to thank all of you for the fantastic time and I wish you all the best with your studies.
Serah
For me it has been a wonderful experience that I will never forget! My highlight for this summer is basically everything I have learnt. Being able to work with the University of Liverpool’s English Language Centre was a great opportunity.
So far, I have learnt to be diverse in everything I do. I had the opportunity to meet students from different parts of the world. And also I enjoyed the Conversation Clubs, and I also loved the trips. My favourite trip was Tatton Park! This is because of how huge and beautiful the place was and it made me want to work harder so I can achieve something greater than that in the near future.
It’s sad that my lovely summer job has come to an end and I will miss you all. I wish you all the best in your studies and everything you are planning to do. One more thing! Work hard and encourage yourself when you are down. Take care and goodbye!
Festus
Working as a Support Assistant in the English Language Centre University of Liverpool has been an exciting and challenging experience. This role did not only focus on students but it also developed my skills as a person. The most interesting part of this summer was working in a very friendly and professional environment to assistant students who are from diverse cultures and backgrounds. As an international student myself I understand how exciting it feels to move to a new country as well as the challenges that might occur. To have a team ready before all the students arrived was the best decision that the ELC made, as well as preparing the fun social programmes including Conversation Club, Film Club, the football tournament and the popular weekend trips to help students feel at home. I am happy I met you all and that I was part of the ELC’S 2014 summer Support Team. I hope my colleagues and I influenced your studies positively and I hope all of the students made good use of these opportunities to improve their English.
I wish you all the best in future and try to enjoy your stay in Liverpool. To all my Chinese friends, 好运气的未来.
Kieran
Working as a Support Assistant in the English Language Centre has been, once again, a fantastic experience. Last year I was a Technical Support Officer, so it has been a nice change this year to have more interaction with the students! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go on many trips but my favourite was definitely the trip to Tatton Park as I really enjoyed the beautiful parklands. Thank you all for being so patient – especially when we had technical issues! – and I really hope you have enjoyed your time here. I wish you all the best of luck for your degree course!
A big THANK YOU and best of luck from everyone from the ELC Support Team!
In this ‘Getting Social’ blog post Serah shows how students societies can provide the perfect opportunity to celebrate culture and faith while meeting other students with the same interests as you.
I think the best way of meeting new people at university is through joining different societies that will benefit you. As a student I am a member of the African Caribbean Society (ACS) and Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship (FGBMF).
The Liverpool ACS is a platform for not only the African & Caribbean students but for anyone who is interested in learning more about the African & Caribbean cultures. The society aims to unify the black community within Liverpool and help synchronise culture by educating others on different cultures. They also aim to bring people of little difference but of much like-mindedness together in a positive way and create a sense of unity amongst our members and co-operate with other student groups to educate and empower our members. The ACS aims to leave a legacy to be memorable for all.
Serah performing at the ACS Culture Vault
They have different events throughout the year such as Meet and Greet, Culture Vault, Cook-Out, Film Show, ACS Awards Night, Tour, and many other social events. I personally don’t go to all the events, but the ones I have been to (Culture Vault and Awards Night) I really enjoyed because there were different performances from different students including students from other societies.
The ACS 2012/2013 Committee at the ACS Cook-OutSerah with her friends at the ACS Awards Night
The purpose and focus of the Full Gospel Businessmen is to reach students for Christ and to empower them for life through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am the Ladies Co-ordinator and P.R.O (Public Relations Officer) for this society which means I am very involved in the running of it. We try to reach people with whatever means we can. We help the less privileged and encourage people who are struggling with any type of addiction or challenge. We also equip students to do the work of God. They have dinner events where food is provided and also key speakers come to speak at the events.
Best of luck with your studies and work hard to be at the top always!
Serah
For more information about student societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities go to the Welcome Fair on the 25th and 26th of September 10am-4pm in the Liverpool Guild of Students building and Sports Centre or visit the Liverpool Guild of Students website by clicking here or the Sport Liverpool website by clicking here.
In this ‘Getting Social’ blog Rachel talks about some of the sports opportunities that are available at university as well as the possibility of getting involved in events hosted by religious societies.
I was lucky enough to try a few different societies throughout my time at university. I tried potholing with the Potholing Society for a few sessions but did not feel like it was something I could keep up with, and I also wanted to try something a bit more active involving the outdoors. I joined the Windsurfing Club because it was something that I hadn’t been able to do before, and I also had memories of watching windsurfers on holiday and thinking how amazing it would be to learn how do to it. The Windsurfing Club itself was so friendly with lots of social activities – there was an activity at least once or twice a week (Wednesdays and Sundays). I joined without any experience of windsurfing but everyone was very welcoming and at varied levels of expertise, from beginners to the elite! You do not have to be a professional in a sport to join the team. University life is all about having a go at something. I met new and interesting people through the Windsurfing Club.
The Windsurfing Club in actionThe Windsurfing Club
You may have friends that are involved with societies that host events that you can attend. For example I had a couple of course-mates who were in the Hindu society; I joined them for the Diwali Ball, which involved dancing, eating Indian food, and socialising!
Rachel with her friends at the Diwali Ball, hosted by the Hindu Society
Another event held by the Hindu society was ‘Holi’. This is a festival of colour which begins around springtime where participants play and run and chase each other with coloured powder (or water). It is great fun and everyone is welcome, just make sure you don’t wear your favourite outfit, it WILL get ruined!
Rachel with her friends at the Hindu festival of Holi
The Guild of Students has something for everyone, and you don’t just need to settle with one society or club – putting yourself out there is the best way to meet new people and get social. The friends that you make during university tend to be good friends for life, so make sure that you are open to meeting new people, give some activities a go, and really indulge yourself in the student life.
Have fun out there!
Rachel
For more information about student societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities go to the Welcome Fair on the 25th and 26th of September 10am-4pm in the Liverpool Guild of Students building and Sports Centre or visit the Liverpool Guild of Students website by clicking here or the Sport Liverpool website by clicking here.
In this extended ‘Getting Social’ blog post Ilona talks about her time in Liverpool University Drama Society and with the Liverpool University Swimming Club, showing that if you get involved with societies and clubs they can become a central part of your student experience.
I think by far the best way to get social while at university in the UK is to join a student society and/or sports club! This was where I made my best friends throughout my time at university. At first I thought I didn’t have the time to get involved in anything, however I found that I was getting quite lonely as my friendship group was quite small, so in my second year I decided to try something new – helping backstage with a theatre production!
Me and the cast and crew of ‘Death and the Maiden’
For the next two years of my student experience I was a member of Liverpool University Drama Society (LUDS), where I was an Assistant Director for three productions and I assisted backstage for two others. All of these productions were a huge amount of fun and involved attending rehearsals three or even four times a week. It was a big commitment but I got to know my cast-mates really well (mostly because we played a lot of games!) and it was incredibly satisfying seeing all the work pay off when we performed the play to a paying audience in the university’s Stanley Theatre.
Attempting a human pyramid with the cast and crew of ‘Dracula’
There was also a great social scene with LUDS. We would usually go the bar for a drink after rehearsals and there was always a big party at the end of each production. To top it all LUDS host their own annual awards ceremony – the Liverpool University Drama Society Annual Awards (LUDAAS). As well as giving out awards, this was also where we all got dressed up in our best clothes and ate a posh meal together at a fancy restaurant.
The LUDAAS 2011!
After this I went to study abroad in France for a year as an international student, and when I returned for my final year of study in Liverpool I decided to try something else that I had never done before – join a sports team!
Toasting marshmallows at our summer barbeque
I had avoided this before I went abroad as I was apprehensive about the reputation of sports teams. Sometimes you get the impression that all they do is drink and party, which I don’t always enjoy doing. But I went for it and realised this isn’t always the case, and I really enjoyed it! There were swim training sessions two evenings a week as well as early morning swim sessions and ‘land training’ once a week, and absolutely everyone was welcome. Even though I didn’t go to all of the sessions I found that doing sport was really helpful for dealing with the stress of final year. As well as going to The Font every week after training we also went for a Christmas Dinner together at Bistro Jacques and had a summer barbeque at the end of the year.
Our ‘fun’ team photo
The good thing about joining a sports club is that you are not just a member of the club; you are also a member of the Athletics Union (AU), which holds a huge fancy dress party on the first Wednesday of every month. Every team picks a theme and everyone in the team must dress accordingly! It’s so fun being out with your friends and seeing all of the crazy outfits the other sports teams are wearing. Our club went dressed as penguins, Aladdin characters, sea creatures, and Christmas presents! Tickets are limited and always sell out! The AU also holds a grand ball at the end of the academic year. I was lucky enough to go to this ball, where everyone dresses in their best clothes.
The Swimming Club all dressed up for the AU Ball!Me and my friends who I met through the Swimming Club at the AU Ball
As well as going to swim training, in my final year I also took the chance to get involved with BodySoc (the dance society), with whom I attended a couple of beginner ballet lessons, and the Feminist Society, with whom I helped organise an event for International Women’s Day. I really recommend to everyone that you get involved with as much as you can right from the beginning of your degree course! There are so many opportunities for new experiences and you will be really missing out if you don’t take the chance. Best of luck with your degree, and have fun!
Ilona
For more information about student societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities go to the Welcome Fair on the 25th and 26th of September 10am-4pm in the Liverpool Guild of Students building and Sports Centre or visit the Liverpool Guild of Students website by clicking here or the Sport Liverpool website by clicking here.
In this ‘Getting Social’ blog post Kieran highlights how joining a society or club is the best way to try new things – even something as extreme as skydiving!
I think the best way to meet people at uni is to join a club or society. The Liverpool Guild of Students has over 150 societies you can get involved with and the Liverpool Athletic Union (AU) is comprised of 48 sports clubs, from Archery to Windsurfing. Joining a club or society is a really easy way to make new friends.
There is a great variety of sports clubs in the AU, from Table Tennis to “extreme” sports like Mountaineering. When I was in my first year I was involved in the running of the Skydiving Club.
Kieran skydiving with the Skydiving Club last weekend!
It’s very important to get involved with something other than your degree programme while you are at university as it helps you to meet people as well as improving your CV.
All the best with your degree programme.
Kieran
For more information about student societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities go to the Welcome Fair on the 25th and 26th of September 10am-4pm in the Liverpool Guild of Students building and Sports Centre or visit the Liverpool Guild of Students website by clicking here or the Sport Liverpool website by clicking here.
Today’s ‘Getting Social’ blog post is from Mel, who talks about dancing, volunteering and good ways to relax while you’re studying.
Being at university is an amazing opportunity to experience new things! The Liverpool Guild of Students offers an extensive range of societies to become part of which provide invaluable memories of making new friends, challenging yourself and learning! A few of you have been asking whether the ELC trips continue once you start your academic course in September and I’m sorry to say they don’t but the Guild does arrange trips sometimes for a small fee. Keep an eye out on the Guild noticeboards!
One of the first societies I joined was BodySoc which is The University of Liverpool’s dance society! I tried a few classes including ballet and jazz and it was really fun! I was quite busy at the time so I didn’t take part in the show but they regularly perform. The classes weren’t competitive but had a nice friendly atmosphere! They also hold other classes like tap and Irish dance.
The University of Liverpool Dance Society (or ‘BodySoc’) provides cheap dance lessons for all students, as well as putting on performances throughout the year
During my time at University I also volunteered at STAR Liverpool. STAR Liverpool is an independent student union society, affiliated, co-ordinated and financed by the STAR national registered charity. The main objectives of STAR Liverpool are to support refugees, who are unfairly stigmatised and marginalised, through volunteering, promotion, and campaigning. I attended the weekly conversation club which was an opportunity for the refugees to practice their English which you could make use of too! Any volunteering looks great on your CV and provides you with valuable experience and life tools! Volunteering in Liverpool would be an excellent way for you to experience Liverpool outside of the University campus and to get to know other communities.
Meditation classes are offered by the university‘STAR’ is a charity that helps refugees in Liverpool
There are lots of ways you can unwind and relax from the demands of studying, from exercising to practicing a hobby you love! Doing those activities in a group has the added benefit of the opportunity of making new friends! I went to the University of Liverpool meditation classes which provided a calm environment to stop stressing about deadlines and assessments and simply breathe and relax for a while! Each class involved a discussion as well which was a nice way to debate ways of engaging in peaceful living.
Mel
For more information about student societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities go to the Welcome Fair on the 25th and 26th of September 10am-4pm in the Liverpool Guild of Students building and Sports Centre or visit the Liverpool Guild of Students website by clicking here or the Sport Liverpool website by clicking here.
Today’s ‘Getting Social’ blog post is from George, who highlights that joining a student society can be really good for your CV as well as your social life.
If you want to add something on your CV while having fun and making friends then joining a society or club has to be one of your priorities in the first weeks of term time. The University of Liverpool has a multitude of societies and clubs ranging from formal societies like ‘The Legal Society’ or ‘Debating Society’ to informal ones such as ‘Poker Club’ or clubs such as ‘Skydiving Club’. In my first year I joined no less than seven societies and I must say I had a blast. However, if you want to stand out from the crowd and add something more to your CV, I advise you to try and get in the committee board of one of the societies in campus.
George collecting signatures for a petition as part of Women’s Rights Week with UNA Youth
During my time in university I was the President of Bright Futures Liverpool, a networking society which won the ‘Best Business Society at the University of Liverpool’ and I was also the Vice-President of UNA (United Nations Association) Youth Liverpool which won the ‘Best Small Society at the University of Liverpool’. These two positions helped me develop some important skills such as teamwork, communication, organisational skills, time management etc. which all the companies out there are looking for. However, managing a society can be challenging and can require a lot of your time but it is worth it; the professional experience, the rewards and the skills that you get from it can really help you on your future career.
From my own experience, the best advice that I can give you is be active, get involved in anything that you like or enjoy because the time spent at university is going to pass so quickly you won’t even realise. I wish you all the best with your studies and your future careers.
George
For more information about student societies, sports clubs and volunteering opportunities go to the Welcome Fair on the 25th and 26th of September 10am-4pm in the Liverpool Guild of Students building and Sports Centre or visit the Liverpool Guild of Students website by clicking here or the Sport Liverpool website by clicking here.
There have been plenty of times during my studies when I wished that I knew more of what was happening around the city. Living in Liverpool never has to be dull as there are plenty of interesting things to do after class. Here are my top 5 suggestions for when you have free time and when you just really want to have some fun in the city centre!
Jungle Rumble Mini Golf!
This mini golf is great in a bigger group of friends; you may also get slightly competitive! Jungle Rumble Mini Golf is found in Liverpool One, just under the Pizza Hut on the top floor. It costs £6.50 with a student card. There are two separate courses each with individual challenges – some much easier than others! You will be surprised at just how much you will focus and cheer at hole-in-ones and moan at misses, but overall the experience is great fun.
Liverpool Cathedral
You may have visited the Anglican Cathedral with the ELC Support Assistants during the Walking Tour earlier this summer, but we didn’t get the chance to visit the Tower. If you are prepared to climb 108 stairs you will be rewarded with great aerial views of the city, and don’t forget that ‘Top of the Anglican Cathedral’ is one of our #summerselfiechallenge activities, so when you’re up there don’t forget to take lots of photographs! Furthermore, with your student card tickets are only £4.00 – that’s cheap as chips for an afternoon activity! The Tower is open daily and tickets can be bought online or at the cathedral when you arrive. The next Twilight Tower Tours will be on the 11th and 18th of September. Here you get the opportunity to watch the sun set peacefully over the city. Check out www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk for more information!
The Shipping Forecast
The Shipping Forecast on Slater Street is a homely pub with a friendly atmosphere. They have an event on almost every night. Do you love burgers? Then Tuesday is the night for you due to the 2 for 1 burgers – yes you read right, 2 burgers for the price of 1! You can choose from a selection of fillings, dips and burger patties to essentially create your own signature dish. There is also plenty more scrummy food on the menu to try if you fancy something a little different. The Shipping Forecast is a very popular English student pub for you to try, and they also do Pub Quiz every other Monday. It costs only £1 to join in so why not get a bunch of mates down for an entertaining evening at the Shipping Forecast.
Liverpool One roof garden
If it’s a sunny afternoon and you would like to make the most of the British Summer visit Liverpool One’s roof garden. It is called Chavasse Park and is found at the very top of the shopping centre, and sometimes you will find interesting events or promotions. There are also lots of activities around the festive period. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities whilst around here – I met Sir Chris Hoy (Olympic cyclist) on the roof garden once!
E4 Slackers club at FACT cinema
Wander into FACT cinema and purchase a Student Picturehouse membership card for only £10! With this card you get lots of extra benefits during your cinema trips such as 10% off food and drink and membership to E4 Slackers club which gives you exclusive previews to the latest blockbusters for absolutely no cost! You need to show your Student ID card when purchasing the membership, and then they will sign you up to an emailing list with lots of events and competitions to join in with. So if you love going to watch movies – it is a very, very good deal!
I hope that this blog post has given you some fun ideas to get out and about and experience true student life in Liverpool.
Last weekend’s trip was to the beautiful Lake District in Cumbria. On both days we were extremely lucky with the weather – gorgeous blue skies and sunshine! However the morning didn’t start off so clear – we left a grey drizzly Liverpool behind as we made our way into the lush countryside hills! The drive was very scenic through Lancaster where lots of sheep and cows were spotted in the fields by the motorway. Lunch was on the agenda as soon as we arrived and many students sat opposite the coach park on a quiet hill top overlooking Lake Windermere. The grass was so green it was as if it was luminous!
Some of our students beside the lake
On Sunday we were lucky enough to see a Hindu celebration with a full marching band taking place by the waterfront. Hundreds of people dressed in saris and Scottish kilts walked to the top of a hill to commemorate a Hindu religious leader. The outfits were beautiful with lots of gold and gleaming oranges and pinks. Down by the waterfront the students enjoyed the wonderful view of the glistening lake, the many islands dotted about the water and the distant hills and fells inhabited with hundreds of flourishing trees. There were almost as many ducks and swans as there were people and they were so friendly, eager to eat anything you would offer them! You could buy bird food nearby and many visitors took the opportunity to feed the swans who clearly never went hungry. Up the high street was an array of traditional sweet shops and tea rooms providing tasty cream teas and treats.
One of our students feeding the very friendly swans
For some of the students who wanted to explore further the next stop was Ambleside and this was reached either via boat or coach. The boat ride was great fun and took 30 minutes offering fantastic views of the surrounding areas to Lake Windermere. The journey was quite breezy but it was great to get such fresh air and see an old castle amongst the trees!
Ambleside high street was very quaint and had lots of little cafes and tea rooms. We all enjoyed treats like hot apple pie, raspberry and almond slice and pots of tea. There was also a very extravagant chocolate shop selling luxury chocolates and truffles, toffee and jam. On the walk down to the boat port, lots of sheep and charming stone houses were to be seen as well as lovely hanging baskets and flower arrangements.
As we all met back in Boweness-on-Windermere some of the students revealed they’d seen some very cute tiny owls displayed by a wildlife organisation.
One of the cute owls!
Everyone seemed to have great fun and enjoy the countryside views of the Lake District – what a fun trip! We had a great time with you all and look forward to the next trip together to Anfield and the Williamson Tunnels!
Remember if you took any pictures there’s still time to enter them into the Photo of the Week competition! Send them to SWT@liv.ac.uk to be in with a chance of winning a prize! Also don’t forget about the #SummerSelfieChallenge! Send your selfies to SWT@liv.ac.uk to enter the competition!
English Language Centre Summer 2014 