At our school, we believe that learning English should be interactive and connected to real-life experiences. That’s why class 9D was excited to take part in a special lesson with a native English speaker named James from Oxford Education First (EF) on 11/03/2025, who previously taught in Japan. 

During the lesson, we explored British slang and cultural etiquette, gaining insights that go beyond traditional textbook learning. We learned informal British expressions such as “alright” as in "everything okay?" or as a synonym for "okay," “knackered” for being tired, and “quid” for the British pound. Understanding these colloquial phrases helped us get a feel for every day English. 

Our teacher also introduced us to travel etiquette in different countries. In Australia, for example, it is common for everyone to bring food when attending a barbecue. In the Philippines, touching someone’s head is considered disrespectful because it is seen as sacred. These cultural insights helped us understand how to be polite and respectful while traveling abroad. 

This lesson was a fantastic opportunity to experience English in a new and practical way. It not only improved our understanding of the language but also prepared us for real-life interactions in different cultures. We look forward to more lessons that bring language and culture together! 

All in all, the lesson was engaging, insightful, and, as the Brits would say, the bee’s knees. And if you don’t know what that means – maybe you should join James’ next lecture and find out ... 

Hannah and Josephine (9d)