Lazy Students!

Why do people think a student’s life is so easy?

Not long ago I was talking to a friend of mine who has been working for several years now. I was in a kind of  small talk mood and asked him whether he likes his work and how he’s getting on… not a good idea. “You know what?” he started talking, “my life is so stressful! I wish I was a student like you! Students have such a nice life. They just sit in their lessons, pretending to listen, and from time to time they have to write some exams… that’s it! Lucky you! You have such an easy life!”

What?!

Well, I don’t think so. A student’s life is not easier. Most of the students have to work after school and they have to cope with the pressure that lies on their shoulders during the whole year. I often wish I was an employee who comes home in the afternoon and doesn’t have to deal with any kind additional homework or something.

What do you think? Are you a busy or a lazy student? Maybe you are an employee and agree?

I’d love to hear your opinion.

World of Linguistics

Technology

Do you like writing articles or essays? No? Hm… Do you like sending text messages with your mobile? Well, then you are certainly a part of the technology-generation these days. But does the fact that we send that many text messages every day affect our way of writing essays, etc.?

The Irish State Examination Commission (SEC) examined exams of Irish students and found out that Irish students’ writing abilities are getting worse and they blame SMS abbreviations and computer language for this development. So, do you agree with that? What is it like in your country and do u use abbreviations in ur txt-mssgs? I’d luv to see ur point of view!

Have a gr8 day!                                                                                   

Your week at Atlas

Have good time with the Atlas students! Discover our social programme for this week during afternoon or evening, from Monday 20th to Sunday 26th July!

• Monday 20th July : Orientation Tour of Dublin City Centre
• Tuesday 21th July : Trip to Kilmainham Gaol
• Wednesday 22nd July: Irish Cultural Studies at school and Dog Raicing during evening
• Friday 24th July: Conversation class at school
• Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July: Trip to Galway

Conversation Class On Friday afternoon

These fun classes are very popular and are a great opportunity to practice speaking skills.
From 1.30pm to 2.30pm, joins us in classroom Ranelagh Building 1.

Temple Bar Circus Festival on Saturday 11th July

From comic trapeze to aerial circus feats, roving dancers, comedy, a circus cruise and street samba, the Temple Bar Circus Festival (9th – 12th July 2009) has announced an exciting programme featuring over 50 unique circus skill performers and award-winning acts for what will be the biggest Circus Festival in Temple Bar to date.

Organised by Temple Bar Cultural Trust, the festival is an action-filled showcase for world class circus and breath-taking performances with the best of Irish and international acts to entertain people of all ages, young and old.

Meet at 11.30pm at St Stephen’s Green Luas Station.

National Gallery of Ireland On Tuesday 9th July

Meet at 1.30pm in Elmwood Avenue to visit the National Gallery of Ireland.

The National Gallery of Ireland houses the Irish national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the center of Dublin city with an entrance on Merrion Square, it contains a fantastic collection.

Orientation Tour of Dublin City Centre

Every Monday Afternoon, join us on an Orientation Tour of Dublin.

A great to chance for our new students to get properly acquainted with Dublin with a guided tour of the major attractions of the city!

Tour covers central Dublin including Temple Bar, Trinity College, Dame St, and O’Connell St.

Meet at 1.30pm in Elmwood House and have a great time with your Atlas friends!

Irish Expressions!

“What’s the Craic?”

The Craic (Pronounced ‘crack’) is an Irish word (Gaelic) with no direct translation in English. The closest you get is “fun.”

Officialy: Craic being an Irish language word for good times/ gossip/music/ drinking/ debauchery of any kind/ or good clean fun.
If asked this question by an Irish person, you are expected to give a reply which includes information on how you are, what you are doing, where are you going, with whom are you going there, have you any interesting gossip one might like to hear about, and so on. It is a question to which there are many possible answers, and it is used with great frequency in Ireland.

Can be used in a variety of ways:

1. Q: What’s the crack?
Possible Ans: The craic’s great/grand… I’ve got a new job workin’wi’ the council. I got steamin drunk last night and ended up went with that Paddy Doherty from the co-op and I’m wrecked today. Any craic wi’ you? OR There’s no craic at all. Any craic with you? (i.e. nothing interesting happening here at all)
2. Q:How was the party last night?
Ans: It was brilliant craic …..and so on
3. Q: Where’s the craic?
Ans: Try Mickey D’s house, there’s a session going on there (night of drink/ women/ music etc)
4. Q: Any craic?
Answer: Yes, did you not hear the craic? Mary from Shantallow is up the duff (pregnant)