SEDA News, Issue 36, November 2014 Copyright: SEDA College | www.news.sedacollege.com

SEDA partners up with National College of Ireland

Scholarships worth €1,000 are offered to SEDA students wishing to study for a Business or Computing degree in 2015 after finishing their English course at SEDA.

To find out more read the full interview with NCI’s Jamile Luz on page 4

SEDA College’s Halloween party at the Mercantile Bar. See pages 6 & 7 for more pictures!

SEDA’s English language courses will soon become a pathway to a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in one of Ireland’s leading public colleges – the National College of Ireland (NCI). Last month SEDA struck a partnership with NCI which means that students can transition to programmes with the college after finishing their English course at SEDA.NCI is based in a brand-

new campus in Dublin’s Docklands and offers a wide range of programmes that are specifically tailored for the needs of today’s employers. SEDA students applying for full-time courses starting in January 2015 can avail of a scholarship of €1,000.Both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses (as well as shorter Higher Diploma programmes) are offered in subjects like

International Management, Marketing, Accounting, Cloud Computing, Software Development, Mobile Technologies and Data Analysis, among many other disciplines. More traditional courses such as MBA are also available. Yearly cost of the programmes ranges from €8,300 to €11,500. The part-time certificates are priced from €950 up to €4,500.According to NCI’s

International Development Executive Jamile Luz, the suitability of these courses to SEDA students will vary from person to person. “For the students interested in pursuing their third level education here in Ireland, followed by a successful career among the Business & Finance and IT industries, NCI will certainly be the most suitable institution to look for,” she added.

The National College of Ireland was founded in 1951. Some years ago it moved to a brand new campus on Mayor Square in Dublin’s Docklands. It now focuses on Business and Computing programmes as well as professional development courses in innovative subjects like Digital Marketing.

From 108 to 78kg: my weight loss

story

SEDA News is 3 years old!

We will miss you Ashleigh!

PAgE

PAgE

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gOODBYE

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SEDA News: Ireland’s first newspaper for international students. Circulation: 1000 copies. Editor: Viktor Posudnevsky Design: Felipe MartinsSEDA College,68-72 Capel Street, Dublin 1.Ph: 01 473 4915; news@seda.ie; www.news.sedacollege.com; http://www.facebook.com/mySEDA.Ireland

NOVEMBER CALENDAR

SEDA student and part-time staff member Rubens Moreira became one of the thousands of runners to finish the TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, but he was the only one wearing a cool SEDA T-Shirt. And, with a finish time of 03:58, he also set a personal

record, bettering his previous result – achieved at Dublin Marathon 2012 – by almost 15 minutes!Rubens is an English student at SEDA and he also works part-time with the college’s student support

Rubens finishes New York Marathon in style, and with a personal record

team. It was his second marathon and his first ever visit to the United States. The SEDA student ran about 60 kilometres every week in preparation for the race.An estimated 50 000 runners took

part in this year’s New York City m a r a t h o n that bypasses all of the city’s five b o r o u g h s : Manhattan, B r o o k l y n , Q u e e n s , Bronx and Staten Island.

Ireland’s first newspaper for international students has now been in print for three years as this is our 36th edition! SEDA News’ first issue went out back in August 2011 and since then the paper has grown steadily. Started by SEDA students Rodrigo Luiz Vianna and Andre Martins Ressel, the publication has featured plenty of writers – mostly foreign students, bloggers and

40 SEDA College students were honoured for their hard work and dedication at SEDA’s first Graduation Day on October 24. Special certificates were given out to the college’s most accomplished students who made it to the most recent honour roll (the list features the best learners from every class, based on grades and attendance). Students who completed Cambridge exams like PET and FCE were also honoured as well as those graduating from the Advanced class in October and November this year.

journa l i s t s living in Ireland. The monthly newspaper has a c irculat ion

of 1000 and it is distributed free of charge in and around SEDA College as well as at international student events and fairs. SEDA News is also sent out to education agents overseas and does its bit helping to promote Ireland as a study destination. Our task is to inform students about life in Ireland, introduce them to local people, places and traditions. We are always happy to engage with students and locals alike, so if you have a story – or even a picture – drop us a line on news@seda.ie!

Apart from excellent grades all of the award recipients also have exceptional attendance records. Every graduate got a goodie bag featuring a SEDA-branded raincoat, and all of those invited were

treated to a selection of snacks and sweets. SEDA’s Director of Studies Carol Cregg opened the graduation ceremony with a speech about the importance of acknowledging the hard work of students at SEDA. Every SEDA student gets a certificate at the end of their course, but last month’s graduation ceremony was the first such event since SEDA moved to its new premises last year. It is hoped that Graduation Day will become another great tradition at SEDA in the coming months.

Students honoured at SEDA’s first

Graduation Day

SEDA News celebrates 3 years in print!

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SEDA News: Ireland’s first newspaper for international students. Circulation: 1000 copies. Editor: Viktor Posudnevsky Design: Felipe MartinsSEDA College,68-72 Capel Street, Dublin 1.Ph: 01 473 4915; news@seda.ie; www.news.sedacollege.com; http://www.facebook.com/mySEDA.Ireland

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The British Irish visa scheme that will allow tourists from outside the EU travel to Britain on an Irish visa (and vice versa) was formally launched last month. At the moment the scheme only applies to visitors from China and India, but the Irish and British governments are hoping to expand it to all nationalities in 2015. The scheme means that tourists, business visitors and other eligible visitors will be able, for the first time, to visit both the UK and Ireland, including moving freely between north and south of the island of Ireland on a single visa, issued by either Ireland or the UK.China and India were announced as the first countries to benefit from the new arrangements. It was agreed that the operation of

A new pub has opened its doors in county Kerry, with décor and drinks inspired by Frodo, Bilbo and the company. ‘The Shire’, a Lord of the Rings themed pub, opened in Killarney last month offering punters the chance to get ‘Merry’ on ‘Bilbo’s Beer’. Areas of the bar are named after ‘Middle Earth’, ‘Mordor’ and ‘the Prancing Pony’. From the taps, visitors can inspect Tolkien-inspired tankards full of Gandalf’s Ale, Bilbo’s Beer, Frodo’s Lager or Orc Draught.Pub owner and lifelong LOTR fan Ollie Favier said in a newspaper interview that the response so far has been “phenomenal”. So if you’re a fan of Lord of the Rings and are in Killarney some day make sure to check it out at The Shire, Michael Collins Place, Killarney, Co Kerry.

the scheme in China and India will be reviewed in early 2015, and subject to completion of that review, a timetable will be finalised for the rollout of the scheme to all countries by the end of 2015.Launching the scheme Ireland’s Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald said: “From Ireland’s perspective, we want to build on the success of the Irish Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme launched by the Irish Government in 2011. Since then short-term visitors to the UK from countries covered under the scheme have been permitted to visit Ireland on a UK visa. As a result, almost 45,000 additional visitors travelled to Ireland last year compared to 2010 and we want this number to grow even further.”

Ireland launches common visa

scheme with UK

Have a pint of “Frodo’s lager” in a new LOTR-themed pub in Kerry

Last month SEDA College started a new partnership with the National College of Ireland (NCI) which will allow students transition from their English language courses at SEDA to Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes at NCI. SEDA News spoke with NCI’s International Development Executive Jamile Luz to find out more.

The National College of Ireland is inviting all SEDA students on a free tour of the campus on November 10. Check the events calendar for more details!

How can SEDA students transition from their English course at SEDA to courses in NCI?The transition and application process is very simple. The Students interested in progressing to an Undergraduate / Postgraduate program, will need: copy of their high-school Diploma / university transcripts translated into English, copy of their passport, copy of their IELTS (or equivalent) and the International Application form.

What kinds of courses do you offer? Which ones would be the most suitable for our students?The National College of Ireland specialises in two areas: Business and Computing. We offer a range of programs among these areas that are not only innovative and practical, but most importantly, relevant to employers. For an overview of the courses please see our prospectus.The suitability of these courses to SEDA students will vary from person to person. For the students interested in pursuing their third level education here in Ireland, followed by a successful career among the

Business & Finance and IT industries, NCI will be certainly the most suitable institution to look for.

Do you have any students who’ve come from SEDA already?Currently we haven’t got any student that came from SEDA. However, we have one application from a SEDA student to the MSc in Data Analytics starting on January 2015. If this student is accepted in the course, he will avail of a scholarship of €1000. I would like to take this opportunity to raise the awareness of all students from SEDA, that we are offering scholarships of €1000 for anyone who successfully register to any of program open to January 2015 intake.

Are the courses part-time or full-time?All of the courses for International students here in Ireland must be delivered on a full-time basis. All of the courses listed above are full-time programs, however the time tables are very flexible and students hardly ever have classes every day. For instance, the Higher Diplomas,

although being full- time courses, are delivered three evenings per week, between 18:00 and 21:30. All the remaining UG and PG are delivered normally 4 days a week, between 9:00 and 17:00.We do have some part-time courses at night, normally short term certificates, delivered once or twice a week from 18:00 to 21:00 such as the Certificate in Digital Marketing (2 semesters), Certificate in Business (1 semester), Certificate in Entrepreneurship (13 weeks), Certificate Financial Regulation (13 weeks), Certificate in Web Technologies (13 weeks), etc. Please note that in order to qualify for these, the student needs to already have a student visa in Ireland, from another full-time course that they may be registered with SEDA. Immigration wise, these short part-time certificates cannot provide any visa for the student.

How much can students expect to pay for the part-time certificate courses?The part-time certificates are priced from €950 up to €4,500.

Do the courses give you the right to a student visa?

Full-time Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses do, but part-time certificate courses will not give any international student the right to a student visa.

How can students get more information about programmes available to them at the end of their course in SEDA?For the students interested in getting well informed about the

opportunities available to each one of them, however their nationality, academic history or English language level, please get in touch with me at luz.jamile@ncirl.ie , or reach out to me by phone at 01 4498661 (from 9:00 to 17:00). Also, have a look on our website under the section “International Students” for more information on what the College has to offer!

National College of Ireland invites applications from SEDA students

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Ashleigh tell me about your experience at SEDA.I have been working at SEDA for 2 and a half years. I initially started as an evening substitute teacher for the summer classes back when we were in Dolphin’s Barn. I was then hired as a fulltime teacher and then in March 2013 was promoted to Assistant Director of Studies.

How has SEDA changed since you got here?SEDA has developed so much since I started in 2012. We went from having 5 teachers, with 8 or so classes a day, to 30 teachers and 40 classes per day! We also have a wide variety of nationalities now, not just students from South America. Getting the EAQUALS accreditation was very rewarding for all the hard work everyone at SEDA has put in and proves we really are one of the best schools in Dublin.

What are the main things you did as Assistant Director of studies?My job as ADOS focused a lot on student and teacher support. It was my job to give induction to new students, manage student placement, monitor progress and change students level by level. I also worked closely with all departments in the school and was lucky to have such great co-workers.

What did you enjoy most about your job?I mostly enjoyed the daily interaction with students that the job requires. I met a lot of great people from all over the world. I also loved seeing students progress through their course. To meet them at their induction, just starting their course

Sibéal could you please tell me a bit about yourself?I’m Sibéal Turraoin. The Dubs would call me a culchie – I’m originally from a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking area) called An Rinn, in county Waterford on the South coast of Ireland. It’s a really beautiful place, my house is in the countryside, and looks out over some beaches, the Comeragh Mountains and Dungarvan bay. I’ve also lived in Waterford and Cork but I’ve been in Dublin on and off for years.

When did you first start working at SEDA and how did you find this job?I started in January 2014 along with my friend Aoife, who also teaches here – she suggested that I apply and I’m really happy I did!

What classes did you use to teach at SEDA?I’ve taught mostly Beginner to Intermediate level and occasionally a little of Upper-Intermediate/Advanced levels. I love those levels because you really get to see the progress the students make.

Before working at SEDA what did you do?I was a graphic designer and I lectured in that at university level also. I also worked as a freelance

to seeing them 6 months later and how much their English improved made me feel very proud of them and happy for their achievements.

Now that you’ve left who can students turn to if they have an issue with their class?If students have any academic issues there are a lot of people in the academic department that they can go to. Carol, Stephen and Carolina are still in the office available for help or questions. My replacement will be Sibeal. I know she will be a

great addition to the team.

What is your next goal?My next goal is to return to my

graphic designer and I still do some design work, mostly for Irish-language school books and marine sciences, which I really enjoy. I taught English in another school in Dublin too.

What do you like about SEDA and what do you enjoy about the job?I love the students and staff. I’ve made a lot of good friends here and I really enjoy coming to work every day. SEDA has a great atmosphere. We have a lot of fun and I get to learn a lot from my students too. I’ve learnt a little Portuguese for example. But my Korean needs a lot of work! Some of my students have even learned a few words of Irish too, which is really cool. There’s a lot of freedom in what we can do in class too and I love that we can use our creativity to make learning fun.

What do you think about your new position at SEDA? Will you stop teaching?It’s going to be a big challenge as Ashleigh did such an amazing job – those boots are going to be pretty hard to fill! So it’s exciting and a little bit daunting just now! But any new experience is always like that. I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I love learning new things and I’ve been learning a lot in the last few weeks! Thankfully Carol and Carolina will be there to help me.I’ll still teach a little – which I’m really glad about as I love it. I’d miss teaching if I stopped completely.

What issues can you help students with? When should they contact you and how?All the process will remain the same – so submit your Change Forms and Attendance Checks as usual. I can help with CVs or other proofreading. If anyone has any questions about any academic issues, their course, level or any other problem they can find me in the Academic Office on the second floor, or email me (sibeal@seda.ie), and if I can’t help you directly hopefully I’ll know someone who can!

The system seems pretty comprehensive to me and I’m still learning the ropes, but I love problem solving so if anyone has issues (or ideas) in that regard please let me know!

passion, which is teaching children. I just received my green card and am planning to immigrate to the United States this month. I will be living in New Jersey and hope to get back into teaching as soon as I can.

How would you describe the time you spent in Ireland?I have absolutely loved my time in Ireland! I have been living here for 3 years and have seen a lot of the world that I never thought I would. I have met and worked with so many great people. The staff are so

dedicated and I have loved seeing SEDA grow into the amazing school that it is today. I love how diverse the school is and I have loved meeting students from all over the world. I have definitely added a few new countries to my future travel list!

What would be your goodbye message to students and staff at SEDA?I would like to thank everyone at SEDA for an amazing 2 and a half years. I have learned so much and will treasure all the memories I have made here. I will definitely be back to visit Ireland in the future! I wish everyone at SEDA all the success, happiness and enjoyment that living and working abroad can bring!

We will miss you Ashleigh! Introducing: Sibéal TurraoinThis month SEDA’s Assistant Director of Studies Ashleigh Langille is leaving Ireland for the

United States. Asheligh has spent the last two and a half years at SEDA and she will be sorely missed. Just before she left her job at the college the Canadian-born teacher chatted to SEDA News. The new Assistant Director of Studies spoke to SEDA News

about starting in her new role and the challenges ahead.

Ashleigh with fellow SEDA teachers at the college’s Halloween party in 2012

by Carolina Bernal

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Dublin Beatles Festival

Dublin Book Festival

Where: Twisted Pepper; Workman’s Club; Oval Bar and Liquor Rooms, Dublin City.When: 7 – 9 NovemberWhere: Smock Alley Theatre,

Temple Bar, D2When: 13-16 November.

Dublin Beatles Festival returns to the city for the second year. The festival attracts Beatles fans from all over Ireland and the world. This year, there will be Beatle gigs, film, theatre, free events, a table quiz, public interview, art, memorabilia, merchandise... and

Where: Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2When: 19 -30 November

The flagship festival of the Irish Film Institute, the Carte Noire boasts a selection of new features, documentaries and of course, the classics – all made in France. Over its 15 successful years the festival has hosted some of the most distinguished and revered names in French cinema, from Juliette Binoche, Arnaud Desplechin, and Emmanuelle Devos, to Xavier Beauvois, Jane Birkin, and Isabelle Carré. www.ifi.ie/frenchfest

Carte Noire IFI French Film Festival

Elton John & his band9 December @ 3

Arena. Elton and the band will be playing classic album tracks from his incredible

five-decade career. Tickets: from €65.45

Passenger22 November @ 3 Arena

Mike Rosenberg, the Brighton-born singer/songwriter, familiar to millions as Passenger

topped the charts with his break-up ballad Let Her Go. He will play a

gig in Dublin this month. Tickets: €33.50.

Mastodon19 November

@ The AcademyAmerican metal band will rock the Academy venue later this month.

Tickets: €30.

Talib Kweli10 December @ Sugar Club

(Leeson Street, D2) The Brooklyn-based rapper earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically-gifted,

socially aware and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the

last 20 years. Tickets: €22.50.

gardiner Streetgospel Choir

One of Ireland’s most renowned gospel choirs. Based in St. Francis Xavier’s

Church on Gardiner Street, the choir is known for the energy and enthusiasm it brings to the weekly gospel mass on

Sunday evenings. Tickets: €20.

Morrissey1 December @ 3 Arena

Ex-frontman of the Smiths and Morrissey will play songs from his most recent album World

Peace is None of Your Business as well as older

hits. Tickets: €59.50.

Sinead O’ConnorDecember 16 @ Vicar St

Nothing compares to you singer will play her brand new show “I’m not bossy,

I’m the boss” in Dublin next month. Tickets: €39.

The Riptide Movement6 December @

Vicar St.The rock/alternative

quartet from Lucan, county

Dublin will play a show. Tickets:

€19.50.

glen Hansard & band

December 15 @ Vicar St. One of the

most prominent Irish musician, star of

the movie Once and Oscar winner Glen Hansard will play a gig at Dublin’s Vicar Streer venue next

month. Tickets: €30.

Boys Noize14 November @ The Academy

German electronic music producer and DJ Boys Noize will play his brand of dance electronic at the Academy

next month. Tickets: €24.90.

Mos Def aka Yasiin Bey

24 November @ Vicar St Regarded

as one of hip-hop’s most introspective

and insightful artists, Mos Def will play a

special show in Dublin to celebrate 15th anniversary of his seminal album Black on Both Sides. Tickets: €33.50.

Slash10 November @ 3 Arena Guitar

god and ex-Guns N Roses member will play a show in

Dublin 3 Arena soon. Tickets: €39.05.

James Blunt20 November @ 3 Arena. British singer who shot to fame with You’re beautiful will play songs from his most recent album Moon Landing as

well as older hits. Tickets: €44.05.

Enrique Iglesias23 November @ 3 ArenaOne of the world’s best-selling Spanish speaking

artists will present his Sex and Love Tour in Dublin this month.

Tickets: from €49.65.

Andrea Bocelli14 November @ 3 Arena

The biggest selling solo classical artist of all time, Andrea Bocelli is coming

to Dublin later this month with special guest Lindsey Stirling – chart-topping

violinist and YouTube Sensation. Tickets: from €55.

Improv Fest IrelandWhere: Teachers’ Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 and other venues.When: 9 – 16 November

Improv Fest Ireland is the country’s only week-long festival dedicated to Improvisational Theatre and Comedy. There will be multiple shows, workshops, and social events, most of them taking place at the Teacher’s Club, which is just a short walk away from SEDA. With Improvisers from all over the globe performing and participating, the festival promises to be a lot of fun! www.improvfestireland.com

Dublin Book Festival is one of Ireland’s largest and most vibrant book festivals and a showcase for the world of Irish publishing. It celebrates Irish published authors across the whole range of genres, from comedy and literary fiction, business, cookery and travel, to poetry and Irish language events. The festival will have a bookshop, reading area and a children’s area. As the majority of the events are free, it is a fun, affordable day out for everyone.

lots more! The great Neil Innes (Monty Python and The Rutles) is coming over from England; and Revolver are coming over from Scotland. There will also be some free events including The Beatles Sing-Song Session at the Oval Bar and a free showing of the cult classic: The Rutles – All You Need Is Cash.

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By Savana Caldas

Leave the routine behind and improve your English in a different and fun way – by attending the drama class.Initiated by SEDA College student and actress Micka Rodrigues, the project fascinated everyone who participated during these last number of months. It transformed Tuesday evenings into moments of relaxation and learning.SEDA’s drama club began on July 22, its purpose: to keep the students in contact with the English language and help them to grow personally and culturally. In total, there were almost 3 months of classes where more than 30 students of different nationalities were present.On October 7, the project was closed in big style at SEDA’s student lounge with the show “Mismatch & Mishaps”

where the students presented three scenes: “Waiting for Godot”, written by Samuel Beckett and staged by Leon Kurosawa, Alejandro Leal and Danilo Bethon; “Imitose” written by the Brazilian group “Os Barbixas” and presented by Fernando Castella, Danilo Rogatto and Danilo Bethon; and “The Telephone Call”, written by Dorothy Parker, dramatized by Rayanne Lindoso. All three scenes were directed by Micka Rodrigues.

Learning and fun at SEDA’s Drama Class

Who is Micka Rodrigues?

by Rayanne Lindoso

Don’t worry if you cannot pronounce the name of this small city: one of the biggest amusements of the locals is to watch a tourist putting a huge effort to say Dun Laoghaire right. To get rid of the embarrassment, just say “Dun Leary” and all will be fine! The journey begins at Connolly Station, Dublin 1. It is possible to get to Dun Laoghaire by bus, but taking the DART is the fastest way to reach the town, located about 12 km away from Dublin. The round trip

Who’s Micka? Please tell us about yourself, in and out of SEDA College.I am Micka Rodrigues, 27 years old, student and actress. I am very interested in culture and arts. I am also a SEDA student of the Upper-Intermediate level.

Could you tell us more about your career? When did you start your involvement with drama?I started my career in 1999 in an amateur theatre group. Later I graduated in Drama at Anhembi Morumbi University. I performed as an actress, dancer and presenter in some plays, on the TV and at a famous theme park. I also taught drama for children and teenagers at “Objetivo School”, and “Globe-SP / Drama School”. In Ireland I take part in a “Talking Text” Workshop with Andrea Ainsworth at Abbey Theatre and I also studied Drama at The Gaiety School Of Acting.

What was the most important role in your career? I have been doing drama since I was 14 years old. All plays that I acted mean a lot to me. Each one gave me the opportunity to have a different experience of life, a new culture and get involved with the subject matter

ticket costs €5.50 and the journey takes about 25 minutes.After you arrive in Dun Laoghaire, be prepared to walk a little bit. The good

side is: the DART station is next to the biggest tourist attraction of the place – the marina with its two piers.

of the play. For example, my fist character was a psychiatrist, working in a mental asylum, so I remember that I had an interview with a real psychiatrist to prepare for the role. Also I played in “Vem Buscar me que ainda sou Teu” written by Carlos Alberto Soffredini, it’s a play about circus in Brazil. I’ve already had parts in plays written by Shakespeare, Will Eno and other playwrights. My last play before coming to Ireland was “A Turma do Chaves” where I played “Dona Neves” – a hilarious grandmother. Anyway, being on stage is absolutely brilliant!

How can drama class help in learning a new language?At drama class students do a series of exercises where they have to interact, practice dialogues and create scenes in a group. The challenge was to discuss and expose their ideas in a group with lots of different nationalities, like Mexican, Korean, Brazilian and Ukrainian students. Also the classes give students plenty of opportunities to improve their listening and writing. They needed to listen to my instructions for the exercises. I remember there was an exercise where I asked them to close their eyes and just keep walking

They hug and protect the harbour providing a space for boats and the practice of some sports, such as kayaking, enjoyed even by children. The West Pier, is closer to the exit of DART and, because it is located further away from the city centre, it is the least popular among locals and tourists. This ensures plenty of tranquillity during the 1.5km walk and, at the end, you will come

across one of the famous lighthouses built in 1852. If you choose the trendy East Pier, get ready to find buskers and families along its 1.2 km stretch. It’s time to walk, feel the sea breeze and watch the various types of birds and animals that inhabit the coastal region, such as seals. Yes, there are records of seals in the

waters of Dun Laoghaire, but I’ve not seen one during my visit…After all this walking, the belly starts

around the room and following my instructions. In the end of the exercise I asked them to write some words, sentences or a monologue that could express their feelings during the exercise. All of this was in English of course!

Do you have some tips on how students could improve their English?Well... firstly, come to class every day. This is where you learn new grammar, lots of new vocabulary and expressions. Then you have to practice all these new skills, so it’s a good idea to find something that you are interested in and go to workshops or do a short course in that specific area. This will make you improve your speaking and listening. For example, last week I participated in a “free talk” at the Gate Theatre with the writer Hugo Hamilton who wrote the play “The Mariner”. He spoke about the background behind his play. And the funny thing is, he is Irish, but his mother tongue is German and Irish, and he had learned English through his living experience, by speaking the language and “rehearsing the dialogue” that he heard in the streets, as he put it. I think all English students can learn a thing or two from him!

THE CHARM OF DUN LAOGHAIREto roar. The Bits & Pizza restaurant is under the same management since 1987 and specializes in Italian cuisine. Every day, from 12:00 to 18:00, you can order one of the Lunch Menu meals for less than €10. You can choose from pizza, pasta, soup, chicken wings... I opted for the lasagna bolognese and I did not regret. It was well cooked and presented, cost €9.55 and was accompanied by a mini salad and garlic bread. Yummy!

Still in the mood for a bit of walking? You can visit the James Joyce Museum and the People’s Park, which features a food and crafts market on Sundays. The sad side is that I went on a Saturday. The good side is that I now have one more reason to return to the lovely Dun Laoghaire.

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How can I start?That`s the first question everyone who wishes to lose weight asks at the beginning.The anxiety, the fear of not getting it another time, yes, another time, because after all, those who try to diet, do not just try once. “I’ll start on Monday”, “I`ll start to eat healthy things”.Let her who has never made promises like that throw the first stone!My name is Rayanne Lindoso, I am 25 years old, a journalist and Upper Intermediate English student at SEDA College, and now I’d like to tell you a little bit about my life.Since I was a teenager, I’ve always been a bit over my normal weight, but I was never really overweight. One or two extra kilos didn’t make much difference due to my height: 172 cm.Years passed, extra pounds came… until finally last year I realised that I was 108kg –38 kilos over my desired weight. It seemed like the end of the world! How did I get to that point?I realized that was the time to

How long have you been in Ireland? Since 9th May this year.

What is your class at SEDA?Advanced

Where are you from?Mexico.

What did you do while you were volunteering with Serve the City? I was painting a set of stairs when volunteering

What do you think about the idea of volunteering work and how do

Where are you from?Brazil

How long have you been in Ireland?1 month.

What is your level at SEDA?I’m in the Elementary class. What did you do while you were volunteering with Serve the City? I helped clean a classroom and I also organised bookshelves.

What do you think about the idea of volunteering work and how do you feel doing it?I think it’s a great idea! I always feel happy when I can help those in need.

change! I wanted to do my shopping

without feeling pain in my legs and back. I wanted to live!

So, as everyone who’s desperate to

lose weight, I started searching the internet for

miracle diets and physical activities that would make me lose weight easily. I was desperate! But as you can imagine, nothing worked. After all, it is impossible to start living the healthy life without being healthy, i.e., living on a fruit diet, juice diet etc... Forget it! It doesn’t work. Can you imagine eating only fruit all your life? Neither can I!After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to try a new approach. So

you feel doing it?I felt like I needed to give something back to the community and I felt happy doing it. It was good for me, of course, to meet Irish people as well

What did you learn during you volunteer work?I learned how to paint

What do you think about the experience of doing volunteer work?I think it’s a good opportunity to grow as a person.

What did you learn during you volunteer work?I learned to share ideas in a new

language. I also learned a little more

of English and I learned about the Irish

culture.

What do you think about the experience of doing volunteer work?I think it’s great for the resume and it

also allows you to learn a lot of new

things.

Why do you think other SEDA students should go out and volunteer?There are no limits to those who want

to do good! It’s great idea to be a

volunteer and also serve the city that

welcomed you.

I started re-educating myself about nutrition and seriously taking up sports.I soon discovered that weight loss was no mystery, I just had to replace the food I loved with its healthier version that contains less calories. I learned that eating smaller portions every 3 hours made sense and that a run on the beach was more enjoyable than I imagined.I challenged myself, set myself monthly goals and slowly those unwanted pounds began to disappear. I ran on the beach, skated, started surfing, practiced Muay Thai, joined the dance class and became a gym member. I did everything step by step, without exaggeration, after all, I’m not a machine.The effort paid off: in 9 months I lost 30 kilos. During this period I faced several challenges that reflected not

only on my body, but on my health and mainly on my self esteem.The month of May came and with it the trip to Ireland which I dreamed of so much. In general, coming to study in a different country is a big challenge, so imagine how it is for someone who is also working hard to lose weight. You have to learn what to buy in the local supermarket, learn how to cook and adapt yourself in

general.Everyone who’s done it knows that moving on from frozen foods isn`t very easy. And what about all the chocolates? Cookies? Complicated!And guess what, as your pocket empties, your weight increases. And this was exactly what happened with me. I had to get back on track, but how could I do this? I didn’t have my gym, my dance class or any other sports I practiced in my country...I did some research, found a gym and realised that having a healthy life in Dublin was totally possible. I confess that in the beginning it was very difficult, but I had to do it!With pen and paper in hand I started to list everything I thought ideal to my diet. Soon my yogurt became fat free or low fat, the butter became light, I changed ham for turkey breast, the milk became slim and finally lettuce came into my menu. Fruits have become more present, I changed the mayonnaise and began to eat more wholegrain products such as rice, pasta and bread. Even with so many changes, my weekly grocery bill didn’t increase, i.e. it’s completely

possible.When I started losing weight I also started a blog where I tell all about my journey, which has helped me a lot due to the support of everyone who reads it.Despite trying to keep in line, I make mistakes as any human, after all, who’s never seen me

eating that tasty carrot chocolate cake at SEDA College? Delicious!Today I weigh 80 kg and keep on the tireless pursuit of my ideal weight. I believe that there is no universal formula to weight loss, but that each person must find their own way, respecting their own limits and, above all, proceed with no rush, just have a focus and believe!

Volunteering with an organisation called Serve the City is a monthly activity at SEDA and any student can take part (check the calendar for future dates!). This month SEDA News spoke to two students who gave up their weekend to help people in need.

FROM 108 TO 78KG: MY WEIGHT LOSS STORY

Samuel Evaristo García Villa Age: 30

Samuel Lucio Ferreira dos SantosAge: 24

by Rayanne Lindoso

Volunteering in Dublin By Thais O. Andrade

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Send your answers to news@seda.ie, or cut this page out and give it to your teacher. If you get the answers

right you can win a prize!

Your name:___________________________________

______________________________________________

Your e-mail:___________________________________

______________________________________________

1. Bram Stoker was born in Marino Crescent, Clontarf.

2. An Irish mythic creature that wails outside a house if someone is about to die there is called a banshee.

3. The old mysterious building in Dublin mountains is called the Hellfire Club.

4. St Michan’s church in Dublin 7 has a crypt where you can see mummies.

5. Colcannon is traditional Irish food for Halloween.

6. It is traditional to put a ring, a piece of cloth and a coin (but not a nail) inside a barmbrack.

7. Gravedigger’s pub is located close to Glasnevin cemetery.

8. Leap Castle in county Offaly is often called the most haunted building in Ireland.

Answers to last month’s quiz:

Sudoku Solutions (October)

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