If you asked people, “What has Ireland given the world?” the most likely answers will be Guinness, St. Patrick’s Day & U2. What you might not know is that Ireland is mainly responsible for Halloween! 

What is Halloween? 

The word ‘Halloween’ means All Hallow’s Eve, which takes place on the 31st of October every year. It originates from the Celtic pagan festivals of old and celebrates all those who have died. 

Ireland plays a significant role in Halloween. Tucked away in a field outside Tulsk Town in Co. Roscommon is Rathcrogan. From as far back as Neolithic times, Rathcrogan was called Cruachan, which is said to be the traditional capital of Connachta. The modern-day province of Connaught in the West of Ireland takes its name from it. If one was tempted to take a walk one fine evening north of Tulsk, there lies Oweynagat or, as it is, better known as “Ireland’s Gate to Hell”. It’s called so because it is believed to be a gate to the “Otherworld”. Many historians and folklorists consider it the very beginning of what we call Halloween today. 

Oweynagat is a cave accessed through a blink, or you’ll miss its hole in the ground. It is said that this cave is home to several destructive creatures. On the night of the 31st of October, all the lost souls come up through its tunnel to the world of the living. Their main aim for this very night was to cause mischief and mayhem. A parade of supernatural ghosts, fairies, goblins, ghouls and many other spectres would roam around the Irish countryside. The living would not dare be caught outside their homes if they were taken back to the Otherworld by the departed souls. Those living who were brave enough to venture outside the four walls of their cottages would disguise themselves like ghosts and ghouls. This false appearance would grant them safe passage to their destination. From this comes the modern tradition of the Halloween costume. 

Trick or Treat?

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“Trick or treat” is more elusive in its origins, but it was a practice first recorded in Ireland as far back as the 16th century. Trick or treat consists of children calling on the doorsteps of their neighbours. Each child would be dressed in ghostly costumes and greet their neighbours with the cry, “Trick or treat!”. The treat referred to something sweet given to the children by the neighbours. On the other hand, the trick would result from mischief perpetrated on the house if the neighbours didn’t comply with their demands. 

For centuries, Halloween or Samhain remained an Irish tradition, but when the Great Famine occurred (1845-51), Irish immigrants brought the custom to America. In the 20th Century, candy companies saw the potential for profits with Trick or Treating. The imaginations of costume companies were fuelled by the Hollywood output of B-list Horror and sci-fiction movies. Halloween night became a colourful spectacle of familiar horror creatures such as Frankenstein, ghosts and the Mummy. 

To this day, Halloween plays a pivotal role in Irish society. The games may have changed, and the costumes may have become more inventive, but the spirit remains the same.

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The time you will take to learn English depends on factors like how close your native language relates to English; your age; your exposure to the language; your study habits; and the resources available to you, including other things. 

English is widely spoken worldwide, making it easier to gain real-world practice. On top of that, many resources and study materials are available, making learning English more accessible than other languages. 

Here are our tips for you while studying English.

1. Timelines

Dealing with the past, present, and future tenses can be challenging, but because people remember more from a picture than from a paragraph on the page, one way of helping you remember each tense is by visualising what they mean. 

You can do this by creating timelines for each tense. Your timeline can be as basic or as detailed as you want, as long as you understand it correctly.

2. Colour coding

The black-on-white text in our books can make them look pedestrian and harder to be absorbed. One way of tackling this issue is by using highlighters! You can choose a colour and assign it a subject, for example.

1. Yellow = Past/present/future tenses

2. Purple = punctuation

3. Green = Vocabulary

4.Orange = Verbs (regular/irregular)

It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it has to be a system you understand.

3. Vocabulary notebook

Like we say to our students here in ICOT regularly: “There is no use for grammar if you don’t have a good vocabulary”. The cornerstone of mastering any language is balancing grammar with vocabulary. 

To help you along with it, we suggest you invest in a notebook. Any notebook will do, but you must be willing to use it!

Section the pages and give each section a subject, for example:

1. Pages 1-5 Animals

– Lion

– Sheep

– Eagles

– Shark

– Butterflies

Every time you hear a new animal name add it to your list. In time you can sub-section each subject with the species animal group and create a list from it. For example

1. Pages 1-5 Animals – Pg. 3 Sea Animals

– Sharks

– Whales

– Fish

– Octopus

As time goes by, you’ll acquire a robust list of words you can use in your writing and everyday communication.

4. The News Headlines. 

One of the most significant challenges a foreign language student encounters is needing more time to listen to fluent speakers talk. One of the most efficient ways of getting more experience listening to fluent speakers is by accessing local media and listening to the News headlines. The presenters in these News programmes are specifically trained to deliver their content with perfect pronunciation and diction. Not only is this excellent for training your ear into the stressed syllables in words and introducing you to new vocabulary, but it also lets you know what is happening worldwide.

5. Practice

We know that the more you practice, the better you will become. Take your favourite sports star. We are used to seeing them turning up on the day and winning. What we need to see, though, are the hours and hours of practice that have gone into achieving that result. Learning English is the same; it requires hours of practising on your own time. 

Many students come to us asking about how to practice their speaking and how they can achieve fluency. Here is one of the tips we have for them and you.

– Start small, build big – Once a week, meet a like-minded friend eager to do the same and spend at least one hour speaking English with them. Each person should talk for between 5 to 15 minutes.

In the following weeks, you’ll become not only more comfortable with this but also very proficient. Once this happens, adjust the time scale from 5-15 minutes to 15-30 minutes.

We hope these tips are helpful for you!

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Unfortunately, there is no magical trick. The success of any exam is directly related to the amount of time and dedication the student invests before it. Taking the IELTS exam – or any other test – simply trusting your memory is a recipe for disaster. Relying only on what was taught in class will NOT help you achieve the high standard that you are capable of.

The good news is that reading this article before your test will give you enough time to develop the skills you need for the day. If you had taken IELTS before and failed, here is another chance to learn and practise the essential points that examiners consider and expect from students. 

• Take a practice test

One safe way to succeed in the IELTS is by practising tests. This action will help you understand what is required to take the actual exam. Practising will highlight the areas you are strong in and present the areas you need to learn more. You can create a study plan to keep your strengths fresh while building your weaknesses. 

• Understanding the types of questions

Practising tests can also help you with another point: Identifying the types of questions that the IELTS will present you with. As much as you understand and get used to the examination, better prepared you will be.

• Keep an eye on the time

If you know the time duration of the IELTS exam, you can approach the questions methodically and efficiently. It is wise to allocate a specific time to each test section. Here we go again: By taking practice tests, you can become more confident in finishing the test on time. 

• Listen and talk

There is no part of the IELTS exam that is easy, but listening is considered the most challenging part for many students. In the IELTS test, you must answer 40 questions. You will be required to follow conversations and take in the information. If you get lost in this section, don’t panic! Remember that all the questions on the Listening exam are in order.

To train your brain and prevent this from happening, practice having conversations with friends while doing other work. It is called multi-tasking. This tactic will help sharpen your auditory/listening skills and prepare you for following a conversation.

• Develop your reading skills

The reading section is seen by many as a time-consuming piece. While doing the IELTS exam, you will not have time to read a text several times. The best tip for the reading part is evident, but always good to remember: Practice your reading skills. Try to start getting prepared for IELTS at least six months in advance. It will give you time to hone your skimming and scanning technique skills. Read as many texts from a wide range of sources as possible.

• Practice your writing skills

It is crucial that what you write for your answers are concise. Practice your writing as much as you can. You must know the basics of grammar and building sentences. Developing your vocabulary range is also required. The writing test is to assess your proficiency in the English language. Building a vast vocabulary will help you to get a high-graded band. Keep a vocabulary notebook. Add words to it daily and use them as much as possible while preparing for the exam. 

• Speaking

Many people tell us that speaking is the most challenging part of learning English. The best way to overcome this obstacle is to speak as much as you can whenever possible. Don’t waste any chance you might have to speak English. In class, with your friends, or any place where the laguage might be required. Set a goal to speak English daily for at least few minutes.

• Immerse yourself in English

The more exposure to English, the more you will learn and become comfortable using your skills confidently. Read books, magazines, and papers. Watch movies without subtitles and listen to the radio every chance you get. Enjoy discovering a new language as much as you can. If you do this, you automatically give yourself a good chance of scoring a high IELTS exam. 

Good luck in your exams!

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Is Irish Spring different from other countries?
I had a heated argument discussion with a student recently about the official start date for spring, and by the end of it, this wily Brazilian had almost convinced me that I was wrong that spring only begins this week. Thankfully, gentle reader, I’ve regained my senses and am here to assure you that spring is here.
Now, in fairness in Ireland, we have a complicated relationship with spring, it’s a bit of a ‘will they, won’t they?’ situation. This confusion can be attributed to the differences between the meteorological and astronomical calendars as well as the influence of Irish festivals on the Gregorian calendar.

When does spring really start in Ireland?
Today many Irish calendars support March as the harbinger of spring, however,
when I was in school, when the world was young and today’s vintage cheddar was still mild at best, the calendar on the wall declared that the first day of spring was February 1st!
Yes, that’s right, you read that correctly February was spring! This, of course, in turn, meant that May was summer, and August was autumn and don’t even get me started on November being winter, or we’ll be here all day. Overall, it was a simpler time, and since I’m also simple, I still consider spring to start in February.

Why does spring start in February in Ireland?
In terms of religion and paganism, February 1st also makes sense as the beginning of spring since it is the feast day of St Brigid, who is one of Ireland’s three patron saints. February was the beginning of the festival Imbolc because the flowers began blooming, the days lengthened, and lambs were born.
If you feel like being pedantic, then meteorologically speaking, spring starts on March 1st, but in my book, if there’s a lamb in the field and a flower in the garden, then it’s spring, it has sprung, and you’ve been caught unawares. You’ll find me hard to move on the subject.

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Ireland will close six nations tournament by hosting England at home on St Patrick’s weekend.

What countries are in the Six Nations rugby?

The 6 Nations Rugby Championship is one of the most exciting spectacles in the world of sport. Six European nations, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, duke it out for the ultimate prize in rugby. Dating back to 1883, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious competitions in the sport of rugby. It lasts for six weeks, with each team playing every other team once.

How often is the Six Nations tournament?

Given that the same countries compete every four years, the tournament allows fans to witness passionate rivalries between the teams. These include the historical enmity between England and Scotland and the more recent, yet no less intensely contested, competition between Ireland and Wales. This makes for reliably unforgettable clashes in the tournament.

How does 6 Nations scoring work?

The tournament structure is easily followed; teams earn four points for a win and two for a draw. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament is crowned the winner. So, experiencing the 6 Nations Rugby Championship is a guarantee of a fun and exciting way to spend your weekends. Whether a seasoned rugby fan or a complete novice, you’re guaranteed to have a blast. So, sit back, and enjoy one of the most entertaining events in the world of sports!

Why is the last match significant to Ireland?

Not to mention that this last match can be a title decider, and Ireland is playing against England; the 18th of March falls after Saint Patrick’s Day, the most crucial holiday in Ireland. The atmosphere during the 6 Nations is electric; imagine fans worldwide gathering in iconic venues, like Dublin’s own Aviva Stadium, to support their teams. Not only are we treated to world-class athletes on the field, but also enthusiastic supporters, who make the tournament one of the most anticipated events in the sporting calendar.

Come on, You Bhoys in Green!

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It is completely understandable that someone might feel this way, but that does not mean you have to just accept that you will feel sad during this period. There are plenty of ways to cope with feelings of loneliness during the time surrounding Valentine’s Day, and we selected a few of them to give you options to enjoy your Valentine’s Day without the feeling of rejection.

Have a Day for Yourself

If you are feeling lonely around mid-February and want to combat those feelings as much as possible, think ahead and plan a day for yourself where you can do all of your favourite activities.

If you enjoy being active and getting outside, maybe take a day either on Valentine’s Day or during that week to go hiking at a new spot. If you feel like you need a day to relax, treat yourself to a spa day.

Show yourself the kind of love you deserve.

When we show ourselves the love we desire, we are able to express and demonstrate love more easily toward others in our lives. At the end of the day, you are the only person that is there for you one hundred percent of the time and that knows exactly how you want to feel and be treated.  

Make Plans with Friends

One way to manage any negative feelings around Valentine’s Day is to schedule a get together with friends. The important friends we have in our lives are equally as significant as any partner.

What about getting together for a tasty dinner or watching your favourite movies? Spending time like this with your friends can help you recognize that Valentine’s Day is not only for those in romantic relationships and that there is more love in your life than you even realized.

Spread Love to Others

Since Valentine’s Day is all about showing love and appreciation at the core of it, it could be a great idea to go out of your way to spread love to others by volunteering somewhere or doing something special for a stranger that could be feeling the same way that you are feeling. Doing something thoughtful for another individual will surely brighten their day and will likely leave you feeling much better.

Remember it is Just Another Day

While it is nice to spend Valentine’s Day with a significant other and dedicate this day to showing how much you love and appreciate them, try to remember that this date is really just a day like any other and only holds as much value as you provide to it. Valentine’s Day has truly become tremendously commercialized and more about buying things for others than actually going out of the way to show love and appreciation toward others in your life. If the obsession surrounding Valentine’s Day has you feeling low, keep in mind that it is just a day and it will pass before you know it. 

It is wonderful to show those around us love and affection, but it is equally as important to show it to ourselves, as well.

Full article on: https://www.drmessina.com/blog/how-to-cope-with-valentines-day-loneliness

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The first day of the year is the day of resolutions, the day of the ‘new me’, the day we choose to change for the better. 

We always start with the best intentions, but for many of us, it lasts a week or two, and that’s it; sooner or later, we have to face disappointment and frustration for not being able to stick to our initial plan.

Are we putting too much pressure on ourselves?

Is January really the best month for new resolutions? 

Here are 4 reasons why January may not be the best option to set all your goals for the year: 

1 – Madness of December 

December is a crazy month of parties, food and drink. For many of us, in December, our routine includes pyjamas at lunchtime, festive dinners, a diet of leftovers for days and a considerable amount of chocolate and treats!

Then suddenly, on the 1st of January, with no time between, we come up with all these goals and new strict routines.

We should give ourselves time to return to everyday life and then start a new list of goals and practices.  

What about February as your new resolutions month?  

2 – Everyone else is doing it.

Everyone picks the 1st of January as the day they make all these big changes, putting pressure on us to do the same. But the only way to carry through with our resolutions is by having our own unique motivation.

3 – The darkest and coldest month. 

For many people, January can be a bad option to start a new routine: It’s freezing, dark, and it can rain quite frequently, a perfect recipe to lower the level of willpower and motivation and increase the desire to stay warm in bed.

4 – Too Much Contrast 

Christmas is about enjoyment and delight. The cupboards are filled with sweets, fancy foods and drinks. When we enter January, suddenly cut out food, and start going to the gym each day, we can feel a little deprived and overwhelm by the contrast between December and January’s habits. On top of that, we are waiting for the first payment post the bankruptcy caused by Christmas!

Things can be different this year if you feel, need or want. Set resolutions when you think it’s best for you!

If ‘Living abroad’ is on your list of resolutions for 2023, send us a message, and we will help you with that!

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