Hello,

I am a PhD student from Span. In November I start at University of Sheffield with a fellowship. I think it would be nice for me, to spend two weeks in Sheffield (sheffield ciy please, to know the place) before I begin the fellowship.(17 October....31 Oct) to improve my English, but the courses are very expensive.

I am 26 y.o., I would like, to ask to you if there are any place were I can reserve a room, ideally with a family to know english lifestyle, (I will pay for it) and/or class of general english cheaper.

Best regards. Luis.

You can write to me: luismsanzm@hotmail.com

or if you have a phone I can ring to you (not mobil phone please, is more expensive), but we must speak slow (my english is not very fluent, ;o))

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean when you use the word 'fellowship?'

fellowship , I thnk is the same that grant holder.... is this right?

I am sorry, my english is not very fluent...:help:

Scholarship? Perhaps? Whereabouts in Spain do you come from? Are you in Spain at the moment?

yes i am in spain at the moment, i think i will go to sheffield on 16-oct

Originally posted by Babooshka
Just out of curiosity, what do you mean when you use the word 'fellowship?'

The word 'fellowship' is in common use in academe (i.e. the university sector). A 'Research Fellow' is someone who has been given a grant or stipend of some kind to pursue research. It usually applies to advanced research (e.g. a senior academic or doctoral student might obtain a fellowhip to pursue research in a highly specialised field). Fellowships therefore are much sought after and tend to be competitive.

Wow, I have never heard of that term. See, in academia I am left standing! Thanks for explaining that one m'Lord!

I have to ask myself how someone with only a moderate understanding of English is going to manage at a University reading a specialsed subject which will probably require a good understanding of technical terms and such? I found that I needed a long learning period, with good conversational French under my belt, before I was proficient enough to deal with the technicalities associated with technical French. I was dealing with heat treatment and associated engineering aspects with a French speaking company.

Originally posted by Escafeldia
I have to ask myself how someone with only a moderate understanding of English is going to manage at a University reading a specialsed subject which will probably require a good understanding of technical terms and such? I found that I needed a long learning period, with good conversational French under my belt, before I was proficient enough to deal with the technicalities associated with technical French. I was dealing with heat treatment and associated engineering aspects with a French speaking company.

I think you are too pessimistic. It is quite possible to have a good understanding of the language used in a specific field of knowledge and therefore be able to read scientific papers, but not be able to understand terminology outside this specific field (e.g. to have little knowledge of contemporary coloquialisms or of words for flowers or sporting events etc). As I understand it, the poster is looking to improve his English and also to learn something about English culture at first hand. Living with an English family is an excellent way of doing this.

I agree that living with an English family will be the best way of improving this guy, or young lady's English, at least in the conversational way. Despite this, I still think that getting to grips with whatever technical subject he, or she, is studying or researching needs a good grounding in standard everyday English. Colloquialisms and such are unlikely to occur when reading whatever subject they are dealing with.

Nevertheless, the guy or gal is coming over in October so in many respects the die is already cast. I wish our Spanish friend all the best and hope he, or she, finds a suitablle English Teaching establishment, which is what he/she asked for, to build on what he/she has already.

We have put students up in our house in the past but situations have changed now and we are no longer in a position to do so now. However, our 'students' were studying at Sheff Hall Uni in the Food and Hospitality faculties. A few have been offered accomodation for a few weeks through that department, mostly staying with lecturers or admin staff in that area. You could always try some of the different faculties of the university. Staff are usually keen to help.

One girl actually stayed with us about 12 years ago. We stayed in touch for a while but then lost touch. I wish I hadn't lost contact. She is back in France now and I do not know how to go about finding her. All I have now is her name.

I have noticed that the standard of English possessed by Spanish students is frequently poor compared with students from many other Western European countries (including France, but with the possible exception of Italy). Some Spanish students have a very good grasp of English, but a surprisingly high number do not.

Originally posted by LordChaverly
I have noticed that the standard of English possessed by Spanish students is frequently poor compared with students from many other Western European countries (including France, but with the possible exception of Italy). Some Spanish students have a very good grasp of English, but a surprisingly high number do not.

I find the Germans have a very high standard of our language - I remember this as I had to send a German couple (quite likely students), to the correct gate for the coach to Southampton - can you guess which gate they were at? :D