Here it is, our IEC programme for the semester! There may be a few minor adjustments yet, so keep checking this page through the term or follow the Club on Facebook.
Coming Up
20th February: International Festival Night – A party, of sorts! To mark Mardi Gras which happens in many countries this week, we will be having a celebration of our many different cultures. Please bring something from your own country to share or show – bring some food (note, we cannot cook in BG05), come in your national costume or wear something significant from your culture, bring some photopraphs or an object which will tell us more about where you are from.
27th February: Back to School? – For some of us school was not so long ago, and for others (mostly team members!) it was rather longer! We have all been to school, but the school experience is different from country to country. We will be looking at the sometimes-serious-sometimes-funny side to school life around the world and will try out some traditional British school games. Are they the same ones you played in your country?
5th March: British TV – (NOTE – LATE START. BG05 is unavailable until later than usual, so we will start the IEC at 8:30) Everyone around the world experiences American TV, but British TV has its own character. This will be a fun look at British TV, including some things you may not be familiar with.
12th March: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales – what’s the difference and has it ever mattered? Most visitors to the UK are at some point puzzled about the differences and similarities between these different regions of the UK. The English make fun of the Irish (or used to), and everyone makes fun of the English. But why? A light-hearted look at the different cultures found within the United Kingdom.
19th March: The Great Egg Race – real hit last year, a group game of making whacky inventions from junk and recycling.
26th March: Easter Traditions – A key festival in Britain as well as in many parts of the world. But in the UK many know little of its significance apart from eating chocolate. We hope to take a look at some of the main traditions and their meanings, as well as, of course, enjoying some Easter chocolate!
Previous Events
19th September: Welcome to the IEC – The first IEC of the year will involve lots of games, fun and hot drinks! Come meet the team and other International students studying at Oxford Brookes.
26th September: Surviving in England – Ten things you need to survive in England. A light-hearted, but hopefully helpful, look at what you really need to survive and thrive in this country.
3rd October: This is Oxford – Finding your way around Oxford. Whether tourist or student, we have a little inside knowledge of the city.
10th October: Would We Lie to You? – Based on a TV show with (almost) the same name, hear strange and funny stories from a panel of team members, and YOU have to decide whether they are lying… or telling the truth!
17th October: Games you won’t see in the Olympics – This raised a real laugh last year as people had a go at games such as Blow Volleyball, and the Great Cup Pyramid Race. All you need is a sense of humor (and maybe a competitive nature?).
24th October: British slang - “That’s well cool, innit? Y’get me?” So, we won’t be teaching you to swear, but you may have noticed that some of the words and phrases people use may not have found their way into the Oxford English Dictionary. Here’s our fun guide to slang and colloquialisms.
31st October: The Great Marble Run – A real hit last year, where we get into teams to invent a device made from everyday objects. Get inventing!
7th November: Whatever the Weather - Ok, so it is November and it is cold, dark and it is probably raining too. But don’t feel sad! Tonight we look at how the British cope and even thrive in this climate, and see just how much the weather has influenced our speech, our culture, our humour – even our dress sense!
14th November: Word Games – No special knowledge needed, just a sense of fun and an ability to laugh at yourself.
21st November: North America Night – Not only is this week Thanksgiving for Americans, we also have both an American and a Canadian on the team, so they will be telling us what the similarities and differences are between these two countries that share a continent and a language.
28th November: Round the World Quiz – not your ordinary quiz but a race to the finish line. Each group earns ‘cash’ by answering questions about the country you land in so that you can pay for your next airfare. But will you manage to get around the world before the other teams do or will you get stranded with not enough money to get home?!!
5th December: Christmas Traditions -We’ve changed the programme a little, so this week we’ll be looking at the festivities of Christmas and the traditions of this time of year.
12th December: IEC Christmas Party!! – A mixture of traditions, games and food, this is one of the highlights of the IEC year, and a very special time of fun and laughter, when we look at some of the traditions surrounding Christmas in the UK (and other countries) and the meanings behind them.
