Every year when the winter ends most people start to think about their summer holiday destination. It’s possible to split people into two main groups: sea fans and mountain fans. I am without a doubt a supporter of the sunniest and hottest beaches, mainly because I live for the rest of the year in a small town in the Alps and I really feel the need to warm up my bones. During my childhood I

Mountains or the seaside – why not both? Who says you can’t have everything in life? I would choose an island with a mountain range in the centre. There would be extensively cultivated slopes growing a wide variety of different crops, including olives and

grapes. There would be a lot of pretty, historic fishing villages and the perfectly surfaced roads would only be for bikes because all the goods would be transported by boat. The beaches would be wild and undeveloped, some sandy, some rocky. Only rugby would be

played in winter and obviously cricket would be the sport of choice in the summer. Cold, dry and sunny in winter. Warm, dry and sunny (25 – 30°C) in summer. And it would only rain at night. To be honest I’m still looking, but if you find it, please let me know.

Summer Time is Beach Time by Francesca Madotto

I N T H I S I S S U E

Summer Time is Beach Time

1

A Roman Holi-day

2

A Magical Holi-day

2

The Five Senses of Greece

3

I Choose the Mountains

3

The Pearl of the Sporades

4

A Different Way to Improve your English

5

The Mountains or the Beach?

5

K E E P T A L K I N G

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FE A TU RE S:

Some great articles from our talented KT journalists

A word from Kip

Are you a beach or a mountains person? Take our personality quiz to find out!

used to travel a r o u n d t h e Mediterranean with my family to seek out the right place to have a proper rest. We usually preferred to stay in a tourist resort on the sea and to rent a car to visit the most important attractions the place offered. I personally think that it is marvellous to sunbathe and to relax on

the beach but it is a l s o e q u a l l y impor ta n t to explore the local area in order to d i s c ov e r th e history of the region, and its distinctive natural traits, such as natural parks and reserves . The

location I prefer among those I’ve been to on hol i day , f rom the historical and cultural point of view, is Turkey, which is full of World Heritage Sites. On the other hand, if I have to choose a place for its beautiful crystal clear seawater I would say for sure the Balearic Islands and the Greek Island of Kos. But this is a very simplistic choice, because every place I’ve visited has left a very special memory in my heart.

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Kip Talking...

The crystal clear seawater of Kos

The Mountains or the Beach?

The Definite Article

P A G E 2

The beautiful city of Rome seen from the Tiber

A Magical Holiday by Nives Burelli

A Roman Holiday by Simone Gorasso

Last summer I went to Rome w i t h m y mother. We really looked forward to v i s i t ing the eternal beauty of Rome. I had been to Rome w i t h m y classmates but

in my opinion Rome is always worth a visit. I especially love the monuments that can be found there. Rome is simply fantastic! For example my favourite place is the “Altare della Patria”. It’s an enormous plinth with a monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, called

“V i t t or i a n o” . I t ’ s situated in a big square, called “Piazza Venezia”, but there are other special things to visit. Such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and so many other wonderful sights. If you visit Rome don’t forget about the Vatican City. I also visited this part of Rome and which included the Vatican Museum, where the re a re so me astonishing rooms. The most famous of course is the Sistine Chapel and the walk up to St. Peter’s Basilica. From the chapel there was a beautiful view of Rome and It will take you a long time to forget the

550 steps to get to t h e chapel. If you’re travelling with a family I wouldn’t miss the “Villa Borghese”, It’s perfect for a family because there is a big space for the children to walk, and ride around. Inside the villa there is also a zoo and a museum. The villa is similar to a big park like Regent’s Park in London perhaps. Rome is simply beautiful and if you ask me that It’s the best capital in the world, but naturally I’m biased.

different type of holiday, because my son was studying in Cambridge. He told me that it was possible to stay for a few days in the College where he lived, so I decided to go there for 8 days in May, with my friend Caterina. I met Caterina at Keep Talking School, 5 years ago, and we got on well together. It was a fantastic holiday, because we stayed in one of the oldest Colleges in Cambridge – Pembroke - and the atmosphere

was extraordinary. It was like living in a fairy tale. We had breakfast in the Hall, we had a ‘formal d inner’ wi th the students and teachers, and at the same time we visited an amazing College in Cambridge. One day we got a bus and went to Oxford and another day we got the train to London and stayed there for two days. It was a good way to test our “little” English, and have a go at talking to the local people.

I’ve been in a lot of different countries with my family over the years, and I have been able to see the difference between o t h e r c u l t u r e s . Travelling, for me, is the best way to meet people and expand our knowledge. Two years ago, I had the possibility to take a

Pembroke College, Cambridge, whose alumni

include Samuel Johnson, where JRR Tolkein wrote

The Hobbit and part of The Lord of the Rings, and where Nives and Caterina

spent a magical holiday.

T H E D E F I N I T E A R T I C L E

The Five Senses of Greece by Ada Vata

P A G E 3 I S S U E 4 1

T h e u n m i s t a k a b l e perfume of n ight -blooming jasmine, the cigarette smoke of old peop le s i t t i ng on colourful chairs and playing dominoes outside their home; the heavy cologne smell of my grandfather and the garlic and oregano of my grandmother's dishes. A gorgeous simple retreat with white walls, exposed beams and a roof looking out towards the sea and the sunsets. And now I can close my eyes, and take a deep breath: I am at my grandparents' home, in Corfù!

The glistening of the sun on blue sea and the rustling silvery-green of the olive groves are the intoxicating things that make Greece one of my memorable holidays. I cannot forget the scent of pine, the taverna on the beach where my brother and I spent lots of time, and I cannot forget the buzz of cicadas on warm evenings. It was wonderful to walk in the sunshine, listen to birdsong fill the air and see blossom covering the fruit and nut trees, and they looked so pretty. I c an reca l l my grandmother in the fields

collecting wild greens which she cleaned, boiled and served with oil and lemon. The chiming of church bells reminding me that I was in a destination where it felt great to be alive.

to spend holidays, in particular I like walking on the beach more than sunbathing. It relaxes me a lot, especially early in the morning, but at the same time I see it as a chaotic and confusing place, due to the presence of so many people and children playing and yelling. The mountains, on the other hand, symbolize peace of mind for me. If I had to think of a place to take refuge with my mind

I love the mountains because when you are walking in the woods, you can hear the sounds of nature, the birds singing, the voice of the wind that shakes the leaves of trees and often, when you get to the top, the total silence. If I have to choose between the sea and the mountains I have no doubt about choosing the latter because It gives me a lot of calm. I like the sea, it’s a fun place

and relax, I would think about a valley full of snow above Tarvisio, an area where I w e n t recently with friends. The place fascinated me, and every time I have concerns or there is something that upsets me I try to stop, close my eyes and bring to mind the image of that magical place and slowly I'm able to find a little bit of serenity.

Some of the tastes and smells of Corfu

I Choose the Mountains by Virginia Vitale

The beautiful mountains of Tarvisio

KT Prize Article!

P A G E 4

“The view from

my room was very

romantic and

charming. Every

morning I woke

up to the sound of

waves and the

scent of nature.”

Skiàthos—The Pearl of the Sporades by Anna Asquini

Skiàthos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. Together with S k ò p e l o s a n d Alònissons it forms part of the archipelago of the Northern Sporades. I went to that beautiful island last summer, in the middle of August. Although the period was very hot, not only for the climate, but also for the number of people on vacation, the a t m o s p h e r e w a s r e l a t i v e l y q u i e t . Nowadays Skiàthos still isn't as touristy as the other more famous islands of Greece. The coastline is covered in pine forests and there are sixty-five sandy

beaches. The scenery looks very much like our Sardinia. I chose a good hotel “The Plaza Hotel” with three and a half stars, in the south of Skiàthos. It's far from the city centre and it overlooks the sea, surrounded by olive groves and pine trees. It's very peaceful and the staff are very hospitable. The view from my r o o m w as v e r y romantic and charming. Every morning I woke up to the sound of waves and the scent of nature. You can reach the port and the noise and life of the city by taxi-boat. I visited the island in two ways. My friend and I rented a quad for four days and for the last three days we went on guided tours. By quad we went around the island from south to north and we visited beautiful beaches - some almost deserted, and others quite c r o w d e d : G r e a t

A se l i n o s , L i t t l e Aselinos, Koukonaries beach , Mandraki beach and Agia Eleni beach. By guided tour we visited the two islands close to Skiàthos: Alònissons and the famous Skòpelos. This was the location for the film “Mamma Mia” with Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Then we had the opportunity to reach one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, accessible only by sea - Lalaria beach, where the sea is awesome! When it comes to money, this holiday is affordable in this period of crisis. You can find good deals and bargains also in the high season. I definitely recommend this island for your next holiday for all of these reasons. Believe me, Skiàthos really is a shining pearl in the middle of the sea!!!

“Skiàthos really is a

shining pearl in the middle

of the sea.”

T H E D E F I N I T E A R T I C L E

Recipease—a different way to improve your English!

P A G E 5 I S S U E 4 1

You know Jamie Oliver, the young celebrity chef of modern British cuisine, who has already opened two famous restaurants in London and he has founded a kind of Academy for foreign students called “RECIPEASE” in Brighton. His cuisine is inspired by the Italian culinary tradition.

Well, this programme allows students to practice their language skills in the kitchen: how to cook a “bouillabaisse” or invent easy new dishes for vegetarians. A host of subjects are offered to participants. The project doesn't turn students into future chefs but gives them

the opportunity to have a nice time in England in a relaxed a tmosphere and improve their English while learning useful tips about how to cook delicious and interesting dishes a world away from usual clichés about English food... With a special teacher who is

one of the most original and the funniest chefs I've ever seen, it could be an interesting, innovative, involving and unusual experience to spend the holidays and to practice English. And, why not, even useful for the future? You never know.

The spring has come and the summer is drawing near. Daylight is getting longer and nature has woken up after a long snowy winter. People are also getting more active and starting to plan their summer holidays. It can be either a relaxing and enjoyable or a stressful time, particularly when the choice is between the mountains and the beach. If temperatures are very hot,

the woodland or the mountains could be the right place for relaxing and having nice days out in the open air. Landscapes like wood-lands, grasslands, brooks and paths are very much appreciated by people living in cities or at the seaside.

Jamie Oliver, British TV chef

The Mountains or the Beach? by Tiziano Della Mea

by Eugenia Samassa

“Planning your holidays can be either a relaxing and enjoyable or a stressful time, particlarly when the choice is between the mountains and the beach.”

Mountains or beach? Why choose???

Take our personality quiz to find out... 1. What's your favourite thing about nature?

a) A clear starlit night. b) I don't know. Fresh air? c) A rugged coastline and the open ocean. d) Nature? I prefer being in town.

2. Which of these activities sounds the most relaxing to you?

a) Shopping with my best friends or catching a movie. b) Lying on the beach or swimming in the ocean. c) Walking through a forest. d) Lying in the grass looking at all the bright stars.

3. Which of these holidays sounds the most entertaining to you?

a) Scuba-diving in Jamaica. b) Hiking in Tibet. c) Camping in Switzerland. d) An all-inclusive resort in Sharm El-Sheikh.

4. What do you do on a very hot day? a) Put on some tanning oil and lie on a sun lounger. b) Hide in the shade with a big hat and a cold drink. c) Get up as high as possible to escape the humidity. d) Go to the river and dive into the cool water.

5. Choose your favourite sound from the ones below.

a) waves crashing against the rocks b) children playing c) cicadas d) silence

6. Picture a forest in your mind’s eye. What does it look like?

a) dark and scary b) green and refreshing and illuminated with dappled

sunlight c) muddy and uninviting d) I’m looking down on it from above.

7. Choose your favourite smell from below. a) pine trees b) wild flowers c) ocean spray d) Nivea factor 6

8. Your ideal house would be. . . a) a cosy log cabin in the middle of nowhere b) an eco-friendly property with solar panels and a

rainwater harvester c) a luxury apartment with all the mod cons d) a houseboat

9. What would you prefer to do on a cold winter’s day?

a) Stay at home with the heating on. b) Take the kids skiing or snowboarding and enjoy

some mulled wine. c) Take the dog for a walk along a deserted beach. d) Go on a walk with snowshoes with your local CAI

group. 10. Which of these jobs would you be best at?

a) a ranger b) a farmer c) a lifeguard d) a waiter or waitress

11. Which of these items do you always pack in your suitcase?

a) a good pair of boots b) a good book c) suntan lotion d) I don’t own a suitcase, I prefer a rucksack.

12. Which of these romantic evenings would you chose for you and your ideal partner?

a) Curling up on a rug by a log fire. b) A delicious candlelit meal for two in a fish

restaurant. c) A midnight swim. d) A night by the lake, sleeping under the stars.

Now work out your score...

Are you a Mountain or a Beach Person?

Results: 1. a) 3 b) 2 c) 0 d) 1 2. a) 1 b) 0 c) 3 d) 2 3. a) 0 b) 3 c) 2 d) 1 4. a) 1 b) 0 c) 3 d) 2 5. a) 0 b) 1 c) 2 d) 3 6. a) 0 b) 2 c) 1 d) 3 7. a) 3 b) 2 c) 0 d) 1 8. a) 3 b) 2 c) 0 d) 1 9. a) 1 b) 2 c) 0 d) 3 10. a) 3 b) 2 c) 0 d) 1 11. a) 3 b) 0 c) 1 d) 2 12. a) 2 b) 1 c) 0 d) 3

What your score means: 0-12: You certainly love the sea and being by the coast, whatever the weather. You probably also love sailing and deep-sea fishing as you like to be active in the water, rather than sunbathing on the sand. 13-24: You are a bit of a sun-worshipper. You love the seaside in the summer and maybe you play beach volleyball or do some crosswords, but you certainly don’t get bored sunbathing. 25-36: You enjoy being surrounded by nature and walking in the countryside. You may not be a professional walker, and certainly not a climber, but you do love the fresh air and the mountains.

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