So, who are Twin Group?

Twin Group are a large, award-winning organisation who provide many services that focus on the helping people achieve success. One of the services they offer is a selection of language schools which are situated in London, Dublin and Eastbourne. To find out more about them, visit twinuk.com.

What will change now Alpha College of English has become a Twin language school?

Now that Alpha College of English has joined the Twin Group family, we will be changing the school name to Twin English Centre Dublin. You will also notice that the purple Twin logo will begin to replace the Alpha College of English logo on the website and in the school. The front door will even change colour, from green to purple.

We will also be introducing afternoon classes and Academic Year. For full details of the courses available, please see here.

What if I have already booked a course? Is my course still running?

Yes. Even though the school is changing name your booking is still valid, and your course will run as normal in 2019/2020.

If you have any questions, please do contact the school, we will be more than happy to help:

• Phone: +353 1 8747 024
• Email: admin@twinireland.com

How do I book a new course?

You have two options. You can either click ‘Book Online’ on this website and complete the form, or you can visit Twin’s website and book there instead. Both options will be accepted and are easy to complete.

If you have any problems or questions, please contact us on:

• Phone: +353 1 8747 024
• Email: admin@twinireland.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

Last week Alpha College gave us the opportunity to discover a little part of the Dublin’s history by a Walking Tour, and Bray.

Walking Tour, 24TH MAY

We started our walking tour at school and our first destination was the Garden of Remembrance, it’s a memorial garden in Dublin dedicated to the memory of “all those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom. Then we went to the Spire in the city center, from these 121 meters, the Spire overlooks the city of Dublin. After that, we visited the beautiful Trinity College, established by royal charter from Queen Elizabeth to reinforce the legitimacy of British rule in Ireland. We finished the tour by walking round the very famous Temple Bar.

Bray, 25th MAY

On Saturday we went to the little seaside village of Bray. We walked along the coast and then we climbed  Bray Head, 241 meters high! We could admire the beautiful views and enjoyed these wonderful moments!

For more information about Alpha College excursions check out this blog, and keep up to date with Alpha activities by following this blog series ‘Thibault’s Adventures’.

Check out our Instagram page for pictures of the places you could visit if you come and participate in a course at Alpha. As always, those with queries and inquiries about our courses can check the website, or email admin@alphacollege.com and a member of staff will get back to you with more information.

We look forward to welcoming more students, and helping them to discover Ireland and all the culture it has to offer!

During the May bank holiday, Alpha students were able to discover the beautiful Hill of Tara and the very famous Trim Castle!

Hill of Tara

This place is the seat of the High King of Ireland. We could discover and touch the Stone of Destiny, it was said to roar when touched by the rightful king of Tara. We also saw the wonderful landscape on the top of the highest hill of Tara and heard the beautiful stories about this magical place!

Trim Castle

Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. It was built by Hugh de Lacy when he was granted the Liberty of Meath by King Henry II in 1172.

It was the principal shooting location of the film Braveheart.

We could discover the beauty of this place while walking along and across the Castle and the outside.

This day was a really great lesson of Irish history for Alpha students who really enjoyed this visit!!

For more information about Alpha College excursions check out this blog, and keep up to date with Alpha activities by following this blog series ‘Thibault’s Adventures’.

Check out our Instagram page for pictures of the places you could visit if you come and participate in a course at Alpha. As always, those with queries and inquiries about our courses can check the website, or email admin@alphacollege.com and a member of staff will get back to you with more information.

We look forward to welcoming more students, and helping them to discover Ireland and all the culture it has to offer!

Alpha visit: 17th and 18th May

Last week, our students had the opportunity to visit 2 magical places in Dublin. Guinness Storehouse and Howth!

Guiness Storehouse, 17th May

On Friday, our students went to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. This brewery of 7 floors was one of the first Guinness warehouses.

Now converted into a museum, Alpha students could discover the history and the steps involved in the creation of this famous Irish beer.

At the end of the visit, in the Gravity Bar on the 7th floor, Guinness gave us the opportunity to try their beer!

Howth, 17th May

On Saturday, Alpha students went to a little fishing town named Howth.

They were able to discover the beautiful landscape along the cliff.

It was a good chance to take pictures of the beautiful Irish landscape and to have wonderful memories of their stay in Ireland!

For more information about Alpha College excursions check out this blog, and keep up to date with Alpha activities by following this blog series ‘Thibault’s Adventures’.

Check out our Instagram page for pictures of the places you could visit if you come and participate in a course at Alpha. As always, those with queries and inquiries about our courses can check the website, or email admin@alphacollege.com and a member of staff will get back to you with more information.

We look forward to welcoming more students, and helping them to discover Ireland and all the culture it has to offer!

As the May bank holiday approaches we thought it would be interesting to learn about May Day and its background!

In Ireland, May Day is celebrated on the Monday closest to May 1st. This is a very important day in Irish society as it is a bank holiday every year, which means a day off for most people!

What is the significance of May Day?

In Celtic tradition May Day marks the beginning of the spring festival, celebrating growth and fertility. In Irish/Gaeilge, May Day is referred to as Lá Bealtaine – pronounced “law byaltina”. May Day holds huge importance in Celtic tradition.There are many customs associated with the spring festival. One custom is the lighting of bonfires the night before May Day. This is to ensure prosperity, growth and healthy livestock for the coming months. The spring festival bonfire is often accompanied by market stalls, food vendors and traditional Irish music.

Similarly, in France there is a tradition whereby people visit friends and bringing the lily of the valley flower. The flower is a token which is given in order to bring good luck and prosperity to the recipient. Most countries celebrate the spring festival in order to encourage growth, luck, happiness and health.

May Day is also International Workers’ or Labour Day. Groups come together to rally for changes in pay and workplace relations, represent minorities, and promote equality in the workplace.

What to do on bank holidays as an Alpha student:

This year, May Day takes place on May the 6th and this is a bank holiday in Ireland. If you attend/are attending Alpha College of English you will have a day off on Monday the 6th. At Alpha, we provide an excursion with one of our guides instead of having classes on bank holidays. Students have the opportunity to explore Ireland, its history and culture. Excursions also allow students to bond with classmates and practise their English in a social setting.This Monday students will be going to the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle for their excursion. These are historical sites which are surrounded by beautiful scenery and are very authentically Irish! Fore more information on Alpha’s activities and trips, please see our blog post In Dublin’s Fair City and Beyond. 

Check our Instagram stories to see the places our students venture to on their excursions!

Easter is this Sunday and we hope you’re all prepared to gorge on chocolate and other treats!

Not only is Monday the 22nd of April a bank holiday – long-awaited and highly-revered by all, bank holidays are things of bliss in Ireland – it’s also World Earth Day.

Easter & World Earth Day

World Earth Day focuses on raising awareness for sustainable and ecological living. During significant cultural and religious holidays like Easter, it’s important to minimise waste and recycle as much as possible. This will help  in supporting a cleaner, greener and more environmentally stable world.

In February, Alpha hosted a ‘Small Changes’ pop-up meeting to showcase the ways people can become more environmentally focused by implementing small changes in their lives.  This initiative educated staff and students on sustainable living. It also influenced them to adopt some of these changes and encourage others to do so too. To find out how you can be more eco-friendly in everyday life check out the ‘Small Changes’ blog post!

How to be more environmentally friendly this Easter

For many, Easter is centred on giving and receiving chocolate bars, flamboyant eggs, a big dinner, and sweets. This Easter, try to be mindful of the amount of packaging that accompanies your Easter fare. Oftentimes packaging amounts to more than the actual chocolate itself, and is completely unnecessary.

Of course, it isn’t easy to just be eco-friendly, so we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks for you to make your best effort.

1. 1. Go paperless! Buy Easter treats that require little to no packaging.
   2. If you can’t avoid packaging altogether, opt to buy from companies that provide biodegradable packaging and eco-friendly production methods. Brands that provide compostable and recyclable packaging include Chocolatey Clare and Buttercream Dream.
   3. Buy the chocolate and sweets in bulk, and opt for aluminium/tin foil wrapping.
   4. Some of you may still opt for packaging, so be sure to recycle it afterwards.
   5. Compost leftovers from dinner, and in the unlikely event there is chocolate left.
   6. Make your own Easter eggs at home.
   7. Dye or paint chicken eggs in the traditional holiday fashion, and use these as Easter decorations (then eat or compost them afterwards).  You can also use wooden or ceramic eggs for this, and use them as gifts in place of chocolate and cards.
   8. If you are keen on Easter decorations in your house use egg cartons, bottles, dyed egg shells and other recyclable items as decorations and gifts.
   9. Use reusable, mesh, or tote bags instead of purchasing plastic bags when shopping for all your Easter delights.

If you take away even one of these tips and enforce it over Easter weekend, you’ll be making one small change to help the environment! Naturally, Easter revolves around fun, family, and friends. However, the holiday can also be used to focus on mindfulness and sustainability.

Give our tips a go, and avoid the guilt of seeing endless packaging after you’ve gorged yourself on ten Easter eggs. Let us know how you get on via our Instagram page! We wish everyone an eggselent, eco-friendly Easter, a happy bank holiday, and a proud World Earth Day!

As many of you know, Alpha College of English is situated in the heart of Dublin city centre. Here at Alpha we encourage all of our students to immerse themselves in Irish culture, and pride ourselves on the cultural and social programmes we provide. We recognise that students need to get out of the classroom, and our social programmes are the perfect chance to do so!

Dublin and its surrounding areas are steeped in history, therefore you will find there is an endless list of museums, sites, galleries and events to explore. Alpha makes this exploration easy for all by offering excursions and activities to places of social, cultural and historical significance, at no extra cost.

One of our many destinations: the picturesque round tower of the ruins of the Monastery of Glendalough Ireland during an Autumn day, with a river running in the foreground.

The next few months at Alpha are jam-packed with interesting and exciting activities as we move into the Spring and Summer months. All students can attend our meet-ups, activities and excursions to practise their spoken English, develop their vocabularies, and moreover to have fun with fellow students.

What’s on offer:

First up, every Friday we host a social night, which is led by one of the Alpha teachers. The social night usually takes place in a traditional Irish pub. This is a truly great opportunity for people to unwind after a hectic week of learning. It also allows them to immerse themselves in Irish culture while practising English. The venue changes week to week, and groups meet at 9 pm on Fridays. The evening usually draws to a close around 11:30, however students are free to continue the party for as long as they want!

Built in 1731, the Powerscourt House estate is situated on the site of a Norman castle. Join our excursion to Powerscourt to find out more about its history!

A large part of our activities focus on Irish history, culture and society. In particular, we offer trips to famous landmarks, museums, galleries and workshops as part of our social programme. This provides students with informative tours, a background of the country they are living and learning in, and as a result a lasting impression of Irish history and culture. In addition, we offer excursions on Saturdays, for those interested in visiting scenic places of interest. Our Saturday excursions from September to June are places within Dublin, and in July and August our tour groups venture further afield. We have a lot of locations to visit over the coming months and, of course, would love for as many people as possible to take part!

Where we go:

Our destinations are integral parts of Irish history and society, therefore we offer a wide variety of places to visit.

For example, we will be taking students to the iconic Croke Park; the Phoenix Park, home to deer, Dublin Zoo and our President Michael D Higgins; the sprawling 19.5 hectare National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin; Speaker William Connolly’s Palladian utopia Castletown House; and the picturesque monastic settlement Glendalough. With various counties, locations and sites to visit, our tours and excursions are not to be missed!

A view of William Connolly’s Castletown House in Co. Kildare from its front lawns.

Full list of locations for April to August (inclusive):

• Croke Park
• Bray
• Hugh Lane Gallery
• Howth
• Botanic Gardens
• St Michan’s
• Castletown House
• Phoenix Park
• Dún Laoghaire
• Guinness Storehouse
• Aviva Stadium
• Gallery of Photography and Photographic Archive
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• Irish Museum of Modern Art
• General Post Office
• Glendalough
• Trim Castle
• Hill of Tara
• Powerscourt Waterfall & Gardens
• Boyne Valley

With so many places to visit, and so much of Ireland to see, how could you say no to these free excursions and activities?

If you are interested in booking a place on one of our courses and participating in our wide range of excursions and tours please visit here to view our General Courses. Visit all of these amazing places and take our English courses at reduced rates as part of our special offer.

If you take part in our excursions don’t forget to share your experiences and photos on our Instagram and Facebook pages!

It includes symbols of St. Patrick’s Day, why we wear green, the events with Alpha and the events in the city, St. Patrick facts and myths, things you didn’t know about St. Patrick and how the event is celebrated all over the world.

Last week our teachers Rachel and Katie, along with their B1 and B2 classes, hosted a pop-up meeting in Alpha. The pop-up shop was set up in order to educate staff and students on sustainable living, and encourage them to be more mindful and embrace eco-friendly habits in their everyday lives. Check out the Small Changes 2019 Instagram page to see the preparation that went into the project.

In light of this, Alpha has a big announcement regarding the Student Handbook that each student receives on their first day here. In order to cut down on paper usage the Student Handbook will no longer be printed. Instead, it will be made available online and in digital format, on hand whenever students may need it. We have decided to implement this change for a number of reasons related to eco-friendliness and sustainability. Using less paper helps to reduce deforestation, cuts energy usage, and helps to limit emissions and pollution. This is one small thing we can do to help the environment and show the Planet some love. We will continue to work on small changes that we can make to reduce the adverse effects that we have on the Earth, and encourage you to do so too!

One way you can do this is by shopping in wholesale stores, which our student Michele explained at the pop-up shop!

Below you’ll find ten easy ways that you can change your habits and help to maintain a healthy ecological balance for generations to come!

Ten top tips for being more eco-friendly:

• Use tote bags, material bags, or bags-for-life when shopping, instead of purchasing plastic or paper bags each time.
• Take public transport instead of driving to school or work – or better yet, walk or cycle!
• Buy less plastic and food packaging – opt for products with minimal or no packaging.
• Reduce food waste by making weekly meal plans, only buying groceries you need, and making a shopping list.
• Switch off the lights when you leave a room or your home.
• Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth or cleansing your face.
• Only use plastic forks if you really have to – invest in steel straws and reusable travel cutlery where possible.
• Buy cold water detergent for your laundry instead of always using hot water.
• Purchase a reusable water bottle instead of drinking out of several single-use plastic bottles per day.
• Get a travel mug for your morning coffee.

Try your best to make at least one small change today, and help the environment to prosper and grow.

All of Alpha’s classes are very focused on projects and teamwork. If you would like to be involved in projects like these, check out General English and our other courses to find out more!

Valentine’s Day is widely regarded as a day for dates, romance and explicitly couple-related things. I’ve found something for the single pringles, the mate daters, and everyone in between.

Culture:

A lesser-known fact about Dublin is that it is home to the resting place of St Valentine, the patron saint of love. St Valentine’s remains were moved from Rome to Whitefriar Street Church in 1836. A famed Irish priest was granted permission to exhume Valentine’s remains, and take them home to the Emerald Isle. Whether you are religious or not, a trip to Whitefriar Church is a fun and interesting cultural experience, and possibly the most appropriate St Valentine’s Day activity to take part in. You can find out more about the man himself here.

The Science Gallery’s ‘Intimacy’ exhibition is currently open, and analyses the way humans interact, the chemistry between different people, and the way in which people become emotionally connected to each other. Entry is free, and the exhibition is open from 11:00 to 19:00.

Relaxation:

Depending on the weather, you and your friends could have a picnic in Stephen’s Green. Grab a blanket, jackets, a burrito, or food from M&S if you’re feeling fancy, and you have the perfect mate date.

Comedy:

Add a bit of humour to your evening and head to Tramline. They will be hosting their ‘You Couldn’t Make It Up’ comedy news panel show, from 18:30 to 20:30. Entry is free, however you have to register on Eventbrite here.

Karaoke:

The Woolshed Baa & Grill on Parnell St has a karaoke night starting at 21:30. Sing your favourite love song, an anti-Valentine’s Day song, a golden oldie, or anything in between and get a free shot! Cocktail and food promotions will also be available for comfort eating and Lady & the Tramp-style kissing scenes.

Dancing:

Finish the night with a bop at Opium, Wexford Street. Opium are holding a Valentine’s Day ‘Traffic Light Ball’, with free entry until 11:30pm. Bring your Valentine or your friends, and take part in the traffic light fun!

Self love:

Alternatively, stay home, relax and enjoy some horrendously cheesy chick flicks and romcoms, while having some of your favourite snacks and drinks. Self love is, after all, the most important!

Don’t forget to tell someone special, whether it’s a parent, partner, or friend, that you love them! Also, share the love about Alpha College and help more students achieve their English language goals! Become Alpha’s Valentine this year, and come to Dublin to study English with us – we’re sure it will be a match made in heaven!

About Me: 

Q & A:

What do you work towards in your spare time?

Improving my animation and video editing skills – I love content creation and think animation is a really fun and rewarding process, albeit very difficult. I’ve been working on these skills in my spare time for a little while now, and am constantly seeing little improvements.  I love stop-motion animation, so I’m working towards that next. 

Do you have any pets?

Unfortunately I don’t have any pets. My boyfriend has a dog called Trixie, so I guess that kind of counts. I do in fact have a few animal tattoos, so I can count them as pets too, I suppose.

What animal tattoos do you have? Are they your only tattoos? 

I have a wolf, an elephant, and two turtles. I have eight tattoos in total, and have three more in the pipeline. 

Presumably you prefer tattoos to piercings? 

I do, although I love piercings too! I have my nose pierced, and have several ear piercings. 

You mentioned that you don’t like sneezing – why? 

I hate sneezing – it’s horrible! It makes me feel like I’m drowning, or have just gotten out of a swimming pool. I also hate the build up to sneezing, having an itchy or runny nose etc. It’s difficult to describe – but sneezing is definitely not a favourite of mine. 

What food is delicious but a pain to eat? 

Corn on the cob, because all the little pieces get stuck in your teeth each time you take a bite, which is so annoying and generally not a good look. 

If someone famous narrated a film about you/narrated your autobiography, who would you want to be the narrator? 

There are a lot of people with great voices. Consequently, if this were an option, I’d have it narrated through sequences/chapter by chapter and have someone different narrate each chapter.  In particular, Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Sean Connery, James McAvoy, Jeremy Irons, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Emily Blunt… to name a few, are some of the people I’d choose. With that in mind, it would have to be made up of short scenes/chapters to fit in all the people I would want!

What’s the coldest you’ve ever been? 

I once swam in a glacier river while on holiday in America, so that was probably the coldest I’ve ever been. However, I probably say the words “I’m so cold” and “this is the coldest I’ve been in a long time” on a daily basis, so who knows which is true. 

What’s the worst thing you’ve eaten out of politeness? 

This is actually a very long list, due to the fact that I hate telling people I don’t like something – especially if they’ve gone to extra trouble to get it for me. I’ve been a coeliac since the age of two, as a result there have been a few occasions where people have bought me some “special food” and it’s been awful. One that really sticks out in my mind is a vegan naked burrito, which was essentially just milled mushrooms with some flavourless beans and kale. It was disgusting.  Another thing that sticks out is jelly and ice cream, because it reminds me of hospital food! 

What’s the most awkward thing that happens to you on a regular basis? 

I don’t recognise people when I see them in public. I have really bad eyesight, and as a result, sometimes I see people I know and they wave at me, or smile at me, but because I can’t see them until they’re close to me I generally don’t react. Afterward I have to explain to them that I have poor eyesight, and that I wasn’t ignoring them. So, if you see me and I seemingly ignore you, there’s a 90% chance I haven’t seen you. 

Being a Film & TV Studies graduate you must really love films – what’s a film you watched recently that you really enjoyed? 

A movie I watched recently that I really enjoyed is Glass, the newest instalment in the M. Night Shyamalan series. I watched Split when it came out, and absolutely loved it, so I had high hopes for Glass and it really didn’t disappoint. James McAvoy is an unbelievable actor, he plays his part(s) (very minor spoiler alert for those who haven’t seen the films yet) so well – I think he deserves an Oscar for Glass. I would highly recommend going to see that one in the cinema. 

Where’s your favourite place to picnic in Dublin? 

Either Stephen’s Green or the Boardwalk. Despite being overrun by some dodgy characters, the Boardwalk is nice in the summer because it overlooks the Liffey, it’s also in the very centre of the city near all the shops so it’s easy to buy picnic food, and the bench is pretty comfortable.

I love playing ‘This or That’ over on Alpha’s Instagram page , and thought it would be fun to play as part of this ‘Get to Know Me’ instalment!

Records or comics? 

Records, I wouldn’t say I’m particularly interested in comic books, but I love music and buying old records.

Instagram or Facebook? 

Instagram. I don’t have a Facebook account anymore, but when I did I got tired of the pointless posting and sharing. 

iOs or Android? 

Android .

Singing or dancing? 

Singing.

Up or down? 

Up. 

Gold or silver?

Silver. 

Roses or daisies? 

Daisies. 

Books or magazines? 

Books. 

TV shows or movies? 

Movies. 

Alice in Wonderland or A Christmas Carol? 

Alice in Wonderland.

Train or plane? 

Plane. 

Ninjas or pirates? 

Both, but if I really had to choose I’d pick pirates. 

Pop or indie? 

Indie. 

Weird or normal?

Weird, but not in a creepy way.

Tacos or pizza? 

Tacos, every time. 

Truth or dare? 

Dare. 

Thus concludes my Q&A and ‘This or That’ game – keep an eye out for my new marketing campaigns, course updates and Instagram posts, and pop into the Marketing Office in Alpha to say hi to me! 

We are delighted to announce that Mick has taken over the helm as College Manager.

To get to know him a little better we put some questions to him so if you’re interested in finding out more about the inner workings of Mick’s mind, read on…

How long have you been teaching English?

Almost 13 years. I started in South Korea in 2005.

What do you do when you’re not working in Alpha?

I teach mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu jitsu to teens and adults at Spartan Training Centre. I like climbing (mostly indoors, it does sometime rain in Ireland), computers and painting. I also have a pop culture podcast that I host weekly with my good friend Ben.  [icon type=”instagram”] | [icon type=”volume-up”]

Where’s your favourite place to relax in Dublin?

My house! If that isn’t available then I’d have to say Merrion Square. I used to live nearby, but I moved and I don’t get to go there as often as I used to.

Where’s your favourite place to eat in Dublin?

It changes all the time. Dublin has really got so many options these days. Recently I’ve been treating myself to ramen at The Ramen Bar every Monday for lunch.

What country/place is at the top of your bucket list?

That’s an easy one. I have traveled quite a bit, but I’ve never made it to Brazil.

What’s the last book or movie you enjoyed?

The last movie I watched that I enjoyed was The Outlaw Josey Wales with Clint Eastwood. I don’t usually like westerns but it was recommended by a friend and I really enjoyed it.

What pets do you have?

I have two cats. Ed Sheeran and his younger sister Taylor Swift. Ask me questions about them if you meet me in person. I will gladly talk about them and show you pictures. For many hours.  [icon type=”instagram”]

This or That:

Text message or Phone call?

It depends. Usually text message, but not for something important.

Summer or Winter?

Winter. I have light hair and very pale skin. The sun is my greatest enemy.

Beach holiday or City break?

City break. I can survive for about five minutes on a beach before I catch fire like a vampire

Tea or Coffee?

That really depends. Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon.

Car or Motorcycle?

When I was a younger man, motorcycle. Now, car. Safer, slower and much, much dryer.

Comedy or Horror?

Horror.

Marvel or DC?

Marvel. I grew up with Spider-man and the X-Men, so they will always be my favourites. I also think that the current Marvel cinematic universe is an incredible artistic and logistical achievement.

Piercings or Tattoos?

In MMA I was the only person not to have a tattoo. That made me stand out more than having tattoos. I’m too much of a wimp for piercings.

Puzzles or Board games?

Board games. I prefer the social aspect.

Swim in the pool or the sea?

I can’t swim. So I suppose the answer is drown.

Steak or Chicken?

Why not both?

Facebook or Instagram?

I think Facebook might be on its last legs. So Instagram is where I spend most of my social media time these days. [x_icon type=”instagram”]

Snow White or Cinderella?

I’ve never seen either. So let’s say Snow White.

Pasta or Pizza?

The eternal question! Usually pizza, unless I’ve just had a pizza. In that case, pasta.

Online shopping or Real world shopping?

Online shopping is so convenient and cheap. However, I really believe in supporting small and medium local businesses so recently I have been trying to spend more of my disposable income in real world shops

Here you can find several reasons why you should come here to study English:

• People say that if you learn English from Irish people, you will understand all English speaking people around the world
• It’s not just studying English during your course, but also being immersed in a total English speaking environment. You have the opportunity to improve your English in every corner of this city, and people are so friendly that they can start a conversation with you in every context!
• During the summer, you can experience as many seasons as you’d like! In one day you can see the 4 seasons together – not really boring weather, since you never know how it will be –
• You’ll meet hundreds of people just like you, who came to Dublin just to learn English! Moreover, It’s a city that’s used to welcoming foreigners and it’s full of young people.
• It’s not a very big city, so that you can live easily and all the attractions in the city centre are within walking distance
• The Irish are so nice and lovely, everyone’s ready to help you or just speak to you – very open and hospitable!
• You can eat the best meat and butter you’ll have in your life!
• Dublin is ready to give you a lot of opportunities, so it’s not just about learning English! You can easily get some work experience here: the job market is really active! If you’re thinking of launching your career, maybe this city can be the beginning of it!

This are just some reasons I feel you should come here to study, I’m sure you won’t regret coming here and you’ll sure have great craic!!

Written by Susanna – Marketing intern

If we think about Ireland we imagine the green Shamrock, but what is specific to Dublin?

Ok…you can think about Guinness, famous around the world, but after you visit Dublin, for sure you’ll remember the colorful doors that you can see in the various Dublin houses around the city. It’s not just about the doors, I really love the style these houses have. If you go out of the city environment you can easily see all the houses with their small super-cute gardens.

But when you live in the city centre, you probably cannot afford it since you won’t have that space and you’d probably live in an apartment building. But you can definitely have your colorful door! That’s a symbol of Dublin, or at least something that really fascinates tourist and foreigners in general.

But why do Dubliners have colorful doors? Have you ever thought about it? I have, and I went looking for the reason in the internet. What I figured out is that, as all the typical things, there are a lot of “legend”.

It actually started becoming an icon (symbol) when in the 1970s, a picture with the Georgian doors was used to promote Dublin in the Irish tourist office in New York.

But when did people start painting their doors?

Someone said that the very first one who painted his door was the writer George Moore since he lived next to another Writer, Oliver St John Gogarty, that always went back home drunk and went knocking on his door, thinking it to be his own door.

Then, during the 18th and 19th centuries, Dublin was characterised by a uniform style due to building regulations, that made the house look like they were all the same. That’s why people started painting their doors, since it was the only way to distinguish their own house from the outside.

Whatever legend/story you want to believe in, you will remember the colorful doors as one of the symbols of Dublin and I’m pretty sure that almost all tourists have at least one photo they took at the charming Georgian doors when in Dublin.

Written by Susanna – Marketing intern

Certainly Alpha College organises a lot of activities for you, but what else is going on in this city?

As a big city, Dublin offers you variety of things you can do – and not too far away.

Every night you can go out for a beer and meet new people, mostly during the summer, moreover if you’re lucky and the weather is lovely like this week.

There are also a lots of events, and to know what’s going on you can follow some pages such as www.visitdublin.com, www.dublin.ie, www.eventbrite.ie

But this post is actually to let you know about some pubs to hang out in when you are in Dublin. I will start with somewhere outside that you can enjoy during these days.

You cannot miss the Bernard shaw!! When you come in the main door you think it is a normal Irish pub, but if you keep walking you’ll find a really nice terrace and there usually is also a Dj playing music to guarantee you a really good time.

Just next door they also have the Eatyard: you will find this space open mostly on the weekends or when some festival are on, and you’ll find lots of food!

Finally, the best part of this place is that you can also have a Wonderful Pizza at “the big blue bus”, parked just in the courtyard! For 10€ you can have a really good pizza

Then, thinking about World cup, what’s a good place to watch football matches in Dublin city?

I discovered a place called The living room, that allows you to watch your favourite team playing in HD screens, and drinking a beer in open air…. What else would you like?

Among the pubs to go in Dublin, you cannot miss the Church! And the name is not random, It used to be Church!! (and you can notice it just entering in the pub!)

It’s definitely worth a visit, and if you want to stay outside, they also have a lots of tables in their open terrace!

What if you want to go dancing? I’d advise you to go to Dicey’s: it’s a late bar, you have to pay the entry fee but there you can have cheaper drink than everywhere in Dublin! And you will surely have a good time! Moreover, they also have a beautiful garden inside.

Otherwise there’s always the River bar: free entrance all night and good latin music, if you like it!

So….Enjoy!!

Written by Susanna – Marketing intern

So, the most touristic cities in Ireland, after Dublin, are Cork, Galway and Limerick.

About this three, I will surely say “go to Galway!”. Everyone who goes there, fall in love with that city!

This also happened to me, I don’t know if it’s because of its atmosphere or its street artists in every corner, but it’s so lovely.

Indeed, I have to say that I’ve been so lucky when I was there because the weather was so lovely, that it didn’t really seem like I was in Ireland!!

The other cities are lovely as well, but I have to say that if you come to visit Ireland, the best thing you can do is go away from the cities (or spend just a little time there) and appreciate the real essence of the countryside.

The best way to do that will be, for sure, to rent a car and explore, to have the possibility of driving on the Wild Atlantic Way, that is wonderful – this has to be a must do here!!  For sure at the beginning will be very strange to drive on the left side, but it’s just about getting used to it!

Another place that is a must go is Cliffs of Moher, located in the West cost and that will leave you speechless. It’s just you, the sea and the cliffs (and the seagulls). Nothing more. If you’re lucky and get to go there when the weather is sunny you can also see the Aran Islands on the landscape.

Moreover, I was there in the late afternoon and I could appreciate the sunset there, that is more than amazing, definitely one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen!

Then, according to the general opinion, if you are traveling on the west part you cannot miss the ring of Kerry and Connemara. Unfortunately I couldn’t go there, but from the photos I saw it is really worth a visit.

Lastly, about Northern Ireland, where I haven’t been but it’s on my list for sure: Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway.

Belfast, the city where the Titanic was built, is a city full of attractions and things to do. The Giant’s Causeway, instead, is located one and a half hour from Belfast, and is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Strongly recommended!

Remember my travel advices when traveling in Ireland!

Written by Susanna – Marketing intern

I’m the new Marketing intern and I’m (kind of) new in town!

Before coming to Ireland I was soooo excited about this country and its green nature – and I still am!

Actually, before really establish myself in Dublin, I visited several cities in Ireland (yes, I really love traveling!) and I really advise you to go around this country and for sure you won’t regret it, you would have the opportunity to really appreciate the essence of this country as it is.

Apart from my  advice about traveling, that would be part of another blog post for sure, now it’s time to talk about the city and its atmosphere.

I’m not gonna talk (write) about monuments, tourist attractions or secret places that you can easily find in our recent post of the blog but I wanna talk to you about the way I see this city after 2 weeks that I’m here.

Well, I can start telling you that Dublin is a big city, but not that big.

So…what do I mean? Dublin is a big city and as all the big cities has all the service you want in few kilometers; but at the same time is a small city because you can reach any part from another easily in less than one hour.

You have to know that Dublin is divided into two parts by the Liffey, that is the river that separate the town into South and North.

I have to say that I love the fact that Dublin has a river, because it lets you take a break from the “citylife”, it lets you sit, watch it and calm down, or alternatively have a beer with friends.

What I really really really love is that it’s a city full of green! Ok, we’re in Ireland, it’s normal, and if you go just 20 min away from the city you will be covered by all the green, but I’m talking about the city centre. If you look at the map you could see several parks: Dublin boasts a lot of gardens and parks and, among others, the Phoenix park, whose area covers 707 hectares.

Another thing that I like but that it’s still strange for me is the time for sunset and sunshine. If you’re staying in Ireland during the summer period you will see the sun rising at 5 am and setting at almost 10 pm, that is incredible for me and it allows you enjoying your day till late. The only problem is that irish houses usually don’t have blinds so it’s better for you to quickly get used at the light entering your room, if you don’t want to get up at 5 in the morning. Of course, everything will change in winter, assuring you a sunrise at 8 am sunset at 4 pm.

And last, but not least, the thing that really surprised me most are the Irish people. They are really warm and helpful, more than once if they saw me looking around they asked me if I was lost or need any help, and they really assure you’re fine.

And what about you? What impressions have you had when you just arrived in this city?

written by Susanna – marketing intern

As days are getting longer and (possibly) warmer, we all tend to get a little travel fever. We’d like to explore new places, since in nice weather they tend to be much more spectacular. Plus, we don’t need to wear thick coats with several layers underneath.

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about one of our teachers – Liam. Not only he told me some things about himself, but he also revealed some of the Dublin’s greatest secrets. Now let’s take a look at them, shall we?

As I’ve mentioned previously, they are both (now we know there’s two) connected to a special person. This special person would be, drums please, Ludwig Wittgenstein. Austrian philosopher. Yep. Austrian. Not Irish. Austrian. Why would I be talking about an Austrian lad when we’re in Ireland? Fair question, I suppose.

However, I didn’t pick the places. I asked an original Dubliner to pick them for you. So to sum it up, if this Austrian guy was good enough to get recommended by an Irish person, then there must be some link, isn’t there?

Wittgenstein is considered to be one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. And not just according to Wikipedia. During his life he wrote two very important books. First of them was a critique of all the previous philosophic works. The second one, now hold your breath, was a critique of his first book. Well, that escalated quickly.

Anyhow, his second book was published after he passed away. I wonder if this would’ve continued if he hadn’t died so young. One way or another, the most important thing for us in this particular story is the fact, he wrote most of his second book in Dublin.

In Ludwig’s shoes

Wittgenstein came to Dublin in November 1948. During all his “Dublin period”, he was staying in Ashling Hotel, which was called Ross’s Hotel at the time. And that people, is how we got to the first of the places. Ashling Hotel is located close to Phoenix Park and National Museum of Ireland, on the North side of the River Liffey. Because, ya know, all the best places are on the North side. Just saying.

If you walked in the hotel, you could see a plaque commemorating Ludwig’s stay at Ross’s. He stayed in Dublin till June 1949 so he spent quite a long time in this hotel. Another special place connected with Ludwig would be Botanic gardens. Now that’s probably something you didn’t anticipate. The thing with Botanic gardens is, that there is a nice and warm greenhouse inside.

Since the winter he spent in Dublin was one of the coldest ones, he was looking for a warm places to spend his time at. I, personally, can relate to this on a spiritual level. So that very greenhouse was like a little piece of heaven for him. Fun fact, even Liam himself used to play there with friends, when he was a kid.

Knowing something about this city, something that most people don’t, gives you the opportunity to start a “did you know…” conversation with visitors and Dubliners alike. You won’t just look. You’ll see. And that, my dears, is all. So if you want to walk in shoes of one of the most famous philosophers of our time, you know where to go.

Last weekend we celebrated the International Health Day, which means it’s already April. Wau. Time flies real fast, doesn’t it? Anyhow, we still have quite a long journey till summer begins, so in the meantime, me and Simon had this wonderful idea of doing a research on “cold remedies”. I know, I know we are very helpful. No presents needed.

Sooo, if you can read this it means you’re probably old enough to have experienced cold at least once in your life. If you’re a woman, you very likely don’t consider it to be a big deal. But if you’re a man, hands down for surviving this “close to death” experience known as “Man Flu”.

Now you’ve most likely heard of the common cold treatments like get enough sleep, drink liquids, stay warm, have a cup of ginger tea and so on. What you probably didn’t know is that the following ones work even better! And if not they’re at least worth trying. Even though some of them are pretty weird.

Let’s start off with the one I call “yuck”. Disclaimer: it’s not an official name, it’s just a “work name”. It’s basically made of a warm milk and special “super rich in minerals” water in 1 to 1 ratio topped with onion. Or as I said, yuck.

The next one also includes milk, but definitely in a more tasty way. This special drink is called “Gogol Mogol” and if you’re either from Russia or Ukraine, you’ve probably crossed paths with this one before. This healing liquid is a result of whisking together honey and egg yolk poured in the hot milk mixed with a tablespoon of butter. Over 18’s are kind of lucky losers here, you can also add in a bit of rum. God bless the power of aging!

Another interesting remedy is soup. No, we do not mean chicken soup. Nor bone broth. Nor vegetable soup. Lizard soup is the where it’s at! Apparently. Let us know if you give it a go.

Last but not least, we proudly introduce dirty socks! This idea originated in England (I just pictured all you Irish people laughing your asses off) and you are supposed to grease either lard or chicken fat around your neck. And then cover it with dirty socks. Well, whoever invented this definitely suffered from a disease. Just sayin. And no, I’m not messin with you, but sometimes it pays off to be a bit messy

Official disclaimer… we are not suggesting that you take any of these alternative remedies for the common cold we found these on Google and Google is not a doctor. (but I am sure it will know a doctor in your area if you are sick)

I feel a song coming on….

When the days are cold

and you catch a cold

for the cures you seek

Google gets it solved.

When your attempts fail

and you are still pale

and the worst of all

your room’s gettin’ stale.

I want to find the cure

no more can I endure

but with the beast inside

there’s nowhere we can hide.

Anyhow, this blogpost is getting weird so I’m going to stop right there. If you are interested in more so called cold remedies, check out our newest video!

written by Martina – marketing intern

If you ever meet a real Dubliner, you might end up having a whale of a time. The only thing you have to do, is to ask. Ask them to recommend you some places. Some good old places. And that’s exactly what I did.

I met Liam on my first week at Alpha. At the beginning he was just “one of the teachers” to me. As days kept rolling, I’ve started to realize he might be one of the most interesting Irish people I’ve met so far. Not that I know that many Irish people, I surely don’t. But if you meet him, you will know what I’m talking about.

Liam has been living in Dublin since he was a baby. Even though he spent some time of his life abroad, he always returned to this wonderful city. I realize it may sound very strange for adventurers. What reason would make someone trade tropical Mexico for rainy Dublin? How come he returned when he had a chance to go anywhere else? Why would you keep coming back to where you already know it?

Well, if you really knew him, you would know he is one of those people. People, who could never leave their home city. Even if he doesn’t say it. You just know that Dublin is a part of him. And when you talk to him, you can feel it. You can feel the real atmosphere of Dublin. More than anywhere. When he talks about his favourite places, you feel like you are already there. That you’re not just listening to the story. You feel the vibe of the place. The energy. The uniqueness. The mysteriousness.

Hopefully, I will be able to pass some of those feelings onto you as well. And I hope I will encourage you to visit the following places at least as much as Liam’s encouraged me. There’s no better way to learn than exploring. And there are no better guides than locals. Trust me. I’m an engineer.

But all kidding aside, I believe that you are all dying to find out what the places are. Sadly, I’m not gonna tell you just yet. I hope you’re not too disappointed right now. I will tell you, I promise. Just not today. You wanna know why? Because great things are worth waiting for.

However, I’ll give you a hint. Just a tiny little piece of advice. It’s not that much about a place, than it is about a special person. A Person whose bond with Dublin is really strong, even though he wasn’t Irish. Any ideas? I’ll give you couple of days to think about it. In the meantime you can enjoy all the “not hidden” places of Dublin. Till then, may you know nothing but happiness.

Written by Martina, marketing intern