N o 64

February 2014

Travel with English

Agnieszka Targońska has itchy feet. Don’t we

all when it comes to travelling? And she is right

by saying that long winter nights are best to

plan where to go in the summer. Here are

some useful tips and articles to get your mind

in the right mood.

Meanwhile, with the finals round the corner,

make sure you revise the material carefully. We

are keeping our fingers crossed and believe in

you. After the semester break your batteries

are fully charged and ready to make the final

leap. GOOD LUCK!

On behalf of Linguaton Teachers,

Aneta Janiszewska

Travelling on a shoestring budget 2

Putting words in action

3

Travel quiz

5

Art and Architecture by Bill Gould

8

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bill Gould, a long-standing friend of Linguaton,

is back. This time - he has something more

substantial to propose.

Please visit KICKSTARTER for details.

Bill's art piece can be finally executed with your

support. Join the Kickstarter community and

be part of the most unusual project in our town!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1364369264/maki-creating-public-art-with-a-community-in-lubli?ref=home_location

SUMMER HOLIDAY PLANNING IN WINTER – WHY NOT?

It seems like a long time before holidays start, especially when you look around and you see nothing but snow.

Still, February is an appropriate time to start planning your vacation trip.

Travel agents already display their first minute offers that could allow you to save some money later if you manage

to get a good deal. However, if you are not very keen on organized travel it doesn’t mean you can’t begin your

preparations. In fact, booking places or transport so much in advance may prove to be very profitable for your

pocket. Not everybody, though, enjoys or can get round to organizing their own free summer time. What are the

pros and cons of package holiday as well as independent travel? Which is better to choose?

The term "package holiday" can conjure up images of either a group of people basking in the sun and sipping free

drinks at the bar or worn-out tourists blindly following their guide at a hurried pace without much appreciation or

understanding due to the heat wave taking its toll. This may not be entirely true these days, though.

Tour companies have moved with the times. They now advertise a more flexible approach to travel in order to meet

the increasingly diverse demands of holidaymakers. Apart from typical all-inclusive options in one location, there

are plenty of other, more adventurous choices. Apparently, as I have never tried it myself, they allow you to take a

more individual approach and tailor your trip to fit your needs. That kind of organized freedom must undoubtedly

be a very costly treat, though.

When it comes to convenience, package holidays will always reign supreme. Instead of spending hours trawling the

internet for flights and accommodation, professional travel agents do the work for you, helping you to find the best

deals in almost any location around the globe, without any of the hassle that often accompanies independent

booking. Furthermore, travel agents offering package holidays tend to provide comprehensive insurance packages,

so, if the worst should happen, making a claim is much easier. Tour operators are often able to get considerable

discounts with national airlines and hotel chains because they can offer them a steady flow of business.

Now, when it comes to the cost, package holidays may turn out to be quite pricey, especially if you don’t want to

stay in one place and sunbathe all the time. However, as I have mentioned before, a package tour to an exotic

location may often work out much cheaper than trying to do it all yourself when you add in flights, accommodation,

tours etc.

No matter what offers are on the table package holidays are not for everyone, especially if you like to have more

control over what you want to do. If you like to arrive at an unfamiliar location and remain free of schedules and do

your own discovering then making your own way is what will work for you. Nevertheless, there will always be loads

of people who feel more comfortable with the safety net a tourist agency guarantees.

What makes independent travel so attractive? First of all, it gives you more privacy and many private

accommodation providers offer a home from home atmosphere that allows you to get away from it all. It is just you

and your travelling companion(s) and your host who won’t infringe on your private space but upon your polite

request may offer you a great insight into a local life, give useful tips and even invite you to his table. This style of

spending holiday allows for a slower pace, enabling you to get to know the local culture more and gain authentic

experiences.

Furthermore, if a place we are visiting doesn’t come up to our expectations, this is no longer a setback to our

plans, we can change our travel directions! You are not bound to follow any itinerary.

The arrival of cheap airlines is a real boon for independent travelers as it helps persons make considerable savings

by booking early and travelling in the low season and in the middle of the week.

People may now travel further afield and to more diverse locations off the beaten path instead of staying in

crowded popular resorts.

By travelling independently we have definitely far more freedom. Free to choose, free to move, free to follow our

intuition, to enjoy and interact with the local people, to see the real culture and to travel in a more environmentally

sustainable way that benefits the local people and their economy.

GLOSSARY

get round to (v.)– znaleźć czas na

conjure up (phr. v.)– wywołać (obraz,

wspomnienie, uczucie)

bask (in the sun ) (v.) – wylegiwać się w

słońcu

take its toll (idiom) – dawać się we

znaki

tailor (v.)– dostosować

treat (n.)– przyjemność

convenience (n.)– dogodność, wygoda

reign supreme (idiom) – wieść prym

trawl (v.) - przetrząsać

hassle (n.) – kłopot

comprehensive –pełne (ubezpieczenie)

flow of business (n.)– przepływ, ruch w

biznesie

work out (phr. v.)– wynieść (o kwocie)

safety net (n.)– zabezpieczenie

home from home (idiom) - domowy

get away from it all (idiom) –

setback (to plans ) (n.) – pokrzyżowanie

planów

be bound (v.) - być zobligowanym

itinerary (n.)– plan podróży

further afield (adv.)– dalej

off the beaten track (idiom) – z dala od

utartego szlaku

environmentally sustainable (adj.)–

nienaruszający równowagi ekologicznej

How to travel on a shoestring budget abroad – here are some tips

1. Use cheap airlines or book much in advance. Even

national airlines may offer good deals if you buy your

tickets a few months before your departure. Also

compare prices of flights on www.skyscanner.com. This

website will show you direct and connecting flights

indicating the cheapest options.

2. Sign up for the websites: www.loter.pl and www. fly4free.pl

with your Facebook account and everyday you will receive

information about the latest deals to countries all over the world.

You have to stay alert to spot a bargain and quickly act upon it!

3. 3. In addition to airfare, accommodation tends to be the lion’s

share of our travel costs. However, hostels and small pensions, or

bed-and-breakfasts provide modest and clean places to stay,

which can be booked via mega-engines like Hostelworld

(www.hostelworld.com ) or Hostelbookers

(www.hostelbookers.com ), or www.booking.com where you can

also find a budget place to stay. I would also recommend private

accommodation providers advertising on www.wimdu.com or

www.airbnb.com where private persons offer a room in their

flat or house at a considerably lower rate. And if you don’t want

to pay anything, try couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.com ) which

may help link you with a local willing to host you for free.

4. When you are already at a place, check how to save money on sightseeing. Find on the Internet which

highlights are free for visitors or on which day(s) they are open to the public free of charge. In many

countries there is a custom that one day a week (on a selected day indicated on the website of such a

place) tourists may enter a museum, a palace or any other historical building without paying an admission

fee. Also, don’t forget that very often there is a possibility of buying combined tickets and instead of paying

for various attractions separately you can get a discount buying such a combo ticket. Again remember you

should always find such information on the Internet. You can even buy entry tickets to many places much in

advance as they are usually cheaper if purchased via the Internet.

5. What about food? Sampling local cuisine is one of the best ways to experience your destination, and that

should not be sacrificed! Dining in restaurants may prove expensive so dispense with a lavish evening meal

and try eating during “off” times. Many restaurants offer late afternoon or happy hour menus. That may still

work out quite pricey so simply ask locals where the best place is to grab an affordable bite.

6. Most importantly, read Internet travel forums and blogs and do a lot of networking with people who have

broader travelling experience than you

P.S. Did you know that my friend has travelled across Asia for a month

for as little as PLN 3000? And the most expensive thing was his plane

ticket!

And my other Polish friends signed up for a volunteers’ programme in

the Philippines where they are work and having fun while getting to

know the culture of Asian countries. If you are interested in finding

out more about their experience check it out: www.nafilipinach.com

GLOSSARY

to stay alert – być czujnym

to spot a bargain – znaleźć okazję

modest – skromny

to host – ugościć

an admission fee – opłata za wstęp do obiektu

a combo ticket – bilet łączony

to sample – kosztować, smakować

to sacrifice – poświęcać

in advance – z wyprzedzeniem

to grab a bite – przegryźć coś

http://www.skyscanner.com/http://www.loter.pl/http://www.hostelworld.com/http://www.hostelbookers.com/http://www.booking.com/http://www.wimdu.com/http://www.airbnb.com/http://www.couchsurfing.com/http://www.nafilipinach.com/

Let’s put words into action Have you got turned on by the previous article?

Have you already started dreaming about going

on such an independent trip? You know that now

it is within your reach!

DAY ONE Take the tube and get off at Victoria Station or

Green Park, next walk to Buckingham Palace,

preferably before 11 a.m. to watch the Changing of

the Guards!

Walk around St James’s Park which is almost right in

front of the palace, so it can’t be missed!

From the park it is just a stone’s throw to Marble

Arch leading to Oxford Street. Yes, this is the most

famous and the busiest shopping street in London.

You must be feeling a little peckish after shopping.

Time for lunch, isn’t it??? There are many Chinese,

Vietnamese or Indian restaurants that offer budget

meals, often for a fixed price you can have buffet

food and you eat as much as you can. They can be

found literally everywhere, especially in central

London where we are doing sightseeing. Remember

try to look for some side streets where prices may

be a little bit lower!

If you are keen on history visit British Museum (free

of charge!!!) which is off Oxford Street and is close to

Tottenham Court Road station if you are tired of

walking and prefer to take the underground to get

there.

Alternatively, if you are more interested in nature

and science, take the tube and get off at South

Kensington to visit Natural History Museum in

Cromwell Road. Also, the admission is free! And the

building itself, as well as in the case of British

Museum, is definitely worth seeing!

Having spent some time indoors why don’t we visit

the most popular place for relaxation among

Londoners – Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens! It

takes a while to walk around the whole area

because it is just so huge. However, there are some

spots that again cannot be overlooked such as:

Diana’s palace, Speakers’ Corner or the beautiful

pond.

In the evening we may either walk or take the tube

(it is by far the most convenient and fastest way of

getting around London, especially when you buy a

travelcard) to China Town - Soho, the nearest station

is Leicester Square. At night the area sparkles with

various colours and it bustles with activity.

And how much money have already spent?

9 pounds for one-day travelcard

10 pounds for a meal per person

It’s not that bad, is it?

Then what about visiting London for a weekend?

London simply has it all – fascinating history, the

monarchy, superb shopping and world-famous tourist

attractions. Besides, it is not far away from Poland by

plane, rather a safe and easy place to get around, it

could be an ideal destination for the first timers! And for

Linguaton learners one more important aspect: the place

provides us with an opportunity to practice our language

skills in an authentic English-speaking environment?

Such arguments cannot be easily refuted, you must

admit it!

So how do we go about it?

http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/destinations/london/london-shopping

DAY TWO

Ready for another exciting day in London? Let’s take the tube to South Kensington where we might have been

the day before. If you didn’t have a chance to see Natural History Museum because you were admiring exhibits

in British Museum today there is a good time for it. If you are shaking your head, I’ll take you to Harrods

located close to Knightsbridge Station, just a stop away from South Kensington. Don’t worry if you are not

loaded, you may enjoy watching the spectacular entrance hall or even toilets ;=)

From Harrods again we jump on the train (i.e. the tube) and head for St. Paul’s with the beautiful cathedral

where Princess Diana got married - another highlight in Central London. If you want to look around,

unfortunately you have to pay 14.50 (if bought online). But it is worth a visit, especially if you are planning to

climb the dome to reach Golden Gallery that offers spending panoramic views of the whole London.

Remember it is 528 steps to go up!

From the cathedral take a walk along River Thames in the direction of Westminster and London eye on one

side and beautifully lit in the evening The Houses of Parliament on the other side.

Somewhere along the way you will have to take a break and nosh on a bagel or Turkish kebab not to run out of

steam

I don’t think we could manage to squeeze more attractions in two days

but there are so many other exciting things to see in London, believe me!

GLOSSARY

within your reach – w twoim zasięgu

Changing of the Guards – zmiana warty królewskiej

peckish – lekko głodny

a stone’s throw – dwa kroki stąd

overlooked - pominięte

admission – wstęp

to sparkle – mienić się

to bustle with activity – tętnić życiem

exhibits – eksponaty

loaded – bogaty, nadziany

to climb the dome – wspiąć się na kopułę

to nosh on - przekąsić

U N D E R G R O U N D

C E N T R A L

L O N D O N

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

TIME FOR our TRAVEL QUIZ!

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU TRAVELLED?

HOW MANY PLACES DO YOU KNOW?

LET US KNOW BY SOLVING THE TASK BELOW:

Look at the photos and guess where in Europe these places are.

Email us on lingua@linguaton.pl with your correct answers to win a prize!

mailto:lingua@linguaton.pl

Art and Architecture according to Bill Gould

When Bill Gould visited Linguaton in mid December

2009, he first asked our students about the types of

monuments most commonly seen in Poland, and,

specifically, in Lublin. Bill knows our town very well. He

spent a year here over 20 years ago when his wife,

professor Jill Goodman-Gould, taught American

Literature at MC Skłodowska University, and has visited

Lublin on several occasions ever since. This time,

however, instead of talking about the communist past

and the hardships of life the Goulds experienced here,

he focused on future and on the place of public art in Lublin.

We all looked at his designs with our eyes wide open and fully agreed with Bill that there must be a place for artistic

creativity in urban spaces. Bill had plenty of photographs to document his work and to show us how art and

architecture can complement each other establishing a clear connection between beauty and a high level of

functionality. “Until about 75 years ago, there was never a strong distinction between the architect and the artist. Da

Vinci and Michelangelo not only designed buildings, but also the art that went with them. With the modern and post-

modern movements, decorative building elements that users understand and enjoy have been largely eliminated”,

said Bill. What started off as a crash course in architecture ended with an induction to art in ways that increased our

awareness and sensibility.

His latest visit to Lublin is connected with a highly innovative project he intends to carry out here. And as all his

works, he plans to involve what he describes as “site users”, that is the local community, inhabitants of one large

housing estate in Lublin. “Site users feel pride and a sense of ownership, which decreases incidents of vandalism and

graffiti”, explained Bill. If everything works well, we will hear of Bill Gould much more soon.

Bill Gould is President and principal architect of BGD (Bill Gould Design), an art and architecture studio established in

1996 in San Jose, California. He is now among the most prominent advocates of integrating public art into the fabric

of urban spaces. He has received several national and state awards for his ingenious work. Bill’s wife, Jill Goodman-

Gould has worked in Lublin as a Fulbright professor twice. Seven years ago she also taught at Linguaton. Bill and Jill

have two children: Hannah, who is a student at Stanford University, and Aaron, who like the majority of Polish

students today struggles hard to combine his studying with professional work.

If you want to see some of Bill’s most unusual designs, visit his website on

http://www.artika3.com/profile/.

[

http://www.artika3.com/profile/