Student Profile: Julia

Julia originally joined us for one year GCSE programme and is now studying A level Biology, Chemisty, Maths, Psychology and preparing for her IELTS exam in the Sixth Form.

“To study abroad has always been my dream and I always knew the UK was the best choice to accomplish it. My adventure started at the International Study Centre at d’Overbroeck’s. I must say, it was the best experience I ever had in my entire life. The pupils and teachers surrounding me were substitutes of my family back home. They helped me to achieve my goals in a friendly, home-like environment. I am eternally grateful to the members of the staff and friends who supported me.

Oxford, in my opinion, is one of the best places to study A-levels or GCSEs. It is a peaceful city where everything is neatly organised around you. As a result, you do not need to struggle to find anything. The family I live with is absolutely great. They are warm and nice people who always help me if I run into any problems, They prepare very tasty food and they try to maintain a balanced healthy diet for me and other students who also share the house.

d’Overbroeck’s is a place where you come to study and work hard to achieve the best you can. A place with a supportive and fun team of teachers. The best thing about being here is actually being here. As you can challenge yourself a lot. “

ISC Bowling Trip

Last week we held our annual Bowling Night for the International Study Centre students.

Twenty plus students along with three staff members made their way down the the Ozone Leisure Park in Oxford for an evening of fun and games.

The students were spread over four bowling lanes, from there they battled it out to find the ISC's top scorer.

This was a totally new experience for some students, who enjoyed finding the most suitable sized and weighted bowling balls and managing to throw the ball down the lane without it getting disqualified for crossing over the foul line or having a ball in the gutter.

For the more experienced bowlers, this was an opportunity to try out new skills and techniques whilst improving their speed and aiming for  'Strikes' and 'Spares'.

The clear winner of all 3 competitions was Iskandar Mammedzada from Azerbaijan who impressed us with super speeding bowling and tricks such as spinning and curving the ball.

After the bowling sessions had finished and the students had eaten, the battle continued in the arcade. From the basketball shootout, to the motorbikes, car rallying and the dance mat the students' had their fair share of fun.  Nothing but smiling faces and energetic discussions on the mini bus drive home - the true sign of a successful evening out!

 

ISC Business Studies students visit Cibo!

As part of their GCSE our Business Studies students have to research a local business and write a report on how to improve its competitiveness. For many international students this is the first time they have produced coursework and so is a very valuable project in terms of building the skills for sixth form and university. At the end of last term our students visited Cibo!, a very popular local Italian restaurant in Summertown, which is the subject of their project. They are pictured here with one of the owners, Antony Di Pinto, after they had been learning about the restaurant trade. Mr Di Pinto talked to the students about all aspects of the business and was kind enough to provide the students with some of Cibo’s excellent wood fired pizzas. Many thanks to him and his partner for their help and cooperation which was much appreciated. The students are now busy working on their reports which include recommendations on new ways the business might promote itself.

ISC Winter Celebrations

Last week the students from the International Study Centre started off the Winter Celebrations by performing their annual Pantomime. All of the students were involved in one way or another, whether it being a main acting role, singing in the choir, performing in the band or part of our backstage crew. The students had less than 4 weeks preparation for this event which was held at the Old Fire Station Theatre in Oxford City Centre. Every Tuesday and Thursday after lessons, the students split into their groups to rehearse scenes or practise music or paint some scenery. There were even some additional rehearsals on a couple of Sundays as the students wanted to ensure they put on a good show. The pantomime was a complete sell out within days!. The audience was made up of supportive host families, student guardians , friends and staff. Iskandar and Fatima’s parents even flew over from Azerbaijan to watch this memorable performance. It was a fun filled evening of live music from our d’Overbroeck’s band, traditional Irish dancing and dancing toad stools! Not forgetting the leprechaun, fairies and elves, our fabulous dame Widow Twanky and our evil villain Lord Lir.

Student profile: Mattei Moreno-Gomez

Mattei in make-up ready for his role as Evil Lord Lir in the International Study Centre's pantomime.

Mattei joined us age 14 from France. He chose to study at d’Overbroeck’s College because he felt there was “a real community feel and pleasant atmosphere that I didn’t pick up from visiting any other schools.”

Mattei is currently living with one of our host families in Wolvercote and says that the family “cares for him and makes you feel comfortable and at home.” Along with participating in many of the ISC trip and activities, Mattei enjoys spending his time at music and drama clubs in Oxford. Mattei’s future ambition is to perform on stage and/or become a music composer.

Mattei recently starred as the villain, Evil Lord Lir, in the ISC’s Annual Pantomime, whilst also playing Bass Guitar in the band. “Being involved in the pantomime was extremely fun. Everyone worked together really was and as a team we produced great results. The Old Fire Station was a great location.” Mattei enjoys studying at the International Study Centre which he calls “his own little family.”

Mattei plans to return to France once he has finished his GCSEs to complete his French International Baccalaureate and then hopes to attend a Music or Drama College.

At the moment Mattei is studying GCSE Biology, History, English as a Second Language, Geography, Maths, Citizenship, P.E and PSHE

Student focus: Ingrid Marin

In the coming weeks we will be featuring some of our GCSE students to give you an insight into life at the International Study Centre. We start with Ingrid Marin.

Ingrid joined us at the age of 15 from Romania. Ingrid chose to study with us because she felt it was ‘a College that would fit my needs and provide a better education and a better future.’ She says that "d'Overbroeck's is an amazing school. The thing I like most is how the teachers make you love the subjects as much as they do and make you study because you want to not because you have to."

Ingrid is currently living at Bensons, our all-girls boarding accommodation and says she especially enjoys the "great food and environment."

 Along with participating in many of the ISC trip and activities, especially Dance Club, Ingrid enjoys spending time with her friends in Oxford, which she describes as a ‘very beautiful city’. She also likes that "it is filled with students just like me, from all over the world."

At GCSE Ingrid is studying Maths, English as a First Language, English as a Second Language, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, German, Citizenship, PSHE and P.E.

Ingrid is thinking of taking Sociology, Economics, Maths and Politics at A level and hopes to go to study at UCL later on.

National costumes on display at assembly

 

 

 Kostya Tropillo, 15 from Russia

 

 

The ISC assembly today was organised by students belonging to King Alfred (one of the student houses at the International Study Centre). It involved students discussing their own countries and comparing national cultures.

 

Kostya delighted us as he came dressed as a Cossack in traditional Russian costume.

Kostya has managed to inspire all the other students to follow suit as they have all said that they will bring examples of their national costumes after they return home from the Christmas holidays.

We are very much looking forward to seeing all their outfits and learning more about different cultures next term at our International Arts Festival.