2009 has been a busy year at Active English Academy. The school moved from Bow Chambers to the lovely Brook House building in April and our students and staff are very happy in our new, professional premises.

We’ve had some fascinating presentations from local business people who work for such companies as Deloitte and Portfolio Exec at the school and students have visited businesses such as Kellogg’s and Turner Parkinson LLP.

Active English Academy has welcomed students from all over the world this year: Mexico, Norway, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Saudi Arabia amongst others. Our 2009 students have come from all walks of life: lawyers, product managers, consultants, finance directors, engineers, business school and university students and many more.

To everyone who joined us in Active English Academy this year and to everyone we are to meet in 2010, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Lights Switch On

On Thursday 12^th November on Albert Square, in front of Manchester’s biggest Santa Claus and the Town Hall, we will gather to watch the Christmas switch on. This is the event to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas period with the festive lights throughout the city being lit. So who is going to have the honour of switching on our lights? London had Jim Carrey and Colin Firth, Blackpool had JLS...we have last year’s X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, and the amazing Mr. Hudson who most recently collaborated with Kanye West! The event starts at 6 so you have more than enough time to warm up with a coffee after class before going to the square.

Manchester Christmas Markets

Following Manchester’s official start to the festive season are the obligatory Christmas markets. This year, the Christmas markets open on Nov 18^th and we have 5 to choose from spread through the city around every corner: we have the Christmas Market on New Cathedral Street, the Christmas Arts and Crafts Market on Exchange Street, the World Christmas Market on Brazennose Street, the German Christmas Market on St Ann’s Square (AEA’s favourite!) and the massive European Christmas Market on Albert Square. You can almost smell the mulled wine...!

Spinningfields Ice Rink

Following last year’s success, Manchester’s business district is transformed into the North Pole from the 12^th to the 22^nd November this year. Visitors can ice skate on the dazzling ice rink or, if you prefer to do something a little less cold, you can take a spin on the carousel. The arctic bar “North Pole” will also make its comeback on Hardman Boulevard this year (last year it was at the Urbis) and will be serving seasonal slurps such as the vodka infused ‘Winter Crumble’. With its relaxed furniture and festive pine trees, where better to chill out after a long afternoon at the Christmas markets? 

Home Grown: The Story of UK Hip Hop

Throughout November, the Urbis is showing the first major exhibition telling the in-depth story of the Hip Hop scene in the UK. The Story of UK Hip Hop spans 3 decades and tells the tale of a music phenomenon which came from America and whose values were adapted to fit the British culture, society, politics, art, rhyme and dance. There is art, graffiti, film, rare publications and photography as well as many other unique memorabilia from private collections to see at this very British exhibition.