The 8 Best Sydney Beaches Where You Can Spend Your Christmas Day

Here are some beach suggestions to make your trip during the Christmas season more festive and enjoyable.

Summer in Australia is a season of fun, sun and celebrating some festive times including Christmas. It is a great to experience this festive season during summer, and what better way to enjoy Christmas Day than by visiting one of the beautiful beaches in Sydney? Swim in pristine waters, relax alongside Sydney’s coast and take in the Christmas vibe. Bring some meat, prawns along and have a beach-side BBQ! Below are some beach suggestions for your Christmas Day.

Bondi Beach

Photo: Getty Images

Only 7 km (5 miles) from the Sydney’s CBD, Bondi Beach is the epitome of holidaying, summer in this dazzling city. People visit this beach to enjoy surf, sunshine and a true Aussie Christmas. You can get there by bus or train.

Manly Beach

Manly Beach is situated among the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Have a pleasant ferry trip from Circular Quay across Sydney Harbour to Manly. Water quality, great waves, a good atmosphere and an attractive streetscape are also some of the beach’s attractions. There is lots to see and do at Manly beach. Manly has access to the Manly Scenic Walkway, one of Sydney’s best walking tracks, and Manly’s harbourside beaches are some of the favourite spots among Sydneysiders and visitors.

Cronulla Beach 

Photo: Cronulla Beach Backpackers 

Located just 40 minutes south of the city, Cronulla Beach is the heart of the Sutherland Shire. The beach has an excellent range of surfing breaks, some of the best scuba diving in Sydney and countless treasures and wildlife in the rock pools. It’s just fantastic to take a picnic on the shore with some food. What a nice place to visit for an action-packed Christmas Day!

Palm Beach 

Photo: LesterLost 

Palm Beach is one of the best beaches in Sydney and is only 90 minutes by public transport from the city centre. Take in the breathtaking sights of rolling sand dunes, sparkling waters, amazing rock pools and abundant native Australian animals and plants. Enjoy swimming, surfing, kayaking and sailing in this beautiful beach. There are lovely picnic spots, beach-side restaurants and favourite cruises and ferry rides.

Balmoral Beach 

Photo: jbreiti

This lovely harbour beach is another option when you study English in Sydney and want to spend Christmas Day on the beach. It is easily accessed by bus, train. You will love its golden sands, breathtaking water colour and amazing views. There are great grassy areas perfect for picnicking and fantastic facilities available at this beach. Its safe surf and swimming conditions and spectacular surrounds make Balmoral Beach a great place to go with friends this Christmas. 

Bronte Beach

Photo: LesterLost 

Located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, this is a wonderful part of the city's coastline. It is 2 kilometres south of Bondi Beach and north of Coogee Beach. It has a good stretch of sand, beautiful views of the coast, relaxing surroundings, pristine parkland with at least three large communial BBQs and a number of beach shelters and shaded areas. The beach has good waves for surfers and even has an ocean swimming pool.

Coogee Beach

Photo: LesterLost

This beautiful beach is described as Bondi Beach’s younger sibling. The beautiful waters, the sand and the rocks make the beach one of the natural gems of Sydney’s coast. The location is convenient to eateries and has easy access to public transport and nearby points of attraction. There are a number of BBQs areas on the sea front. The facilities are well-maintained and easily accessible from the beach.

Milk Beach

Photo: Transient 20s 

Located at the base of Hermit Bay within the Sydney Harbour National Park, surrounded by the Heritage-listed Strickland House, Milk Beach offers gorgeous views of Sydney. This harbour-side beach has nice calm waters perfect for everything from swimming, snorkeling to fishing. It is also a great place for sunbaking. There are lots of little spots for picnic. The beach can be accessed via public transport or boat.

Source: The 8 Best Sydney Beaches Where You Can Spend Your Christmas Day | Scots English College

Read More

World's 50 Best Beaches Include 4 in Australia

4 Australian beaches have been named among the best on the planet. They are in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.

The accurate and reliable list is assembled by travel site FlightNetwork, ranking the world’s 50 most stunningly beautiful beaches according to the opinions of over 600 travel journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies. 4 beaches in Australia have been named among the world’s top 50.

Whitehaven Beach – No 2

The beach is on tropical Whitsunday Island, off the coast of Queensland and about 900 miles northeast of Brisbane. “Whitehaven Beach will make you believe in love at first sight,” the list says. Image: FlightNetwork

Whitehaven Beach on Queensland’s Whitsunday Island came in at the world’s No. 2. The beach scored perfect 10s for its sheer untouched beauty, remoteness, and sand and water quality. 'Whitehaven Beach has oh-so-white sands, deepest green rainforests, and crystalline waters. It’s a wild island, part of the Great Barrier Reef, and is by far the most beautiful location to experience', writes Sharron Livingston of The Travel Magazine. It has 292 days of sunshine per year, and the average annual temperature is 27oC. The beach can be accessed by sea or air.

Hyams Beach – No 8

The beach is about a three-hour drive from both Sydney and Canberra. “No place on earth invites you to relax and unwind quite like the luxuriously soft white sands of Hyams Beach,” the list says. Image: FlightNetwork 

Hyams Beach in NSW’s Jervis Bay National Park was named No.8. It received 10 out of 10 for its sheer untouched beauty, a 9 score for sand and water quality, and an 8 for remoteness. 'Hyams Beach had the whitest sand I’ve ever seen against a beautiful backdrop. I almost couldn’t believe it to be true', writes Jemma York of Academy Travel. On average, the beach enjoys 251 days of sunshine and the annual temperature of 17oC. It can accessed by train or drive from Sydney. During your time studying English in Sydney, it’s a nice idea to have an incredibly exotic journey to Hyams Beach.

Lucky Bay – No 18

“Lucky Bay in Western Australia has been rated one of the top beach destinations for its crystal blue waters and white sands that stretch as far as the eye can see,” the list says. Image: FlightNetwork 

Another beach to make the list is Lucky Bay on the south coast of Western Australia. The beach scored a 9 for sheer untouched beauty and sand and water quality, and a 7 for remoteness. 'Lucky Bay is one of the most stunning untouched landscapes featuring azure waters, blindingly white sand and the occasional visit by local kangaroos', writes Rebecca Chisholm of Rottnest Island Authority. It enjoys 295 days of sunshine and the temperature of 21oC on average, per year. You have 3 ways to get from Sydney to Lucky Bay: fly, train and drive.

Turquoise Bay – No 29

This is known as one of West Australia’s best beaches. “Turquoise Bay has the purest and most vivid turquoise colored waters a traveler will ever experience,” the list says. Image: FlightNetwork 

Located in Australia's Cape Range National Park, Turquoise Bay enjoys 275 days of sunshine per year and the average temperature of 17oC. It earned perfect 10 scores for sheer untouched beauty and sand and water quality, and an 8 for remoteness. 'The beach is wide, remote, and with very few people meant for a serene day in the tropics. The underwater marine life makes this beach even more spectacular with the astounding Ningaloo Coral Reef', writes Uncornered Market. You can get there by air, train, bus or drive from Sydney.

Source: World's 50 Best Beaches Include 4 in Australia | Scots English College

Read More

4 Basic Strategies to Improve Your English Skills in Your Own Time

Study skills are ways to learn properly and efficiently (without wasting time). During class time, your teacher will help you improve many essential skills. Besides, there are some basis strategies that you can use in your own time to improve your English skills.

Probably all students who come to Scots English College will have completed high school education and many will have been to third level education. Yet, the skills that you will need to successfully complete a course in Australia may be different to those you needed to use to be successful in your home country.

Study skills are ways to learn properly and efficiently (without wasting time). Effective study skills are very important for students to acquire good grades, and are also useful skills to improve learning throughout your life. During class time, your teacher will help you improve many essential skills such as skimming, prediction, summarising, paraphrasing and understanding different question types that you will need if you wish to study further here in Australia. There are some basis strategies that you can use in your own time to improve your English skills.

1. Make English learning a habit

Don’t think of learning English as happening only in the classroom. You can learn English all day, every day by looking at and listening to what is happening around you, on the street, on the bus or train, in the supermarket. Keep your mind, ears and eyes open and you will be amazed how much English, and the culture of the people using it, you will pick up.

2. Reading

Choose something that you are interested in and read about it. Find books, magazines or newspaper articles that suit your current level of English. You will find new words every time you read, you will start to understand the ‘tone’ of the writer.

3. New words

Keep a notebook for new words. Every day, everywhere, you will see new words. When you write them down, you have a record of them that you can use again. Set are target for yourself to learn and use 10 or 20 new words every day.

4. Speaking

Why spend so much time learning English if you are going to keep it to yourself! It is so important to practise your English every time you can. If you are a shy person, then make an agreement with a friend to speak to each other in English for an hour each day.

Source: 4 Basic Strategies to Improve Your English Skills in Your Own Time | Scots English College

Read More

How Do People in Australia Celebrate Summer Christmas?

Christmas in Australia in mid-summer is more likely to involve a barbie (BBQ), full of seafood and quality steak than a traditional European roast dinner.

Christmas is observed on 25 December each year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In Australia, it was introduced as a result of British settlement in 1788 as the cultural norms were transferred to the new colonies.

Australia is located in the Southern hemisphere. When it is winter in the Northern hemisphere, it is summer down here. The heat of summer in Australia has an impact on the way Australians celebrate Christmas. There is no frost and there is no snow. It’s different and it has its charms.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, people hang decorations in their homes, send out greetings cards, sing carols; children delightedly anticipate a visit from Santa Claus. On Christmas Day, family and friends gather to exchange gifts and enjoy special holiday food.

1. BBQ

For lunch, Australians often have freshly caught seafood outdoors at a BBQ. Either, they have a traditional roast turkey and Christmas pudding with plenty of beer and good cheer. Many families eat outdoors if it’s not too hot.

2. Beach

If you are looking to celebrate Christmas differently, replace the snow and lights with sand and sunshine at a Sydney beach. Image: Getty 

Many people spend Christmas outdoors, going to the beach for the day or heading to camping grounds for a longer break. The Beach is the coolest place to be on hot Christmas day. Also, as about 80% live within just 50 kilometers of one, why not head there to play with the waves, meet up with friends, drink ice cold beer and have a climate-appropriate BBQ? Bondi Beach is one of most popular destinations on Christmas Day.

3. Beer 

Drinking beer at Christmas is a typical Aussie tradition. It is often given as a present, being the entry price for joining in the afternoon Christmas celebrations with friends and family.

4. Prawns

Image: Getty 

With the Aussie climate around Christmas, it is ideal to devour the prawns. Australians spend 10 times more prawns at Christmas compared to any other time of the year. A couple of thousand kilos of prawns will be sold in the couple of day before Christmas alone. So when you study English in Sydney and you want to celebrate it in the same way that Australians do, make sure you have prawns for on the BBQ.

5. Cricket 

Image: Getty

People play cricket anywhere, at the beach, park, street, and backyard, either while Christmas lunch/dinner is cooking or after their meal.

6. Carols by Candlelight

Image: Australia’s Guide

As a huge Christmas tradition in Australia, Carols by Candlelight is held all over the country in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The events range from huge gatherings to smaller local community and church events.

Christmas in Australia is also associated with two major sporting events:

7. Boxing Day Test

Image: Getty

The traditional Boxing Day Test begins on 26 December, the day after Christmas each year, and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This most keenly anticipated cricket match in world cricket involves the Australian Cricket Team and an international touring side. Tickets are usually sold out months in advance.

8. Sydney to Hobart Yacht

Image: Spirit Fleet

Another significant sporting event is the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race beginning in beautiful Sydney Harbour on 26 December. This is not only Australia’s most prestigious yachting race but also one of the most viewed sailing events in the world.

Source: How Do People in Australia Celebrate Summer Christmas? | Scots English College

Read More

[Intensive English Course] Cambridge Examination Preparation

Scots English College offers three Cambridge Examination Preparation Courses: Cambridge Preliminary (PET) Preparation Course; Cambridge First (FCE) Preparation Course; Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Preparation Course.

CRICOS Course Code: 093245J

Levels: Intermediate to Advanced

Duration: Full time – 20 hours per week

Cambridge English examinations

Cambridge English (also known as ESOL) is a department of Cambridge University, London. Cambridge English has been providing English language assessments and qualifications for over 100 years.

Cambridge English is recognised as the leader in English language education and assessment. Their approach is driven by world-class research and a profound commitment to delivering educational excellence by: 

• Providing increased opportunities for learners and teachers
• Offering value to teachers, educational institutions and employers
• Promoting language learning to benefit society as a whole.

Cambridge English offers a range of examinations all of which are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) – the international standard for describing language ability.

Many Cambridge examinations are accepted for work, immigration and study globally:

20,000 universities, employers and governments around the world accept Cambridge English exams.

Cambridge examinations open doors to higher education, improve employment opportunities and increase choice for study or work.

Many Cambridge English exams are also accepted for visa and study purposes in the UK, Australia, USA and Canada.

Cambridge Examination Preparation

Scots English College offers three Cambridge Examination Preparation Courses:

1. Cambridge Preliminary (PET) Preparation Course

2. Cambridge First (FCE) Preparation Course 

3. Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Preparation Course 

Students may choose to complete one, two or all three levels of the Cambridge Examination Preparation Course. For example, a student who wishes to take the Cambridge First Certificate in English may decide to complete the Cambridge Preliminary (PET) Preparation Course before taking the Cambridge First (FCE) Preparation Course.

During the course, students will:

• Learn about the structure of the Cambridge test
• Learn what the examiner is looking for
• Learn useful examination tips from experienced teachers
• Complete practice Cambridge tests
• Learn strategies to manage your time and answer questions under pressure 
• Focus on your language skills that need most work to help you get the score you need in the Cambridge examination

Read More

5 Reasons to Study English in Sydney This Summer

The brightness and colour of Sydney’s summer along with abundant activities, events and celebrations will be an epic English experience for you!

Summer – from December to February. Temperatures range from an average of 22 degrees Celsius at night to 35 degree Celsius (and hotter) during the day. This is a great time of the year to explore Sydney. All the colours of this glorious city are on display – sparkling blue water and green foreshores of Sydney Harbour, green parks, golden sand beaches. This is also a spectacular season of festivals and activities!

1. Superb summer climate

The climate of Sydney is relatively mild with the average maximum temperature of 25.8 Celsius degree in summer and 15.9 Celsius degree in winter. Interestingly, the average number of cloudy days per month in summer is twice as many as these days in winter (6).

2. Everything is so alive

Source: sydney.com

Summer is the perfect time to soak up the sun and have some city fun. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and insects and birds go wild. Go out to sparkling blue harbour, green parks and other stunning attractions in the city such as the Rocks, the Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park and Chinatown. Your Sydney summer experience will not be complete without at least a day on the beach. Tamarama, Bilgola, Freshwater, Bondi, Manly, Bronte, Avalon, Whale Beach, Shelly Beach, Palm beach are some most popular beaches in this exciting city. The night time becomes the new time of day. People play at the park and there are quite a lot of people enjoying lovely walks around Darling Harbour, coming over Harbourside cafes, shops.

If you want to be a bit more adventurous, you may love to take a drive, train or bus trip to the Blue Mountains and meet the Three Sisters, one of Australia’s world-famous natural icons. Alternatively, you can take a day trip in the north, south and west of Sydney with many bush-walking tracks. There is no end to dreamy summertime activities.

3. Abundant events and celebrations

Students, teachers and staff had their Christmas party on 15 December, 2016. Over the morning and evening lessons, over 120 students and teachers took part in the festivities.

Each season come with important festivals that international students can attend. And summer is the time with most number events, starting from the Christmas season in December. If you want to have a different Christmas this year, visit Sydney for a summery Christmas. This holiday is traditionally spent with relatives and friends, making it a great time for a relaxed break in Sydney. There are the epic Christmas Lights Spectacular (Pokolbin), the traditional Gosford Christmas Parade, carols, fairs, markets, freshly caught seafood outdoors at a barbeque, traditional roast dinners around a dining table. Many people spend Christmas out of doors, going to the beach or heading to camping grounds.

Boxing day is observed on the day after Christmas each year. The day is known for the start of the post-Christmas sale season. It has also become a significant sporting day, particularly with the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Hat Head Trig Marathon on the North Coast.

New Year’s Day on 1 January is the first day of a new year in the Gregorian calendar used in Australia and many other nations. Its geographical position close to the International Date Line makes Australia one of the world’s first countries to welcome the New Year. In Sydney, there is a huge fireworks display at the start of the New Year. Over one million people are estimated to watch the display at the Sydney Harbour. Smaller displays are organised in other towns and cities.

To celebrate Australia’s National Day (26 January), Australians of all ages and classes get involved in celebrations around the beaches, backyards and parks. In Sydney, people gather at Sydney Habour to join in a big show with a series of extremely attractive events. You also can’t miss the spectacular firework performance here – the most impressive performance of the day and the national pride.

4. A city of diversity

Sydney is one of the world’s most multicultural cities. As estimated in June 2012 by the City of Sydney, 40.1% of the city’s population were born overseas. And top 5 countries for residents born overseas were England, China, India, New Zealand and Vietnam. Sydney’s multicultural nature means overseas students are readily accepted by others.

5. Intensive English courses for any ability

Scots students at class – Photo taken by Bruno Chalaupka

Scots English College (Scots) is a well-equipped, modern and cosy school located in the Sydney Central Business District. It is committed to the highest quality of educational outcomes and the provision of quality student services evident through the delivery of its range of ELICOS courses to international students. Scots achieves this commitment through its culture of quality driven by stakeholder feedback, its quality assurance review process and key responsibilities held by all members of the Scots’ team.

If you are interested in an unforgettable summer English experience, do not hesitate to learn, play and explore with students from all over the world with any of Scots’ premium-quality ELICOS courses. Get ready for your best day ever!

Source: 5 Reasons to Study English in Sydney This Summer | Scots English College

Read More

How to Think in English Like A Native

By thinking in English, you don’t have to translate in your head! This can really improve your fluency.

Many ESL speakers think in their native language and then translate to English. In conversations and other situations where you need the ability to process information and respond quickly, thinking and translating slows you down. Let alone, the translated sentences may not sound natural in English because the sentence structure is often different in your native language and in English. By thinking in English first, you don’t have to translate in your head, and this strategy can improve fluency.

The importance of thinking in English

Thinking in English avoids pauses, hesitation and increases your ability to speak fast and fluently. Also, when speaking English in your head, this helps you internalise the language. It means all you need is to speak without paying attention to the rules and pronunciations. Native people speak fluently and correctly by default because they have internalised the language. By thinking without translating, you will also speak English in a less-pressurised and more confident way. You don’t have to worry about whether you are pronouncing correctly or being understood by others. Another amazing benefit of thinking in English is that it saves you time with relearning words and increases your vocabulary words that you will use in everyday conversations.

How to learn to think in English

1. Start small, then go bigger

You don’t have to start with ‘complete sentence level of English’. Instead, start smaller. Start at individual word level. For example, when you wake up in the morning, think of words like: bed, water, bathroom, toothbrush, breakfast, clothes, shoes. Just think of the single English words for everything you see, hear and do.

From there, start thinking in short English sentences, then longer simple sentences. When you become better at English, you have a wider vocabulary and you will be able to use more complex-structure sentences to express your thought and emotion.

2. Think in English most of the time

Read and write in English. Listen to English. Communicate in English. Convert everything that uses languages in your life to English, for example, your phone default language, etc. Even when you take notes, do it in English. Just use it in all the occasions you can get. Living in an English-speaking country like Australia and studying English at Scots give you chance to think in English most of the time.

3. Speak with yourself, in your mind, in English

Everyday, as a matter of routine, mentally talk to yourself about what you are doing, how you are feeling, describe to yourself whatever happened during the day. For example, when you walking: “There are jacaranda trees that in bloom on my way to school. They are gorgeous, even their name is fabulous. I am taking some photos now.” This helps you handle real-life situations in English later on.

4. Speak out loud to yourself

Speaking out loud to yourself in English is a crucial step in learning to think in English. Isn’t that the way we learn our native language?

Don’t worry about making mistakes. It’s much better to practise English by speaking and making mistakes than not to speaking in English because of the fear of making mistakes. Also, speaking aloud will help you find out where you need to improve and anchor English pronunciation into your long-term memory.

5. Get creative

If you get stuck while thinking in English (i.e. don’t know how to say something in English), think of a way around the word. For example, if you’re trying to explain to someone that you lost your wallet, but can’t remember the word “wallet”, then you can tell them instead that “I lost the thing you use to carry cash and credit cards.” The sentence doesn’t use the word “wallet”, but it is clear enough to be understood. This also prevents conversation interruption by your pulling out a dictionary app. Some ways to describe a word you can’t remember are: “It’s something you use to...”, “It’s a place where...”, “It’s the same as/ similar to...”, “It’s the opposite of...”, It’s an action you do when...”.

6. Build your vocabulary

There are times you can’t think of a word (or don’t know a word) in English, which leads you to get creative in #5. As soon as you can, note down the word ‘definition’ in English on a little book or a note app on your phone. At the end of the day, look up these words in English and write them down. You should use a monolingual dictionary (i.e. an English-English dictionary). By reading definitions in English and associating words with concepts rather than words in your native language, you will understand and use the words correctly. You can record new words using images. That way, when you are trying to remember the word, your brain will ‘see’ the picture and recall the English word automatically instead of your native word. You will be thinking in English!

Source: How to Think in English Like A Native | Scots English College

Read More