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Monday, April 28, 2008 - Newsletter “Montreal - The GEOS Insider” #10
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Greetings from GEOS Montreal!!
Wow! What a strange year of weather. We first had an amazing amount of snow, though it wasn't cold. This has been followed by a spring that has felt more like summer, with April temperatures above 20 degrees. The busy weather has mirrored the busy school, with Billy Barbier, our Program Coordinator, just returning from Japan, and Marcus Bender, our new Student Services Coordinator, showering the school with his energy and new activities.
As you may have noticed, we are also proud to announce the launch of our new website. Thanks to all who have contributed, and thank you in advance to all who continue to suggest ways to improve how we communicate our programs.
 Spring and Summer, as many of you know, is when Montreal comes alive, and we're already looking ahead to a busy summer full of daily activities, visiting holiday groups from various countries, and Montreal's famous festival season.
We really love to hear from all of you, so send us an email or find us on Facebook. Long, sincere, hand-written letters are also welcome.
Happy Spring to everyone,
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| SCHOOL ACTIVITIES |
Spring has come and gone and already it feels like Summer here at GEOS Montreal. The sun is shining, people are out in the park, and GEOS Montreal is looking forward to some exciting outdoor activities in the upcoming months.
To celebrate the end of the session this year, the school went to Pera - a local restaurant run by a former student. Over 40 people came, and we shared drinks and conversation about our plans for the summer. Most of the teachers were there as well for the end of session toast. It was a great way for everyone to go out together, and welcome in the upcoming summer.
Even though it seems like summer outside, the Montreal Canadiens are in full force in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup! Montreal has been gripped by hockey fever, and the students are no exception. Most students are following every hockey game in this hockey city closely. In fact many students have taken a liking to #31 Carey Price. The hockey clinic given this month by teacher Ian was well-appreciated; and now that the students know the rules of hockey, they can further enjoy this Canadian experience. GO HABS GO!
Laser Quest at the beginning of the session was also interesting. Imagine being able to shoot your classmates and teachers with high-powered lasers! Trust me, it's even better than it sounds. A certain young LaserQuester by the code name of "Wilhelm Tell" took the GEOS title this time. Congratulations "Wilhelm".
The month of May looks like it will be an exciting time of year at GEOS. First we will be going to Ottawa to enjoy the tulip festival. This is definitely the best time of year to go to the nation's capital, as there are over 500,000 tulips planted all along the rideau canal. GEOS students look forward to a beautiful day outside in the sun and outside of the big city.
After that, we have a school-wide potluck organized for the middle of May. Everyone will bring a sampling of food from their respective countries to share with the rest of the school. There is no need to eat lunch on this day! Students will also vote on their favourite. This promises to be a very exciting event.
April was an action-packed, exciting month, and May promises to be the same.
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| TESTIMONIAL |
I’m from Japan.
I arrived here a month ago,and I have been studying at GEOS for 3weeks.
My classmates are Korean,Japanese,Mexcan,Turkish,Czech and Taiwanese.
My classmates and teachers are really friendly,funny and like to joke!
So,GEOS students and teachers are always laughing.
I study English at the morning lesson for 2hours, th en I eat lunch for an hour.After that I have another lesson for 2hours.
The lunch time is so much fun!!My classmates and students from other classes eat lunch at the sametime everyday.It’s easy to make newfriends here!
Montreal is really multinational.When I got on the train for the first time,I was so surprised!
There were people from many countrys living here.I had never seen that sight before.
I was also surprised about the achitecture in montreal.The apartments,houses,buldings and churchs are really beautiful.I enjoy that view all the time.
I don’t have enough time everyday.I have a lot of things I have to do and want to do in montreal.
English is very difficult,So I get depressed sometimes.But,My friends,GEOS’s teachers and hostfamily support me.So,I always have a feeling of gratitude and like everyone at GEOS!!
Hitomi Jako
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| TEACHER OF THE MONTH |
Sayaka Sakakibara
Sayaka Sakakibara has been teaching Japanese at GEOS language academy for the past 2 years. Her warm smile and friendly disposition have become common place in the office, with both the staff and the students.
Originally from Japan, Sayaka has lived in Montreal for 7 years with her husband and 2 children. Always cheerful, Sayaka has become some what of a “staff mother” - always making sure that everyone is healthy and happy. Knowing that she is a teacher makes even the staff want to take more Japanese lessons! Thank you for your hard work Sayaka! Arigatou gozaimashita!
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| NATIONALITY REPORT |
| We are very proud of our Nationality mix for this month. Currently we have 14 Nationalities represented in the school among our 104 students
Take a look where our students are coming from:
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| UPCOMING COURSES |
Don’t forget!!, students studying English and intermediate French students can start on any Monday. Students interested in the following courses can also start at any time.
If you have any questions regarding the programs or the starting dates, just send us an email by CLICKING HERE
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| NEW MARKETING MATERIAL |
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Download our School Brochure from the image below.
Download our Pre-departure Package Information from the image below
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| A DAY IN THE LIFE OF |
It all started Thursday afternoon at lunch break, when my Russian friend Yana ,my Colombian friend Adriana and me decided to go to the Botanical garden that my French teacher Fariba had proposed because of the new butterfly exposition.
On Friday we had the day off because of the Easter holiday so we did not have to go to school. At 11 o’clock we met with my friend that is a doctor and is working in the labs of the botanical garden.  We took the green line of the metro to PI IX station, which is 5 minutes from the garden. It was a really shinny day, pretty cold but good enough to walk around. We first went to the plant section which is full of different species of plants from all over the world; I had never seen so many plants and that close!! Trees, flowers and depending on the room the temperature is adapted to their normal habitat.
Some rooms were cold and some hot, you can even feel desert temperatures.
They were all amazing and it was like a therapy for us, to be able to live the spring in the middle of winter. Finally we ended up in butterfly section, our main purpose. It was really nice! There were hundreds of different types of butterflies flying around us.
It was incredible. And it was also a good opportunity to take good pictures. After that, my doctor friend took us to the laboratories where they do governmental research (which is normally not for visitors, but he let us in!). We  saw lots of scientific experiments and equipment. We even got to do experiments ourselves; we saw Adriana’s cheek cells with a million dollar microscope.:) We really had a lot of fun.
We got out from botanical garden around 4 o’clock and we went to downtown to have some lunch. After a long day we had to eat something because we were starving! So we went to Eaton center, there is a large food court and each one could buy what they wanted to eat.
It was a really good day and I was very happy to share such nice day with the friends that I met at Geos. Although the winter is long there is lots of things to do here in Montreal. It is a city that offers lots of different activities, indoor, outdoor, scientific, sportive, night live, musical, and cultural, what ever you want! But this day was a whole new experience for me, I had lots of fun, I learned a lot, I took great pictures, I shared with my really good friends and I really recommended it!
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