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Medicine < Back Samah Irshad Samah is a first year medic, who studied Spanish at A-level and absolutely loved it!! She decided to join Lingo because she wanted to continue with her language journey and learn more about other cultural interests! :)) Latest Articles by this Author Salamanca – home of the world's purest Spanish 04/04/23

Russian and Chinese Contemporary Studies < Back Sofia Christou I've always enjoyed learning languages and keeping up with the 4 I'm learning is a hard but always fulfilling experience! I love to watch foreign film and my music taste stretches to all corners of the world. When travelling, eating traditional dishes and bringing home local ingredients is the way I immerse myself into a culture. Journalism is a career I would like to break into one day and Lingo gives me the chance to explore my interests and boost confidence in my ideas. Latest Articles by this Author I Love Them With All My Heart (And Liver) 16/12/24

French and Contemporary Chinese Studies < Back Isabelle Clark Isabelle is in her second year here at Nottingham and enjoys writing about her travel adventures, sustainability in travel and the outdoors over on her travel blog and Instagram account, Isabelle's Itinerary (under isabellesitinerary.com and @isabellesitinerary , respectively). We can't wait to hear more of her tales! Latest Articles by this Author I spy a basketball player 03/11/22 Here's to you, spontaneity 05/10/22

Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys Tuesday, 15 February 2022 Jess takes us on a culinary tour of Russia's cultural capital with an overview of her favourite restaurants with dish recommendations, price guides and pictures Every sightseer needs a pit stop to fill a hungry stomach, and visitors to Saint Petersburg are no exception. Whether you’ve spent the day admiring the wonderful Winter Palace, on a windy cruise of the Neva, or in one of the city’s scenic suburbs like Peterhof or Pushkin, you’re never far from a place to put your feet up and satisfy your appetite. And is it a surprise that Russia’s cultural capital is home to a diverse array of international cuisine? From pad thai to French fry, you can find it all on the streets of St P. To get you started on your culinary journey, I'm sharing a selection of our favourite restaurants in Saint Petersburg for you to try at your leisure! Just like Grandma used to make... If it’s authentic Russian cuisine you’re after, look no further than Dachniki [Дачники]. Dachniki, Nevsky Ave, 20, St Petersburg, Russia, 191186 Price: ££ Tucked away under the hustle and bustle of the Nevsky Prospekt, is a restaurant as delightful as it is delicious. Decorated in the style of a Soviet dacha (a cosy Russian country cottage), Dachniki promises traditional Russian recipes that will satisfy your appetite… and your curiosity. Is Russian food really all potatoes and beetroot? Not at all! Though this is certainly where I enjoyed the best borscht of my entire trip! Whether you choose ‘pelmeni’ dumplings or chicken ‘shashlik’, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. Just be sure to save space for dessert – their honey cake (medovik) is legendary! Dachniki is also perfect for big groups or parties. Interior at Dachniki Traditional Borscht A local favourite... Georgian cuisine is popular in St Petersburg, and nowhere does it better than Phali-Hinkali [Пхали-хинкали]. Phali-Hinkali, Bol'shaya Morskaya Ulitsa, 27, St Petersburg, Russia, 190000 Price: ££ It’s necessary to book in advance at this bustling business, where locals and tourists flock alike for its many delights. A warm and relaxed atmosphere pairs with delicious Georgian delicacies to keep you coming back time and again until you’ve discovered the entire menu. I can recommend, the khachapuri [хачапури] and a pot of sweet fruit tea for the table. (Try as many flavours as you can!) Tea time! See food and eat it… The biggest choice of sushi can be found at Evrasia [Евразия], but that’s not all! Evrasia, Griboyedov channel embankment, 12, St Petersburg, Russia, 191186 Price: £ (see below) Although popular for its sushi (and it is recommended to book a table in advance), Evrasia has a wide and varied menu, from salads and soups to noodle and rice dishes. They also serve some of the delightful teas, similar to those found at Phali-Hinkali, with a variety of flavours. The best part? The member’s discount . For just 300 roubles, you can purchase a member’s card which provides a discount on every dish you order! You save money almost immediately, it is a must-buy - especially if you’re out with friends or planning to return time and again. We recommend the minari - pastry-wrapped bite-sized desserts of cream cheese and fruit. The best way to end the meal! Sushi, photo credit: Jesney Swift Eastern delights… and English-speaking staff We found our favourite pan-Asian cuisine at King Pong [Кинг Понг]. King Pong, Bol'shaya Morskaya Ulitsa, 16, St Petersburg, Russia, 191186 Price: ££ For food that bursts with flavour, look no further than King Pong. Not far from Nevsky Prospekt, King Pong is perfect for the weary tourist – especially because a lot of their staff speak English and can provide you with an English menu. On those days when you’re too exhausted to speak another word of Russian, King Pong is a safe haven. We recommend the duck bao buns – get there early to make sure the kitchen is still serving duck! It’s a popular choice! Duck bao buns A rare gem… The best plant-based burgers are at Zen Burger [Дзен-бургерная]. Zen Burger, Pereulok Grivtsova, 7, St Petersburg, Russia, 190068 Price: £ Free of meat but full of flavour, everything at Zen Burger is suitable for vegetarians or vegans (just swap out the cheddar for its vegan alternative!). This quaint little restaurant is situated away from Nevsky Prospekt, and can be a quiet refuge from the business of the city – though it is popular with locals, especially on the weekends. The food is so cheap , and the owners are delightfully friendly and happy to chat. They’ll be interested in where you’re from, and may even give you a tip or two with your Russian speaking! With some weird and wonderful flavours to choose from, I dare you to try every burger on the menu! (And don’t forget the potato wedges !) Smile! With these restaurants and so much more to choose from, you’ll never go hungry in the Venice of the East. And if all else fails… there’s always McDonald’s! [ All photos and opinions credited to Jessica Henrys, unless stated otherwise] About the Author During her year abroad, Jess spent a semester in St Petersburg, Russia. According to Jess, when she first arrived, she barely knew a word in Russian and felt completely overwhelmed, but the city soon revealed its delights to her, and it became a home. She hopes that by sharing some of my Russian experiences, other travellers to the city can be comforted, and learn to love it as much as she did. Jess also jetted off to the French capital so she certainly had an incredible year abroad! Jess also has experience of being a Peer Mentor and is very knowledgeable about the university’s Support Services. She’s got a lot of enthusiasm to bring to this role! Jess was one third of our 2022/23 Welfare Team. Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo Millie Adams Images provided by Jess Henrys. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Russia Tips Food Restaurants St Petersburg Jess Henrys Categories: Travel City Guide Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

Spanish and French < Back Harriet Rothwell-Inch Harriet was Lingo's Editor-in-Chief for 2023-24, and continues to write for us as an associate member. She is a houseplant fanatic, self-professed tea goblin, travel bug, and language learning enthusiast. In addition to English, she speaks Spanish & French, and spent time working in both countries during her Undergraduate degree in Modern Languages. She is currently studying for an MA in Translation! Latest Articles by this Author Creative Corners: Top Culture, Music and Artsy Venues You Can't Miss! 25/09/24 Promises (African Voices): A Variety Pack Review from Beeston Film Festival 02/05/24 The Reintroduction of the Eastern Black Rhino in Kenya 18/04/24

French Studies < Back Emily Cormack Emily is really excited to see the collaboration of language students across UoN through Lingo. She is particularly interested in French culture and history and halfway through her year abroad in Paris! Latest Articles by this Author YEAR ABROAD TALES: When the student becomes the teacher 18/03/22

Economics BSc < Back Byron Taylor Writing has always been a way to express my creative interests to other people and share knowledge of lesser known culture, whether it be film or music. Lingo is a community that nurtures this aspect of life, helping students to enrich their understanding of the world and different perspectives on life, promoting creativity and celebrating culture. Throughout my articles I try to explore the cultural impact of media and richness of life, whether it be new cinema releases, 70s music or climbing. Latest Articles by this Author 4AM Kru: The crew taking the underground jungle scene to a new level 15/09/24

International Media and Communication < Back Katrina Luu Katrina is a 21-year-old British Born Chinese student from Leeds, currently studying International Media and Communications. 'With a love for all things creative, I am always looking for new ways to express myself, so my hobbies consists of art and fashion. What drew me to Lingo Magazine was the unlimited opportunity to express ideas and creativity, collaborate with like-minded people, and contribute to a platform that values diverse perspectives and voices.' Latest Articles by this Author Discover Nottingham: A Journey Through Its Historical and Cultural Landmarks 27/09/24

Taiwan Diaries: Quarantine Rosie Loyd Wednesday, 27 April 2022 As part of her degree, Current Affairs Editor, Rosie Loyd, is spending several months in Taiwan attending National Cheng Kung University, Tainan. Having now arrived, she must complete her 10-day hotel quarantine followed by 7 days of ‘self-health management’ as part of Taiwan’s efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19. In this article, she updates her readers on her experience so far. After my 24 hour journey from Gatwick to Taipei, exhausted was an understatement. Taiwan is 7 hours ahead of the UK, so it took me several days to get back on track with my sleep cycle. On my journey out here, I was subject to several full-body disinfectant sprays (even on the soles of my shoes!), as well as a very aggressive PCR on arrival at Taipei airport. At long last, I had made it! Today is day 9 of my hotel quarantine in New Taipei. I’m staying in a hot spring hotel in Jinshan District, renowned for, yes you guessed it, hot springs! As I write this, I’m currently listening to the hum of my fridge - a relentless background noise - together with the dodgy air conditioning. I keep telling myself it is good practice to get accustomed to the heat for when I get out! I am very much looking forward to some different noises after finishing here. By the time this article is out, I will have finished quarantine and be in Tainan. Hot spring bath in my hotel room When you’re stuck in the same room for 10 days (11 nights), time turns into a strange companion. At times, it whizzes by, and before you know it it’s the evening. On other occasions, it’s as if it doesn’t move at all. The worst feeling is when you’re lying awake at 2 am knowing your doorbell will be rung at 7 to let you know your breakfast is waiting outside. Together with my fellow Chinese language coursemates, I was supposed to arrive in Taiwan in February. Well, originally, I was meant to go to Fudan University in Shanghai. That got cancelled at the end of 2021. Reading the headlines now, however, I can’t help but feel relieved I’m not in Shanghai. Then February came around and we were told by Nottingham University and National Cheng Kung University that they were waiting on some final documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan (MOFA). Ok, we thought. I’m sure we can wait a couple more weeks. But little did we know it would be months, not weeks. We’re here now, at least. But the lack of communication and the delay in issuing the necessary documents so that we could then apply for a visa was incredibly frustrating. I’ll leave this ranting for another day – it’s quite an entertaining story involving direct emails with the British Representative to Taiwan and warrants some more attention, so stay tuned! Back to quarantine. I’m coping. At first, I was rather overwhelmed at the idea that I had to stay inside for 10 days. We are all so fortunate to be able to do what we want when we want. And if what we want to do isn’t an option, then we’ll find the next best thing. It’s quite tricky when you’re limited to a square room with harsh yellow lights and limited natural light - there is a window, but it’s in the bathroom. The best part without a doubt is the nightly hot spring bath. We each have a huge bath and the hot water tap apparently comes directly from the hot spring. I could think of worse ways to kill a few hours! During the daytime, I’m reading, watching Netflix, and doing our Chinese classes online until we can attend in person. Yoga and Joe Wicks have made a comeback – on some levels this feels like lockdown 3.0! I’m also so grateful for all the facetimes with my friends and family. Another highlight of the day is facetiming fellow Lingo member, Mhairi, who is in the room above me, to eat our bento boxes together. What would we do without technology! In the mornings and afternoons, we have to take our temperature and submit this to several bodies: the hotel we are staying in, National Cheng Kung University (the university in Tainan that we will be attending), and finally to the anti-epidemic contact on LINE, the Taiwanese version of Whatsapp. On specific days we also must submit rapid lateral flow results online as well. At first, there were a lot of things to remember, but I’m getting into the swing of things now. The food is something we just have to get used to. Breakfasts consist of either a sandwich with unidentifiable fillings or some sweet little fluffy buns. Lunch and supper are bento boxes with rice, vegetables, some mystery meat, and tofu or something similar. The best comment a coursemate has made so far was ‘I wish I could Shazam my food, then at least I’d know what I was eating’. I agree – it would be very useful. Hey ho. It’s all part of the fun of it, guessing what we’re eating tonight. Quarantine dinner! Nevertheless, time is seemingly moving. On Tuesday 26th I will be taking a high-speed train down south to Tainan, where I will be completing the final 7 days known as ‘self-health management’. After that, I will be free! I’ll be staying in an Airbnb for the 7 days during which I can’t mix with other people or go onto campus to have in-person classes, but I am allowed to go outside and finally go for a walk. I can’t wait for the feeling to be tired from ‘doing things’ and for my head to hit the pillow and instantly fall asleep. That day will come soon! Stay tuned for Rosie’s Taiwan Diaries… About the Author As a keen Spanish and Chinese linguist, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to share contemporary and engaging stories with readers. I love discovering surprising news stories that don’t always reach the headlines and finding a way to present them in a digestible and relevant fashion. Rosie spent her year abroad in Barcelona and Taiwan. You can read about her incredible experiences here on Lingo Mag! Rosie was our 2022/23 Current Affairs Editor. Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Taiwan Diaries: Quarantine Rosie Loyd Why you should visit Strasbourg Chloe Brewster Images provided by Rosie Loyd. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Rosie Loyd Year Abroad Taiwan Quarantine Studying Abroad Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Theology < Back Arabella Moore-Smith Arabella is a Theology student and the 25/26 Culture Editor. Latest Articles by this Author The Perfect Blend: Coffee, Church and Community 02/05/25

Physics < Back Scott Froggatt Scott is a Physics student and the 25/26 Language Editor. Latest Articles by this Author

A Rose By Any Other Name: ‘Cobs’ and ‘Jitties’, ‘Barms’ and ‘Ginnels’ Eleanor Curtis Tuesday, 5 December 2023 Why do we have so many words for so many things? Local words and accents are important for identity, and the strange little aspects of our language are all evidence of the development of language in a local area. Anyone who isn’t native to the East Midlands may receive a culture shock when arriving in Nottingham, due to the plethora of local terms in use here. You may be greeted as ‘ duck’ , offered a bacon ‘ cob’ , or directed down a ‘ jitty’ to your destination. As a lifelong resident of the Midlands, and someone influenced by language patterns from the Black Country (from my father), North Staffordshire and the Potteries (from my childhood), and the Derbyshire Dales (from my mother), I don’t find these words so strange. But, to someone coming from outside of the region, they may be somewhat unintelligible. Calling a person ‘ duck’ is a phenomenon seen across the Midlands, in counties that were a part of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. This is potentially a linguistic overhang from a term of respect used in the Anglo-Norse language of this area (‘ ducas’ ). Having moved further and further east over the course of my life, I’ve noticed that the word does not change across the region, only the inflection and accent accompanying it. It is genderless and forms a part of the cultural identity of the places in which it is used. However, having a specific word for a bread roll or an alleyway is not a localised phenomenon. Here, in the East Midlands, a bread roll is commonly called a cob. This is sometimes confusing for non-locals, as in other parts of the UK, this word refers to a large round loaf. Though, as you venture further north toward Manchester it will become a ‘ barm’ . In fact, there are at least seven different words for this around the UK. In a sense, these are mainstream usages of various dialects from days gone by that would have been in common use and would differ from town to town. Indeed, the small market town of Wirksworth in Derbyshire has an accent and set of words that are completely distinct; to residents of the Derbyshire dales, a Wirksworth resident would be easy to identify. While these words are similar to those used in the surrounding area, when used in combination with each other and with specific vowel sounds, they form a marker of an origin that belongs to a cultural identity or settlement. Equally, the six towns that were united to form the city of Stoke-on-Trent each have a specific set of words, vowel sounds, and accent markers that indicate a resident as coming from that specific part of the city. These types of linguistic intricacies exist across all forms of language. They are evidence of the development of local language, as well as showing that, populations settling and remaining in an area gives rise to dialects and accents attached to its location. Every time the population of the area shifts, language and dialects shift with it. Despite this, the enduring nature of these dialects indicate the presence of a permanent and unmoving population. Due to the transient nature of modern life and the way in which we move to and from these small communes, many of these small accents, dialects, and overhangs of the past are disappearing slowly. Therefore, using words such as ‘ cob ’ and ‘ jitty ’ becomes a badge of local identity and belonging. They become a commonality and a shared history that is maintained through speech; and they are culturally important in order to maintain societal links that are quickly becoming disparate. About the Author Eleanor was Lingo's Treasurer for 2023-24. She is very interested in cultures across the world, and how languages and history influence these. She loved being a part of Lingo Magazine, a collaborative community showcasing all the elements of language and culture that our world has to offer! Falling for Autumn: why are autumn traditions in the US so at odds with the weather? Eleanor Curtis A Rose By Any Other Name: ‘Cobs’ and ‘Jitties’, ‘Barms’ and ‘Ginnels’ Eleanor Curtis Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: cob dialect identity local England Eleanor Curtis Categories: Language and Linguistics Thought Piece Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE