What's been happening in Edinburgh this week
It’s been a grey and blustery few weeks in Edinburgh, with rain tapping at windows and wind funnelling down the streets. A low-pressure system has been sitting stubbornly above us, keeping skies heavy and east winds cold. However, that hasn’t stopped our students from making the most of Edinburgh this week.
Some of our students stay in hotels or apartments, but others have chosen homestay accommodation. Why might this be a good option? A warm place to return to after class, with the added bonus of homemade meals and relaxed conversation around the dinner table. You don’t have to think about where to eat — you’re a guest and meals are prepared for you to enjoy with the family.
Behind the scenes in the classroom
Each morning begins calmly, with the hum of activity as teachers prepare for the day ahead — planning lessons, choosing the right video or article, laying out materials for listening or discussion practice.
This week, students have joined a range of different courses — including Speaking & Listening, Communication at Work, Experience Edinburgh and 1:1 lessons focused on specific professional topics.
After class, conversation has continued in local cafés, at the National Gallery and on late afternoon walks through the Dean Village and along the Water of Leith. Indoors, it’s the season for museums, ceilidh dancing, language meetups and discovering Edinburgh’s quieter corners of comfort.
Sharing language and tradition
A recent highlight was a visit to a local quiz night, where the food on offer included a classic winter dish: haggis, neeps and tatties. Flora recited the Address to a Haggis — Robert Burns’ famous poem — before students tucked into the warming plate of spiced meat, turnips and potatoes. It was a first-time experience for many and one to remember.
Even on the greyest days, signs of spring are beginning to appear. Snowdrops are blooming in parks and gardens across the city. Did you know there are over 40 different species of snowdrop? Their arrival marks the ancient festival of Imbolc— a Celtic celebration of light returning and new life stirring underground.
Music, food and free time
One of the joys of winter in Edinburgh is the chance to explore the city slowly. Vladimir recently told us how much he enjoyed listening to live music at a local concert — he’s been attending one almost every week during his stay.
Other students have discovered traditional cafés, enjoyed dinners out and chatted over tea and Japanese treats while watching the Winter Olympics during coffee breaks. There are so many interesting sports to see — and plenty of vocabulary to learn and compare.
Some students have set themselves a delicious challenge: to eat in a different restaurant every night. A recent favourite? Nok’s Kitchen in Stockbridge — a Thai restaurant tucked inside a beautiful 17th-century building.
And when the weather eases, there are still those soft, hopeful moments: a golden sunrise over Charlotte Square, a cinnamon bun from Söderberg café or a quiet afternoon beside the fire in a cosy Edinburgh pub.
A season for small joys
At this time of year, it’s often the little things that stay with us, the comfort of a shared meal, English conversations spoken over coffee, the hush of a cathedral echoing with music or the quiet thrill of spotting the first snowdrops on a rainy walk.
Whether you are wrapped up for a stroll by the Water of Leith or sharing stories around the dinner table, these moments offer space to slow down, practise language naturally and connect with the city, with others and with yourself.
However long the stay, these are the memories and the language, that last long after the clouds pass.
