the CTC student magazine
endeavour
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summer 2015
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Contents Greetings from the Principal Editorial Team Student Committee Happenings at CTC Out and About Clubs & Societies Sports Reviews & Recommendations Celebrating Success Art Gallery CTC Lenses
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On the Cover Photo by Guanting Lu (front) Artwork by Elena Ritenberga (back) Contributors Mr Eagers Mr Houssen Mr Cutting Ms. Krey Sabrina Zaid Nelynn Ng Andrei Gherasim Kok Jian Yi Leong Chun Wei Rahul Menon Yulia Promskaya Mithali Maya Mittra
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Endeavour The CTC Magazine Cambridge Tutors College Water Tower Hill
 Croydon CR0 5SX
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www.ctc.ac.uk 2
Greetings !
Mark Eagers Principal I am delighted to be writing the introduction to this edition of the College magazine and feel in a better position to do so now that I have just completed my first year as Principal.
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We are a busy place. Apart from my constant pleasure at meeting and getting to know our delightful students, it is good to note here that they work hard and want to do their best; their teachers put in long hours to do their utmost to ensure their students’ success; and our support staff also work really hard at keeping the place going, often unseen and unsung. One thing stands out here: everyone is deeply committed to the College. Long may this be the case.
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The College is undergoing a period of transition with new courses, new developments, a new website and management information system being introduced; we are spending a lot of money in improving our facilities for the benefit of all. The Governors (Council) have agreed a plan for the next five years of CTC’s life: Vision 2020.
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In this magazine you will find a picture of what goes on and I thank everyone involved in its production for their hard work. CTC remains a vibrant and exciting place for all.
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Editorial Team !
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Andrei Gherasim
06/15
e to see th y a w t s e e b To me, th aroma of m r a w e walk. Th kets, sold s a city, is to b in s o r of own Chur ld City golden br O e h t iduals in d streets le b by indiv b o c t in . The qua ollow our F Barcelona . s m e g d's hidden bar k o n m e of Englan y e h t in riters as w w o ll e f eanwhile, M ! s y e n g jour how the t u enchantin o k c e ch s section, t r o p battled. S e ly h t e v a r b ball Team est t o o F C T C to the lat Q P E e h t ide on 015 From a gu ummer 2 S is h t , s gizmo ou s got y gadgets & a h r u o E n d ea v I ss u e o f aid Sabrina Z covered.
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Kok Jian Yi
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! Ng Nelynn
! ! ! Sabrina Zaid
! ! ! Join the Magazine Team
Leong Chun Wei
! ! We are always looking for more contributors to write !articles, take photos and help put together the magazine. If you are interested, please see Mr Houssen in the Learning Resource Centre for more information.
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Student Committee !
I have always been the type of person who needs to be active and social. From my primary school I couldn't sit doing nothing, I always had passion to organise, take part in different activities and try something new. I was a president of the class since this role had been introduced at grade 5, so my decision to run for the student committee at CTC wasn't surprising.
Next term I was chosen to be the president as I had had experience and organization skills. Even when I was away for a couple of days, other members of the committee had been contacting and informing me on what was going on and asking for advice. We had another get-to-know-you dinner, Valentine's Day, Red Nose Fundraising, etc.
Passionately loving to run extracurricular activities and events and having creative ideas and thoughts, I have been a social secretary for one term. We organised the Croydon tour and ice-breaking dinner for our new colleagues at a restaurant to help them adapt to their student life. We had just over 40 students, including some A2s, so we can consider it as successful. In addition, we had the amazing Halloween party with competitions and games which we also enjoyed ourselves.
Being a member of the student committee is an unforgettable experience for me: it helped me to improve my organisational and communication skills, overcome the problem of shyness, and it contributed to my personality, especially as a leader. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity to make friends, improve my English and enjoy student life in all different aspects.
P.S. I'm going to run for the committee again ;)
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Yulia Promskaya
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Happenings at CTC
A success-driven and respected man, Councillor Tony Newman is the Leader of Croydon Council cum Labour Member for Woodside Ward. He can be reached via Twitter, @CllrTony. Endeavour wishes to thank Councillor Newman for taking time out of his busy schedule, as well as for his open, honest and elaborate responses to our questions.
Q: Most of the students’ first experience of the UK is settling down in Croydon. Is Croydon generally a safe area, in terms of personal safety for young people? A: Croydon is overwhelmingly a safe area with very low crime figures. It is the largest Borough of London with the highest number of young people, where crime statistics are going down. I think people should be assured that the Croydon Council are working to make this city as safe as possible. We just had a council budget, where we actually assigned more police on the streets. We also have the Croydon Street Light Programme, so that it is brighter in the evening. There is indeed a lot of work going on, and we always make sure
that we are working to keep Croydon even safer. Q: As students of CTC, we generally spend two years here and are quite interested in the future of Croydon. Is there any projects or plans for Croydon? A : M a s s i v e l y. A s a n e w administration that was elected last June, we are very committed. I talked repeatedly about a vision of Croydon being A Modern European City; we have got a fantastic investment of the Westfield shopping centre in central Croydon, bringing thousands of job opportunities with it. It’s proceeding very well, and we’re very confident. Many major companies are coming to
Croydon now compared to previous years. We are also very keen on investment on culture - we have a major festival coming up in July called The Ambition Festival that includes performance and music from across the globe, and a big cycling event featuring Britain’s top cyclists in action. Q: How will the development and Croydon Regeneration Plan directly benefit international students that will study here in the future? 6 A: There’s a lot of growth in
Croydon. We hope to make Croydon not only an interesting place for working and studying, but also for socialising. For young people, we want Croydon to feel much more like a city, where we would have people attend to their businesses and then spend leisure time in the evening.
member in order to send a message from Croydon - that the politicians locally support the Regeneration plans. It is a unique moment to make the case for Croydon.
! ! "I talked repeatedly about a vision of ! Croydon being A ! Modern European ! City," !
A: Be confident that now if anyone is seen dumping rubbish will be prosecuted. For now we will have 11 potential prosecutions. This council will make it clear that if anyone is tipping rubbish from lorries or vans and they are caught doing it, will be prosecuted. This campaign is about everyone recognising that throwing rubbish on the street is wrong and that we all have to make sure that no one is dropping litter and that those who do are punished. We all have to take pride in our local street, and most people do. They have to be confident that if they report someone to the council, the council will take the strongest possible action.
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Q: What do you think will happen to Croydon after the election? A: My job is to work with Government of London and the Council, whoever they are. We are a Labour council working closely with a conservative Mayor, and also with the current government in terms of their support for our Regeneration Growth plans. I had meetings with the current shadow ministerial team in order to make sure that if there is a change in government, they will support that as well. We also had meetings with the Treasury and I had private meeting with Chris Leslie who is the shadow in charge of the Treasury and he assured me of his support for our Regeneration Growth plans. When we went to parliament just before Christmas, I had both the Conservative and Labour MP for parliament with me and the conservative GMA
Q: How is the Don't Mess With Croydon campaign progressing so far?
it off. The council will sort the recycling at the other end for you. We try to make recycling even easier for people and as well as making sure your rubbish isn't blown off down the street. Q: Other students have to cross Coombe Road to get to college on Water Tower Hill. In the morning this is very busy with traffic. Are there any plans to install a pedestrian crossing between the bridge and the roundabout? A: The honest answer to that is that I will very much welcome a petition from you. We would also need to have a traffic survey done, because that road is controlled by the TFL and the Mayor. However, if you would like to formally write about it and suggest it to the council, I will make sure that it is looked at by the council and officials of the Mayor of London. A letter from the students and few signatures from locals should be fine and we will pick up the issue.
Q: Is there an increase in recycling rates? A: Recycling figures are stable at the moment , but we are looking at collecting more recycling from people’s homes. We want to make it easier for people to recycle, such as comingling. However, the bins used for the recycling are small and on a windy day they are blown away down the street. We are now looking for a wheel-bin; to put your recycling in and secure it with a lid, so the wind doesn't blow
by Sabrina Zaid & Andrei Gherasim 7
A New Qualification !
This year, for the first time, Cambridge Tutors College offers the AQA examination for the Level 3 ‘Extended Project Qualification’. Two tutors (myself and Mr. O’Dwyer, Government and Politics Tutor), along with our vice-principal, Dr. Drew, have been involved in supervision and co-ordination. T h e ‘ E x t e n d e d Pr o j e c t Qualification’, or EPQ as it is better known, is a stand-alone piece of work that students can do in addition to their A-level subjects. It helps them to prepare for university-level study, and adds tariff points for university application. Students doing an EPQ stand out from their competitors. The project can also become a topic of conversation for university interviews. Candidates often choose an area of personal interest, in an area that sparks their curiosity. They learn valuable transferable skills such as those of time-management and effective research, as well as presentation skills. The EPQ allows students to be creative and to apply critical thinking skills. The candidates this year chose a diverse range of topics to study, from the extent of Adam S m i t h ’s i n f l u e n c e o n t h e Industrial Revolution, to an analysis of the Scottish independence referendum. Mr O’Dwyer and I have enjoyed working together with the library staff to deliver a
at College by Mr. Cutting
programme of taught skills, which included ways of finding and referencing sources. However, the majority of the work was done by the candidates working on their own. This is why an interest in the topic is so important: students need to direct and manage their own learning; to organise and to plan. We believe that the opportunity to do this kind of independent study is invaluable preparation for university. But don’t take our word for it! Here’s what some universities have to say:
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“We welcome the introduction of the Extended Project and would encourage you to undertake one as it will help you develop independent study and research skills and ease the transition from school/college to higher education.”
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Oxford :
“The University… recognises that the EP will provide an applicant with the opportunity to develop research and academic skills relevant for study at Oxford. Candidates are encouraged to draw upon their experience of undertaking the project when writing their personal statement.”
UCL :
“UCL welcomes the introduction of the Extended Project into the curriculum, recognising that it will develop many of the skills necessary for successful study at university.”
Manchester:
“Students can refer to the Extended Project in their UCAS personal statements and at interview to demonstrate some of the qualities that universities are looking for."
! We would like to thank our students this year for, in a sense, being the ‘guinea pigs’ for this, our first year, of experimentation. We have been learning from them as much as they have been learning from us! We hope that the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification will be a popular choice for ambitious students at the college in the years to come.
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by J. Krey A fantastic night was shared by almost eighty students and staff at the long established calendar event of ‘ CTC Quiz Night ‘. The most important thing to say about the event is that it was GREAT FUN !!!! I took part for the first time and I can honestly say that I had the best laugh ever in such a long time. Eight teams took part with most tables having a staff member or two also participating. The questions themselves were certainly challenging especially for the age group in question but then they really did excel in the Picture and Movie rounds where this younger generation truly did ‘know their stuff'. Mr Coombes was the Quizmaster extraordinaire and must have spent an absolutely huge amount of time researching and gathering these multitude and varied questions ( I know about this aspect as I have written quizzes myself in the past ). His powerhouse of a figure at the top of the room, calling out question after impossible question, was commanding in delivery and strict in non-acceptance of near or nearly right answers. The format of the rounds was also interesting with teams being allowed to choose their ‘Joker’ round ahead of the questions being asked which
was then doubled and added to their score. This indeed turned out to be a vitally strategic element in increasing a team’s points. The other inspired idea by Mr Coombes for the Picture and Movie rounds was to get everyone up from their seats, on their feet and moving around the hall in search of the materials and coming up with the answers. It was a mad, haphazard, frenzied and absolutely top drawer way for everyone to have an energetic, fun time at what might otherwise be a traditionally staid event such as a quiz night. Everyone was ‘ buzzing’ after this, hearts and lungs pumping and adrenaline racing with the sheer excitement of running around from table to table trying to secure the right answer for their team. I even witnessed a little friendly deception when Benedict Cumberbatch’s face was being displayed suggesting a possible answer of Sherlock when in
CTC Annual QUIZ NIGHT when in actual fact the right answer was Imitation Game. Great praise must also go The Student Committee who organised a superb evening of entertainment allowing students to come together and participate in a unique and competitive CTC event. The whole evening ran very smoothly and the organisation was highly efficient. In the process a large amount of money- £150 was raised for three charities which is highly commendable and a credit to all who contributed.
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9 Back: Mr. Eagers, Tan Hui, Deirdia Ong, Valentin Avram, Su Shenru, Ms. Krey. Front: Idzuan Anuar, Nguyen Khuong Duy
! ! ! The Physics Department held Astronomy Week from 26th -30th January. Monday: 12.30-13.00 in B26 Remote use of the Faulkes Telescope in Australia 5pm Viewing the Moon through CTC's telescope Thursday: 12.45-13.00 in B26 Remote use of another telescope in Australia 5pm Viewing stars/constellations through CTC's telescope Friday: 1.10-1.40: Lecture Theatre: Humans in Space – by Mr. Robert Shirley
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NGC 5194 the Whirlpool Galaxy, a giant spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way galaxy.
NGC3031 a giant spiral galaxy with a massive black hole in its nucleus.
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NGC 4038 two galaxies colliding; their spiral arms will be destroyed by the collision.
NGC 2070 a young star cluster in our neighbouring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud; the gas will form new stars.
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ASTRONOMY WEEK AT CTC Mr Shirley and his happy group of budding astronomers, during Astronomy Week. 10
! Election Hustings Event
From left to right, UKIP candidate Peter Stavely, G r e e n Pa r t y c a n d i d a t e Esther Sutton, CTC's Head of Politics David O'Dwyer, Labour Party candidate Sarah Jones, Gavin Barwell MP,and CTC Principal Mark Eagers.
! CTC was the venue for a thoroughly engaging and entertaining Hustings meeting on Tuesday evening, 14th April. The election candidates from the main parties were in attendance, Sarah Jones from the Labour party, Esther Sutton from the G re e n s, Pe t e r S t a ve l e y representing UKIP, as well as Croydon Central's sitting Conservative MP Gavin Barwell. The candidates were asked questions on a range of subjects such as housing policy, immigration and Univesity fees.
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! Many thanks to Head of Politics David O'Dwyer for organising the event.
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Well done to everyone who took part in the fundraising concert for Nepal 29 Apr. We have already donated £219.00 from the concert collections.
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FUNDRAISING FOR NEPAL
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Out & About
TRIP TO PARLIAMENT
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! ! ! ! ! ! TRIP TO As with most students in our college, we all grew up alongside the Harry Potter franchise, reading the books and watching the films that took over the world BY storm when it was first released. Fortunately for us, a handful of students had the opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to Warner Brothers Studios, the birthplace of the enigmatic tale of the young wizard that would eventually grow up to be one of the most iconic fictional characters over the past decade. On the 1st of February, around 15 Potter fans led by Dr Drew set off on a journey to Watford, Hertfordshire, where all eight films were made over the course of fifteen years. After an uneventful two-hour road trip, we finally arrived at our destination. The interior of the studio itself was colossal, with actual sets used in the films on display for the public. We got to see first-hand, the massive Great Hall of Hogwarts, peer into the Gryffindor boy’s dormitory, walk the cobble streets of Diagon Alley and marvel at the enchanting wonder that is
Dumbledore’s office. As for the models and props, we stood side-by-side with memorable characters such as Hagrid the Giant, an 18-foot wide Aragog, an animatronic Buckbeak, Dobby the House-Elf and the Gringotts goblins just to name a f e w. S o m e c h a r a c t e r ’ s costumes, such as Harry’s Gryffindor robes and Hermoine’s cloak were on display too. The wands each character used in the movies were also placed in a glass casing, signifying the immaculate craftsmanship and attention to detail the producers dedicated into the 8 films. Harry’s broomstick was also on display, and brave visitors could opt for a photo shoot while riding a broomstick, or even better, take a lesson in wand combat with dedicated instructors! The main highlight of the tour never fails to leave visitor’s mouth agape when they first lay their eyes on it – the 1:24 scale sculpture of Hogwarts. Used for exterior shots in the first six films, the sheer amount of detail that were carved onto the model reflects the unrelenting dedication and
WARNER STUDIOS
passion of the crew for the production of the movies. It took six months to complete and it was definitely a bewitching exper i e n c e t o recreate the scenes of Hogwarts in your mind as you circle the model on elevated walkways. 14
Numerous videos accompany the various attractions as well, revealing the secrets behind how many of the scenes in the films were created and enacted. Green screens, special effects, mechanical models, digital editing and a whole lot of creative camera angles all come together harmoniously to give birth to the eight Harry Potter films that captured the imaginations of kids and adults alike. Did you know that the myriad of dusty old tomes lining the shelves in Dumbledore’s office were just phone books bound in leather? Not to mention Quidditch from Goblet of Fire, which was one of the most daunting and intimidating scenes to enact requiring stunts and an acting finesse that pushed the actors and actresses to their limits.
most hardcore Potterheads. Items include the famous chocolate frogs, an actual lifesized Nimbus 2000, wooden replicas of each character’s wands, the seven horcruxes and even the Sword of Gryffindor for a heart-wrenching £300.00. At half past seven, our magical tour came to an end, and we hopped back onto the minivan to get back to Croydon. Although weary and exhausted, this would be a magical experience that would be etched into our memories for a long time to come. The tale of Harry Potter may have drawn to a close, but Warner Brothers weren’t about to let their billion dollar wizard fade away just yet.
Finally, what tour would be complete without the merchandise store at the end? Although a little on the pricey side, the shop offered every possible piece of collectible merchandise from the franchise that would appease even the 15
Written by Jason Kok Jian Yi, pictures by Nelynn Ng
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Clubs & Societies ! !
HISTORY SOCIETY:!
Japan Becoming an Imperial Power! ANDREI GHERASIM!
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Sports
CTC Football Team On the 16th of April 2015, Cambridge Tutors College sent a seven-a-side football team to play in the CIFE football tournament held at St. George’s Park in Burton upon Trent. The team consisted of 10 footballers with the exception of 4 extra supporters who came to give moral encouragement to the team. After a four hour journey to Burton upon Trent, the football team settled into their rooms, then headed out for their dinner at Wing Wah, a local Chinese restaurant that served a scrumptious buffet that filled up the stomachs of the team and coaches. After dinner, the team went back to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep. The first match for the CTC Football team was against the MPW Blue team. CTC stated off very strongly and was very unlucky to capitalise on many chances that was created during the match and thus the match ended in a draw. CTC played CSS in their second match in which it
saw the CSS football team dominating CTC but through persevering, CTC managed to hold CSS only to a 1-0 victory which gave CTC one point even though CTC lost the match. The third match CTC encountered was against MPW London. MPW London took the lead after an unlucky defending error made by CTC. Despite that, CTC managed to pull an equalizer through striker Kelechuwu and kept the pressure on MPW London, but the match ended in a draw. The final group match was against Bosworth and due to a formation mismatch, Bosworth College manage to control the midfield area and won the match, but it was a well-played match by CTC nonetheless. The final match played by CTC was against Collingham College and it was a brilliant match indeed. The match started off well with CTC making a change to their formation and under the leadership of their captain, Rahul Farhan Menon made it
extremely difficult for the Collingham team to get through CTC’s mighty defence. The match ended in a draw which meant that it would result in a dribble shoot out. The saviour of the day was Alex Khun, CTC’s goalkeeper who managed to save all three dribble shoot outs winning the match for CTC. The win for CTC meant that CTC would come in seventh. The presentation of the medals took place after all the matches were over and the CTC Football team made their way back to Croydon. The Football tournament was the first tournament ever held by CIFE .All in all, it was a great experience for all the players, coaches and supporters and it would be great for CIFE to hold tournaments like this in the future. 20 Rahul Menon, Captain, CTC Football Team
! Singles CTC ! ! Badminton Tournament  
CTC held our first singles Badminton Tournaments on the 27th of February. It was a fantastic event and all the players have had a great time! The winner was Hoang Anh Luan Nguyen (left) and the runner up Chi Hieu Kim (right).
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Reviews & Recommendations !
ENGLAND'S HIDDEN GEMS by Nelynn Ng, Kok Jian Yi and Leong Chun Wei
Few places cram in as much scenery, history and culture as England. It’s a busy, eccentric and unique destination; a land of daft humour, tea-and-cake clichés and a thousand and one different personalities. With some spare time and a bit of cash, one could travel round England and embark on an eye-opening journey that is sure to leave you craving for more of what this majestic country has to offer. London aside, there are plenty more hidden gems in this austere country that will satisfy your wanderlust. First on our list is York, a sleepy town towards the north of England that might just be a contender for one of England’s oldest cities. From the largest medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe to the narrow Victorian cobble streets, this city’s long history stretches all the way back to the Roman Empire and more. Those seeking a challenge will definitely want to have a go at climbing the 275 steps to the top of the Central Tower of the York Minster, with panoramic views of the city that will blow you away (literally).
Next up is Lake District National Park, home of towering mountains, expansive lakes, wide open hillsides and verdant woodlands. Adventurers will be sure to have a smashing time here as the Lake District offers a haven for cyclists and walkers, with trails ranging from casual walks to more challeng- ing hikes on some of the most stunning parts of the Lakeland Fells. And of course, who can forget the stunning lakes that the national park is named after? If you ever find yourself in these parts, be sure to explore the wondrous beauty of England's largest lake – Windermere. By boat or by foot, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find your troubles drifting away with the wind.
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Being the birthplace of the eminent poet and playwright William Shakespeare, the town of Stratford-upon-Avon is one of the most sought-after holiday desti- nations in the UK. You can indulge yourself in a journey of discovery by ventur- ing into historical buildings where Shakespeare was brought up, or revere in the grand interior of the Holy Trinity Church where the final resting place of the great poet resides.
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Fans of mythology and mystery absolutely cannot miss out on travelling to the city of Salisbury in Warwickshire. Apart from visiting Britain's finest medieval cathedral, the Salisbury Cathedral, which houses the 800 year old Magna Carta, one can take a bus to see the world-famous Stonehenge. Da- ting back even before the Romans, this mysterious arrangement of stones is probably the oldest surviving relic in all of England, most well-known for being a ritual site for the Celtic druids. Last but not least, Bath is a breath-taking city that exudes both beauty and tranquillity from its mesmerising architecture. Designated as a UNESCO world heritage site, this opalescent city is a one-of-a-kind getaway destina- tion for young and old alike. At the heart of this magnificent city lies the remains of one of the largest spas in the ancient world – the Roman Baths. Moreover, be sure to drop by Pulteney Bridge to admire the splendour of 18th century Georgian design.
In conclusion, there are certainly no shortage of tourist attractions here in the UK, and to visit them all would definitely be next to impossible. However, do take some time out during your busy schedule to escape to some of the spectacular holiday destinations mentioned above. Get fascinated and in- spired by the uniqueness of each city, whilst indulging in the joy of travelling. And maybe, just maybe, you might find that special something or someone that will change your life forever.
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What is anime? Ever had a friend who’s usually laconic, yet turns into a first-class debater when it comes to Japanese animation (a.k.a. anime)? For starters, envisage anime as a fictional world that encompasses mesmerizing animations that do wonders in terms of visual entertainment. Throw in a few stories encompassing different genres that get you hooked and enrapturing plotlines that range from mind-bogglingly convoluted love polygons to artlessly simple depictions of daily life, and you’ve got yourself an anime. Now, I’m sure you’ve at least heard of the ‘big three’, namely Naruto, Bleach and One Piece, but is that really all there is to anime? Absolutely not. In fact, it’s rather ironic that these iconic big names of anime represent so little of what anime is about today.
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ANIME RECOMMENDATION One should never rule out Death Note from one's towatch-list as it is one of the anime industry’s greatest crime thrillers. This can be proven by its tremendous manga sales (it was adapted from a manga) which reached approximately 26.5 million across the globe. The story of Death Note begins by introduc- ing the existence of death notes, where the bearer wields the power to end a life simply by writing someone's name in the note- books. When Light Yagami, an ingenious high school student discovers a death note one day, he exploits it to commit the mass murder of criminals with the excuse of cleansing the world of evil and darkness. Unlike Detective Conan (another crime anime), where the audience had to guess or make hypo- thetical theories about who the murderer is, in Death Note, everyone acknowledges the fact that Light is the killer. However, this does not dim the suspense or thrill of this anime series. The unique factor that made this anime series so successful was that the producers did not bring in the world's greatest
detective, L, into the anime series merely just to capture and arrest Light. Instead, they re- written the basis of the suspense and thriller genre in the world of fiction, where the righteous always triumphs over the corrupted, and they centered the plot on the psychological and intellectual warfare between the two astute geniuses. Who'd kill who first? Sorry, no spoilers. You just have to sit back and witness the sagacious and highly imaginative tactics both L and Light use as they attempt to emerge as the victorious hunter, not the hunted.
! ! ! ! ! Besides that, from the same studio that pro- duced Death note - Madhouse - comes another highly acclaimed anime series entitled No Game No Life. This anime was adapted from a light novel series penned by Yuu Kamiya, which sold more
than 1.1 million worldwide. The plot centers around two siblings, Sora and Shiro, who were unbeatable gamers under the pseudonym ''Blank" that spawned urban legends across the Internet. O n e d a y, t h e y w e r e summoned into a parallel, fantasy world known as Disboard, where everything including national borders are decid- ed simply by games. In Disboard, humans are called Imanity and they are the feeblest race among the other sixteen races. At first sight, this particular storyline might seem unoriginal as there are other anime about gaming such as Sword Art Online out there, but nonetheless, what amazed me about this anime is that the producers did the unconventional by making this into yet another psychological thriller just like Death Note. As both Sora and Shiro are portrayed as ambitious characters who wanted to challenge God himself, they had to muster all their wits to win against other races such as the Elves, the Flugel a n d t h e Wa r b e a s t s t o conquer their land. But, the other races also have their 24 respective supernatural abilities which enables them
to cheat or gain the upper hand during a game. This is where the sparring of intelligence makes its entrance. You'd be blown away by how Sora and Shiro stays true to themselves and still be victorious over dirty tricks and the supernatural. In short, this anime isn't just about gaming, winning or dreaming the impossible. It's about how to find a way for the weak to stay weak, but still defeat the strong; a way to stay who you are but still, surpass your limits. Moreover, the third anime I would like to en- dorse is the total opposite of Death Note and No Game No Life as it is a slice of life genre anime. It is titled We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day, which is wide- ly known by its Japanese abbreviation Ano- hana. Also unlike the
previous duo, this anime isn't based on a manga or a light novel. Thus, I'd like to commend the producers (A1 Pictures) for their originality. The plot revolves around six childhood f r i e n d s proclaiming themselves to be the Super P e a c e Busters,who become estranged after one of them named
Menma drowns and dies when they were young. After growing into their adolescent years, the leader of the six, Jintan, begins to witness Menma appearing before him in a ghost-like form. Sadly, no one else but him could converse with or see her. Menma insists that the reason for her reappearance was because she had a forgotten wish that needs to be fulfilled and she requires the cooperation of all the Super Peace Busters. Without realizing the fact that her friends grave- ly blamed themselves for her accidental death years ago, Menma's reappearance unwittingly set in motion a chain of events that reawakens her friends' feelings of guilt and remorse, which they struggled to keep at bay for the past few years. This simple yet poignant storyline
has tugged at the heartstrings of millions with its theme of friendship, loss and quietus which resonated with everyone's emotions as we all experienced the tragedy of losing someone we loved dearly at some point. Personally, it was a flawless masterpiece of simplicity as the anime was remarkably scripted and it sends out a powerful message-friendship transcends all. In conclusion, the above anime are extremely thought-provoking and inspirational, and it might even change your perspective on how you see the world and live your life. Although there are still a huge number of other highly successful anime series out there, to list them all down would be near impossible. Having said that, I do hope that my article has invoked in you a newfound sense of curiosity and perhaps even awe about Japanese animation. If you haven’t already, give it a try. I guarantee you’ll wonder what you’ve been doing your whole life.
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by Kok Jian Yi and Nelynn Ng
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LAST GEN CONSOLES WERE A REAL HIT ! 360 Stats
Sony had the #1 Console (PS2), was also the oldest and weakest, but had strong developer support
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by Andrei Gherasim
• Triple core PowerPC at 3.2GHz
• ATI GPU 512MB at 700MHz • 3 USB slots, two up front, one in the back
• HDMI (elite), Component,
VGA or composite cables for connection to TV
• 20 GB removable Hard Drive or 120GB (elite)
Newcomer, Microsoft X-Box, attracted more mature gamers with its power and adult oriented games
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• Tray loading drive uses DVDs
and can read cds and dvds, plus an additional drive add-on can read HD-DVDs
• Up to 4 wireless controllers similar in design to first xbox
Nintendo lost a lot of its fan base due to its lack of support for its middle powered, kidfriendly console, the GameCube
console
• No motion sensing at all • Does not use bluetooth
• HD graphics capable of 480i-1080p (although only HDMI and VGA connection can be used for 1080p)
• Ethernet port and can use
• Can only play HD-DVD
Headset
wireless with adaptor
• 2 versions with a 3rd coming out end of april
• Cheaper than PS3 with
• It is the “middle”
What does this mean ?
• Port in controllers to plug in
XBOX 360 PROS
XBOX 360 CONS
XBOX 360
minimal to no loss on graphic quality
• Comes with all the cables
necessary for HD and online play
• Xbox live has largest user
base for any online community and the xbox live arcade downloadable games
movies with additional drive
• Robust
Xbox Live community with most every game online
• Ipod and other mp3 players can plug into it
• Can connect with windows based PCs
• Downloadable TV episodes,
movies, HD movies, music, games, demos, additional content er develop feelings for, inevitably dies (some argue whether there will be any characters left in the 26 later seasons).
What does this mean ?
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• HD graphics form 480i-1080p (no HD cables come with the console unlike 360)
•
Online play is free
• Media player abilities • Can watch blu-ray movies cheaper than current blu-ray players
• Lots of computing power for advanced AI
PS3 Stats
PS3 PROS
• 3.2 GHz cell processor
• Most powerful console
• Nvidia GPU of 256MBs at
• “Home” Sony’s new 3d
650MHz
• 20gb ($499) or 60gb ($599) hard drives
• Plays blu-ray discs, dvds, cds through slot loading drive
•
Memory card slots for SD, memory stick, xd, Compactflash on $599 version
• Backwards compatible
• PowerPC Processor clocked
• The Nintendo Wii is the
capable of playing both Wii DVDs and GameCube miniDVDs
• Least exclusives thanks to lost support
• Poor marketing What does this mean ?
• Slot driven disc drive
out of reach of many customers
controller
NINTENDO STATS
•
• Linux support
• No rumble feature in the
PS3
512 MB of built in flash memory for storing games and data
(although not near as advanced as the Wii’s)
• Too expensive, puts it way
• $499 or $599
• Over 100MB of ram memory
• SIXAXIS motion sensing
• HDMI,
some motion sensing) using bluetooth up to 4, possibly 7
at 243MHz
• Downloadable games
PS3 CONS
• Wireless controllers (with
• ATI GPU Processor clocked
• Blu-ray player
• USB slots component, composite cables for video
at 729MHz
Avatar based virtual world (like the sims) is used for online community and gaming
weakest of the new systems only 2.5 times as powerful as its predecessor and 1.5 times as powerful as the first Xbox
WII PROS
• Cheapest choice • New style of gameplay using motion sensing and pointing
• New types of games WII CONS
• The Wii’s controllers are all motion sensing and can point in precision like a mouse.
• Expensive controllers
• The Wii is not in HD, but is
• Not many deep games as of
• Wii channels offer new ideas
• Not capable of HD graphics
much cheaper to produce for
now
• 4 GameCube controller
ports and 2 memory card ports
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NINTENDO
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by Mithali Maya Mittra Alas, the new year marks the continuation of the emotionally tumultuous journey for the Game of Thrones (GoT) “disciples”. Had George R. R. Martin not eloquently written the series, A Song of Ice and Fire, the world would be void of his masterpiece and perhaps be less cynical. After each season finale, Game of Thrones viewers find themselves either on the edge of their seats, paralysed with shock or drowning in tissue papers, not even attempting to conceal their river of tears; every season finale has never failed to end in a cliffhanger, tantalising the viewers for more. “Oh, the show where everyone dies,” would be the first thing that comes to mind when people hear GoT. Very accurately stated, it is indeed the show where every character that you ev-
er develop feelings for, inevitably dies (some argue whether there will be any characters left in the later seasons). To be frank, GoT is a slap in the face for those who choose to see life as “rainbows and bunnies” - it is not for the faint-hearted. It portrays the brutality and the hard truth of life that most television shows and movies do their best to conceal from the world. Although set in the fantasy, fictional realm of Westeros, this series is nothing like the common fairytales - it broaches themes such as politics, violence and death, sexuality, feminism, religion, realism and the most distinct: moral ambiguity. After watching (or even reading) the story, you will, no doubt, begin to question your own morality - does doing bad things for good rea- sons make it justifiable or is everything just black and white? In fact, it is probably one of the very few shows where “evil” always wins - nobility and
righteousness seem to be the ultimate killer. This programme gives us an inkling to the injustice of society in the olden days and it even reflects upon the modern day. The only two satisfactions that Martin gave us which happened 4 seasons too late, were the unsatisfying and “merciful” death by poison of the immature bigot, King Joffery and an (literal) arrow through the heart of Tywin Lannister while “doing his business” in the toilet which undoubtedly proves the magnitude of injustice of this show. Although, GoT is remembered for its “unrelentingly grim dance with morality,” it is a mustwatch (preferably not children due to obscenities) and definitely deserves two thumbs-up. The ratings are as such: 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 9.5/10 on IMDb (personally, I would give it a 10). Brace yourselves, everyone — 28 Winter Season 5 is coming.
Celebrating Success !
JIANG HE Congratulations Jiang He and Zi Koon Pong. Jiang and Zi Koon have just attended the Annual CIFE Awards Ceremony at the House of Lords.Jiang received a special awardfor excellence in mathematics. Jiang was examined in 12 units to earn A* in both her Mathematics & Further Mathematics A levels. In ten of these units she was awarded a perfect score of 100, and her final result of 1189 points out of a possible 1200 is one of the highest on record at CTC. She is now studying Economics at UCL.
Zi Koon Pong was awarded the CTC CIFE College prize for allround contribution to life at CTC. Whilst at CTC ZI Koon took part in leading a group during a Duke of Edinburgh Award weekend march, orga n i se d a foot b a ll tournament to raise money for ‘Save the Children’ as well as being a member of the College Summer Ball organising committee. Zi Koon is now studying Engineering at Magdalene College, Cambridge.
ZI KOON PONG 29
CIFE Colleges Quiz Competition
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On Saturday 28th February, CTC sent a team of five to the first ever inter CIFE College quiz competition, held at the New College of the Humanities in London. In the end after a nail biting finish we came second, pipped at the death by Collingham College by the narrowest of margins of just one point.
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The CTC team consisted of Valentin Avram (captain), Noel Png Chen Jie, Trong Bach Vu, Jian Yi Kok and Aakash Nair and fought against seven other CIFE Colleges. CIFE is the Council for Independent Education.
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The competition began at 11 in the morning, finishing at 3 and had a large number and variety of rounds, testing all sorts of general and specialised knowledge.
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The team’s performance was fantastic and more generally we hope that this event will become an annual fixture within the CIFE calendar.
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Mark Eagers Patricia Brown
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CONGRATULATIONS to our fantastic physics students: Thant Syn Aung, Aaron Chee, Hongqiao Chen, Chi Hieu Kim, Carlos Limpo, Sakunrat Prompalit, Yuan Yuan Sun, Anton Vorushylo and Yuyin Wong, who all performed so well during the first round of the Physics British Olympiad. They are all pictured receiving their certificates from the Principal Mark Eagers.
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UK SENIOR MATHEMATICAL CHALLENGE Principal Mark Eagers handing out Mathematics Certificates to: Sarah Sun, Hongqiao Chen, Sihan Chen, Quinyuan Zhang,Carlos Limpo, Ngoc Hong Van Bui (Rosy),Zhisheng Mao, Jiemin Jin Ruya Kang, Jenwit Chimdamai, Zhizhong He and Haomomg Wang. Principal Mark Eagers handing out Mathematics Certificates to: Sarah Sun, Hongqiao Chen, Sihan Chen, Quinyuan Zhang,Carlos Limpo, Ngoc Hong Van Bui (Rosy),Zhisheng Mao, Jiemin Jin Ruya Kang, Jenwit Chimdamai, Zhizhong He and Haomomg Wang.
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Art Gallery â&#x20AC;Š
Haocheng Wu
Wenjie Fan
Junyi Jin
Elena Grazia
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CTC Lenses
Right: Paintball fun
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Bottom: Thorpe Park
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INTERNATIONAL EVENING
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Endeavour The CTC Magazine Cambridge Tutors College Water Tower Hillâ&#x20AC;¨ Croydon CR0 5SX www.ctc.ac.uk
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