Thanks for the brilliant work you did writing about the websites. Useful for us all. And don't forget to check out the DFilm movies and the Voicethreads people made.
You can see the information, films etc from the other groups here:
Group A (Jo's): http://nilemgea.blogspot.com/
Group B (Carole's): http://nilemgeb.blogspot.com/
Group C (Jamie's): http://mgecnile.blogspot.com/
Some greedy people asked for more websites to use for learning and teaching! Here is a page of links from my website, The English Language Garden:
http://www.elgweb.net/t_links.html
I'm hoping to update this at the end of August - but I'll be adding to it rather than deleting any (unless they've become bad links). One of the sites I'll definitely add then is the award-winning TEFLclips written by a man called Jamie Keddie who you may have heard of. http://www.teflclips.com/ (Group A - remember Mairzy Doats?)
Links to loads of material for Interactive Whiteboards at http://www.elgweb.net .
And if your English spelling is a bit iffy, take a look at my blog The Spelling Blog at http://thespellingblog.blogspot.com/
And what about you? Have you got a blog or website that we can look at? Or do you know other useful sites? Please post them here.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Monday, 10 August 2009
The face of Leonardo da Vinci
The http://www.ted.com/ is a link where you can find diferent presentations and it is very useful for improving your English level.
Once you choose your topic you could listen the news and if you don't understand properly you could use the subtitles version. Another interesting thing is that in that link you could choose and interactiv transcript of the speech.
A good example of it is this:
http://www.ted.com/talks/siegfried_woldhek_shows_how_he_found_the_true_face_of_leonardo.html
This topic is about the different portraits of Leonardo da Vinci and how Siegfried Woldhek found the true face of Leonardo.
Once you choose your topic you could listen the news and if you don't understand properly you could use the subtitles version. Another interesting thing is that in that link you could choose and interactiv transcript of the speech.
A good example of it is this:
http://www.ted.com/talks/siegfried_woldhek_shows_how_he_found_the_true_face_of_leonardo.html
This topic is about the different portraits of Leonardo da Vinci and how Siegfried Woldhek found the true face of Leonardo.
For listening practice...
If you need listening practice in English and you are interested in different topics about History, Science, Art, Education... visit this link http://www.ted.com/
With the interesting title of "Ideas worth spreading", you can improve your English and learn many things... If you have some difficulties you can click for subtitles or open an interactive transcripction. It's great.
There are some examples:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_macaulay_s_rome_antics.html
With the interesting title of "Ideas worth spreading", you can improve your English and learn many things... If you have some difficulties you can click for subtitles or open an interactive transcripction. It's great.
There are some examples:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_macaulay_s_rome_antics.html
three useful websites
Wikipedia everyone can write in different languages and in different countries.
Simple English Wikipedia is for everyone, included children and adults who are learning English. We can use simple English words and grammar. For example if we write an article another person can correct us.
Googlefigh is like a game where we can find betwen two words what is more used in Google.
When we want to make a composition we can see the most suitable word to look for in Google.
Howjsay is useful for preparing a speech, a lesson or for learning the pronunciation of a word.
Simple English Wikipedia is for everyone, included children and adults who are learning English. We can use simple English words and grammar. For example if we write an article another person can correct us.
Googlefigh is like a game where we can find betwen two words what is more used in Google.
When we want to make a composition we can see the most suitable word to look for in Google.
Howjsay is useful for preparing a speech, a lesson or for learning the pronunciation of a word.
Dfilm, a new tool for bloggers
Do you want to shock your students?
Maro and Ces will tell you how. Just enter the web http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html and choose between 15 backgrounds and 12 skies for the scenery of your movie. Then, start!!!!!!
Next step you select the plot and characters and the music and write the dialog.
That's our example, now enjoy it ;)
http://www.dvolver.com/live/movies-293495
Maro and Ces will tell you how. Just enter the web http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html and choose between 15 backgrounds and 12 skies for the scenery of your movie. Then, start!!!!!!
Next step you select the plot and characters and the music and write the dialog.
That's our example, now enjoy it ;)
http://www.dvolver.com/live/movies-293495
Group 1 research
There are two sites to be explored by us.
The first one is:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/index.shtml
This is a wonderful site to learn English with a lot of exercises about every thing, that means grammar, pronounciation, spelling, etc.
This site belongs to BBC, this is a guarantee of quality. You can listen to audios and watch videos as well.
The other one is:
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/index.html
This is a page for teachers, where you can find materials, English worksheets, exams... It's very useful in order to prepare your lessons. You need to downlown some of these materials, you can use it by free only for a short period of time, after that you have to pay for it.
The first one is:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/index.shtml
This is a wonderful site to learn English with a lot of exercises about every thing, that means grammar, pronounciation, spelling, etc.
This site belongs to BBC, this is a guarantee of quality. You can listen to audios and watch videos as well.
The other one is:
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/index.html
This is a page for teachers, where you can find materials, English worksheets, exams... It's very useful in order to prepare your lessons. You need to downlown some of these materials, you can use it by free only for a short period of time, after that you have to pay for it.
About different English accents
We want to recommend a website about how different English language can sound all around Britain. In this site you can listen to 76 sound recordings and over 600 short audio clips including different accents as well as gramatical, phonological and even social variations.
Here you can compare how a word like "bath" can be pronounced in different ways depending on the region the speaker comes from.
You can also find out that the use of some consonants in pronounciation is more likely in upper or lower social classes.
Even grammar may be different as you move around the country (for example you can hear "I were" in Cambridgeshire or "You was" in Cornwall).
You only need to click the following link to find out more.
http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/index.html
Here you can compare how a word like "bath" can be pronounced in different ways depending on the region the speaker comes from.
You can also find out that the use of some consonants in pronounciation is more likely in upper or lower social classes.
Even grammar may be different as you move around the country (for example you can hear "I were" in Cambridgeshire or "You was" in Cornwall).
You only need to click the following link to find out more.
http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/index.html
What's "Voicethread"?
It's a social webpage based on the use of voice, in which you can share your presentations, photos, videos, documents or any combination of them, supported by the voice. When you are a member you can post your data and you can re-record, re-write and delete your own comments. The rest of the members can record or write their comments and also have a conversation with the other members.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Our Monday afternoon lesson
Websites and web tools to help your English:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/index.shtml
and
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/index.html
Write about theses two sites on our blog. (Put in links to the sites) Describe and compare them. Which do you think is more useful to help your colleagues improve their English? Why?
Group 2. Explore this site:
http://www.dfilm.com/live/moviemaker.html
You can make a movie here. To save it you need to register.
Write about the site on our blog (link to the site). And if possible embed your movie. Say how difficult it was to make. How do you think this could be useful to help your colleagues improve their English?
Group 3. Look at this site and choose one talk to watch that interests you :
Write a short summary of the talk you watched (include the link) . What other types of talks were available that might interest your colleagues? Write about it on our blog.
Group 4. Look at these three sites:
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
How is this different from the normal English Wikipedia site? How useful is it?
http://www.googlefight.com/
Describe what Googlefight does? In what situations could it be useful for you and your colleagues?
http://www.howjsay.com/
How useful do you think this site is? Do you know any other tools that are useful for language learners?
Write about all these questions on our blog. Remember to link to the sites.
Group 5. Spend a bit of time exploring this site:
www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/index.html
Then write about it on our blog. Describe the site and say what it does (don't forget to link to it). Did you find any interesting information on it?
Group 6. Look at this site:
Spend a bit of time exploring and, if you want to, you can leave some comments or even register and make your own Voicethread (you will need some photos – ask Jo if you haven’t got any).
Then write about Voicethread on our blog. Describe it and say how people use it. How do you think it could be useful for practising your English? Put in links to interesting examples and of course the main site.
Friday, 7 August 2009
About Norwich...
If you want to know a relaxing place to chill out after our very hard lessons, take the bus to Norwich and go to the gardens near of the Cathedral to rest for long time... if you prefer you can go to the Cloister. It's a fresh place to think over many things and maybe try to find the way into the labyrinth.
There is something magic in its desing, is from the ancient times and you can find it along the Mediterranean sea, the United Kindown, and Ireland. It's in different places: carved over stone, painted pottery... It can mean different things like a particular dancing or a very long life...
Close the cloister there is a good restaurant to take a coffe or a tea.
If you prefer a walk you can go from the Adam and Eve Pub to St. George Street, it's Riverside Walk and it has a lot of nice places along the river path.
Food and drinks in Norwich
FOOD AND DRINK in NORWICH
My question is Is the food healthy in Norwich?
my partners said to me not at all, because the majority of people eat take away. They think the desserts are better because they have good cakes for example Apple-pie with custard.
What is the favorite drink for the people who lived in Norwich? They think that it is beer, there are several types of the beer inUK. it is posible that when people go to the restaurants they drink different types of the wine depending of the different plates or dishes of fish or meat.
My question is Is the food healthy in Norwich?
my partners said to me not at all, because the majority of people eat take away. They think the desserts are better because they have good cakes for example Apple-pie with custard.
What is the favorite drink for the people who lived in Norwich? They think that it is beer, there are several types of the beer inUK. it is posible that when people go to the restaurants they drink different types of the wine depending of the different plates or dishes of fish or meat.
Norwich people
In general most of the people of Norwich are polite; firstly, they are well mannered everybody helps everybody, and they are more polite than Londoners. However, Norwich is a small city with about 150.000 people, in this town the pace of life is relaxing, is very quiet, everybody knows his neighbour. On the other hand life in London is too noisy. Secondly, Norwich is better for children because here there is less pollution.
When we were asking the people in the market, yesterday morning, some people didn't like to answer but it was probably becase they were too busy. Thridly, there was some young people that looked homeless, but they weren't poor, they were in the City Centre, in a place called Forum.
In conclusion, I think Norwich is a good City to live, most of the people are very happy and they prefer to live in this city than to live in london.
When we were asking the people in the market, yesterday morning, some people didn't like to answer but it was probably becase they were too busy. Thridly, there was some young people that looked homeless, but they weren't poor, they were in the City Centre, in a place called Forum.
In conclusion, I think Norwich is a good City to live, most of the people are very happy and they prefer to live in this city than to live in london.
How to talk like Norwich people
If you want to be a good and nice person from Norwich, you need to express your ideas clearly and sometimes, with a different accent, that distinguishes Norwich from other places on the Earth.
We have a curious way to pronounce the "U". Maybe, the majority of English-speakers say "iu", but it is wrong, because in Norwich, our "U" sounds "U"; and it is the easiest and the best sound to this vowel, (If you have a doubt, you can ask this question to Spanish people).
So, we have an important difference with our vowels. A long time ago, our vowels were very short, like the rest of English-speakers. But, On 7th, August, two hundred years ago, we decided to change this and Nowadays oouur vooweels are a little bit long. We never say "no", we say "noooo" but with a enoooormus smile. (Each 7nd, August we celebrate our own Independency Vowels Day and we sing looong song with vowels)
English-speaker, (there are some English-speaker in UK, less in USA and three people from Spain), knows to finish word with "R". For example, we have a national hero, King Arthur, but he was so important and so handsome and so knight, that we are decided to have his "r" with us, And we never pronunce this letter, it is a National Reliquic.
In conclusion, if you want to be good Norwich people, you need to smile and be patient with foreing people (speciallity from Spain).
We have a curious way to pronounce the "U". Maybe, the majority of English-speakers say "iu", but it is wrong, because in Norwich, our "U" sounds "U"; and it is the easiest and the best sound to this vowel, (If you have a doubt, you can ask this question to Spanish people).
So, we have an important difference with our vowels. A long time ago, our vowels were very short, like the rest of English-speakers. But, On 7th, August, two hundred years ago, we decided to change this and Nowadays oouur vooweels are a little bit long. We never say "no", we say "noooo" but with a enoooormus smile. (Each 7nd, August we celebrate our own Independency Vowels Day and we sing looong song with vowels)
English-speaker, (there are some English-speaker in UK, less in USA and three people from Spain), knows to finish word with "R". For example, we have a national hero, King Arthur, but he was so important and so handsome and so knight, that we are decided to have his "r" with us, And we never pronunce this letter, it is a National Reliquic.
In conclusion, if you want to be good Norwich people, you need to smile and be patient with foreing people (speciallity from Spain).
Norwich historical places
Norwich is a beautiful city with a lot of history within its streets.
It is mainly a medieval city, with a lot of well conserved monuments that I recommend you to visit. There is a magnificent Norman castle from XII century which holds an interesting museum and a modern shopping centre!
There are also two cathedrals. The biggest one is magnificent and has beautiful cloisters to walk around and the catholic one is not as big but also wonderful.
You can visit almost 30 different churches although it used to be as much as 60!
The Guildhall, which was the old city hall,is all covered in flint . This material can be found in several buildings around the city centre.
The new City Hall ,built in the 30's, doesn't spoil the view of this magnificent square where you can also find the market place that the Normans moved from the original place where the Saxons placed it.From the tower you can have the best views of Norwich.
As you walk by you will find beautiful streets and alleys with pieces of history that you'll love to remember.
It is mainly a medieval city, with a lot of well conserved monuments that I recommend you to visit. There is a magnificent Norman castle from XII century which holds an interesting museum and a modern shopping centre!
There are also two cathedrals. The biggest one is magnificent and has beautiful cloisters to walk around and the catholic one is not as big but also wonderful.
You can visit almost 30 different churches although it used to be as much as 60!
The Guildhall, which was the old city hall,is all covered in flint . This material can be found in several buildings around the city centre.
The new City Hall ,built in the 30's, doesn't spoil the view of this magnificent square where you can also find the market place that the Normans moved from the original place where the Saxons placed it.From the tower you can have the best views of Norwich.
As you walk by you will find beautiful streets and alleys with pieces of history that you'll love to remember.
Things to take back home.
Some presents that you can buy here in Norwich:
Norwich is known in England as one of the most important shopping places in the whole country. Apart from the clothes and shoes, you can look for some little presents to take back home, that don't take up much space in your suitcase.
You can take some mustard from Coleman's Shop that is one of the oldest here (a small jar cost less than two pounds). The factory was founded in 1847.
If you like tea you can buy organic tea in the Green House or in Marks & Spencer.
Chocolate could be another good option to take back home. Cadbury's and Rowntree are the main English brands.
Take a look in Elm Hill for the Antiques. You have lovely teddy bears in The Teddy Shop in the same street.
And if you like music you can go to St. Benedict Street where you can find several Music Shops and look for good English music or some scores from your favorite pop groups to play at home.
If you like historical places go to
If you like historical places go to
Norwich is a historical place, so the visitor has a lot of interesting things to see. The most important ones are:
- The norman castle which was built during the 12th century. On top of a hill, nowdays is a museum.
- The Cathedral, maybe the nicest building in Norwich, is a medieval contruction. It is made of stone, that was imported from Normandy, and has the highest tower of the city. In the interior of the church we can find three naves of which the central one has a wonderful dome. The cloisters are really incredible and beautiful places where you can see the best view of the spire.
- The St Johnes Cathedral is the catholic cathedral of the city.
- The Guildhall is a building opposite the old market covered in flint, the traditional material that covers a lot of buildings and churches in Norwich.
- The cityhall is a brick construction with a very big tower where you can see the best views of Norwich. The decoration inside is art deco.
- St James Mill is a brick building that was constructed during the industrial revolution and that is very representative of the art of these ages.
- Around the city the coast is a beautiful place for visting.
Norwich's treasures
Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to discover different sides of of the nice city of Norwich. We went there to do an exercise for our English class, but the nice thing about it was to find a lot of interesting places apart from the most renowned landmarks of the city.
To name a few I would chose Norwich Herb Garden, located in the quiet surroundings of the impressive Cathedral, the quiet pub Adam and Eve ("probably the oldest public house in Norwich") and the banks of the river Wensum, where one can almost feel time standing still, and forget you are just a minute's walk from crowded offices and shopping malls. To put it in the words of one of Norwich's nice inhabitants: "the pace of life here is quite relaxing".
It was also interesting to meet one of the oldest inhabitants of Norwich, in fact maybe one of the few who could claim to have a pure Norman origin: the Green Man. From its stony refuge he has watched the ups and downs of the city for the last nine hundred years.
But if you also care about more practical matters, it could be good for you to know that tomatoes are rather expensive, about 2 to 3.30 £ per kg, while flowers are relatively cheap, 1.50 £ the bunch of carnations. In order to do more precise calculations, you may find it interesting to know that yesterday's exchange rate was 1.1044 € for 1 £.
Anyway, however nice the stones, rivers and vegetables might be, they can't speak and everybody needs human contact. There can you find Norwich's best treasure: its people. If you need something, they are always eager to help you, and they won't be upset if you stop them in the street to ask some questions about the city they are proud of.
General information about Norwich
On the morning of the seventh August I went to Norwich looking for information about the city. This is one of the oldest cities in Britain. It is the capital of East Anglia, the driest U.K. region. It is located at only 190 Km from London, with which it is very well comunicated by bus (it takes 3 hours) and by train ( it takes 2 hours). There is also an international airport with 35- minute flights to the continent, taking off with KLM to Amsterdam.
On the morning of the seventh August I went to Norwich looking for information about the city. This is one of the oldest cities in Britain. It is the capital of East Anglia, the driest U.K. region. It is located at only 190 Km from London, with which it is very well comunicated by bus (it takes 3 hours) and by train ( it takes 2 hours). There is also an international airport with 35- minute flights to the continent, taking off with KLM to Amsterdam.
People in Norwich
Yesterday we could see a new side of Norwich. First we saw such strange trades that people here do or did sometimes. They were on the city hall doors. We couldn't identify most of them and were very surprised because between some of them there were other like "hanging men" or "vikinging". Thank God, because we asked some very very kind people who work in that building and they gave us a paper which confirms that not all of them were trade, but historical memorials.
After that we went down into the market. Most of the people in the market didn't like me, perhaps because we tried to ask them strange questions. I asked a couple that ran away quickly as I did. I could frighten two or three more people before I gave up. Some men doing nothing seemed to want me to ask them but they looked absolutly drunk. Then my mates asked the questions and it was a sucess. I wasn't disappointed at all and I tried again. Al last one nice old man answered me such interesting question (how did he pronounce Norwich, if like rich or porridge). We met a man without teeth that made an incredible effort to say Hapiisburgh, Wymondham an Costessey.
As I bought some norfolk blackberries I can say thay the grocer was very kind. The same thing can be said about the sellers in the mustard shop in the Royal arcade.
We went to the castle and didn't talk anymore to anyone until we asked for the Whiffler Theatre, that nobody knew. We had to find it by ourselves but Norwich people really tried to help us.
There were three workers resting and they were asked about the castle mall, how long had it been open, its success and what big "challenge"had it faced recently. They answered all the questions very kindly and I think it wasn't too easy.
As we were very tired we sat in a nice corner pub to drink a coke. Our pubmates seemed to work in offices and I think I remember Pilar liked them but I'm not sure. I can remember she asked them something, where we were or something like that. We went to the bus station and asked in the information point without any problem.
We saw raincoats in a shop near the bus stop, we entered and I was surprised because the shop assistant helped me to find the cheapest options and, asking him about going to London, he put up with us and gave us useful information.
At last I can say people in Norwich iare very kind, agreeable and nice, but perhaps they had got too many people asking for money or strange churches, and it makes them a little evasive.
ENTERTAINMENT IN NORWICH - SUMMER 09
Norwich is a good place to stay in the summer, cause you can find a great cultural offering to enjoy.
We can start by talking about cinemas. If you want to watch any of most recent films, you have four cinemas to choose from: Cinema City, Hoollywood Screen Cinema, Odeon Cinema and Vue Cinema. During these days they are focussed (as usual in the summer) on movies for children: Coraline, Harry Potter, Ice Age, etc. But you can also find good comedies like Bruno or the Proposal and other genres.
If you prefer the stage, you can go to the theatres instead. There are five of them: Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Playhouse, Norwich Puppet Theatre and Theatre Royal & Studio. We recommend the Playhouse where they are playing "A little bird told me", a story created in the minds of children of East Anglian schools.
Another interesting activity is visiting any of the museums or art centres in the city. Don't miss a visit to the Sainsbury Centre whose collection will surprise you and shock you. You can find masterpieces of all the ages and cultures you can imagine, and your eyes will be impressed by several paintings by Francis Bacon or sculptures by Giacometti. You can't fail to be impressed by the building itself because is one of the best projects by Norman Foster.
If you want to enjoy some contemporary art, you can find the Norwich Arts Centre interesting these days. As a part of CAN09 (Contemporary Art Norwich 2009) there is an exhibition by Frances Kearney called "Fishing for trout". It contains large-scale photos about the idea of finding sanctuaries in nature during childhood.
We must not forget a very different museum focussed on a different topic: I am talking about Inspire Discovery Centre (located in a beautiful old church) where children can play, do experiments and enjoy themselves a lot while they learn about science.
Of course it is not all about culture or science: remember that Norwich has a pub for every day of the year. Or maybe you want to run away from the city, so you can take the bus that will take you directly to Norfolk beaches, and if you are lucky with the weather you can go back with a beautiful suntan.
We can start by talking about cinemas. If you want to watch any of most recent films, you have four cinemas to choose from: Cinema City, Hoollywood Screen Cinema, Odeon Cinema and Vue Cinema. During these days they are focussed (as usual in the summer) on movies for children: Coraline, Harry Potter, Ice Age, etc. But you can also find good comedies like Bruno or the Proposal and other genres.
If you prefer the stage, you can go to the theatres instead. There are five of them: Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich Playhouse, Norwich Puppet Theatre and Theatre Royal & Studio. We recommend the Playhouse where they are playing "A little bird told me", a story created in the minds of children of East Anglian schools.
Another interesting activity is visiting any of the museums or art centres in the city. Don't miss a visit to the Sainsbury Centre whose collection will surprise you and shock you. You can find masterpieces of all the ages and cultures you can imagine, and your eyes will be impressed by several paintings by Francis Bacon or sculptures by Giacometti. You can't fail to be impressed by the building itself because is one of the best projects by Norman Foster.
If you want to enjoy some contemporary art, you can find the Norwich Arts Centre interesting these days. As a part of CAN09 (Contemporary Art Norwich 2009) there is an exhibition by Frances Kearney called "Fishing for trout". It contains large-scale photos about the idea of finding sanctuaries in nature during childhood.
We must not forget a very different museum focussed on a different topic: I am talking about Inspire Discovery Centre (located in a beautiful old church) where children can play, do experiments and enjoy themselves a lot while they learn about science.
Of course it is not all about culture or science: remember that Norwich has a pub for every day of the year. Or maybe you want to run away from the city, so you can take the bus that will take you directly to Norfolk beaches, and if you are lucky with the weather you can go back with a beautiful suntan.
Norwich historical places
Norwich is one of the oldest towns in England, which means a rich historical heritage. Any curious and alert visitor will discover at every turn of their walk around Norwich city centre a street or a square full of singular buildings marking the flow of time over the centuries.
The first buildings you notice are the ones located in a prominent space, like the Castle, built on top of the hill that crowns the urban area, or the impressively large ones, like the Cathedral, with its spectacular needled spire. Both were the main constructions executed by the Norman conquerers of East Anglia around 1100 a.d. and use limestone, a material not found in England and imported from the continent by the Normans.
Of course, there are other religious buildings deserving our attention. In ancient times 52 churches were spread over the city, but nowadays we still can admire more than 30 of them. Saint Andrews, Saint Gilles and Saint Peters are just a few examples in which we can appreciate one of the most singular architectural peculiarities of the Norfolk zone: the use of flint, the local stone which gives a unique taste to the streets of Norwich.
If we are talking about historical places in the town, we can't forget the more modest constructions than the aforementioned, but perhaps more evocative of the idea of the English day to day life in earlier times. Elm Hill or Tombland Alley, with their simple houses made of wood and brick, covered with the thatched roofs are the perfect image to keep in our minds as a souvenir of Norwich as we leave the town. Hopefully to come back some day.
The first buildings you notice are the ones located in a prominent space, like the Castle, built on top of the hill that crowns the urban area, or the impressively large ones, like the Cathedral, with its spectacular needled spire. Both were the main constructions executed by the Norman conquerers of East Anglia around 1100 a.d. and use limestone, a material not found in England and imported from the continent by the Normans.
Of course, there are other religious buildings deserving our attention. In ancient times 52 churches were spread over the city, but nowadays we still can admire more than 30 of them. Saint Andrews, Saint Gilles and Saint Peters are just a few examples in which we can appreciate one of the most singular architectural peculiarities of the Norfolk zone: the use of flint, the local stone which gives a unique taste to the streets of Norwich.
If we are talking about historical places in the town, we can't forget the more modest constructions than the aforementioned, but perhaps more evocative of the idea of the English day to day life in earlier times. Elm Hill or Tombland Alley, with their simple houses made of wood and brick, covered with the thatched roofs are the perfect image to keep in our minds as a souvenir of Norwich as we leave the town. Hopefully to come back some day.
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