Signing autographs | Chris Rankin
Harry Potter Stars Visit Perth
We’re writing this blog with some excitement as Blue Noun English Language School just managed to unite our English learners, including Harry Potter superfan Elsa, with three actors from the film franchise.
In general, we love matching our English learners with experiences that resonate and help create a long-lasting love of English.
Read this blog to find out how it all came about…
But first, a quick reminder of why it matters.
What Has Being a Harry Potter Fan got to do with Learning English?
Everything.
We have a bespoke language immersion approach which means you are growing an English-speaking identity – not just putting a veneer on.
The luxury of our immersion English holiday is your afternoons are also built around your passions. These are things that make you feel excited, skilled, fulfilled and happy. They may already be part of your identity, but we extend them and have fun with them – in English of course.
English skills learned like this are with you wherever you go. They don’t chip and break under pressure. They don’t crumble away once your course has ended – or rust and creak from disuse.
Light Festival | Visit Perth in Scotland
Our English Learners Visit Perth
Scottish weather did its thing, quite spectacularly, over a two-day Harry Potter themed light festival in Perth.
Harry Potter-themed light festival | Visit Perth in Scotland
A Dream Come True
We brought Elsa (Sweden) to the event, as she is a huge Harry Potter fan.
She’s previously toured the Warner Bros. studio near London and seen the sets (and even has some Dobby socks – shhh!), but had never before had the chance to meet one of the stars of the movie franchise.
Q & A for Movie Stars (and English Learners)
The question and answer session was brilliant, and what a treat for an immersion English holiday!
Even though the rain poured down to the extent that the stage lights flickered (was Peeves there too?), there was no end to eager questions being asked from all age groups.
We learned about living with fame from a young age, how the young actors had to combine filming and schooling, meeting J.K. Rowling for the first time, the joy of working for two weeks with Rik Mayall, and whether they’d ever pinched anything from the set.
Harry Potter actor Jamie Waylett
Harry Potter actor Joshua Herdman
So Who Pinched What?
On this subject, as a complete outsider to the industry, I was fascinated by how these young actors had been selected – their personalities seemed to fit their roles.
A question – had they ever pinched anything off the set?
Percy Weasly – no! (but he did have a story about someone else taking a pair Emma Watson‘s plain grey socks).
Crabbe and Goyle, umm… yes… there’s quite a list.
A Total Pro
Chris Rankin kept the question and answer session going smoothly, occasionally corralling the more boisterous, but good-humoured pair back on track (and certainly taking it more seriously).
Coffee versus Beer | Harry Potter-themed light festival
Light Festival | Visit Perth in Scotland
John | Dragonfly Creative Arts
Dragonfly Creative Arts
The unknown stars of the evening were to be found being outrageously happy and in love in a small stall.
Both members of Dragonfly Creative Arts took time to explain their products, and (refreshingly) let kids enjoy seeing them too, John (in a steampunk hat) and Aliza (in adorable elf ears) also got talking about their own wedding: Aliza proposed to John with a message in a bottle left on a beach, and yes, for one of their weddings (the woodland one) she did wear her elf ears.
Love your style! Do check out their website if you have to buy a gift for, ‘the person who has everything’.
Dragonfly Creative Arts Merchandise
We enjoyed this projection on the underside of a bridge too. Not sure who it’s by, so if you do, let us know and we’ll add a credit.
Further Reading
Discover more about Dragonfly Arts here.
Visiting Perth in Scotland? Find more things to do here.
And lastly, Harry Potter fans, we’ve been taking our English learners on the Hogwarts Express, AKA the Jacobite steam train.
The Best Train Journey in Scotland?