Shakespeare's Birthplace and Exhibition of Shakespeare's World

    Welcome to the world--famous house where William Shakespeare was born in1564 and where he grew up. The property remained in the ownership of Shakespeare's family until 1806. The House has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the world for over 250 years.

    Enter through the Visitors' Centre and see the highly-praised exhibition Shakespeare's World, a lively and full introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare.

    Stand in the rooms where Shakespeare grew up.

    Discover examples of furniture and needlework from Shakespeare's period.

    Enjoy the traditional English garden, planted with trees and flowers mentioned in the poet's works.

    The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car parks shown on the map, nearest is Windsor Street(3 minutes' Walk)

    The House may present difficulties but the Visitors' Centre, its exhibition and the garden are accessible to wheelchair users.

    The Shakespeare Coffee House (opposite the Birthplace).

A Writing Fool

    In the seventh grade I realized I was dyslexic, which made it difficult for me to read and spell. I did really badly in my history course, so my mother said to me, “I'll work with you for a full week. I'm going to show you what you can do if you put in the right amount of effort.” So we did. We worked on history for a full week, an extra hour every day. Then I went to school and failed the test, as always. It was really upsetting.

    By the time I got to college I came to know that I couldn't spell no matter how hard I tried. So I would sign up for extra courses. I'd be in registration lines all day. Then I would go around the first day of class and ask each professor: “What's your policy on misspelling?” If he said, “Three misspellings is a fail,” I'd drop it.

    Although I was an academic failure, I had a great time. I had many friends and I was always popular. I was a good football player, which was important in those years because I could read my name in the newspaper. I never had a day when I would think, “People don't like me.”

    In spite of my obvious weaknesses, I became successful in my career, so much so that people say to me, “So you've overcome dyslexia.” No. I don't overcome it. I just learn to compensate for it. Some easy things are hard for me. Most people read 500 words a minute. I only read 200. I try not to dial a phone because I sometimes have to dial three times to get the number right. I owe my successful career to my writing instructor, Ralph Salisbury. He looked past my misspellings and gave me encouragement. So I always feel confident. When I write my books, I'm seeing everything in my imagination. I write quickly and go like the wind.

    The real fear that I have for dyslexic people is not that they have to struggle with their reading skills or that they can't spell correctly, but that they will quit on themselves before they get out of school.

    What's the point of studying? It's something you might ask yourself if you're studying for a degree and you're struggling to complete homework or in an exam, especially if your friends seem to be out having a good time, or are working and earning lots of money.

    Many of us choose to go to university as a first step towards a good career but sometimes that career is to go to university as a first step towards a good career but sometimes that career is hard to achieve and graduates end up doing something they are overqualified for. With the increasing costs of university, students begin to ask themselves whether a degree path is the best route into a career. There is a need for much better career advice and guidance into employment in addition to university education.

    But other new research says that a degree will in the long run, earn you more. However there are differences in your earning potential. Dr Jack Britton says that "graduates of the 24 Russell Group universities earn an average of £33,500 after five years - about 40% more than those who studied at other universities."

    However, it has found it's not just the location but other factors that can play a part in what you can earn, such as the subject a student chooses to study. It discovered that five years after graduation, the income gap between students who studied the subjects that attract the highest and lowest salaries can be considerable. Graduates in subjects such as law, medicine, dentistry as well, tend to do well. And as they progress, the pay gap between these careers and others, such as the creative arts, widens. There are factors too that influence what you might earn: Five years after graduation, men earn on average 14% more than women. Also, a student's social background can have an effect, with those from better-off household much more likely to go to university and particularly a good one.

    But if you still feel university doesn't deliver the best opportunities then there are encouraging words from Alistair Jarvis, head of universities UK, who told BBC News that "Employs are demanding more graduates and graduates are half as likely to be unemployed as likely to be unemployed as non-graduates. There are many good graduate outcomes coming from universities" So may all that studying is worth it-after all 'no pain, no gain'!

    "Depend on yourself" is what nature says to everyone. Parents can help you. Teachers can help you. Others can help you. But all these only help you to help yourself.

    There have been many great men in history. But many of them were poor in childhood, and had no uncles, aunts or friends to help them. Schools were few and not very good. They could not depend on them for education. They saw how it was, and set to work with all their strength to know something. They worked their own way till they became well­known.

    One of the most famous teachers in England used to tell his pupils, "I can not make worthy men of you, but I can help you make men of yourselves."

    Some young men do not try their best to make themselves valuable to the human beings. They can never gain achievements unless they see their weak­points and change their courses. They are nothing now, and will be nothing as long as they live, unless they accept the advice of their parents and teachers, and depend on their own honest efforts.

    Edward Latter, five, thought his dog Morse was gone for ever after cruel thieves took him away when the dog escaped from his home.

    The 10-month-old dog had been missing since December and the broken-hearted boy even wrote a heartbreaking letter to Santa and posted it to Lapland asking for his pal back for Christmas.

    A ￡10,000 reward was offered by millionaire Simon Cowell after he read about the horrific theft. Cowell said: "It's heartbreaking to see a little boy's Christmas ruined. Dogs are so important to many of us. We just hope it helps lead to the safe return of Morse."

    His parents, Amanda Hopkins and Richard Latter, had given up hope of ever seeing their pet again, until they got a call on Friday night. A couple 20 miles away from their home in Marden, Kent, had found a muddy dog walking through their street and thought it could be missing Morse. They brought the Morse in, washed him, and then called Mr Latter who was unsure until he was sent a photo, and then drove the family to the village of Meopham.

    The theatre carpenter, 40, said: "Amanda and I were still quite sceptical, but Edward saw him and recognised him straight away. He was absolutely over the moon. He said: 'I can't believe it, I have my best friend back. It's too late for Christmas but this is the best present ever.' We were still unsure if it was him though—as he wasn't responding to his name or coming to us."

    "We spent about an hour and half over there and we still were not sure, so we took him home to get his chip scanned. It was only when we took him to the vets on Saturday morning and got his chip scanned that we found out for sure. We instantly broke down in tears. We were just hugging each other, hugging Edward and hugging the dog." Added Richard.

    The family who found missing Morse said they hadn't yet heard from Simon Cowell about the ￡10,000 reward hut were happy to get him home.