Category: Language learning

How to converse with locals abroad

Post author By Alasdair Hutchinson
Post date 15/05/2017

Ten things to bear in mind when you’re thinking of striking up a conversation

Chatting to locals can be one of the most rewarding and enriching parts of travelling, giving you the chance to learn about a new culture and lifestyle and really get a feel for a different country. It can provide a wonderful mixture of practical advice and cultural insight and an experience you’ll remember for years to come.

Research shows that the majority of us (60%) would like to speak to locals when we travel abroad, but with only a quarter of us managing to do it, how do you strike up and hold a conversation when you’re travelling?

Tags conversation, foreign languages, holidays

Internal Language learning Tips and Advice

Broken your new year’s resolution yet?

Post author By admin
Post date 09/02/2017

How to maintain motivation for your language learning in February and beyond

Hands up if you started the year with a flurry of new year’s resolutions and career goals.

Even for the biggest procrastinators amongst us, January 1st seems like an enticing time to start developing our skillset by setting goals like learning a second language.

Tags foreign languages, motivation

Internal Language learning Tips and Advice

More than words

Post author By Alasdair Hutchinson
Post date 14/01/2017

How introducing children to languages enriches more than just vocabulary

The ability to order a cup of coffee when travelling abroad is undoubtedly a useful one, but supporting your child in learning a language will give them far greater benefits than just being able to get themselves a hot drink or even pass a particular exam.

Tags children, foreign languages, motivation

Internal Language learning Tips and Advice

Languages: a national priority for Brexit

Post author By admin
Post date 14/01/2017

The “national priority” we need to focus on for the UK to compete internationally

The British Council has called for languages to become a “national priority” in the run-up to Brexit after research shows that English youngsters are among the worst in Europe at foreign languages.

Past studies suggest that our young people are lagging far behind their European peers, with many unable to understand more than basic words or phrases and new research confirms that two-thirds of adults (67%) surveyed said that the UK does not encourage enough young people to learn other languages and 63% said schools should dedicate more time to foreign languages.

Tags Brexit, business, corporate, foreign languages

Internal Language learning Tips and Advice

Why face-to-face learning is better for your bottom line

Post author By Alasdair Hutchinson
Post date 23/11/2016

All businesses have one thing in common – the bottom line.

The need to consider how everything the business spends will impact that bottom line is what makes the idea of training your staff to improve their language skills through distance or online training programmes so enticing.

Tags business, corporate, foreign languages

Internal Language learning Tips and Advice

The biggest secret to learning a language

Post author By Alasdair Hutchinson
Post date 16/11/2016

Why face-to-face interaction matters

A funny thing happens when you meet somebody face to face – your brain starts creating sensory-rich memories attached to the information you’re receiving consciously.

A large proportion of the information we absorb from direct interaction isn’t from the words we hear, but nuances from vocal tone, pacing, facial expressions and body language which is why, no matter how far or fast technology moves, the need for human interaction is fundamental.

Tags foreign languages, motivation