Author Archives: gabriele monti

Why learning a new language will make you sexy

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Multilingual people have an advantage over people that can only speak one language. Being a polyglot opens your doors to better employment opportunities, more interesting in-city experiences and, the ability to interact better with people from other cultures. It is very simple; if you have a second language, you can simply interact better with other people. Polyglots are often perceived as intellectuals, and for a good reason, the ability to represent ideas in different languages to different cultures attracts attention. It is an impressive trait being able to correspond with a waiter in their language when you go out on a date. There is sexiness in being multilingual because intellectualism is a form of attractiveness. In a way, you are also doubling or tripling your chances of finding that right person, because you can easily communicate with more people. One is apt to loose opportunities in having great experiences because the language barrier. This becomes one of the mains reasons people learn a new language. People who can speak various languages tend to meet people easier, and have a better opportunity to interact positively with them. The sounds of a foreign language are instantly attractive to people surrounding you. The curiosity to understand what people are talking about in different languages becomes an instant attractive insight.

Hipster

 

Traveling as a tourist is going to a country with knowing the basic vocabulary, or carrying a dictionary in hopes to not get ripped off by a street vendor. Traveling to a country where you can fluently speak the second language well enrich your being culturally. You will be able to gain a better more richening experience from your travels. This becomes another reason to learn to speak a second language. Multi-linguals usually do not come back from their travels with a shirt stating that they arrived to the place of choice, they come back with a luggage full of memories and experiences, eager to go back and explore even further still. An adventure is at the tip of the tongue, just being able to continue a conversation beyond ‘my name is…’ can turn your life over. Learning a new language will change you see things in life. If you think about the barriers that you can break down by learning to communicate with other people, you will soon realize that you can achieve more than you have been doing by just speaking one language.

 

The opportunity to  be multilingual today is more accessible than ever. Take the time to learn a new language. Not only will you be learning a new language, you will be learning a different culture. The doors will open.

Why London is best place to learn any language

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London, the capital city of England, is one of the most multicultural places in the world. The diversity of different cultures has made London one of the best places to learn any language. London has such an assorted range of populates and cultures and with this, more than 300 languages are spoken within its borders. This is one of the many reasons why London is very attractive to people who seek to learn new languages as well as learn from different cultures. The attitude in the city has amplified to have a high quality of culture and lifestyle. The city is known for having such a diver culture, from going to eat Indian cuisine, or sitting contemplating the beauties of different temples and international Landmarks. It is becoming more common that the native speakers of London can speak more than just English, London becoming a world capital for all languages.

London, England

London the multicultural capital of the world – source

London has an incredible access to courses varying in any subject. The beauty of being such a multicultural city is its accessibility to learning in different languages. Language courses come in all forms; you can take all level of education in a wide variety of different language. Because of the cultural diversity, you can choose to live in a community where the dominance of that language that you seek to learn is predominant. It is easy to immerse yourself into a language when the people around you speak it fluently. You can dine out in a restaurant, or go shopping and absorb from the language from such normal everyday activities. The city has so many public libraries and public places where you can strengthen your learning curve with material; watch movies, read books and go to different multicultural events. In London it is easy to find people that tutor privately, another option to learn the language without having to travel outside the city.

In any case, if you would want to immerse yourself completely in a different culture, London offers many ways to travel thru the European Union. The varieties of countries that surround England have such variety in languages, which it becomes easy to travel from the city to other places, and experience its life personally. For example, just a train away you have access to travel into Paris, in no more than two hours. If you live in London, you can think about learning any language and when you are comfortable enough take a trip to the country which they speak it, such as; France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Denmark, to mention a few. Not only is learning a language in London easy, it is also accessible. You are only steps away from an endless multicultural experience.

 

Why Paris is the best place to learn French

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“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” Thomas Jefferson said that and he was right. There is no better way than to learn French in France. For many people who want to learn French, it’s all about DVD’s in the car and evening classes; it ends up taking forever and they don’t get to learn the language in a way that they can put it to practical use. If you can afford to go to Paris on holiday, book yourself some language lessons and learn from the people who speak it every day, all the time.
Eiffel Tower

Eiffel tower – the most iconic symbol of France – source

Paris is not just a place to learn French. It is the center of European culture. For centuries, Paris has continued to be one of the richest destinations in Europe when it comes to culture. Not only do they have museums that contain some of the most expensive and attractive art, Paris has maintained a lot of the architecture that you read about in history. The people themselves are authentic; there is hardly another European city where the people are so proud of their culture, their food, their buildings and just generally who they are. Tourists like things to do and you will be spoilt for choice in between your French language lessons. Plan visits to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, The Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Varsailles Palace and all other similar tourist places. After your trips, you may want to sample some of the best food in Paris. There are so many to choose from that you may get confused, but make a point to try as many different dishes as possible – most are a treat for the palate.
Immerse yourself in Paris and get your French language lessons there; it is a fact that the best way to learn a language is to live with the people who speak it. You get to use everything you learn and when people talk to you in French, you will feel better motivated to learn better so that you can communicate. There are plenty of schools to choose from and they are not very expensive. There are intensive courses that you can take over a short period of time. Even taking a basic introductory course as you tour Paris will go a long way in helping you master the language better and faster. Go ahead and book yourself lessons today.

Global talent management – what is it and what does it involve?

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Essentially global talent management is not dissimilar to HR – it’s simply HR on a global scale. The purpose of global talent management is to recruit and retain the best talent in the context of a business whose limits don’t stop at national borders.

The managing of a global workforce is complex, and involves not only selecting the right employees to send overseas, but in many cases also assisting them with their move. This could mean helping out with visa requirements, finding the right accommodation, and assisting in the selection and placing of school-age children in the best establishment (if the employee is going abroad with her or his family).

There are also important financial considerations too when a member of the workforce is stationed abroad – such as their tax requirements, how remuneration is worked out (and which currency to pay people in) as well as things like health cover.

Why are people moving abroad?

Research suggests that the profile of international workers is changing – and while the majority of those going overseas on assignments used to be people higher up the organisational structure, there are now more people going abroad who aren’t at an elevated executive level.

One of the main reasons more opportunities are opening up abroad is because companies – in an effort to rely less on a single territory, are looking to grow in emerging markets. Recently Brazil, Russia, India and China – known collectively as the BRICs economies – have been featured quite heavily in a lot of talk about economic growth and business opportunity.

The globally mobile workforce

While the day is still far off when a majority of employees will be able to choose to spend time working abroad for their company, there’s no doubt that overseas assignments are popular, and seen as a valuable step in career progression. But working abroad – for all its rewards, does bring its own special set of challenges and pressures, including:

  • attaining the right level of language skills
  • negotiating the vagaries of foreign healthcare systems
  • settling into a new job and living circumstances in what may be an unfamiliar location

Obviously, for employers there’s a lot at stake as well for the employee. If an assignment doesn’t work out for whatever reason, then it can be a costly process to discontinue the assignment. Many employers provide an EAP (employee assistance programme) to provide counselling for employees experiencing problems in their personal life.

In terms of healthcare, some surveys have indicated that in some cases employers may be unaware of the difference between travel health cover and expat cover. In a blog post on advice for prospective expatriates on the website of AXA PPP International expat health insurance provider, an important point is raised about entry to certain countries and the strict visa rules they may have. There have been stories in the press about uninsured people actually being turned away at the airport. So health insurance comes high on the list of priorities.

Gavin M is a blogger specialising in expat life and employment topics.

Five Tips For A Successful Corporate Relocation To Spain

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So, your employer is planning a corporate relocation to Spain, and you have decided to take a new position overseas. This decision may bring about any number of emotions – excitement, anticipation, stress, happiness and sadness. But just as importantly, this decision will require a lot of work on your end. Even if your company is handling the international moving and helping with arrangements for employees such as accommodations, transportation, work visas and other paperwork, you will still have quite a few tasks to handle on your own. Here are five of the most important things to consider when relocating to Spain or any other European country:

1. Soak in the Spanish Culture

Even if your employer is paying for Spanish language classes, there is much more to learn. Relocating to Spain will be easier if you take extra classes, read books about the local culture, subscribe to magazines and even visit before you move, if possible. Once you’re there, consider joining local clubs and engaging in activities where you might meet people who live in the area. This will help to lessen the emotional burden that often comes with relocating.

2. Examine Your Health Coverage Options

If your employer is providing health insurance and they have only given you one or two options, then this aspect of your move will be simple. If you are left to procure your own medical coverage, you will need to study up on all the options. Either way, it’s a good idea to learn more about their typical healthcare processes so you know what to do and where to go if you need medical assistance.

3. Open a Spanish Bank Account

As soon as you have proof of address and a visa, you can open a bank account, which will more than likely be required to arrange for new services in Spain, such as a mobile phone (if your employer isn’t providing one). Try to find the bank with the best currency exchange; a little research here will go a long way.

3. Research the Roads and Requirements for Drivers

If you plan on driving in Spain, you will need to learn more about the requirements and regulations to ensure compliance. You may have to go to a driving school and get a new license on your own, or your employer may be assisting with this as part of the international office moving. Either way, the laws are different and you need to know what you’re facing as a new driver in this country.

5. Get to Know the Trains, Trams and Buses

Chances are you will end up using public transportation after moving to Spain. Most European countries are set up with excellent public transportation systems, and in many cases it is simply more convenient to take a metro train, tram or bus in the city you’ll soon call home. You may even decide to sell your car. If you’re skeptical because public transportation isn’t popular where you live, just give it a try. Your life may be a whole lot easier as a result.

Alba, a native of Spain who now lives and works in the U.S., is an expert on international office moving. She loves her home nation and is happy to share tips on how to acclimate to the culture, as well as how to successfully undertake an office-wide relocation overseas.

Three Reasons to Study Russian

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One of the most widely spoken languages around the world is Russian. With about 300 million speakers Russian can be heard almost anywhere these days, which makes this tongue highly useful for whoever plans to do business in Russia, visit the country or get exposed to its rich cultural and historical background.

Russian is an expressive tongue and it is considered not an easy one to learn. Here are several prevailing reasons how acquiring this language can benefit you both from personal and professional perspectives.

Kremlin, Moscow

The Kremlin – source

 

Language of Global Communication

Russian is the fifth most commonly used language of global communication and it is one of the official UN languages. As the dominant and influential tongue in Eastern Europe, knowing Russian will also help you understand some Ukrainian, Slovak, Polish, Belarusian Czech and Bulgarian. Although the alphabet system is different (Russian use Cyrillic alphabet, while the west Slavic use Latin script), the meaning behind the words’ has much in common.

Russian’s improving economy and huge market potential show growing opportunities of trade and investment for international companies. Entrepreneurs interested to do business in the world’s largest country should be familiar with the language at least on an intermediate level as English is still not widely spoken across the country.

Getting Exposed To Culture, Art and History

Russia has an extremely rich cultural heritage which has spread far beyond its borders: Golden Age writers and poets such as Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Pushkin, ingenious musicians, composers and Nobel Prize winners have conquered hearts and minds of numerous people around the world.

Most of the country’s literature masterpieces have been translated to hundreds of languages. Translation, however, often fails to convey the message to the full extent. To gain a deeper understanding of the world’s classic literature one should be able to read it in the original language.

Vacation in Russia

Have you ever thought of visiting Kremlin or the Hermitage Museum? Moscow and St. Petersburg are two primary destinations in Russia. Unless you are accompanied by a local guide, it would be best to get acquainted with the language at least on the basic conversational level. Young Russians are mostly fluent in English; the older generation, however, might have difficulty communicating with foreign tourists.

For those who plan to go to Russia by themselves it is important to keep in mind that all the road signs and transport stations are all in Russian – therefore it is necessary to be familiar with Cyrillic alphabet at the least.

Besides the two famous cities there are plenty of other locations worth visiting. Being able to speak and understand the language opens many treasure chests across the vast territory of Russia: the Altai Golden Mountains, the Caucasus, Siberia and many more.

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Russian is an extraordinary tongue with exceptional grammar rules and abundant vocabulary. Getting into it is a challenge that never ends. Being a modern country, Russia, nevertheless remains an enigma – a country full of contradictions and controversies. Studying the language is an efficient way to get in touch with its people’s mentality, make friends and establish potential business relationships.

 Russian language lessons in London.

London offers a wealth of people and their knowledge, so if you are in London for any length of time it make sense  to start or continue learning Russian. The language class offer Russian tuition through qualified and native teachers.

Private German and English teachers in London

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German Tutor in Victoria

Florian Huffman

I am a freelance interpreter specialising in business translation. I have taught German as a foreign language for 2 years while I was living in Chile and I truly enjoyed the experience. I am now willing to assist those who are struggling with the study of German by facilitating one-to-one tutorial classes. I can only accept individuals who have a grasp on the language and want to improve their conversational skills (even if what you know is very basic!).

German Teacher in Oval

Ursula Ring

I am a very experienced German teacher who has been travelling the world for the past 10 years and taught to several students from Europe to Asia and Australia. I am working as a freelancer so I am very flexible with time and I am willing to travel within London if necessary. I am available to work with any age group and at any level. I can provide all the material needed and also to develop ad-hoc classes if you have specific learning requirements.

English Tutor in Cambridge Heat

Rory McAffy

I am Irish student training as an English teacher in London. I would like to test and improve my teaching skills by organising one-to-one and small group tutorial classes for students (of any age) learning English as a foreign language. I have previously worked as a tutor in summer English schools here in London and I have all the necessary material to organise classes. I am happy to discuss topics and methods with you in order to tailor tutorials according to your needs and fulfil your expectations.

 

English Teacher in Kensal Rise

Alice Ireton

I am a qualified English teacher born in New York. I have been teaching English for more than 10 years in Africa and the Middle East. I speak Arabic fluently and I have years of experience teaching English to Arabic speakers. I am happy to organise small study groups in my house or to meet you wherever suits. I can teach you English in few months even if you cannot put a full sentence together!

 

Language tutors In Southwark

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Italian Tutor in Bermondsey

Francesco Lolli  

I am a postgraduate student in London (PhD in linguistics) currently looking for opportunities to enrich my teaching skills. I have previously taught Italian to children (6 to 13) enrolled in Italian schools, but whose first language was not Italian. I would like to keep working with students within same age group and organising small study groups or one-to-one sessions.

Italian Teacher in Vauxhall

Marianna Frau

I hold a degree in visual arts and I have 10 years of experience working with children learning Italian as a second language. I have developed very creative methods to enable children to learn while playing and having fun. I prefer to teach to small groups (up to 5 children). Lessons could be organised in private homes or in rented studio-spaces.

French Tutor in Borough

Edile Maroun

I hold a degree in business from a French university and I recently moved to London to improve my English language skills. I previously worked as a French tutor in Italy for 3 years where I designed short courses for employees of firms and political parties. I would like to keep teaching French to adults and I am happy to design new courses according to your specific interests!

 French Teacher in Croydon

Roger Morner

I am a qualified French teacher currently employed as a language assistant in London. To teach is my passion and I would like to organise evening classes for people living in Croydon willing to learn French. I am happy to teach to beginners, but also to help those with a basic understanding of the language to achieve higher levels of proficiency.

 

Spanish Tutor in Elephant and Castle

Mario Esposito

I am a freelance Spanish tutor and translator. I have 5 years of experience working with adult learners. In the past few years I have organised and led several evening classes in North London and I am willing to continue doing so. I prefer to assist those who have already some basic understanding of the language, but I am happy to discuss the possibility of having a class for beginners.

Spanish Teacher in Kennington

Maria Ribeira

I am a certified Spanish teacher with a postgraduate degree in linguistics. Prior moving to London, I had been working as a Spanish Language Assistant in a German University for 6 years. I prefer to teach to students learning the language for the first time regardless of the age group. I have developed my own teaching method and the results are guaranteed!

southwark

 

Three good reasons to study Italian in Milan

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Italian language schools and study abroad programmes by The Language Class.

Our company would be delighted to organise a stay in Milan. We can take care of organise your language school your accommodation and any cultural activity for you and your family. Our language courses can be from a week and you can stay as long as you want. The lessons are based on the communicative task based method and are intensive courses. This mean that you will practice the language from week one and study 3/4 hours a day.

Choose Milan to study Italian.

Fashion, opera, art, gastronomy and night-life  What else can anyone ask to a city when planning to learn a new language? The new Italy is brought out in Milan, though it is not the capital of Italy, it is the main economic and cultural pole. Discover why Milan is one of the most fascinating cities of Italy and the ideal place to learn Italian.

20110511_Milan_Duomo_056

A classic sight in Milan – The Duomo – Source

History and culinary traditions in Milan.

Its location controlling the plain of Po and the access to the Alps made of Milan an important center during the Middle Ages. It has suffered all over the centuries wars to conquer the city by popes, Habsburgs, Napoleon and a long list of famous rulers. Nowadays it is a modern and cosmopolite city rebuilt after the II World War bombardments.

Its gastronomy is more based on rice than on pasta, which is something quite exceptional in Italy. Ossobuco (stewed veal shank) is very frequently used for several typical dishes. But the most famous ones are risotto alla milanese (rice cooked with beef marrow and saffron) and cotoletta alla milanese (veal breaded cutlet). Do not miss gorgonzola cheese.

Museums, aperitivo and nightlife

The difficulty of choosing a museum in Milan is evident due to the large amount of incredible places to visit. The most famous ones are probably those in the historical center such as the Museum of the Cathedral (Duomo), the Sforzesco Castle and the Royal Palace. But there are some other interesting museums to visit like Hangar Bicocca, a contemporary art museum inside a huge hangar.

Aperitivo or happy hour is an important event in Milan. Bars offer drinks at a fixed price combined with snacks and appetizers. Try La Ringhiera, Slice or Mas, which are some of the most chic restaurants and cocktails bars you will find for your aperitivo.

The variety of clubs in Milan is one of the most attractive features of the city. Start at Corso Como, follow at Navigli quarter and finish at Colonne di San Lorenzo. All the choices available from electronic music to salsa.

Learn Italian through fashion and design

If you really want to enjoy Milan, you must absolutely learn the basic fashion vocabulary. Il quadrilatero della moda is the Fashion Quadrangle. FieraMilano is one of the biggest furniture and design fairs in Europe. And other important events are Fuori Salone and Salone del Mobile.

When choosing Milan to learn Italian, take into account that it is a city full of entertainment, design, fashion and history. Being so multicultural can help you to meet people from all over the world. Many students decide to study every year in Milan as it locates some of the top Italian universities. You can be the next one.

How Do Kids Learn Language?

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It’s considered universal common knowledge: kids learn languages easily. This truth appears to be self-evident; most of us struggle to learn a second or third language as adults, while recalling little such struggle learning our first one as kids.  Watching kids in action, they sometimes seem to pick it up so effortlessly. But increasingly, the people who study language are saying that truism is actually a myth, and they’re creating better language programs for kids by leaving that assumption by the wayside.

To understand why, it’s important to look at the reality of how slowly – and awkwardly – kids learn language. The average child can take months, even a year of sing-alongs and Sesame Street to pick up the alphabet and counting past ten. These are things that most adults can learn in just a couple days of formal instruction. And often, the reason that kids seems to learn languages so quickly isn’t because they’re better at it, but because we’re comparing apples to oranges. For example, children are immersed in their first language, hearing it spoken everywhere around them at all times, whereas most teen or adult learners start in a classroom hearing it just for a few hours a week.

Linguists do have a good sense of how exactly children master their first language – and the good news is adults still have the same ability. According to the prevailing theory, humans are born with a “universal grammar” – that is, a genetic and hardwired ability to fit sounds into a language structure as concepts. Humans have evolved this ability over time and it’s one of our crowning characteristics.

The real challenge for children (or anyone) then is not so much learning language as it is figuring out which sounds are a part of the language and which aren’t. Children go through a process of learning by doing, which starts as early as being in the womb where they can hear the sentence patterns and tones used by their mothers when they speak. Throughout their young years they continue to learn which sounds have meaning, and try out strange words and sentences– baby talk, and the cute things toddlers say. But only the constructions that have meaning to others get more than a laugh, and by trial and error they end up speaking the same way as the people around them.

What does this mean for language programs for kids? It means a heavier emphasis on immersion or exposure, and a positive encouraging environment that rewards trial and error, will be most effective. And for adults it means that you’re no worse than you ever were at learning a language – if you can just set aside the fear of criticism and risk saying things that might be wrong.

kidreading

kids are fast at learning – source

Jake Alexander is a free lane writer who enjoys blogging about education and learning. Follow him @JakeAlexander17.