Author Archives: gabriele monti

10 Reasons to learn Spanish

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  1. In terms of the number of native speakers, Spanish is ranked the second most spoken language worldwide. It ranks third after Chinese and English as the most spoken languages in the world.
  2. Spanish has been selected by the United Nations as one of its official languages. This is how prestigious the language is.
  3. A lot of businessmen use the Spanish language as their mode of communication. When you know how to speak another language, you are able to reach out to a wider market especially if you target to build business internationally.
  4. Believe it or not, Spanish is one of the easier languages to learn. Spanish follows similar sentence structure, vocabulary and phonetic patterns in English. There are also minimal challenges when it comes to spelling words compared to other languages since you pronounce most words the way they are spelled.
  5. Reduce your chances of acquiring degenerative mental illnesses when you learn a second language like Spanish. Studies have shown that learning a second language in general also helps in sharpening your critical thinking abilities.
  6. If you want to learn more than one language especially any of the Romance languages such as French or Italian, then you might want to learn Spanish first since it is easier to learn. Once you have mastered Spanish, learning the other languages becomes easy and more enjoyable to learn.
  7. When you go to Spain or any country in Latin America, knowing their native language can definitely be advantageous for you as a tourist. Learning Spanish can absolutely open a lot travel possibilities.
  8. Cultural immersion is without doubt one of the greatest experiences any student can have. If ever you get to study in Spain or other countries that speak Spanish, it is a plus when you already know the language ahead of time.
  9. Learn and appreciate the Spanish culture more by learning the language. Enjoy Spanish festivals, food, music and architecture just as a native would.
  10. When you learn Spanish, you get to widen the circle of people you interact with, so you gain more friends and share experiences from other cultures.

The Language Class would like to welcome anyone interested in learning this popular language. We are based in central London and we offer private and group lessons.

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10 reasons to learn German

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Learning a language
  1. Did you know that German is the most extensively spoken language in Europe? Amazingly, the German language is spoken officially not only in Germany but in many other European countries including Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
  2. Knowing that Germany does really good business with Canada as an importer and exporter with earnings of at least EUR 2.409 billion every year, your global career is enhanced further if you know a second language such as German.
  3. Find more business opportunities with the country with the third strongest economy in the world – Germany.
  4. In the field of science, German is the second most used language. This is the reason why many scientists suggest that their students learn German. Germany also ranks third when it comes to contribution to research and development.
  5. Do you like reading books? Then you must be aware that one in ten books published worldwide is in the German language. Aside from that, German speakers generate at least 80,000 brand new titles annually. With the knowledge of German, enjoy more books than ever before.
  6. Germans like to travel a lot. This can be attested to the fact that they are allotted about six weeks of leave per year plus a lot of money to spend. In many cases, they end up travelling. This means it’s highly likely for you to bump into a German tourist to speak German to.
  7. Appreciate German literature, classical music, art and psychology even better if they’re heard or read in German.
  8. As far as internet presence is concerned, the German language bags the top two spot with more than eight million Internet domains with .de. You get to expand your web resources more when you do your research when you can read and understand German.
  9. Improve your language arts skills better by learning a second language such as German. Understand English better, improve your literacy rate and develop your listening skills by studying German.
  10. Consider learning another language such as German as part of your personal development. Boost your self-confidence and achieve a sense of fulfilment when you learn another language.

Interested students either beginners or more advanced levels can learn German in London with the language class. The schools offers private and group lessons in Liverpool street or at the student location, office or home. Call today for a quote or a free consultation.

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The advantages of private language lessons

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The Advantages Of Learning A Language With A Private Tutor

Learning a second or third language can be important in today’s every increasing global world. It is emphasized in schools and in the business arenas that anyone looking to succeed in an international field be sure that they learn at least one language beyond their native tongue. From online tutorials, to books, to software programs, private language lessons rank as the top way to learn a second language. To know why this is the case, the following explains just some of the advantages of learning a language with a private tutor.


Progress Faster

Private language lessonsallow individuals to learn a new language in a one-on-one setting. Often, there are only two individuals involved and this means that the course of learning can be directed quickly and efficiently. As a result of fewer distractions than a group setting, an individual undertaking the foreign language learning course will see themselves progressing faster.

The Student Is In Charge

A second advantage of taking private language lessons is rooted in the benefit it has to the student. Everyone learns in different ways and at a different pace. A group setting such as a classroom can often leave the individual learning style of a student behind as a result of a group approach to learning. When it comes to private language lessons, learning styles can be adapted to the student. This means that the best learning will occur because it is a student directed teaching environment. More information gets to the student and less is lost when compared with a larger classroom.

More Teacher Attention

The teacher, as aforementioned, is solely working with one student when private language lessons are being taken. Though there are clear benefits to the student, there are also great benefits to the teacher. Rather than being distracted by the needs of many, they can focus their skills on only one. This means that teachers can streamline their teaching approaches and see the fruits of their hard work more easily.

Less Intimidating Than Group Classes

A final benefit to the participation of individuals in private language lessons is the fact that intimidation is less of a concern for the student. In group settings, the more quiet or laidback individual can get lost in the muddle. Not only that, but students can become intimidated by the perceived perception of them by other students. This is a frustrating aspect of any group setting, but, with private language lessons, this intimidation factor is removed leaving more learning to take place and less societal pressure.

Differences Between South American Spanish and Spain Spanish

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As one of the United Nation’s official languages, Spanish is the third widely spoken language around the world next to English and Chinese. Millions of language students also study how to read, write and speak Spanish. Just liike other major languages, there are some variations notably the Spanish spoken in Spain and that of Latin America.

Spanish spoken in Spain is called Castellano or Castilian from the Spanish region of Castille where it originated while the Latin American Spanish is called Espaňol. Spanish spread to Latin American and other parts of the world as far as Asia due to colonisation.

Here are some differences between South American and Spain Spanish

 Pronunciation

 Spanish speakers from Spain have a different accent compared to those coming from Mexico and other parts of Latin America but the difference is not that significant. The main difference of the two Spanish variations in terms of pronunciation is how they pronounce the letter “c” and “ll”.

When the letter “c” comes before “i” and “e”, it is pronounced as “th” in Castilian while in Espaňol it is pronounce as “s”. Example is the different pronunciation of “gracias” (thank you) between the two Spanish languages. The same with “z” as in zapatos (shoes), it is pronounced with the “th” sound as “THA-paah-tos” in Castilian. Castilian Spanish also pronounces “ll” as “y” like “yam” while Latin American Spanish pronounce it as “j”.

 Vosotros

Grammatical difference of the Spanish variations can be seen in the plural informal pronoun  “vosotro”. Vosotros which is the plural second person pronounce for “tú” is only used in Castilian Spanish. Latin American Spanish use the plural word “ustedes” instead. In Spain, “tú” which is informal is widely spoken while in Latin America the formal form “usted” is preferred.

Vocabulary, Phrases and Slang

In general, Spanish words are the same for both variations. Difference in vocabulary is just the same  as that of American and British English. “To take in something” is “tomar” in Latin American Spanish while it is “coger” in Castilian ( “coger” is slang in Espaňol which means “ to have sex with”). Sometimes a Spanish word have different meanings – example,  tortilla in Spain is an omelette while in Mexico, it’s a flat bread and caro is just a cart in Spain but in Latin America it can also mean as an automobile.

 The main distinction between the two is that Latin American Spanish due to its close proximity to the US has many English loan words. An example is the word for “computer” in Latin American Spanish, it is “la computadora” while in Castillian it is “el ordenador”.

 Phrases and slang even varies within a specific Spanish variation like Spanish spoken in Mexico, Bolivia, Uruguay and in different regions within Spain. With slang, it is more colloquial in nature which means that it is highly localised. The difference between Latin American Spanish and Spain Spanish is just like the differences of German, English, Chinese and French among its speakers.

Learning Italian? How difficult is it?

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Learning Italian Language Guide: Background, Examples & Ease of the Language

The best part of learning Italian is that newcomers generally wish to learn it because they genuinely love the language, the country, and the atmosphere of Italy. No matter if it’s the Italian food, music, or people who entices you to explore, Italian is one language that is learned most of all for the pleasure and feeling to become nearer to the people of the wonderful country known as Italy.

The Italian language is considered by many a pleasure language because it has a much lower economic utility than other languages of Europe such as Dutch, German, or French. Because of this Italian has been referred to as a luxury language, whose users learn mostly for want rather than need. However, now that travel is much more accessible for everyone and learning a new language is as easy as downloading an online language course. The Italian language  is starting to be learned by people of all ages’ groups and social classes. However the main motivation for learning Italian is still mostly because it is a socially attractive language instead of a business language such as English.

Italian is the main language of approximately 65 million people. The vast majority of native Italian speakers are concentrated in Italy. However there are also Italian speakers in San Marino, Vatican City, Switzerland, the Istria region of Croatia, and Slovenia.

Italian is  considered a Romance language. This means that it is one of the languages that descend from Latin, which is the language of ancient Rome. Italian belongs to the same language family as Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Catalan. Because of this there are strong similarities between each of these in their structure, sound, and vocabulary terms. However, Italian is the romance language closest to Latin when it comes purely to vocabulary. If you have learned another romance language, or even learned a no longer used language like Latin, then it should be much easier to for you to also learn Italian.

The Italian language we have today was mostly “promoted” by the famous Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Dante used his native Tuscan dialect to write the “Divine Comedy.

Different Types of Italian

As with all languages anyone learning Italian from scratch will find many regional variations within the language relating to special vocabulary, accents, and verb usage. However there are special dialects of Italian that are only spoken in their region and are important to be aware of if you are learning the language for the first time. These dialects are from the Naples and Campania region, the Venice and Veneto region, and the Friuli region. It is also important to be cautious of the island dialects of Sardinian and Sicilian.

Regional dialects are only spoken in their individual regions, and are not official languages. These language dialects tend to be spoken by the older population and only in informal contexts. Younger Italians normally stick to standard Italian which is what a beginner should focus on learning.

Difficulty level of Italian as a new comer

The Italian language isn’t especially difficult to learn, however at first every language can appear to be difficult to pick up. In order to learn Italian you will need to commit to consistently putting in time and practice. The good news is that if you do Italian is actually one of the easier languages to learn when compared to Russian or Chinese.

Italian looks roughly how it sounds so you will not need to learn a new alphabet before you can start learning Italian.

Because Italian has deep roots in Latin, and other Romance languages learning Italian will be much easier if you already know a Romance language like Spanish, French, or Portuguese because many of the words, verbs, and overall structures are similar to each other. Spanish and French happen to be the closest language to Italian out of all of the romance languages.

New comers to Italian should be careful against the misuse of words that seem similar to English words but have completely different meanings in Italian! A good example of a word to watch out for is Sensibile. This in Italian means sensitive, instead of being reasonable like it does in English.

Don’t let mistakes cause fatigue early on in your goal to learn Italian. Mistakes happen no matter what and are part of the learning process when learning a new language. However, if you practice enough your mistakes will lessen greatly with time!

10 reasons for Learning Italian

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Learning a second or third foreign language is very exciting. Italian is among the most popular foreign languages that most people engage in.  Theres a lot to learn about, such as history and culture when a person has some Italian knowledge. The language also allows one to interact with people abroad during visits and holidays in Italy and other places. There exist many other reasons as to why people learn Italian. The following are the top 10 reasons for learning the language.

 

1.      Most people rate Italian language as the most beautiful worldwide spoken language. It is regarded as a language of food and arts. The language is also easy to learn compared to other foreign languages.

 

2.      One improves their cultural and universal speaking skills. The Italian culture dominates in many areas and offers great ways of enjoying it. This is through such aspects as the Italian fashion, designers, gastronomy and architecture among others.

 

3.      It allows one a chance to easily study art history associated with Michelangelos birth land. Most art history books are composed in Italian language thus one needs to be familiar with the language to avoid wasting time with translations.

 

4.      There is no need of following up subtitles when watching prominent Italian language movies. Such movies include the Viscontis, Fellinis and Pasolinis. These movies rate among the top 10s and play in Italian language.

 

5.      Understanding a variety of names to describe food. Compared to any other language, Italian offers the most words to refer to food. This is because Italians love food too much and there are many Italian recipes that one can enjoy from home.

 

6.      It gives one a chance to easily interact with Italians who are best known for their friendliness and accommodative traits. The locals are also talkative and fervent to take visitors through the country. Learning Italian is the only way to get directions when one visits Italy.

 

7.      Italiansongs become entertaining at last. Such include the likes of Luciano Pavarotti, a very popular operatic tenor. Rather than listening, it allows one to learn and practice Italian pop songs.

 

8.      Poets and poem enthusiasts get a smooth time reading La Divina Commedia that was written by the epic poet Dante Alighieri. Written back in the 1300s, the poem is regarded as the finest work in Italian literature.

 

9.      The language is the closest to Latin, an ancestral language common in all romance languages.

 

10.  Eases communication with ones Italian-born grandparents as well as enhancing research on family roots as well as interpreting ancient family documents.

Learning Spanish as an Adult

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Learning Spanish as a second or third language is a way to enhance a persons communication skills in their social and cultural life. Becoming acquainted with the language allows room for worthwhile experience during conversations with local friends and those abroad. Learning Spanish as a foreign language also helps improve one’s resume making it a colorful job seeking material.

 

For adults, acquiring Spanish language skills is significant but quite different from youth cases. Through linguistics, it is believed that social conversations can help one tap the skills of a new language. There are various factors which contribute to acquisition of Spanish language for adults. Such factors include

 

Self-assurance

According to S. Krashens effective filter hypothesis, acquiring a foreign language like Spanish is much affected by ones own feelings about their ability to learn. By interacting and speaking Spanish with assistance from native speakers, one easily understands the language. This is evident from children, who are usually subjected to many other languages at school and other social places. This though requires confidence which is a chief way to easily improve a persons vocabulary.

 

Constructing knowledge

Various means of learning other information are also applied when adults learn Spanish. These are common natural learning styles which greatly inspire learning a foreign language. This way, an adult can easily match their style of learning with the most appropriate language program.

 

Grammar

This is a common aspect when learning any language. This is because grammar determines a persons level of expertise. The choice of how best to speak a language is thus set on individual basis. Adults have to set their goals according to the level they want to attain, such as basic communication or that of native know-how. By determining what goal to achieve, following a Spanish language program becomes easy. This also defines the period of time one will spend learning the skills. For instance, a goal for basic conversation skills takes little time compared to that of native competence.

 

Various learning methods

There exist a number of learning methods in which adults can comfortably choose from. Some of the common modes include following tutorials from the web, taking Spanish classes, reading Spanish books, listening to tutoring audio tapes and television programs. One can also opt to take a tour in a foreign country for language engagements. Depending on the goal for learning Spanish, there is the perfect method of learning.

 

Generally, adults should understand their learning style, whether audio or visual, before committing with learning programs.  Local universities and colleges as well as professionals can aid one in knowing their learning style

10 reasons to learn French

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Why you should learn French?

 

French courses can dramatically improve your chances in your professional and personal lives. Learning a new language goes beyond learning a new vocabulary, it can effectively open doors, professionally and culturally. In this article we’ll take a look at the top ten reasons why you should consider taking French classes.

 

  1. Speaking French can help you get a job! Knowing this language can help you get employment at a French company as well as in other countries that have French among their primary languages, including some of the most sought after job markets like Canada, Switzerland, and many countries in Africa. France is among the world’s economic powerhouses.
  2. The French language can allow you to communicate with the world. Don’t forget that French is spoken on five continents and more than sixty countries.
  3. Broaden your travel horizons. France is the top touristic destination in the world. Knowing French can help you get acquainted with many of the amazing travel destinations located in the Hexagon much more intimately than non-French speakers (after all, French people aren’t exactly known for their openness to foreign culture,) not to mention all the other countries where French is spoken regularly.
  4. French is used extensively in all the fine arts and in fields like fashion and cooking. Learning French on a language  course can significantly broaden your access to culture and art.
  5. France has some of the best universities in Europe and, in many fields, the world. Learning this language can open doors for any young aspiring professional wishing to study in these world-class establishments.
  6. Taking some French lessons can help you communicate on the Internet or on the media. French is the third most popular language on the Internet and France’s radio and TV are well-known all around the world.
  7. French is the language of diplomacy and it is  an essential part of the formation of any aspiring diplomat or specialist in foreign relations. From the United Nations to the European Union, French is the official language of many important international organizations.
  8. Attending language courses can help you learn other languages with greater ease. As one of the many so-called romance tongues, French can make it easier for you to learn languages like Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese.
  9. Learning French is not that hard! It is is among the most popular languages in the world. Because of that, there are plenty of methods to assist people wanting to learn it, making it more accessible.
  10. It is the language of love. According to popular culture, French is simply a beautiful language.

The Language class in London organises French courses in London for anyone who want to start learning this popular modern language from scratch or for those who want to brush up their existing skills. Classes are interactive and well planned to allow the student to start practising the language from the first lesson.

European Framework for languages – our levels explained

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There are three basic divisions in the European Framework for Languages

A Basic Speaker

B Independent Speaker

C Proficient Speaker

These are subdivided into six levels

 A1 Beginner

A2 Elementary

B1 Intermediate

B2 Upper Intermediate

C1 Advanced

C2 Master

 

The European Framework for Languages describes what each level entails in detail. According to these guidelines, there are the following reading, writing, listening, and speaking guidelines for each level

 

A1 Beginner speakers can use and understand commonly used expressions and basic phrases that are related to satisfying particular needs. Speakers in this level can also introduce themselves and answer very basic questions about themselves. Beginner speakers can interact in a limited manner if the other person helps them and speaks slowly.

A2 Elementary speakers can follow sentences and phrases about common subjects, such as directions, employment, restaurants, and shopping. Speakers in this level can communicate simply and directly and can describe their environment, basic needs, and basic aspects of their background in very simple terms.

B1 Intermediate speakers can follow the basics of a conversation dealing with familiar, everyday matters. Speakers in this level can handle common situations that may be encountered if traveling to the area where the language is used. Intermediate level users are also expected to be able to write basic texts with simple grammar on topics in which they are interested or knowledgeable. They can also describe events and explain their opinions and ambitions.

B2 Upper intermediate speakers can glean the main idea from a complicated text, especially technical text related to their particular expertise. Speakers in this level should be able to interact with a native speaker without noticeable strain. Their writing should be detailed and with the capacity to explain their opinion and to clearly state their reasoning and different possible options.

C1 Advanced speakers can understand most texts and can make connections related to aspects implicit in the text they are reading. When speaking, users in this level should be able to talk fluently without having to search for words or expressions repeatedly or obviously. Their language should be flexible and with the capacity to provide text that is not only detailed and correct but also with a use of different linguistic devices such as connectors or organizers.

C2 Mastery is achieved when the speaker can understand anything that is listened to or read and can draw effective paraphrases from complex sources as well as being able to construct a coherent text or presentation from various sources. Speakers in this level should be able to use their language in complex situations spontaneously, flexibly, and understanding subtle changes in meaning.

What are the benefits of learning German in London?

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What are the benefits of learning German?

If you are living and working in London, taking german lessons can be beneficial to your career. This is because London and Frankfurt are two of the most influential financial hubs in Europe and also in the rest of the world. Germany is one of the most powerful economies in the world and you can find plenty of job opportunities. There is a possibility of someone actually relocating and moving to Germany and this is a wonderful opportunity.

Other reasons to take german classes include the fact that it is the most widely spoken language in Europe. The population of Germany is 83 million people, but it is not only the residents who speak the language. This is the official language in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxemburg. In addition, a significant population of people living in Holland, Northern Italy, Eastern Belgium, Denmark and Eastern France speak the language. When you learn the language, you will be able to connect with 120 million speakers of the language around the world.

Germans are highly innovative people and the list of innovations is endless. We have Einstein with his theory of relativity, the development of chemotherapy and the creation of the MP3 music format. Throughout history, Germans have shown that they are very inventive and ingenious. In fact, this trend still continues up to this day and the ten most innovative companies in the world are found in Germany and just to name some of the most important we have Volkswagen, BMW, Siemens. This presents many job opportunities in these companies  for other talented people to pursue after taking a german course.

There is a rich cultural heritage in the countries where people speak German. This is yet another reason for taking german classes. Poets and thinkers are well represented in Germany, and the countrys contribution of human thought and the arts is amazing. The sciences and philosophy cannot be the same without German influence. The philosophers such as Marx, Hegel, Kant and Nietzsche have had a lasting influence on the modern society.

In addition, learning German is not as hard as you might think. If you already know how to speak English, then you have a head start when you want to take german lessons as these 2 language share common roots.  The spelling of German words cannot be done phonetically however once a person has grasped the system of sounds, they can learn how to write the spoken words and how to pronounce the written word. For students, learning the language is recommended since the people who speak German have had a tremendous contribution to many fields including research, engineering and. technology