Search Blog for "language-learning-tips"

How much will people spend on learning a new language and why?

December 1st, 2015 by Anna Michaelidou

Being fluent in a second language offers many benefits and opportunities for all ages; but learning a new language takes time and dedication. It is not that it is necessarily a difficult task; it is merely understanding that language skills are a habit that can be developed through discipline and practice. Did you know that there are approximately 7000 languages in the world today? Let's have a quick look at the distribution of world languages by area and origin.

D... Read More »

Benefits of learning British Sign Language

February 2nd, 2017 by Anna Michaelidou

As with learning any new language there are many benefits of learning British Sign Language (BSL). BSL is the main form of sign language used in the UK today.

The Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD) describes BSL:

British Sign language (or BSL) is a visual-gestural language, which makes use of three dimensional space and the movement of hands (and other parts of the body) to convey meaning. It has its own v... Read More »

5 tips on how to encourage early language development

September 22nd, 2016 by Anna Michaelidou

Children start developing their language skills from a very early age and encouraging their language development is vital to building their confidence as well as broadening their vocabulary and learning to speak properly.

By encouraging your child... Read More »

Top 5 Languages You Should Learn in 2014

August 1st, 2013 by Dexter Findley

Congratulations! If you're reading (and understanding) this then you know English, the one language in the world that will get you somewhere everywhere. An official language of a prodigious percentage of countries, it may not be a local tongue but its basics are known almost universally. But say you want to learn another language, one that will be useful, rather than one that just gets you bonus points while on holiday? Which one should you aim for? Here are the Top Five.

Learn to love a language again

April 14th, 2010 by Emily

The English traditionally have a reputation for speaking one language very well - their own! It's a common joke amongst our European cousins that those in the UK don't bother to learn foreign languages. By contrast, many Europeans speak perfect English.

Obviously, this is a great shame, especially if you're one of the many people who learned a language at school and then promptly forgot it the minute you stopped having tuition in that subject. A language is like a muscle. You have t... Read More »

Bilinguals: 2 languages = 2 personalities?

May 2nd, 2012 by Sara

Learning a second language both builds on the first language and consolidates it but there is a Czech proverb that says "Learn a new language and get a new soul"

Bilinguals have often reported they feel and act differently when they speak in another language. Realistically, bilinguals don't have a second personality but adopt a shift in attitudes and behaviours, depending on the context and/or situation in which they are using the language.

Think of the follow... Read More »

Language tuition could add £21bn to the UK economy

September 10th, 2009 by Emily

The National Centre for Languages (Cilt) has spoken out to urge the government to put language tuition at the top of the agenda.

According to Cilt, French, ... Read More »

Language and Thought

April 18th, 2013 by Dexter Findley

Conventional wisdom dictates that learning the language of the country you're travelling in will enhance your experience no end. This is obvious: you can talk to the locals, read public signs, get involved in local news and events, and things will generally go smoother.

But there's a deeper side to the situation, one that is occasionally overlooked. And for people interested in the culture of the place they're travelling to, it's potentially incredibly rewarding. Basically, the langua... Read More »

One world, one language?

July 29th, 2009 by Emily

I used to fear French at school. I could never get to grips with it. English GCSE, Maths A-level, - no problem. But for some unknown reason I always struggled with languages, and French ... Read More »

Learning a language can increase your brain size!Learning a language can increase your brain size!

January 13th, 2015 by Sarah Adams

According to Swedish scientists, learning an additional language can increase the size of your brain. The study focused on a control group of hard working, Medical and Cognitive Science Students from the US. By measuring their brains before and after the language training, a group of researchers had the unique opportunity to observe what happens to the brain when a language is learnt in a short period of time.

The ... Read More »

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