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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 »

Commonly Studied Languages

January 19th, 2015 by Sarah Adams

Today's economy is increasingly globalised, and this means that many of us are interacting across cultures in a way we never did before. Learning a new language takes time and dedication. Once you do, being fluent in a second language offers numerous benefits and opportunities. Learning a second language is exciting and beneficial at all ages. It offers practical, intellectual and many aspirational benefits.

In today's world, the... 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 »

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 »

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 »

What will be the New World Language?

June 18th, 2013 by Dexter Findley

Some commentators argue that a shift is currently occurring in the way we talk. English, the dominant language for centuries - by virtue of Britain's colonial reach - is slipping from its top-of-the-chart position. True, it is still the most widely-spoken tongue (as in, number of countries that hold it as a national language), but Chinese has been the most spoken for a while now (when you take into account the number of people actually speaking it), and Spanish is second. English is third by ... Read More »

Communication Breakdown: or, Why You Should Learn A Few Words Before Going Abroad

March 21st, 2013 by Dexter

After a cramped but enjoyable overnight train journey from Hong Kong, my friend and I exited the train and found ourselves in the centre of the Centre Kingdom: Beijing. We were on the first leg of our Chinese adventure, and our spirits couldn't have been higher.

First things first, we needed to book a ticket for the next leg of our journey, from Beijing to Guilin. The ticket booking system in China is wonderfully arcane, and requires a significant amount of pre-planning to navigate su... 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 »

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 »