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10 great reasons to kick-start the year with an evening language course

Whether you’re determined to start the new year with a ‘new you’, need to prepare for a holiday overseas or want to improve your job prospects, now is the ideal time to take a language course!

1. Cactus is welcoming in 2015 with fun, engaging language courses in London and cities across the UK. We offer the five mainstream languages of French, Spanish, Italian, German and Brazilian Portuguese in most centres, plus rarer languages in our main centres. New evening courses start w/c 19th January 2015.

2. Learning a language is an excellent resolution as it will give you a skill that will last way longer than the average resolution – and one that might come in handy on holiday later this year!

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3. If you’ve had a hectic festive season, then it’s proven that giving your brain a workout is the perfect way to de-stress. Learning a language stimulates your mind, stretches your imagination and, ultimately, helps your brain to relax…in fact it is more effective at reducing stress than opening a bar of chocolate.

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4. If you’ve decided to de-tox in January then going to an evening language class – and doing homework in the week, if you’re diligent – will take your mind off the pub (that is, until your last night when you’ll probably all end up in the local tapas bar – but by then it will be March and it won’t matter!).

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5. You can be sure of a consistent teaching framework that falls in line with other internationally-recognised language level systems – meaning that what you learn on our courses will be easily recognised outside of Cactus. Unlike many other providers, with Cactus you also receive a certificate of attendance on completion of your course.

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6. When times are tight employers will be looking for that little extra in job applicants. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in itself, but it also shows initiative and an appreciation of other cultures, which is valuable in today’s global society.

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7. Language learning makes you clever! If you feel like you need a kick-start after the Christmas break, learning a language will boost cognitive development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, problem-solving and reasoning.

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8. 2015 promises a stellar list of foreign language film nominations in the upcoming Oscars, and there’s no better way to appreciate these films than with an understanding of the language and culture. Watch out for Ida (Poland), Mommy (Canada), Leviathan (Russian), Winter Sleep (Turkey), Wild Tales (Argentina) and Saint Laurent (France).

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9. With a reduced number of children learning a language at school, let’s lead by example and show that learning a language is a passport to other cultures and a huge asset when you travel. Don’t forget we have new after-school language courses for kids aged 7-15 in London starting in January too!

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10. Let’s face it, January can be a bit depressing. The excitement of Christmas is over, the days are still short and the weather can be miserable. If there was ever a time to take an evening course it’s now. Having a goal such as learning a language will make the weeks pass quickly and make you feel that you’re using the dark evenings productively!

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Cactus runs adult evening language courses and junior afternoon language courses in schools across London and in cities nationwide. Courses are available at many levels and on regular start dates throughout the year, starting in January.

7 New Year’s Eve traditions to experience before you die

Out with the old and in with the new – from sending candles out to sea to wearing yellow underwear and eating 12 grapes at midnight, here’s why you should celebrate new year away from home this year.

1. Germany

Marzipan pig with cloverleaf and mushroom on white

Fireworks at midnight to oust bad spirits, resolutions (gute Vorsätze) written on paper and then burned to make them come true, the exchange of marzipan pigs (Glücksschwein) to bring good luck for the new year…German traditions at New Year are touching, wistful and fun.

2. Italy

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Expect to eat zampone, or stuffed pig’s trotter, if you’re celebrating new year in Italy. In true Italian style, the bigger the gathering the better – this is a time for friends, family, celebrations and lots of prosecco.

3. Scotland

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One of the best-known New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world, at Hogmanay you’ll be treated to concerts, processions, fireworks and people bursting with pride singing Auld Lang Syne.

Beware of ‘first footing’! If you’re the first person to visit a house after midnight, you must take coal, whisky, salt or shortbread to bring good luck. In preparation for the chimes at midnight it’s also customary to clean your house, take out the ashes from the fire and clear your debts.

4. Brazil

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For all the partying that has made Brazil so famous – and there’ll be plenty of this at ‘Reveillon’, or new year – there is one heart-warming tradition. Crowds gather along Brazil’s beaches, dressed all in white, to celebrate the Festa de Iemanja, the Goddess of Water, and little boats are sent out to sea carrying flowers, candles, rice and gifts to ensure a good year to follow.

5. Spain

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As you would expect in Spain, celebrations for Noche Vieja, or New Year’s Eve, continue all the way through to the morning! Wherever you are, welcome in the near year by eating 12 lucky grapes at midnight, one with each chime of the clock. Eat them all and good luck will come your way the following year.

6. Greece

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Get rich eating cake? You might just do so in Greece. Amongst the many special dishes that are prepared at New Year, the Vassilopitta, or St Basil’s cake, has a silver or gold coin buried within. Bite with caution.

7. Peru

Sports yellow female panties on white background

In a country known for its mysticism and spirituality, new clothes are perhaps not the first thing you would think of at new year. Yet don your best pair of yellow undies and you will be granted happiness and luck for the coming year. Alternatively, red underwear will bring you love and green underwear will bring you money. Easy…and no-one will ever know!

Wherever you are celebrating, a very happy new year from us all at Cactus.

If you have experienced New Year celebrations in other countries across the globe, please leave your comments below!