Learning Chinese: in at the deep end in Chengdu

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When I set a foot in Chengdu, China, in 2008, I was like the character played by Bill Murray in the movie Lost in Translation. I was tucked away in a whole different culture with some clichés in my mind, and memories of my first trip to Shanghai in 2004. However, it was different this time. I remember I was constantly amazed and slightly afraid by my new environment. As a natural instinct, I was on the lookout to speak to someone of my own (Western/European) culture because I felt reassured to share common values. But after a few days, I was sure of one thing though: I was eager to embrace the Chinese culture!

I wanted to make Chinese friends, do as much sightseeing as possible and, of course, learn Mandarin. I took my first Chinese class shortly after my arrival at the university. My classmates and I started to learn Chinese from scratch but immediately the fear of the language was swept away by the friendliness of the teacher.

We learnt the basics, like greetings and how to start a conversation in different places. For example, we learnt how to ask for directions in a taxi or how to barter a price and buy an item in a shop.

But when you have the chance to live in a foreign country, you cannot simply rely on your language classes. You keep learning new words and attitudes by interacting with people. Whether you ask for a train ticket, a taxi or hear a conversation, even if you don’t get everything, some words will catch your attention, and by simply hearing and repeating these words, these will be engraved in your head.

The environment where you learn is a key element to learning a foreign language. One day, the professor decided to take us to the People’s park of Chengdu… just imagine yourself, drinking a Chinese cup of tea in broad summer daylight, with couples hanging around, elderly people plying mahjong (an old Chinese game) or Go next to you. It was a typical day, but I felt myself totally immersed in this atmosphere and thus, I wanted to learn more Chinese and more Chinese culture.

Living for 10 months in Chengdu, learning the customs and the language remains one my most memorable and gratifying experience so far.

Cactus offers Chinese courses in China in the following locations: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Hong Kong.

To learn some of the language before you go, or to brush up on existing language skills, Cactus runs daytime and evening courses in Chinese in London and other cities across the UK. Evening courses in Mandarin are also available in the US and Canada.

German evening course: a first-hand account

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At long last, after a long wait, I got to do my first German class. After years of picking up German from friends, family and students, I finally took the plunge to immerse myself in a class.

First class – typical – I arrived a little late for the first lesson, only because I happen to work for the place and could see they needed help at the entrance as there were so many students coming for their different language courses! In class we got down to doing what turned out to be the standard structure. The first part speaking only German – getting to know the other students and introducing ourselves – and then various exercises to sort out the more able from the less, like irregular verbs, listening practice, and so on, and then finishing up with structured conversation development. And it really sorted out the good from the bad – and was I relieved I got through!

First homework: learn 5 irregular verbs and prepare for a role play for next week (buying tickets for travel). It was really good to see it, because it really helped us focus in on what we were to do next week and prepare ahead for it. None of us wanted to feel left behind … The following weeks’ homework was on the same vein, though being different topics was really useful and helped immensely in the classes.

For the following classes we settled into a routine with variations on themes. Always 15 to 20 minutes with each person talking – in German – about what they had done over the week (others asking questions also), then some grammar points, irregular verbs, and so on, followed up by one person each week giving a semi-prepared presentation on a subject like your most memorable holiday. And there were some really interesting tales. The German family reunion, the tour of Aztec-Mayan Mexico, the 5 month beach holiday in Sardinia, camping with Druids at the White Horse…where else could you do this but in a German class?

Unfortunately, not everyone could come every week – I had to miss one week when I went to London on business. However, I found it very easy to catch up. The students were all of somewhat different levels, from one who found it difficult to put two words together to one who spoke almost without thinking, but we all felt included and Regina kept us all together and involved, overtly making sure that noone felt held back either because they were too low or too high.

After the last class we went off to a pub and had a drink to wind down – we all had our homework for the next course next term, we all exchanged email addresses – and are all secretly reading up as much as possible to impress each other (the teacher’s not important – it’s the other students you have to worry about!).



Rod learnt German on a 10-week evening course in Brighton. Cactus runs daytime and evening courses in German and other languages in Brighton, London and other cities across the UK.

Those wanting to practise their new language skills abroad can take a German course in Germany, Switzerland or Austria. Available from one week upwards and at all ages and levels, these courses are the perfect way to really immerse yourself in the language and culture!

Cactus nominated for an LTM Star Award

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The LTM Star Awards are unique, peer-voted awards in the international education industry that take place annually.  Education organisations vote for their preferred agent partners and vice versa, with the winners revealed in a glitzy ceremony in London every September.

This year, a record number of votes were cast, indicating that all those shortlisted are well thought of by their school partners. We pride ourselves on our high levels of customer service, and the great partnerships that we maintain with our partner schools not just in Western Europe, but all over the world. For this reason, it means a lot to us to be shortlisted again, and we are very hopeful that we’ll win the award.

The winners will be announced at the Language Travel Magazine Star Awards ceremony on 4th September 2010. Please wish us luck – we’ll keep you posted!

Find out more about Cactus’ language course locations around the world

French films to look out for this summer

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Although foreign language films still tend to be shown in art house cinemas, there’s no doubt that there are more of these around than before, and that they attract a wider audience than previously. Most major towns and cities now have an arts cinema, such as the Picture House group, where foreign, independent and films with a ’cult’ following are screened.

This summer there are a range of critically acclaimed French films coming to UK screens, with something guaranteed to suit all tastes. Here’s our pick of what to look out for over the coming months:

White Material (Certificate 15)

Starring one of France’s most acclaimed actresses, Isabelle Huppert, White Material is a hard-hitting drama about civil and racial conflicts in a small African farming community. Huppert is a plantation owner in the former French colony, who is determined to keep her coffee plantation from folding, despite pleas from those closest to her to pack up and leave.

Heartbreaker (Certificate 15)

This romantic comedy starring French favourite Vanessa Paradis and Britain’s very own Andrew Lincoln was a surprise hit at the French box office, taking a massive 10 million Euros in 10 days! Heartbreaker follows the story of brother and sister, Alex and Melanie, who make their living by orchestrating the separation of couples whose relationship has ‘run its course‘. Complications arise for Alex when he ends up falling for Paradis, their latest ‘target’ …

Leaving (Certificate 15)

Leaving is a powerful drama starring British actress Kristin Scott-Thomas, whose flawless French after living in Paris for over 20 years can’t fail to impress. Scott-Thomas plays a bored bourgeois housewife living in the south of France, who decides to go back to work to escape the monotony of her middle-class life. Her husband sets up a physiotherapy studio for her to practice in, but his gesture backfires when the man hired to build it begins a torrid affair with his wife…

Breathless (A Bout de Souffle) (Certificate 12)

To mark the 50th Anniversary of Breathless, Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 masterpiece has been digitally restored and re-released. The film stars French actor Jean-Paul Belmondo as Michel, a petty criminal who models himself on the persona of Humphrey Bogart. After stealing a car in Marseille, he shoots a policeman, and, on the run from the police, turns to his American girlfriend Patricia (Jean Seberg), a student and aspiring journalist, who sells the New York Herald Tribune on the streets of Paris. The story’s engaging, and the black and white backdrop of 60s Paris is fantastic.

The Girl on the Train (La Fille du RER) (Certificate 15)

Starring Catherine Deneuve, The Girl on the Train is a film based on the real story of a young Frenchwoman who became the centre of a media frenzy when she claimed to have been the victim of a hurrendous anti-Semitic assault, only to be exposed as a liar.

Cactus offers part-time French courses in London, Brighton, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford and Southampton. Please visit the Language Courses UK website for full listings, including start dates and prices, and to book.

Cactus supports 2010 National Awards for Excellence and LAFTAs

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It’s awards time again and this year, Cactus is delighted to be sponsoring prizes for both the National Awards for Excellence and LAFTAs 2010.  The awards (organised by CILT -The National Centre for Languages) are one of the highlights of the languages calendar. Schools and individuals from all over the country enter the awards, which acknowledge the very best in language learning and education.

This year, Cactus will be offering two lucky winners the chance to learn Spanish on location with exciting, week-long languages holidays in Spain.  Cactus’ very own Jenny Johnson will be handing out the prizes at a special awards ceremony at the British Film Institute on London’s Southbank on 6 July. 

The CILT team has advised us that the standard of entries has been outstanding again this year, with a record number of entrants for both competitions.  So it just remains for us to wish everyone who’s put themselves forward for the awards the very best of luck tomorrow!

https://www.cilt.org.uk/secondary/14-19/national_awards_for_excellence.aspx

https://www.languageswork.org.uk/learner_zone/the_laftas.aspx

New York: 10 things you didn’t know about the Big Apple

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As if New York City wasn’t already the number one tourist destination in the US, generating billions for the economy, the city has unveiled a new campaign to promote even more tourism. The campaign aims to reach the widest audience ever for any city program, reaching out to other cities within the US including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston, and also on an international level to markets including the UK, Australia, Brazil, Germany, France and Italy.

New York City’s five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island) will be highlighted through a range of colorful, promotional activities covering outdoor, print and digital advertising, as well as promotional packages from leading business partners. It certainly seems that Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s goal of 50 million visitors per year by 2012 – currently at 47.1 million in 2010 – is within grasp.

As it’s not hard to list New York’s highlights – and there are many of them, no doubt included in the promotional campaign – we thought we’d deviate from the norm and tell you a few things that you may not know about the city that never sleeps.

New York, New York…

1. New York City has ten sister cities including London, Madrid and Rome.

2. The city used to be called New Amsterdam, under Dutch rule, until it was re-claimed by the British and renamed.

3. New York City has the lowest crime rate among major American cities since 2005.

4. Buskers have to audition to play in the top subway spots in New York City! Given that over 150,000 people pass through a subway such as Times Square each day, a busker can earn a significant amount through loose change. So since 1985 the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has held auditions, and the best are given 2-week permits to perform at prime spots on the platforms – even appearing at Carnegie Hall!

5. Legend has it that Washington Square Park, in Manhattan, used to be a site for public executions in the late 18th century. People were hanged from the elm trees and Hangman’s Elm still stands in the northwest corner of the park.

6. The name ‘Big Apple’ is said to date back to 1921, when it was used by horse racing writer John J. Fitz Gerald. He heard the term around the stables of New Orleans from riders aspiring to race in New York City, and used it in his articles for the New York Morning Telegraph.

7. If you want to eat cupcakes in true Sex & the City style, tingle your tastebuds with flavors ranging from chocolate peanut butter swirl to vanilla waffle topped with maple-syrup-dipped buttermilk fried chicken or Harry Potter-inspired Butterbeer, flavored with butterscotch and sprinkled with edible gold dust. It’s all a bit of a mouthful.

8. You can be fined $50 for placing your bag on an empty seat on the subway, as using more than one seat is unlawful – whether or not the train is full.

9. New York City’s 50,000 cabbies earn over $5.5 million each day between them.

10. Almost 40% of the city’s population is foreign-born, and some 170 languages are spoken here. 

Cactus runs English courses in New York and in other cities across the US and Canada. Courses are available from beginners to advanced and from one week upwards; business English courses, academic year courses and more are also available.

For those living in New York, Cactus runs foreign language evening courses and weekend crash courses in a variety of languages and at different levels.

July 2010: This month we’re celebrating summer…

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The long days and warm sunshine are putting a spring in our step and making us dream of far-flung destinations where we can dip our toes in water and watch the sunset over a cold beer.

Click here to read the newsletter

Learning French: my motivation and experience

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In the 1990’s I watched a multi layered and intriguing film called “L’Appartement”. Since then I can remember being fascinated with France. As time went by, Audrey Hepburn contributed to the allure with her song “Bonjour Paris!” in the film ”Funny Face” along with Bernardo Bertolucci’s ”The Dreamers”.

The cinematic representations of France and its people portray the French as sensual and sophisticated people who understand the true fragility of life and love. They appear to possess a certain “je ne sais quoi”, which to date I haven’t found in other cultures. The eloquence with which they speak, the sophistication with which they carry themselves and the sense of nobility and aristocracy they possess have always played a part in my secret love of France.

I’ve always wanted to visit and learn the language, but to date haven’t made it happen.

In April I decided to take the first step and give learning French a go. Especially to try and get my head around the language, identifying the differences in pronunciation compared to Spanish and English, which I already speak, and also to learn a few phrases which might prove useful when I eventually decide to cross the English Channel.

French has definitely not been easy and by no means have I become fluent in the process; however, in the lessons I’ve had, my teacher has been very patient and encouraging along the way. Finding time outside of class to do self study has been a challenge in itself, yet I found that it’s definitely possible to learn when your mind is in the right place.

Our teacher spoke 99% French, which forced us to really focus on what she was teaching and instructing us to do. Not only did she educate us on the language but she also taught us about her cultural norms, most of which were communicated through her firm yet friendly method of teaching. In class we had quite a few opportunities to speak and, even though we couldn’t say much yet, for me it wasn’t about becoming fluent on the first level, but rather celebrating the romanticized idea of the French language and culture. Something I picked up from watching countless French films without understanding a word.

There is something about speaking French (even if it was just saying: “Je m’appelle Nadine.”) that transforms a person’s whole demeanor and makes us feel sophisticated and chic. Without having to wear Yves Saint Laurent couture or smell like I’ve spent a day in the L’Occitane en Provence factory, I instantly became the leading lady in my own French film and, as I tried to emulate what my perception of being French was, I imagined Cyril Mourali and I on the Pont des Arts in Paris. As I arched my back, and lifted my right heel off the ground, he planted a kiss on my lips, whilst a tearful Bop the clown (Marcel Marceau) performed in the background with the Eiffel Towering over us.

Next term I plan to pick up the language where I left it, and who knows how the plot of my story will unfold. I might even take a language holiday to Paris and study French there.

“Pourquoi pas?”

Nadine studied French Level 1 on a 10-week evening course in Brighton.

Charlotte Gainsbourg : Heaven Can Wait

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Last Tuesday Londoners had the chance to appreciate a concert by a remarkable British-French artist, Charlotte Gainsbourg. Charlotte has legendary parents in Serge Gainsbourg, influential and eccentric French icon of the swinging 1960s, 1970s as well as 1980s, and Jane Birkin, an outstanding English singer, actress and model. Charlotte,38, has made her career as a singer, actress, songwriter. Mother of two children, she spends her time between France and Britain, and also does regular world tours. She is faithful to her parents’ heritage regularly presenting their songs during her concerts. Her half-sister is the stylish Lou Doillon, daughter of Birkin and the film director Jacques Doillon.

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg remained in collective memory thanks to the controversial “ultimate love song” Je t’aime…moi non plus. Gainsbourg is famous also for the movie and soundtrack to Bonny and Clyde with Brigitte Bardot, a pure product of the sixties with their rebellion culture, youth revolution and the spirit of Mai 68.

Charlotte’s discography includes the albums Charlotte For Ever (1986), 5:55 (2006) in collaboration with the Parisian band Air, IRM (2009) released after her waterskiing accident in the US. At Shepherd’s Bush Empire, the singer presented her new and old songs in both French and English and her recent hit Heaven Can Wait. She thrilled the audience with a great performance in perfect harmony with her musicians, exquisite light and colour effects, masterly voice and poetic songs, including those by Bob Dylan. The spectators, who included a large contingent of French-speakers, appreciated her fidelity to her own impeccable style inspired by Anglo-Saxon rock, French pop music and her parents’ legendary heritage. The French-speaking audience got a nice surprise at the end when she concluded her performance with the popular French song by her celebrity father Couleur Café , emphasizing her belonging to the glorious tradition of la chanson française.

The films that she has made, such as Lemming and Antichrist (winner at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival) demonstrate her great acting skills and personality, and tend to explore the deepest twists and turns of human nature.

This remarkable artist, born in London and raised in Paris, belongs to both cultural traditions and continues to inspire millions of fans who have an interest in French culture.

Those who could not attend the concert are advised to check the availability of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s albums at HMV and visit her website as well as to follow online London’s French events with Ici Londres.

Cactus becomes a Quality English agent

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The Quality English brand was established expressly to promote high quality English language schools and their courses to international students. As a result, all of the schools that make up Quality English are carefully selected for their high quality and excellent reputation.

The Quality English schools are located in English-speaking countries all over the world, and offer a wide range of study options that comprise both general and specialised courses. Quality control is paramount within the Quality English group, and to ensure this all schools and courses are regularly monitored through student feedback, agent references and accreditation results. These must all be of an excellent and consistent standard.

Gaining approval as an agent for Quality English is a testament to the professionalism and reputation of Cactus, and was only possible thanks to excellent references from our current partner schools.

We very much look forward to working in partnership with Quality English, and hope that having this extra string to our bow will assure prospective students of the high quality courses that they can expect when booking with Cactus.

Please visit the Quality English site for further details of their aims and requirements, and see the Cactus Language wesbite for listings of English courses worldwide.