Useful transport-related vocabulary translated for you

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German

Ticket Fahrkarte (f)
Metro/underground U-Bahn (f)
Stop (noun) Haltestelle (f)
Direction Richtung (f)
Day travelcard Tageskarte (f)
Line Linie (f)
Zone Zone (f)
Platform Bahnsteig (m)
Bus (Auto)bus(m)
Timetable Fahrplan (m)
Bus route Busstrecke (f)
I’ve lost my ticket Ich habe meine Fahrkarte verloren
Which metro line/bus should I take? Welche (Linie) U-bahn / welchen Bus muss ich nehmen?
Do I have to validate my ticket? Muss ich meine Fahrkarte stempeln?

French

Ticket ticket (m)
Metro/underground métro (m)
Stop (noun) arrêt (m)
Direction direction (f)
Day travelcard carte de transport journalière (f)
Line ligne (f)
Zone zone (m)
Platform quai (m)
Bus bus (m)
Timetable horaire d’autobus (m)
Bus route ligne d’autobus (f)
I’ve lost my ticket J’ai perdu mon ticket
Which metro line/bus should I take? Quelle ligne dois-je prendre?
Do I have to validate my ticket? Est-ce que je dois composter/valider mon ticket?

Spanish

Ticket billete (m)
Metro/underground metro (m)
Stop (noun) parada (f)
Direction dirección (f)
Day travelcard abono de un día (m)
Line línea (f)
Zone zona (f)
Platform andén (m)
Bus bus/autobús (m)
Timetable horario (m)
Bus route ruta de autobús (f)
I’ve lost my ticket He perdido mi billete
Which metro line/bus should I take? ¿Qué línea debería coger?
Do I have to validate my ticket? ¿Tengo que validar mi billete? 

Italian

Ticket biglietto (m)
Metro/underground metro (m)
Stop (noun) fermata (f)
Direction direzione (f)
Day travelcard biglietto giornaliero (m)
Line linea (f)
Zone zona (f)
Platform binario (m)
Bus pullman/autobus (m)
Timetable orario (m)
Bus route percorso dell’autobus (m)
I’ve lost my ticket Ho perso il mio biglietto
Which metro line/bus should I take? Che linea devo prendere?
Do I have to validate my ticket? Devo convalidare il biglietto?

Portuguese

Ticket passagem (m)
Metro/underground metro (m)
Stop (noun) ponto (f)
Direction direção (f)
Day travelcard passe do dia (m)
Line linha (f)
Zone zona (f)
Platform gare (m)
Bus bus/autobús (m)
Timetable horário (m)
Bus route rota do ônibus (f)
I’ve lost my ticket Perdi o meu passagem
Which metro line/bus should I take? Que linha debo pegar/tomar?
Do I have to validate my ticket? Tenho que validar o meu bilhete? 

Swedish

Ticket en biljett
Metro/underground en tunnelbana
Stop (noun) en hållplats
Direction en riktning
Day travelcard en dygnsbiljett
Line en linje
Zone en zon
Platform en plattform
Bus en buss
Timetable en tidtabell
Bus route en busslinje
I’ve lost my ticket Jag har tappet min biljett
Which metro line/bus should I take? Vilken linje ska jag ta…

Finnish

Ticket lippu
Metro/underground metro
Stop (noun) pysäkki
Direction suunta
Day travelcard päivälippu
Line linja
Zone vyöhyke
Platform laituri
Bus linja-auto
Timetable aikataulu
Bus route linja-autoreitti
I’ve lost my ticket Olen kadottanut lippuni…
Which metro line/bus should I take? Mikä linja minun täytyy ottaa?
Do I have to validate my ticket? Täytyykö minun vahvistaa lippuni? 

How to get past the language plateau

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As I know to my chagrin, there is no end to learning a language, and even when you think you’ve made it and are ‘fluent’, there’s always more to go. Prior to my move to New York I was living in Mexico City for 5 years, and even though I say so myself I thought I had mastered the language pretty well. I was able to work in a bilingual office and speak Spanish without the locals wincing at everything I said. My writing was cohesive and accurate, and I even gave a speech in Spanish towards the end of my time there. Yippee – I’ve done it!!

But now, 2 years later, as I get comfortable in New York, speaking English all day and having less and less opportunity to speak Spanish, I can feel myself stagnate. I’m not going upwards with the language, and without a bit of effort I will definitely go backwards. It’s a natural stage to reach, where you can manage most things, and get around the rest, but the pleasure of speaking and getting better has gone, and I want it back. I’m also trying to be realistic about what I will actually do to keep my Spanish going. So here are some ideas I have had to keep myself moving towards that peak:

1. Set goals

What do you want to be able to do with the language? Find a new job in another country? Speak to your in-laws? Have a more rewarding vacation where you can actually speak to the locals, as opposed to gesturing when all else fails? Think about why you are learning the language, and set about finding ways to practise it in those areas.

2. Read in your chosen language

And read more and more – as much as possible. It doesn’t matter what you read really – currently I’m reading an Agatha Christie novel in Spanish – as everything will help you to recognize correct grammar, and will build your vocabulary. Of course reading something written by a native author will be much more rewarding – there’s a range in Spanish from Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Isabel Allende to suit all tastes. If newspapers and magazines are your thing then buy one in the language and read the news from a different perspective.

3. Ask friends to help

Whether you’re living in your home town or abroad, there will be people there who you know who speak your chosen language. Obviously if you have moved to the country where the language is spoken you will have many more opportunities of this sort for practice, as even a trip to the Boulangerie will give you a chance to speak a few words. However, in order to improve you need to have correction, which won’t often come from a stranger. Ask your friends to correct you when you speak or, better still, set up a conversation exchange, where you help your friend with English for an hour, followed by her helping you with her language for an hour.

4. Use flashcards

One of the best ways to build your vocabulary is with flashcards. I remember when I lived in Japan I used to travel to work on the train each morning, and would be surrounded by scores of schoolchildren all flipping through little stacks of flashcards all bound together on a ring, with the Japanese word written on one side and the English one on the other. It is a great idea, and easy to reproduce too. Reviewing vocabulary is essential for progress.

5. Podcasts

I have my favorites for Spanish and Italian, and living here in New York I have time on my daily commute to listen to them. There is a wide range available these days, from language-learning based ones which go through grammar and give you exercises, to radio show style commentaries, discussing the latest news and other more irreverent subjects. You just need to have a look at the ever-increasing selection on a site like i-tunes, and select the ones you like best. Many are free, so you can sample until you find something you really like.

6. Take a course

It’s never too late to learn, and you will find that however good you are at a foreign language, there’s always something more to learn. The ideal way, if you have the time, is to join a group at the right level and have a regular opportunity each week to focus on the language with a teacher to help you and point out all the little errors.

If you want to brush up your language close to home, Cactus runs daytime, evening and weekend language courses in the UK and the US & Canada. For tailor-made, private tuition in your home or workplace, Cactus Language Training will gear a course to your specific needs and interests.

Cactus also runs language courses in more than 30 languages, 60 countries and 500 destinations worldwide. Courses are available from one week upwards, at all ages and levels, and can be combined with a range of fun activities ranging from surfing and diving to cooking and wine tasting.

5 cheapest places to learn English in London

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Learning English in London need not be as expensive as you think. Below are our 5 cheapest locations to take an English course in London  in 2014 – leaving you more spending money to enjoy life in the capital!

1. Oxford Street

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Speak Up London is a brand new independent school located in the very heart of London in much-loved Oxford Street. Facilities here are basic, but the passionate staff offer a friendly, warm environment for students.

The school is located in the basement of a building amongst the Oxford Street shops close to Tottenham Court Road tube station, and benefits from excellent transport links to the whole of the city – ideal for students already living and working in London. Find out more >>

2. Islington

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Islington Centre for English is a small school teaching students in friendly classes with experienced, qualified teachers. It is located just 1 minute walk from the Angel tube station, right in the heart of the lively Islington area.

The school has 6 bright, medium-sized classrooms and courses here have flexible timetables and you can choose to study in the morning, afternoon or evening. Find out more >>

3. Soho

soho_london

Skola Soho is located in the London district of Soho, a very cosmopolitan neighbourhood, and welcoming to all people. You can get to the school in just a few minutes from Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square tube stations. This school is part of the Skola group, which has been running successful language schools since the late 1960s, and which also runs teacher training courses from the same location. Find out more >>

4. Kings Cross

kings_cross_london

Malvern House offers high quality English teaching to adult students in state of the art facilities. The school opened in July 2009 and is a brand new, purpose-built centre.

Experienced and qualified teachers provide a dynamic, innovative programme, enhanced by the latest digital learning technology. All classrooms are fully equipped with interactive whiteboards, giving instant access to up-to-the-minute internet materials to enrich your lessons. Find out more >>

5. Russell Square

russell_square_london

St Giles is housed in a very substantial, 100 year old building. Completely refurbished and modernised, the college is equipped with some of the best and most up-to-date language learning resources available. The classrooms are modern and spacious, and students have access to a language laboratory, a self-access study centre, a computer laboratory and a bookshop with all lesson materials.

This well-established school has been offering English courses for over 50 years and also runs its own teacher training programme, so high-quality tuition is guaranteed. Find out more >>

Cactus offers a range of general, intensive, individual, combined and exam preparation courses all around the world. For full course listings, including prices, and to book please visit the Cactus Language website.

Launch of the Suzanne Furstner Foundation Scholarship 2010

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Every year the Suzanne Furstner Foundation, set up in memory of the former head of Cactus TEFL, Suzanne, invites applications for a TEFL course scholarship.

Suzanne was tragically lost in 2006, and each year since a scholarship has been offered – first in Spain, then in Latin America and most recently in Italy.

This year, the Scholarship Prize is a four-week CELTA course in San Francisco (with host family accommodation) plus a 20 hour part-time language course in one of our UK or US locations. Return travel New York – San Francisco (or equivalent) is also included.

The 2010 scholarship assignment is to write a maximum of 1,000 words on the topic ‘San Francisco’, interpreted any way you choose. In addition to this, candidates should complete a short language awareness task. Entries will be accepted from mid-June until October 1st 2010 and should be submitted by filling out our entry form.

The winner will be chosen by a 3-person committee: Jenny Johnson, Cactus Academic Director, Sarah Wilson, International Officer at Sussex Downs College, and one other person to be confirmed.

The 2010 Scholarship winner will be announced in October 2010.

More information on the scholarship

What’s the difference between 5 and 10-week evening courses?

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Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the two, including their differences and their benefits.

1. Do the 5 and 10-week courses have the same total amount of hours?

Yes, both courses comprise a total of 20 hours, just delivered in different formats. 10-week courses have one 2-hour session per week, and 5-week courses have two 2-hour sessions each week.

2. Is there any difference in syllabus between the two courses?

No – the syllabus is exactly the same. Because of this, the course levels are interchangeable – you could do a 5-week course and then choose the 10-week course when you take the next level up, or vice versa.

3. What are the benefits of doing a 5-week course?

Ultimately, whether you choose a 5-week or 10-week course will depend on your location, your weekly availability, how long you have to learn the skills that you require and what style of learning suits you best. 5-week courses are beneficial in that:

• You can learn a lot in a short amount of time, which means anyone planning a last-minute trip abroad can still learn what they need to before they go

• You learn more intensively, and have less time between lessons, which means it’s sometimes easier to retain what you have learnt

• It can be easier to ‘clear’ your diary of commitments for 5 weeks so that you are available for every lesson.

4. What are the advantages of doing a 10-week course?

10-week courses remain the standard format for evening lessons in a foreign language. They involve one 2-hour session per week, and are therefore less time-intensive in weekly terms. They also have the following benefits:

• They are offered in more locations and more languages than 5-week courses

• They offer a manageable study option for people who have little free time

• They give students lots of time to practise what they have learnt each week in their own time before moving on to the next lesson.

5. Which course type is the most popular format?

Our experience has shown us that more of our students want to attend class just one evening a week, which is why there are more 10-week than 5-week courses. Currently, 5-week courses are available in London (various locations), Brighton, Liverpool and Sheffield.

6. Do the 5 and 10-week courses cost the same?

Yes, the courses are priced the same. London–based courses start at £179, and regional courses at £159.

7. Are 5-week courses available in the same languages as the 10 week ones?

Currently, 5-week courses are offered in Arabic, Mandarin, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Spanish and Turkish. We offer 10-week courses in all of these languages, and more – including Russian, Japanese, Swedish, Thai, Greek and Hindi, to name a few. For full language listings please visit the Language Courses UK website.

8. Do the 5-week courses have the same start dates as the 10-week ones?

No.10-week courses start at four different times of the year – in January, April, July and October. 5-week courses are usually offered in September, November, February and June*.

*Please note that start dates for 5-week courses can sometimes vary from year to year, please check our site to confirm specific dates.

Cactus offers a wide range of other language training options in addition to evening courses, including individual tuition, weekend ‘crash’ courses and immersion courses abroad. We encourage people to learn in whatever way suits them best, whether that’s with one course, or a mixture of formats and lengths. Please feel free to contact us for advice on what to choose, or visit our site to test your level.

5 cheapest places in the UK to learn English outside of London

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One-week general course (20 lessons per week)

Prices based on 1 week from 2nd August

1. Glasgow – £109

2. Belfast – £179

3. Canterbury – £239

4. Manchester – £249

5. Cambridge – £269

One-week general course (20 lessons) + host family + breakfast + dinner

Prices based on 1 week from 2nd August

1. Glasgow – £349

2. Canterbury – £379

3. Belfast – £389

4. Manchester – £439

5. Exeter – £449

One-week general course (20 lessons) + single room in a shared apartment or residence (no meals)

Prices based on 1 week from 2nd August

1. Glasgow – £269 (shared apartment)

2. Belfast – £359 (shared apartment)

3. Exeter – £419 (shared apartment)

4. Manchester– from £529 (student residence)

5. Edinburgh – £549 (student residence)

Please note: prices were correct at the time of writing but are subject to fluctuation according to changing exchange rates.

Cactus offers a range of general, intensive, individual, combined and exam preparation courses all around the world. For full course listings, including prices, and to book please visit the Cactus Language website.

Academic Resources: Making the most of your language course

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Learning a language is great, and the fact that you have started a course is for many people a breakthrough. To make it easier on yourself think about incorporating the following 10 steps into your routine, and you’ll be surprised how easy it all becomes.

1. Buy a notebook specifically for your class notes, and try to organize it so that you can see information easily, and can review the content of each class.

2. Try to attend every class. If you can’t attend a class, ask your teacher to send you some information about the class you missed by e-mail, including the homework, and do your best to complete it!

3. Speak to your teacher if you don’t understand something that’s going on. Once you get lost you mentally ‘give up’. Teachers are nice people, and will be happy to recap, either during the class or for 5 minutes before or after.

4. Reinforce your language learning as much as possible. Try to find a website which will give you extra practice. The BBC site is good for many of the mainstream languages. Newspapers often have listening parts, and even though you won’t understand everything it’ll really help you get you ‘ear’ for the language. Find a club or group which meets regularly, and join them so that you speak and listen to the target language in different situations.

5. Don’t get disheartened if you find your new language hard. Learning anything new is always hard when you start, but time and practice will work wonders.

6. Speak as much as possible in the target language while in class (and ask your fellow students and teacher to do the same). Repetition of words and expressions really helps them to become entrenched in the mind, and you’ll progress more quickly.

7. Review the grammar of your Mother Tongue. Knowing how your own language works will help you to find similarities in the target language, and this will speed up your progress.

8. Participate as much as possible during class. Even if you make mistakes it’s the perfect opportunity to practice what you have learnt, and the teacher will be able to correct you so that when you get out into the real world you will be able to use the language confidently and effectively.

9. Do your homework!! 2 hours of class time each week isn’t really enough to progress at a good pace, and each time you look at material in the target language you will absorb more. Homework is set to help you progress and practice areas that are important for you to progress. Usually teachers won’t set too much, and will go through it in class so that you can be sure that you are getting it all right. If you aren’t given enough homework by your teacher then ask for more, or try to find additional practice on the web, in magazines etc.

10. And finally – have fun! Language learning is an enjoyable experience, and in class you’ll do a variety of activities to ensure that not only are you learning new grammar and vocabulary, but you’re also having fun with language. Ask your teacher to teach expressions that you use in your own language, and use them when possible outside the class.

Cactus Language Training is one of the world’s leading providers of tailor-made language training, providing high quality training to companies, organisations and private individuals. We believe that the best way to learn a language is the way that best fits around you, and so we offer all forms of language training including 1:1, in-company, public group courses, full-immersion courses abroad, online courses, and language teacher training programmes; all of this is available in over 50 languages and 30 languages.

TEFL as a gap-year option for university graduates

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A good number of graduates are choosing to take a couple of years out to travel, and many are hoping that TEFL will help facilitate this. At the end of the day, it’s an option that will provide them will financial support, cultural integration and a beneficial addition to their CV.

TEFL has long been a popular option amongst new graduates, but it’s likely that this year will see even more students than normal training in TEFL in order to head abroad.

Two such graduates are Zoe Delaine-Smith and Catherine Handley. Zoe, who graduated with a history degree from Sussex University in June last year and recently completed a CELTA course in Budapest said:

“ I took the CELTA course for a couple of reasons. Firstly i really like travelling and it just seemed a good idea to get a qualification that I could use while abroad which would aid my travels. Secondly the job market is pretty bad in England at the moment sadly and there seems to be more opportunities for work abroad- people always need to learn English after all!”

Catherine graduated in English and Philosophy from Stirling University last June, and had been considering TEFL as a means to travel for a few years. She thinks that the CELTA certificate will enable her to support herself abroad for an indefinite amount of time, and says:

“It was only one amongst a few ideas before the credit crunch, but i think the current economic climate has tipped the scales in favour of CELTA for me and has definitely made doing a CELTA course a more recommended next step for many graduates at the moment.”

Some people are worrying that the increase in number of teachers will bring about a cut in the number of TEFL jobs available, but in reality it’s an industry that continues to boom. There are opportunities to teach all over the world, particularly in the Far East, and if you get the right kind of qualification and can afford some flexibility in terms of where specifically you work, you shouldn’t encounter any problems in getting a job.

An element of how easy, and successful, your job hunt is also relates to the time of year that you look. If you can coincide searching for work with the beginning of the school year, this will definitely count in your favour.

More on TEFL courses worldwide

Why to use Cactus TEFL to book your course

Why use Cactus TEFL to book your TEFL course?

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Not only is there information on the different types of TEFL courses available, on how to choose which one will be best for you, and on TEFL in various countries of the world, but it also offers a useful and effective way to compare a huge range of course locations, start dates and prices in one fell swoop.

This is not where our service ends though. There are many other things that we can do for you, and lots of reasons why applying through us will be beneficial to you:

1. The site is an application portal for all the courses that we list on our site. It is quick and easy to both download and submit the application form for your chosen course via our site, and this service is completely free. You will pay exactly the same price for your course, whether you apply via us or you apply direct to the school.

2. We are primarily an internet-based company, but are unique in that we do have a team of knowledgable, experienced advisers at the end of the phone who can help you with any remaining questions or concerns that you have after you have looked through the site. The advice that we give is not only informed and unbiased, it is also free.

3. Many people prefer to apply or book direct rather than via a ‘middleman’, and it’s understandable why. Leaving the updating and advancing of a task to an intermediary means that you have to have confidence in their ability not only to complete the project or booking, but to do so competently and quickly. Fortunately this is an area in which we excel. We process your application as soon as we receive it, and the fact that we’re constantly in touch with our partner schools means that we can keep a close eye on how your application is progressing, and even fast track it if necessary. We can swiftly locate another course for you if the one you want is full. You can easily apply for more than one course at once, and keep track of your applications on My Cactus TEFL.

4. Applying through us for a course abroad is sometimes easier and cheaper communication-wise too as there is someone for you to contact during the same working hours (i.e. there are no issues with time differences) and on the same national call rate.

5. We can help you prepare for your TEFL course as thoroughly as possible, giving you the best chance of gaining a ’pass’ grade, or better. Not only do we provide useful information on what to expect in your interview and on the course itself, but we have also developed a pre-TEFL English Language Awareness course so that trainees get an excellent preparation in English grammar before beginning the course.

6. Once you have booked and completed your course, we can also give you tips on how to go about looking for work. We have lots of contacts within the industry and are fortunate to have a good and up to date insight into what is going on TEFL-wise around the world.

Ushuaia: top 10 things to do at the edge of the world

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‘El fin del mundo’ is what they call it, and stepping foot in the world’s most southerly town certainly makes you feel like you’re at the edge of the world. On Argentina’s southern-most tip, Ushuaia’s setting is simply spectacular: if you look back at it from the green waters of the Beagle Channel, as Darwin would have done in 1832, you’ll see rows of brightly coloured houses set against a dramatic backdrop of jagged mountains – and you’ll know that if you keep going south, there is nothing but the vast waters, ice sheets and resilient penguins of the Antarctic.

For many people Ushuaia is the gateway to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, a geographical paradise of forests, lakes, mountains and marine life, with infinite possibilities for adventure tourism. With this in mind, we’ve compiled our list of the top 10 things to do in Ushuaia. Send us a postcard!

1. Visit the Museo Marítimo y del Presidio

The Maritime Museum not only gives you the chance to learn about Tierra del Fuego’s past, way back to when the first explorers arrived from Europe, but it has also been built on the site of Ushuaia’s former jail. Visitors to the museum can access the eerie cell areas (built by the prisoners themselves) and imagine life behind walls in the early 20th century.

2. Take the train to the end of the world!

Originally built as a freight line to serve Ushuaia’s mythical prison, the Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino (or Tren del Fin del Mundo) now takes you on a spectacular 8km round-trip up to the Tierra del Fuego National Park Station. This iconic steam train takes you along the Pico river valley and gives you a unique insight into the Yamaná people and local history.

3. Visit Antarctica!

If ever there was an opportunity to visit the iced lands of Antarctica, it’s here. You’ll need to book in advance, and it’s not cheap, but it’s a real once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can also sail to Cape Horn, Puerto Natales, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands from Ushuaia.

4. Look back…

If you can’t afford to visit Antarctica, don’t miss the opportunity to go seabound. A boat trip is the best way to view the Beagle Channel and look back at Ushuaia; at the same time you’ll usually also visit the sealion colony at Isla de los Lobos and Isla de Pájaros.

5. Explore the Tierra del Fuego National Park

Winter or summer, the choice is endless. Hiking, glacier trekking, skiing, mountain biking, horse riding, fishing, bird watching and more are are at your fingertips in this spectacular environment.

6. Visit a typical Patagonian estancia

Perfect for lovers of the great outdoors (and let’s face it, you’re unlikely to be in Ushuaia if you’re not), these are rural establishments that provide tourist services in the form of accommodation, excursions, horse-riding, hunting and fishing. Perfect for letting out the inner gaucho in you! Harberton Estancia on the Beagle Channel is one such place.

7. Go shopping!

Ok, so it might be the last thing you feel like doing in one of the world’s greatest outdoor playgrounds, but Ushuaia is a tax-free zone, so if you want to pick up some mementos to take home – either local or imported goods – then this is your place.

8. Visit Lakes Escondido and Fagnano

These beautiful glacial lakes near Ushuaia are the perfect escape to enjoy lake, mountain and forest scenery, as well as to encounter native wildlife and bird species.

9. Hike 7km from downtown Ushuaia to Glacier Martial

Whether or not you want to explore the glacier, the views from the top are breathtaking. You will be treated to a spectacular panorama of the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia – one day NOT to forget your camera!

10. And lastly, carry sunscreen!

Not just to protect from the combined effect of the sun, wind and snow: despite the wintery climate and need to dress warm, the depleted ozone levels over Ushuaia mean that sunburn is a real danger, whatever the weather.

Cactus offers Spanish courses in Ushuaia and in other locations across Argentina.