Great value French courses abroad

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Granted, there are other factors than just the price of the course fees to consider when you’re looking into booking a language course abroad. Accommodation, travel and the general cost of living all need to be taken into consideration before you decide upon your destination and course, but below are the best value options for course fees at the moment – all are based on the price of a week-long General French course.

1. Lyon (£149/$234)

Given that Lyon is widely regarded as the gastronomic capital of France, it may come as a surprise that learning French there is so affordable. Of course, it has its fair share of Michelin starred restaurants, but the city itself is down to earth and unpretentious. It enjoys a fantastic location close to the Alps and to Paris, and is a thriving and lively university city.

Lyon’s enviable location assures it great transport links, both in terms of train and air travel. As a result, it’s easy and affordable to reach from all over Europe.

The General French course at the school in Lyon currently costs £149 and includes 15 lessons per week, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the city and practise your French outside of classroom hours. Accommodation can be arranged either with a local host family, or in a student residence, depending on your preference.

Find out more on the General French course in Lyon

2. Chambery (£179/$280)

Boasting a prime location in the heart of the Savoie region in the French Alps, the pretty town of Chambery makes a fantastic French study destination. It offers compact, friendly surroundings, where you’ll be able to practise your French to your heart’s content. image

During the winter season, you’ll also have easy access to the many nearby slopes if you fancy some skiing in your free time. And on top of that, the courses are fantastic value.

Currently, a week’s General French course at the school in Chambery costs £179, and the team there can also arrange accommodation with a local host family for you.

Find out more on the General French course in Chambery

3. Paris Victor Hugo/ Nice City Centre (£209/$326)

Currently, the Victor Hugo school in Paris and the City Centre school in Nice are both offering week-long General French courses for £209.  Admittedly, although they’re exciting, attractive and glamorous, neither city is known for its affordability. That said, if you go out of the peak tourist season and research your accommodation options carefully, they can still be viable options.

The Victor Hugo school in Paris enjoys a great location close to the Champs Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. It’s situated in a really attractive and central area, but one of the school’s main attractions lies with its lovely team of teachers and staff, who are really approachable and who organise a fantastic (and affordable) programme of activities for students.

Accommodation can be arranged for you with a local host family, or in a student residence if you prefer a little more independence. image

The City Centre school in Nice is located close to the train station, and just a 15 minute walk from the famous Promenade des Anglais and distinctive blue sea.  It offers students a great range of facilities, and classes with a good mix of nationalities to ensure that French is spoken at all times.

Accommodation options for students in Nice include a room in an apart hotel, which is handy for low-cost self-catering, a room in a student residence, or lodgings with a local host family.

Find out more on the General French courses in Nice (City Centre) and Paris (Victor Hugo)

For full details of Cactus’ French courses and prices in France, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland, Guadeloupe and Canada please visit the Cactus Language site.

*Please note that prices were accurate at the time of writing but may change as a result of currency fluctuations.

Great value German courses abroad

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There are many locations in Europe where you can take a German language course, some being more expensive than others. Of course, when planning your trip, you need to research the general cost of living in the city you’re considering, along with accommodation costs, but the following three courses currently offer the best value for money in terms of course fees for a general one-week course.

1. Hamburg (£75/$120)

Located right in the very north of Germany, Hamburg is a large port city with an interesting history and a vibrant nightlife. It is a university city, and as such is home to thousands of students and plenty of activities to cater for them. Aesthetically, Hamburg has shed the industrial image that it had for so long, and is now home to fashionable waterfront areas, vast green urban spaces and beautiful architecture. It also has a myriad of quaint canals and, in fact, six times more bridges than Venice!

Hamburg is well connected internationally, with an airport that is well served by a range of airlines, including low cost carriers such as Easy Jet and German Wings.

Cactus works with two schools in Hamburg, both offering good value courses, but the most affordable is offered by the centrally located school. The General German course there, which includes 10 lessons per week, currently costs just £75. Accommodation options include lodgings with a host family, a room in a shared apartment and a room in a student residence.

More about the General German course in Hamburg

2. Cologne Rudolfplatz (£109/$170) image

Cologne, or Köln as it’s known in German, is Germany’s fourth largest city. Cologne is a very multicultural city, and attracts thousands of visitors each year, who come to enjoy the wide range of museums, fine art collections and great architecture. One of Cologne’s most famous buildings and tourist attractions is its stunning Dom (cathedral), which dominates the skyline of the pretty old town – an area full of traditional bierkellers and lively bars and restaurants.

Like Hamburg, Cologne enjoys fantastic transport links both domestically and internationally, and is really easily, and affordably reached.

The school located close to lively Rudolfplatz in Cologne offers great value General German course (20 lessons per week) and a range of accommodation options that include staying with a host family, in a shared apartment or, cheapest of all, in a youth hostel.

More about the General German course at the Cologne Rudolfplatz school

3. Berlin Campus (£159/$254) image

After more than 20 years as united Germany’s capital, Berlin has become one of Europe’s most exciting and eclectic cities. Whilst Berlin was always a place with historical and political significance, its label as both a fashionable and forward-thinking city are relatively new. These days, Berlin’s art, culture, music, entertainment and restaurant scenes are considered second to none, and their popularity and recognition show no signs of dwindling.

Cactus works with several schools in Berlin, all offering good value and a good variety of courses. The most affordable currently, though, is the General German course (20 lessons per week) offered by the Berlin Campus school, located on Kastanienallee, close to Alexanderplatz. Accommodation options include a room in a shared apartment, a room in a student residence, or lodgings with a host family for optimum cultural immersion.

More about the General German course at the Berlin campus school

For full details of Cactus’ German courses and prices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, please visit the Cactus Language site.

*Please note that prices were accurate at the time of writing but may change as a result of currency fluctuations.

Palm Beach Post - 22 August 2011

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Seasoned travelers know that one of the best ways to get to know a country and its people is to learn the local language. In Europe many people are poly-lingual because it is so easy to cross borders from one country to the next. A trip, comparable to driving from Florida to New York, in Europe could cross a half dozen borders.

Most of us muddle along with high school and/or college language courses that are only good for speaking to the teacher and other students. Cactus Language Training offers the opportunity for immersion lessons that should give students a terrific grounding in speaking and understanding other languages.

There is the opportunity to learn Spanish in Columbia at a school on the banks of the Amazon River; study German in the low-key, untouristy town of Lindau in the shade of the magnificent Alps; or study Russian in Kiev.

The courses are amazingly affordable and begin at $123 per person, sans transportation and accommodations.

For information https://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/us or call 1-888-577-8451.

https://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/travelsmart/2011/08/22/vacation-ideas-from-a-cruise-to-renting-your-own-island/

5 top locations to learn Italian this autumn

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Here’s our pick of the best places to learn Italian this autumn…

1. Bologna

‘La Dotta, la Grassa, la Rossa’ is apt description for this lively city in Italy’s north-east. So called for its academic tradition, culinary excellence and ubiquitous red-brick roofs, Bologna is a great spot for students, food lovers and those wanting to soak up Italian culture in beautiful surroundings. Join the Italians in what they do best with an Italian, Cooking & Wine course.

Italian courses in Bologna, Italy

2. Palermo

Sicily’s capital city is ideal for those seeking some autumn sunshine with a good dose of culture thrown in. A cradle of ancient civilisations and crossroads of cultures between East and West, Palermo is also a great place to sample Sicily’s sumptuous cuisine – a delicious blend of Arab, Greek and Italian dishes with simple, natural ingredients such as fish and meat. And we’re not even going to mention the sweet stuff – irrestible, even when you know you’ve got to squeeze into that bikini later…

Italian courses in Palermo, Italy

3. Rome

Italy’s famous and historic capital city is a natural hub for tourists and students, and it’s easy to see why. The Eternal City, as it is known, is legendary, captivating and beautiful. It’s deserving of far more than a city break – if you’re serious about learning Italian, Rome makes a magnificent base.

Italian courses in Rome, Italy

4. Tropea

If it’s good enough for the Italians, it’s good enough for us. A much-loved summer location for holidaying Italians, Tropea is a pretty little town perched 42m above the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea in the southern region of Calabria. Come autumn, when the crowds have gone, you can pick your spot on the beach, find a seat in a cosy trattoria and enjoy it for what it should be.

Italian courses in Tropea, Italy

5. Florence

Much as we try to vary our recommendations, Florence often manages to squeeze its way in, and with reason. An Aladdin’s cave of basilicas, frescoes, piazzas and palazzos, set in rolling Tuscan countryside, this is Italy on a postcard. You can spend hours exploring the city’s museums, churches and restaurants, but the great thing is you can also easily visit medieval Siena, less than an hour and a half away, and Tuscany’s charming villages and vineyards.

Italian courses in Florence, Italy

Cactus offers Italian courses in over 20 locations across Italy, as well as evening language courses in Italian in both the UK and the US & Canada.

Cactus sponsors the Italian Language School of the Year Award at the 2011 LTM Star Awards

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Cactus was established over ten years ago, and since then has established a wide range of trusted school partnerships, many of which are in Italy.

Currently, we work with partner schools in twenty locations around Italy and its islands. This allows our customers a variety of course types, and of destinations, and ensures we have options for all tastes. From large cities and cultural centres like Rome, Venice and Florence, to seaside favourites like Alghero, Viareggio and Tamorina, there is something for everyone.

We send hundreds of students each year to learn Italian in Italy, and have always enjoyed working with our Italian partners. Italian people have a reputation for being very friendly and welcoming, and we have always found that to be the case, both from our student feedback and from our personal experiences of working with, and visiting, our partners in Italy.

We are proud to be sponsoring the award for Italian Language School of the Year, and wish all of the nominees the best of luck!

Find out more on Cactus’ Italian course locations

Where can I learn Spanish in Cuba?

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Despite being modest in size, Cuba is one of the best-known and most unique countries in the world. Its singularity is certainly part of its appeal as a tourist destination, although the huge sense of history, the great vibrancy of the culture, and, of course, those sparkling Caribbean waters may also have something to do with it…

Currently, Cactus offers Spanish courses in three destinations within Cuba – Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad.

Havana

The capital city of Cuba, Havana is a little piece of history in its own right. The world heritage tag that it has earned may be difficult to grasp as you wander the streets beneath the crumbling pastel façades, but there’s no doubt that you’re somewhere from a bygone era. Havana is aesthetically very different from other capital cities and also has a unique mix of sounds and smells that will leave you in doubt about where you are. There is also an overriding sense of authenticity that it can be so hard to find in tourist destinations these days.

More on Spanish courses in Havana

Santiago de Cuba

Lying on the eastern Caribbean shore of Cuba in an attractive bay, with the Sierra Maestra mountains in the distance, Santiago de Cuba is the island’s second largest city and a vibrant cultural capital in its own right.  It’s probably best known as the place from where Fidel Castro and Che Guevara began planning their revolutionary attacks in the early 1950s, but ‘la ciudad héroe’ as it’s also called has plenty of other things that make it worthy of a visit.

Situated closer to Haiti and the Dominican Republic than Havana, Santiago’s influences have come as much from the east as they have from the west, and this has, in turn, created a very distinct identity.

More on Spanish courses in Santiago de Cuba

Trinidad image

Declared a World Heritage site in 1988, Trinidad’s perfectly preserved churches and monuments, and attractive cobbled streets make it a lovely place to visit or study. It’s pretty, compact and known for being extremely welcoming of tourists. Add to that the beautiful natural setting, in between the Sierra del Escambray and the Caribbean, and the deliciously laid back way of life, and it’s likely you’ll never want to leave.

More on Spanish courses in Trinidad

French courses in Paris – how to choose your school

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Below is some further information on the location, course offerings and special features of each school to help you decide which one to go for.

Grand Boulevards School

The Grand Boulevards school is the largest of our four Parisien schools and is popular with all kinds of people, from more business minded students to younger ones as well –it’s a great ‘all rounder’ and can cater for all requirements.

• Location: The school is on Boulevard Poissonière, just a few minutes from the Louvre, Opéra and not far from the Centre Pompidou. It’s a great option for anyone who wants to be right in the centre of Paris, within easy access of all the main sights and attractions.

• School building and facilities: Classes take place in a newly converted typical Parisian building, where there are 18 sunny and spacious classrooms, an executive area, a cybercafe (with computers and Internet access) and a further cafe with vending machines.

• French Courses offered: General French (26 lessons per week), Individual French (10 lessons per week), Combined French (20 group & 5 individual lessons per week), Intensive French (30 lessons per week), Secondary Teachers refresher French (24 lessons per week), French & Law (1 week 30 lessons).

• Accommodation options: Students can choose between a range of host family options and student residence accommodation.

French courses at the Grand Boulevards school

Montmartre School image

This school offers a range of mini-group courses, which means that it’s a great choice for students who are looking for intensive French learning. The average age of students at this school tends to be a little higher, so it’s good choice for any mature students especially.

• Location: The school is located in the north of Paris, on Villa Ballu. The closest metro station is Place de Clichy, and it’s near to Paris’ famous Montmartre area and the Moulin Rouge. Central Paris and its array of attractions are only a short metro ride away.

• School building and facilities: The school occupies an attractive 19th Century mansion house within calm and leafy surroundings. The building has light and spacious classrooms over two floors, along with a café, adjoining terrace, study room with materials and free internet access.

• French Courses offered: Individual French (15 lessons per week), Combined French (15 group & 5 individual lessons per week), Mini-Group and Civilisation French Course (15 lessons + 4 hours civilisation/excursion), Mini-Group Business French (25 lessons per week), Teacher Refresher French (15 Hours General French in Mini), Intensive Saturday French (7 hours including lunch), Mini-Group General French (15 lessons per week) and Mini-Group Intensive French (30 lessons per week).

• Accommodation options: Students can choose between executive and standard host family accommodation options, on either a breakfast or half-board basis.

French courses at the Montmartre school

Victor Hugo School image

The Victor Hugo school offers a really friendly atmosphere with lots of enthusiastic and approachable staff. Students are offered a particulary good activity programme to take part in, if they wish.

• Location: The school enjoys a very central location on rue de Sfax, close to the both the Champs Elysées and the Eiffel tower. It’s a really pretty area with lots of elegant streets and buildings.

•School building and facilities: The school itself is a traditional Parisian building with large windows and high ceilings. There is also an annexe just a few minutes away with some further classrooms and the library and a multimedia learning room.

•French Courses offered: General French (20 lessons per week), Individual French (10 lessons per week), Combined French (20 group & 5 individual lessons per week), Intensive French (30 lessons per week).

• Accommodation options: Students can choose between a range of host family options and student residence accommodation.

French courses at the Victor Hugo school

Père Lachaise School

image

This school offers particularly good value for money as it is located in a less expensive area of Paris. It’s particularly well-suited to students who want to experience the real Paris, away from the famous landmarks and the tourists in the very centre of the city.

• Location: The Père Lachaise school is located in Paris’11th arrondissement, 2 minutes from the Père Lachaise cemetery and 10 minutes from the trendy and vibrant Bastille area. It’s also a short metro ride from the Opera, the Champs Elysées and the Latin Quarter.

• School building and facilities: The school occupies an old mansion, which provides a comfortable and tranquil learning environment. Included in the building are 12 large classrooms, a conference room, a language laboratory, a multimedia centre, a library, a cafeteria and a charming courtyard to relax in.

• French Courses offered: General French (20 lessons per week), Individual French (20 lessons per week), Combined French (20 group & 5 individual lessons per week).

• Accommodation options: Students can choose between a range of host family options, student residence accommodation and a room in an apartment (self-catering).

French courses at the Père Lachaise school

A winter wonderland…on the beautiful island of Sicily!

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My language holiday in Sicily has provided me a new definition for the word ‘winter’. It would seem a winter wonderland doesn’t necessarily need to be snow-covered rolling hills, woolly hats and reindeer.  Not that we have reindeer in the UK, but you see where I am going with this…

Although I only had one week for my trip, I wanted to make the most of it. I decided to fly to Palermo as Ryanair were offering some outrageously competitive ticket fares (another advantage of winter!).  Palermo is the capital of the island, not often considered the most beautiful city but worth a visit none the less. It was my mission for my two-day stop over to explore and discover for myself what this city had to offer.

A basic hotel about a 10 minute walk from the main bus and train station was perfect and offered more than enough luxury as I spent very little time there. There are of course many hotels around for a variety of budgets. I however had bigger, rounder and more tomato-sauce-covered plans for my budget: PIZZA!  Having never set foot in Italy before, I felt it was my prerogative to sample the local cuisine. I needn’t comment so much on this as the food throughout the entire trip was phenomenal!

Next stop Taormina; a city famous for medieval beauty, stunning views over Mount Etna, and sensational sunsets worthy of a proposal every evening. Just 4 and a half hours by bus to Catania and a 45 minute bus journey from there, I’d arrived.

imageI shall refrain from excessively commenting on this extremely pretty town and hop straight to the reason behind my visit (besides the warm sunshine in December) – the Italian language school where I would spend the remainder of my week. I must mention another advantage of this winter time escapade: as there are fewer people roaming the streets it is a lot more peaceful than the summer months. I felt calm and relaxed and free to explore without bumping into another tourist.

imageThe school is located right in the heart of the town and just down the street from a very impressive and well-preserved Greek Theatre. Down some orange-tree-lined steps and through a wall you will find the school which exploits a renovated villa to stage its Italian classes. The large patio and garden which was once public is now a sanctuary, a botanical and exotic wilderness of citrus trees, plants and flowers that presents the perfect backdrop for learning the very romantic language.

The school organises town tours, trips to the beach, visits to the Greek theatre, lectures in the gardens, cookery lessons and a whole array of other activities in which to lose yourself. One week was most certainly not enough time to explore this place. I did manage a day visit to the ancient Greek founded town of Syracuse in the south of the island. This city houses a great variety of UNESCO protected, ancient and awe-inspiring monuments which I consider ‘must-sees’.

A reasonably long bus journey brought me back to Palermo for my return flight to London, were I have been raving about this Island of Sicily ever since!

imageNB. Please note that my route to Palermo was not conventional and did take a very long time. Although the bus journeys presented the opportunity to see much more of the island, it is not advised if you are limited by time. It is possible to fly to Catania where the school in Taormina can arrange a short transfer to the school.

Cactus runs Italian language courses in both Taormina and Palermo in Sicily, and in many other locations across Italy.

Those wishing to learn some of the language before they head to Italy may want to consider an evening or part-time course in Italian in the UK or the US/Canada.

Fiesta, Fiesta!

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Spain is often hailed as the party capital of the world – with its laid back lifestyle, vibrant traditions and customs, and the endless energy and enthusiasm of its people it’s not hard to see why…

The summer is home to many a festival and event, including both the weird and the wonderful, but the pick of the bunch this August include:

1. The Tomatina festival, Buñol

Held in Buñol, a small village near Valencia, the Tomatina festival happens every year on the last Wednesday in August. As the name suggests, the main focus of the event is a giant tomato fight that lasts just over an hour.

The most plausible explanation of the origins of La Tomatina centres around a carnival procession in 1945 in the town square of Buñol. It is said that many of the town’s young people tried to join those at the head of the procession and in their haste someone fell. This sparked a mass brawl which culminated in the use of an open crate of tomatoes (which lay close by) as objects for catapult!

The festival attracts around 20,000 visitors each year.

2. Horse racing on the beach at Sanlucar de Barrameda, Andalucia

Every year the beaches of Sanlucar de Barameda play host to this famous horse racing event, which attracts people from far and wide. It officially dates back to the year 1845 when the the Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos de Sanlucar de Barrameda was formed. However, it is widely maintained that the event had been in existence for years – amongst locals who raced the horses used for transporting fish from local ports.

Now the Sanlucar de Barrameda races attract riders from all over Europe, hardly surprising given that the total prize monies are usually between 2 and 3 million Euros!

3. Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca, Vitoria, Basque Country

Held in Vitoria-Gasteiz, this six-day festival August is a non-stop party that encapsulates the whole (normally tranquil!) town.

Included in the festivities are music concerts, processions, street performers, dancing, and bullfights.

The fiesta officially begins when the mayor fires el chupinazo (“the bang”, using rocket fireworks). This signals the release of Celedón, an effigy holding an umbrella, which descends on wires from a church tower high above the main square, Plaza de la Virgen Blanca.

4. New Year’s Eve in August, Bérchules, Granada

On the first Saturday of every August something somewhat out of the ordinary happens in Berchules, a small Andalucian village in the province of Granada.

After the locals decided they did not want a repeat of a disappointing New Year’s Eve in 1994 (when a power cut left the entire village in the dark and unable to mark the countdown to midnight) they decided to move that year’s celebration to the beginning of August, and have been celebrating two New Year’s Eves ever since.

For maximum authenticity the village is decked out in all the normal festive paraphernalia inlcuding nativity scenes, decorated trees and fairy lights.

The celebrations take place throughout the day, when the village’s inhabitants are joined by thousands of visitors for the New Year’s Eve fireworks, the procession of the Three Kings, and thousands of kilos of grapes.

5. Semana Grande or Aste Nagusia, Bilbao

Bilbao celebrates its Basque heritage with this fiesta in the third week of August. Over 100,000 people attend the Bilbao Semana Grande (Big Week or Aste Nagusia) celebrations, which include firework displays hosted by a different nation each evening.

Music is an integral part of the celebrations and there are free live performances on stages in squares and churches throughout the city.

The festival runs right through the night for nine days, when the streets are lined with marquees from various bars and societies.

More about language courses in Spain

Lingu@net World Wide online resource centre launched

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The new online resource centre is being developed by 34 organisations from 25 different European countries, and is receiving financial support from the European Commission Lifelong Learning Project. It gives multilingual access to over 3,500 catalogued online resources, many of them specifically for learners.

Learners can access the whole site in: Arabic, Basque, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.

Visit the Lingu@net World Wide website