Top 5 winter getaways in Europe

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There may be a specific language that you’d like to practise, or learn, in which case which country you choose to go to will be straightforward.

If your travel plans are purely leisure-based though, where you choose will depend on whether you’re looking for sun or snow, and (if you’re planning a trip in November or December) whether you want some festive cheer, or to avoid the chaos of Christmas!

Whatever the case, here are some recommendations for some great winter travel destinations this year.

1. Heidelberg, Germany

For anyone who embraces all things Christmas, and who pines for those festive childhood Decembers, Heidelberg is a fantastic place to go to during November and December. With its fairytale castle, beautiful setting and pretty old town, there’s no better place to take in some Christmas markets and soak up a bit of festive cheer…and gluhwein! If you’re lucky you might even get some snowfall – not unusual for this part of Germany in the run up to Christmas.

Cactus offers a range of German courses in Heidelberg, with several options for accommodation.

2. Tenerife, Canary Islands image

Anyone who hates the cold and whose sole requirement from a winter trip is that it takes them somewhere hot will find that Tenerife is a great option. With average temperatures in November and December of around 15 degrees centigrade, and plenty of sunshine to enjoy, it’ll provide a very welcome respite from the grey days and frosty mornings. Tenerife is really well served by low-cost airlines, and budget accommodation is easy to find too, which means that it’s also a good destination for anyone who needs to travel on a shoestring.

Although Christmas is obviously celebrated in Tenerife, the different climate and environment will clearly remove you from the usual Christmas clichés that you are bombarded with in mainland Europe, which may be a welcome break for many!

Cactus offers Spanish courses in the town on Puerto de la Cruz in a school just 2 minutes walk from the beach.

3. Turin, Italy image

Turin hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006, which gives some indication of its first-class sporting and entertainment options at this time of year. Obviously, it’s a great destination for ski and snowboard enthusiasts, but it offers a really festive atmosphere in general. The lively Turin Christmas Market is held every year in the piazzas and gardens of Borgo Dora, within the Maglio and Ciliegi courtyards. Market stalls open every day, with music, theatre and activities for children too.

Currently, students can choose between General, Individual and Combined Italian courses in Turin. Also on offer is a specialist Italian and Tango dancing course.

4. Lyon, France image

As France’s gastronomic capital, Lyon is a great place to visit at any time of year. If you visit around 8th December though, you’ll experience the awesome Fête des Lumières (festival of light), when every household places candles along the outsides of all the windows and Lyon’s finest buildings are illuminated with fantastic lights, shows and music.  Lyon is also tantalisingly close to the slopes of the French Alps, which makes spending a few days skiing easy to incorporate into your trip.

Currently, General, Individual and Intensive French courses are available at a range of levels in Lyon.

5. Vienna, Austria image

When it comes to crisp winter mornings and cosy cafes where you can shelter from the cold, Vienna is hard to beat. Largely because of what you’ll find in those cosy cafes! Vienna’s reputation as coffee and cake capital is richly deserved, and you’re eyes will most certainly be bigger than your belly when you select your slabs of gateau from the cabinet. If you can ever coax yourself out of the warm cake-havens though, you’ll be in for even more treats – Vienna’s architecture and history is amazing at the best of times, but when Christmas decorations are all around and you have ice rinks and Christmas markets to enjoy, Vienna will rapidly become your new favourite place.

German courses available in Vienna include General, Individual, Combined and Intensive courses. Also offered are Academic Year courses, Teacher Refresher courses, Juniors courses and German and Music courses.

10 facts about Tours

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Here are ten facts about Tours that will hopefully inspire you to take a visit:

1. Tours is the largest city in the Centre region of France, although it is not the regional capital, which is the second-largest city – Orléans.

2. It is known as the “Garden of France (“Le Jardin de la France”) because of the many parks located within the city, and is also famous for its Vouvray wine and chateaux.

3. In 1870 and 1940, the French government was based in Tours.

4. The inhabitants of Tours (Les Tourangeaux) are renowned for speaking the “purest” form of French in the whole country. It is said that the French spoken here has the most standard pronunciation – there is no real accent.

5. In the garden of the ancient Palais des Archevêques (now Musée des Beaux-Arts), there is a large cedar tree that was planted by Napoleon Boneparte.

6. Tours is famous for its original medieval district, called le Vieux Tours. Its preserved half-timbered buildings are considered quite unique to the city.

7. One of the most famous historical figures assocaited with the city is Saint Martin, a bishop who, according to legend, shared his coat with a naked beggar in Amiens. This incident and the ensuing fame of Martin in medieval times made Tours, and its position on the route of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, a major centre during the Middle Ages.

8. The buildings of Tours are white with blue slate (called Ardoise) roofs; this style is common in the north of France.

9. The city was greatly affected by the First World War. It became a major base for American soldiers, and the American presence is remembered today by the Woodrow Wilson bridge over the Loire.

10. Tours is home to François Rabelais University, which hosts one of the most important international choral competitions that there is – Florilège Vocal de Tours International Choir Competition.

Cactus offers French courses in locations across France.

What is a teacher refresher course?

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Although most modern language teachers would love to go abroad regularly and practise their skills in an authentic setting, for the majority this is unfortunately not possible.

A great alternative though, can be a to set aside a designated week or two per year that not only allows them to practise their language skills and familiarise themselves with the latest cultural trends, but to update their language awareness and/or knowledge of latest teaching materials and methodology in a classroom setting. 

Generally, teacher refresher courses are offered by large, well-established language schools that have the resource and expertise available to provide specialist courses like these. The courses are usually available for both primary and secondary school teachers, although the focus for these two types of teacher may differ slightly. Whereas primary teachers tend to need to improve existing language skills (some primary school teachers are expected to teach languages despite not necessarily having any language skills themselves), secondary teachers normally need language tuition at a more advanced level that usually also includes sessions on materials, methodology and sharing best practice.

Normally, the courses are offered over a two week period, although some schools in Spain (Granada, Malaga, Nerja and Valencia) offer them on a one-week basis too.

The cost of the courses can vary from centre to centre, although somewhere between £550 and £800 seems to be about standard for tuition on a 2-week course. The good news though, is that funding for these courses is available via the European Comenius Grant Scheme, for which Cactus is an approved provider. If you want to apply for funding, we can pass your details on to experts who can help you through the process.

Currently, Cactus offers Teacher Refresher courses in French, German and Spanish. Courses are available in locations across France, Germany, Austria and Spain, and full details can be found on the Cactus Language website.

Learn Spanish in Panama next April and enjoy the 2012 ISA World Junior Surfing Competition

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The decision to host the 2012 ISA World Junior Surfing competition is great or Panama, and certainly reflects the growing popularity of the country as a top surf destination. Panama has consistent waves all year long, both along the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, and the tropical climate and friendly people make it a perfect destination for this renowned surfing event, which will take place between 14th and 22nd April.

Taking a Spanish course in Panama during the competition will be really exciting, and may even inspire you to try your hand (or feet in this case!) at a spot of surfing yourself.

Currently, Cactus offers Spanish courses at a variety of levels in Panama City and Boquete.

Visit San Sebastian this November and feast on the delights of Gastronokima

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November 2011 will see the 13th Gastronomika in San Sebastian, and anyone who manages to coincide taking a Spanish course in the city at this time of year will be very lucky indeed. 

The event is attended by some of the world’s top chefs, and includes discussions and demonstrations throughout the three days (20th-23rd November in 2011). The convention focuses on new, evolving and diverse gastronomies from all over the world, although there are also sections dedicated to wines, dining and the hospitality trade. Although the events attracts many industry professionals, it is also open to the general public, who flock in large numbers to enjoy the tastings and demonstrations.

Going to San Sebastian during the Gastronomika would definitely be fantastic, but fear not – if you cant make it at this time of year, you can still enjoy top-class food whenever you go. Aside from the many Michelin-starred establishments, which may be somewhat over-budget, San Sebastian is renowned for its many tapas – or pintxos as they are known here – bars (pictured), which will provide you with some delicious local fare that could arguably rival what any Michelin-starred restaurant could offer.

Cactus offers a range of Spanish courses in San Sebastian, including General Spanish, Individual Spanish, Combined Spanish, Intensive Spanish, Mini-Group Spanish, Juniors Spanish, Exam Preparation Spanish and Spanish and Surfing. Please visit the Cactus Language website for full details or to book a course.

Cactus named agent of the month by prestigious German partner school

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Cactus has worked with GLS since 1999, soon after we first began. GLS is one of our largest partner schools, and attracts students from all over the world – as such they work with a wide range of agents. We have always enjoyed working with the team there, who have always delivered excellent customer service. We also consider the courses and accomodation offered by the school to be first-class. The partner school, labelled ‘Berlin Campus School’ on our website, benefits from some fantastic facilities that include 40 classrooms, two guesthouses and a restaurant. It is the only centre in Germany which has a campus that is open all year round.

Head of Groups at Cactus, Alex Wolfson, has stayed at GLS two times, and in his opinion, it is one of the best schools we work with in the whole world! We have sent scores of students to learn there over the years, and feedback has included comments such as,

“Excellent facilities, great tourist activities every day- well organised. Berlin was fantastic- what a great city. I loved the course too. It was well structured and organised. I met some great people there from all over the world. ( Eric DeWitt, August 2011) “

“I chose Cactus because i knew them from their good reputation. The German classes were excellent and I really appreciated the fact that it was very easy to combine the studies and the fun. I had a lot of fun in the fantastic city that Berlin is! (Tiziana Missana, October 2009)”.

German courses currently available at the Berlin Campus School include General German, Individual German, Intensive German, Young Adult Programme and General German and Work Experience. For full details, including start dates and prices, please visit the Cactus Language website.

10 great contemporary Spanish films to watch

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Here we give you our top 10 Spanish films of recent times – but would be interested to hear your suggestions too!

1. Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) – 1993

Adapted from the novel by Mexican author Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate tells the story of Tita who, when forced to look after her mother rather than be with her true love Pedro, pours all her emotion into her cooking, affecting all those who unwittingly eat her delicately-prepared dishes. Set during the Mexican Revolution with family feuds and strong passions a central theme, this film is a visual and thematic delight, a true feast for the senses. Until the release of Pan’s Labyrinth, it was the best selling Spanish-language film of all time.

2. El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth) – 2006

Early in 2007 the Mexican fantasy film Pan’s Labyrinth became the most successful Spanish-language film of all time in the US. Rich in visuals, the film takes place in the fascist Spain of 1944 and tells the story of a young girl who is sent to live with her cruel stepfather, a captain of the Spanish Army. Fascinated with fairy tales, she escapes one night into an eerie yet captivating world which plays out as part fantasy, part historical drama and part family melodrama. As much as the film astounds, the costumes, set design and special effects are just as breathtaking. In all a compelling and truly original Spanish-language movie.

3. Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too) – 2001

Arguably the film that launched Latin actor Gael García Bernal’s career, Y Tu Mamá También is a coming-of-age story about two teenage boys setting off on a road trip with an attractive older woman who is escaping her marriage. Set in Mexico in 2001, the film draws attention to the country’s then economic and political issues, in particular the situation of the poor in rural Mexico. It was received with a certain amount of controversy due to its sexual content yet it went on to gain nominations for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards and Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes.

4. El Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) – 2004

Javier Bardem is perfectly cast in this true-life story of Spanish quadriplegic Ramón Sampedro, who fought an emotional 30-year campaign to end his life with dignity. A film that leaves you thinking about it for some while after, The Sea Inside touches on weighty moral issues such as the desire to end one’s life and the legal issues that surround euthanasia. Yet Ramón has an incredible gift of love, and through this he inspires the people around him to appreciate the precious nature of life and accomplish things they never thought possible.  I personally cannot recommend this film highly enough.

5. All About My Mother (Todo Sobre Mi Madre) – 1999

Since the early 1980s, Spanish director Almodóvar has been hugely influential in world cinema, no more so than with his 1999 masterpiece Todo Sobre Mi Madre. An emotional tale of grief, love and friendship, this film follows single mother Manuela who, after her son is run over and killed, heads for Barcelona in search of his father, developing a number of rich relationships along the way. All About My Mother won Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes, as well as countless other awards for direction, costume, acting and more.

6. María, Llena Eres de Gracia (Maria Full of Grace) – 2004

Even knowing what this film was about before I saw it, Maria Full of Grace shocked me as I’m sure it well intended to. Released in 2004, it tells the story of a 17-year-old Colombian girl, María, who becomes a drug mule, dangerously transporting illicit drugs into the United States in her digestive system. With plenty of scope to sensationalise drugs trafficking and the violence that goes with it, this film is actually very much underplayed, yet the fear felt by María and the reasons that have driven her to risk her life doing this are palpable. Compelling in the uncertainty of how it will end, shocking in its honesty and somber in the reality it portrays, Maria Full of Grace is one of the best Spanish-language films of the last decade.

7. Abre los Ojos (Open your eyes) – 2000

Another masterpiece of Amenábar (who also directed Mar Adentro), Abre los Ojos is the original and, in many people’s opinion, far superior version of the Hollywood film Vanilla Sky. Starring Penelope Cruz and Eduardo Noriega, this film follows a handsome and wealthy man who meets the love of his life and then finds himself severely disfigured following a car crash. With subtle effects, engaging music and clever twists, Abre los Ojos is both an ingenious thriller and a compelling love story that keeps you hooked til the very end. 

8. Diarios de Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) – 2004

This is the daring and sensitive dramatisation of 23-year-old Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara’s motorcycle trip through South America in 1952 with his friend Alberto. Riding from Argentina up to Venezuela, the pair discover much about the world and themselves, forming rich relationships with the people they meet, breaking down barriers and highlighting the continent’s inequality and poverty along the way. Gael Garcia Bernal gives a thoughtful and striking performance as the young Che, a fascinating character who has since had significant influence across Latin America as a whole.

9. Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate) – 1994

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, this Cuban film explores the treatment of gays in Cuba in the early days of Castro’s regime. Diego, an educated and homosexual young man, falls in love with a young heterosexual communist, and what grows from this is a story of great friendship and love that manages to triumph over intolerance and misunderstanding. In addition to this, the film is a valuable insight into Cuban life: it is littered with references to famous Cuban writers and musicians and touches on Cuban history, politics and everyday life. Less a ‘gay’ film, it is more about accepting differences and learning to appreciate other points of view and ways of life.

10. Amores Perros – 2000

Based in Mexico City, Amores Perros tells the story of a horrific car accident that connects three stories involving characters of very different backgrounds. Together these stories show the darker side of life in contemporary Mexico, and as such the film is very real, complex and thought-provoking. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Amores Perros was the first of Mexican director Alejandro Iñárritu’s ‘trilogy of death’, succeeded by the equally excellent ’21 Grams’ and ‘Babel’.

Did we miss your all-time favourite Spanish-language film from our list? Please add your suggestions by leaving us a comment!

Cactus offers language courses in more than 30 languages, in 60 countries and 500 destinations worldwide.

Language learning – a response to redundancy?

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If you’ve been made redundant, learning a language can both boost morale and enhance your career prospects.

In these times of credit crunch it is a sad fact that most of us know of at least one person who has been made redundant. As companies worldwide rein in their expenditure, job losses are becoming everyday news and unemployment is soaring. It is a bleak outlook for the economy and a worrying future for job seekers.

Though daunting, redundancy can in other ways be looked on as a new start in life. It is a chance to re-evaluate what you do and where you want to go, and in this respect it can also bring with it opportunity and excitement.

One way to fill ‘empty’ time after losing your job is to put your mind to learning something new – not only will a new skill lift you when you most need it, it offers the double whammy of potentially increasing your career prospects too. None more so than learning a language; it has been reiterated over the years that employers are keen to hire people who speak more than one language, and with the job market becoming increasingly competitive it could be your way in where others fall.

As for a acquiring a new language in the first place, it need not be the impossible task it may at first seem. Even basic or conversational language skills can go a long way towards boosting your morale and convincing an employer that you have initiative as well as a potentially valuable skill. Some may even provide further training to develop your knowledge and make full use of your ability. In so doing, the natural knock-on effect of improved communicative and written, reading and listening skills, that come from learning another language, will not go unnoticed.

Of course, if you already have some language knowledge you are a step ahead already. It may be worth brushing up your skills by taking some private language classes, a refresher evening language course or a quick – but effective – week at a language school abroad. Consolidating what you know and feeling those words roll off the tongue again will give you the confidence to sell your skill in interview and use it, perhaps for the first time, as a real work asset.

If your language skills do go on to open doors that may otherwise have been closed, there may be no limit to your career prospects. Relocation abroad within your company becomes a viable option, bringing with it possible promotion and increased salary. Those who have dreamt of a life overseas may well have found their real passport.

Whatever language you decide to learn and to whatever extent, it cannot fail to bring a positive element to your life – on a personal or work level, or both. It is often in hard times that we realise our potential and are able to use this to our advantage for the future – however uncertain that may at times be.

Top 10 FREE things to see and do in Berlin

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Here’s our pick of the top ten free things to do during a visit to the city:

1. Go to see Checkpoint Charlie

When the East and West were divided, Checkpoint Charlie was the name given to the manned crossing point where you could officially pass from one side to the other. Although the wall came down in November 1989, the checkpoint remained an official crossing for foreigners and diplomats until German reunification in October 1990, when the guard house was removed. A copy of the guard house and sign that once marked the border crossing now stands where Checkpoint Charlie once was, and serves as a great indicator of how life was during the Cold War era.

2. Take a stroll around Potsdamer Platz

Lying about one kilometre south of the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz is a public square where the old road from Potsdam passed through the city wall of Berlin at the Potsdam Gate. Throughout the cold war it was left as wasteland, but since reunification, has been extensively re-developed. These days it consists of three developments known as Daimler City or the DaimlerChrysler Areal, the Sony Centre and the Beisheim Centre.

3. Take a free walking tour of Berlin

A great way to learn about Berlin and its history is to join this free tour. It begins at Starbucks Cafe on Unter den Linden and takes in all the sights within the area, including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and more. Start times are 11am, 1pm and 4pm every day.

4. Make the most of ‘free admission Sundays’

On the first Sunday of every month, tourists can take advantage of free admission to all the state museums, including the Pergamon, Alte Nationalgalerie, Altes Museum, Ägyptisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, Neue Nationalgalerie, Sammlung Berggruen, and the Museum for Gegenwart. You’ll have to be prepared for crowds, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to see some of Berlin’s best museums.

5. Visit the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate

Germany’s impressive Parliament building, the Reichstag, is well worth a visit. Entry is free, and you can wander round on your own, as there are no guided tours on offer. Climbing to the top of the glass dome will give you some great views of the city, and the exhibition of black-and-white photos portraying the history of the Reichstag since its birth in 1894 is fascinating. Once you’ve taken a look around the Reichstag, you should head to the nearby Brandenburg Gate and take a photograph of Berlin’s most iconic structure.

6. Walk around the Holocaust Memorial

This might not sound like an especially uplifting thing to do during a visit to Berlin, but the Holocaust Memorial is definitely worth visiting during your stay. Although horrific, the holocaust is nevertheless an important part of recent European history to learn about, and the information centre under the memorial will allow you to do just that. The memorial itself though is worth seeing quite in its own right – opened in May 2005, it occupies a huge site just south of the Brandenburg Gate, and is made up of more than 2,700 giant concrete slabs. It’s a very unique sight to behold and has attracted more than a little controversy over the years. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman, it is intended to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere and represents a ‘supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason’.

7. Take a look around the Volkswagen showroom

Of course, this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but for any car lovers it’s an absolute must. Located on Friedrichstrasse at the corner of Unter den Linden and spread over three floors, the VW showroom contains every type of car under the Volkswagen brand for you to see. In the basement, you can also find information on the developments in space travel which the company has been involved in.

8. Explore the Eastside Gallery

Showcasing 1.3km of undisturbed Berlin Wall, the Eastside Gallery contains more than a hundred pieces of art – all painted directly onto the Wall. The gallery is open-air, so not one for a rainy day, but it’s definitely worth a look.

9. Walk around the Treptower Park

Located in former East Berlin, this massive park’s central area is dominated by the huge 1949 Soviet Memorial. Treptower Park’s burial ground is said to contain the remains of five thousand soldiers who died in the Battle of Berlin, and is lined by marble sculptures depicting scenes from the war.

Berlin actually has a lot of parks and green areas to enjoy, all of which are free.

10. Head out to the Berlin hinterland

Admittedly, this may cost you a small train or bus fare, but once you arrive at the hinterland you can enjoy all that nature has to offer for free. Consisting of forests, lakes and beaches, the hinterland has long been popular with city dwellers who want to soak up some country air and enjoy the Great Outdoors.

Currently, Cactus works with two German schools in Berlin, each offering a range of courses at a variety of levels. Included in the course offerings are General, Intensive and Individual German, and the more specialist options of Teacher Refresher courses, Juniors course and Christmas/Advent courses. Find out more on the Cactus Language website.

National Geographic - 15 September 2011

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While simply traveling abroad makes you a more enlightened global citizen, you can deepen the experience through language immersion programs that offer cultural excursions. These four provide a range of activities and stays with local host families. Note: Rates listed below are for a family of four.

France › At Coeur de France, families enjoy the rich medieval history of Sancerre, a village in France’s wine country, without even leaving the school. The 400-year-old La Thaumassière château houses both families and French classes. Parents take either group or individual classes, and children can have one-on-one instruction. In the afternoon, families spend the day in the French countryside, including visits to vineyards, farms to sample goat cheese, and the Loire River for fishing and kayaking. Back at the château, kids learn to make crêpes suzette during hands-on cooking classes. Two-week family packages from $6,385.

Costa Rica › Spanish Abroad‘s location in Tamarindo on the Pacific coast means that after morning language classes, the whole family can enjoy a range of beach activities—surfing lessons, swimming, volleyball, boat rides—in addition to birding and zip-lining tours in the rain forest and visiting the monkey park and aquarium. Families live with a host family or in two-story bungalows grouped around a swimming pool and within walking distance of both the school and the beach. Children should be seven years old to participate. A summer language camp is available for families with children ages five to 12. Two-week program with host family accommodations from $3,225.

China › Cactus Language teaches young adults (and families) Mandarin Chinese classes in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian. Along with morning classes, each school offers a range of afternoon activities, including dumpling-making and calligraphy (in Shanghai), and visits to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square (in Beijing). Weekend day trips include a visit to Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, and the Great Wall of China. Two-week program in Beijing with host family accommodations from $4,140.

https://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/15/family-speaking-in-tongues/