Experience traditional England at its best: the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

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One of the UK’s most traditional sporting events, the Oxford- Cambridge Boat Race dates back to 1829. Today, it has become one of Britain’s major international sporting occasions, and attracts millions of viewers from around the world. On Race Day up to 250,000 spectators crowd the banks of the River Thames from Putney (South West London) to Mortlake (West London) to witness the event.

The idea for the rowing race first came from two friends – Charles Merivale, a Cambridge University student, and his former school friend Charles Wordsworth (the nephew of poet William Wordsworth), who was studying at Oxford.

On 12 March 1829, Cambridge sent a challenge to Oxford and a long-standing tradition was born – every year the loser of the previous year’s race challenges the opposition to a re-match.

Cambridge have won the race 79 times so far, and Oxford on 75 occasions. The current Course Record is also held by Cambridge, which stands at 16 minutes 19 seconds.

Attending the race will give you a great insight into the old-fashioned rivalry between these two hugely prestigious universities. It’s a thoroughly English race that will show you a lot about our culture, and will provide an exciting afternoon’s entertainment!

Find out more on our English language courses in Cambridge, other parts of the UK and Ireland

Top 10 things to do in Genoa

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Genoa is probably best known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, although it has plenty of other things to shout about. One such accolade is its cuisine, which includes both pesto and focaccia – two of Italian cookery’s most popular (and tasty!) exports.

It’s an attractive, historic and interesting city to choose as an Italian study destination, and if you’re lucky enough to spend time there you should do your best to make time for these activities whilst you’re there.

1. Visit the Porto Antico

Genoa is still a thriving port city, but the ‘Porto Antico’ (Ancient Port) has recently been restored into an attractive ‘historic quarter’. Today the harbour is lined with modern sculptures, and some interesting museums, and the old warehouses in the area have been converted into cinema and exhibition centre.

2. Have a look around the Aquarium

After walking around the port, you should definitely head to the Genoa Aquarium (Acquario di Genova). Built by the same architect as the Pompidou Center in Paris, it’s the largest aquarium in Europe, containing 71 tanks and over 500 sea and ocean dwelling species from all over the world.

3. Stroll along the Le Strade Nuove

The ‘new streets’ of Genoa were built during the city’s so-called ‘golden age’ (1528-1630), when some its most powerful families were at the forefront of Europe’s financial scene. They decided to relocate from the Centro Storico and build a ‘new Genoa’ on the hills behind – this resulted in the construction of some amazing buildings which have kept their elegance to this day.

4. Go to the Mercato Orientale image

Held within the walls of an old monastery, the Mercato Orientale is a mouth-watering food market with stall after stall of delicious produce.  You’ll find cheese, meat, bread and succulent fruit and vegetables, and each item has a sign explaining where in Italy it’s from. A great way to practise your Italian is to get advice from the vendors on how best to cook the food – they’re expert on the subject and will be more than happy to tell you.

5. Visit La Lanterna – Genoa’s best known landmark

A symbol of Genoa for centuries, La Lanterna (lighthouse) offers visitors an impressive view over the port and bay. Its light is visible from more than 50km away. Built on a rock of 40 metres of height, the top of the Lanterna stands at 117 metres above the sea level – visitors can climb 172 steps to the first terrace, which is 76 metres above sea level…still not for the faint hearted!

6. Get a great view of Genoa from Castelletto

Genoa is well known for its hills, and for another breathtaking view of the city, and to save your legs, take a lift up to Castelletto, a district perched right over the rooftops of the old part of the city.

7. Visit one of Genoa’s many ‘Palazzi’

There are lots of palaces with impressive gardens in Genoa, but the street with the most has to be pedestrianised Via Garibaldi. Amongst those now open to the public is the Palazzo Doria Tursi, which is now the town hall. 

8. See Christopher Columbus’ house

To see the former dwelling of world famous explorer Christopher Columbus you need to head to medieval Porta Soprana. The small ‘Casa di Cristoforo Colombo’ is supposedly where the explorer spent his youth, although it was heavily reconstructed during the 18th century. Today, the house is furnished in a style which is in keeping with Christopher Colombus’ childhood years.

9. Take a tour of Cattedrale di San Lorenzo

Genoa cathedral’s distinctive black-and-white striped façade makes it easily recognisable. Inside is the Cappella del San Giovanni Battista, a chapel that is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is said to contain the saint’s relics. Remarkably, a bomb was dropped on the cathedral in the Second World War but failed to detonate, leaving it in tact for visitors to enjoy today.

10. Take a day/overnight trip to the Cinque Terre image

Jump on the train south for an hour and a half and you’ll find yourself in the midst of the beautiful Cinque Terre – five hillside villages perched on the Ligurian coast. Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are the villages, which, along with the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cactus offers a range of Italian course in Genoa, including General Italian, Individual Italian, Combined Italian, Business Italian and Italian Language and Culture. For full course listings and to book please visit the Cactus Language website.

French weekend course in London: Cactus staff review

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Although up until now I have taken lessons in several languages, French hasn’t been part of my linguistic portfolio until recently. I learnt some very basics of the language on a beginner course at university but since then I hadn’t really done anything to maintain my French except for some random phrases learnt from my French friends. So when I booked train tickets for a city break in Paris I decided it was time to brush up my skills.

While it is indeed useful to spend time in a country where the language is spoken, taking a course really boosts the learning experience. I was only going to spend three days on the other side of the channel so I didn’t have time to do a course there. Instead I decided to combine my trip to France with a Cactus weekend course as they particularly suit people like me who are heading for a holiday and quickly want to gain results. The timing of the course was also perfect as my city break in Paris took place between the two classes of the course.

Not only did I complete a French Level 3 crash course over two Saturdays and nipped off for a quick trip to Paris but spent time on homework and practicsed with friends as well. After spending some time in a French-speaking environment and completing the course I felt I had learnt quite a lot in a short space of time about both French language and culture. I had taken the Cactus level test a few months earlier and it placed me at a low level 2. After a week of intensive French learning I decided to have another go and got a score equivalent to level 4.

On the first day of my crash course I was terrified of having to speak French as my skills were really sketchy. I had wanted a challenge but when I actually had to open my mouth and produce words and sentences that would actually make sense, I was not too sure anymore. Soon after my uncertain start I realised that I had to take on a new attitude which meant not worrying too much about my broken French but instead allowing myself to make mistakes and learn from them. That was the way to overcome the challenge, and soon I began to feel more comfortable in the class.

We practised speaking quite a lot in class and every time we reached an impasse and were hoping our teacher would give us the translations we needed she advised us to find another way of expressing what we wanted to say. Though it might feel a bit frustrating at first, it is clearly an effective way of learning as you have no way around French other than simply speaking it. Otherwise you just keep translating between languages, rather than learning to think in the language you are attempting to learn.

Three days later I embarked on my journey to Paris. My French immersion experience began immediately as announcements on the train were both in French and English. I tried to take advantage of the French-speaking environment and make my stay in Paris a learning experience. Besides taking in the beauty of Paris I paid attention to the language in every possible situation. I was listening to people around me. I read posters, newspaper headlines, street signs and etiquettes in a supermarket.

Going on a holiday to Paris amid my French classes was definitely beneficial to my language learning. Being able to practise what I had learnt was motivating, and I could see the results. I noticed how similar French is to English in terms of vocabulary and I started noticing patterns in the language. My vocabulary is still limited but clearly my brain had started to decipher the language and I was able to figure out many words with the help of English and Spanish.

While in Paris I decided to interact in French only when making orders in a restaurant, café or going shopping. I recall the sense of achievement when on my first day I managed to buy some tickets for buses and undergrounds. It wasn’t a long dialogue but nevertheless it was the first time I used French in a real-life situation. If such small things could make me so delighted, it was definitely worth making the effort to learn the language. Being able to put my newly acquired language skills into use right away was a truly motivating experience and I am looking forward to taking my French skills further.

Cactus offers weekend ‘crash’ courses in French, German, Italian, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese at our Holbon-Russell Square centre in London. Courses now take place over one weekend, with 5 hours of tuition on Saturday and the same on Sunday.

French course in Brighton: staff review

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Course Coordinator at Cactus Amy King reports back on her 10-week French evening course in Brighton…

Having studied a bit of French at school and then taken lessons alongside my degree course at University, I was eager to continue learning and consolidate my knowledge so as not to let it slip completely from memory. I found a 10-week level 3 French course to be exactly what I needed to help me to revise and refresh my memory.

The teacher, Helene, was very dynamic and had a contagious passion for teaching that couldn’t help but muster enthusiasm from the students, even on evenings when we may be feeling a little weary after a long day.  She encouraged us all to speak a lot during class (jokingly scolding us if she heard too much English!) and gave us a lot of help to perfect our pronunciation.  One of Helene’s strengths as a teacher was that she provided an assortment of learning materials and ensured that there was a lot of variation in what we learnt in class.  Lessons would combine a mixture of speaking, reading and listening exercises, with written work mostly saved for homework.  Helene supplemented the exercises that we worked from in the course book with worksheets that she had created herself and articles that she had found. This, I think, showed her dedication to the class, as when she was reading a French article about Brighton, one of her first thoughts was of her students and copied this article for us all to read.

I was very lucky in that I was in a group with only a small number of students, which made me feel a lot more confident speaking aloud in class.  Having been rather self-conscious at school putting questions forward to the teacher and speaking in front of my peers, I felt very comfortable in this group as all students in the class got along very well.

One of the best parts of the course for me personally was that I was really able to see my development and progression. When recently reading an email that was written in French, I was really pleased to learn that I was able to translate and understand the majority of it.This has really encouraged me to keep learning and to move on to level 4.

Cactus offers a range of evening and part-time language courses all around the UK. Please visit the Language Courses UK website for full listings of languages, locations and to test your level.

German Easter Traditions

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On Good Friday the crosses in churches are covered with cloths, and people have fish-based meals. It is also a time for Spring cleaning and decorating houses with flowers such as crocuses and daffodils, willow and birch branches or wheat sprouts. Decorated eggs are also hung from trees.

On the evening of Easter Saturday, Sunday or Monday in parts of northern Germany they light large bonfires (Osterfeuer), consisting mainly of Christmas trees which have been saved especially for the occasion. This practice dates back to the 16th century at least, and possibly to pre-Christian times, and nowadays the fires symbolise the resurrection of Jesus.They are an opportunity for people to get together, drink beer, eat snacks and play games. In some places candles are lit from the bonfires and carried in solemn procession into churches while people sing Lumen Christi (Light of Christ), while in the town of Lüdge there’s a variation on the bonfire tradition involving rolling huge flaming wheels made of wood and straw down hills.

In ancient times bonfires were thought to banish the darkness and cold of winter and welcome the light and warmth of spring. They were also supposed to increase the fertility of fields and protect households from illness.

Families have a special Easter lunch on Easter Sunday (Ostertag) which includes lamb, chicken, eggs and a lamb-shaped cake. Traditionally the “Easter hare” (Osterhase) – the origin of the Easter bunny – hides eggs and chocolates in gardens for the children to find on Easter Sunday, and children write to the Easter hare with their wishes for Easter.

There are other Easter traditions that are specific to certain regions or cities in Germany too. For example, in parts of northern Germany there’s a tradition, known as Eiertruellen, of rolling or throwing Easter eggs down hills. Children compete with one another to see who can get their egg to the bottom of the hills in one piece! In the Bavarian town of Oberammergau there’s also a famous Easter ‘passion play’ that is based on the life of Jesus. Usually, there are over two thousand participants and the play can last up to seven hours! The tradition dates back to 1870 and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year…

Cactus offers a range of German courses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For full listings and to book please visit www.cactuslanguage.com.

February 21st 2011 – International Mother Language Day

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The aim of the day is to “promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by the peoples of the world” – in other words, to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. It is widely-held view that developing a better awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world will help achieve solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and communication.

The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national languages of the then Pakistan, were killed by police in Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh.

A day-long programme of events will take place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, including talks on bilingual education and new technologies and measuring linguistic diversity on the internet. The day is an ideal opportunity for all types of people and institutes to embrace multiculturalism and multilingualism though…

Please let us know if you have any plans to celebrate International Mother Language Day!

Read more on International Mother Language Day

10 reasons to learn English in Jersey

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Here are ten reasons to choose Jersey as an English study destination:

1. A warm, mild climate

Jersey’s location 12 miles from France in the bay of Mont St Michel means that it enjoys some of the nicest weather in the British Isles. It has lots of sunshine all year round and is mild in winter and hot in summer, which explains why it has long been a popular tourist destination.

2. An up-market feel

Within the UK Jersey is known as an exclusive island with lots of wealthy inhabitants. There is certainly a lot of money to be found there, with lots of expensive restaurants and hotels that give the main towns a very up-market feel. This isn’t to say that all of these places are expensive though – there are still budget options to be found.

3. Beautiful beaches and countryside

Jersey is home to around 30 beaches, many of which are long, sandy and golden. They’re perfect for sunbathing or for beach-based sports and are a great place to spend your evenings and weekends in the summer. As for the countryside on Jersey – only 45 square miles in size – it is green, pretty and unspoiled. There are strict planning laws in place to protect the countryside, which is also home to an array of wild flowers that prosper thanks to its ideal climate. The lovely countryside makes Jersey a great place to explore either on foot or by bike, and there are tracks and trails to follow all over the island.

4. A laid back atmosphere

Jersey’s pleasant climate and miles of sandy beaches give the island a definite ‘holiday’ vibe, which in turn gives it a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There’s a nice pace of life on the island, which makes it a great place to study.

5. Safe and compact

Because the island is so modest in size, it’s really easy to get around. There are also lots of bus routes around the island, although cycling and bike hire is also a popular option amongst students. Jersey’s compact size and community feel also means that it benefits from a low crime rate, making it one of the safest places to learn English in the British Isles.

6. Free airport transfers and a free bus to and from school for students in host family accommodation

Any English students who opt to stay in host family accommodation in Jersey will benefit from a free bus to and from school which is laid on by the college. They are also offered a free transfer to and from the airport when they arrive/depart.

7. A wide range of activities and sights

All adult courses at the school in Jersey include two afternoon excursions plus two evening social activities (from November to February courses include one afternoon excursion per week plus two evening social activities). All summer standard courses include three afternoon excursions plus two evening social activities.

Activities may include: welcome drinks and jazz at The Blue Note, coast walk, excursion to Gorey Castle, excursion to Jersey Museum or Jersey War Tunnels, trip to St Malo, bike rides, dinner in a local pub (extra cost £10 – £15 )…

8. Interesting history image

Jersey may be British, but its geographical proximity to France has brought about many disputes over its rule, and as a result it has ‘changed hands’ many times.

Jersey only became an island about 8,000 years ago – previously it had been joined to the French mainland. From 933 until 1204, the Island was ruled from Normandy but when war broke out between King John – who was also Duke of Normandy – and France, King John lost Normandy, and the Islanders chose to break their ties with France and remain linked to the Duke. This left the Island in danger of invasion from nearby France, and so defences and castles were built around the Island – many of which still remain today.

Over the next few centuries there were several attempts by the French to take the island – some successful, others not. The last time that the island was occupied was during the Second World War, although the island was liberated once again in May 1945. The story of this time is told at the Jersey War Tunnels, the Channel Islands Military Museum and the Island Fortress Occupation Museum.

9. Unique culture

Jersey is not like anywhere else in the British Isles. Its history has forged it into an interesting mix of French and English, although English remains the official language. You will see lots of French-sounding place and road names though, and there is a definite Gallic feel to the island. There’s no doubt that it’s a part of Britain, but with sunnier weather than the mainland and a much more laid back way of life!

10. Lots of nice cuisine, especially seafood

As you’d expect from any island, Jersey boasts some amazing seafood, and some lovely seafood restaurants. Anyone with a passion for this type of food especially will be spoilt for choice, although there’s a good range of restaurants offering all kinds of cuisine.

English courses in Jersey are available at a range of levels and lengths. Students can choose between General English, Intensive English or Business English. For full details and to book please visit the Cactus Language website.

Focus on Brazil: an economy to watch

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Over the next decade, Brazil, Russia, India and China – the ‘BRICs’ countries – are set to become an increasingly powerful force in the world economy. Together they contribute over a third of world GDP growth, and Brazil – the largest country in South America and the largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world – will soon replace the UK as the world’s sixth largest economy.

Brazil is indeed in a strong position at the moment. As 2011 dawned, it swore into office its first ever woman President, Dilma Rousseff, who replaced the man who had become the most popular president in the country’s history, Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva. Big shoes to fill, certainly, but having served within Silva’s government for seven years, Rousseff is keen to consolidate the work of her predecessor and welcome in a new era for Brazil; the eradication of poverty and reduction of inequality being two major challenges.

Rousseff’s drive to tackle poverty may well be helped by Brazil’s potential as a major global oil producer. Recently-discovered offshore oilfields such as Tupi and Libra have provided billions of barrels of oil over the last few years, their discoveries making Brazil one of the world’s top 10 oil producers. Future oil revenues will be valuable in funding the reduction of poverty as well as investing in areas such as education and technology.

President Rousseff’s term in government will also see Brazil host the Rio Plus 20 global environmental summit, in 2012, and the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

Those wanting to make the most of Brazil’s huge potential by doing business here may consider language training in Brazilian Portuguese, which can be critical to establishing relationships and to future success in this fast-developing country.

On a similar vein, cultural training is helpful for employees who are looking to relocate to, or spend a prolonged period of time in, Brazil; not only does cultural training help to prevent culture shock, it can give a valuable insight into your target destination’s core values, local business practice, hierarchies and gender perceptions within the workplace, how to address your counterparts and more. Like language training, it can give you a step ahead of your competitors when it comes to integrating into and understanding Brazilian life.

Cactus Language Training offers all types of language and cultural training for relocation and other purposes. Specialising in tailor-made language training for businesses and individual needs, training is available in many different formats and in languages and locations across the globe.

Top 5 Italian and activity courses in Italy

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1. Italian and windsurfing in Tropea

Located in the region of Calabria, in the so-called ‘foot’ of the Italian boot, Tropea is an attractive little town that boasts some beautiful sandy beaches and shimmering blue waters. It’s an idyllic place both to study Italian and learn how to windsurf – this part of the course is carried out with a maximum of four participants and is taught by an experienced instructor. Although there are a range of Italian courses on offer (from beginners to advanced), the windsurfing course is specifically for beginners.

More about Italian and windsurfing in Tropea

2. Italian and tango in Turin

As the location for the 2006 Winter Olympics and the home of Fiat cars, Turin might seem like an unlikely candidate for the title of ‘Italy’s capital of Tango’.  In recent years though, this is exactly what the city has become and the Italian language school in Turin is now offering students the chance to make the most of this new found accolade.  Choosing a combined Italian and Argentine tango course will allow you a one evening or Sunday dance class per week, although you can also book extra private tango lessons.

More about Italian and tango in Turin

3. Italian and ceramics decoration in Salerno

Looking out over the Bay of Salerno, with the stunning Amalfi coast extending north, Salerno enjoys a wonderful location with magnificent sea views. image The town has a well preserved and attractive medieval centre and is full of buzzing piazzas with cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy the area’s warm climate. The Italian and ceramics course offers students the chance to learn about the local art and decoration of ceramics in a typical local crafts laboratory in Vietri (Salerno), the most famous centre for ceramics in Italy. Teachers are professional craftsmen specialised in the teaching of ceramics, and will demonstrate the age-old methods of creating and decorating objects and vases to students.

More about Italian and ceramics decoration on Salerno

4. Italian and cooking/wine in Bologna image

Let’s face it – food in general in Italy is good…in fact, it’s great! There’s one city in particular that seems to be synonymous with gastronomy though, and that’s Bologna.  With its Italian and cooking/wine tasting course, our partner school in Bologna offers students the chance to get a real insight into how the region’s best food and wine is made.  Included in this is two evenings of cooking (Tues + Thur from 7pm – 11pm) when students learn the basic skills necessary to prepare authentic Italian dishes, a wine tasting event where students are taught how to recognise different types of wine and to choose the best combinations of wine and food, and lastly, a visit to a weekly market where students learn about choosing and buying the best ingredients. A unique opportunity to learn from the best!

More about Italian and cooking/wine in Bologna

5. Italian and scuba diving in Taormina image

Situated on a terrace of Mount Tauro, overlooking the enticing Ionian Sea and with spectacular views of Mount Etna to the west, it’s easy to see why Taormina has been long been a popular tourist destination. One of its greatest attractions is its warm climate and clear waters, which make it a perfect place to learn how to scuba dive. The scuba diving course, held over one afternoon, is offered in conjunction with a general Italian course, and is designed for people with no previous diving experience.

*Please note that a scuba course for experienced divers is also available in Taormina

More about Italian and scuba diving courses in Taormina

Top 5 French and activity courses in France

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Here’s our pick of five of the best French and activity courses currently on offer in France:

1. French and painting in Aix en Provence

Whether you’re the next Dali, or painting by numbers is more your thing, you can’t help but be inspired by Aix’s great painting legacy. Aix en Provence was the home of Paul Cézanne, one of France’s best post-impressionist painters, and one of the city’s premier tourist attractions is the atelier in which he produced so many great pieces of work. The French and painting course combines the General French Course with an introduction to painting with Monique Faillard, an impressionist painter, who has been managing the Atelier du Soleil painting school for 40 years. Originally from Aix, she will pass on her passion for painting “in the light of Cézanne” – given that the lessons are all in French it’ll be a great way to immerse yourself as much as possible in the language.

More about French and painting in Aix en Provence

2. French and gastronomy in Lyon

Lyon is well-known for its gastronomic prowess – in fact, it’s often referred to as the ‘food’ capital of France. What better place therefore to take a French and gastronomy course? In the cooking programme offered by the school in Lyon you’ll discover and create the traditional recipes of Cuisine Lyonnaise, as well as more general French gastronomy including a practical cooking workshop with demonstrations and tastings. Also included in the programme is a diverse range of local visits, which will give you an insight into French cooking traditions and the world-famous specialities of Lyon and its region.

More about French and gastronomy in Lyon

3. French and hydrotherapy/spa in Vichy image

When it comes to the French and relaxation course in Vichy, we could say that it’ll give you an important cultural insight into the French way of life – there’s no denying that spas are as popular in France as they are in the UK after all. Let’s be honest though, the French and hydrotherapy course in Vichy is just a great way to let your hair down and unwind whilst you brush up your language skills, and there’s nothing wrong with that! What better way to let everything you’ve learnt in the morning soak in than by enjoying a sauna, whirlpool bath or rehydrating massage? Stimulation for the brain as well as the body!

More about French and hydrotherapy/spa in Vichy

4. French and surfing in Biarritz image

Situated on France’s wild Atlantic coast, Biarritz is an up-market resort town that has also become one of Europe’s premier surf spots. French study destinations don’t really get much better than Biarritz, with its golden beaches, array of bars and restaurants, and laid back atmosphere. Combining your French course with surfing lessons will allow you to learn a new skill, make the most of the warm weather and, of course, give you ample opportunity to practise your French outside of lessons.

More about French and surfing in Biarritz

5. French and wine-tasting in Toulouseimage

France as a country has a huge association with wine production, but the southwest of France is especially well-known for its vineyards. The French and wine-tasting course that is offered in Toulouse is a must for any wine-lover, and is open to students of all levels. Included as part of the programme is a wine tasting evening at the school, an evening-long course on the history and geography of French wines and the vocabulary of wine, a half day excursion to the local wine producing region of Fronton (includes a tour of 1 or 2 domaines, including explanantions and demonstrations of wine-making techniques and on-site tastings) and a Toulouse city tour on the theme of wine, followed by a full tasting in a local “cave” including local specialities such as cheeses and sausages, etc. A perfect to spend a week or two!

More about French and wine-tasting in Toulouse