Free Language Courses: 11 Courses To Win!

Cactus is giving away 11 free language courses in exciting locations across the globe!

This is a fantastic chance to learn a language for FREE! To enter, visit us at the upcoming Expat Show or Language Show Live or simply complete the entry form below by 22nd November – and you could be jetting off to learn one of seven languages in some of our best locations:

Chinese Mandarin Prize
Learn Chinese in one of China’s biggest and most exciting cities – Shanghai. Feel the buzz of its vibrant music and club scene, shop til you drop, admire the city’s beautiful architectural heritage and indulge in delectable food – this should be on everyone’s ‘to-do’ list!

Free language courses Shanghai

1 x 1 week General Mandarin Course (20 lessons) in Shanghai with Mandarin House. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment.

 

 

 

 

French Prizes

Whether you want to enjoy the glamorous Côte d’Azur in Nice, be chic in Paris, sip wine in Bordeaux or catch some waves in Biarritz, we have a fantastic choice of prizes to learn French in France!

Free language courses Biarritz

1 x 1 week General French Course (20 lessons) in Nice, Paris, Bordeaux or Biarritz with France Langue. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a host family.

1 x 1 week French & Cooking Course (20 language + 2 cooking lessons) in Nice with France Langue. Prize includes 6 nights’ stay in a host family.

 

 

German Prize

There can be fewer exciting places than Berlin to learn German, a city of fascinating history, cutting edge architecture, first class food and nightlife like no other – and we have two courses to be won in this captivating German capital!

Free language courses Berlin

2 x 1 week General German Course (20 lessons) in Berlin with GLS. Prize includes activities but not accommodation.

 

 

 

 

Italian Prize

If your idea of heaven is a twinkling blue sea, pastel coloured buildings adorning the hillside, bougainvillea tumbling over balconies and mouthwatering food and wine, then this Italian course in Salerno should be yours!

Free language courses Salerno

1 x 1 week General Italian Course (20 lessons) in Salerno with Accademia Italiana. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment OR host family.

 

 

 

 

Portuguese Prizes

Portugal’s colourful capital is an inspiring place to learn Portuguese, with its cobbled streets, iconic yellow tram, traditional bars and leafy plazas. Learn Portuguese on its own or take painting lessons too – we have two fantastic prizes to be won here!

Free language courses Lisbon

1 x 1 week General Portuguese Course (20 lessons) in Lisbon with Portuguese Connection. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a host family.

1 x 1 week Portuguese & Painting Course (20 language + 6 painting lessons) in Lisbon with Portuguese Connection. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a host family.

 

 

Russian Prize

If you want to learn Russian in stunning surroundings, Latvia’s capital, Riga, fits the bill perfectly. A treasure trove of art-nouveau architecture, this is a city of elaborately carved façades, funky gargoyles, winding cobbled streets and stately boulevards – as well as the most unexpectedly brilliant nightlife.

Free language courses Riga

1 x 1 week General Russian Course (20 lessons) in Riga with Durbe Latvia. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment OR, for students under 18 years, in a host family.

 

 

 

Spanish Prizes

It’s impossible not to fall in love with Valencia, and we’re delighted to be able to offer two people the chance to jet off to this charming city on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast. Home of paella, fabulous festivals, a bustling port and excellent beaches, this is one our favourite places to learn Spanish.

Free language courses Valencia

2 x 1 week General Spanish Course (20 lesson) in Valencia with Taronja. Prize includes 6 nights’ accommodation in a shared apartment.

 

 

 

Evening Language Course Prize We are also offering ONE free evening course in any location in the UK! The lucky winner will be able to choose their preferred language and location for a 10-week evening course starting in January 2016. See our evening courses website for full details of courses near you.

Free language courses: please note

  • Our free language courses are available on selected dates and we ask all winners to check dates with us before confirming flights
  • Accommodation is included in the prize where stated
  • Entry is open to all visitors to the Cactus stand at the Expat Show (11th-12th September) and Language Show Live (16th-18th October) who complete an entry form, and to everyone who signs up using our entry form below
  • The deadline for entering is Sunday 22nd November
  • The lucky winners will be announced on Monday 7th December
  • Please consult our Terms and Conditions for full details of the competition and individual prizes.

We look forward to seeing you, and good luck! If you have a language learning or language teaching query that you can’t find the answer to, please get in contact with us either by Facebook or by Twitter, or contact us here.

moving abroad checklist

Moving Abroad Checklist: Learn the Language

Whatever your reasons for moving abroad – retirement in the sun, the opportunity to enhance your career or the pursuit of a more fulfilling lifestyle – you are sure to have a moving abroad checklist to help you prepare for life in another country. If you are relocating to a country where another language is spoken, the most important thing you can do is learn the language: even the basics will make a huge difference to your experience.

Moving Abroad Checklist: Learn the Language!

5 reasons to learn a language before you move abroad

  1. Knowing some of the language before you arrive will give you the skills and confidence you need from the very moment you set foot in your new location; knowing that you are prepared will also make the run up to your move less stressful. If you have children, this is just as important to help them adjust to a new life abroad.
  2. Taking language classes before you leave will help you to learn about the culture of your host country, too – from popular music and typical foods to cultural etiquette and greetings – thereby reducing culture shock when you arrive.
  3. There are many ways to learn a language before you move abroad, so you can pick the method that suits you best (or combine a few): evening language courses in 19 locations across the UK, private language tuition or a language course abroad.
  4. You may need to sort out housing, banking, schooling and other essentials before you arrive in your new country, and some knowledge of the language will vastly help with this. Depending on where you are moving to, you cannot always rely on the locals to speak English.
  5. Leaving loved ones behind can make any move abroad a little harder. By learning some of the language before you go, you are giving yourself the best chance of making friends in your new environment: meaningful exchanges with the locals will then help you to feel settled, and a smooth cultural transition is proven to maintain psychological happiness. Then all you need is to install Skype to call friends back home!

5 reasons to continue classes once you are there

  1. Learning a language in situ is a great way to meet people. Whether you want to take private language training in your home or office, or take an in-country language course at a local school, you will be making contacts and perhaps longer-term friends.
  2. Having a language course set up when you arrive will provide some consistency and routine in an unfamiliar environment. It will also make you feel good that you are doing something positive – all of which will help you to settle in quickly.
  3. Taking classes in-country is an excellent way to learn the local accent and the specific vocabulary of that country, which will help you to feel and sound more like a local.
  4. If you are emigrating with your family, your children will likely be immersed in the language and pick it up quickly. Show them an example by learning it too – and because you don’t want to be left behind!
  5. If you are relocating for work, language classes can be invaluable in keeping you up-to-date with important business language, familiarising yourself with business etiquette and helping you to establish successful business relationships. Knowledge of the language is a key factor in making the experience positive for everyone involved.

expat-show-large-2015Visit Cactus at the Expat Show in London at London Olympia on September 11th-12th. We will give you a FREE language needs analysis and a £50 voucher towards any language course.

Cactus Language Training is a leading provider of private and corporate language training. We specialise in language training for relocation – in any language, anywhere in the world.