One year in Poland: Cactus staff experience

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One Year in Poland – English Version

After my first year at the Business School of Montpellier (in the South of France), I decided to spend one year in Poland, in Warsaw. It is so difficult for me to describe how amazing this experience was.

The most important part of my experience was the language learning. I was in a country where Polish is spoken, yet my studies were in English! But at the end of the day, it wasn’t so hard.

During my first semester, I chose to take a Polish course at the University of Warsaw, in order to be able to speak to Polish people in the street. It was very important for me to be immersed in the Polish culture, and without the necessary language skills this seemed an impossible task. I had 5 hours of Polish per week. I learnt to be independent in the street or in shops, with phrases like “Ile kosztuje?” (how much is it?). It is so gratifying to be understood by the people of the place where you decided to live.

The second part of my learning was about improving my knowledge of English. At the beginning, I found it very difficult to understand the teachers and other students. But step by step you try, and finally people don’t laugh at you; they know that they were like you in the past. Therefore, the most important thing that I learnt is DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY TO SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE. If you make mistakes or if your pronunciation is not perfect, nobody really cares! After my first months in Warsaw, I was able to understand, read and write English. But my learning is not over at all…I now have to learn to understand native speakers better. 

I want to mention one other point. When you embark on this kind of experience abroad, you are not only learning a new language but so many other things, about you, about living in a community, about meeting people all over the world. At the beginning of the year I wasn’t very confident in myself or ready to live such a rewarding experience. But now I have only one idea in my mind: what is next? And you, when will your next experience abroad be?

Une année en Pologne, Warszawa – Version Française

Après ma première année à l’école de commerce de Montpellier (dans le sud de la France), j’ai décidé de partir étudier un an en Pologne, à Varsovie! Il est vraiment difficile pour moi de décrire cette expérience, tellement magique à mes yeux.

La partie la plus importante de ce voyage a été l’apprentissage des langues. J’étais dans un pays où l’on parlait polonais mais tous mes cours étaient délivrés, eux, en anglais! Mais finalement, cela n’a pas été si difficile.

Pendant le premier semestre, j’ai choisi de prendre un cours de polonais à l’université de Varsovie dans le but d’être capable de parler avec les polonais dans la rue. C’était vraiment important pour moi d’être imprégnée de la culture polonaise, d’essayer d’être en immersion totale. Et sans la connaissance du langage cela me paraissait impossible. J’avais 5 heures de polonais par semaine. J’ai appris à être indépendante dans la rue ou dans les magasins: “Ile kosztuje?”. Il est tellement gratifiant d’être comprise par les habitants du pays où l’on a décidé d’habiter.

La deuxième partie de mon apprentissage a été d’améliorer mon anglais. Dans les premiers temps, il a été très difficile pour moi de comprendre les enseignants ou les autres étudiants. Mais petit à petit, vous essayez et finalement personne ne rigole, ils savent qu’ils ont été dans cette situation dans le passé. La chose la plus importante pour moi a donc été de comprendre qu’il ne fallait jamais avoir peur d’essayer de parler une autre langue. Si vous faites des erreurs ou que votre prononciation n’est pas parfaite, tout le monde s’en moque en réalité. Après mes premiers mois à Varsovie, j’étais capable de comprendre, lire et écrire en anglais. Mais mon apprentissage n’est pas encore fini, loin de là… il faut maintenant que je progresse sur la compréhension des natifs.

J’aimerais également parler d’une autre chose vraiment importante à mes yeux. Quand vous décidez de faire ce type d’expérience à l’étranger, vous n’apprenez pas seulement une autre langue mais tellement d’autres choses, sur vous, sur le fait de vivre en communauté, de rencontrer des gens venant de toute la planète… Au départ de l’expérience je n’avais pas vraiment confiance en moi ou je n’étais pas prête à vivre de telle expérience. Mais maintenant je n’ai qu’une idée en tête: what is next? Et vous, quand est-ce que va être votre prochaine expérience à l’étranger?

Top 5 winter getaways - outside Europe

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1. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is an old favourite at Cactus, and no more so than during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, when this captivating capital of Argentina basks in a glorious Southern summer. You don’t need a thermometer to read the heat on the dance floor, however. As the world’s capital of tango, Buenos Aires plays host to the Buenos Aires Tango Festival at the end of February and the beginning of March; across the city and in the streets, you’ll be treated to hundreds of tango displays, many of them free, and there’s plenty of opportunity to join in too…

Spanish courses in Buenos Aires

2. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

If there’s one thing to experience in South America, it’s Carnival in Rio. Taking place in 2011 from Sat March 5th to Tues March 8th, Carnival is an all-singing, all-dancing celebration like none you have seen before. With colourful parades, floats, balls, street carnivals and bands bringing the entire city to life, it’s not surprising that this is known as the greatest show on Earth. And all this under a hot Brazilian sky with golden beaches on the doorstep…this is one late winter escape to get in the diary now!

Portuguese courses in Rio de Janeiro

3. Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is a little piece of paradise in the French West Indies. It’s the kind of place you’d go for an exotic beach holiday, not a language course…but yes, it’s really true, you could be learning imageFrench in the morning and chilling out on palm-fringed beaches in the afternoon. Add to this a good dose of Caribbean and Creole culture, and winter back home will soon be a distant memory.

French courses in Guadeloupe

4. Cairo, Egypt

If you want to forget about winter, work and even Christmas, look no further than Egypt. The instant you arrive you will be immersed in the hot and buzzing metropolis of Cairo, the mysterious Pyramids rising on the horizon and the River Nile luring you to its banks. This ‘City of a Thousand Minarets’, as it is known, is a fascinating center of religion, politics and culture, and makes for the perfect place to learn the beautiful, ancient language of Arabic.

Arabic courses in Cairo

5. Québec City, Canada image

If playing in the snow is your thing, then the Quebec Winter Carnival, held from January 28th – February 13th 2011, is the place for you. Coinciding with Mardi Gras celebrations elsewhere in the world, this is the world’s largest winter festival and is an absolute must for those who like the magical side of winter – adults and children alike. Enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, skating, dogsled races, magnificent ice sculptures, a children’s village, night parades and more. For a true ‘winter’ escape, it doesn’t get much better than this.

French courses in Quebec City

Cactus offers language courses, which can be combined with activities including dance, diving, cooking, wine tasting and sports, in over 30 languages, in 60 countries and 500 destinations worldwide.

Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor?

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Anyone who enjoys a little weekend television can’t fail to have noticed the competition between the dancing on one channel and the singing on another. As the programmes run in tandem, you have to make the choice – fancy footwork or velvety vocals?

When it comes to language holidays, however, you don’t have to miss a thing; you can strut your stuff on the dance floor one week, and sing your heart out the next. With this in mind, we’re bringing you our very own top 5 dance holiday courses, and top 5 locations that we think have the X Factor.

So, in no particular order, our top 5 finalists in each category are…

** Dance Holiday Finalists **

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Where else to learn tango than in the tango capital of the world. In Buenos Aires you can practise your ’ganchos’ and your ’ochos’ in ornate dance halls, dressed the part and with a professional Argentine partner. Go this winter and as added bonus you’ll enjoy the Southern Summer – perfect for enjoying impromptu tango displays on the streets outside.

Spanish & Tango in Buenos Aires

2. Salvador de Bahia, Brasil

In Brazil, dance is infectious. They seem to be born with an innate ability to wiggle their hips and move to music. Don’t be left out – on this unique course you can learn the dances of samba, forro and axe, as well as the mysterious Dance of the Orixas in Candomblé ceremonies. If there was ever an insight into the culture (that’s a whole lot of fun too), this is it.

Portuguese & Samba in Salvador de Bahia

3.  Havana, Cuba image

Impossible to talk about dancing without including Cuba, the home of salsa. With the beat of music seemingly emerging from every street corner, you’ll be itching to brush up your moves and join in the fun.

Individual Spanish & Salsa Course in Havana

4. Seville, Spain

Hot, sultry Seville in the heart of Andalusia is the perfect place to learn the most quintessential of Spanish dances, which has its roots here. You’ll not only learn to dance, but you’ll most likely also fall for the flamenco singing and guitar playing in one of Spain’s most charming cities.

Spanish & Flamenco in Seville

5. Cartagena, Colombia image

At nearly 500 years old, Cartagena is a real jewel of the Caribbean. Steeped in colonial history, covered with tropical flowers and home to beautiful beaches, you’ll have a spring in your step before you even set foot in your dance class.

Spanish & Salsa in Cartagena

** X Factor Finalists **

1. Sorrento, Italy

Overlooking the Gulf of Naples, on Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast, Sorrento is a beautiful place to visit whether or not you want to sing. But for those who fancy exercising their vocal chords, there is no better place to do so. With views over the sparkling sea to distant islands, Vesuvius rising in the haze on the horizon and pastel-coloured buildings clinging to spectacular coastline, Sorrento is nothing short of inspiring.

Italian & Singing in Sorrento

2. Jaco Beach, Costa Rica image

Jaco earns its spot here for being a true holiday location. Yes, you can learn Spanish while you’re here, but essentially you’re here to have fun, enjoy the stunning golden beach, go wild in the rainforest, catch some waves with some surfing, stretch your limbs with some yoga, and learn some cool photography tips. With an action-packed activities programme ensuring that you get out there and make friends with both staff and class-mates, Jaco Beach is a big favourite at Cactus.

Spanish courses at Jaco Beach

3. Berlin, Germany

For being at the forefront of industries including fashion, music, art and design, for its fascinating history and world-class nightlife, for its vast green parkland including forests and lakes, and for exuding a certain cult ‘edginess’, Berlin is truly deserving of x factor status. Added to this is the fact that the school is the only one in the whole of Germany to offer an on-site residence open year-round.

German courses in Berlin

4. New York, US

There are many who would argue that New York is the most exciting city in the world, a place where you can really live the dream. From a musical in Broadway to skating in Central Park, from brunch in SoHo to new year in Times Square, there is something for everyone in the city that never sleeps. It has had the X factor for years, and is likely to have it for years to come.

English courses in New York

5. Rouen, France

The small, family-run school that we work with in Rouen has just scooped the prize of Star French Language School at the 2010 Language Travel Awards in London – for the THIRD year running! French in Normandy, as it is called, is truly deserving of X factor status for its fantastic French language programme combined with excellent social and cultural activities.

French courses in Rouen

As for the winner of each category, well, that can go to a public vote. Leave us a comment and let us know which location is the winner for you!

Cactus offers language courses, which can be combined with activities including dance, diving, cooking, wine tasting and sports, in over 30 languages, in 60 countries and 500 destinations worldwide.

Japanese course in Tokyo: blog entry #1

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Coming to Japan, there were many things that I was worried about.  As far as I could tell, I was the only American going to Japan through Cactus. Would I fit in? How am I going to communicate with my dorm mates? What will my classes be like? How will I survive three months without my parents or my dogs? Well, a week and a half has gone by and most of these fears have disappeared.

As it ends up, there’s another American in my dorm. Her name is Beverly. She’s really sweet and has helped me out a lot with conversational Japanese already. My other dorm mates are Chinese, but the dorm manager is Chinese and can speak English, so communication isn’t a problem. My room is nice; I have a shelving unit, a hanging unit and a balcony to hang my laundry. That’s something that I didn’t expect. Although driers are available, the Japanese don’t typically use them, so I had to go out and buy laundry clips.

They are very big on being environmentally friendly. Most people use public transportation. They also use cold water to wash their dishes – something that my mother thinks wouldn’t clean the dishes well enough. It’s really hard to throw trash away here because of all of their laws about it. But in my dorm, all of the trashcans are labeled, so it makes it easier.

Classes aren’t that hard either. We’re still in review, so who knows if it’ll pick up in the next week. Instead of switching classrooms and teachers like in America, we have the same teacher all day, but they change depending on the day of the week. We are in the same classroom every day with the same kids. My classmates are cool. They come from all over. The majority of my classmates are from China and France. The other countries represented are Colombia, Spain, Sweden, Australia and Belgium.

I miss my family and my dogs very much, but Beverly showed me this place called Nekorobi. The best way to describe it is a cat café. Literally it’s a room with twelve cats and you pay by the hour to sit, play with them, and eat or drink. It really helped with my pet/home sickness. I think it’s really cool that Japan has things like that and I look forward to discovering more interesting places in Tokyo.

Dana is studying Japanese in Tokyo with Cactus. Cactus offers language courses in over 30 languages, in 60 countries and 500 destinations worldwide.

We will be posting another blog entry by Dana mid-way through her course and at the end of her stay in Japan. For anyone thinking about taking a language course abroad, this offers a unique insight into life in a foreign country, including the fears and excitement that come with a long-term course. Thank you to Dana for contributing to our website!

Retirement havens: the top 25 countries to retire to in 2010

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A recent report by International Living magazine has listed the top 25 places to retire in the world in 2010. Its Global Retirement Index takes into consideration factors such as the cost of living, climate, healthcare, recreational offerings, culture, real estate prices and infrastructure, to work out the most desirable places to settle once you are out of the workplace and looking to improve your quality of life.

The countries that came out top in the survey are not too dissimilar to those of 2009, but there may still be a few surprises for those who have never seriously considered retiring overseas. The usual suspects of France, Italy and New Zealand have their place in the top 25, as you may expect, but countries such as Panama, Colombia and Malaysia also feature highly.

As for the number one spot, who would have thought that Ecuador would rank highest for the second year running? 

Here is a brief overview of the top 10 countries to retire to, and where you can learn the language once there, as there can be no doubt that being able to communicate with the locals will greatly ease your immersion into a new environment: not only will you make friends quicker and get around easier, but you’ll feel the indescribable thrill of new words rolling off the tongue and understanding what is being said back to you.

For a complete list of the top 25 places to retire to, and for further information, please see International Living.

1. Ecuador

Ecuador is blessed with superb natural landscape ranging from Pacific beaches and dense jungle to the snow-capped Andes and rural highlands, with magnificent colonial cities dotted in between. With the cost of living very low – real estate equally so – and added factors such as a warm climate, duty-free import of belongings and discounts for retirees, it is easy to see why this South American country is the no. 1 place to settle in 2010.

Tempted to retire in Ecuador? Learning the language is key to immersing yourself quickly into your new surroundings and to making friends. Ease the transition with a Spanish course in Quito or Cuenca.

2. Panama

Hot on the heels of its southern counterpart, Panama wins lots of points for its retiree residency (pensionado) program: if you choose to retire here you will receive huge discounts off everything from public transport to airfares, eating out and entertainment. Not that things are expensive – in Panama you benefit from developing world prices whilst enjoying an infrastructure, efficiency and economy akin to the Western world. With vibrant cities, beach retreats and cool mountain hideaways your potential retirement havens, this is a worthy no. 2 on the Retirement Index.

Learn Spanish and you’ll soon be chatting to the locals in thriving Panama City or in tropical Boquete.

3. Mexico

Three Latin locations in the top 3! I am packing my bag already. Already a popular vacation choice, it is easy to see the allure of Mexico: beautiful colonial cities, spectacular ancient ruins, stunning climate, long golden beaches, rugged highlands, delicious food, easy access, low property prices and plenty of English speakers.

Be more than a tourist and immerse yourself into the local community by taking a language course. Cactus offers Spanish courses in many wonderful locations across Mexico, each tempting in its own way: Cuernavaca, Guanajuato, Merida, Mexico City, Morelia, Oaxaca, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta.

4. France

As mentioned before, it’s not difficult to see why France makes the top 5. The epitome of the good life, this is a country where long lazy lunches laden with cheese, wine and baguettes are the norm. And, compared to other western countries, you don’t have to pay much for a dream home amongst the fragrant mauve lavender fields of Provence or the orchards of Normandy. Perhaps this easy path to happiness mixed with the best health care in the world – according to the World Health Organisation – is the reason why more and more French people are living past 100 years. And you could be joining them.

Learn French with Cactus in one of 19 locations across France, from sophisticated Paris to charming Aix-en-Provence and sun-kissed Nice.

5. Italy

La dolce vità is an apt description of life in Italy. If you choose to retire in Italy you will be sure of sumptuous food, delectable wines, beautiful landscapes and a pleasant climate for years to come. Whether you opt for a rural village, a bustling town, a thriving historical city or a seductive island, you won’t have to look far for your weekly market or traditional festivals which are great places to meet the locals. 

Most people learn Italian for the sheer love of the language and the culture that embraces it, so why not be one of them and choose from one of over 20 locations to learn Italian in Italy.

6. Uruguay

7. Malta

8. Chile

9. Spain

10. Costa Rica

Denver: a perfect winter study destination

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Set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is an attractive, cosmopolitan and exciting city. It has plenty going on all year round, but especially in the winter when it becomes a mecca for ski and snowboard enthusiasts, who flock to the pristine slopes nearby.

Taking an English course in Denver will give you study and ‘play’ time in equal measure, and if you ever fancy a change from the ski slopes, the city will have lots of other activities to offer too.

Eating and drinking

Denver is a university city, and has such has plenty of student entertainment offerings, and a very cosmopolitan vibe.  It has great nightlife, especially in the Lower Downtown area of the city, or ‘LoDo’ as it’s commonly known.

This happening historic district is filled with turn-of-the-century warehouses that now house around 90 brewpubs, sports bars, restaurants and rooftop cafes.

Larimer Square is also a popular area for hip bars and restaurants.

Sightseeing

Denver is full of interesting things for visitors to see and do, including the Coors Brewery Tour, the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, the Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo, the US Mint, the Museum of Nature and Science, the Downtown Aquarium, Elitch Gardens Theme Park and the Denver Art Museum.

Anyone who enjoys a spot of shopping will also have plenty to keep them occupied – especially downtown and in the Cheery Creek shopping mall.

Festivals and events

Denver’s calendar is packed year-round with festivals, including the Denver Arts Week, held every November. Also of note are the Denver Beer festival and the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Festival in the autumn.

Events-wise, Denver’s Performing Arts Complex provides a great venue for concerts and shows. It’s the second-largest such complex in the world, with 10 venues, and such attracts artists and groups from all over the world.

Sports and outdoor activities

Denver is a sport-loving city that has plenty of activities in addition to skiing and snowboarding.  If you prefer to watch sport, rather than do it, the good news is that Denver has no less than eight pro sports teams, including the Denver Broncos (football), the Colorado Avalanche (ice hockey) and the Colorado Rockies (baseball), all of which have regular home games to enjoy.

If you have plenty of energy and like lots of sport in your free time, there are all the usual sporting options in Denver, and endless possibilities for biking and hiking in the surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park – most likely at the very start or end of the ski season, though!

Cactus offers General, Combined and Exam Preparation English courses in Denver, at a variety of levels.

York - a new addition to Cactus’ evening course locations

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York has long been a popular tourist destination in the UK, with such attractions as the Shambles, Cliffords Tower, the Jorvik Centre and the National Railway Museum all within the city walls. It is also home to several universities and colleges, which assures it a large, varied student population.

The classes will be held in a well-established language school that caters for foreign students of English. Located in the Holgate area of York, it benefits from a range of comfortable classrooms and contains all the equipment necessary to provide a great learning environment.

Initially, courses will be offered in French, German, Italian and Spanish, at a range of levels. Classes will take place on a Monday evening over 10 weeks, from 6.30-8.30pm, and cost £159.

Please visit the Language Courses UK website for full course listings, to test your language level, and to book. Alternatively, call 0845 130 4775 to speak to one of our language course advisers. 

5 top destinations to visit this fall - alternative languages

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For you, we’re listing our recommendations of the best language course locations in the rest of the world this Fall.

1. Rabat, Morocco

An exotic, imperial city sitting on a Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Rabat is a combination of Arabic tradition and European elegance. Its origins date back to the 7th century, yet it is a relaxed and well-kept city with wide, tree-lined boulevards, parks, embassies and government buildings. Visit Rabat in the Fall and you’ll be treated to mild and mostly dry weather, just avoiding the summer heat and the winter rain – perfect if you want to dedicate yourself to learning Arabic and exploring this fascinating city.

Arabic courses in Rabat, Morocco

2. Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most dynamic cities, a busy, 24-hour hotbed of Chinese tradition and Western influence. From deep-fried fish balls on a street corner to cocktails in a high-rise hotel, from early morning tai chi to late night partying, from a commuter ferry across the harbour to a leisurely tram ride up Victoria peak, the city offers a million and one experiences in a day.

Chinese Mandarin Courses in Hong Kong, China

Chinese Cantonese courses in Hong Kong, China

3. Fukuoka, Japan

Coming out an impressive 14th in a recent survey of the world’s most liveable cities, Fukuoka comes into its prime during the Fall as the temperature is pleasant and mild. It is also the perfect time to visit the city’s stunning Yusentei Japanese Garden, the leaves having turned a spectacular fire red and burnt orange in colour, and its Komyozenji Temple, a perfect place to take off your shoes, sit on the wooden veranda and contemplate a moment of tranquility. As for Fukuoka, this is one of Japan’s most important and influential cities, enviably surrounded by mountains and sea – a great place to base yourself this Fall to learn Japanese.

Japanese courses in Fukuoka, Japan



4. Porto, Portugal

There’s a lot more to Porto than the Port wine for which it is famous – though it would of course be rude not to sample this delicious drink upon visiting. The capital of the Norte region in Portugal, Porto boasts a stunning historic centre, the Ribeira district, which is a Unesco World Heritage site of cobbled streets, winding lanes and wonky staircases, a true delight to explore. Immerse yourself in tradition and then take to the water with a Portuguese and Surfing course – Portugal’s Atlantic coast is renowned for its waves, and by Fall the sea will have reached its warmest.

Portuguese courses in Porto, Portugal

5. St Petersburg, Russia

St Petersburg is chock-full of tourists in the summer, but by Fall the crowds have dissipated and you can enjoy art at the Hermitage Museum, ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre and walking along the River Neva at your own pace. Built by Peter the Great, this fascinating city is distinctly European in style but it will always be the City of the Tsars, steeped in legend and intrigue.

Russian courses in St Petersburg, Russia

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

Pick up some of the language before you go – especially advantageous with these harder languages listed above – with our daytime, evening and weekend language courses in the US & Canada.

Top 5 German course destinations this Fall

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Here are our pick of the top 5 places to visit this September and October.

1. Berlin

Berlin is a city that is renowned internationally for its lively and varied cultural scene, and the array of festivals and shows taking place throughout September and October are testament to that. Some of the scheduled events include the Berlin International Literary Festival, Musikfest Berlin (September 2nd-21st), the Berlin Festival (September 10th-11th) and the Pyronale (September 3rd-4th), where international pyrotechnics companies compete to put on the best fireworks display at the Olympic Stadium. On a sporting note, there is also the Berlin Marathon (September 26th), one of the biggest marathons in the world, and in fact the event where Haile Gebrselassie set the new world record in 2008.

2. Vienna

If you choose Vienna as your study destination this Fall you’ll be totally spoilt for choice when it comes to free-time activities. Along with the usual sights and museums, you’ll be able to experience Vienna Fashion Week, the Vienna International Film Festival, the Long Night of the Museums, the Wien Modern contemporary music festival and perhaps best of all, Choco Vienna, where chocolatiers show off their finest creations for your consumption! Definitely not one to miss…

3. Munich image

Munich’s mass of leafy streets and array of parks make it a really pretty place to be as the seasons change and the green and yellow turns to orange and brown. That aside, there’s one thing in particular that attracts the tourists at this time of year – Oktoberfest. One of the biggest beer festivals in the world, it’s hugely popular with locals and tourists alike and will certainly give you an insight into one side of German culture! For anyone with more refined cultural tastes, September also sees the Open Art festival (September 10th-12th) and the AnderArt festival, Munich’s annual free festival of world cultures with music and performing arts from around the globe.

4. Zurich image

Zurich is a city that isn’t always an immediate choice for a German course, but it should be! It has loads to offer whether you’re a culture vulture, a sports fan, or a food and drink enthusiast. This Fall there are events that all of these types of people will enjoy – on a cultural level, you can enjoy the Long Night of the Museums, the Circus Monti, the Zurich Film Festival, and Jazznojazz Festival, sports-wise you can take part in SlowUp Lake Zurich, when people cycle, stroll or skate around the lake to raise awareness of pollution. There’s also the exciting ‘Freestyle’ (September 25th-26th), with top BMX riders, in-line skaters, skiers and skateboarders. Finally, any wine conoisseurs can head to Expovina, Switzerland’s largest wine exhibition held on 12 boats anchored in Zurich’s beautiful Bürkliplatz dock.

5. Hamburg image

With plenty of festivals and events happening during the Fall, Hamburg is a great place to spend time. During September and October you can enjoy the Hamburg Festival of Cultures, the Reeperbahn Festival and the Hamburg Film Festival, as well as the usual attractions. Anyone going to Hamburg has the added benefit of affordable courses, and more flexibility in terms of the intensity of courses too.



Please visit the Cactus Language website for full listings of German courses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Top 5 French course destinations this Fall

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1. Montreal

Montreal is a fascinating city with a cosmopolitan feel and a wide range of cultural offerings. Summer in the city can be very hot, and winter extremely cold. For this reason, September-November is an ideal time to go and experience what the city has to offer. As well as the usual sights and attractions, there is also an array of festivals and events to enjoy during the Fall, including: the World Film Festival (August 26th-September 6th), the Escales Improbables Festival (September 8th-12th), POP Montreal (September 29th – October 3rd), the OFF Jazz Festival (October 15th-23rd) and the Festival of New Cinema (October 13th – 24th).

2. Paris

To be honest, Paris is a city that is buzzing with activity all year round. If you visit in Fall though, you will probably find fewer tourists, shorter queues, and less expensive accommodation. It’s also one of the prettiest times to visit, as the trees change color and the fallen leaves dance at your feet – it’ll really indulge your image of Paris at its romantic best. Festival and event wise, Paris is jam-packed with options throughout September, October and November, but some of the highlights include the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), held from September 18-19th and introduced to allow visitors a peek behind the doors of the 14,000 buildings that are usually closed to the public, the self-explanatory ‘Fête des Jardins’ (September 25th-26th), and the iconic Paris Fashion Week, held from September 28th – October 6th . Visit the Whatsonwhen website for full Paris events listings.

3. Guadeloupeimage

If you’re not quite ready to get the winter coat out and contemplate turning the heating back on, why not extend your summer by heading to Guadeloupe this autumn. Guadeloupe is a beautiful country located in the French West Indies, with stunning scenery and average temperatures of more than 24 degrees centigrade all year round. The hurricane season in this part of the world can sometimes extend to mid October, so late October and November are good times to go.

4. Bordeaux image

Anyone heading to Bordeaux this Fall will have a huge range of activities to choose from. This vibrant university city is at the heart of one of France’s most prestigious wine-growing regions, and September and October events include the Fête Du Vin Nouveau, when inhabitants celebrate the new vintage, and the Marathon du Medoc, a sporting event with a twist! Also to be recommended are the Journées du Patrimoine, when Bordeaux opens its wealth of historical sites to the public, the Foire aux Plaisirs Funfair (October-November), a long-standing fair in the city’s Place des Quinconces, and also the Bordeaux Opera Season, with scores of performances by the acclaimed National Opera of Bordeaux.

5. Lyon image

Lyon is often known as the gastronomic capital of France, but the huge range of events being held in the city this Fall shows that its talents don’t stop here. Throughout September and October visitors can attend, amongst other things, the Tupiniers Pottery Fair, the Dance Biennial, Les Musicades music festival, les Salons des Plaisirs Créatifs Art Expo, the Red Carpet Antiques Festival, the International New Generation Film Festival and the Equita Horse Fair, one of Europe’s premier riding events.

Please visit the Cactus Language website for full listings of French courses in France, Guadeloupe and Canada.