Discover the World of Languages with Cactus Language Training

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As all seasoned travelers know, the only way to truly get under the skin of a place is to learn the language.  Being able to say even a few words and phrases helps to open doors, build local relationships and lend an authenticity to your travel experiences and writing.

Cactus is one of the world’s leading language training companies, and every year we help over 15,000 people learn a language, with courses for everyone from complete beginners to advanced learners.  We have a global network of approved schools and highly experienced teachers. Our aim is to make language learning fun and accessible for all.

With that in mind, we would like to offer all SATW members a massive 50% off all our international language courses (including accommodation).  And since we run courses in up to 30 languages, in 60 countries and at 500 destinations worldwide, there’s sure to be a destination that appeals. 

Many of our courses combine languages and a range of exciting activities, from French and Surfing in Biarritz, to Mandarin and Calligraphy classes in Xian.  We are also always open to discuss suggestions for funding full press trips, so let us know if you have a specific commission in mind.

For all enquiries and to claim your discount, please email or call +1-212-601-9343, quoting “SATW Discount”.  We’ll look forward to hearing from you.

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An A-Z of why to choose Rouen as a French study destination

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A is for Apples. These fruits are grown in abundance in Normandy, and are the principal ingredient in one of the region’s most famous exports – cider.

B is for Bayeux. Home to the famous tapestry, this town is located close to Rouen and is well worth a visit.

C is for Camembert. Normandy is the home of Camembert cheese, which was reputedly invented in 1791 by farmer Marie Harel.

D is for Deauville. A short ride away from Rouen is the charming and upmarket seaside resort of Deauville. Long frequented by the rich and famous, it now plays host to an annual festival of American film, which attracts all manner of Hollywood A-listers.

E is for Étretat. Étretat is best known for its cliffs, including a famous natural arch. These cliffs and the associated resort beach are famous for their being visited by, and inspiration to, Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet.

F is for Fécamp The coastal town of Fécamp, located only a short distance from Rouen, is best known for being the home of Benedictine. The Palais Benedictine now houses a visitors’ centre, which shows how the liqueur is made.

G is for Giverny. This stunning village is where Monet lived, and was the inpsiration behind many of his masterpieces.

H is for Honfleur. Honfleur is a pretty medieval town on the coast that also inspired many of the impressionist painters.

I is for Impressionism. This was a genre of many famous painters who lived in, or were deeply inspired by, the Normandy towns and villages.

J is for Joan of Arc. Rouen is where Joan of Arc, one of France’s most formidable and best-known heroines was imprisoned, and burnt at the stake. There are many churches, museums and galleries in the city that pay homage to the patron Saint of France and her life.

K is for Kilometres. The river that runs through large parts of Normandy (inclding Rouen), the Seine, is 776km long!

L is for Lisieux. Lisieux is one of the larger towns surrounding Rouen. It is a very historic place that is most famous for the beautiful Basilica of St Theresa. Catholic devotion to Saint Thérèse de Lisieux, who lived in the Carmel de Lisieux, makes it the most significant pilgrimage site in France after Lourdes.

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M is for Mont St Michel. Located just off the coast of Normandy, Le Mont St.Michel is an 80 metre high mound of granite with a variety of historic buildings nestled into it. The different stages of its construction have created a unique architectural ensemble which was classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1979. 

N is for Normans. In Rouen and its surrounding towns you can find out a lot about the Normans and in particular, William the Conquerer.

O is for Oysters. Oysters are found in abundance in Normandy, and as such are one of the local specialities that you’d be mad not to try.

P is for Piaf. Born in Bernay, close to Rouen, Edith Piaf (or La môme – the sparrow – as she is affectionately called) remains one of France’s best-loved sweethearts.

Q is for Quality school! The school in Rouen is well-established, high-quality and very friendly.

R is for Rouen. Rouen itself is a great city. Studying French there will give you access to some fascinating history, some fantastic bars and restarants and a real taste of French culture.

S is for Saint-Saëns. Born in Paris to a Norman father, French composer Camille Saint-Saëns made Normandy his home.

T is for Tarte Normande. Made principally from apples, this delicous dish from Normandy is definitely one to try.

U is for Utah Beach. Utah Beach is one of the key Normandy tourist attractions. It was the codename for the right flank or westernmost of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944.

V is for Victor Hugo. The writer Victor Hugo lived at Villequier, near Caudebec, which is not far from Rouen.

W is for Writers. As well as Victor Hugo, writers Guy de Maupassant and Gustave Flaubert also made Normandy their home.

X is for Xmas markets. Every Christmas there are hundreds of traditional markets across Normandy, where you can find all kinds of gifts and local foods.

Y is for Yearlings annual sale. Every August in Deauville there is a large and famous sale of ‘yearlings’ (horses that are one year old).

Z is for Zoo Park at Cleres. This is another prime Normandy attraction, and is a speciality zoo that has one of the best bird collections in the world.

More about French courses in Rouen

More about school trips abroad to Rouen

10 courses you never knew existed

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If you’re already a qualified diver and also happen to make your own pasta, know your wines and shimmy across the dance floor, our regular language and activity courses such as diving, cooking, wine tasting and salsa are perhaps a little old-hat for you.

So, if you’re looking for something a little different that will certainly be a talking point down the pub, here are 10 cool, quirky and off-beat courses that might just be right up your street. 

1. Spanish & Culture through Love, in Valencia, Spain:

Probably the most unique and fun Spanish course you will ever take, this course teaches you Spanish with music, films and literature based on, you guessed it, love. Visit a Spanish wedding or let your hair down at a bachelor’s party…you’ll either fall in love with it or on it!

Spanish & Love course in Valencia

2. Spanish & Polo in Buenos Aires, Argentina:

Learn Spanish during the week and spend your weekends at a typical Estancia learning polo, eating traditional Argentine asado and chilling by the pool!

Spanish & Polo in Buenos Aires

3. Spanish & Horse-riding in Montevideo, Uruguay:

If you ever fancied yourself as a South American gaucho, this is the course for you! You will stay on a ranch close to the Brazilian border, horse-ride for a few hours each day and spend the rest of your time swimming, fishing, bird watching or taking a boat ride on the river. Yee-haw!

Spanish & Horse-riding in Montevideo

4. Italian & Fashion Design in Milan, Italy:

Armani, Moschino, Gucci, Versace…all the best designers come from Italy, and you could too. This 4-week programme will prepare you for fashion or design school and give you a unique insight into the Italian fashion industry, all in the fashion capital of Milan.

Italian & Fashion Design in Milan

5. Italian & Opera in Verona:

If you like a bit of a sing song, it doesn’t get much better than learning opera in Verona. Taught by the Musical Stage Director of the prestigious Fondazione Arena di Verona, your vocal chords will reach notes you didn’t know they were capable of and your Italian will improve enormously too.

Italian & Opera in Verona, Italy

6. Portuguese & Capoeira in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil:

It looks cool, but what exactly are they doing? The Brazilian art of capoeira is part-dance, part-martial art, and there’s nowhere better to master the power kicks and leg sweeps than in its true home, Brazil.

Portuguese & Capoeira in Salvador

7. French & Gourmet Food in Rouen, France:

If you enjoy good food, this course in Rouen is almost too good to be true. Not only does it take place at one of the best French language schools in Europe, but typical activities include gourmet meals at award-winning local restaurants, a visit to Camembert village and tastings at Calvados distilleries. Encore, s’il vous plait!

French & Gourmet Food in Rouen, France

8. Mandarin Chinese & Calligraphy in Xian, China:

The ancient Chinese art of calligraphy is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in Chinese culture whilst studying the language. Your calligraphy classes will teach you how to produce beautiful Chinese characters using traditional techniques…definitely one to write home about.

Chinese & Calligraphy in Xian

9. Japanese & Pop Culture in Fukuoka, Japan:

This course is a must for anyone into Japanese manga, music and movies. Using the latest in Japanese pop culture to teach you Japanese as it’s really spoken, it includes fun out-of-class activities in the attractive and cultural city of Fukuoka.

Japanese & Pop Culture in Fukuoka

10. Spanish & Digital Photography in Jaco Beach, Costa Rica:

Don’t know the difference between your shutter speed and aperture? Get more out of your photos with this fantastic course on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and come home with snaps to be proud of.

Spanish & Digital Photography in Jaco Beach

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

Inti Raymi: Spectacular Incan Festival of the Sun

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There can be no ignoring the Incan roots of the spectacular city of Cusco, high in the Peruvian Andes. And if there is one festival that epitomises all things Incan, it’s Inti Raymi, the largest and most important festival in the Inca calendar, and one that still takes place today, on June 24th each year.

According to Incan mythology, Inti was the sun god, and the name Inti Raymi comes from the Quechuan language meaning ‘Festival of the Sun’. Inca religion focused predominantly on the worship of the sun, being an essential aspect of life: it provided both light and warmth, and crop growth depended on it.

Inti Raymi therefore grew as a religious ceremony in honor of Inti, but it also marked the winter solstice – when the sun is furthest from the Earth – and the start of a new year. It took place at the end of the potato and corn harvest to thank the sun for a successful crop, and to ask for another good crop the following season. Although the winter solstice ‘officially’ begins on 21st June, the Incan sundial – known as Pacha Unachaq – showed that the sun remained in the same place for a few days before rising on 24th June.  So it was that Inti Raymi festival was dated 24th June.

Today, Inti Raymi celebrations take place 2km outside Cusco, in the magnificent walled complex of Sacsayhuamán. It is the second largest festival in South America, after Rio’s carnival. Peruvians, South Americans and visitors from all over the globe come together for the week-long celebrations that include music, concerts, dancing, street fairs, exhibitions, religious ceremonies and elaborate traditional dress. By day the streets are filled with the sound of celebration and the scent of fresh flowers, and by night popular Peruvian groups put on free concerts in the main square, the Plaza de Armas.

Yet the real highlight is on the day itself, 24th June. A procession, led by the Incan emperor Sapa Inca on his throne, and followed by elaborately robed priests, nobles and other celebrants (some 500 actors bring the past alive with their portrayals of typical Incan citizens), winds its way from Santo Domingo church in central Cusco to Sacsayhuamán, where it is met by huge crowds. Sapa Inca then sits upon a sacred altar, in view of everyone, and the day proceeds with speeches, a sacrificial llama and prayers for the fertility of the earth. As the sun sets, fires are lit and people dance. Inti Raymi finishes, and new year begins, with a similar procession back to Cusco.

Cusco gets very busy as Inti Raymi approaches and the town prepares for the biggest celebration of the year. Accommodation gets booked up far in advance; why not get round this by taking a Spanish language course in Cusco and staying with a local family? This is the ideal way to immerse yourself in the language and culture, and will help you to experience Inti Raymi celebrations from the ‘inside’ rather than just as a passing tourist. Cactus runs Spanish courses in Cusco at all levels and from one week upwards. There is even a special Spanish Flavours of the Andes course where you can enjoy true Latin Culture!

Which countries have the most TEFL jobs?

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When it comes to TEFL, it is often assumed that you can teach anywhere in the world that you want, and to a certain extent this is true…

You could, visa permitting, arrive anywhere your heart desires and offer your services as a TEFL teacher. It pays to do a little research beforehand, however, to maximise your chances of finding work.

Europe

When it comes to finding paid work in private language schools there do seem to be certain countries where there is much more work on offer than others. Long-standing hotspots in Europe include Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal. The Eastern European countries of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary all offer ample opportunities for work too, as, more recently, do Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Russia is also a plentiful source of work for today’s TEFL teacher.

Asia

Competing with Europe for the title of most popular teaching destination is Asia. There are thousands of jobs here, especially in China, where it was estimated last year that around 80,000 more English teachers are needed! Taiwan, South Korea and Japan all offer teaching opportunities aplenty too, and it is often in these countries where you can stand to earn some of the highest wages in the industry.

The South East Asian countries of Thailand and Vietnam are becoming veritable magnets for TEFL teachers – with their low cost of living and exotic nature it’s no wonder really.

Middle East

The Middle East is another area of the world where English teachers are in high demand, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE it seems. It’s worth bearing in mind that requirements can sometimes be quite strict though, not only in terms of qualifications and experience but also in terms of gender.

Australia

Interestingly, Australia is a country that is always in need of teachers as well. The English-learning industry here is big business, and there is a wealth of private language schools English which need qualified teachers. They seem especially keen, apparently, to employ people working on working holiday visas.

South America

South America is another area of the world where it is relatively easy to find TEFL work, with Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile seemingly top of the list for jobs. This part of the world can be a good option for teachers who want to teach fairly short-term, or in a variety of countries, especially as a lot of the work is ‘casual’.

Africa

Africa as a continent offers fewer opportunities for paid work in language schools, as is probably to be expected. Exceptions to this are the Northern countries of Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Libya where you sometimes see jobs advertised. South Africa also has options for anyone able to get a visa.

North America

Notably missing from the run-down thus far are Canada and the US, where unless you are able to get a green card it is unfortunately almost impossible to get work.

UK

A good number of Brits who train in TEFL actually want to stay and teach in the UK, and there are certainly opportunities to be had. Britain has thousands of language schools that need English teachers, although competition for these jobs can sometimes be high. As with anything though, a lot of how successful your job hunt is depends on how well you market yourself, and to a certain extent, being in the right place at the right time. Doing your TEFL training course in a school you’d be interested in working for, or securing work at one of the thousands of summer programmes held at schools across the country can both be good ways of getting your foot in the door.

Aside from working in a private language school, there is also the option for anyone hoping to make money from teaching English to register as a freelance trainer with language training agencies such as Cactus, to advertise locally and offer private English tuition, or to work within the lifelong learning sector.

Volunteering opportunities for teaching EFL are always abundant too, whether in the UK or abroad. To do this abroad you would need to search out a specific programme with a volunteering organisation (of which there are hundreds), but possibilities in the UK are easier to source and arrange. The majority of this will be teaching immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers as part of council or charity-led schemes.

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The Cannes film festival 2011

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The festival was born as a result of circumstances of that era. The decision to host a new ‘international cinematographic festival in France’ by French minister of national education, Jean Zay, was in response to the interference of the fascist governments of Italy and Germany in the selection of films for the Mostra del cinema di Venezia – the most important international film festival of that time. Several towns were considered when deciding where the festival should be held, including Vichy, Biarritz and Algiers, although obviously the honour was finally bestowed upon the upmarket coastal resort of Cannes.

The private festival takes place annually (usually during the month of May) at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, and attracts huge media attention. It is an opportunity for the filmmakers of all nationalities and generations to showcase their work, and of course, a chance for the rich and famous to be ‘seen’!

The 64th festival will take place from 11—22 May 2011, and will see acclaimed American Actor/Director/Producer Robert de Niro take the helm as President of the Jury.

Although there are many components to the festival, the highlight of the festival each year is the announcement of which picture has won the coveted ‘Palme d’Or’, the highest prize awarded to competing films at the festival. Previous winners have included such well-known and universally acclaimed films as The Piano (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), The Pianist (2002) and Farenheit 9/11 (2004). Unlike the Oscars, it is very common for foreign language films to win the award – counted amongst the winners over the last decade are: Rosetta (1999), Dancer in the Dark (2000), La Stanza del Figlio (2001), L’Enfant (2005), 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (2007) , Entre les Murs(2008) and Das weiße Band (2009).

Visit Cannes this year and learn to speak French! French language courses are available in nearby Nice and Antibes. Or learn to speak French at home with one of Cactus’ many French classes in the UK or French classes in the US & Canada.

Definitely check out our French Phrases – 20 holiday essentials or if you are already quite confident, test your French with our French language test or try to read our French articles:

La Ville Rose de France – ce qui fait de Toulouse une formidable destination d’études

Les meilleures choses à faire à Montpellier d’après moi

Learn German in Hamburg this May and enjoy the lively Hafengeburtstag celebrations

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The annual celebrations have become popular with inhabitants and tourists alike, and in the last few years they have attracted over a million visitors. If you can coincide your German course with them, you’re guaranteed a great insight into German culture.

The celebrations mark a significant date in Hamburg’s history – one which played an important role in Hamburg’s development into the huge port that it has become. On 7th May 1189 Frederick Barbarossa, the Holy Roman Emperor, is reputed to have put his seal to a letter which granted ships from Hamburg the right to sail along the river Elbe to the North Sea without having to pay customs duties. Consequently, 7th May 1189 is widely regarded as the day on which the port of Hamburg was founded.

An array of international ships, both old and new, large and small, will take part in the celebrations. The harbour will be filled with beautiful vessels to admire, and in some cases, board, and there will also be a number of displays both on the water and in the air for on-lookers to enjoy.

In addition, there will be hundreds of food and drinks stalls along the 3.5 kilometre ‘Hafenmeile’, as well as entertainment areas for live music acts, all of which you can enjoy free of charge!

Cactus offers a range of German courses in Hamburg, including General German, Individual German, Combined German, Intensive German and Business German. Classes are offered from beginner – advanced and accommodation can be arranged with a local host family, in a shared apartment or in a student residence.

Find out more on the Hamburg Harbour Birthday Festival

Visit Venice this June to experience the Vogalonga

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The race has been in existence since 1975, and is now one of Venice’s biggest events. It takes place around Ascension Day – on 12th June in 2011 – coinciding with the old ceremony of the Doge’s symbolic marriage to the sea.

More than just a race, the Vogalonga has come to represent an exciting celebration of the city and its maritime culture. On this day, oarsmen in all kinds of traditional boats – including dragonboats, kayaks, gondolas and fishermen’s sandoli – have the canals to themselves. Eye-catching fancy dress, rowing club colours and traditional sailors’ outfits all gain applause from the spectators who line the canals and wave the boats on.

Entry to the race is open to anyone, with boats of all shapes and sizes from single rower to boats with twenty or more participants.

The race takes place over a 30km course, and is started by a cannon blast beside the famous St Mark’s Square. Boats then head around the lagoon to Burano before coming back to finish beneath the Rialto Bridge.

Serious competitors in the event can complete the course in around two hours, but those who are there for a bit of fun can take five. Most of Venice’s motor boats stay tethered for the day, and the city is filled with drums, music and spectators’ cheers. It’s a great time to visit the city, even if you’re a more avid spectator than rower!

Read more about Italian courses in Venice

See St Petersburg at its vibrant best during the White Nights

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St. Petersburg is one of the world’s most northern cities, and its location means that during these three months it never really gets dark. You can walk around the city between 10pm and 5am and there’s no need for street lighting – the illumination by twilight is more than enough, and provides the ideal setting for any romantic outing!

For many this is a real time of celebration and with so many months of darkness and freezing weather during the winter, it’s easy to see why! The city puts on firework displays, all-night parties and cultural events which last long into the night.

The “Stars of the White Nights Festival” at the Mariinsky Theatre is one of the most notable features of the White Nights, and has become an internationally renowned celebration of the arts. Classical ballet, opera and orchestral performances form the basis of the festival, which was created by the first mayor of St. Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak. Some of the stars who have performed here include Placido Domingo, Olga Borodina and Alfred Brendel.

Possibly the biggest, and most famous public event during the festival, though, is the ‘Scarlet Sails’ celebration. A really spectacular fireworks display and end-of-season show, it has become the largest public event in Russia, with an estimated attendance of over a million people. The tradition began after the end of WWII, when several Leningrad schools united to celebrate the ending of a school year in connection with symbolism of the popular 1922 children’s book Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin. The “Scarlet Sails” tradition has evolved into a massive demonstration of freedom from “schools and rules” and takes place at the end of school year annually. The show includes a series of large-scale events on the waters of Neva River, such as boat races, and a massive mock battle with pirates, which culminates in the appearance of a tall ship sporting spectacular scarlet sails.

Along with the cultural events, the firework displays and the carnivals, there are also star performances in Palace Square from the likes of Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones. Impressive venues at any time of year, but especially in the evening light!

There’s certainly no better time to go to St Petersburg, and this year will be no exception. The festival will run from 23 May to 24 July 2011, which gives you ample time to spend a long weekend experiencing the phenomenon for yourself.

Visit Russia this year and learn to speak Russian! Russian language courses are available in St Petersburg and Moscow. Alternatively, learn to speak Russian at home in one of Cactus’ many Russian classes in the UK and the US. If you’re already quite confident, test your Russian with our Russian language test.

What is teaching English abroad really like?

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TEFL is often cited as a great way to travel the world and experience new cultures – does it really allow you to do so, though?

One of the great things about TEFL, it is often assumed, is that it will give you access to one of those very glamorous-sounding carefree existences, where you can hop from country to country, visiting exotic places, experiencing new cultures and embarking on new adventures.

Of course, there are people who stay in the UK and teach, but many would-be TEFLers are attracted by this idea of providing a ‘ticket to ride’.

And sometimes it does.

In honesty though, most schools will want you to sign a contract for the whole school year, meaning that doing a few months here, and a couple of months there is not always as easy as it sounds.  In addition, it is not always a ‘given’ that you will find good jobs in decent schools where you will be well-looked after, adequately remunerated…and given enough free time to make the most of being in these far-flung, exotic places.

The working conditions and salaries for TEFL teachers vary enormously from country to country, and even from school to school. This is principally a result of the unregulated nature of the industry, and the lack of uniformity that ensues.

When it comes to teaching EFL abroad, the majority of jobs are to be found in private language schools. In short, there are good language schools and there are bad language schools. If you’re lucky, you will find a job in a well- run school, where teachers and their professional development are valued. There, you would hopefully be offered a decent wage and in-house development sessions. If you’re unlucky, you’ll find yourself working for an unscrupulous employer who charges over the odds to their students of English, and pays their teachers a pittance!

TEFL is not a well-paid profession, and no wage will ever be hugely substantial in Western terms, but some salaries are much better than others.

The issue of EFL teachers’ salaries has long been contentious, and it does seem unfair that in Western Europe certainly, they are not generally comparable to those of teachers in mainstream education. Anyone looking to forge a long-term career in TEFL would probably struggle to earn enough to get by without ascending to the position of Director of Studies, Teacher Trainer, Academic Manager or School Principal after their initial stint as a classroom teacher.

For those who use TEFL as a way to go abroad for a couple of years and “see the world” the argument tends to be that the experience is more intended to enrich in terms of cultural and international awareness, rather then financial gain. Granted, this is a concept that is often exploited as a convenient excuse for low-wage brackets and antisocial working hours, but to a certain extent it is true.

My stint as a teacher abroad certainly didn’t make me megabucks, but it did give me a bona fide experience of living and working in a foreign country. Yes, I worked some antisocial hours (and wasn’t always gushing in my accounts when talking to friends and family at the time!) but I met nice people, learned some of the local language, and learnt some new skills that genuinely have helped me professionally.

More about TEFL courses worldwide