Language taster classes: try a lesson for free!

If you’re unsure whether language learning is for you, a language taster class is just what you need.

Cactus language taster classes are available in a variety of languages and locations across the country. Our next taster classes take place in September, prior to our October 2015 courses.

Why come to a taster class?

  • Taster classes are free, quick and fun!
  • They are a great opportunity to sample a 30-minute lesson before committing to a full 10-week evening course
  • You will meet like-minded people in a social environment
  • After your class you will have the chance to chat to Cactus about your language learning plans and dreams, and receive expert advice
  • Languages available include: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Dutch, Japanese and Russian
  • Learning a language will boost your career, make holidays and travel more enjoyable and enable you to meet so many more people!

If you are interested in attending a taster class, please sign up here.

If you are unable to join us, please call us on 01273 830 960 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Check out www.languagecoursesuk.co.uk for a full list of evening courses and fill in your details to be in with a chance to win a FREE evening course!

 

¿Qué debo hacer para aprender inglés?

La respuesta es simple: cuanto más tiempo dediques a aprender y practicar inglés, más rápido aprenderás. Para aprender inglés necesitas practicar.

A modo de guía, si quieres llegar a un nivel intermedio de inglés (B1) partiendo de un conocimiento cero, te llevará:

• Varios años si estudias 2 horas a la semana
• 6 meses si estudias 15 horas a la semana
• 12 semanas si estudias 30 horas a la semana

8 consejos que te ayudarán a aprender inglés más rápido:

1. Relájate y disfruta
Cuando estamos estresados, si algo nos da vergüenza o nos produce frustración, el cerebro produce hormonas de estrés que actúan como un mecanismo de defensa. Esto ralentiza todo proceso cerebral, excepto aquellos necesarios para sobrevivir. No te lo tomes demasiado en serio y te darás cuenta de que aprendes más rápido de lo que crees.

2. Práctica, práctica, práctica
La práctica hace al maestro. Aprende palabras y frases y úsalos con tu profesor, otros estudiantes,tu familia de acogida – con todo el mundo. No es necesario ser perfecto. Cuanto más practiques, más rápido vaa a progresar en inglés.

3. Reduce la velocidad
La fluidez no implica hablar rápido – significa ser capaz de hablar inglés sin tener que pensar en cómo decir las cosas. Cuanto más practiques todo tipo de habla, más fácil te resultará.

4. Lee
A través de la lectura se aprende mucho vocabulario, expresiones y frases hechas, es una forma rápida y fácil – puedes leer en tu teléfono o tableta, mientras viajas o unos minutos mientras desayunas. Aprovecha la oportunidad y memoriza palabras y frases que te interesen.

5. Establece metas
Ponerte metas te mantiene encaminado y es ideal para motivarte. De esta manera se fragmenta el proceso de aprendizaje de inglés en objetivos fáciles de conseguir y así podrás ir alegrándote por tus logros. A cambio, te ayudará a aprender rápidamente, te mantendrá motivado y te marcará el calendario que tienes que seguir. Piensa en los motivos que te han llevado a aprender inglés y basa tus objetivos en esto.

6. Aprende con un amigo

Si tienes un amigo con tu mismo nivel de inglés proponte aprender inglés juntos. Podéis probar a hablar inglés (sin que os de vergüenza), ver una película en inglés o incluso viajar a un país de habla inglesa juntos. Si tienes a alguien a quien no quieres defraudar esto jugará un papel importante en tu motivación y progreso.

7. Deja de disculparte

No pases tanto tiempo disculpándote por tus errores y usa ese tiempo para alegrarte por los logros que estás haciendo. Cada vez que abres la boca para decir algo, estás mejorando – así que ¡cree en ti mismo! Cambia esos “No hablo mucho inglés” por un lenguaje más positivo: “Estoy aprendiendo; ¿Podría hablar un poco más lento? “. Sentirte bien con tu inglés te dará un impulso y ganas de aprender aún más.

8. No te rindas

Aprenderás inglés más rápido si aceptas desde el principio que requiere de esfuerzo y

determinación. Para lograr hablar inglés de manera fluida, es probable que tengas que pasar por malentendidos, momentos de frustración y de vergüenza así como un atleta tiene que sobrellevar el dolor, las lesiones y las derrotas en su camino para lograr una medalla de oro olímpica. Cada palabra que dices te está ayudando a aprender inglés, sea o no lo que querías decir. Por eso, salta los obstáculos para poder lograr el nivel de inglés que deseas más rápido.

¡Buena suerte!

Cactus trabaja con escuelas en todo el mundo seleccionadas meticulosamente para ofrecer cursos de inglés que se adapten a todos los intereses y presupuestos. Desde programas de cursos académicos de inglés en Londres hasta cursos intensivos de inglés en Nueva York, nuestros cursos son idóneos para quienes quieren aprender inglés para los negocios, por placer o para viajar.

¿Cuánto tiempo se tarda en aprender inglés?

 ¿Cuánto tiempo se tarda en aprender inglés? La respuesta a esta pregunta se ha convertido en un tema muy popular y relevante dada la gran cantidad de personas en todo el mundo que quiere aprender inglés.

Los factores que determinan el tiempo que podría llevar aprender inglés son muchos. Estos incluyen:

1. ¿Cuánto estás expuesto al inglés en tu entorno cotidiano?

Aprenderás inglés rápidamente si estás expuesto al idioma todos los días, todo el día – por ejemplo, si estás viviendo, trabajando, estudiando o viajando en un país de habla inglesa. Hacer un curso de inglés en un país de habla inglesa es la mejor manera de aprender inglés rápido ya que estarás recibiendo clases de inglés de calidad a la vez que estás inmerso en el idioma y la cultura todos los días fuera de clase.

Si no tienes la posibilidad de hacer un curso de inglés en el extranjero, intenta exponerte al inglés lo máximo que puedas en casa. Si puedes, pasa una hora o más cada día estudiando inglés, notarás la mejoría mucho más rápidamente que si sólo pasas una o dos horas cada semana estudiando el idioma. Una buena idea es hacer un curso de inglés por las tardes una vez a la semana, y complementar esto con auto-estudio en casa y con la lectura de periódicos en inglés, la televisión, la radio y el cine.

2. ¿A qué edad se debe empezar a aprender inglés?

Se puede empezar a aprender inglés a cualquier edad, bien es cierto que los niños tienden a tener más facilidades dado que sus cerebros aún se están formando y muestran una aptitud lingüística natural. Los niños absorben el inglés rápidamente y desarrollan una pronunciación auténtica, sin las inhibiciones que normalmente nos afectan a los adultos. Los niños tienen más facilidades para desarrollar las habilidades auditivas y de expresión oral, mientras que los adultos pueden sobresalir en primera instancia en la escritura y la lectura. Empieza cuanto antes, cuando somos jóvenes el aprendizaje es más rápido. Pero no dejes que eso te detenga si lo que quieres es aprender inglés ya de adulto. Con el curso adecuado, con una actitud positiva hacia el idioma y con perseverancia se puede aprender inglés a cualquier edad.

3. Si hablas otros idiomas

Si ya hablas un segundo o tercer idioma, esto te ayudará a aprender inglés rápido. Tu cerebro ya estará acostumbrado a los procesos de aprendizaje de idiomas y contarás con una mejor comprensión gramática general y los tiempos verbales. Y si alguna de esas lenguas es una lengua germánica occidental con raíces en el latín te será aún más fácil ya que están estrechamente relacionadas con el inglés. El conocimiento de alguna lengua escandinava (sueco, noruego, danés) o romance (francés, español, italiano) también podrá acelerar el progreso en el aprendizaje del inglés.

4. El nivel de fluidez que desea conseguir en inglés

Si lo que quieres es aprender a defenderte en inglés esto te llevará mucho menos tiempo que conseguir hablar un inglés fluido. Para algunos estudiantes el objetivo es tener un nivel intermedio (B1), otros necesitan un nivel B2 (para comunicarse en el ámbito empresarial), o el nivel C1 (para comunicarse de manera efectiva en el ámbito empresarial, para realizar estudios universitarios), o incluso para estudios universitarios de postgrado (para enseñar inglés o para realizar estudios de periodismo internacional). Cuanto mayores sean los objetivos que te has propuesto con el idioma, más tiempo y esfuerzo necesitarás invertir.

Cuantas más horas le dediques a la semana, más rápido irás mejorando. Si partes de 0, puede llevarte 10 años llegar a un nivel B2 si le dedicas 2 horas a la semana. Sin embargo, puedes llegar al mismo nivel en un año si le dedicas 25 horas semanales.

5. ¿Se te da bien aprender rápido?

Todos somos diferentes en la forma en que aprendemos y la velocidad a la que lo hacemos. Tú mejor que nadie sabes cuánto tiempo te lleva aprender cosas nuevas y cómo de bien se te dan los idiomas. Incluso si te resulta complicado aprender idiomas, no te desanimes – que no te aparte del aprendizaje del inglés ya que de por encima de todo es una lengua tremendamente útil y es muy gratificante poder hablarla. Encuentra tu forma de aprenderlo mejor y hazlo divertido – ponte a ver películas en inglés, a leer revistas en este idioma, juega a juegos ingleses o haz tu propio cuaderno en el que recopiles las palabras que vas aprendiendo.

Los profesores de inglés son expertos en encontrar formas de sacar lo mejor de cada tipo de alumno y un curso de inglés es sin duda la mejor manera de aprender con independencia del tipo de estudiante que seas.

¡Buena suerte y a disfrutar del aprendizaje del inglés!

Para más información y asesoramiento sobre los cursos de inglés, ponte en contacto con Cactus. Cactus tiene más de 15 años de experiencia en la organización de cursos de inglés en todo el mundo para todas las edades y presupuestos. Desde cursos de inglés general hasta cursos de inglés comercial, pasando por clases particulares de inglés, cursos de preparación para exámenes de inglés, cursos de inglés para niños, programas de inglés para un año académico y muchos más.

www.cactuslanguage.com

CELTA and Trinity: Which TEFL course is for you?

What is the difference between the Cambridge CELTA and Trinity TESOL?

Both the Cambridge CELTA and Trinity TESOL are English language teaching certificates that are accredited and recognised all over the world. As a result there are actually more similarities between the two courses than differences, but we shall look at the finer details of both.

Similarities

–          Both are accredited by highly respected institutions: TESOL by Trinity College London and CELTA by University of Cambridge English Language Assessment (formerly University of Cambridge ESOL)

–          Entry criteria for both includes: being over 18 years of age; having a standard of education equivalent to that required for higher education; a good level of spoken and written English; a good level of language awareness

–          Both include 6 hours of teaching practice with real English language students

–          Both courses comprise 5 units of learning

–          Non-native English language speakers with CAE PASS or IELTS 7.0 can apply to both

–          There is no final exam for either and assessment is continuous throughout the course

–          Both courses have a duration of a minimum 4 weeks

Differences

–          The CELTA must last for a minimum of 120 hours, the TESOL for 130 hours

–          The 5 units of learning for Trinity are:

  1. Teaching skills
  2. Language Awareness
  3. The Learner Profile
  4. Materials Assignment
  5. Unknown Language

–          The 5 units of learning of CELTA are:

  1. Learners and Teachers/Teaching and Learning
  2. Language Analysis and Awareness
  3. Language Skills
  4. Planning and Resources for Different Contexts
  5. Developing Teaching Skills and Professionalism

–         An external moderator will mark unit 4 for the TESOL and the whole course will be moderated by an external assessor for the CELTA.

–          For TESOL the final grades are either pass or fail. For CELTA the final grades are Pass A, Pass B, Pass or Fail.

Which one should I take?

Given the similarities between the two courses and that they carry the same weight in terms of international recognition, the main three deciding factors when choosing between the CELTA and TESOL are:

1. Price

The TESOL generally tends to be a little cheaper than the CELTA, although this is not always the case.

2. Location

When it comes to location, large cities will have centres that offer both the TESOL and the CELTA, but smaller cities may only offer one of the courses. If location is a key factor then this may limit your choice or options.

3. Facilities and reputation of the centre

All TESOL and CELTA centres are externally moderated and inspected, and must adhere to the standards and criteria set out by Trinity and Cambridge. However, not all centres are exactly the same in terms of facilities and reputation, and this is often reflected in the price. If you are looking for specific facilities such as air conditioning throughout, a good on-site café or a maximum group size of 12, then you need to look in detail at the specifics of what each centre offers and this may determine which course you choose to go for.

student and teacher looking smiling at the libraryCactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. Cactus works with well-known course providers to offer CELTA, TESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. Cactus TEFL also offers free post-course careers advice and support, as well as access to our very own TEFL jobs board and job alerts.

 

The Language Show Live & The Expat Show – Autumn 2015

Whether you want to learn a language for relocation, work, love or brain power, come and talk to Cactus at two fantastic shows this year – and make the most of our special show offers and spectacular course giveaways!

1. The Expat Show

expat-show-large-2015

11th-12th September 2015 – Olympia, London

Moving abroad is a big decision, especially if you are moving to a country where a different language is spoken. Cactus can help you make the process smooth and enjoyable by designing a bespoke language course to suit you and your family – be it through lessons before you go (evening language course or private tuition) or once you are in your new location (language course at a local school or private tuition). Speaking the language will help you integrate into the local community and feel at home much more quickly; it will also help you to make friends, give you confidence and make daily routine much easier.

Visit us on Stand A12 in the Relocation & Lifestyle Centre for a FREE language needs analysis and to claim your £50 voucher to put towards any language course! We will talk you through the best language learning solution for you and make sure you are fully prepared to follow your dream. You can also enter a competition to WIN one of 11 free language courses abroad!

2. Language Show LIVE

language-show--large-2015

16th-18th October 2015 – Olympia, London

For anyone with any language interest, the Language Show is a brilliant source of inspiration, ideas, advice and offers – all of which will be brought to you by Cactus this year! We are passionate about languages and we would love to speak to you about your language learning goals – whether you are a teacher looking to go away with a school group, a parent, a student or someone who just loves languages. With our range of school group trips, evening language courses in the UK, language courses abroad and TEFL courses worldwide, we really do have something for everyone and are always happy to advise on the best language course for you.

Visit us on Stand 532 to enter a competition to WIN one of 11 free language courses abroad, or a free evening course in the UK!

And come along to our FREE language taster classes – a fun-packed half-hour session for beginners, available on a first-come, first-served basis. A great opportunity to try something new!

  • Friday 16 October            12:45 – 13:15      Dutch
  • Friday 16 October            16:30 – 17:00     Norwegian
  • Saturday 17 October       16:30 – 17:00      Hindi
  • Sunday 18 October          12:00 – 12:30     Portuguese
  • Sunday 18 October          15:45 – 16:15     German

We look forward to seeing you and, if you are signed up to receive our newsletters, we’ll drop you a friendly email nearer the time with full details of our special show offers.

See you there!

Five reasons why you should do an Online TEFL Course

Cactus TEFL’s online English Language Awareness course is a great option for anyone about to embark on a TEFL course. The ideal CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL preparation course, it will give you solid, all-round knowledge of English grammar and save a lot of time when it comes to planning lessons.

If you don’t have time to take the course before you do your TEFL training, there are still plenty of reasons why it’s beneficial to complete it before you start your first teaching job:

1. Knowledge

There are certain countries where much of the English language teaching is based around conversation lessons, but the vast majority of TEFL jobs will involve as much emphasis on grammar as on conversation. Having a good working knowledge of the ins and outs of English grammar will help enormously when it comes to lesson planning – having to revise your grammar before you plan your lesson will add hours to your preparation!

2. Confidence

Making sure your English grammar is up to scratch before you step into the classroom will give you the confidence to deal with tricky grammar questions that students (particularly in high level classes) might have for you. You can avoid those embarrassing silences and any unnecessary stress when eager students quiz you on the differences between the past simple and the present perfect!

3. Reputation

Our ELA course was produced in conjunction with respected ELT teacher, teacher trainer and course book author, John Hughes. John is a highly influential figure within the TEFL industry, running ELT writing courses for Oxford University, consultation for language schools as well as his own popular ELT blogs and columns for The Guardian. The ELA course was also nominated for the British Council Innovation Award after it was launched, a wonderful and well-deserved accolade!

4. Employability

Doing the ELA course as a CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL preparation course, or prior to any other TEFL course, will look impressive on your CV and show that you are both keen and knowledgeable.

5. Value for Money

At just £95, ELA is great value for money. However, if you book your TEFL course through Cactus you will receive a discounted English Language Awareness course, at £50 reduced from £95 – plus a FREE English Language Methodology course.

Find out more about the English Language Awareness course and search TEFL courses worldwide with Cactus TEFL.

 

How much language can you learn in one year?

New year is a great time to learn a new language, as it not only ticks off a worthy resolution but it gives you valuable skills to take forward. But the big question is – how much language can you really learn in one year?

Whether in preparation for an overseas business trip, to secure a deal with foreign partners or to maximise your employment potential, learning a language will put you one step ahead in the global community and bring you instant respect and admiration.

By making it your goal to learn or improve a language in 2015, you can track your progress from January to December and see how much you’ve learned over the year. Be honest about the time you can commit each week to your target language and make realistic short-term goals; this is the secret to keeping focused and energised!

So how much language can you expect to learn in one year?

This depends on factors such as:

  • Your existing level
  • Your learning style
  • The amount of time you have
  • The amount of self-study you do
  • The number of participants in your group
  • If you can spend time in a country where the language is spoken

We can offer a general guideline to help you plan your language training. Let’s take the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which all Cactus courses are designed around, whereby A1 is beginner level and C2 is proficient.

If we take the most extreme case of wanting to progress from beginner level (A1) in January to proficient (C2) by December, you will need 375 hours of 1:1 class time* plus 255 hours of self-study.

That’s a one-hour class every day of the year – but of course, realistically, you’re more likely to study for a couple of hours at a time, and may put it many more hours on a holiday or business trip.

Let’s say you know the basics in a language and want to gain a bit more confidence, but there’s no rush. Transitting from beginner (A1) to elementary (A2) will require 45 hours of 1:1 classes, plus another 30 hours of self-study. If you do two-hours a week you will reach your goal in under six months!

Break it down into days, weeks and months and it’s easy to design a course that complements your learning style, suits your lifestyle and reflects your end goals. Whatever your language learning resolutions, your teacher will sit down with you at the beginning of your course to plan the content and make sure that you end the year on a linguistic high.

Bon nouvel an…feliz año nuevo…guten Rutsch…happy new year!

Cactus Language Training specialises in organising language courses for individuals and groups, having done so since 1999 for clients all over the globe and for diverse needs and budgets. Our expertise in the field of face-to-face tuition is second-to-none. With an extensive network of approved teachers and a strong in-house academic team, we are able to tailor a language course to suit your specific learning needs, anywhere in the world and whenever is convenient to you.

 

FREE methodology course worth £220 with Cactus TEFL

As experts in the English Language Teaching industry, Cactus has designed its very own online English Language Methodology (ELM) course and is offering it FREE to teacher trainees who book through Cactus TEFL

A companion course to the popular English Language Awareness (ELA) course, the ELM course is ideal if you:

  • have completed the ELA course and would now like to look at the methodology of teaching the language
  • are thinking about a career in EFL and want to see if it’s right for you
  • are already teaching EFL and want to learn more about TEFL methodology
  • want to prepare yourself as best you can for your EFL course
  • would like an introduction to EFL in advance of a gap year or volunteer project

How does the ELM course work?

  • Your subscription is valid for 90 days from the date you pay/enrol
  • The course is divided into 5 sections of 6 lessons each (30 lessons in total), each lesson focusing on a different area of TEFL
  • At the end of each section you submit an assignment which will receive feedback from a tutor
  • The course should take between 60-90 hours, depending on your experience and knowledge
  • You can pay a supplement to renew your subscription for a period of 45 days

How to claim your free ELM

If you book your TEFL course through Cactus you are entitled to a free English Language Methodology course. Once you have applied and been accepted onto your chosen course, you should provide Cactus with your proof of payment from the school. We will then send you your ELM course joining details.*

Good luck!

Cactus TEFL enables you to research and compare CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL and online TEFL courses in over 90 locations worldwide. Please visit www.cactustefl.com or call us on 00 44 (0) 1273 830 960 for friendly, impartial advice.

*Should you subsequently cancel and request a refund for your TEFL course, Cactus reserves the right to withdraw your access to the ELM online course.

What is the difference between CELTA and TESOL?

The Cambridge CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL are the two key qualifications recognised by the British Council and reputable English language schools worldwide.

They are the most prestigious English language teaching qualifications you can obtain, and will enable you to teach English almost anywhere in the world you choose.

In reality, there is little to differentiate the CELTA from the CertTESOL. Both courses can be done over 4 or 5 weeks full-time, or 12-20 weeks part-time, and the overall aim is for you to become a confident, competent teacher of English.

CELTA Trinity CertTESOL
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Min 120 hours over min 4 weeks Min 130 hours over min 4 weeks
Min 6 hours’ teaching practice Min 6 hours’ teaching practice
Accredited by the Cambridge University examining board Accredited by Trinity College London
Includes a component that teaches you a new language

Teaching practice is a very important component, as this takes place in front of your peers and/or real students, and gives you a real feel for what it’s like to stand up at the front of a classroom and deliver a class.  Whilst 6 hours is little time to actually spend teaching, the preparation involved in planning the lessons, as well as time spent watching your peers in action, ensures that you firmly grasp the process of lesson planning and gain the confidence and ability to teach in real life.

Your CELTA or CertTESOL will also work on your language (grammar) awareness. If you would like to brush up your English grammar and gain confidence in the language you are teaching, the Cactus online English Language Awareness has been specifically created to prepare teachers with the grammar they need to teach English. Normal price £95 / reduced price £50 when you book your 4-week course with Cactus TEFL.

Unless you are already set on a particular course, your decision as to CELTA versus TESOL may well boil down to factors such as location and price. For advice on these and other English Language Teaching qualifications, visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775 to discuss the options available to you.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.

Do I need TEFL?

An ELT qualification is your passport to teach English anywhere in the world, and this is why you need TEFL.

If you want to teach English abroad and earn any kind of living from it, you will need an English Language Teaching (ELT) qualification – otherwise known as Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This will certify that you have trained to be a teacher and understand at least the basics of lesson preparation, class management, language work and activities. These skills will also give you the confidence to stand in front of a group of expectant English learners and deliver a lesson that’s rewarding for both you and them.

As for the level of training you need, that depends on where you want to work. Language schools in popular countries where competition is high – such as the UK, Spain and Italy – will normally require teachers to hold either the Cambridge CELTA or the Trinity CertTESOL, which are the two most prestigious and internationally recognised teaching qualifications. Both of these provide a minimum 120-hour course with valuable teaching practice. If you intend to make a proper living from teaching, this is what you should aim for.

In other countries where demand for jobs is low, in more remote areas or if you only wish to teach on an informal or voluntary basis, you might consider an equivalent or an online TEFL course. These courses are often cheaper and shorter, but they do still prepare you to teach English and may be entirely sufficient for your teaching goals. Note that online courses do not include teaching practice, so these are better if you already have teaching experience.

In summary, you do need to take an ELT course if you want to teach English at home or abroad, but do some research and try to establish what your overall aims are – how long you want to teach for, where you want to teach, how much money you wish or need to earn – and that will help you decide what kind of course you need. Otherwise, the best bet is to take a CELTA or CertTESOL from the outset as this is the highest qualification you can obtain and will enable you to find work anywhere you choose.

Visit Cactus TEFL or call us on 0845 130 4775 to discuss the options available to you and get yourself off on the right footing. 

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.