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My daughter’s language learning adventure: a parent’s perspective

An American mother shares her thoughts with us as her daughter goes to learn Japanese in Tokyo

“It is with delight that I write this blog for Cactus. Right from the beginning Cactus helped us embark on my daughter’s journey to Japan with confidence, enthusiasm, and trust that all would be well. And so it has been…

I can’t say that I was not a bit anxious sending Dana across the world on her own to learn Japanese in Tokyo. And, I can’t say that as each day successfully passes I don’t enter the next with some trepidation. That being said, having reached the midpoint of Dana’s stay I am pleased to share this parent’s point of view.

Dana is 19 years old and has always had a passion for Japanese. So when she suggested that she take a leave of absence from college to “find herself” and explore her passion, I was not surprised. In fact, I was impressed that she knew herself well enough to know that she was not feeling passionate at college and needed to explore. The hardest part for me was letting go and having the trust to let her do this exploration on her own.

tokyo-japaneseDana is accomplishing her objective. Through the impressive curriculum and faculty at the language school, Dana’s command of the Japanese language is developing every day. Her classes consist of students from all over the world and so she has expanded her social network with friends from places like Spain and Sweden.

Given the diversity of the students it has been inspiring to hear how friendly, helpful, compassionate, and tolerant everyone has been. This is a snapshot of what I hope for the world.

From what I can tell the school is located in the midst of fun and interesting places for the kids to explore. Having the freedom to get to these places easily has not only added to the “fun factor” but has given Dana the opportunity to practise her Japanese skills with the “locals.”

Do I miss her? Yes, a lot. However technology has softened the blow for both of us. We video-chat just about every day. In fact, we spend more time seeing each other and talking now than we do when we are living under the same roof. And, video- chat gives Dana the opportunity to stay connected to her dogs.

There are 25 days left of Dana’s adventure. I look forward to sharing the rest of the story.”

Dana studied Japanese in Tokyo with Cactus. Cactus offers language courses in over 120 destinations worldwide.

Dana wrote about her initial impressions of Tokyo when she first arrived and about her experiences mid-way through her course. For anyone thinking about taking a language course abroad, Dana’s articles offer a unique insight into life in a foreign country, including the fears and excitement that come with a long-term course. Thank you both to Dana and her mother Robin for contributing to our website, and we hope that future students (and parents of) will find their comments reassuring and useful.

If you have a language learning or language teaching query, please visit our blog or get in contact with us either by Facebook or by Twitter. Alternatively, feel free to contact us here or call to speak to one of our advisors on  .

10 ways to help your children learn a language

Our top tips for encouraging language learning at home

It’s well known that learning something when you’re young is the secret to learning it well, and for life. No more so is this relevant than in learning a foreign language, which – as any adult learner will testify – is more difficult later in life.

A child, on the other hand, their brain growing and eager to absorb new things, will soak up new language quickly. Expose them to a second language at an early age (before 10 is good; before 5 is great) and they show an innate ability to learn new words and develop natural pronunciation, without the inhibition that hinders us later in life.

Whether you have a toddler or a teen, there is plenty you can do, and you don’t even have to be good at languages yourself – take this as an opportunity to learn a language alongside your child!

Here are our top 10 ways to help your kids learn a language:

1. Nursery rhymes and songs

Younger children react positively to the repetition and melody of nursery rhymes and songs. Even if they don’t understand the words at first, this is a fun and effective way to absorb a foreign language. Go beyond Frère Jacques by buying a CD of French songs such as French Playground or 60 Comptines pour Crèche; alternatively, the BBC website offers fun, basic songs for primary school-aged children. Grab a few instruments and have a morning of music and fun!

2. Story tapes

Search for your child’s favourite story in another language. Bob the Builder becomes Bob le Bricoleur, Little Red Riding Hood becomes Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs becomes Blancanieve y los 7 enanitos. Even Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer have been translated. Read the foreign language version along with your child, or play the CD that narrates the story for you both.

3. Word & picture cards

A basic idea, but a great way to learn and remember vocabulary, as it’s much easier to remember a word when associated with a colourful image. Simply write the name of an object, in the target language, next to a picture of that object. Then stick these cards around the house, for constant exposure, or bring them out as a game to name objects in the house and garden.

4. Indulge in the local culture!
french-croissantIf it takes a chocolat chaud and a croissant, then so be it. Pretend that you are living in France for the day and surround yourselves at home with French-related goodies. Play some French music or French radio in the background, draw a French flag, make a necklace with red, white and blue beads, serve baguette and French cheeses for lunch, play boules in the garden, and end the day with a trip to the local crêperie. It’s the next best thing to being in France.

 

5. Find a pen pal

children-learning-languages-smallOnce you child is a bit older and knows the basics in a foreign language, a pen pal is a great way to practise the language and exert some independence. There’s nothing like the excitement of an air mail letter dropping on the doormat (who receives hand-written letters these days?), or an email into the Inbox, to encourage a flurry of letter-writing back. Having a pen pal abroad is also a great way to learn about culture in another country and appreciate the differences in lifestyle, eg. school, food, holidays, hobbies, etc. – proving how language exposure can help your child to increase perspective.

6. Interactive learning

Like it or not, your child is growing up in a technically advanced world. Put aside Minecraft and use the tablet to hook up to some excellent interactive and educational programmes online. For younger children, the BBC’s Muzzy series is a fun language course led by a cuddly, green character and comprising DVDs, audio, songs and written work. Older children familiar with Wii and Nintendo will like their My French Coach (and My Spanish Coach) language software. An easy compromise if they like computer games, these games are fun and interactive whilst providing the basics of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

7. Podcasts

Older children will love the technology and independence of downloading their own free language podcasts from iTunes. Le Journal en Français Facile is a daily and easily-understood podcast delivering the nightly news from Radio France Internationale, and likewise Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten does so in German. Follow with the transcript to catch those words you’re not sure of.

8. Talk about them in another language

A cunning ploy if you and your partner both speak another language. A colleague at work revealed that the most successful way to get his girls to learn French was to chat to his wife, about them, in French. Frustrated at not understanding the conversation, the girls had immediate impetus to up their game and catch their parents out. Sure enough, as dad told mum one night that he thought “Elle est fatiguée”, the oldest daughter responded quite indignantly, “Je ne suis PAS fatiguée!”.

9. Speak the language yourself

Practise what you preach! If your kids hear you speaking a language at home they will be more likely to speak it themselves. Drop in key words around the house, such as when you want them to pass you something, at meal times or bathtime. Even if at first they don’t understand, repetition will help their little brains to absorb the language and one day say it back to you.

10. Go abroad

barcelona_parc_guellMoney permitting, a trip to the country of the language your child is learning can really boost motivation and progress. In the exciting run-up to your holiday you can all practise the language together, and once there your child will absorb all the sights and sounds, be able to practise the basics, and get a real feel for another culture. Being able to travel and speak to people of other nationalities and cultures is, after all, what learning a language is all about.

 


Cactus runs after-school language courses for juniors aged 7-15 years in London and in Brighton. Courses start in September 2015 and run for 10 weeks. Available in French, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, the emphasis is on learning through games, songs and other fun age-appropriate activities to make language learning educational and enjoyable.

Parents wishing to send their children abroad to learn a language can book one of our popular summer language camps for 5-18 year olds.

 

Cactus Language Newsletter – July 2015

Welcome to the Cactus Summer newsletter!

Our new quarterly newsletter brings you top tips and ideas for the coming months, as well as some offers and incentives to learn a language while the sun’s shining…

1. Junior language camps – a wise choice for the summer

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The summer holidays may be upon us, but it’s not too late to book a holiday of a lifetime for your children. Our junior language camps for 5-18 year olds are fun-packed, educational and confidence-boosting!

2. 10 top locations to learn Spanish this summer

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Tropical beaches, magnificent colonial cities, superb water sports, Mayan ruins, sumptuous food, wine tasting and nightlife…whatever you want from your holiday, you can find it with a Spanish course!

3. Sneak Preview! Ollie Phillips in Spain

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Cactus Ambassador Ollie Phillips has recently jetted off to Spain with Cactus, to practise his Spanish in Seville and catch some waves surfing in Cadiz. We asked you what you wanted to see Ollie do in Spain and you voted flamenco…so see Ollie dancing flamenco and look out for the upcoming video of his trip!

4. Join Cactus at the Language Show and The Expat Show – Autumn 2015

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Whether you’re learning a language for relocation, work, love or brain power, join us at these two fantastic shows where you can try a language class for free, win a language course and claim your free language learning voucher.

5. NEW Corporate Language Training Website

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June 2015 marked the launch of our new Cactus Language Training website, your new platform for private and corporate language training worldwide. To celebrate we are offering a £50 voucher off your next course!

Have a great summer and we’ll see you in September!

The Cactus Team

School trips abroad: make language learning real

School trips abroad allow students to see the useful of the language they are learning for themselves.

If there is one subject that gets a hard time in the UK, it’s modern languages. As the world becomes better at English, and British students opt for other subjects that are portrayed as more useful and appealing, once popular subjects such as French, Spanish and German are in worrying decline. Yet if there is one subject that equips students for the future, preparing them for life on the global platform and increasing their employability and earning potential, it’s – yes – languages.

With the country “producing too few young professionals with good language skills to meet the country’s needs” (Language Survey Trends 2013/2014 – British Council), the real and pressing issue today is to encourage more of our younger learners to embrace languages. Comparing Britain’s struggle to equip students with a basic level in one foreign language to the European Commission’s impressive achievement of 61% of secondary school pupils across Europe studying two foreign languages (forecast to increase to 75% by 2020) shows there is clear potential to improve second language ability in the UK.

The situation at secondary education level obviously has an impact on language learning in higher education: in 2014, not one language featured in the top 10 courses studied at university. Instead, subjects related to medicine, business studies and the fashionable creative arts hold far greater appeal to the students of today.

So what can we do to reignite the interest in second languages?

As experts in modern languages and empowered with the task of educating the next generation, we have the responsibility to show our younger learners the true value of learning a foreign language and how it can change their lives.

segovia_childrenOne way to do this is to make language learning real. If we can take foreign language students out of the classroom and transport them to a country where the language is spoken – encouraging them to soak up the culture, explore the history and indulge in the food – it can make all the difference to their linguistic and all-round education. Indeed, in its report titled ‘Learning outside the classroom’, Ofsted identified that primary and secondary schools who take learning outside the classroom “make subjects more vivid and interesting for pupils and enhance their understanding”.

In the case of learning a language, the benefits are manifold. Speaking the language in a real-life situation is the quickest way for any student to improve their spoken language, even if (and especially if) mistakes are made. From ordering a Fanta Limón in a café to telling your host family about your family back home, being abroad gives the impetus, need and desire to speak the target language. It’s no longer role play in class back home: these conversations have a purpose and generate a real sense of achievement.

The same Ofsted report alludes to further advantages, stating that learning outside the classroom “can also contribute significantly to pupils’ personal social and emotional development”. 

And this is arguably as important as any linguistic growth. Giving young people the chance to spend time in another country, learning about another culture and customs, is giving them the gift of global knowledge. They are likely to become tolerant citizens and more accepting of other cultures in their future social and professional lives. They will also learn more about themselves, and in rising to new challenges they will gain confidence that can be transferred to many aspects of life and learning.

seville_clic_courtyardA high quality language study trip will include language lessons geared to your students’ level at a local language school, to give them a solid foundation in the language, and allow them to spend the afternoons enjoying fun social, sporting and cultural activities. Safe and comfortable accommodation with carefully selected host families provides a relaxed environment in which to further practise the language and experience the culture first-hand. If your students are preparing for their GCSE Spanish or A Level German, for example, a language trip abroad will help them to progress their skills at a criticial time in their development.

The overall result is that school trips can lay strong foundations for building a positive attitude during the highly impressionable teenage years; this in turn leads to positive aspirations, enhanced relationships (with teachers, parents, the community) and improved well-being. Increased career prospects down the line are an added and significant bonus.

Learning languages through inspiring trips abroad is more relevant and necessary for our students than ever before – and the good news is, it’s easy to make this happen. Seek out a good language training company and they will be able to design a bespoke trip to match your group’s age, level and interests; organise a familiarisation trip; and visit your school to chat to teachers and parents in advance of the trip.

Let’s get our teenagers speaking more languages, both inside and outside the classroom!

happy positive teenagersCactus is a leading provider of language courses and specialises in arranging high quality language trips for school groups abroad. Language tuition, comfortable accommodation, stimulating activities and safety are at the heart of every trip we organise, and every trip is tailored to the needs of the group.

We regularly visit schools to talk to teachers, parents and students about the benefits and logistics of school group travel. www.cactuslanguage.com

Junior language camps – a wise choice for the summer

Learn a language, make friends of the same age, enjoy fun activities and excursions – and pass those exams!

If your child is learning a language, a summer language camp will give them the holiday of a lifetime and put them one step ahead when they return to school in September.

These camps  offer a fantastic opportunity for students aged 5-18 years to learn their chosen language in a safe and fun environment, where small group language classes are accompanied by exciting activities and excursions, comfortable accommodation in a host family or residence and 24-hour supervision.

Why book a language camp?

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  • Hand-picked selection of locations to study French, Spanish, Italian, German and English
  • Stimulating programme of social, sporting and cultural activities
  • Courses geared to different ages between 5-18 years
  • International environment guaranteeing new friends of the same age from all over the world
  • Great way to boost confidence and improve language skills naturally
  • Excellent preparation for GCSE and A Level exams
  • Increased employability and opportunities upon leaving school (see how studying abroad can make you smarter)
  • Courses for parents available in the same location

Where do we offer language camps?

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Spanish language camps:

Spain: Seville / Denia / San Sebastian / Segovia

Costa Rica: Heredia

French language camps:

France: Montpellier / Cannes / Antibes

Canada: Quebec City

German language camps:

Germany: Berlin / Lindenberg / Augsburg

* Summer programmes for young adults aged 16-20 years are also available in Berlin and Vienna.

Italian language camps:

Italy: Salerno

English language camps:

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England: London / Cambridge / Canterbury / Nottingham / Southampton / Brighton / Manchester / Liverpool / Cheltenham / Bournemouth / Ascot

Ireland: Dublin

Scotland: Edinburgh

USA: Long Island, New York / Brooklyn, New York

 

Most courses are available from one week upwards during the summer months. We are also experienced in arranging school trips abroad, in these and other locations.

Contact us or call us on 00 44 (0) 1273 830 960 for further information and a quote.

For full information on junior language camps please visit the Cactus Language website.

10 great reasons to kick-start the year with an evening language course

Whether you’re determined to start the new year with a ‘new you’, need to prepare for a holiday overseas or want to improve your job prospects, now is the ideal time to take a language course!

1. Cactus is welcoming in 2015 with fun, engaging language courses in London and cities across the UK. We offer the five mainstream languages of French, Spanish, Italian, German and Brazilian Portuguese in most centres, plus rarer languages in our main centres. New evening courses start w/c 19th January 2015.

2. Learning a language is an excellent resolution as it will give you a skill that will last way longer than the average resolution – and one that might come in handy on holiday later this year!

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3. If you’ve had a hectic festive season, then it’s proven that giving your brain a workout is the perfect way to de-stress. Learning a language stimulates your mind, stretches your imagination and, ultimately, helps your brain to relax…in fact it is more effective at reducing stress than opening a bar of chocolate.

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4. If you’ve decided to de-tox in January then going to an evening language class – and doing homework in the week, if you’re diligent – will take your mind off the pub (that is, until your last night when you’ll probably all end up in the local tapas bar – but by then it will be March and it won’t matter!).

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5. You can be sure of a consistent teaching framework that falls in line with other internationally-recognised language level systems – meaning that what you learn on our courses will be easily recognised outside of Cactus. Unlike many other providers, with Cactus you also receive a certificate of attendance on completion of your course.

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6. When times are tight employers will be looking for that little extra in job applicants. Knowledge of a foreign language is an asset in itself, but it also shows initiative and an appreciation of other cultures, which is valuable in today’s global society.

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7. Language learning makes you clever! If you feel like you need a kick-start after the Christmas break, learning a language will boost cognitive development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, problem-solving and reasoning.

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8. 2015 promises a stellar list of foreign language film nominations in the upcoming Oscars, and there’s no better way to appreciate these films than with an understanding of the language and culture. Watch out for Ida (Poland), Mommy (Canada), Leviathan (Russian), Winter Sleep (Turkey), Wild Tales (Argentina) and Saint Laurent (France).

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9. With a reduced number of children learning a language at school, let’s lead by example and show that learning a language is a passport to other cultures and a huge asset when you travel. Don’t forget we have new after-school language courses for kids aged 7-15 in London starting in January too!

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10. Let’s face it, January can be a bit depressing. The excitement of Christmas is over, the days are still short and the weather can be miserable. If there was ever a time to take an evening course it’s now. Having a goal such as learning a language will make the weeks pass quickly and make you feel that you’re using the dark evenings productively!

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Cactus runs adult evening language courses and junior afternoon language courses in schools across London and in cities nationwide. Courses are available at many levels and on regular start dates throughout the year, starting in January.

NEW Junior language courses after school – starting Jan 2015

Let’s inspire the next generation of language learners!

In response to demand, Cactus is excited to launch new language courses for children in January 2015.

Available in 3 prime locations across London – Clapham, Fulham and Islington – these courses give students aged 7-15 the chance to develop their language skills after school in small, interactive groups.

Languages: French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese
Level: Beginner and elementary
Start date: w/c 12th January 2015
Duration: 10 weeks, excluding half term

Why should your child learn a second language?

The reasons are plentiful!

  • Children soak up languages quickly and easily, developing a natural pronunciation and understanding sentence structure early on
  • Languages provide a fun means to discover other countries and cultures
  • At this age they can enjoy learning through games, songs and other age-appropriate activities
  • Introducing a second or third language while they are young will give them valuable skills for life
  • Language skills are increasingly valued in today’s competitive job market
  • Children who speak more than one language are proven to have enhanced cognitive abilities, better problem-solving and decision-making abilities, and improved results in maths and English
  • The ability to speak another language gives confidence and feels good

Our teachers

With our 15 years of experience teaching languages, Cactus knows that a good teacher can make all the difference, and it’s especially important with children to engage them from the start. This is why we have carefully chosen teachers who have experience teaching languages to children for our junior courses in London – teachers with warm personalities who know how to relate to children and who we know will make classes fun, friendly and inspiring.

Please visit our website for full details and booking of our Junior after-school classes.

* BOOK BY 21ST DECEMBER AND YOU WILL RECEIVE 15% OFF COURSE FEES *

 

Cactus Worldwide Blog: March 2014 – Focus on Spanish Courses for Teens

Focus on: Spanish Summer Courses in Spain for Juniors & Teenagers

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Hello, and welcome to the March 2014 edition of the Cactus Worldwide blog for our foreign language courses abroad! My name is Ollie, and I am the Product Manager for our agency – Cactus Worldwide. Our team of experienced course advisors are here every day to discuss options with you and help set up a varied range of unique language-learning experiences, all over the globe, throughout the year, for all of our wonderful students.

This month’s blog is giving you a quick look at some of the options available for juniors and teenagers this summer in Spain – so if you are or know anybody who is preparing for an important exam, or about to move onto an GCSE or A-Level course, or who is just interested in learning a very useful foreign language, then there might be something here for you! There are three fantastic options below for students aged 5-17, and in some locations parents can study as well, so there is always the option to involve the whole family.

If you have any questions about anything you read here, please feel free to contact me directly via oliver.donovan@cactusworldwide.com and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

1.       Sevilla (June 15th – July 26th)

Spanish in Sevilla for Teenagers, aged 14-17, with Clic & Cactus Worldwide

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This is a wonderful, specialised course for independent older teenagers, served as a package inclusive of 20 Spanish lessons, full board host family accommodation and a set package of excursions and activities, such as a visit to Isla Magica theme park and a trip to the beach of nearby Cadiz. Groups are kept as small as possible so every student remains an individual throughout their attendance at the school, and don’t get ‘lost in the crowd’ as can be the case at some larger schools. Accommodation is with host families, and twin rooms are available for anybody who would like to travel with a friend or as a small group. This is an ideal opportunity for committed students to attend a quality school, brush up their Spanish, and make some new friends from all over the world. 2 weeks on this course is priced at £945, fully inclusive of the course, board, and activities, and courses are available here for accompanying adults too – click here for the info!

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2.       Denia (22nd June – 23rd August)

Spanish in Denia for Juniors & Teenagers, aged 5-17, with TLC & Cactus Worldwide

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Denia is the ideal location for younger students and families with children of a wider range of ages, catering for adults and juniors from the ages of 5 to 13, and teenagers from 14-17. The town itself is right in the middle of Alicante and Valencia airports (about 1 hour from both), so it’s incredibly easy to access from the rest of Europe with many of the most popular budget airlines.

The school itself is independent, welcoming and friendly, and is located just 5 minutes’ walk from the city centre and is very near the bus station, bars, shops and cafes. It is also just 10 minutes by foot to the port and 20 minutes to the beach, so there is no need for public transport at all after you have arrived. The school is contained within two renovated buildings offering 6 comfortable and equipped classrooms, TV and video facilities, air conditioning and coffee machines, and students also enjoy free access to a Multimedia centre with 15 computers, internet and interactive language programmes, plus a library offering additional materials. Classes are kept to a maximum of 8 students (12 for some junior courses), which is ideal, and all teachers are specialists in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, with many years of experience.

The junior courses here run from June 22nd until August 23rd, and solo students or families can stay either with friendly local hosts in their home, or in one of the school’s apartments in the town (some in the city, some by the beach). The programmes for young students aged 5-13 provide 10 Spanish lessons per week and a choice of a programme of land-based activities or afternoons of sailing at Club Nautico in the marina (for students aged 8+). For the teenagers, 20 lessons per week are taken at the school, and a full programme of cookery lessons, workshops and beach sports. Every group overlaps in some way, so there is a unique mixture of student ages and nationalities every step of the way here, providing an ideal setting for solo travellers or the whole family, and ensuring loads of fun is had by all! Well worth booking early to avoid disappointment.

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3.       Segovia (29th June – 23rd August)

Spanish in Segovia for Teenagers, aged 14-17, with OISE & Cactus Worldwide

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This Spanish summer programme in the beautiful landscape of Segovia (just outside Madrid – only 30 minutes by train) is aimed at the most ambitious young learners aged 14-17 who want or need to learn Spanish very quickly and effectively. What this school provides is a premium option for those students who are looking for a full Spanish immersion experience and they design their programme in a way that helps them make the maximum possible progress in the time available. This is achieved through an intensive day of study in small groups with a high degree of personal attention (the course only caters for an average of 20-30 students at any one time), and the small class size of 8 as a maximum also ensures that all students’ individual learning needs are met.

Students attending this programme are expected to complete homework each evening with their host family, or with the monitor at the residence, so although there are activities and excursions provided during the weekends (visits to Madrid, for instance), the focus here is much more on academic progress, cultural integration and communication skills, so it’s an ideal choice for a committed student looking for a demanding programme.

Segovia itself is a quintessentially Spanish city, close enough to Madrid to make it logistically easy for arrivals but at the same time it is a small city with a population of 45,000. Ideal for younger students, this town is safe, family-oriented and also a UNESCO cultural destination. The Spanish spoken in Segovia is also very clear and precise, making it the perfect destination for a serious academic programme! Two-week programmes start from £1,805, completely inclusive of meals, accommodation, tuition, activities, excursions and transfers from Barajas airport in Madrid. Places are limited, so again it’s well worth booking early to avoid disappointment!

We hope this selection has been of interest, and may have given you some ideas for some study options for the year ahead. Any Qs at all, as always, please feel free to contact me directly and I’d be happy to help.

Happy planning 😉

Best Wishes,

Ollie

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Oliver Donovan

Agency Product Manager

Email: oliver.donovan@cactusworldwide.com

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Panoramic image at top: Segovia, Spain

Junior programs in New York: NEW activities for 2014

Summer junior courses in 2013 at Brooklyn School of Languages were a huge success and 2014 sees the arrival of an even more exciting range of activities for our young students.

Taking place in the vibrant neighbourhood of Brooklyn, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan, these courses are aimed at students aged 14 to 17 wishing to improve their English with others of the same age during the summer vacation. Taking the form of a summer camp, this is an immersion program that includes general English lessons, ‘creative arts’ workshops, full board accommodation in host families and a full program of activities and excursions – all within a safe and supervised environment.

The new activities for 2014 take place as 3-hour workshops on two afternoons a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a great chance for students to practice an activity they love or try their hand at something new. The perfect complement to the morning language classes, they are also an opportunity to mix with other students and practice English in a relaxed atmosphere, encouraging spontaneous conversation and new friendships.

Our choice of activities for 2014:

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Art: bead-making (image 1, above), mosaics, glass-blowing, collage exploration, printmaking, drawing and watercolor painting (image 2, below). These and the majority of art skills are taught by two Brooklyn-based art centers, ‘Private Picassos’ and ‘Urban Glass’, specialists in teaching to both young and adult students.

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Dance: zumba, salsa, jazz and hip hop (image 3, below), contemporary, Afro-Haitian and Brazilian-Samba fusion. For students who love music and dance, this elective is perfect. Dance is a great way to improve fitness and body awareness in a fun and modern environment, and students are lucky to be able to practice all variations under the expert guidance of one of the world’s leading dance companies, the Brooklyn-based Mark Morris Dance Group.

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Acting: as a way to improve the language, there are few activities better than acting. Theater games, improvisation, monologues and plays – all of these strengthen the young actor emotionally and linguistically, by enhancing collaboration, communication skills, ingenuity, listening, focus, compassion, self-reliance and above all, confidence.

Digital Photography: this workshop teaches students the wonderful art of visual story-telling. They will learn how to make the most of their camera’s manual functions and record their trip to New York with photos they had only dreamed of. The tutor is award-winning freelance journalist Johnathon Henninger.

For more information on these activities as well as all other aspects of the junior program, including prices, a photo gallery and general FAQs, please visit the Brooklyn School of Languages website.

For further advice and information feel free to contact us on info@brooklynschooloflanguages.com or telephone +1 347 763 6905.

We look forward to making 2014 a fun, educational and memorable summer vacation for young students from across the globe.

The Brooklyn School of Languages runs year-round adult English courses, a junior summer school and evening and part-time foreign language courses.

Junior sports camps in the UK

A language and sports camp is a unique and ingenious concept to encourage children to combine their love of sport with learning English. As far as ‘educational’ holidays go, this one’s a winner if you have a sports-mad teen in your house and long summer holidays ahead.

In the UK the specialist sport is football, which is entirely appropriate given that it is a national sport and passion here. The UK boasts one of the most popular and wealthy sports leagues in the world – its football Premier League – as well as some of the world’s most famous football clubs. It is in conjunction with two of these, Manchester City and Liverpool FC, that Cactus offers specialist summer sports camps, where students aged 12-17 years receive English language classes in the morning and football training in the afternoon, in addition to a range of fun social and cultural activities. All of this takes place in a fully supervised and secure environment, to ensure the health and wellbeing of students while they are away from home.

The great thing is that these programmes attract students from all over the world, so there is a true mix of nationalities and abilities, with teens often making life-long friends on these camps. It is a sure-fire recipe for success both in the classroom and on the football field!

Manchester

The Manchester English & Football Summer Camp is available with host family accommodation, residential accommodation, or as a day camp only. It runs from Monday 1st July to Friday 9th August and can be booked from one week upwards.

Girls and boys are both welcome on this course, as long as they are neither complete beginners nor international standard players. The FA qualified football coaching takes place on four afternoons each week at the state-of-the-art Platt Lane Complex, one of Manchester City’s training grounds and home to The Youth Academy for young Manchester City players. Students learn key football skills such as dribbling, turning, shooting, passing, teamwork and ball control, and play 5-a-side and 11-a-side games.

The programme includes:

  • 15 English language classes per week
  • 8 hours of FA qualified football coaching
  • Accommodation if chosen, in a host family or residence
  • A full excursion programme

Liverpool

The Liverpool English & Football Course is offered with accommodation in a secure, supervised hotel near to the school and Liverpool city centre. It runs from Monday 1st July until the end of August and can be booked from two weeks upwards.

Participants must have an elementary level of English but can be complete beginners in football, making it ideal for teenagers that are mad about football as well as those who just want to learn more about it. Coaching takes place for three hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons and is given by coaches who have produced the like of Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. Students learning football under their guidance will learn about Liverpool FC’s spirit of fair play, their commitment to attractive football, the sporting achievements and traditions of this historical club and the pride that comes with wearing the famous red jersey.

The programme includes:

  • 15 English language classes per week
  • General English & football vocabulary, including the history & culture of Liverpool FC (to help students get the most out of their coaching sessions)
  • 9 hours of football coaching by coaches trained by Liverpool FC Academy
  • A look at the history, culture & traditions of Liverpool FC
  • Excursion to Anfield, tour of stadium, visit to museum, LFC rucksack & other goodies
  • Full board accommodation in a secure, central hotel

These junior football programmes are a perfect example of how learning a language is best done doing something you love. Surrounded by English, your child will learn as much on the football pitch as he or she does in the classroom, communicating with locals and other students of the same age in a safe and friendly environment. Most importantly, they will come back refreshed and confident in the language, energised after their sports training and armed with a long list of friends to visit around the world!

Please visit our website for full details and prices for each course: Manchester (host family), Manchester (residence), Manchester (day camp), Liverpool (hotel).

Cactus 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.

We offer language courses for Under 18s in many languages and locations across the world.