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Experience Le Tour de France 2016

The Tour de France 2016 Route has been Announced

So why not take a French language course in one of the Tour stops, experience the amazing race and cheer on your favourite rider at the same time? Choose from mountains, lakes or city centres and study French in one of many beautiful locations.

Running from Saturday 2nd July to Sunday 24th July 2016, the 103th Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,519 kilometres. There will be 9 flat stages, 1 hilly stage, 9 mountain stages and 2 rest days.

Starting off in Mont-St-Michel the tour will go through Montauban on the 7th July, which is on the edge of Toulouse, known as ‘la ville rose’ due to its distinctive pink buildings. Toulouse is a historic city with some beautiful and unique architecture. The tour will then continue to capital of France’s Languedoc region Montpellier on the 13th and 14th July. Montpellier is a popular and thriving university city and the old city centre consists of a maze of attractive, winding streets, open-air terraces and luxurious houses. On the 23rd July the tour reaches the French Alps and the charming Alpine town of Morzine where a wide variety of summer Alpine activities is available. And from there the tour finishes on the 24th July in the city of love, fashion and elegance; Paris. In all of these locations you have the opportunity to take French lessons, take part in the fanfare that surrounds the tour and have an amazing holiday.

Studying a language in the country it is spoken is one the best ways to improve your language skills in a short period of time. By immersing yourself in the French language, chatting with the locals, and following “Le maillot jaune” (the yellow jersey) you can give yourself an experience of a life-time.

To browse all of the language holidays, including French language courses, available with Cactus Language please visit our website or contact us by email, Facebook or Twitter.

Bastille Day: The best places to celebrate in France

Former Cactus intern Cécile Sargueux gives us a bit of history and top tips for celebrating ‘le quatorze juillet’ in her home country…in English / en français!

FRENCH / EN FRANCAIS

Le 14 juillet est le jour de la fête républicaine française symbolisant la Liberté et l’Egalité, et commémorant le passage de la monarchie à la République.

Histoire:
A Paris, le mardi 14 juillet 1789, des émeutiers prennent d’assaut la prison de la Bastille qui est le symbole du pouvoir absolutiste. Leur objectif est de s’emparer des armes pour pouvoir affronter les troupes du Roi. Ce jour marque le début de la Révolution française, la constitution de nouvelles règles de fonctionnement et l’instauration de nouvelles valeurs, définies dans la Déclaration des droits de l’homme. Comme ce jour a été très sanglant pour le peuple français, c’est le jour de la Fédération du 14 juillet 1790 qui est officiellement célébré, et non pas la prise de la Bastille.

Jour de fête nationale: feux, bals et défilés
Partout en France et pour tous c’est jour de fête nationale. De somptueux défilés militaires sont organisés, avec défilés motorisés, aériens et à pied, sauts de parachutistes et fanfares militaires. D’innombrables feux d’artifice sont tirés les 13 et 14 juillet, et des bals populaires et des concerts animent les villes en effervescence jusqu’au bout de la nuit ! Chaque année, flonflons, pétards, cocardes tricolores, danse et musette accompagnent l’ambiance festive, bon enfant et féérique du 14 juillet. C’est une expérience unique à vivre !

Voici 3 des villes qui offrent un spectacle fabuleux à cette occasion:

Paris:
La plus importante parade militaire se déroule à Paris. Les principaux corps d’armées sont présents, et les militaires défilent en grande tenue sous les yeux du président de la république et de la foule. Brandissant fièrement le drapeau de la nation, le cortège descend le long des Champs Elysées, de la Place de l’Étoile jusqu’à la Concorde.
L’impressionnant feu d’artifice de Paris est un de ceux qui nécessitent le plus de moyens financiers et humains en France. Tiré au pied de la tour Eiffel, on peut l’admirer depuis le Champ de Mars ou la Place du Trocadéro.

Lyon:
Un bal des pompiers est généralement organisé dans toutes les villes de France. A Lyon, les sapeurs pompiers de Gerland transformeront leur caserne en un club géant, avec une plage de sable à l’extérieur. Sur la Place de la Croix Rousse, une véritable station balnéaire prendra place, où danse, musique, transats, boissons et pétanque seront au programme. Sur les quais de Saône, 3 scènes différentes constitueront le grand bal populaire. Le feu d’artifice grandiose de Lyon partira depuis la colline de Fourvière.

Carcassonne, à une heure de Toulouse:
Chaque année, un exceptionnel et époustouflant feu d’artifice de renommée internationale embrase les légendaires remparts de la cité médiévale. Pendant 25 minutes, plus de 700 000 personnes assistent à ce spectacle inouï de lumières et de couleurs qui enflamment le ciel. C’est un des meilleurs feux d’artifices au monde !

ENGLISH / EN ANGLAIS

On the 14th of July, French Republican day is celebrated to commemorate the transition from the monarchy to the First Republic, and to symbolize la Liberté et l’Egalité (Liberty and Equality) won by the people.

History:
In Paris, on Tuesday, the 14th of July 1789, rioters stormed the prison of Bastille, a symbol of the absolutist power. Their objective was to take possession of the weapons to be able to face the King’s troops. This day marked the beginning of the French Revolution, the constitution of new rules of functioning, and the establishment of new values defined in the Déclaration des droits de l’homme (Human rights statement). Given that this day was very bloody for the French people, we officially celebrate the 14 July 1790 Fête de la Fédération, and not the storming of the Bastille.

Bastille Day: pyrotechnics, balls and parades
Everywhere in France and for everyone, this is a national day of celebration. Sumptuous march-pasts are organized with flypasts, motorised and walking parades, parachute jumps and military bands. There are many firework displays on 13th and 14th July, and cities across France celebrate with balls and concerts throughout the night! Every year, brass bands, firecrackers, dance and accordion music go with the festive, friendly and enchanting atmosphere of the Bastille Day. It is a unique event to experience!

Here are 3 cities offering a fabulous show for this occasion:

Paris:
The greatest march-past takes place in Paris. The main army corps are present, and impeccably uniformed servicemen parade before both the President of the Republic and the crowd. Whilst proudly brandishing the national flag, the procession goes down Les Champs Elysées, from La Place de l’Etoile to La Concorde. The impressive fireworks display of Paris requires the utmost financial and human resources. Fired at the bottom of the Eiffel tower, it can be watched from Le Champ de Mars or La Place du Trocadéro.

Lyon:
A Firemen’s ball (Bal des pompiers) is generally organised in every French town. In Lyon, the fire-fighters of Gerland will turn their fire station into a giant club, with a sandy beach outside. On La Place de la Croix Rousse, a real seaside resort will take place, where dance, music, deckchairs, drinks and petanque are planned. On the quays at Saône, 3 different stages will host the big popular ball. The spectacular fireworks of Lyon will be fired from the Fourvière Hill.

Carcassonne, only one hour from Toulouse:
Every year, an outstanding fireworks display, well-known all over the world, sets ablaze the ancient ramparts of the medieval city. For 25 minutes, more than 700,000 people attend this extraordinary show of lights and colors setting fire to the sky. This is one of the best firework displays in the world!

Cactus offers French courses in Paris, Lyon and many other fantastic locations in France.

We also offer evening language courses in French in London, Manchester, Bristol and other major UK locations. This is the perfect way to learn the basics or brush up on existing skills prior to visiting France!

Tour de France: Essential cycling vocabulary this July

Shift your language up a gear with our French cycling vocabulary for this year’s Tour de France

Kicking off on 4th July 2015, top cyclists and cycling enthusiasts from all over the world will congregate on French soil for 21 days of gruelling, thigh-burning action that will cover over 3,500 km of mountains, valleys, remote countryside and busy cities. Although the course route changes each year, the race always finishes in Paris, with riders cruising to the finishing line, cheered on by thousands of supporters, along the famous Champs-Elysées.

It’s hard not to get into the spirit of things – even if you’re not a huge cycling fan – if you happen to be in a part of France where the race passes through. For the French the Tour can be an excuse for a great party, and the sense of anticipation is contagious. Families set up picnic tables at the side of the road to wine and dine, the adults sipping wine patiently in the shade whilst the children play around them, waiting for the riders to pass through. When the drone of the helicopter finally announces the arrival of the front riders, everyone jumps to their feet and prepares to applaud the multi-coloured lycra-clad bodies flying past – a true spectacle in itself, to say nothing of the countless publicity vans, police bikes, camera bikes and support cars that follow. You can support the race anywhere along the way by checking out the Tour map online.

Whether you’re watching the race live in France or on television at home – or even planning a cycling holiday yourself to France – you’ll impress your friends by picking up a few cycling terms to shout out at opportune moments.

Here’s our list of essential Tour de France vocabulary:

Le cyclisme Cycling
Un cycliste Cyclist
Un domestique Support rider
Un échappé Breakaway rider
Le peloton Pack / bunch of riders
La tête de course Leader of the race
Une équipe Team
Une étape Stage / leg of the race
Contre la montre Time trial
Le parcours Route
La course Race
Une montée Uphill slope
Une descente Downhill slope
Changer de vitesse Change gear
Ralentir Slow down
Dépasser Overtake
Un vélo de course Racing bike
Un vélo tout terrain Mountain bike
Une crevaison Puncture
Un bidon Water bottle
Un casque Helmet
Le maillot jaune Yellow jersey (worn by the overall leader)

Get up close to the action by taking a language course in France this July! Cactus runs French language courses in 15 locations across France, including Paris and other locations near to the Tour route.

If you can’t make it to France this year, why not learn the language closer to home? Cactus also runs French evening courses in London, Brighton, Manchester and other major UK locations.

Top 5 Halloween destinations in Europe

You don’t have to stay at home to celebrate Halloween on 31st October. Head to one of the following locations and you’ll get a lot more than trick-or-treaters or jack-o-lanterns…

Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s mass of dark buildings and cobbled streets make it the quintessential setting for a spot of gothic horror. The city’s long, and at times bloody, history means that it has formed the backdrop to many a grisly tale, which you can hear about either at the city’s famous Dungeons, or on one of the Auld Reekie Tours. One of the city’s most infamous, and shockingly, factual, stories is that of Burke and Hare, two Irish immigrants who coupled their menial day jobs with the more lucrative night-time activity of grave robbing and murder.

English courses in Edinburgh

Venice

Venice has a reputation for being a very romantic destination, but you want to grab hands for another reason this month. This ancient labyrinth of a city is the setting of many a ghost story, and taking a ghost walk will make you see the narrow passageways and pretty canals in a much more spooky light! You’ll learn about legendary sea monsters, ancient cemeteries hidden beneath the streets of modern-day Venice, and even a secret about Marco Polo’s wife…

Italian courses in Venice

Paris

Paris is another beautiful modern-day city, whose charming aesthetics make its bloody history easy to forget. The city’s most famous tour, The Paris Ghost Tour, covers the city’s catacombs and how they came to be, the satanic conspiracies of the 17th-19th centuries, the true Sweeney Todd of Paris and, last but by no means least, the Vampire of Paris – a real life cannibal and suspected serial killer.

French courses in Paris

Prague

Prague is often hailed as the most haunted city in Europe, and it’s easy to see why. Prague’s ancient buildings and narrow streets conceal many a tale and mystery, including mass executions, murderous thieves, and gothic creatures. The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague dates back to the 15th century and is one of the largest in Europe – because of the lack of space, though, the graves had to be put one on another, somewhere even in twelve layers. It is somewhere that is generally considered to be quite a peaceful place, but still not somewhere you’d necessary feel comfortable after dark!

TEFL courses in Prague

Palermo

Surprisingly perhaps, Palermo is also a city with lots to offer the horror-buff! The Capuchin Catacombs is a little-known, but exceptionally grizzly spot, where you will find thousands of preserved mummies from the last 500 years suspended from the walls in their Sunday best. Definitely not the activity for anyone in search of a lesiurely museum trip at the end of a relaxing Mediterranean break…

Italian courses in Palermo

Cactus offers language and TEFL courses in exciting locations all over the world.

The best of Europe: our top locations for 2014

There are few places that outshine Europe when it comes to the sheer variety of culture, languages and food on offer in such a compact space.

And for those looking for a break in the early months of the year, this is exactly what you need – warm, welcoming cafés, museums chock-full of treasures and galleries brimming with cutting edge art, all ready to work their charm regardless of the weather outside. Then as we creep towards spring these same European cities come into their own, offering up delightful mazes of cobbled streets, large green spaces and riverside or beachside walks to help us make the most of the longer days.

Look no further if you need inspiration for a European break over the coming months: here are our top 4 recommendations for the best language learning destinations in Europe.

1. Valencia, Spain

fallas

Spain’s third largest city sits on the Mediterranean coast and is blessed with a glorious climate, fun-loving inhabitants, delicious food (being the birthplace of paella) and an innate ability to throw a good party. Time your Spanish language holiday in March and you’ll be utterly mesmerised by the explosive Las Fallas festival, one of the world’s most impressive pyrotechnic displays accompanied in all its glory by sculptures, traditions, music and satire. This year’s dates are March 15th-19th. Outside Las Fallas, make sure you don’t miss a walk through the labyrinthine cobbled streets of El Barrio del Carmen, not just to admire the imposing medieval buildings of this charming district, but because by night this becomes one of the liveliest places in the city to go out. Frequented by tourists and students alike, this is the perfect place to practise your Spanish over a plate of tapas! Valencia also boasts a long list of must-sees (including Veles i Vents by the port and the Cuidad de las Artes y las Ciencias), a flourishing restaurant scene, lively nightlife, great shops and, of course, miles of golden beach. Little wonder this is fast becoming our hot new place to learn Spanish.

Spanish courses in Valencia

2. Berlin, Germany

berlin_brandenburg

It’s over twenty years already since the fall of the Wall, and although Berlin will always have huge historical and political significance, this is a city that has unreservedly thrown itself into its future with barely a backwards glance. What we have now is an energetic, modern and edgy capital city that is the epitome of ‘cool’. Whatever you want, you have it. An open-air museum with famous landmarks at every turn, world class museums and galleries, striking street art, insatiable nightlife, hip flea markets, food of all ethnicities…in Berlin you can do what you want and, above all, be who you want. The great thing is you can take a German course in Berlin for as little as a week and this will give you a brilliant insight into this fascinating city – even more so if you stay with a local family. This is our most popular place to learn German and you’d be hard pushed to find somewhere more exciting to learn a language.

German courses in Berlin

3. Aix-en-Provence, France

aix_countryside

Ohh, we sigh, as we think of Aix. As the days start to stretch out, thoughts of a languid provençal lifestyle trigger something deep in our psyche, the part that yearns to pluck sun-warmed fruit from a local market, sip steaming coffee from an umbrella-decked ‘terrasse’ and wander carefree down cobbled streets and leafy boulevards. Artists such as Cézanne have long been known to settle in Aix for its stunning landscapes and light. Linguists have long been attracted here as you cannot help but want to learn French in Aix’s inspiring surroundings. Find out what all the fuss is about with our French & Discover Provence Course, the perfect opportunity to learn the language and meet like-minded people whilst enjoying all that the city has to offer. Or why not indulge your passion for French cuisine with a French & Provençal Cooking course (next start date 17th March) or enjoy the finer things in life with our French & Wine Tasting course. Santé!

French courses in Aix-en-Provence

4. Paris, France

Paris

Paris has, and always will be, a magical city. It’s a chic European capital often chosen as a weekend escape, but scratch the surface and you’ll find it’s so much more than the picture-postcard Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe we all know and love. Bohemian Montmartre, avant-garde Montparnasse, the high-brow Latin Quarter…each arrondissement tells a different story, local bistros and hidden bookshops as essential to Paris’ personality as the high heels and short skirts of the Moulin Rouge. Year after year Paris is one of our most popular locations to learn French, partly thanks to our vast range of French courses across three schools which ensures we have the right course for you. From intensive mini-group courses to Saturday courses and A Level Revision courses (next start date February half term), studying French in its iconic capital city has never been so easy.

French courses in Paris

Cactus offers language courses for all ages and levels in locations across the world.

Cactus Worldwide Monthly Blog: December 2013

In our last blog of the year we’re bringing you some exciting new locations to look forward to in 2014. A very Happy Christmas from us all at Cactus and we look forward to sending you on more language learning adventures in the new year!

ollie_small

Hello, and welcome to December’s edition of the Cactus Worldwide blog! 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 aimed at letting you know about what’s brand new at Cactus Worldwide for the year ahead, and if you have any questions about anything you read here, please feel free to contact me via oliver.donovan@cactusworldwide.com and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

1. Olinda Portuguese Language School – Olinda, Brazil

olinda

For all of our students of Brazilian Portuguese we are very happy to announce a new partnership with the Olinda Language School, located in Olinda, Pernambuco, one of the most beautiful cities in Brazil! From 2014 (and just in time for the World Cup) we are pleased to be able to offer an alternative destination to the more frequently visited cities of Rio and Sao Paulo, and offer our students the opportunity to spend some time at this exceptional independent school and not only be immersed in authentic Brazilian Portuguese, but also have the opportunity to combine language classes with a variety of social programmes –including activities such as photography, percussion and football coaching with a local expert.

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The school is run by directors Justin McPherson and Norman Monteiro (as an Australian & Brazilian partnership) and all the teachers in Olinda are local native speakers and experts in teaching Portuguese to foreign students. The classrooms are comfortable and climate-controlled, and a reading room and break room are available to the students, as well as a large auditorium and a kitchen. Walking distance homestays are also readily available. If you need any more reasons, please feel free to get in touch, or visit the link below for more info!

Brazilian Portuguese Courses in Olinda, Brazil

2. France Langue Opéra – Paris, France

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France Langue are a small chain of quality language schools who have been teaching French to thousands of students from over 80 countries since their inception in 1976 and they still welcome students all year round at each of their centres: Paris, Biarritz, Bordeaux & Nice. Cactus and France Langue have worked together for many years, but new to us for 2014 is the offer of French courses at their elegant school in Opéra, Paris, in a lively neighbourhood between the department stores along Boulevard Haussmann and the fabulous jewellery shops in Place Vendôme. All in all, this is a perfect choice for the student looking at visiting Paris to study French, but seeking a comfortable and quiet school in a classy neighborhood. Class sizes here are limited to only 10 students as a maximum, and the average age is 32, so it’s ideal for the focused student for whom individual attention is of the highest importance.

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The school itself is in a calm setting, in a typically Parisian building on the Boulevard des Italiens, away from the bustle of the street. With several bus and metro stations close by, access to the school is very simple wherever you are staying in Paris.

You can visit the link below to see much more about what’s on offer:

French Courses in Paris Opéra with Cactus Language & France Langue

3. London Weekend IELTS – Kilburn, London, United Kingdom

Finally, new for 2014 is an intensive 2-day IELTS programme in Kilburn, London, designed for any students of English who are looking to rapidly improve their writing skills in preparation for the exam date.

The course is always scheduled to run 2 weeks before the official IELTS exam dates, and is delivered by our partner, Robin Ashenden, who has nearly twenty years of teaching experience and is a DELTA qualified English language teacher. He has taught IELTS regularly over the past five years and has specifically taught writing and creative writing for non-native speakers at the annual University of Westminster summer school, a course he has now delivered for four years running. Robin has an MA in travel literature, and has been a travel journalist for publications like Sunday Times Travel, Wanderlust and the Guardian.

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Nisrine Zaaraoui, from France, writes: “I really enjoyed my English lessons with Robin. He is a very good teacher – I can even say he is one of the best I ever had. His classes are very dynamic and interactive. He has very good communication and pedagogical skills. He is very open-minded and interested in others’ cultures, and he always brings new interesting topics to debate in class. You never get bored in class and he teaches you expressions used in the “real world”. So if you want to improve your English quickly, Robin will be able to make this happen. I guarantee you that you will really enjoy your English class.

To find out more about the weekend programme, please visit the link below:

London Weekend IELTS – Intensive Weekend Writing Course with Robin Ashenden

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

Happy planning 😉

Best Wishes,

Ollie

—————————————————————————————————————–
Oliver Donovan
Agency Product Manager
Email: oliver.donovan@cactusworldwide.com

Learn French & eat chocolate…can it be true?

An educational get-away you can just about get away with!

Anyone who’s been putting off that French course now has the perfect reason to book un petit séjour in Paris this autumn. No need to tell your friends back home the minor detail that it may coincide with Salon du Chocolat, 5 days of pure chocolate heaven – no, they can just be impressed with your desire for self-improvement and hopefully not notice your fuller waistline. Read more

Top 5 French course destinations this spring

Cactus offers locations within France and Canada where you can take a French course, but these are our pick of the top five for springtime study.

1. Paris

As one of the world’s most iconic cities, Paris is a hugely popular tourist destination. Unfortunately, as is the case with any such city, the prices reflect its popularity and throughout the summer they are especially high. Spending time in Paris during the spring is therefore a much better idea – the weather will be warm, the trees and parks will be nice and green, there’ll be far fewer crowds and best of all, you won’t have to pay through the nose. A light spring evening, a large glass of wine and a prime people-watching spot on a café terrace…what more could you want at the end of a day of French lessons?

More on French courses in Paris

2. Annecy

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Annecy has got to be one of France’s most picturesque towns, with its turquoise lake and stunning mountain backdrop. In the summer Annecy attracts thousands of visitors who come to swim in the lake or hike in the surrounding countryside, and in the winter it’s a great base for skiers and snowboarders, so the spring is one of the less busy (and therefore less expensive) times of year. By April most of the low lying snow will have melted, making hiking and biking possible, but anyone who fancies spending a day or two on the slopes might be lucky and still get a few days in higher up in the mountains.

More on French courses in Annecy

3. Tours

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A beautiful city located in the heart of France’s chateaux-filled Loire Valley, Tours is known as the “garden of France”. Despite its attractive surroundings, the title actually comes from the large number of parks in the city, and what better place to watch the seasons change and the green return than here? Outside of lessons you’ll be able to experience all that this historic city has to offer, and visit the pretty surrounding area with its fairytale castles and endless vineyards.

More on French courses in Tours

4. Nice

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Located on France’s up-market Riviera, Nice has long been a favourite with holidaymakers from all over Europe. Its unique blue waters and lovely climate make it a great place to relax and un-wind, but often there are lots of other people with the same idea! To enjoy the weather and surroundings without the crowds, the best time to go is probably April or May, when you get the best of both worlds. If you take a course a French course in May, you’ll be able to enjoy ‘La Fête de Mai’, which takes place every Sunday in the month and includes a series of free events, and refreshments featuring locally produced food.

More on French courses in Nice

5. Bordeaux

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It’s great to visit Bordeaux in the spring time. The vineyards surrounding the city are full of colour, the weather is pleasant and as it’s still within term time, you’ll get a really authentic experience of life in this lively university city. You’ll also get chance to explore all the usual tourist sites, but without the crowds and the queues, and you’ll probably also benefit from cheaper air or rail fares when you book your travel there and back. Events taking place in the city include the Escale du Livre, a well-known book fair that is held around the Place Renaudel in March, and the Bordeaux Spring Fair which is held from late April to early May on central Place de Quinconces – in close proximity to both of our French schools in Bordeaux.

More on French courses in Bordeaux

Please visit the Cactus Language website for full listings of French courses and to book.