Biologist Mark Pagel shares an intriguing theory about why humans evolved our complex system of language. He suggests that language is a piece of "social technology" that allowed early human tribes to access a powerful new tool: cooperation.
http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_pagel_how_language_transformed_humanity.html
Monday, March 26, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Celebrating Diversity
Patricia Ryan talks about the problems of language domination, primarily of English. She expresses very eloquently what I feel, so I'll leave it to her to express these ideas.
http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_ryan_ideas_in_all_languages_not_just_english.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_ryan_ideas_in_all_languages_not_just_english.html
Friday, March 23, 2012
What is the most important thing you need when learning another language?
The Language Boutique asked people the above question to find out what language learners think. The ultimate aim is, of course to improve our services.
* Motivation came out top with 31% of the vote followed by
* A reason with 25%, but as it was pointed out:
"I think motivation and a reason are the same thing really. A reason may be a job or it may be your personal pride, both will get the job done. But we all know that the best reason (or motivation) is throwing yourself into that other country where you have no choice.... the difference between being able to go grocery shopping or not, have friends or not, get by on a daily basis or not is a damn good motivation.."
* A good ear came next with 14,5%, which is something that I personally would love to have.
* Time received 10,4%
* A good teacher with 8,3% surprised me as I had expected it to be higher up the list but I suppose it could be because there is very little a teacher can do without the motivation or a reason to study, but then again a good teacher should be able to motivate and give students a good reason to make the effort.
* lastly with just over 6% came the importance of attention to pronunciation.
What do the blog readers think?
Do you agree with the results or do you have other ideas?
* Motivation came out top with 31% of the vote followed by
* A reason with 25%, but as it was pointed out:
"I think motivation and a reason are the same thing really. A reason may be a job or it may be your personal pride, both will get the job done. But we all know that the best reason (or motivation) is throwing yourself into that other country where you have no choice.... the difference between being able to go grocery shopping or not, have friends or not, get by on a daily basis or not is a damn good motivation.."
* A good ear came next with 14,5%, which is something that I personally would love to have.
* Time received 10,4%
* A good teacher with 8,3% surprised me as I had expected it to be higher up the list but I suppose it could be because there is very little a teacher can do without the motivation or a reason to study, but then again a good teacher should be able to motivate and give students a good reason to make the effort.
* lastly with just over 6% came the importance of attention to pronunciation.
What do the blog readers think?
Do you agree with the results or do you have other ideas?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Studying English in the UK
The Language Boutique is an agent for some excellent language schools in the UK, they have been thoroughly researched by us and chosen for their expertise, location, atmosphere and quality of teaching.
I spent years being asked to recommend a place in the UK to go and study English and I have also spent an equal amount of time listening to people's stories of their experiences studying; some were very good but I also heard a lot of bad stories, so I decided to make a survey from all this experience and students that I have about what they want and need from a language school. What problems they have had and things that they would like to see improved. It was quite an extensive list; so off I went to the UK to check out various schools in various areas to find out what was on offer and how they were run. The schools that I am an agent for are the ones that I feel I can personally vouch for. Put it simply, they ticked all the boxes and in some of the cases far exceeded my expectations.
I decided on the city of Portsmouth and the surrounding area for many reasons. The first was the most practical of all. The convenience of getting there. By car, it is an hour and a half from London. There is a direct train from Gatwick which takes an hour. It's an hour by bus from Heathrow and you can even go directly by ferry from France and Spain. It's in a beautiful area, surrounded by lush rolling hills and little villages, there are beaches, a lively city with good bars, restaurants and nightlife. It's close to London, as I have said, Brighton, Southampton, Chichester, Winchester, the New Forest and Salisbury so there is a lot of tourism you can do in the area.
Importantly for language learning, there are not many schools which mean there are not as many students as in other places which means that Homestay accomodation can be controlled. Homestay accomodation was the main area of complaint in the UK, of course it's very difficult to please everyone as each person has a different idea and expectation and some are more realistic than others. A problem which I was told about by language schools is that many potential students do not clearly state their expectations of what type of homestay they are hoping for, which means that it can be difficult placing the right person with the right type of family.
However despite this, it still seems that there is a lot of dissatisfaction and I feel that this is probably deserving. Somer of the most popular places to study languages are so inundated with students at certain times of the year, particularly in summer, that they do not have enough families to house all the students, so end up having to rely on people who are only interested in making money and are not interested in giving the student a good experience while they are staying with them in the UK. This is very unfortunate. The reason why Portsmouth is good is the proportionally low number of students in comparison with the population of the area which is very high, language schools can pick and choose who provides accomodation to the students and there are a lot of very strict conditions which the homestays must abide by, meaning that only families which really want to help give the student a complete experience are welcomed.
Another reason is the very high standards of the schools on offer there.
We highly recommend the following schools:
LSI is undoubtable one of the best business training languages in the country. LSI are experts in the field of English Language and Professional Communication Training and one of the top UK Business Language school with over 25 years of experience in the business field, which is accredited by the British Council, IALC and Business English UK. They provide short, intensive courses preparing for a specific area of professional communication, such as:
Meetings, Negotiations & Presentations
English for Report Writing & Commercial Correspondence
English for Senior Banking & Insurance Personnel
English Language & Computer Applications
English for Professionals in Industrial Psychology.
They have a variety of programmes available with excellent, professional and qualified teachers, all with business backgrounds. A professional English and Golf programme is also available which is an increasingly popular way to approach a balance between language learning and enjoying your time. As one student Exuperio Diez, Head of Department of Neurology, La Paz Hospital in Madrid says "Excellent. The approach is very practical and the trainers are thorough professionals who adapt the training perfectly to the student"
I spent years being asked to recommend a place in the UK to go and study English and I have also spent an equal amount of time listening to people's stories of their experiences studying; some were very good but I also heard a lot of bad stories, so I decided to make a survey from all this experience and students that I have about what they want and need from a language school. What problems they have had and things that they would like to see improved. It was quite an extensive list; so off I went to the UK to check out various schools in various areas to find out what was on offer and how they were run. The schools that I am an agent for are the ones that I feel I can personally vouch for. Put it simply, they ticked all the boxes and in some of the cases far exceeded my expectations.
I decided on the city of Portsmouth and the surrounding area for many reasons. The first was the most practical of all. The convenience of getting there. By car, it is an hour and a half from London. There is a direct train from Gatwick which takes an hour. It's an hour by bus from Heathrow and you can even go directly by ferry from France and Spain. It's in a beautiful area, surrounded by lush rolling hills and little villages, there are beaches, a lively city with good bars, restaurants and nightlife. It's close to London, as I have said, Brighton, Southampton, Chichester, Winchester, the New Forest and Salisbury so there is a lot of tourism you can do in the area.
Importantly for language learning, there are not many schools which mean there are not as many students as in other places which means that Homestay accomodation can be controlled. Homestay accomodation was the main area of complaint in the UK, of course it's very difficult to please everyone as each person has a different idea and expectation and some are more realistic than others. A problem which I was told about by language schools is that many potential students do not clearly state their expectations of what type of homestay they are hoping for, which means that it can be difficult placing the right person with the right type of family.
However despite this, it still seems that there is a lot of dissatisfaction and I feel that this is probably deserving. Somer of the most popular places to study languages are so inundated with students at certain times of the year, particularly in summer, that they do not have enough families to house all the students, so end up having to rely on people who are only interested in making money and are not interested in giving the student a good experience while they are staying with them in the UK. This is very unfortunate. The reason why Portsmouth is good is the proportionally low number of students in comparison with the population of the area which is very high, language schools can pick and choose who provides accomodation to the students and there are a lot of very strict conditions which the homestays must abide by, meaning that only families which really want to help give the student a complete experience are welcomed.
Another reason is the very high standards of the schools on offer there.
We highly recommend the following schools:
LSI is undoubtable one of the best business training languages in the country. LSI are experts in the field of English Language and Professional Communication Training and one of the top UK Business Language school with over 25 years of experience in the business field, which is accredited by the British Council, IALC and Business English UK. They provide short, intensive courses preparing for a specific area of professional communication, such as:
Meetings, Negotiations & Presentations
English for Report Writing & Commercial Correspondence
English for Senior Banking & Insurance Personnel
English Language & Computer Applications
English for Professionals in Industrial Psychology.
They have a variety of programmes available with excellent, professional and qualified teachers, all with business backgrounds. A professional English and Golf programme is also available which is an increasingly popular way to approach a balance between language learning and enjoying your time. As one student Exuperio Diez, Head of Department of Neurology, La Paz Hospital in Madrid says "Excellent. The approach is very practical and the trainers are thorough professionals who adapt the training perfectly to the student"
The homestay for LSI is purely executive class.
Chichester is a small city just outside Portsmouth, it's just ten minutes away by train on the Gatwick line and is a beautiful, small and historic city founded by the Romans, with many places of interest to visit: Fishbourne Palace, Goodwood, an 11th Century Cathedral, a music and theatre festival surrounded by beautiful countryside, close to the sea and the cities of Portsmouth and Brighton. There are many good restaurants, a lively night life, beaches and marine and sports activities. It is a great place to study and the college has many varied facilities for the student to enjoy.
There are 2 main courses: The year long General English course and the Summer Programme.
There are up to 1000 foreign students at the school throughout the year and they have a huge range of fantastic facilities and the college organises activities to help the students get to know each other.
The General English course is 15 hours per week delivered in the morning. You will learn English through a balance of activities aimed at improving your grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Throughout your programme there will be a strong emphasis on English for Communication. There are options to study extra courses.The programme has been designed to ensure that every student follows a course of study suitable for their level of competence in English. The courses are available to EU citizens of 16 and up and the English Summer School Course is available throughout July and August. Homestay is also provided with careful attention to the suitability of the families but there is also accomodation provided by the college.
There are up to 1000 foreign students at the school throughout the year and they have a huge range of fantastic facilities and the college organises activities to help the students get to know each other.
The General English course is 15 hours per week delivered in the morning. You will learn English through a balance of activities aimed at improving your grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Throughout your programme there will be a strong emphasis on English for Communication. There are options to study extra courses.The programme has been designed to ensure that every student follows a course of study suitable for their level of competence in English. The courses are available to EU citizens of 16 and up and the English Summer School Course is available throughout July and August. Homestay is also provided with careful attention to the suitability of the families but there is also accomodation provided by the college.
If you are interested or would like further information please do not hesitate to contact us via the webpage.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
What is the Language Boutique?
The idea of the Language Boutique came about suddenly, actually in a flash of inspiration about what I really wanted to do with my business. I had been turning the idea over and over in my mind for quite a while without coming upon any idea that encapsulated what I wanted to project with my business.
I have to say that I personally like the idea very much.
Simply, as in a clothing boutique; when you would enter and get personal attention and assistance from the shop owner, who would advise you about what items are in season, what items would suit you the best or suit the occasion that you are shopping for, be it a wedding, a date or a business event, and so would be able to pick out something perfect for you and possibly also various items to complement it. I am offering the same detail of service to my clients, but in relation to their language needs; language learning, communication and all aspects related to language, such as, translations, corrections, proof-reading, copy-writing as well as other ways to use and improve your language through business courses aimed at helping clients deal with English in a real-life situation which increases their job marketability.
In the modern age of social networking, so a friend told me, the only way forward in business was by writing a blog. A blog is a good way to get things moving and get my ideas out there.
I set my own company up, basically, because I've been teaching for over 18 years now and I've spoken to a lot of people about ideas for improving language services and I thought I would create something along the lines of what people want and need. It's not as easy as it sounds, people want a lot and it's hard to streamline a service that is simple enough to market without over-complicating itself by offering too much information.
My first attempt at a webpage was precisely that, an amalgamation of everything I could think of to offer and the result was a confusion of too much information. Since then, I've cut it all down and stream-lined it and focused on the more important ideas. It will get stream-lined again, I expect, as some services that I'm offering will be more popular than others and I hope people will give me suggestions or new ideas that I can develop. With luck, things will take off and who knows what direction it will go.
I am going to maintain my position which is the provision of a service that is tailor-made to the client. I will be flexible and go where the demand is to provide what is needed and wanted.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Cambridge Exams
The exam season is almost upon us again.
Well, in reality Cambridge exams take place all year round but the main ones are in May and June. If you are hoping to take one of the exams this summer you really should be making sure that you have a good study programme organized.
The exams available are:
PETS (Preliminary English Test):
A lower intermediate level exam which tests the language skills needed to survive in social and work situations in an English-speaking environment: PET is equivalent to B1 by the Common European Framework CEF)
FCE (First Certificate in English):
An exam at intermediate level, requiring competence in all the language skills. It is widely recognized by business and educational organizations throughout the world. FCE is equivalent with B2 level by the CEF.
CAE (Certificate in Advanced English):
Which indicates an advanced level of competence in English, is suitable for those who require English for professional or study purposes. It is also designed to encourage the development of the skills required to progress towards CPE. CAE is equivalent with C1 level by the CEF.
CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English):
The highest level of the main Cambridge ESOL examinations suite. It is an advanced exam focusing on the English language skills required for entry into British Universities and to meet business or academic standards overseas. CPE is equivalent with C2 level by the CEF.
The most important thing to remember about Cambridge exams is that knowing how to do the exams and what is expected of you is as important as your English ability. Simply having a English level isn't sufficient to pass, you need to be able to demonstrate the grammar forms, vocabulary and expressions demanded at your particular level as well as have an ability to manage and control your discourse both written and spoken. In the grammar paper there is a series of sections which test the flexibility and depth of your grammar knowledge, vocabulary, expressions and the general ability to use English; without training these sections are very difficult to pass.
The best way to pass the Cambridge exams is to enroll on a Cambridge exam preparation course which will teach the best way to tackle each paper. If you have taken one of the Cambridge examinations before, and feel confident that you are familiar with the way in which Cambridge exams work, it could be enough to work from one of the many excellent exam preparation books that are available, as these are usually filled with excellent tips. Additionally, however, the best option would be to find a good experienced teacher especially to help with the writing and speaking parts.
The Language Boutique specializes in helping students pass these exams, we have a good few years experience guiding people through the pitfalls and helping them to brush and tighten up their language. We demand a lot from our students; dedication and hard-work is needed especially for those wanting to do intensive sessions before the exams.
Well, in reality Cambridge exams take place all year round but the main ones are in May and June. If you are hoping to take one of the exams this summer you really should be making sure that you have a good study programme organized.
The exams available are:
PETS (Preliminary English Test):
A lower intermediate level exam which tests the language skills needed to survive in social and work situations in an English-speaking environment: PET is equivalent to B1 by the Common European Framework CEF)
FCE (First Certificate in English):
An exam at intermediate level, requiring competence in all the language skills. It is widely recognized by business and educational organizations throughout the world. FCE is equivalent with B2 level by the CEF.
CAE (Certificate in Advanced English):
Which indicates an advanced level of competence in English, is suitable for those who require English for professional or study purposes. It is also designed to encourage the development of the skills required to progress towards CPE. CAE is equivalent with C1 level by the CEF.
CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English):
The highest level of the main Cambridge ESOL examinations suite. It is an advanced exam focusing on the English language skills required for entry into British Universities and to meet business or academic standards overseas. CPE is equivalent with C2 level by the CEF.
The most important thing to remember about Cambridge exams is that knowing how to do the exams and what is expected of you is as important as your English ability. Simply having a English level isn't sufficient to pass, you need to be able to demonstrate the grammar forms, vocabulary and expressions demanded at your particular level as well as have an ability to manage and control your discourse both written and spoken. In the grammar paper there is a series of sections which test the flexibility and depth of your grammar knowledge, vocabulary, expressions and the general ability to use English; without training these sections are very difficult to pass.
The best way to pass the Cambridge exams is to enroll on a Cambridge exam preparation course which will teach the best way to tackle each paper. If you have taken one of the Cambridge examinations before, and feel confident that you are familiar with the way in which Cambridge exams work, it could be enough to work from one of the many excellent exam preparation books that are available, as these are usually filled with excellent tips. Additionally, however, the best option would be to find a good experienced teacher especially to help with the writing and speaking parts.
The Language Boutique specializes in helping students pass these exams, we have a good few years experience guiding people through the pitfalls and helping them to brush and tighten up their language. We demand a lot from our students; dedication and hard-work is needed especially for those wanting to do intensive sessions before the exams.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Attitudes to languages
On Saturday it was St.Patrick's Day and I was celebrating with my Irish friends in a bar watching the 6 Nations rugby Tournament. Naturally the bar was packed with English speakers from England, Scotland, Wales and of course Ireland along with French, Italian and for some reason Portuguese people. I say 'for some reason' as Portugal are not in the 6 Nations, so they had turned up to just to enjoy the International atmosphere with some excellent sport thrown in. Spanish people were noticeably absent; admittedly, Spain is not a rugby playing nation, but then neither is Portugal.
This got me thinking about the necessary attitude to language learning that is needed if you want to acquire and use another language - the desire to be international and enjoy sharing your time with people from other nations. A few Spanish people did turn up later, to celebrate St.Patrick's Day rather than watch the rugby, but they came more with the attitude that they wanted to practise English which didn't really mix well with the atmosphere. It really was not the time or the place to do that, it was not a Language Exchange event where the idea is to practise your language with other people who want to practise too. It was a time to enjoy being with other people regardless of their native language and to enjoy something in common, a sporting event and the National day of Ireland. This is exactly what the Portuguese were doing. The Portuguese were there joining in with what the afternoon was about, and I was impressed by their level of English and by the way they were on the same wavelength as everyone else.
Why is it, then, that the Spanish people who came had more trouble assimilating to the atmosphere? Maybe it's because they are in their own country and the rest of us are abroad and for that reason we automatically think more internationally. It's possibly the case. However, and it's very well-known as many Spanish people have told me, that even when abroad Spanish people tend to stick together and do not mix with people from other nations. I went with a Spanish friend, who speaks excellent English, has travelled and lived abroad, but who sat observing in the corner and commenting on how much the international community mixed together; without realizing that you don't have to be foreign to mix. It is this insular tendency which is problematic for Spanish people in acquiring and using foreign languages. Possibly. It is also because Spanish is such a strong International language that it hinders the desire or the necessity to want to acquire and master another language. Maybe. This is definitely the problem for English speakers.
For me, the Portuguese, in stark contrast to the Spanish, were able to mix perfectly well with all people that afternoon. Why are they so comfortable with speaking English? I think one of the major reasons has to do with that fact that Portuguese TV is not dubbed. Films and TV shows from abroad are shown in the native language with sub-titles meaning that Portuguese people from a very young age are used to hearing other languages, primarily English spoken. From a very young age they are assimilating the language, recognizing it, hearing it, picking it up and learning it. English is not a strange language for them, it is and always has been something every normal for them, so they have the facility and comfort to use it naturally in all situations. Being accustomed to hearing and using another language opens up the mind automatically to the world beyond your native borders, it opens up different cultures and ways of thinking to you that you feel comfortable with; they may be different, you may not like them or agree with them, but you are aware of their existence and this makes it easier to feel comfortable being in an international atmosphere.
Spanish people, on the other hand, have been brought up in an entirely Spanish environment where English is clearly a foreign language to be learned at school or at a Language Academy; it is something different and separate from their normality. It is true that this is changing now in Spain. English teaching in school has been improving a lot and it is possible to put the TV on in the original language, something that was impossible not very long ago. But it is still something that you must choose to do, you actually change the language to be either in English (or whatever language the film is in) or in Spanish, it's not done automatically and for this reason a lot of people do not do it or do it when they need to study. As I have mentioned before in my blog, this tends to create stress and people feel they must understand and so when they don't they lose heart and feel that they will never understand English. Bring used to listening to other languages from birth makes it something normal, thereby avoiding this stress. As for the Portuguese and their obviously different approach to dealing with foreign people on Saturday.
This has a great effect on Spain and especially now that we have an economic crisis with so many people unemployed. I was told, again on Saturday, by someone who works in the Human Resources department of a big company, that they prefer to employ a native English speaker who speaks Spanish; or a foreign person, like a Portuguese who speaks excellent English, than a Spanish person with poor English. I think this is very telling.
This got me thinking about the necessary attitude to language learning that is needed if you want to acquire and use another language - the desire to be international and enjoy sharing your time with people from other nations. A few Spanish people did turn up later, to celebrate St.Patrick's Day rather than watch the rugby, but they came more with the attitude that they wanted to practise English which didn't really mix well with the atmosphere. It really was not the time or the place to do that, it was not a Language Exchange event where the idea is to practise your language with other people who want to practise too. It was a time to enjoy being with other people regardless of their native language and to enjoy something in common, a sporting event and the National day of Ireland. This is exactly what the Portuguese were doing. The Portuguese were there joining in with what the afternoon was about, and I was impressed by their level of English and by the way they were on the same wavelength as everyone else.
Why is it, then, that the Spanish people who came had more trouble assimilating to the atmosphere? Maybe it's because they are in their own country and the rest of us are abroad and for that reason we automatically think more internationally. It's possibly the case. However, and it's very well-known as many Spanish people have told me, that even when abroad Spanish people tend to stick together and do not mix with people from other nations. I went with a Spanish friend, who speaks excellent English, has travelled and lived abroad, but who sat observing in the corner and commenting on how much the international community mixed together; without realizing that you don't have to be foreign to mix. It is this insular tendency which is problematic for Spanish people in acquiring and using foreign languages. Possibly. It is also because Spanish is such a strong International language that it hinders the desire or the necessity to want to acquire and master another language. Maybe. This is definitely the problem for English speakers.
For me, the Portuguese, in stark contrast to the Spanish, were able to mix perfectly well with all people that afternoon. Why are they so comfortable with speaking English? I think one of the major reasons has to do with that fact that Portuguese TV is not dubbed. Films and TV shows from abroad are shown in the native language with sub-titles meaning that Portuguese people from a very young age are used to hearing other languages, primarily English spoken. From a very young age they are assimilating the language, recognizing it, hearing it, picking it up and learning it. English is not a strange language for them, it is and always has been something every normal for them, so they have the facility and comfort to use it naturally in all situations. Being accustomed to hearing and using another language opens up the mind automatically to the world beyond your native borders, it opens up different cultures and ways of thinking to you that you feel comfortable with; they may be different, you may not like them or agree with them, but you are aware of their existence and this makes it easier to feel comfortable being in an international atmosphere.
Spanish people, on the other hand, have been brought up in an entirely Spanish environment where English is clearly a foreign language to be learned at school or at a Language Academy; it is something different and separate from their normality. It is true that this is changing now in Spain. English teaching in school has been improving a lot and it is possible to put the TV on in the original language, something that was impossible not very long ago. But it is still something that you must choose to do, you actually change the language to be either in English (or whatever language the film is in) or in Spanish, it's not done automatically and for this reason a lot of people do not do it or do it when they need to study. As I have mentioned before in my blog, this tends to create stress and people feel they must understand and so when they don't they lose heart and feel that they will never understand English. Bring used to listening to other languages from birth makes it something normal, thereby avoiding this stress. As for the Portuguese and their obviously different approach to dealing with foreign people on Saturday.
This has a great effect on Spain and especially now that we have an economic crisis with so many people unemployed. I was told, again on Saturday, by someone who works in the Human Resources department of a big company, that they prefer to employ a native English speaker who speaks Spanish; or a foreign person, like a Portuguese who speaks excellent English, than a Spanish person with poor English. I think this is very telling.
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