Language Trainers Blogs

September 2021:

September 22 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Did you know that Turkish is the most widely spoken of the Turkic family' With almost 80 million speakers, it has more speakers than Vietnamese and almost as many as Korean. It was first spoken in Mongolia and has been influenced by languages like Arabic and Persian. Apart from being the national language of Turkey, it has a considerable number of speakers in Syria, Iraq, Germany, Bulgaria, Austria, Greece, and other European and Asian countries. Looking for motivation to learn this beautiful language' Read the fascinating Turkish facts below and see why Turkish is one of the richest... (Read More).

September 20 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Tamil is considered a classical language of India. Its ancient origins and substantial body of literature put it in the same league as Ancient Greek or Latin. However, unlike these languages, Tamil is far from being dead. Today, it is spoken by more than 66 million people in the world. It is the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and it is widely spoken in two sovereign nations, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Would you like to visit any of these wonderful places or be able to interact with Tamil-speaking family members' With our list of essential Tamil words, you won’t just... (Read More).

September 08 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

A huge thank you to one of our top Korean teachers, Min-Jong, for her valuable contributions to this article! You’ve been studying Korean for years but you still don’t pass for a local' Don’t sweat it. Most probably, it has nothing to do with your pronunciation or the correctness of your grammar. In fact, what gives you away is most probably the fact that you sound too formal! Sure, you know the names of every member in BTS and Black Pink, but your textbook vocabulary sounds definitely foreign! If you truly want to speak like a Korean, you need to add a few slang expressions to your... (Read More).

September 06 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

If English is your first language, you know that there are as many accents as English-speaking countries, regions, and even social groups in the world. One could even argue that the way in which every English speaker uses language is unique and unrepeatable. But is this true about every language' What about Polish' Is it as heterogeneous as English' Let’s find out below! Table of Contents Polish Accents and Dialects – An Overview A Brief History of Polish Lesser Polish Masovian Silesian Kashubian Greater Polish Polish Accents and Dialects – An Overview Let’s start off by... (Read More).

August 2021:

August 25 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Until very recently, Portugal was Europe’s unsung destination. Eclipsed by larger and flashier neighbours, it has remained in the dark for too long. But not anymore. Make room, Spain and France, for Europe’s most vibrant and eclectic country is ready to take centre stage! So, what makes Portugal so great' Mild climatic conditions and a variety of natural spots will make your visit to Portugal warm, interesting and exciting. By now, it’s no secret that Lisbon, with its rugged hills, iconic trams and lovely architecture, is an old-world charm at its best. But Portugal’s biggest surprise... (Read More).

August 23 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Where is Dutch spoken' The answer is not as simple as you might think. Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands, where it’s spoken countrywide. Outside that, it’s the most widely spoken language in Belgium and the first language of most people in Suriname. Plus, it is widely spoken in the Dutch Caribbean municipalities of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Marteen. As you can imagine, the fact that there are so many Dutch-speaking countries around the world means that there are a lot of Dutch dialects out there. If you’re learning Dutch, you have to get acquainted with all the... (Read More).

August 11 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Everyone who’s been to Brazil knows that it has an incomparable festive atmosphere. Its carnivals, parades, street dances and tropical mood are surely things to remember. But Brazil is much more than that. It is also one of the most historically rich countries in Latin America, as well as a natural paradise full of interesting people, wild animals, and tropical oceans. Why visit Brazil, then' Simply because it has it all! What you take from it will depend on what you are into. Below, we’ll tell you about why you should visit Brazil and a few of its most exciting destinations. Table of... (Read More).

August 09 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

A special thanks to our Arabic teacher, Abdelhady, for his valuable contributions to this article! Have you ever pictured yourself lying on a Moroccan beach or climbing the imposing mountains of Jordan' Or maybe you’d prefer to walk through the street bazaars in Cairo or try the resorts in Dubai… Well, why picture it when you can be there, speaking in Arabic! Wait, isn’t that part of the fantasy' Because it could be. Though you may have reasons to think it’s impossible to learn Arabic in a few months, you should be perfectly capable of memorizing a few Arabic phrases to get... (Read More).

July 2021:

July 21 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Writing about the Chinese alphabet is a difficult task. In order to explain how Chinese people write in their language, we have to start by setting the record straight. You probably know that the English language uses 26 letters, and (less probably) that Russian has 33 characters in its Cyrillic alphabet. Now, when it comes to Chinese, things get a bit more complicated. Why' Because there isn’t such a thing as a Chinese alphabet. Of course, Chinese has a writing system. A very complex one at that. But the way in which Chinese symbols are put together is very different from how we connect... (Read More).

July 19 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

The first thing people notice when they arrive in Germany is that there are almost as many ways of saying hello in German as there are German speakers. In fact, you may go through a whole day without hearing any of the stiff German greetings you learned in class. Of course, this shouldn’t be so surprising. In English, we don’t always say “Hello” when we arrive at a place, do we' Instead, we might say “Hi,” or “Hey,” or “Yo!” Do you want to learn German that you can actually use' Below, you will find a list of all the different ways in which you can say hello and... (Read More).

July 13 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Countries across the globe may use English as a primary language, but depending on where you go you are bound to find enormous differences in the way this language is spoken. After all, English may be the official language used in the UK, India, and the USA, but there are probably more differences than similarities if you really get down to it. The variances aren’t limited between countries. In fact, you can find a range of dialects and mannerisms within a country itself which can give you indicators related to the geography, society, and education of the speaker. Few countries exhibit... (Read More).

July 12 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Native Spanish speakers and those who have ever studied the language will immediately recognize the inverted Spanish question mark: “¿”. In Spanish, questions are not just ended with a question mark as in English, but are surrounded with them. For example: ¿Cuántos años tienes' means “how old are you'” This practice is actually quite useful. By using the question marks like inverted commas or parentheses, identifying a question is much easier. But why don’t we do this in English' The answer is very simple: word order. Explore our Spanish courses with... (Read More).

July 07 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Do you ever come across French expressions that you can’t understand despite knowing the meaning of every individual word' An expression whose meaning is as elusive as the meaning of Chinese tattoos made from Google Translate' Then you just discovered the fascinating world of French idioms. These are phrases such as “a piece of cake”, “bite the bullet” or “break a leg”. And just like these English examples, they’re everywhere, which means that if you want to sound like a Parisian you will need to know their meaning and be able to use them appropriately. Now, if you’re... (Read More).

July 05 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Have you ever overheard a conversation between teenagers and wondered whether they were even speaking in the same language' We totally get you. Although the English language is only one, there are as many varieties of it as speakers in the world. When it comes to Spanish, it’s the same thing. There is the Spanish that old people speak, the Spanish that millennials use on social media… And then, there is Business Spanish. If you want to succeed in the business world in countries such as Chile or Spain, you will need to put down your old textbook and learn some business jargon with our... (Read More).

July 05 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Often, one of the main aspects of language learning that many adults struggle with is perfecting the dreaded accent. As adults, we are usually better at language learning than children (due to our approach and study ethic), but children can usually master an accent with ease while we’re left feeling like no one can understand us when we speak in a foreign tongue. The French accent is one in particular that many of us would love to conquer. It is charming, beautiful, and easy on the ears, but, for non-native speakers, brutal for the tongue. If you’re planning to take your career to a... (Read More).

July 03 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Learning a new language is hard, and one of the most difficult aspects is to actually speak it. I don’t mean speaking it in the classroom, or with other students, but out in the real world with native speakers. For a lot of us, the idea of talking with strangers in our native language can be intimidating enough, imagine adding the stress of doing it in a foreign tongue! Do you feel you lack confidence when it comes to speaking with others in a new language' Do you avoid situations where you’ll have to speak because you’re just too afraid' Then let’s talk about it! Read on to learn a... (Read More).

June 2021:

June 27 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Research shows young American women may be losing jobs because of how they speak. Can a popular language pattern really jeopardize your career' Learn what candidates should take from the new study to their next interview to set themselves up for success. A study sparked debate among psychologists, employers, and voice specialists. “Vocal Fry May Undermine the Success of Young Women in the Labor Market” identifies “low-pitched” and “creaky-sounding” speech as increasingly popular among young American females and comes to the disturbing conclusion that women who use the bottom of... (Read More).

June 23 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Have you decided to start learning Chinese' Well done. Learning Mandarin Chinese will allow you to communicate with hundreds of millions of people not just in Asia but across the world. Besides, in recent years, China has become arguably the largest economy in the world, which means that there is a huge demand for people who can bridge the gap between this new China and English speaking countries. Learning how to use business Mandarin Chinese might open very big doors for you, so what can you do to improve your communication skills' Easy. After you’ve learned the Chinese alphabet, the... (Read More).

June 21 2021 (Language Trainers USA)

Very often, foreign students ask their English teachers whether they have an American or a British accent. But what does it even mean to have an American accent' After all, the US is a very diverse country full of fascinating contrasts. Isn’t a “Valley girl” as American as a man from an r-less city like Boston' Isn’t the accent of a cowboy from Texas as worthy of study as the more standard pronunciation of a news broadcaster from New York' If you’re going to the US for business or leisure, knowing about these accents will help you know what to expect and improve your listening... (Read More).

June 09 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

¡Benvinguts, tothom! (Welcome, everybody!) Thinking about learning Catalan' We totally get it. Catalan is a very intriguing, idiosyncratic language. With its perfect blend of Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, it might seem familiar at first. But it’s much more than just a fusion of other languages. Spoken by around 7 million people, Catalan has its heart in the streets of Barcelona, where it flows alongside Castilian Spanish in a complex sociocultural interplay. House photo created by bearfotos – www.freepik.com But it is also the only official language of Andorra, a region... (Read More).

May 2021:

May 25 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

Keep this list of Portuguese words and phrases handy! And keep on reading to understand how to use them correctly.   Basic Portuguese Words & Phrases Bom dia— Good morning Boa tarde— Good afternoon Boa noite— Good night Olá— Hello Por favor— Please/Excuse me Com licença— Excuse me De nada— You’re welcome Desculpa/Desculpe— I’m sorry Tchau— Bye   It’s no secret that Portugal is one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Its mild winters, ancient architecture, and wonderful landscapes make it a must-see destination for people who love... (Read More).

May 21 2021 (Language Trainers UK)

 All of us have experienced the process of learning a language. As children, we learnt more than words, sounds and concepts; we learned our culture. For instance, those of us living in the UK are very aware of “afternoon tea”, while Spaniards live and die by the traditional siesta (especially during the hottest months of the year), proving that culture and language are inseparable. Photo via Pixabay The same logic applies to foreign language teaching: it’s not just about learning grammar, vocabulary or communication skills, but also getting acquainted with the culture and traditions... (Read More).

May 2020:

May 15 2020 (Language Trainers Germany)

Bis eine Heilung entdeckt wird, wird das Coronavirus weiterhin Auswirkungen auf unsere Gesellschaft haben: wie wir miteinander interagieren, wie wir arbeiten und sogar wie wir Sprachen lernen. Wir bei Language Trainers wissen, dass beispiellose Probleme kreative Lösungen erfordern. Deshalb passen wir unser Unterrichtsmodell an eine Welt an, die sich von der Pandemie erholt.   Aus diesem Grund sind wir gespannt, was die Menschen zu sagen haben, wie sie sich vorstellen, dass Meetings stattfinden werden, sobald die Sperren beendet sind und diese beschließen, den persönlichen Kontakt... (Read More).

February 2020:

February 26 2020 (Language Trainers Germany)

Für den letzten November hatte ich einen Urlaub in Thailand geplant. Singapur war am Anfang nicht auf meiner Besuchsliste. Weil einer meiner Freunde nach Singapur umgezogen ist, habe ich ihn spontan auf meinem Weg nach Thailand kurz besucht. Ich hatte also keine großen Erwartungen oder Pläne, was die kleine, zauberhafte asiatische Insel betrifft. Nach einem 20-stündingen Flug bin ich erschöpft auf Changi, den beeindruckendsten Flughafen der Welt gelandet. Außer hunderten von Geschäften, gibt es da einen entzückenden Wasserfall und ein Indoor – Gartenparadies. Übrigens hat die... (Read More).

April 2019:

April 17 2019 (Language Trainers Germany)

Phänomene, die vermutlich nicht nur die Leute betreffen die beschließen auszuwandern, sondern möglicherweise auch den ein oder anderen Backpacker, Digitale Nomaden oder Langzeittouristen treffen. Wann es Zeit ist wieder nach Hause zu kehren oder gänzlich zu bleiben oder auch meine 12 persönlichen Steps, um sich zu integrieren – und nein hierbei geht es nicht um das Tragen von stilistisch unakzeptablen Elefantenhosen… 1.Du suchst auf Toiletten vergeblich den Mülleimer, um das Toilettenpapier zu entsorgen… In Thailand ist das Rohr- und Abwassersystem noch nicht so ganz... (Read More).

November 2018:

November 02 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

  Ein Leben als Digital Nomad in Südostasien klingt für die meisten Leute nach Kokosnüssen am Strand, surfen und gelegentlich in Strandbars am Laptop sitzen. Natürlich besteht mein Businessoutfit aus Bikinis und bunten Elefantenhosen. Meine Armbanduhr musste bunten Armbändern und Fußkettchen weichen und statt am Schreibtisch zu sitzen liege ich in der Hängematte, während ich darüber sinniere wo ich meinen nächsten Drink herbekomme. Wie so häufig ist das in der Realität jedoch anders. Mein Leben ist kein Rosamunde Pilcher Roman, bei der ich an jedem neuen Ort einer weiteren... (Read More).

October 2018:

October 08 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

Wenn wir einen Einblick in eine andere Kultur möchten, dann gelingt uns das auf die Schnelle leicht über die Sprache und traditionelle Gerichte. Wenn wir Glück haben, dann dürfen wir auch noch an den großen und wichtigen Ereignissen des Lebens teilhaben. Diese sind in fast jeder Kultur gleich. Die Geburt, Hochzeit und Beerdigung gelten weltweit als einschneidende Erlebnisse. Ich hatte das Glück – das klingt irgendwie nach schwarzem Humor – bei einer traditionellen Beerdigungsfeier in Ghana dabei zu sein. Von außen betrachtet war das auf den ersten Blick eine Mischung aus Karneval,... (Read More).

September 2018:

September 21 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

  Man bleibt nicht lange allein. Ich kann allen Frauen, die auf der Suche nach einem Mann sind, nur raten: packt eure Koffer und reist los! Ihr lernt dann vermutlich mehr kennen, als euch lieb ist und damit meine ich nicht nur andere Kulturen, euch selbst, sondern auch viele neue Männer und deren merkwürdig getarntes Dating Verhalten. Eigentlich bin ich nach Bali geflogen um allein zu sein. Fast sechs Wochen lang wollte ich mich nur um meine Bedürfnisse kümmern und mit so wenig Menschen wie möglich kommunizieren. Ist schon auf dem Flug nach Bali gescheitert. Um mich nicht... (Read More).

August 2018:

August 31 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

Du wolltest schon immer mal den Mount Pitchu besteigen, dein Spiegelbild in der glatten Oberfläche des Königssees bewundern oder dich in allen Wegen, die nach Rom führen verirren, aber findest keine Reisebegleitung' Deine Freunde wollen woanders hin, dein Partner bekommt keinen Urlaub und Reisegruppen schrecken dich ab' Dann lass dich nicht aufhalten und fahre einfach allein los! „Allein, wirklich' Das ist doch nichts für mich!“, denkst du dir jetzt vielleicht, besonders dann ist es an der Zeit dir unsere fünf Gründe durchzulesen, warum jeder mindestens einmal in seinem Leben... (Read More).

August 10 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

Alle deine Freunde und Kollegin plantschen im Meer, relaxen in den Bergen oder reiten auf Elefanten durch die Gegend, nur du armes Ding musst zu Hause bleiben, weil du die Urlaubskasse entweder zu früh geplündert hast, noch nie eine hattest oder einfach keinen Urlaub bekommst' Unsere 10 Tipps & Tricks helfen dir dabei, Urlaubsfeeling in den Alltag zu holen 1. Erkunde die Stadt wie ein Tourist Sicherlich musst dafür nicht aussehen wie einer. Die Cargohose kannst du getrost im Schrank lassen, aber nimm dir Zeit und erkunde deine eigene Stadt. Arbeite sämtliche Sightseeing Spots ab,... (Read More).

July 2018:

July 27 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

Raus aus deiner Komfortzone Runter von der Couch und rein ins Flugzeug! Na gut, du musst nicht direkt ins Flugzeug steigen. Bus, Zug oder Auto tun es auch. Beim Reisen müssen wir häufig unsere Komfortzone verlassen, aber warum sollten wir das tun' Das klingt doch erstmal ziemlich unbequem. Weil es deinen Horizont erweitern wird, ganz einfach. Du hast beim Reisen nicht nur die Möglichkeit ein neuer Mensch zu sein, sondern auch neue Dinge auszuprobieren. Vielleicht lernst du dich beim Water Rafting von einer neuen Seite kennen und entdeckst ein neues Hobby für dich' Vielleicht merkst du... (Read More).

July 13 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

Wenn wir als Kind eine Sprache lernen, dann haben wir keine Scheu, sondern machen bedingungslos Laute und Geräusche nach, ja häufig sogar Mimik, die unsere Eltern uns vorleben. Stück für Stück entwickeln wir mehr und mehr ein empfinden für unsere Muttersprache, bis wir irgendwann klar und verständlich Wünsche und Bedürfnisse äußern können. Später, wenn wir in die Schule gehen, erlernen die meisten von uns weitere Sprachen.  Als erwachsene Menschen verstehen wir dann, dass fremde Sprachen lernen nicht nur aus Vokabeln pauken und Grammatik lernen besteht, sondern uns auch fremde... (Read More).

June 2018:

June 29 2018 (Language Trainers Germany)

Für dein Hipster Wochenende in Berlin solltest du gut vorbereitet sein. Wer als echter Hipster durch die Hauptstadt laufen will, sollte nichts dem Zufall überlassen. Um deine zahlreichen Erlebnisse zu dokumentieren solltest du auf gar keinen Fall deine Fotokamera vergessen. Nein, bitte keine hochmoderne Spiegelreflex sondern eine auf alt gemachte. Falls du die nicht hast packe zumindest eine Polaroid Kamera für deine schönsten Hipster Erfahrungen in Berlin ein, um sie später mit dem Handy abzufotografieren, damit du all deinen Freunden zeigen kannst was für ein cooler Weltenbummler du... (Read More).