Language Trainers Blogs

June 2017:

June 21 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

From the fiestas, to the beaches, to the artwork of famous Spanish artists like Picasso and Miró, Spain has a lot to offer any sort of traveller. Spanish culture is just as fascinating as the nation’s coastlines and museums, and probably much more nuanced! Even if you spent years in Spain you most likely wouldn’t be able to uncover every aspect of the country’s vibrant traditions, but that doesn’t mean you won’t try, right' We’re here to help (and get you started on that journey to discovering Spanish culture) with a few interesting facts about Spain and the Spanish way of... (Read More).

June 19 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Madrid hat viele verschiedene Facetten. Egal ob modern oder altmodisch. Obwohl, Madrid international sehr bekannt und beliebt ist, ist es auch eine sehr gelassene Stadt, die nicht mit dem schnellen New York zu vergleichen ist. Nach Madird asuzuwandern, könnte, dank der Vielfalt and Geschichte und Kulutr, die beste Entscheidung sein, die Sie je getroffen haben. Hier sind unsere 5 Gründe, warum dies eine gute Idee ist: Eine zentrale Stadt Madrid ist eine pefekte Stadt, für diejenigen, die gerne reisen oder am Wochenende neue Länder kennenlernen wollen. Es gibt sehr günstige... (Read More).

June 19 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

English may be your native language, but that doesn’t always mean that you get it exactly right. We all make mistakes, even with languages we’ve spoken our entire lives, and there’s nothing wrong with brushing up a little on your native tongue knowledge. Read on to see if you’re using these 10 words right, or if you’re in need of a little language tuning! 1. Decimate Decimate is often confused with the word destroy and many people tend to think these two can be used interchangeably. Decimate actually means to ‘destroy a great number of’ and alternatively is also used... (Read More).

June 14 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Wir kennen es wahrscheinlich alle und haben uns öfter beim Durchblättern diverser Reisebrochuren erwischt, oder im Internet durch diverse Fotos von wunderschönen und abenteuerlichen  Urlaubsfotos geklickt. Leider ist das Reisen nicht umsonst, und für die meisten Studenten steht Reisen aus finanziellen Gründen nicht an erster Stelle. Daher ist ein Auslandssemester eine gute Alternative, um einfach mal um die halbe Welt zu reisen und neue Länder kennenzulernen. Es gibt heutzutage auch eine Menge von Stipendien, um solch einen Auslandsaufenthalt zu ermöglichen. Egal ob Taiwan, USA... (Read More).

June 12 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

It is a common assumption that extended travel is only possible with an extremely large bank balance. Despite the fact that of course travel does cost money, there are many ways that the more avid travellers manage to extend the length of their travels without spending that much more money. There are ways to not only spend less money whilst travelling, but also to gain a richer, more unique and authentic experience of a place. Here are 5 inexpensive ways to extend your travels, and to enrich your experience. 1. Work Away Work Away focuses on a cultural exchange between locals and... (Read More).

June 12 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

Achieving perfect proficiency in a language is the ideal of any learner, but not the reality. Indeed, absolute adeptness doesn’t exist, as much as we wish it did. While it’s good to strive for perfection, sometimes it’s okay to cut yourself some slack, as long as you don’t slack off too much! Language is a life-long learning process, regardless of whether or not you acquired the language later in life, or it’s your native tongue that you picked up as a child. You may be wondering then, that if language perfection is a myth, what does it really mean to be bilingual' Let’s talk it... (Read More).

June 06 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

 Hier haben wir einige Sehenswürdigkeiten in China zusammengefasst, auf die man vielleicht nicht sofort kommt. Wenn man an China denkt, hat man meistens die zwei größten Städte Shanghai und Beijing in seinem Kopf. Mit den beiden Städten assoziiert man wiederum viele Leute, Lärm, Verschmutzung und man ist ganz weit weg vom eigentlichen Entspannen und zur Ruhe kommen. Jedoch ist China extrem groß und deshalb auch nicht an allen Orten so überfüllt, wie man es aus den Medien kennt. Zhangjiajie: Die Landschaft ist mehr bekannt aus Avatar, und galt damals als Inspiration für den... (Read More).

June 05 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

Travelling or living abroad is a great step to take in the language learning journey because it offers you opportunities to use your skills in ways you never could back home. However, moving abroad or travelling to a country where your target tongue is spoken won’t automatically guarantee that your language abilities will increase substantially. It’s all in the way you travel, so check out these Dos and Don’ts of learning a language abroad before you start planning your trip! Don’t give in to speaking English Being able to speak good English is a valuable ability and there... (Read More).

May 2017:

May 26 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

The Arab world stretches across over 20 countries and is made up by more than 200 million people. While it’s important to not use a broad brush to describe those who make up the Arab world, there are many nuances which can be seen whether you’re visiting Egypt, doing business in Qatar, or on holiday in Lebanon. If you’re interested in the Arab world because you travel there frequently or are learning Arabic, you’ll love these 8 fascinating fact about Arab culture! 1. Arab is not a race. Too often you’ll hear people broadly use the word ‘Arab’ as a term to describe the... (Read More).

May 22 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

We’ve all witnessed them in action, spilling off of massive busses, fanny packs in place, then snapping a few photos before hopping back on and heading to their next major site. Yep, you guessed it, we’re talking about the dreaded tourist. While this may be something of a stereotype, if you travel often you know that there are indeed huge differences between tourists and travellers. You definitely should want to be a traveller, and here are a few tips to help you look like a suave explorer and not a bumbling tourist! 1. Do your research When you visit another country you are... (Read More).

May 22 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Ob nun ein klassisches Konzert in Wien oder doch eine dramatische Oper in Italien. Wir haben einige der schönsten Gebäude einmal unter die Lupe genommen. Hier sind unsere Top 5: 1. Die Wiener Staatsoper Einer der bekanntesten Bauwerke befindet sich im Herzen Österreich und wurde 1869 mit einer ersten Prämiere eingeweiht. Die Bauplane jedoch haben schon im Jahre 1861 angefangen und waren eine architektonische Herausforderung für junge und nominierte Künstler. Der Name der Oper wurde im Laufe der Zeit ganze 12 mal geändert und das Gebäude musste auf Grund des Kireges mehrmals... (Read More).

May 22 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

Madrid is a city that juggles both the modern and the ancient. While Spain’s capital may boast international connections that bring people in from all over the globe, it’s surprisingly slow-paced much like the Spain of old. Here, contemporary architecture mixes with streets that are hundreds of years old and traditions, like the nation’s Easter customs, which can date all the way back to the Middle Ages. Making the decision to settle in Madrid may turn out to be the best thing you ever do, and here’s 5 reasons why: 1. Centrally located Situated smack in the middle of Spain,... (Read More).

May 16 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

Let me set the scene for you: a few years ago, I was walking down a narrow, dusty road in a village centre, when I suddenly feel someone pinch my bottom. I spin around and am faced with a brightly-coloured demon. The demon grins and waves a large phallic weapon in my face. At first, I am unsure whether to laugh or run as the stranger stares at me in silence, but then he advances, weapon waving and forcing me to take a step backwards. The feeling of menace intensifies and I find myself running away. Backwards; you NEVER turn your back on a demon! Several other demons join in the... (Read More).

May 15 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Woher kommt der Muttertag eigentlich' Feiert jedes Land Muttertag am selben Tag' Wir haben Ihnen vereinzelnde Länder und die Muttertagsbräuche einmal zusammengefasst, die vielleicht sogar als Inspiration für das nächste Muttertagsgeschenk dienen. Muttertag wird in den meisten Ländern entweder am zweiten Sonntag im Mai gefeiert. Aber woher kommt der Muttertag eigentlich' Der Muttertag wurde schon von den alten Griechen im 13. Jahrhundert gefeiert und hat insbesondere in Amerika, durch die damalige Frauenbewegen an Popularität gewonnen. Durch dich Hartnäckigkeit verschiendenster... (Read More).

May 15 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

This post originally appeared on the Magoosh IELTS blog. Purpose: Academic and the General Training Versions It might be obvious to you that the Academic IELTS is intended for (prospective) university students applying for admission in universities and programs in which English is the medium of instruction. But that’s not all – many professionals and job applicants may find that they are also required to provide scores for this version of the test. Unlike the general training version, the academic version allows test takers to demonstrate some reading and writing skills that... (Read More).

May 10 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Na das hätten selbst die Schweden wirklich nicht gedacht. Doch Forbes hatte vor einigen Monaten ein Artikel herausgebracht, indem das skandinavische Land auf Platz 1 stand. Um ein besseres Bild von dem unscheinbaren, ruhigen Schweden und seine versteckten Geschäftsmöglichkeiten zu bekommen, sind die Highlights der Top Länder von uns noch einmal zusammengefasst: 1. Schweden: Um die Konjunktur in Schwung zu bringen, hat die Regierung schon vor einiger Zeit die Arbeitslosen- und Invaliditätsleistung gesenkt. Dank einer niedrigen Staatsverschuldung, einem Wirtschaftsaufschwung von 4,2%... (Read More).

May 08 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

We’ve all lusted after the glossy covers of travel brochures, admired the gorgeous posters in travel agency windows, and scrolled through photo after photo of far off places while browsing online. Unfortunately, travel costs money and if you’re a penniless university student going abroad can seem far out of reach. Studying abroad is a great alternative to simply traveling to the other side of the globe and, even better, you can find plenty of scholarships to fund an overseas adventure! While studying in Taiwan, Switzerland, or Argentina can offer a wealth of learning opportunities, it... (Read More).

May 08 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

Alright, so you've been studying Spanish for a while and now you can order paella and a tapa or two. You probably even know a little something about siestas and La Tomatina. Not bad. Not bad at all. Sounds like your Spanish is going down well. But do you know how to impress locals with your extensive cultural and lingual knowledge – their gestures, etiquette and speech patterns' Can you communicate for longer than 5 seconds without giving away that you’re a tourist/expat/secret agent' If your response to any of these isn’t an emphatic “yes”, then there’s still some work to do,... (Read More).

May 01 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

To be or not to…(zzzz). Oops, sorry about that. That’s usually where most of our brains shut down as our English teacher babbles on in a desperate attempt to translate centuries old tragedies. But whether you loved or hated the hours spent pouring over his seemingly cryptic texts the English is nonetheless riddled with his words and phrases. And he didn’t just impact your reading material, but how you speak as well. Now that’s the mark of a good writer. Love me or hate me, both are in my favor...If you love me, I'll always be in your heart...If you hate me, I'll always be in... (Read More).

April 2017:

April 24 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

Argentina is an extremely diverse and culturally rich country. As a travel destination, people from all over the globe are in awe of the travel experiences that this country and the South American continent have to offer. Truly though, the best way to discover it better and really immerse yourself in the culture is to spend some time living and working there. Needless to say, a massive advantage of being a native English speaker is the travel opportunities which come with it; by becoming a TEFL-qualified teacher, you are instantly opening up the doors to travel opportunities by... (Read More).

April 24 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

Spanish is a beautiful, and useful, language to learn. But while many Spanish words might seem to roll off the tongue like chocolate syrup (or at least we language learners like to think they do), there’s few things students of the language dread more than the rolled Spanish ‘r’. You know what I’m talking about; the letter commonly found in words like perro, carro, and—this one’s a doozy—ferrocarril. Conquering this tiny little letter may seem impossible, but it’s not. And the better news is that once you master it in Spanish, you’ll have an easier time with other languages... (Read More).

April 18 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Sprachen lernen lohnt sich, davon sind wir bei Language Trainers fest überzeugt. Hier haben wir einige der Gründe zusammengestellt, die zeigen, dass Sprachen lernen sogar richtig cool sein kann. 1. Finde Freunde aus aller Welt Das Internet hat die Kommunikation revolutioniert. Noch nie war es so einfach, mit Menschen aus der ganzen Welt in Kontakt zu treten. Soziale Netzwerke und Apps machen es auch besonders leicht, Gesprächspartner in anderen Ländern zu finden und Sprachen direkt von anderen Muttersprachlern zu lernen. 2. Trainiere dein Gehirn Ein aktives Gehirn bleibt... (Read More).

April 17 2017 (Language Trainers UK)

Making the decision to move overseas can be both exciting and scary. On the one hand you’re embarking on a cool new adventure, on the other you’ll be faced with a foreign culture, language, and way of life that you’re not at all familiar with. When it comes down to it, it’s best not to take the decision to move abroad too lightly. If you’re not prepared for the potential bumps you might encounter, you may end up giving up too quickly before you’ve had the chance to acclimate. Being an expat isn’t easy, but it’s also incredibly rewarding (take it from a long-time expat).... (Read More).

April 17 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

‘Entitled’, ‘lazy’, and ‘narcissistic’ are just a few of the negative terms used to describe Millennials. And while these tend to be no more true than they were for other generations, there is one more word that should be added to the list of things people claim to hate about the Millennial generation: incomprehensible. Language tends to evolve quickly with each generation bringing in new terms and making them popular. What was ‘groovy’ yesterday may be ‘cool’ today and so on. Arguably, Millennial language tends to change much faster because we live in a world... (Read More).

April 10 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Fliegen gehörte schon immer zu den ganz großen Träumen der Menschheit. Viele habe sich daran versucht und einige bezahlten dafür mit ihrem Leben. Auch große Denker und Erfinder wie Leonardo da Vinci beschäftigten sich intensiv mit der Frage wie sich der Mensch – den Vögeln gleich – in die Lüfte erheben könnte. Inzwischen gehört Fliegen für uns alle zum Alltag, vor allem wenn es ums Reisen geht. Innerhalb von Stunden können wir heute um die halbe Welt fliegen. Gemütlicher geht es dagegen beim Fahren mit dem Heißluftballon zu. In aller Ruhe können Sie dabei die... (Read More).

April 10 2017 (Language Trainers USA)

Spanish is a beautiful language, but that’s not the only great reason to learn it. It’s one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and you can find speakers almost anywhere—whether you’re in Europe, South America, or the North American continent. You probably have a multitude of reasons for why you love the Spanish tongue and have invested countless hours in conjugating verbs, memorizing vocabulary, and perfecting your accent. But how do you know when you’ve finally mastered Spanish' While picking up a new language is bound to be a constant learning process, here are five... (Read More).

April 06 2017 (Language Trainers Germany)

Eine Reise nach Italien gehörte im 19. Jahrhundert zum guten Ton. Nahezu alle bedeutenden Künstler der Klassik und Romantik setzten zumindest einmal ihren Fuß auf den Boden des Landes mit der charakteristischen Stiefelform im Süden Europas. Ob Goethe, Brahms oder Wagner, alle kamen Sie ob wegen der faszinierenden antiken Stätten oder dem milden Klima. Noch heute hat Italien nichts von seinem Status als einem der beliebtesten Reiseländer verloren. Wer dabei auf den Spuren des großen Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wandeln möchte, sollte die folgenden Orte unbedingt... (Read More).