Language Fun In The Sun!

The holiday season  is here again. If you are jetting off somewhere nice, you’ll get more from your time away if you learn a bit of the local language. We’ve selected the best and most innovative quick holiday language courses for beginners.   Heard of pay as you go?   This is learn as you go! Read more

LANGUAGE GUIDES

Our Language Advantage Guides give you all the help you need to start learning a language.

Keep up-to-date  with the latest advice on the best and most innovative language courses for your current or next learning level by reviewing our Language Advantage Guides.

---

I want to learn a language … for my summer holiday

More soon!

I want to learn a language … for business

I want to learn a language … for kids

I want to learn a language … for beginners

I want to learn a language … for intermediate learners

I want to learn a language … for advanced learners

Sweden Takes Over The EU Presidency

On 1 July 2009, Sweden takes over the presidency of the European Union and its first request is that the governments of the EU tackle climate change head on. However, with the current economic climate, this will be quite a challenge.

If you’ll be attending many of the planned events in Sweden or following the proceedings, you needn’t worry about the language.   Read more

ipod & mp3 Earworms Rapid French Volumes 1 & 2

I tried out Volumes 1 & 2 of The Earworms Rapid French language courses – and downloaded them to my mp3 player.   This is a new learning experience for me – both having the French course on my mp3 player, as well as learning a language through the use of music. Read more

IPOD & MP3 EARWORMS RAPID FRENCH: VOLUME 1 REVIEW

An independent language course review by Andrea Martins

Now this is a new learning experience for me: learning a language through the use of music. This is an interesting concept and something that Earworms calls an   ‘accelerated learning technique’. The idea behind it is to listen to words and phrases in a rhythmic way  set to melodic music .  You feel at ease as you listen and somehow the phrases become catchy and easy to recall.

I tried volume one of the Earworms Rapid French language course. It is just over an hour long and covers subjects that you might encounter whilst you are abroad such as ordering things, asking for things, asking directions, telling the time, numbers, days of the week, greetings and other useful expressions. You also cover verbs such as to eat, to order, to buy, to rent as well as asking questions such as ‘do you like?’, ‘what’s this?’ and ‘how much is it?’.

The first track deals with ‘je voudrais’ – I would like. Before you know it you are ordering drinks, as well as saying other expressions such as ‘parfait’, ‘de rien’ and ‘merci’ – all good conversation fillers and useful pleasantries!

Each sentence is repeated at least three to four times, but each time it is said at a slightly different pace and with a slightly different intonation. The sentence is then broken down into parts. So, for example ‘I would like to eat something’ is broken down into its components and then the word order is compared to English:   ‘I would like’, then ‘to eat’, then ’something’ then ‘to eat’ again and then ’something’ again and then the whole sentence is said in full once more. This idea of breaking up an expression and reconstructing it reminds me vaguely of the Michel Thomas method. But the Earworms method uses music and rhythmic repetition to great language learning effect!

The music varies from techno to funky jazz, guitar and ‘lift’ music (musak)! Each type of music denotes a different chapter so learning doesn’t become monotonous and allows you to associate certain language with certain music. At the end of each chapter track, a challenge is set for us, although the male English language speaker answers the questions. The female French speaker asks us ‘how do you say…..?’ with something that we have just covered in the chapter. It’s a good exercise and nothing too challenging.

In fact, this is what I enjoyed most about the Earworms Rapid French; I found the whole experience not too challenging or exhausting and yet I remembered quite a bit of the French. This particular course comes with a useful downloadable booklet. It gives more information into what the accelerated learning technique is about. It also lists all the phrases and words found in the course. This is useful for those (like me!) that like to see the written language and associate it with hearing the language at the same time. You even get a list of the English, the French (along with the audio of the sound) and its ‘memory hook’ – something which helps you associate the French to a visual memory and familiar words in English.

Overall, I thought that this course was fun, entertaining and I was under no pressure to memorise words. I later found myself humming one of the tunes and remembering the repetition of the French words! This method really does seem to work! C’est parfait!

Learn a language on your iPod ® with Earworms Rapid French Volume 1 [UK and Europe]>>

to find out more or to buy an Earworms language course>>

Get the French language advantage with Earworms Rapid French. Claim your competitive advantage!

Paris Or Guadeloupe … What’s It To Be?

From chic Paris to beautiful Aix-en-Provence to the exotic beaches of Guadeloupe, we offer a variety of French courses to suit all needs and budgets. You can take a standard language course from as little as one week, or add a little joie de vivre with an activity such as cooking, surfing, golf or wine tasting.   You’ll spend your morning studying the French language Read more

Semana Santa In Spain

Semana Santa is Holy Week in Spain and is celebrated this year from 5 to 12 April 2009 – from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.   It is a week of religious activity – from joyful fiestas to solemn processions, with highlights on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday depending on which city or village you’re in.   Crosses, lanterns and candles Read more

BBC MUZZY LANGUAGE COURSES

BBC Muzzy is one of the best and most innovative language courses for kids on the market! Put the DVD on and see your young kids captivated by their new language … and soon they’ll be repeating songs and phrases – and you may be too!   Choose from Muzzy French, Muzzy German, Muzzy Italian and Muzzy Spanish.   They’ll get their language advantage!

Learning a language will never be this easy again. Up to the minute scientific research shows that the brain’s ‘window of opportunity’ for learning a second language is from birth to ages 10 or 12. Experts say early learning enriches overall mental development, including improved memory and better cognitive and listening skills. This could be the most important gift you ever give your child.

This famous BBC course uses the award-winning character MUZZY, compelling stories and delightful songs to bring language to life. It’s fun and it works. Almost like magic, the proven ’see-listen-and-learn’ technique engages kids’ natural ability to learn language.

All your favourite BBC Muzzy Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

The BBC Muzzy language course includes:

2 Story DVDs (1-3 and 4-6) in Target Language
1 Story DVD (1-6) in Support Language
1 CD Audio of the Story (1-6)
1 Vocabulary Builder Program DVD
Colorful Multilingual Scriptbook
MUZZY at the Seaside CD-ROM
Parents’ Guide
*** Please check that  dvd region is suitable for your country***
All your favourite BBC Muzzy Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

---

01   BBC Muzzy French language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy French BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: French
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy French Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

02 BBC Muzzy German language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy German BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: German
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy German Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

03 BBC Muzzy Italian language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy Italian BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: Italian
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy Italian Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

04 BBC Muzzy Spanish language course Level 1 and Level 2 for children

Muzzy Spanish BBC Language Courses
level: Children
language: Spanish
media: DVD (Region 2), CD, CD-ROM, book
Type ‘Muzzy’ in search box in BBC Shop for full list of Muzzy products
UK and Europe only
All your favourite BBC Muzzy Spanish Language Courses from the BBC Shop>>

---

Other ways to learn a language for kids:
more language courses and dictionaries for children [UK]
more language courses and dictionaires for children [USA]
more language cd-rom software for children [UK]
more language cd-rom software for children [USA]

top of page

Teach Yourself Business Mandarin Chinese

Do you want to win more business in China?
Do you want to serve your Mandarin Chinese-speaking customers better?
Do you want to work more effectively with your international business partners?

Teach Yourself Business  Mandarin Chinese  is a three-hour, all-audio, straightforward course that will help you to acquire essential up-to-date business language to use in China. Read more

TEACH YOURSELF ONE-DAY GREEK REVIEW

An independent language course review by Sarah Maddocks

The Teach Yourself One-day language series is great if you are off on holiday and don’t want to learn the full ins and outs of a language. It’s a 75-minute CD with a small vocabulary booklet for back up containing the 50 most needed words for your trip. With One-day Greek, the help of characters Liz and Andy and the vocab booklet, you can learn the basics of holiday lingo in just over an hour.

There are 10 sections on the CD and each of them has vital vocabulary lists which are also available in the booklet. I found that the CD would be especially useful for holiday-makers, as the series took me back to the days when learning how to ask for something in a shop was a chore and directions seemed so confusing.

When I first started the CD, as a complete beginner to Greek, I found it daunting. In the first section, Liz asked Andy about Greek words he already knew. This made me feel slightly apprehensive, as I had assumed the course would be for pure beginners and not beginners with a prior knowledge of the language. It turned out that the words he knew were only words he would have picked up from holidaying in Greece once – such as hello! Apart from this he was actually a pure beginner.

Towards the middle of the CD, Liz begins to introduce the sections with everyday role play situations. These are very fast and difficult to understand at first, but the good thing with this is that you can hear Greek at a proper speed and adjust to a real Greek accent. Liz then goes on to explain exactly what was said and how you would pronounce it. I found that I had to repeat the CD a number of times in order to hear the pronunciation and really take it in.

The format of the CD is effective, but some of the scripts seem to be forced and it was often hard to answer the questions as Andy’s answer was often said straight away. It is therefore a good idea to pause the CD once Liz has asked the question, think of the answer yourself, say it out loud and then check it against the answer that Andy gives on the CD.

At the end of the CD, there is a recap section going back over the whole course or the “one-day Greek challenge” (which sounds a lot more fun than recapping!). I found this a great way of actually discovering what I had learnt in Greek and what I had managed to remember. The challenge works in a way that makes it easy for you to skip back to the relevant section if you have forgetten any of the words. So you can keep revising and repeating the course until you can do the challenge standing on your head.

I found the vocabulary easier to remember by doing the series over a few hours rather than cramming it in to just one 75 minute session. For me to listen to Liz and Andy continuously for 75 minutes would have been a slight drag, but with breaks it is bearable and you can actually get the corny ‘gag’ that Andy has said out of your head!

This CD is a fab way of learning the local language and maybe even managing to socialise, having a conversation with the locals and jumping onto a bus and knowing what you have to say.

Bearing all this in mind, this CD is a fab way of learning the local language and maybe even managing to socialise by having a conversation with the locals and jumping onto a bus and knowing what you have to say. It is also excellent value for money as it only costs £6.99 in the UK.

The only thing left for me to do now is go holidaying in Greece and really put this learning CD to the test.

Adio!

to buy Teach Yourself One-Day Greek [UK]>>
to buy Teach Yourself One-Day Greek [USA]>>
to find out more about Teach Yourself language courses>>

top of page

Next Page »