The earliest May Day celebrations are generally acknowledged to have taken place in the pre-Christian era, with the festival of Flora (Roman Goddess of flowers), the Walpurgis Night celebrations of the Germanic countries, and the celebration of Beltane in Gaelic countries. Most of these were a celebration of the coming of summer, and of the fertility that accompanied the season.
More recently – since the 19th century to be more precise - May Day has also become synonymous with the labour movement, and is often viewed as a day to recognise the economic and social achievements of workers. Labour Day (or International Workers’ Day as it’s also known) has its origins in the ‘eight-hour day movement’, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
The revolutionary nature of Labour Day’s history has lead to its adoption by many organisations and communities across the world as a day for political protest or rallies, which in turn was responsible for the American government’s decision to rename it ‘Loyalty Day’.
May Day (Loyalty Day) celebrations in the USA
Loyalty Day was first observed in 1921 as “Americanisation Day” to counterbalance Labour Day on 1st May, which was celebrated in other parts of the world and perceived as communist. On May 1, 1930, about 10,000 Veterans of Foreign War members staged a rally at New York’s Union Square to promote patriotism. Through a resolution adopted in 1949, May 1 evolved into Loyalty Day, when Americans are supposed to show their loyalty to, and love of, their country with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other public places.
Read more about English courses in the US
May Day Celebrations in Scotland and Ireland
May Day celebrations in these two countries generally relate to Beltane - a Celtic calendar feast to mark the start of summer. Bonfires were common features of Beltane celebrations and still remain so today. Related rituals included driving cattle between two fires, and burning witches in effigy. One of the biggest and most-well known celebrations today is the fire festival in Edinburgh, when a huge bonfire is lit on Carlton Hill.
Read more about English courses in Scotland and Ireland
May Day Celebrations in Germany
In Germany, particularly in the more rural areas, people celebrate what is known as ‘Walpurgisnacht’ on 1st May. Walpurgisnacht stems from the legend of the abbess of a monastery of Heidenheim, who helped St. Boniface bring Christianity to 8th Century Germany. As her remains have been moved on multiple occasions, several days have been designated in her honor, one of which is the first of May. This date coincided with a pre-existing pagan festival, which, in Germany, included activities intended to protect against witchcraft. This brought about the development of a hybrid legend, in which witches were said to meet the Devil on the eve of May 1, on the Brocken peak. The night of April 30th became known as “Walpurgisnacht”. If you visit Germany at this time of year, you will find pagan celebrations that include bonfires and lots of partying – all night long in most cases!
Read more about German courses in Germany
May Day celebrations in the UK
In medieval England, people would celebrate the start of spring by going out into the countryside —"going a-maying"— to collect greenery and flowers. Another English tradition was dancing around the maypole. Some towns had permanent maypoles, whilst others put up a new one each May. Every year the pole would be decorated with greenery and ribbons, colourfully painted, and served as a focus point of the celebrations.
These days, many of these traditions have been lost, although if you’re lucky you may find the odd Maypole in rural villages with communities keen to honour the tradition! One rite that has steadfastly remained, though, takes place in Oxford when the Magdalen choir sing from Magdalen Chapel Tower to celebrate the dawn of May Day. This tradition dates back to at least the 17th century. During the celebrations, people are also known to jump off the Magdalen Bridge in full evening dress - an activity that, although very traditional, is attracting increased safety concerns! As a result, the festivities may not remain the same for much longer, so a visit to Oxford on May Day this year would give you a glimpse of what could soon be an extinct British tradition…
]]>Even though learning a language in the country where it’s spoken is arguably the best way to immerse yourself in the language, there are many (much cheaper) ways to learn a language back home if you can’t afford to go abroad. Or perhaps you’ve already taken a language holiday and want to keep up your language now home - whatever the case, there are plenty of ways to incorporate a foreign language into our everyday lives without it costing the earth - or anything, for that matter.
Here’s our list of ways to practise a language on the cheap:
• Television: With digital packages* now the norm in many households, you should be able to pick up some television channels from the Continent, or further afield. If not, you can often pay to upgrade to a package that includes foreign television. Television is a great way to practise a language, especially if you tune into the news which is often read clearly, using good language, and in a neutral accent. Or you can make it seem less like a language learning chore and watch a documentary or film in a subject that interests you – it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand everything, as just listening to the language and getting the gist is great practice!
* For terrestrial viewing, why not try BBC2’s late-night Learning Zone which shows programmes dedicated to language learning.
• DVDs: As above, watching a film in a foreign language is an excellent, and fun, way to practise your favourite language. Most DVD rental stores have a ‘World Cinema’ section where you can take your pick. Put the subtitles on if you’re just learning, or switch them off if you’re feeling brave…
• Radio: Harder to understand than the television, perhaps, as you can’t lip-read or follow any movement, foreign language radio is often easier to access than foreign language tv. Try internet radio for a wide, easily-accessible selection.
• Internet: The rise of the internet has made news, articles, games and a plethora of other features available in almost any language we choose. Keep useful sources at your fingertips by bookmarking a foreign newspaper such as El País or Corriere della Sera, for daily news in your language of choice, or Google ‘language learning games’ for a few minutes of educational fun.
• Online Resources: As above, we can find almost anything if we look for it, thanks to the internet. Online dictionaries that also offer useful phrases, expressions and forums - a particular favourite of mine being wordreference.com - mean you don’t necessarily need to buy that big hefty dictionary.
• Music: Listening to foreign music is a great way to practise a language without really trying. The more you listen to a song, the more familiar you become with the lyrics, and the more likely you are to find yourself singing it back to yourself – without even thinking about from it. Check out the World Music section of your local music store, or, as above, just tune into a foreign radio station or download some tunes online.
• Magazines / Books: You can buy foreign language magazines and literature in the UK, although unfortunately you’ll pay more than if you bought them in-country. Still, reading is a great way to keep up a language and the investment usually worth it. I still flick through magazines that I bought years back. Subscribe to a magazine you know you’ll read, or buy a magazine dedicated to your preferred country (eg. Italia! Magazine, Spain Magazine, France Magazine) where you’ll usually find phrases, vocabulary and recipes geared around a specific subject each month.
• Language Exchange / Intercambio: Use the internet or the noticeboard in your local library/grocer to find foreign people living in your area wishing to ‘exchange’ language knowledge. This can take any format, but usually consists of chatting for one hour in your own language and then an hour in their language, to let you both practice. Make sure you meet in a public place, and language exchange is almost as close you can get to the ‘real thing’ – there’s no hiding from the person in front of you, yet the great thing is they won’t be judging you as they are in exactly the same situation!
• Evening Classes: Whether it’s through an Adult Education centre, your local university or a private centre running specialist courses, you should be able to find an evening language course in your nearest town or city. Ok, so you have to pay, but with courses starting from £99 it works out much cheaper than going abroad. Cactus, for example, runs Weekend Crash Courses, 5-week courses and 10-week courses throughout the year, in locations across London and nationwide. These are also available in New York and across the US. An evening class is a great way to meet like-minded people and stay motivated to learn (and improve) a language.
• Eating Out: Spending an evening in a local restaurant specialising in, say, Japanese cuisine, is a great way to surround yourself with your favourite language and culture. The décor and menu are usually in the foreign language, and the waiters often tend to be native speakers too – so why not surprise them and talk to them in their own language. And you never know, a glass of the local tipple sometimes goes a long way in aiding fluency too…
Do you have any other ideas of how to incorporate a language into everyday life at litte or no expense? Please share them with us by adding a comment to this post!
]]>It’s an attractive, historical university town but is actually also well-know for state-of-the-art technology – one of the city’s main attractions is La Cité de L’espace, a technological and educative theme park based on astronautics.
Culture and gastronomy
Toulouse’s 440 000 inhabitants are proud of the unique culture of the “Occitanie” territory, also called the Oc Country (Occitan: lo País d’Òc). The common culture of Occitanie is found throughout the whole of southern France, and is made up of Spanish, Italian and French influences. L’Occitanie reveals all its beauty through the people, the language, the monuments and obviously, the food!
It is a highly cultural city, with lots of museums exhibiting, for instance, the Cathare heritage of Toulouse. And many art exhibitions, festivals and concerts take place throughout the year in the city. In addition, big markets are organised every week, offering a wide range of typical food of the region, including bread, sausages, fresh fruits or vegetables.
When it comes to gastronomy, Toulouse offers lots of delicious typical meals. We could mention the Cassoulet, the confit of duck, Toulouse’s sausages, mushrooms, products issued from the Violette flower (candies, jam…) etc. The typical dessert is the Fenetra, a marzipan, apricot and lemon cake. The typical beverage is Armagnac, the oldest eau de vie of the South west.
Architecture and historical sites
The particularity of the town is that every building is built with pink/red bricks, whose shade varies with the sun! Moreover “La Ville Rose”, as it is commonly known, has plenty of monuments which are classified by UNESCO, such as the Canal du Midi or the St Sernin Church. The main square is La Place du Capitole where the symbol of Occitanie, a twelve point cross, is engraved on the floor with a birth sign at each corner.
People and lifestyle
There are more than 100 000 students in Toulouse, which makes it the 3rd largest university town in France. It is a very lively and warm city by night, where bars and streets are often busy all night long, mainly when the weather is mild. During the day the “Toulousains” like to saunter around the town centre streets, or along the beautiful river - La Garonne. They also love sitting at a table outside a café, or in one of the many squares.
Perhaps due to the balmy climate of the region, the art of living in Toulouse is different from all other cities in France. The melodic accent goes hand to hand with the happy nature of the Toulousains, who are well-known in France to be friendly, frank and warm-blooded people.
Those who are native of Toulouse often consider it as a town that belongs to their heart, and as a result they would never want to leave. An example is famous French singer Claude Nougaro, who was born in Toulouse and who used to sing for his beloved city…
Cactus offers general, individual and combined French courses in Toulouse, as well as a French and cookery course.
]]>In support of our partner school in Chile, Cactus has pledged to donate £10 / $15 from each booking made for its Spring 3 Week Special course in Santiago de Chile to help with the relief effort out there. All money will be donated to the Red Cross Chile Earthquake Appeal.
We are pleased to report that the language schools we work with in Chile are running as usual; all classes and in-school activities have resumed at their regular times and daily life in the capital, Santiago, has returned to normal.
We send our support and thoughts to our partner schools and to all those who have been affected by the earthquake.
If you would like to make an additional donation, please speak to one of our consultants or find out more at the British Red Cross or American Red Cross.
]]>There are lots of aspects that set our evening language courses aside from others though, which is certainly a factor in their huge popularity:
1. Universal appeal and access
They are open to anyone, no matter what their reason or goal for learning, and don’t have either the large amount of homework, or the ‘pressure’ involved with taking exam-based evening courses.
2. A friendly, informal environment
They have a very informal and relaxed atmosphere, which makes for an effective learning environment.
The courses tend to attract students with similar interests and the same kind of outlook on life too - even if they are learning languages for different reasons - and as a result they often end up socialising outside of their lessons.
3. Native speaker teachers
They are almost all taught by native speaker teachers, who are expert not only in their language, but also in the culture of their country.
4. Practical content
The evening courses are designed to teach you practical, topical and current language, not irrelevant and outdated vocabulary that you can sometimes find with highly academic courses.
5. Small groups
The groups are small enough that you can have some input as to the topics you’d like to cover and the aspects of language that you want to focus on the most. It also guarantees more one-to-one contact with your teacher.
6. Manageable pace
The courses progress at an effective but manageable pace, so you can be sure that you won’t get ‘left behind’. Cactus has written its own Language Learning Pathway and is based on the Common European Framework specifications - each class level has a clear description of the language skills you will gain by the end of the course.
7. Reasonable prices
They are affordable and good value for money – especially as course materials are included in the price. Prices for 10-week courses start from £159 in the UK and $249 in the US.
8. Convenient, accessible locations
The courses take place in convenient and central city locations that are easily reached by public transport. The few exceptions that are located in more residential areas generally have parking facilities available. Courses are currently offered in 14 different UK cities, and 6 cities across the US and Canada.
9. Good facilities
The schools where the classes are held have comfortable classrooms and good facilities. They are usually held in fully functional language schools, so have proper classrooms with all the necessary equipment for teachers and students alike.
10. A wide range of languages and levels
Cactus offers evening courses in 30 different languages and 7 levels. A large number of these languages are not currently taught in the state education sector, which has meant historically that anyone wanting to learn has needed expensive, specialist tuition. Offering evening courses in these languages means that there is finally an affordable way to study them.
]]>If you’re heading to a non-English speaking destination for your summer holiday this year, trying to learn the basics of the local language will stand you in really good stead when you arrive. Of course, you could probably get by without, but learning a bit of the lingo will help you get more from your holiday, and in certain scenarios could really prove to be priceless – especially if you have a family in tow.
If, on the other hand, you’re young, free and single, learning some of the language will prove very handy when it comes to chatting up the local lads or ladies! With a few choice phrases and some basic grammar up your sleeve, you never know…this could turn out to be the ‘summer of love’…
2. To give yourself an excuse for a holiday abroad (if you need one!)
Granted, for lots of people no ‘excuse’ is needed when it comes to booking holidays abroad…for many people, a foreign holiday is the one luxury that they afford themselves each year.
Other people however, need more of a justification for spending the money. If you’re one of these people, and guilt is getting the better of you, give yourself a justifiable reason to head abroad! Take up a language and, of course, you’ll need to practise those newly acquired skills…
3. To make the most of those long, summer evenings
Let’s be honest. Sometimes in the winter you just don’t feel like going out after a long day at work. The sofa and a dvd seem much more appealing than venturing out into the cold…BUT it’s nearly summer now and it’s all change! Gone are the wet, dark evenings and the seasonal hibernation – it’s time to get out, make the most of the long days and do some socialising.
Language courses are a great way to meet like-minded people, as well as learning a new skill. They provide a relaxed and informal learning environment, and students usually hit it off really well.
4. To ensure you can compete in the current employment market
The recession might officially be over, but the job market is still suffering. In times like this, it’s essential to keep yourself as skilled as possible, and foreign languages are still seen as a huge asset to your cv.
Whether you’re looking to progress within your current company or organisation, or to seek new employment, learning or revising language skills is a great idea for anyone working within an international environment, or whose role has an international element.
Cactus offers foreign language evening courses in a variety of locations across the UK and North America. For further information on prices, start dates, course content, how to book, or to test your level, please visit our our UK or US site.
]]>Set in Buenos Aires in 1999, El Secreto de Sus Ojos is based on a novel by Eduardo Sacheri and is based on a retired lawyer trying to solve the rape and murder of a woman in 1974. As such the political turmoil of Argentina in the 1970s plays backdrop to the film – a time in history that few Argentines will forget. The witty dialogue and love stories that play out alongside this have all combined to make the film a huge box-office hit in Argentina – and most likely, now, across the world.
This isn’t the only film you should be watching this year though. Also nominated in the Best Foreign Film category were Peru’s La Teta Asustada (The Milk Sorrow), France’s Un Prophete (A Prophet), Germany’s Das Weisse Band (The White Ribbon) and Israel’s Ajami. If you want to practise your language skills – and watching foreign television or film is one of the best ways to improve your aural comprehension – then make sure you get these fantastic films out on DVD.
Why not make an evening of it – foreign wine, foreign food and foreign chat! Who needs to go to the after-show party…
]]>As an established and sizeable training centre, students will have access to a range of well-maintained classrooms and facilities.
Evening classes will take place on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays, depending on the language. Prices too will vary according to the language you study, and range from £179-£199. All courses will run for 10 weeks.
Initial languages to be offered at this location are: Mandarin, English, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish.
Please visit our website to test your level, find further course details, or to make a booking.
]]>The ‘Long night of the Museums’ is a phenomenon that has become popular all over Germany, and now Berlin is branching out with a new alternative – the Night of Theatres and Operas. The night officially lasts from 7pm to 1am, when Berlin’s vast array of cultural institutions open late to offer short operatic and theatrical productions. Over 50 of Berlin’s venues show back-to-back productions, half an hour in length, so that people can visit several in one night.
2. Munich Spring Festival – 16th April – 2nd May 2010
Munich’s Frühlingsfest (Spring Festival) is a cultural extravanganza that takes place over two weeks on Munich’s Theresienwiese. Visitors have access to scores of beer tents, oodles of authentic German cuisine, a variety of live music acts and over 100 fairground rides…
The festival is a great alternative to the chaotic Oktoberfest for beer-lovers, but its family-friendly atmosphere also means that it’s a great place to bring children.
3. ART Cologne 21st -25th April 2010
ART Cologne has become one of Germany’s premier art fairs, and as such is enjoying increasing significance internationally. In recent years, over 70,000 visitors have made their way to the Kölnmesse to see classical modern art, avant-garde art, contemporary art and sculptures from around 200 galleries worldwide.
4. Dresden Film Festival - 20th to 25th April 2010
A beautiful city that is often overlooked by tourists, Dresden is a great place to visit, and especially in April. Every year it hosts an increasingly popular and prestigious film festival that is dedicated to short films and animation. Held within the festival are competitions for both international and local films, which offer the coveted ‘Golden Horsemen’ as winning prizes.
5. Rhine in Flames - May 2010 (annual)
Every May, the River Rhine south of Bonn boasts one of the most spectacular fireworks displays in Germany. The event is part of the ‘Rhine in Flames’ festival, and is also known as the ‘Night of the Bengal Lights’, when more than 2000 large Bengal lights guide the way for a fleet of 60 ships cruising down the Rhine past the Siebengebirge hills and the towns of Remagen, Bad Honnef and Königswinter - all of which stage their own celebrations and firework displays. It’s an awesome event that will guarantee you a great party to boot!
More about German language courses in Germany
More about part-time German courses in the UK and North America
]]>If you’d like to head to Spain but thought your bank balance couldn’t stretch that far, read on. We’ve picked our 5 cheapest locations to study Spanish and listed them below, priced with or without accommodation…all you need to do is book a low-cost flight and bingo, you have a week in the sun learning the lingo for just a few hundred pounds. ¡Genial!
General Course (20 lessons):
1. Tenerife (La Laguna school) - £139
2. Granada (Realejo school) - £149
3. Cordoba - £169
4. Denia - £179
5. Madrid (Plaza de Colon school) - £189
General Course (20 lessons) + host family single room + breakfast + dinner:
1. Tenerife (La Laguna school) - £329
2. Granada (Realejo school) - £329
3. Salamanca - £359
4. Santiago de Compostela - £379
5. Murcia - £379
General Course (20 lessons) + shared apartment single room, no meals:
1. Tenerife (La Laguna school) - £249
2. Granada (Realejo school) - £269
3. Salamanca - £309
4. Vejer de la Frontera - £319
5. Cordoba - £339
Kicked off by a spectacular inauguration ceremony in Vienna’s City Hall Square, a free open-air event set against the backdrop of a beautifully illuminated City Hall, the festival line-up goes on to include an impressive 51 productions from 23 countries, totalling 175 performances and 70 concerts by international orchestras, top conductors and first-class soloists.
As well as music there is a dynamic and thought-provoking performing arts programme, workshops on dance, drama and music for young people aged 16 and over, lectures, films and video shows.
Combine your festival visit with a language course and you really will be immersing yourself in the culture and the buzz of what promises to be a exhilarating few weeks. Or go the whole hog and book yourself onto the German & Music course - the perfect way to get into the spirit of the festival!
]]>If you want to experience the most quintessential of Spanish traditions then head for Madrid during its San Isidro festival. Not only is this the world’s most important bullfighting festival, it is also an excuse for flamboyant Spanish fiesta in the form of music, dancing, fairs and what is known as the romeria, or pilgrimage, to the shrine of Madrid’s patron saint, San Isidro. Las Ventas bullring plays host to the much-anticipated bullfights, concerts are held in the beautiful Plaza Mayor to concerts, and Vistillas Park is transformed into an open-air dance hall. Book tickets to specific events in advance, or just turn up and soak up the exhilarating atmosphere…
2. Patios de Cordoba: 5th-16th May
Exploring a city’s streets is one thing, but knocking on somebody’s door and entering through heavy wooden doors that are kept closed for 50 weeks of the year is a real privilege. And this is what Patios de Cordoba grants you – the chance to enter into the cool shade of private homes and feast your eyes on their patios which have been lovingly adorned throughout the year with all manner of flowers, plants and decorations. Lemon trees, geraniums, roses, carnations, fountains – the list is endless, but the colour and scent won’t fail to impress, and nor will the chance to enter hidden corners of Andalucia away from the rush of modern life.
3. Moros y Cristianos, Alicante: 22nd-24th April
Of the 150 or so locations in Spain to celebrate Moros y Cristianos, there is no beating the celebrations that take place in Alcoy, Alicante. The festival dates back to the 16th century and commemorates the Battle of Alcoy in 1276, when the Christian army of Saint George helped defeat the Moorish troops lead by Al-Azraq. In homage to St George, the people of Alcoy made him their patron saint and vowed to hold a festival in his honour each year…and what a festival it is. With 28 armies in mock battle, intricately-made costumes on show, a spectacular procession and breathtaking firework displays, the streets are full and the atmosphere is electric in this fitting tribute to the battle that expelled the Moors from Spain.
4. La Feria de Abril, Seville: 20th-25th April
Little may need to be said about what is arguably Spain’s biggest fiesta. The rightful solemnity of Semana Santa the week preceding Easter is cast aside as the vibrant Andalucian city of Seville erupts into the much-anticipated April Fair, a week-long party of flamenco dancing, horse shows, bullfighting and more. This is Spanish fiesta at its best. The only problem is what to see and how to reserve enough energy to stay up all night and join the locals at what they do best – party, party, party!
5. Horse Fair, Jerez: 2nd-9th May
You don’t have to be a horse lover to enjoy Spain’s best horse fair, the Feria de Caballo in Jerez. Taking place in its famous sherry-producing town, Jerez de la Frontera, could be incentive enough. Or maybe you’ll be won over by the sight of impeccably-dressed locals riding through the streets, their ladies behind in bright flamenco dresses, ready to wow the crowds with their Sevillanas dance displays. But most of all you can’t help but be impressed by the supreme skill and care taken to train and groom the horses that star in this annual show. If there is one performance not to miss, it’s the Dancing Andalusian Horses – a true equestrian ballet, fully choreographed, accompanied by traditional Spanish music and costume. You’ll swear you didn’t know horses could do that type of thing…
]]>For one day every April, 35,000 runners hit the streets of Paris in the annual Marathon de Paris. The chance to run round such a beautiful and historic city makes the Paris marathon one of the most popular events of its kind worldwide, and as many people come to watch as they do to run. The atmosphere in Paris on marathon day is electric, which makes it a fantastic time to visit the city.
2. Cannes film festival – 12th - 23rd May 2010
If you’re more of a culture vulture than a sports fanatic, fear not…there’s plenty on offer for you this spring too! Every May, the epicentre of French glitz and glamour – the Riviera - fills the headlines once more. The annual Cannes Film Festival is one of the industry’s most prestigious events, where international directors showcase their work in the hope of winning the coveted Palme D’Or. Past winners have included The Piano and Pulp Fiction…
3. Chocolate Days festival – Bayonne, 14th - 15th May 2010
This has got to be one of the best festivals anywhere, not just in France! During the Ascension weekend in May every year, the city of Bayonne (located close to Biarritz in South West France) celebrates one of its longest, best-known and most lucrative traditions – chocolate making. The skill was originally brought to Bayonne by Jewish settlers expelled from Portugal, but as local artisans adopted and refined their methods the city became known as one of France’s premier chocolate-making places.
4. Feria de Nîmes (Pentecost Feria) – 19th - 24th May 2010
Situated in the beautiful Languedoc region of France, Nimes is famous for its local traditions surrounding bulls and horses, and of course, its roman amphitheatre. Twice a year, the city holds a festival in celebration of the bull and its fighting spirit, with music, dancing, parades and firework displays as well as the traditional bullfighting.
5. French Open - Paris, May 23rd - June 7th 2010
One of the most popular and prestigious events in the sporting calendar, this tennis championship always draws big crowds. If tennis is your thing and you fancy witnessing the mesmerizing rallies and rocket-like aces of Roger Federer and the Williams sisters first-hand, be sure to get your tickets sooner rather than later…
]]>The promise of foreign shores, new classmates and a bit of sun can do wonders for even the most disenchanted student’s enthusiasm. And the more dedicated and diligent linguists will no doubt also recognise the huge benefits of learning with native speaker teachers whilst being immersed in the foreign language and culture that they’re studying.
Logistics and safety concerns
Making the decision to let your teenage child loose abroad is clearly one that no parent would make lightly, but the great thing about these revision courses is that they are designed specifically for students of this age group.
The schools that offer the courses are very careful to ensure their students safety, well-being, and happiness at all times, which means that host families are thoroughly checked, as are staff that meet and return students to the airport.
Accommodation is always with a host family, and meals are all included in the price. For GCSE revision courses, your son or daughter will usually be staying with the same family as another student on the same course.
Course structure – Spanish GCSE revision
GCSE courses are designed for UK students studying Spanish (age 14-16), and are currently available in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid.
Programmes have been specially developed with the help of leading independent schools in the UK, and are tailored to the GCSE syllabus and examination content in accordance with AQA, OCR, and EdExcel examination boards.
All the students will be encouraged to participate in class in order to develop their communicative skills as well as do practice exercises directly related to the exam.
Course structure – French ‘A’ Level revision
The ‘A’ Level revision courses on offer in Paris and Montpellier are designed for UK students of French aged 16-18.
The one-week programmes are conducted in small groups (usually a maximum of 6 students) and focus on improving the four linguistic skills, revising grammar and vocabulary and training students on specific examination tasks. The students will have 15 hours of tuition in total.
Find out more on our GCSE revision courses in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia, our ‘A’ Level revision courses in Paris and Montpellier, or about private tuition options in the UK.
]]>The idea for the rowing race first came from two friends - Charles Merivale, a Cambridge University student, and his former school friend Charles Wordsworth (the nephew of poet William Wordsworth), who was studying at Oxford.
On 12 March 1829, Cambridge sent a challenge to Oxford and a long-standing tradition was born – every year the loser of the previous year’s race challenges the opposition to a re-match.
Cambridge have won the race 79 times so far, and Oxford on 75 occasions. The current Course Record is also held by Cambridge, which stands at 16 minutes 19 seconds.
Attending the race will give you a great insight into the old-fashioned rivalry between these two hugely prestigious universities. It’s a thoroughly English race that will show you a lot about our culture, and will provide an exciting afternoon’s entertainment!
Find out more on our English language courses in Cambridge, other parts of the UK and Ireland
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