Cactus is one of the world's leading language training companies, providing courses in over 25 languages, in 45 countries and 150 destinations worldwide. It specialises in all forms of trainer-based language training for enterprises and individuals, from evening courses and language learning holidays, to tailor-made packages and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Cactus also uses blended learning approaches, included self-study and online & distance learning under the banner "learn a language your way". Read more about Cactus

BBC: More primaries teaching languages

Posted by Lucy under Cactus Languages Abroad

Some welcome news for languages reported on the BBC website today with the proportion of primary schools teaching a language rising from 70% in 2006 to 84% last year. In 2002, the figure was just 44%. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7475422.stm
Schools Minister Jim Knight says the government should meet its target of giving all primary pupils the chance to learn a [...]

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Vive la difference!

Posted by Lucy under Cactus Languages Abroad

There’s a interesting article in The Guardian this week about how foreign exchange trips are in danger of dying-out because of new child protection rules: http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2287330,00.html. The new regulations will mean that foreign exchange hosts will be more closely screened than ever before.
This combined with the fact that record numbers of GCSE students dropped languages last [...]

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London Gets Ready for 2012 with Linguistic Skills Training

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Tailormade, Learning a language

Sarah Gooding, Editor at Cactus, asks how people will communicate in the 2012 Summer Olympics
With the Beijing Games a matter of weeks away, Olympic fever is in the air. And excitement for the events this summer can only increase enthusiasm in the UK for our turn at hosting this most monumental of events in just four years’ [...]

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Online Diary: TEFL in Seville from our Scholarship winner! (3)

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus TEFL, Learning a language, Spanish

Anna Prime, winner of the Suzanne Furstner Scholarship 07, reports back from Week 3 of her TEFL & Spanish course in Seville (Week 3 of 6)
The insanity has not subsided, but the stress levels have. Luckily, the receptionist said that everybody who does this course tends to lose it a little bit, so we’re normal [...]

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Cactus TEFL Open Evening Success in London

Posted by Sarah under Cactus TEFL, News

Laura Harrison, Cactus TEFL Advisor, reports back from our Cactus TEFL Open Evening in London
The third of our 2008 Open Evenings was held at the Guardian newsrooms in Farringdon on the 13th June and was, by all accounts, a resounding success.
Over 75 people came along to find out more about how to realise their TEFL [...]

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Online Diary: TEFL in Seville from our Scholarship winner! (2)

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus TEFL, Learning a language, Spanish

Anna Prime, winner of the Suzanne Furstner Scholarship 07, reports back from week 2 of her TEFL & Spanish course in Seville (Week 2 of 6)
Teaching English is definitely a job I can see myself enjoying for as long as I wish. It’s the perfect balance of logic, creativity and practicality that remains challenging and [...]

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Online Diary: TEFL in Seville from our Scholarship winner! (1)

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus TEFL, Learning a language, Spanish

Anna Prime, winner of the Suzanne Furstner Scholarship 2007, reports back from her TEFL & Spanish course in Seville (Week 1 of 6)
Seville is absolutely stunning. If someone asked me to design what I thought an idyllic Spanish city would be like, it would be close to this. The historic centre is filled with winding [...]

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Cactus Language ‘Survival Kits’ - your pre-holiday essential!

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, French, Italian, Language Courses UK, Learning a language, Spanish

Katie Bann of Cactus Language Training tells us about the exciting Survival Kits available this June only
‘The limits of my language are the limits of my universe’ - Ludwig Wittgenstein
This June, for the first time, Cactus are offering intensive language Survival Kits in four different languages and we are really excited about them! Being able to [...]

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Cactus Opinion: Italian course in Tropea

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus Staff Opinion, Italian, Learning a language

Sarah Gooding, Online Editor at Cactus, reports back from her Italian language course in Tropea (May 08)

Most people don’t know where Tropea is, and it would appear not many airlines do either. It took a lengthy slog to get to Stansted and several hours’ missed sleep to get the only flight leaving the UK for Lamezia Terme, Tropea’s [...]

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Looking back at Cactus over the last few months

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Cactus TEFL, Language Courses UK, Learning a language, News

Germaine Broadbent looks back at Cactus during Brighton Festival Fringe 2008
So the Cactus events at Brighton Festival Fringe 2008 came to a close with one magnificent party to celebrate langauges and travel at the Western Front!
Highlights included Alex’s wonderful skills at prize-giving…never has a bottle of Vin Rouge been so bigged up!

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