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

Languages : Tag

GCSE results reveal new low for languages

Posted by Lucy under Cactus Languages Abroad

GCSE results hit another record high this year but it’s bad news for modern languages. The number of students studying has continued to nosedive since the Government abolished the requirement for all teenagers to study a foreign language beyond the age of 14 in 2004.
There have been falls year-on-year ever since the policy was introduced, from 547,189 [...]

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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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Language tasters a Brighton Festival hit!

Posted by Lucy under Cactus Languages Abroad

The Cactus team successfully hosted round two of its language taster evenings at St Giles college last night. A variety of festival-goers from across Brighton turned out to join in the fun and try-out a new language for the very first time.
With the sangria and rose flowing, as well as authentic tortilla cooked by Eva, our [...]

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Brighton Festival Languages Extravaganza!

Posted by Lucy under Cactus Languages Abroad, Language Courses UK

The Cactus team kick-started our Brighton Festival events last night with a special Spanish and Italian taster evening at St Giles college. After several weeks of preparation it was great to finally get underway and to meet festival-goers face-to-face.
The event was a big success, with a strong turnout of Brightonians (and even Londoners) of all ages and backgrounds. [...]

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Sarkozy takes English lessons

Posted by Lucy under Cactus Languages Abroad

It’s been whirlwind week for Anglo-French relations with Nicolas Sarkozy’s much anticipated state visit to the UK. He wooed the British parliament yesterday with a speech in his native language, praising Britain and proposing joint action on key issues such as global warming, nuclear energy and immigration.
Ahead of the visit, Sarkozy had been taking intensive English lessons so [...]

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A good idea in any language: Talking the talk – a booming demand for languages

Posted by cactuslanguage under Cactus Languages Abroad, In the Press

Publication: The London Paper, 31 January 2025
The London Paper has written a half-page article about the rise of language training in London and has included comment from Cactus’s client at Emap. The article highlights the advantages of knowing another language at work and when travelling for business. Richard Bradford comments: “Evening classes are [...]

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Be a lingo star

Posted by cactuslanguage under Cactus Tailormade, Press Release

Publication, The Daily Express, 17 January 2025
Cactus’s CLT division works with hundreds of clients that need language skills to help them get ahead at work. This piece in the Daily Express is a half-page article about two of them – Tequila and Emap. The feature takes an in-depth look at how learning a [...]

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Isn’t It Difficult To Learn A Language Later in Life?

Posted by Sarah under Learning a language

Simon Ager, language enthusiast, speaks as living proof that learning a language as an adult is possible
There is a widespread belief that children are best at learning languages and that it’s much more difficult for adults to do so. Is this really the case?

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