Language tutors In Southwark

Posted on April 11, 2013 by gabriele monti

Italian Tutor in Bermondsey

Francesco Lolli

I am a postgraduate student in London (PhD in linguistics) currently looking for opportunities to enrich my teaching skills. I have previously taught Italian to children (6 to 13) enrolled in Italian schools, but whose first language was not Italian. I would like to keep working with students within same age group and organising small study groups or one-to-one sessions.

Italian Teacher in Vauxhall

Marianna Frau

I hold a degree in visual arts and I have 10 years of experience working with children learning Italian as a second language. I have developed very creative methods to enable children to learn while playing and having fun. I prefer to teach to small groups (up to 5 children). Lessons could be organised in private homes or in rented studio-spaces.

French Tutor in Borough

Edile Maroun

I hold a degree in business from a French university and I recently moved to London to improve my English language skills. I previously worked as a French tutor in Italy for 3 years where I designed short courses for employees of firms and political parties. I would like to keep teaching French to adults and I am happy to design new courses according to your specific interests!

French Teacher in Croydon

Roger Morner

I am a qualified French teacher currently employed as a language assistant in London. To teach is my passion and I would like to organise evening classes for people living in Croydon willing to learn French. I am happy to teach to beginners, but also to help those with a basic understanding of the language to achieve higher levels of proficiency.

Spanish Tutor in Elephant and Castle

Mario Esposito

I am a freelance Spanish tutor and translator. I have 5 years of experience working with adult learners. In the past few years I have organised and led several evening classes in North London and I am willing to continue doing so. I prefer to assist those who have already some basic understanding of the language, but I am happy to discuss the possibility of having a class for beginners.

Spanish Teacher in Kennington

Maria Ribeira

I am a certified Spanish teacher with a postgraduate degree in linguistics. Prior moving to London, I had been working as a Spanish Language Assistant in a German University for 6 years. I prefer to teach to students learning the language for the first time regardless of the age group. I have developed my own teaching method and the results are guaranteed!

Three good reasons to study Italian in Milan

Posted on April 10, 2013 by gabriele monti

Italian language schools and study abroad programmes by The Language Class.

Our company would be delighted to organise a stay in Milan. We can take care of organise your language school your accommodation and any cultural activity for you and your family. Our language courses can be from a week and you can stay as long as you want. The lessons are based on the communicative task based method and are intensive courses. This mean that you will practice the language from week one and study 3/4 hours a day.

Choose Milan to study Italian.

Fashion, opera, art, gastronomy and night-life What else can anyone ask to a city when planning to learn a new language? The new Italy is brought out in Milan, though it is not the capital of Italy, it is the main economic and cultural pole. Discover why Milan is one of the most fascinating cities of Italy and the ideal place to learn Italian.

A classic sight in Milan – The Duomo – Source

History and culinary traditions in Milan.

Its location controlling the plain of Po and the access to the Alps made of Milan an important center during the Middle Ages. It has suffered all over the centuries wars to conquer the city by popes, Habsburgs, Napoleon and a long list of famous rulers. Nowadays it is a modern and cosmopolite city rebuilt after the II World War bombardments.

Its gastronomy is more based on rice than on pasta, which is something quite exceptional in Italy. Ossobuco (stewed veal shank) is very frequently used for several typical dishes. But the most famous ones are risotto alla milanese (rice cooked with beef marrow and saffron) and cotoletta alla milanese (veal breaded cutlet). Do not miss gorgonzola cheese.

Museums, aperitivo and nightlife

The difficulty of choosing a museum in Milan is evident due to the large amount of incredible places to visit. The most famous ones are probably those in the historical center such as the Museum of the Cathedral (Duomo), the Sforzesco Castle and the Royal Palace. But there are some other interesting museums to visit like Hangar Bicocca, a contemporary art museum inside a huge hangar.

Aperitivo or happy hour is an important event in Milan. Bars offer drinks at a fixed price combined with snacks and appetizers. Try La Ringhiera, Slice or Mas, which are some of the most chic restaurants and cocktails bars you will find for your aperitivo.

The variety of clubs in Milan is one of the most attractive features of the city. Start at Corso Como, follow at Navigli quarter and finish at Colonne di San Lorenzo. All the choices available from electronic music to salsa.

Learn Italian through fashion and design

If you really want to enjoy Milan, you must absolutely learn the basic fashion vocabulary. Il quadrilatero della moda is the Fashion Quadrangle. FieraMilano is one of the biggest furniture and design fairs in Europe. And other important events are Fuori Salone and Salone del Mobile.

When choosing Milan to learn Italian, take into account that it is a city full of entertainment, design, fashion and history. Being so multicultural can help you to meet people from all over the world. Many students decide to study every year in Milan as it locates some of the top Italian universities. You can be the next one.

How Do Kids Learn Language?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by gabriele monti

It’s considered universal common knowledge: kids learn languages easily. This truth appears to be self-evident; most of us struggle to learn a second or third language as adults, while recalling little such struggle learning our first one as kids. Watching kids in action, they sometimes seem to pick it up so effortlessly. But increasingly, the people who study language are saying that truism is actually a myth, and they’re creating better language programs for kids by leaving that assumption by the wayside.

To understand why, it’s important to look at the reality of how slowly – and awkwardly – kids learn language. The average child can take months, even a year of sing-alongs and Sesame Street to pick up the alphabet and counting past ten. These are things that most adults can learn in just a couple days of formal instruction. And often, the reason that kids seems to learn languages so quickly isn’t because they’re better at it, but because we’re comparing apples to oranges. For example, children are immersed in their first language, hearing it spoken everywhere around them at all times, whereas most teen or adult learners start in a classroom hearing it just for a few hours a week.

Linguists do have a good sense of how exactly children master their first language – and the good news is adults still have the same ability. According to the prevailing theory, humans are born with a “universal grammar” – that is, a genetic and hardwired ability to fit sounds into a language structure as concepts. Humans have evolved this ability over time and it’s one of our crowning characteristics.

The real challenge for children (or anyone) then is not so much learning language as it is figuring out which sounds are a part of the language and which aren’t. Children go through a process of learning by doing, which starts as early as being in the womb where they can hear the sentence patterns and tones used by their mothers when they speak. Throughout their young years they continue to learn which sounds have meaning, and try out strange words and sentences– baby talk, and the cute things toddlers say. But only the constructions that have meaning to others get more than a laugh, and by trial and error they end up speaking the same way as the people around them.

What does this mean for language programs for kids? It means a heavier emphasis on immersion or exposure, and a positive encouraging environment that rewards trial and error, will be most effective. And for adults it means that you’re no worse than you ever were at learning a language – if you can just set aside the fear of criticism and risk saying things that might be wrong.

kids are fast at learning – source

Jake Alexander is a free lane writer who enjoys blogging about education and learning. Follow him @JakeAlexander17.

Should We Start Teaching Languages Earlier?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by gabriele monti

The focus on studying modern foreign languages has increased over recent years, with a number of countries making languages a compulsory part of education from a young age. The UK, however, does not generally offer languages until children are older. But is this the right decision?

The fact is that today’s societies are characterised by an amalgamation of different cultures and languages. A number of children are brought up to speak more than one language, but in young children this is something that is generally encouraged and taught at home rather than at schools.

Business benefits

Whilst English is the official language of more countries than any other throughout the world, it does not mean that everyone is able to speak it. Within the world of business there several different languages which are used within negotiations and meetings. This means that an extensive knowledge of languages is often necessary to enhance someone’s chances of success.

Ensuring economic growth

The UK economy, as we all know, is suffering; and it is the opinion of many that increased knowledge of languages could help to rectify this situation. By teaching the younger generations multiple languages, we are able to ensure future business success across international markets, helping to increase revenue and financial growth.

Whilst a number of independent schools already teach languages from a young age, this is not considered the norm within the UK. But, while a number of people feel that teaching languages later in life is just as beneficial, there is a plethora of arguments which state the contrary.

Younger brains learn more easily

It is a generally accepted fact that younger children have a greater propensity for the study of languages, being able to learn the language in a more fluent and natural way. This is because the languages can be learnt alongside the study of their native language, such as English, meaning that their skills are able to develop alongside each other rather than favouring one language over the other.

The advantages to this are that speaking these languages then becomes more natural and fluent, enabling more comfortable and easy conversations later in life. This is an invaluable tool within the business field because it ensures that miscommunications and errors are avoided, facilitating the processes of negotiation.

UK lagging behind other nations

In other nations across the world, the focus on the ability to speak a selection of languages is encouraged from a young age, ensuring that children are able to communicate on a number of levels. This could therefore mean that UK residents are missing out on multilingual benefits by restricting the learning of languages to higher age groups only. This ultimately leads to children being more familiar and comfortable with one language, meaning that their other language skills can appear diminished or lower.

Best for long-term career prospects?

Whether UK schools will decide to start teaching languages at an earlier age remains to be seen, although a number of schools already do. However, the fact remains that those with multi-lingual capabilities are more likely to succeed in the employment market, in which a number of businesses pride these skills above any other.

Written by Sam Luther, a writer working in Independent schools

Why Bologna is one of the best destinations to learn Italian

Posted on April 2, 2013 by gabriele monti

One of the finest cities in Northern Italy is Bologna, renowned by is university, the oldest one in Europe. That also means a broad student population surrounded by exquisite food, old museums, red bricks architecture and an exciting nightlife. Climb up to the towers and check why Bologna is known as “la Rossa” (the red one) by looking at the roofs in the historical center. Practice Italian with the open minded local willing to meet people from abroad.

The Language class, study abroad language programmes.

The Language Class would be delighted to organise your language learning stay in Bologna. We can organise your language lessons, and your accommodation And if you family and friends are coming to visit we can also organise cultural activities for your group, such as Parmesan cheese production visits.

Beautiful – Pizza Maggiore in Bologna – Source

History and culinary tradition

The old town is amazingly well preserved. Traces of all the people conquering and ruling the area are present: from Romans to Austrians passing by Goths or Lombards. But above all, the proud of Bologna is its university, founded in 1088. Nowadays a great part of the activity of the town is linked to student’s life.

Gastronomy in Emilia Romagna, the region of which it is the capital, is one of the most important in Italy. It is not in vain that another nickname for the town is la grassa (the fat one). Bolognese sauce, prepared with meat and tomato is a must with many pasta dishes. Prosciutto (ham) and mortadella are the basis for many appetizers to be tasted with Lambrusco or Pignoletto wines.

Museums, restaurants and nightlife

Do not miss the Medieval Museum with incredible manuscripts, sculptures and Islamic art. In search of paintings the option is the National Picture Gallery, exposing Emilian and Venetian works by Tiziano and Giotto among other important artists. Most probably the University Museums are the most important ones related to science: Carducci Room, la Specola (the Astronomical Observatory) or the Museum of Natural History are some of them.

As it corresponds to a city where culinary tradition is so significant, there are lots of restaurants. Enoteca Italiana, twice chosen as the very best in Italy, Diana with its excellent tortellini in brodo and Garganelli are among the very best in Bologna. In Via del Pratello are located popular bars and restaurants for young people or students.

And once the visitor is full of energy again, nightlife awaits. Via Zamboni, near the university, is full of pubs and clubs. Al Piccolo in Piazza Verdi is a famous place with a DJ. If you prefer something more alternative, search in Via Pratello. Mutanye might be the right place.

Learn Italian through cooking: fresh egg pasta

Italian cooking lessons are held in the many Bologna’s cooking school in Via Augusto Righi. It is taught how to prepare fresh egg pasta. You just need to mix 100g of wheat flour and one egg per person. Knead with your hands until the aspect is smooth and homogeneous. Use the pasta machine to give it the shape you wish. Cook it in boiling water and dress it with Bolognese sauce.

Bologna is the ideal place to learn Italian as it is a medium size city without the disadvantages of places like Milano or Roma. History, art and culture join together with gastronomy, industry and science. Student from everywhere meet at the university and give place to an exciting nightlife. What else can be asked to learn a new language?

Language teachers in Westminster

Posted on March 30, 2013 by gabriele monti

Spanish Tutor in Baker Street

Alexandra Diez

I have been working as a Spanish interpreter for the past 6 years and I am now developing a career as a Spanish teacher. I am interested in assisting people who have a basic understanding of the language and want to reach higher levels. Also, I am happy to organise tutorials tailored for your career goals or specific interests.

Spanish Teacher in Maida Vale

Berta Morales

Hola! I am a Spanish teacher from Madrid with 5+ years experience working as language assistant across European countries. I have been working with university students and professionals to improve their communication and written skills. I have all the materials needed and a true passion for teaching my language!

German Tutor in St John’s Wood

Sasha Klein

I was born and raised in Berlin where I completed a Masters in German Language and Literature. I trained as a German teacher for adults and I have been working in New York for the past 5 years. I can tailor classes according to your needs and interests. I am also available for language sessions or conversational courses for professionals in need of travelling or dealing with German speaking clients.

German Teacher in Victoria

Brigitta Berg

I am currently working as German Language Assistant in London and I would be interested in further my teaching experience by organising language evening courses for university students and adults. I can teach you German from level 1; in my 5-year teaching career I developed strategies to optimize the time spent with me and lessen homework … my motto is “German is fun!”

English Tutor in Marble Arch

Nina O’Neal

I am currently completing a degree in Spanish Language and Film Studies in London and I would like to offer my teaching services to those students who find it hard to write and communicate in English in an academic environment. I know how hard it is to study far away from your country and I am willing to offer my expertise to help improve your assignments and presentations. I am very flexible with time as well!

English Teacher in Oxford Circus

Ms Gemma Rose Jones

I am a retired English teacher who misses teaching students! I have been working in France and Italy for more than 20 years before recently returning to London to start working as an English teacher for foreign students. I really enjoyed my work and I would like to keep teaching English a few days a week. I am happy to tailor classes according to your level of understanding and ability.

Learn a language with a private tour in Westminster London

Language tutors in Kensington and Chelsea

Posted on March 30, 2013 by gabriele monti

Italian Tutor in Earl’s Court

Monica Rigo

Ciao! My name is Monica and I have been working as a freelance Italian tutor for the past 5 years. I always obtain excellent feedback from my students. I am happy to teach Italian to small groups and individuals starting from basic level. Also available to teach those already speaking Italian and need more practice!

Italian Teacher in Gloucester Road

Stefano Bulgari

I hold a degree in linguistics and I am a qualified Italian teacher. I have been working mainly with children aged 2 to 12, but I also have access to teaching material for adults. I am very flexible with content and structure of the classes. Contact me and we will start from there. Thanks!

French Tutor in High Street Kensington and Notting Hill

Annette DuBois

I am a French student currently working as French Language Assistant in London. I have three years of experience teaching to college students whose first language is English. I am a very passionate teacher and I absolutely love to help my students achieving excellent results. Contact me if you want to practice French with a native speaker.

French Teacher in Olympia, and Sloane square

Françoise Clariboux

Have you always wanted to speak French but never had time to study it? I am the person for you! I am a teacher with 10+ years of certified experience. I am happy to meet you when and where it best suits you. Further, I am willing to develop course materials and choose topics for conversation considering your main interests and needs.

Lanuage teachers in Kensington London

Best Apps for Learning Italian

Posted on March 28, 2013 by gabriele monti

With some of the best Italian language training software now easily available as mobile phone apps, it is possible for anyone to learn this beautiful language with great ease and convenience. Whether you want to familiarize yourself with common Italian phrases and words before and during your visit to the country or are keen on becoming a proficient speaker of the Italian Language, downloading a suitable app on your phone is the best way forward.

using the iphone to learn a language is a great idea – source

Here is a list of the three best phone apps for learning Italian all of which offer wonderful features and highly user friendly language learning aids that will help you master this language in no time at all!

Busuu – Learn Authentic Italian from the Natives!

Ranked as one of the most popular Italian learning apps, Busuu offers beginner to advanced and intermediate levels in the Italian language. One of the key features which makes Busuu one of the best Italian learning cell phone app is due to the fact that it offers learners at both the beginner as well as the intermediate levels with direct interaction with native speakers which makes the app all the more attractive and authentic for learners.

Key Features

Free version includes 20 comprehensive learning units
Extensive vocabulary of more than 3,000 Italian words and phrases
Covers an extensive 150 different topics using everyday situations
Includes comprehensive audio-visual learning material
Offers vocabulary, dialogues and interactive sessions recorded by Native Italian Speakers
No internet connection required

Babbel – For Learning Basic and Advanced Italian

Babbel’s Italian learning app is ideal for beginners as well as advanced learners and offers a fun and highly interactive approach to learning the basics of the Italian language in a very short span of time. Equipped with pictorial aids and audio and voice tests which can be scored this app has become one of the most popular choices for people keen on leaning Italian. What’s more, its offline compatibility mode and completely free basic version makes it a prime choice as one of the best Italian learning app on the whole!

Key Features

Free App
3000 vocabulary words with images, pronunciation and sentence examples
Integrated speech recognition for pronunciation exercises
Offline mode
Optimized for tablets

iSpeak Italian – For Learning / Translating Italian on the Go

If you want to pick up Italian really really fast then the iSpeak Italian phone app comes highly recommended by us as it is ideal for using it on the go, especially if you are a tourist in Italy and in quick need of some handy words and phrases. The unique feature of this app is its use of text to speech technology which enables beginners to pronounce Italian words instantly and pick up words and phrases with the correct pronunciations in no time at all. So how does the iSpeak Italian phone app actually work? Basically this app uses Google’s language translation service to help you translate your words from English into the Italian language and vice versa. This app can be used for easy translation by entering the words or phrases or just by using the “Speak It” button to use the audio version.

Key Features

Excellent translator for Visitors to Italy
Highly User Friendly
Text-to-speech technology
English to Italian translation and vice versa
Translation saver for later references

Want to Learn Italian – Download the Best Phone Apps Now!

All of the apps that have been listed here have been short-listed on the basis of their ease of use, convenience of learning as well as the variety of levels and activities that each of them offers to cell phone and tablet users. So go ahead and download the apps that you find the most suitable and have lots of fun as you learn Italian easily, simply and effectively!

Learn Spanish in Valencia, a language student guide.

Posted on March 28, 2013 by gabriele monti

Fine weather, nice beaches, night life, culture,art and entertainment. Everything you can desire you will find it in Valencia. Every year thousands of students come to visit the area and learn Spanish in the third biggest town of the country. Enjoy the Fallas, paella and horchata. An unforgettable experience while learning a new language in a town that has suffered a recent mutation from a small town into a modern and multicultural city.

Pretty Valencia – The Miguelete tower – image source

What to see in Valencia

The town was founded by the Romans but the main monuments are related to its Medieval period, deeply linked to the Moors domination. As many other European towns, Valencia can boast of having a beautiful old cathedral. Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles can be found on the monument. Climb up to the Miguelete Tower and enjoy the sight of the city. Also in Gothic style you can visit la Lonja, a civil building in the Market Square where merchants used to meet to make business. Torres de Serranos is also another monument dating back to the Middle Age, with an original pentagonal shape.

But if you prefer to visit something more modern, your choice is the City of Science and Arts. Sophisticated buildings in novel materials for museums, auditoriums, aquarium and planetarium. It is nowadays one of the icons of Valencia

Beach and nightlife

Nightlife in Valencia is one of its better attractions. Many people from the region and even from far away towns drive to enjoy its restaurants and clubs. Barrio del Carmen is one of the most popular neighbourhoods but do not miss Blasco Ibáñez nor Plaza Cánovas. During the summer, fun is concentrated in America’s Cup area and the seashore.

During the day, after long nights of fiesta, enjoy the sunshine in the beach. Arenas and Malvarrosa are the main ones in the urban area. Fine white sand and lots of facilities are attractive to visitors. Pinedo and Saler beaches, at only eight kilometres from the town are worth a visit as they are located in the Natural Park La Albufera.

The right place to learn Spanish

As one of the most important cities in Spain, Valencia is a good place to study Spanish. It is the preferred language by locals though Valencian is also an official language. Learning Spanish can be combined with other activities such as paella cooking in the countryside or camping in the surrounding villages like Gandía. Spending some time to study the language in Valencia means also having the possibility of understanding the culture of the country and learning new customs. At Valencia all the advantages of a middle size town can be found. And as it is full of students, the possibilities of meeting new and exciting people multiply.

Valencia offers monuments and history in the old town, nightlife at the seashore and art and entertainment in the modern neighbourhoods Learning Spanish become an unforgettable experience with other international students.

The Language classes organises Spanish language courses in Valencia. We would be very happy to organise our study abroad programme in Spain. Our company can put together a complete package with accommodating, Spanish language lessons and pick up from the airports.

Language Trainers in Hampstead – North London

Posted on March 15, 2013 by gabriele monti

Meet the Language class team in North London.

Barbara: Italian language teacher with Master’s degree Teaching Italian language to speakers of other languages. Experience as Teaching Assistant Primary school teaching Italian language. Also experienced as Italian teacher for Adult. Available to teach everyday. She loves to use newspapers and material obtained from the real world rather than using text books.

Elisa. Spanish teacher in London – BA Contemporary Studies, English Philology degree, Majors: English- Spanish/ Spanish English Translation, Methodology of English teaching, Linguistics, Literature.
Teaching experience: The Language House From September 2012. Spanish Tutor : Tutoring Spanish to children and adults to all levels in England. This is helping me to develop my skills on teaching a foreign language and I am putting into practice the tools I have been provided with during my years of study.

Giovanni, Italian tutor in North London. CERTIFICATES International House London, United Kingdom Certificate in Teaching Languages to Adults (CTLA) Apr 2012 – Jun 2012. From Oct 2010 Private Italian teacher to English students in London. My experience includes teaching Italian in Rome to immigrates. to help them with some basic instruments to communicate in everyday life in Italy.

François: French language teacher with 5 years of experience as teaching trainer in France. Secondary school training for French language. 1 year experience in teaching in London to adults and children. Master degree in applied linguistics. François likes to combine real conversation drills with roles plays in the classroom.

Language teachers in the Hampstead area London