Author Archives: gabriele monti

Best Apps for Learning Italian

Posted on by

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.

What's on your iPhone home screen?

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 by

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.

VALENCIA 2008

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 by

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

Language teachers in Barnet – North London

Posted on by

Alonso – Spanish teacher with several years of experience with Small children and adults.  Alonso has a university degree in Languages and applied linguistic from the university of Pamplona. His favourite teaching method is using word puzzles and interactive games. Alonso would be happy to come your house or office in London.

 

Language tutors available in Barnet.

10 Tips For Learning Foreign Languages

Posted on by

With the priorities of the curriculum constantly evolving, the teaching of foreign languages traditionally places great demands on students, not least the limited amount of time available to them to develop a familiarity with the spoken and written aspects of their chosen language. Both the content and the duration of courses feature spoken and written practice, but there is always room for improvement.  There are several helpful habits that students can develop to assist them while learning foreign languages.

1.       Watch Internet Programming

Many national broadcasters put news and current affairs content onto the web and this can be viewed online. This helps develop familiarity with the spoken word and the pace of delivery. It also allows students to repeat sections of dialogue that they may have missed first time around.

2.       Find Native Speakers to Converse With

Social networking provides opportunities to meet up with native speakers of almost every language in the area. There is often a group that meets on a regular basis to chat in their own language.

3.       Strike up a Conversation

One great way of developing self-confidence is to initiate conversation with native speakers in a spontaneous manner, even in the street or on a plane. They will almost certainly be delighted to share a few words with you and to thank you for your efforts.

4.       Go to the Cinema

Foreign-language productions are more visible now than they were a few years ago. With European countries producing award-winning films there are an increasing number to choose from at the cinema. Check the cinema listings.

5.       Books and Digital Media

Now that an entire book can be compressed and added to a Kindle or similar device, it is a great way of reading effectively. A whole library of classics can be added and can be read anywhere.

6.       Always Carry a Dictionary

The reassurance of having a dictionary in your pocket just in case you need it will probably outweigh the number of times you actually pull it out. It is still a useful accessory that does not take up much room.

7.       Learning the Alphabet

Modern language studies are not just limited to languages that use a Latin script and students may need to recognise Arabic calligraphy, Chinese pictograms, and the letters of the Russian alphabet. Newspapers are best as they allow students to copy the letters in the margin.

8.       Learn to Cook

The best way to expand your food vocabulary – which can be vast for European languages – is to take up the culinary art and learn some recipes and the names of the ingredients.

9.       Buy a Notebook

Jotting down words is useful, and if the notebook is in Central European style the pages will be divided into small squares, which helps develop calligraphy if writing in another alphabet.

10.   Listen to Music

Pop music is a great way of learning languages colloquially, and can easily be added to your MP3’s music collection.

Written by Sam Luther, a copywriter and experienced blogger working with independent schools.

The Birth Of Flamenco

Posted on by

Flamenco is so inextricably linked with the culture of Spain, it’s almost impossible for most people who live outside of the country to not link it instantly. As a fusion of dance and music, Flamenco captures the passion and energy that’s synonymous with Spanish life.

As with many traditions, the history of Flamenco is something of a mystery, with many scholars researching its origins. One thing that is clear is the derivation of the name, as ‘Flamenco’ translates as ‘flame-like’. This is incredibly apt, as the dance movements are exaggerated yet graceful and the music bursts with energy. A Flamenco performance can make the atmosphere crackle as the shadows of the performers grace the walls, like a sensual tapestry.

The Origins Of Flamenco

To find out more about this incredible artform, let’s travel back in time some to the 18th century. The preferred music of the upper classes was highbrow, intricate concert pieces, or finely arranged chamber music. There was a delicacy and thoughtfulness, which spanned the bombastic to the intimate, and was seen by many influential people as the music humans should aspire to.

But underneath all of this, among the masses, was a wide and varied movement of folk music. With different styles that varied from country to country, region to region, creed and ethnicity, these performances acted like stamps on the world. Folk music and dances were a signature to other places and peoples.

It is this culmination of dance and music styles that is thought to have given birth to Falmenco, particularly dancing competitions held between regions. These competitions would be held between Romany Gypsies and non-gypsies alike, each pushing and influencing each other’s styles. This fusion is thought to have sown the seeds of Flamenco, particularly merging the dances and music of Romany styles and Andalusia in Southern Spain.

Flamenco At The Royal Court

However, it is believed that Charles I of Spain, and other Spanish nobles, often invited folk musicians to perform at court. However, these were musicians and dancers that had trained to become the best in their field, offering perhaps a more formal, sanitised version of the traditional folk dance.

Initially, Flamenco was performed with only vocal accompaniment, with the dancers themselves providing percussion with maracas or castanets. As Flamenco developed into the latter part of the 18th century and early 19th century, the Flamenco guitar became an essential element to these performances.

Today, Flamenco is seen as one of the most vibrant and richest dances in the world, taught and performed all over the world. In fact, Japan has more Flamenco academies than Spain!

There’s no denying that Flamenco has developed and grown to be even more popular than ever, continuing a noble tradition of dance and music.

Flamenco dance

License: Creative Commons image source
Citations:

 

Italian and Spanish lessons in West London – Hammersmith and Fulham

Posted on by

If you are looking to start learning Spanish or Italian and live or work in West London, The Language Class might be able to help you.

Private language lessons at your office or at your home in  Hammersmith and Fulham.

The Language Class has been in the language teaching business for over 10 years and we know what it takes to be a language tutor. We screen potential qualified teachers according to our strict selective method in order to ensure the highest teaching standards. Our teachers are CRB screened for your peace of mind, especially if you are going to have lessons at your home or at your office. Furthermore all teachers are briefed regarding the place of where the lessons will be taking place. This is to ensure that they wearing a suitable outfit should they be visiting your place of work.

Why start learning Italian in West London.

Italian is a popular language to learn due to the possibility to travel easily to Italy for holidays from the UK. You can enjoy the sun, food, architecture or the culture in a even better way if you can master the basics of the Italian language. Many of our students have an Italian partner and want to communicate with their family. Others own properties there and want to be able to communicate with the neighbours, whatever the reason learning Italian will enable you to communicate with confidence and embrace the new culture.

Start Spanish language lessons with a tutor in London.

Spanish in great language that will open the doors to travel in many part of the world. Of course Spain is an evergreen destination for British travellers and you can reach it easily from London or other part of the UK. However South America is the trend now. These days more and more students are coming to us to learn Spanish to be able to communicate in Peru’, Mexico and Argentina. Remember that it is a misconception to believe that South American Spanish is a different language from Spain Spanish. In fact they are totally intelligible. So if your teacher is from Madrid you will be fine learning from him or her even if you are going to Lima.

Start learning Spanish or Italian with the Language class, we will be happy to send one of our qualified teachers to your home of office in West London in the Hammersmith and Fulham area.

Italian classes for beginners in London

Posted on by

Italian is a niche but popular language to learn in London, starting as a beginner should not be a daunting task for anyone wanting to embrace the Italian culture. Here a few tips that should help if you want to get started with this Latin language quickly and easily.

Get a private Italian tutor in London.

Of course the best you can do is to get a private native teacher to teach you, these days you can find a qualified teacher at pretty good rates due to the economic downturn. The Language class offer private Italian lessons for beginners in London  given by qualified native speakers at competitive rates.

Start slow and keep the pace.

Sometimes the excitement might lead you to want to learn many structures as fast as possible, but the best results will be given by a steady learning pace. So it is OK to start the usual simple things such as the ABC and numbers. It takes quite a bit of practice to remember those simple and basic structures. Later you will see the benefits of mastering the basics.

Make a schedule for your learning and keep it. We all know that life in London is as busy as it can get, so make sure that you have a plan for your learning and you follow it.

Embrace the new language and culture.

Many students make a fundamental mistake when learning the language, they question why structures are different and refuse to assimilate them. Instead you should give yourself  a favour and you should have an accepting attitude to the Italian grammar, and culture. Altogether this will enable you to learn faster.

Brush up your English grammar.

We noticed that sometimes adult students struggle to distinguish a verb from an adjective and if you are going to learn a new language you should brush up your grammar in English. Knowing what each piece of a sentence is will help you considerably when assimilating the new grammar.

How long before I am fluent in Italian?

Our students ask this question a lot, unfortunately we cannot answer it as everyone is different and everyone learn at different speed. On the other hand Italian share many common Latin vocabulary with the English language. If you pay enough attention you will see that you already know many words. Of course for the grammar is another story. However to get to a decent level of independently you do not need to master all tenses at once, but just few of the basic ones.

 

Italian lessons with a private teacher in London.

Posted on by

Italian might be a niche language to learn but it surprisingly popular amongst our students, many study Italian in one to one private lessons rather than taking group lessons. People in the UK learn Italian for many different reasons, many have an Italian husband or wife, someone else bought a property in the sun, or others just love to travel there in the weekend.

Why to choose one to one Italian lessons in London.

Students prefer to take private lessons as they like the teacher attention that they receive, so if you are either a fast learner or a slower one, you will always benefit from private lessons as you can adjust the pace of the learning as you wish. One of the main advantages of these one to one lessons is that you can always get back to your teacher from feedback about you. The teacher will oblige and give you a detailed report about how you doing during the lesson.

If you are living in London you know that life here is rather hectic and a busy day can transform your schedule. Therefore another advantage of private lessons is the ability to rearrange the class at will. In fact most teachers will be happy to reschedule your lessons with a notice of 24 hours. In most cases such a notice allows flexibility for both the teacher and the student. The teacher can take on other students or personal commitments and not charge you for the cancellation, while you will be able to get on with your own schedule.

Who are the Italian private tutors?

The teachers working for The Language Class are native speakers, with a degree in modern languages such as English, French or Spanish or they have other humanities degree. Very often they also have a teaching certificate gained at a leading institution such as the International House in London. But most importantly these are people truly dedicated and passionate about teaching their language.

Where to take language private lessons in London?

Very simply the teachers will come to your house or to your office in central London. It is norm here to ask the company boss to use one of the meeting room outside business hours. That will allow you to gain access to an easy to reach location for both you and the teacher at no cost. If you have problems of finding a meeting room, many teachers will happy to have lessons at the local coffee shops, however you should find a  quiet one for the best lessons.

How to find Italian culture in London

Posted on by

If you are interested in the Italian culture and you live and work in London you will find that there are plenty of opportunities to get in touch with people, eat Italian food, and learn a bit of the language.

Italian cultural institute.

The istituto di cultura Italiana is situatedin Belgrave Square in central London. Here you will find plenty of possibilities to start learning the language or improve what you already know. They have a very well stocked Italian language library, and they run regular classes for all levels. The Italian cultural institute also runs many events related to Italy and the Italian language. In their schedule you will find movie nights, talks and speeches, poetry evenings and many other cultural gatherings. For more information you should check the website.

La Dolce Vita event in London.

La dolce Vita is an exhibitions that take place every year in London. Here you will find many small food stands offering Italian street food, but also they will have famous restaurants and important chefs cooking for the crowds. It is not just about food but you will find also events related to fashions, textiles, leather, travel and holidays.

Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art.

A small museum situated in the highbury and Islington area in north London. The collection was started by an american sociologist to gather modern art masterpieces from Italian  artist painters, and sculptors. The art is mostly cubist and futurist from the beginning of the past century, including paintings of Modigliani.  The collection has a nice cafe’ and garden

Italian film festival.

Well the name says is all. Screening of Italian movies with samples of Italian gastronomy (of course). Mostly promoted and hosted by the Italian cultural centre.

Aperitivo.

Aperitivo is in Italy such a national institution that is now possible to find it everywhere around the world, including London. Started in Milan has taken over by strom. Basically you simply purchase a drink such as glass of wine of a spritz (Aperol and wine) and the fee gives you access to a buffet of finger food, it can replace a dinner if you want. In Italy is very popular with all generations and it is especially good for those wanting an informal drink with friends without missing the opportunity to grab something nice to eat.

Learn the Italian language in London.

If you cannot travel to italy every month, you can simply hire a private language teacher who will come to your office or home for some one to one lessons. In London you will find many qualified teachers who offer reasonable rates, and the schedule is normally agreed between the student and the teacher at suitable times for both.