Learning a language with your family 

Read this article from The National Geographic to know more about the benefits of learning a language and making it a family activity. 

Learning a language with your family

Express yourself in Lockdown - British Council

 Express yourself in Lockdown 

British Council

Speaking a language confidently and coherently is an important part of the curriculum throughout the four devolved education departments in the United Kingdom, and forms a critical part of linguistic and cultural development for all learners of languages.

However, the impact of Covid-19 has meant that many pupils have had fewer opportunities to speak the languages they are learning.  Therefore, the Association for Language Learning, the British Council and the cultural and linguistic bodies in the United Kingdom have combined efforts to devise an exciting event entitled ‘Express Yourself in Lockdown’.

This will be an opportunity to showcase language learners’ enjoyment of a language that they are learning or that is normally used in their home community from home (except for English!). 

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A fascination for different languages

A fascination for different languages

I often talk about the excitement of decoding a language for the first time and the pleasure of being able to understand the first few words in a foreign language; the great satisfaction of establishing that connection that can open up a whole new world.

Here's a linguist sharing her memories about her childhood dreams and her fascination for foreign languages:

Realising Childhood Dreams

3 Ways Learning a Language Helps Your Brain

Give your brain a healthy exercise

Not just for the obvious communicative reasons. Think of problem solving, creativity, empathy, new perspectives, resilience, mental agility and many more.

3 Ways Learning a Language Helps Your Brain

Spanish body language

The Guardian Spanish Gestures Guide

These curious examples of the fine glossary of body language expressions attached to the Spanish language and culture can come in quite handy.

I have deliberately omitted part one, two and four because I think the gestures and/or their alleged meanings are not that common or universal.

I find part three and five to be good examples of the range of non verbal communication of such an expressive culture.

The Guardian. Learn Spanish Gestures. Part Three.
The Guardian. Learn Spanish Gestures. Part Five

The joys of learning a foreign language

The beautiful benefits of learning a foreign language

English for Beginners


It's never too late to learn a foreign language, as this simple yet effective Polish Christmas advert beautifully demonstrates.

A rare treat these days, the advert presents a story that many of us can relate to in one way or another.

In a world increasingly interconnected under its globalising pull, learning a foreign language becomes ever more significant, bridging the gap across nations and cultures to open our minds, strengthen mutual understanding and develop relationships, not to mention its beneficial role in enhancing mental agility and delaying cognitive decline.

What a fantastic, proactive approach to the vicissitudes of life!