Language Services Specialists

Dreaming of holidays...

School's out! Time to focus on fun and adventure. 🌟 Travel is perfect for language learners—immerse yourself in new cultures, practice speaking, and make unforgettable memories. Safe travels and have an amazing summer, everyone! 🏖️✈️🌍

Learn French for free online. Head to this list of online resources to get started: https://www.openculture.com/free_french_lessons

🕊️⚽

The latest edition of SBC magazine (Simply Business Club) includes an article by me about the power of learning a foreign language. But there's lots more in there...

Including:
-Is AI an opportunity or destroyer of jobs for developers?
-Disaster recovery plans for cyber attacks
-Members' Corner

https://simplybusinessclub.co.uk/sbc-magazine/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR31TuzgN4RUshYRsq_UXrLpetSPcrdaX_-QAJuewMT-Gx8mg53VbIxUlAA_aem_-wIVx5K-pn_S5BoRgq-InQ

SBC Magazine - Simply Business Club Please check out the latest edition of SBC Magazine below The latest edition of SBC magazine includes an article about the many faces of success, what does success look like to you? We have an article from one of our members, Martin Deal from Silver Foxes who shares their mission to support start-up...

French elections. What you need to know...

French elections: How do they work and why are they so significant? The far right could win parliamentary elections called by President Macron on 30 June and 7 July.

Can you name all of the German states? Now's your chance to check...

A fun map to identify all Germany's states, and their "place" in the country...

For example one of yesterday's posts covered Rheinland-Pfalz, which is the green area on the west of the country. Under Nordrhein-Westfalen and partly alongside a blue Hessen.

While yesterday's other post is in east-central Germany. Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt... the red area above pink Thuringen and below a blue Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Illustration credit: PosterLounge.ie

Want to get more out of your holiday? Read the LinkedIn article (link in comments)

Olympic preparations are steaming ahead in Paris. Not long now.

Paris Olympics organizers unveil a display of the five Olympic rings mounted on the Eiffel Tower The structure of rings, made of recycled French steel, will be displayed on the south side of the 135-year-old landmark in central Paris, overlooking the Seine River.

Three generations in traditional costume for a special occasion.

Tracht for Tuesday, and four generations wear one of the traditional Trachten from Spreewald in Brandenburg.

This is their Festtagstracht, Sunday or festive Tracht, with embroidered and artistically folded "Hauben" as their bonnets.

Tracht is rarely "every day" wear now, but still worn on Sundays and at all types of celebrations and festivals. Including weddings when the bride has an elaborate version.

Each village has a different variation, and this family's Tracht belongs to Raddusch, Sorbian: Raduš, a village of 630 people first mentioned in a document in 1294, although the settlement history is much older. Slavic castle Raddusch is more than 1000 years old.

The photo is by Peter Becker, an expert on all things Spreewald who lives in Vetschau, Spreewald. Not only taking photos but also writing books covering the fascinating region, past and present.

What are your talents? 😂 Share in the comments

Surveys show many people love returning to the same holiday spot yearly. To truly connect and enhance your experience, why not learn the language? I'm thrilled to be helping learners prepare for their holidays by teaching them the local lingo. Let's make your next trip unforgettable! 🌍✈️📚

Not long now...

Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Is France ready? Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Is France ready? Issued on: 08/05/2024 - 14:12Modified: 08/05/2024 - 14:20 07:11 Des spectateurs brandissent une mascotte des Phryges lors de la parade maritime au large de Marseille, le 8 mai 2024. © Nicolas Tucat, AFP Video by: Genie GODULA Follow As the Olympic flame is...

Look below for more information...

Protection against cold winds, or dress wear for introverts?

Definitely different... and trimmed in ermine, extravagant, difficult to move around in, it would be clear to anyone who saw them that these were not people who needed to do physical work.

Unlike most at the time.

Baltic Germans, die Deutsch-Balten, were a German-speaking minority that lived in what is now Estonia and Latvia. An immigrant upper class from the late 12th century onwards, they had a huge influence on the religion, culture and language of Latvians and Estonians.

Making up the nobility, and majority of the bourgeoisie, until well into the 19th century, it was only members of those groups who could wear outfits like these.

The signature is Albrecht Dürer, a "prince of painters" who walked around Nürnberg in eccentric costumes, and if it is correct then he probably found these capes fascinating, and just had to document them.

Photo credit: Via Slow Travel Berlin.

Loving this Monday. Teaching online and busy networking with Simply Business Club. Tell me what's going on in your Monday.

Like this page? Loved your language lessons? Please remember to like and share 😍

Bonjour! 🇫🇷 Planning your summer getaway? Enhancing your French skills can make your holiday even more memorable! 🌞 Impress locals, navigate with ease, and dive deeper into French culture. 🎉 Plus, the sense of achievement you'll feel is priceless! 🏆 Make this summer unforgettable with a touch of linguistic adventure!

How did you all do over Easter? Did you eat lots of chocolate? In case you've not had enough chocolate, take a look at this video about ethical chocolate in France.

France in focus - Ethical chocolate in France: A sweet endeavour Nearly three quarters of French people eat chocolate once a week, consuming an average of 7 kilos per year. But what seems a simple indulgence has a dark side: cacao farming has resulted in massive deforestation.…

I'm taking a few days off from teaching over the Easter bank holiday weekend, but I'll be back next week to keep everyone on track with their progress towards exams or prepare them for the term ahead. Adult learners - be ready to talk about your bank holiday adventures!

Feeling overwhelmed with GCSE exam stress? Don't fret! Expert guidance can ease the burden. Boost confidence and grades with tailored French and German revision lessons. Let's conquer those exams together! Comment below to schedule your sessions. 📚🌟

I'm looking for people who want their home educated kids aged 13+ to explore German. Perhaps one day, they'll be joining these research teams. Home educated kids learn to think outside the box.

The storks are back - it must be spring!

It might not be official yet but in parts of Germany it is Frühlingsanfang already... some traditional "Heralds of Spring" have been arriving for a few weeks now.

Störche, Storks, back from a winter spent in warmer climes.

Many have settled into breeding sites used for generations, others are renovating old nests or building news ones. Often on roofs, chimneys, or man made platforms of all shapes and sizes.

"Good Luck" symbols, as well as "stars" in all types of folklore and traditions, storks are encouraged to live in communities and near homes, so there are villages that are almost devoted to Storchenpärchen, their chicks and of course their large, definitely not clean and sweet smelling, nests.

Photo credit: A storks nest on the 15th century Elbtor in Werben (Elbe), Saxony-Anhalt in the western part of eastern Germany. Via werben-elbe.de.

It's not just been wet in Britain...

Rain floods southern France for third time in six months Severe floods have hit the French Southwest city of Saintes (Charente-Maritime) for the third time in just six months.

I started the week with Simply Business Club today, meeting their networking group and finding out about all their businesses. It was a great way to meet other small businesses online.

Has anyone else read these? I remember them fondly...

Ever wondered which languages are spoken the fastest? Take a look...
https://thelanguagenerds.com/2019/list-of-the-fastest-spoken-languages-in-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR2792X2DXWPcqYmKG3pj8NxI2pNJkivMDRos5jO-SecWHdwgIZ5eYAd3lQ

Link in comments.

The only form of winter transport for farmers in Allgau, Bavaria, not so long ago. Schalenggen, wooden horn sledges, brought "Heu und Brennholz" for "Stall und Ofen" for the winter months.

After the first snows, sleds carried the "Hay and firewood for barn and stove" down from the Almen, mountain pastures, where it was stored after harvesting, and riding Hörnerschlitten, their runners shaped like curved horns, was a necessity. But now it's a Faschingssamstag, Carnival Saturday, tradition.

Four journeys every day. First the sleds, weighing about 50 kg (110 pounds), were dragged up the mountains, then loaded and driven back down to the valley.

And this with neither brakes nor steering.

The runs were dangerous, often resulting in broken bones and damaged sleds, so after the successful completion of a series of descents there were real celebrations, with Glühwein, beer, traditional food and music.

Usually "home-made" and to original plans, the sleds are loaded exactly as they used to be and can reach 100 km, 60+ mph, although not only the fastest also the slowest, and even those who crashed on the way down, are awarded a trophy.

Today is Faschingssamstag and, so you have an idea of what you are missing, here is a short video of past run: http://bit.ly/3xvQwD1

Photo credit: Schalenggen Rennen via Füssen aktuell.

Get ready to join the vibrant festivities of Weiberfastnacht in Cologne! 🎉 From women seizing control to colorful parades, it's a day of revelry and tradition. Get ready for the fun as the city transforms into a sea of costumes and laughter!

Carnival 2024 in Cologne: All about Fastelovend Everything about Cologne Carnival 2024: Dates ✓ Carnival traditions ✓ Parades ✓ Experience the carnival days in the carnival metropolis on the Rhine. All information at a glance!