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Welcome to the Year of the Rooster!

Language Travel News

Welcome to the Year of the Rooster!

year of the rooster

 

The Chinese New Year is one the most celebrated and colourful events across the world and this year is the “year of the rooster” starting on the 28th January 2017.

7 Interesting Facts about the Chinese New Year

1. You can wish someone a happy new year in Chinese by saying xīnnián kuàilè (new year happiness!), xīnnián hǎo (new year goodness!) or gōngxǐ fācái (happiness and prosperity!)

2. Chinese New Year’s date is regulated by the Chinese lunar calendar. That’s the reason why the start date is never fixed and it falls in either January or February each year.

3. 12 different animals give name to the 12 years in the Chinese calendar (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig). Each animal is related to a particular element (water, wood, fire or metal) and specific characteristics are associated with each of them. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster and according to Chinese zodiac people born under the Rooster sign are honest, bright, communicative and ambitious.

4. Chinese New Year celebrations can last for two weeks. On New Year’s Eve families have a big dinner together that usually includes fish, dim sum, dumplings and several desserts.

5. Doors and windows are decorated with phrases relating to happiness, wealth and longevity written on red paper. Many older members of the family give the younger ones money in red envelopes as a present.

6. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from eating meat the first day of the year, a practice which is thought to ensure a long life.

7. Before the start of the New Year, houses are cleaned thoroughly to sweep away any bad luck. People also buy new clothes and get their hair cut to have a symbolic fresh start.

Chinese Language Courses

If you wish to learn more about the wondrous Chinese culture and language in the year of the rooster, Cactus Language offers Chinese language courses throughout the UK and China: Mandarin courses in the UK, Cantonese courses in the UK, Mandarin courses in China, Cantonese courses in Hong Kong.

Contact Us

For more information on any of our worldwide language holidays please call us on 01273 830 960 or email us. Our multilingual team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Cactus language offers the following types of language courses:

Evening language courses: 19 different languages in 10 UK locations
Language holidays: worldwide immersion courses in the country of the language
Private tuition: tailor-made and corporate language training solutions throughout the world
TEFL: teacher training courses for both English and other languages all over the world
Online courses: for teacher training, English and French

Top 5 Summer Camps in the UK for Children & Teens

summer camps in the UK

Top 5 Summer Camps in the UK for Children

There is no better place for your children to improve their English than in the UK with our summer camps in the UK. With varied cultural and sporting programmes, delivered in a safe and interactive environment, by highly qualified professionals, we present our top 5 summer camps in the UK. Located in the best educational destinations of the country, immersion in the English culture will be complete. The opportunity to make new friends and participate in enriching cultural exchanges, whilst developing new skills, will transform a summer course into a rewarding and unforgettable experience for your child. You can also Download our free Summer & Winter Language Camp Guide for Parents?

 

1. Best for Discovering London

summer camps in the UK

The cosmopolitan capital of the UK is much more than red double decker buses and Big Ben. From the Natural History Museum to the Greenwich Observatory, London has many places of interest and landmarks to discover. Taking part in cultural activities, excursions and everything that our London camps can offer will provide your child with a unique learning experience and personal adventure.

Our English summer camp combines learning English with native speaking teachers in the mornings, and activities and excursions to discover London in the afternoons and at the weekends. The residential accommodation is provided on-site, full-board, and with full safeguarding processes and procedures in place.

Explore English Summer Camps in London

 

2. Best for Watersports in Brighton

summer camps in the UK

Nicknamed ‘London by Sea’, Brighton is a fun city and has a laid-back atmosphere. A great place for students looking to learn English and combine their course with exciting watersports activities. Children and teens can choose from paddle boarding, kayaking or wakeboarding. Students also take part in the cultural activities and excursions to London and Cambridge.

Our English summer camp in Brighton is homed in an impressive Victorian building, within walking distance to the beach and the park.  This residential summer camp combines 20 English lessons per week with a broad range of sporting activities, and full-board accommodation is provided, and welcomes students from 10 to 17 years old.

Explore English Summer Camps in Brighton

 

3. Best for Horse Riding in Nottingham

summer camps in the UK

Located in the heart of England, Nottingham is a popular university town. With its historic structures and lush expansive green areas, the city also offers a medieval charm. Nottingham is home to Robin Hood’s legend and Sherwood Forest, and was the subject matter for Lord Byron’s first ever poem. Nottingham is a safe place for any new language student and the first choice for horse lovers!

The English summer camp in Nottingham is based at Trent College, just 15 minutes outside of Nottingham. The English camp provides a fabulous range of activities, sports programmes, horse riding sessions and excursions to other landmarks across the country – a perfect mix for an exciting English summer camp. On-site residential accommodation is provided by the school, as is excellent pastoral care and first-rate English language tuition.

Explore English Summer Camps in Nottingham

 

4. Best to Learn English in Oxford

summer camps in the UK

As one of the most important educational institutions in the world Oxford University attracts people to Oxford from all over the globe. With its cobblestone streets, museums and beautiful buildings full of history. Oxford offers a remarkable setting to improve any learner’s English skills. Its young and multicultural population and excellent student facilities make Oxford the ideal place to join a stimulating English summer camp.

Enjoy the full-cultural experience of living in Oxford while studying English. Living in the school’s residence, learning English in small groups, as well as taking part in activities and excursions to Bath and London. Full-board accommodation is provided.

Explore English Summer Camps in Oxford

 

5. Best for Beach fun in Bournemouth

summer camps in the UK

Bournemouth is one of the most attractive and welcoming coastal destination in the UK. An international airport, vast sandy beaches and warm weather. Traditionally a summer holiday spot and more recently established as a noteworthy commercial area as well, Bournemouth offers the possibility of enjoying any kind of watersport alongside amazing scenery. A great way to immerse in the English culture on the beautiful British southern coast, just two hours away from London.

Our English summer camp in Bournemouth welcomes children and teens from all over the world. The camp and has been delivering high quality English tuition to juniors for many years. This language camp combines English language lessons with a broad range of sports and cultural activities, and excursions to nearby locations, plus full-board accommodation on-site at the campus.

Explore English Summer Camps in Bournemouth

 

How to Book Summer Camps in the UK ?

Please check our How to Book page for more information on the simple secure and easy online booking process. You can also visit the location links to find more information on the Summer Camps UK.

For information on any of our Summer Camps in the UK, please check Our free Summer & Winter Language Camp Guide for Parents, call us on +44 (0) 1273 830 960 or contact us. Our multilingual team will be happy to answer any question you may have.

 

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Cactus language offers the following types of language courses:

Evening language courses: 19 different languages in 10 UK locations
Language holidays: worldwide immersion courses in the country of the language
Private tuition: tailor-made and corporate language training solutions throughout the world
TEFL: teacher training courses for both English and other languages all over the world
Online courses: for teacher training, English and French

 

Top 5 – Campamentos de verano en Reino Unido

St Giles Summer Camp Cambridge

Campamentos de verano en Reino Unido: regala a tus hijos las mejores vacaciones lingüísticas

by Maria Ansede

¿Qué mejor lugar que Reino Unido para aprender o mejorar tu inglés mientras disfrutas de las actividades culturales y deportivas de un campamento de verano en un entorno seguro e interactivo? Si añades a la ecuación profesionales altamente cualificados y los mejores destinos educacionales del país, la inmersión en la cultura inglesa será completa y la posibilidad de hacer nuevos amigos, de enriquecedores intercambios culturales y de desarrollar nuevas habilidades transformará un curso de verano en una experiencia muy beneficiosa e inolvidable para tu hijo o hija.

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LONDRES

La cosmopolita capital de Reino Unido es mucho más que buses rojos de dos pisos y el Big Ben. Desde el Museo de Ciencias Naturales hasta el observatorio de Greenwich o Camden, Londres tiene tantos puntos de referencia por descubrir que si tratásemos de enumerarlos todos la lista sería interminable. Disfrutar de los programas culturales, excursiones y de todo lo que tienen por ofrecer nuestros campamentos londinenses durante el verano o incluso en cualquier momento del año académico (Skola Camden), proporcionará un aprendizaje y crecimiento personal únicos.

Campamentos de verano en Londres

OXFORD

Cuna de las instituciones universitarias inglesas y de una de las universidades más importantes del mundo, Oxford y sus empedradas calles, museos y evocadores edificios llenos de historia, proveen a los estudiantes un entorno incomparable para mejorar sus conocimientos del idioma inglés y asimismo descubrir muchos de los lugares emblemáticos del Reino Unido por su privilegiada localización (Londres o Windsor están a solo una hora de distancia en tren). Su joven y multicultural población y sus excelentes instalaciones estudiantiles hacen de Oxford un lugar ideal para unirse a un interesante campamento de verano en lengua inglesa.

Campamentos de verano en Oxford

NOTTINGHAM

Situada en el corazón de Inglaterra, Nottingham es una ciudad eminentemente universitaria, con mucha tradición deportiva y excelentes sistemas de transporte público que nos lleva con sus históricas ubicaciones y grandes zonas verdes a la leyenda de Robin Hood y su cercano bosque de Sherwood y a las románticas huellas de Lord Byron. Nottingham exude hospitalidad y seguridad para sus nuevos estudiantes mientras llevan a cabo sus cursos de idiomas, programas deportivos y culturales y excursiones a otros fascinantes puntos de relevancia en Reino Unido gracias a su localización central y accesible.

Campamentos de verano en Nottingham

BOURNEMOUTH

Mencionar Bournemouth es hablar de uno de los destinos costeros más atractivos y acogedores de Inglaterra con sus extensas playas, plácido y cálido clima y aeropuerto internacional.
Tradicionalmente un pueblo de retiro y veraneo, ahora reconvertido también en una importante zona comercial y de recreo, ofrece la posibilidad de disfrutar de todo tipo de deportes acuáticos y maravillosos paisajes mientras los estudiantes se sumergen en la cultura inglesa en plena costa sur del país y a tan solo dos horas de Londres.

Campamentos de verano en Bournemouth

CAMBRIDGE

Rival por antonomasia de Oxford, la ciudad universitaria cuya excelsa institución educativa no necesita presentación, se caracteriza por su ambiente tranquilo, seguro y cultural así como por sus numerosos parques e impresionante arquitectura bordeada por el río Cam y a apenas 80 kilómetros de la capital de Reino Unido.
Un extenso programa intensivo de actividades y excursiones que incluye visitas a las facultades de Cambridge, a Londres u Oxford, dará la oportunidad al joven estudiante de exprimir al máximo su experiencia intercultural.

Campamentos de verano en Cambridge

CONTACT US NOW, Contactez-nous maintenant, Contattaci Ora, Ponte en Contacto

For more information on any of our worldwide language holidays please call us on 01273 830 960 or email us. Our multilingual team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[ninja_forms id=6]

Cactus language offers the following types of language courses:

Evening language courses: 19 different languages in 10 UK locations
Language holidays: worldwide immersion courses in the country of the language
Private tuition: tailor-made and corporate language training solutions throughout the world
TEFL: teacher training courses for both English and other languages all over the world
Online courses: for teacher training, English and French

Top 3 German Course Destinations this Winter

german course destinations

Winter in Germany: learn a language and immerse yourself in German culture

By Kathrin Schmitz

Germany, also known as ’the land of poets and thinkers’ is one of the most dynamic, multicultural and attractive countries in the European Union and a top tourist destination. The German language is spoken by over a hundred million people worldwide and the second most commonly used for scientific communications, as well as one of the more creative and widely employed business languages. Check out our top 3 locations for learning German in the country it is spoken.

Cologne

Internationally known for its famous Cathedral, Cologne is one of the cultural hotspots in Germany. The fourth largest city of the country offers something for everyone; visit one of the over 20 museums, go shopping in the city-centre, take a boat trip on the Rhine, or have a beer in one of the many pubs and try some Cologne specialities. If you visit Cologne in February, you can experience one of the craziest festivals in Germany, the Cologne carnival. The Kölsche Lück (Cologne accent for people from Cologne) will welcome you with open arms.
German courses in Cologne

Berlin

Many monuments in Berlin resonate the city’s troublesome past but the capital of Germany has reinvented itself into a trendy and cosmopolitan city. It has a broad music and art scene and attracts creative minds from all over the world. Experience this international flair first-hand by visiting the Berlinale, one of the most important International Film Festivals in Europe. A visit to the Olympic stadium, a day at the Zoo (which holds the most comprehensive collection of species in the world), a crazy night in the clubs … Berlin offers activities for anyone and it won’t leave you disappointed.
German courses in Berlin

Munich

Despite attracting millions of people during the Octoberfest, the most liveable city in Germany attracts many tourists from all over the world all year round. Historic buildings, squares, parks and castles define the charm of the city. With easy access to the Bavarian Alps, Munich is the top destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Another thing you can’t miss is a visit to the famous Hofbräuhaus to try one of Germany’s finest beers.
German courses in Munich

Contact Us

For more information on any of our worldwide language holidays please call us on 01273 830 960 or email us. Our multilingual team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[ninja_forms id=6]

Cactus language offers the following types of language courses:

Evening language courses: 19 different languages in 10 UK locations
Language holidays: worldwide immersion courses in the country of the language
Private tuition: tailor-made and corporate language training solutions throughout the world
TEFL: teacher training courses for both English and other languages all over the world
Online courses: for teacher training, English and French

Top 8 Things to Do in Moscow in Winter!

moscow in winter

 

Top 8 Things to Do in Moscow in Winter!

By Teva Serna

February is one of the best times to visit Russia and Moscow, as you will get to experience the magic of a real Russian winter. In January and February, snow reigns over the city creating enchanting and beautiful panoramas. Wrap up warm, sip some vodka, and make sure you experience at least a couple of our top 8 things to do in Moscow in Winter!

The Kremlin

The most famous area in Moscow. Hidden behind high red stonewalls is the seat of the Russian government – a historic complex with colourful and impressive churches and palaces home to numerous artifacts and stories.

Ice Skating (Катание на коньках)

Have fun on one of Moscow’s many ice rinks. Whether you prefer the classic Red Square’s ice rink or the ice labyrinth in Gorky Park, you will find a place to glide over the ice throughout the capital.

The Red Square

Take a stroll around the most famous square in the world and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, then make your way towards the multicolour Saint Basil’s Cathedral.

The Bolshoi Theatre

A ‘must-do’ for many on a trip to Moscow. There is no better place to enjoy the ballet than at The Bolshoi Theatre and with all year round performances by some of the best dancers in the world the most difficult part is choosing which ballet to enjoy.

The Old Arbat

Stroll along Moscow’s main pedestrian street, once home to the country’s greatest artists. Stop in a restaurant to taste the savoury borscht (soup made of beetroot) after shopping for some matryoshkas (Russian nesting doll) to take back home as a souvenir. We like Café Mu Mu for an authentic Russian lunch.

Exhibitions (Выставки)

If you are passionate about contemporary art, head to the modernist Garage Museum in Gorky Park for exhibitions, artistic performances and film screenings.

Banya (Баня)

Warm up, relax and pamper yourself in one of the traditional Russian bath houses for a true winter experience. We like the Sandunóvskie Baths or Sanduný, which is a cultural and architectural landmark in downtown Moscow, just near the Central Bank of Russia.

banya moscow

 

Your Stay in Moscow

Take advantage of our special offers and save up to £235 when taking a Russian language course in Moscow this winter! Standard course (20 lessons per week) with homestay (bed and breakfast) or shared flat accommodation included from £650 for 2 weeks. Intensive course (25 lessons per week) with half-board homestay accommodation included from £855 for 2 weeks. These offers are available when booking before 31st January 2017, for a course between 1st February 2017 and 28th April 2017. Want to do a Russian tour? Why not combine one week in Moscow and one week in St Petersburg? Simply let us know at the time of your booking. Transfer costs between the two cities are not included.

Contact Us

For more information on any of our worldwide language holidays please call us on 01273 830 960 or email us. Our multilingual team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[ninja_forms id=6]

Cactus language offers the following types of language courses:

Evening language courses: 19 different languages in 10 UK locations
Language holidays: worldwide immersion courses in the country of the language
Private tuition: tailor-made and corporate language training solutions throughout the world
TEFL: teacher training courses for both English and other languages all over the world
Online courses: for teacher training, English and French


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