Languages and travel go hand in hand and in recent years, for me, booking accommodation with AirBnB has been part of the mix. I've build up quite a bit of experience as a regular user of the site. AirBnB has enabled me to stay in some great apartments for much less than the cost of a hotel. I've felt like a local, too. In this article, I share my tips to on how to choose an … [Read more...]
Japan: first impressions
I’ve been posting monthly about my learning Japanese project since the beginning of the year. The immediate reason for starting to learn the language was my first ever visit to the "Land of the Rising Sun". Today, I flew out to Singapore after a week Fukuoka in the south, a day and a half travelling up through Hiroshima and Kyoto and a final five days Tokyo. I thought it would … [Read more...]
Group language course abroad? For and against in 2025
Why go on an intensive, group language course abroad? If you decided to, how do you choose a foreign language school? Now that (in most places) the worst of the pandemic is past, you may be thinking of spreading your wings again later in 2025. This post, the first of two, we get to grips with the first of these two questions. The focus is on the typical full-time (or part-time) … [Read more...]
The visibility of Scottish Gaelic: a signage safari
In this post I want to share some photos I took of bilingual Scottish Gaelic - English signage from a recent trip I made to the Highlands of Scotland. It was my first visit to areas where Gaelic still hangs on, in pockets, as a minority language. I vlogged the trip in a series of five videos (from Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, Inverness, Culloden, the Cairngorms National Park … [Read more...]
Polyglot Gathering 2018: the daily vlogs
Ahoj from the Polyglot Gathering 2018 in Bratislava. The Gathering has recently finished and I've been daily vlogging. All five vlogs are now out, beginning with the Polyglot Gathering opening evening on Wednesday right up to the closing ceremony and beyond on Sunday, the last day. Needless to say, I've had a great time. It's the people who make it and thanks to all of … [Read more...]
Russian Easter in London – the blessing of the food ceremony (with vlog)
Христос Воскрес! Christ is risen! Khristos Voskress! That's the salutation used at Russian Easter. Last Sunday I was up in Yorkshire celebrating the Western Easter with a slice of traditional English simnel cake. Today, I got to celebrate all over again. The flavours this time were Russian...and I've captured them all in a short, impromptu vlog (link at the bottom of … [Read more...]
Trying to decipher Slovak and exploring the sights of Bratislava (with vlog)
After...ahem....something of a delay, I've finally edited a vlog on the Slovak language and exploring the sights of Bratislava. Besides seeing the sights, I'm busy trying to decipher Slovak. The vlog is the latest in my "smash & grab" travel and language videos. Most of the main attractions appear and city's multi-cultural heritage comes out. Look out for beautiful … [Read more...]
Exploring Beijing when you don’t speak Chinese: things to see and travel tips (video)
What's it like exploring Beijing when you don't speak Chinese? This is the question I answer the latest of my fun, tip-packed "Smash and Grab" travel and language videos, shot on my recent trip to China's ancient capital. The link's right at the bottom of this post. In September I was in the lucky position of having some free time on my hands after a work trip to … [Read more...]
Singapore’s languages: “smash and grab” (video)
I've made a video to share my impressions of the languages, sights, sounds (and tastes) of Singapore with you. It's what I've called a "smash and grab": a quick raid on the linguistic landscape of this cultural melting pot. To jump straight in to the film, scroll down to the bottom of this introductory post. I just had a few days in Singapore before and after my … [Read more...]
Basque Intensive! 2: from London to Bilbao and Lazkao (a vlog)
Hello from Lazkao, a small town in deepest Gipuzkao province in the Basque Country. Below you'll find the link to the first of my vlogs from here. I'm already half way through the first week of my four week intensive Basque course and am really enjoying the experience so far. With full board, the company of other enthusiastic learners and committed teachers and in lovely … [Read more...]