Language Store

Payment by Card

admin — Sun, 22 May 2011 07:33:05 +0000

If you have received a quote from The Language Store, you can pay using your debit or debit card here. Simply click on the button that says donate, it will take you through to Paypal automated payment system. Follow the instructions.

How do I teach languages?

admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 15:22:17 +0000

How long is a bit of string? Well, with language it is a similar thing. Different people learn in a different way. Teachers may ask me if I have a teaching style. With this they are really asking me, what is it that I do in my lessons. I try to use lots of communicative tasks, to basically try to get students to do what they came to do “speak” the language. However, grammar and exercises are an integral part of learning a language in the classroom, so yes I will use grammar exercises, translation and other similar tasks.

The type of tasks will vary depending on the level and motivation. For instance, somebody learning to pass an exam like GCSE or A level may need to concentrate in the specific tasks required for these tests, rather than in the broad learning of the language. While somebody learning for pleasure or because he is moving to Spain or France, will need to concentrate in real communication and communicative strategies.

If you want to learn Spanish or French, the easiest way to find out how you can do it is dropping me an email and tell me what your motivation and your interests are.

SPANISH AND FRENCH ONLINE

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:37:34 +0000

VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

LEARN SPANISH AND FRENCH AT YOUR OWN PACE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

The Language Store is entering the new era of technology. From September you will be able to attend group lessons or private lessons in Spanish and French from the comfort of your home. Just you, your computer and your cup of coffee.

The courses will be delivered through Moodle, a VLE and Skype. You will not need any special software, but you will need:

- To have a computer (PC or Mac)

- You will need to be able to play sound and register sound. (Through headphones/microphone)

More details about the courses will follow shortly, but these are the main advantages:

Group lessons

- You will be able to get feedback from the tutor quickly in between lessons, through email and forums.

- You will be able to be in touch with the other students through forums and collaborative activities. So, you don’t have to wait till the lesson to have a go at speaking Spanish!

- Weekly conference calls through Skype to keep your speaking and understanding up to date!

- Cheaper than your local college as there is no overheads or rents to cover.

- Higher quality courses than your local college:

- Because the groups are small (3 – 7 people rather than the 14 needed for college courses)

- We use all our teaching time to teach, prepare resources and give feedback to students rather than filling in
paperwork for the college.

- We follow a more European approach to teach languages, building up students confidence and proficiency using the grammar building blocks, rather than teaching the students ‘set phrases’ that they will not know how to adjust.

- All students will be placed in a group of their same level. We don’t put together students with different levels just to ‘make up the numbers’.

- It is very unlikely that a course will be cancelled as we will run it with as little as 3 people.

- For Spanish we will follow the syllabus for the qualifications of Spanish as Foreign language of Instituto Cervantes. Which are recognized worldwide. So, students can work towards them and then sit the exam of Instituto Cervantes in one of the centers around the UK. (The fee for the DELE exams is paid directly to the Instituto Cervantes)

- For French we will follow the syllabus for the qualifications of French as a Foreign Language of the Institut Français, DALF. Again, students will be able to work towards these internationally recognized qualifications and then take the test at one of the centers in the UK. (The fee for the DELF exams is paid directly to the Instituto Cervantes)

Why The Language Store instead of another online provider:

- The course we are providing is online based, so you will have all the online activities you would have in any other online course, but with the added benefit of a real-time lesson once a week with your tutor and other students.

The dates and enrollment details will be published near the start of the course. The first courses will be launched in September 2011.

For Spanish course content click here

For French course content click here

Courses for Parent and Child

admin — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:55:35 +0000

Bristol is an active and vibrant city full of young people with children. There are lots of things to do here, but one of the things I was unable to find was quality language lessons for parent and child.
There are many parents in Bristol who would love to continue learning a language, however it is difficult to attend classes and find childminding. At the same time, parents also want their kids to learn a new language, and spend quality time with them. Why not offering language lessons for parent and child. The parent would learn enough language to be able to use around the house and teach his/her children him/herself once at home.
The lessons will be offered for parents with babies or toddlers/young children to start with. They will be geared to teach the adult giving him the tools to practice and teach it at home. While we will include fun stuff that will be attractive for children as well, nursery rhymes and colourful activities.
We are not expecting miracles, but we are expecting to offer a nice baby/toddler -parent activity, where mums and dads can come out and socialize with other mums and dads with similar interests and spend quality time with their children.
Once at home the experience continue, as they continue to bond with their childrend sharing a passion, a foreign language.
The answers to the questions, where? when? and how? will be posted here soon. Please, keep coming back and send me an email to register your interest. They venue is likely to be around Bishopston/Cotham/Horfield.

Why learn Spanish?

admin — Wed, 12 May 2004 11:54:06 +0000

Why should you learn the Spanish language? There are dozens of reasons but here are just a few.

Spanish is a truly global language spoken by approximately 380,000,000 people from Europe to the Americas. Spanish is one of the five official languages of the UN and a major business language worldwide, which means fluent Spanish speakers are always in demand.

Spanish is the original language of many masterpieces of literature and song that can be accessed in the original version. People able to read and understand Spanish can access a vast range of information and media from across the Globe.

Over half of the UK population would like to work, live or retire in another country. Many list Spain as thier number one choice.

Twenty-five different nations speak Spanish either as the official language or as a primary language. Remarkably, the United States of America has the third highest number of Spanish speakers in the world.

Spanish is a ‘romance language’ with a Latin base. It helps with the understanding of English grammar and word origins. Studying Spanish helps learners expand their vocabulary and learn more about the origins of many English words.

Studying and practicing Spanish increases problem-solving skills, improves memory and mental sharpness.

So why wait? Enjoy the benefits of learning and improving Spanish with one to one tuition or group classes.