uTalk

Would you Adam and Eve it? It’s the world’s first Cockney language learning app

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Do you know the difference between a pony and a monkey? Know your Peckham Rye from your Bethnal Greens? Not sure what we’re talking about? Read on… Today we’re launching Cockney as a new language, adding to the 130+ already available on our new cross-platform app uTalk. And we’re celebrating with a big knees up at G … Read more

Business or pleasure – it makes no difference

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In an earlier post, I talked about the importance of learning a little bit of the local language before visiting another country. Not only is it the respectful thing to do, it also saves you from embarrassing misunderstandings or spending your entire holiday communicating through pointing and exaggerated mimes. A few years ago, I visited … Read more

Don’t be shy, get talking!

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A recent poll has found that only one in ten British travellers learn any of the language before they visit another country. Some claimed this was because English is now so widely spoken, while others blamed shyness and a fear of saying the wrong thing. I understand the second excuse much more than the first. … Read more

The beginner’s guide to London

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As London welcomes visitors from all over the world this week, we’ve put together our own guide to the city, with a selection of hints and tips to help you feel like a local… While you’re here – Why not take the River Bus from Putney to Blackfriars, then on to Greenwich? It’s a fast and comfortable … Read more

A feast of languages: Shakespeare as we’ve never seen it before

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Last Monday, 23rd April, was the 448th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, and marked the launch of Globe to Globe, a series of Shakespeare’s plays performed over six weeks in 37 different languages at the Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank. On Monday, Troilus and Cressida was performed in Maori by New Zealand’s … Read more

Valentine’s – it’s not all flowers and chocolates…

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Valentine’s Day is here again, and like a lot of people, I’m a bit fed up with it. I’ve lost count of the number of emails I’ve received over the last few weeks, inviting me to use Valentine’s as an excuse to buy everything from chocolates to an iPad – I even got one suggesting … Read more

What’s the hardest language to learn?

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I remember the first day of my Hispanic Studies degree, when our head of department brought us all down to earth by reminding us that Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn. Having all worked pretty hard to get there, we were quite offended, but looking back now, I have to admit he … Read more