Helping yourself to learn a language

Before launching into an ‘only teacher knows best’ tirade, which would sound incredibly biased as I am a language teacher myself, I would like to open with the statement that self-study is an essential part of learning a language. What happens in your classroom or with your private tutor is a good start, but anyone who … Read more

uTalk Election: a guide to political jargon

It’s General Election Day here in the UK, and as (hopefully) everyone heads to the polls to cast their vote, we’ve been considering some of the strange vocabulary associated with politics. Sometimes it can seem like a whole new language, so we’ve put together a little guide to a few of our favourites. Has anyone got any … Read more

Are you ever too old to learn a language?

As a small child, I was practically a real-life Harry Potter. Without the magic. Or the mean Aunt and Uncle. Okay, well really, the only similarity is that I spent a lot of my days in the cupboard under the stairs. Now, before you call the authorities, don’t worry. It was my favourite place! I … Read more

Teenage Kicks: why language students aren’t listening

Today we welcome back language teacher Kelly, with some advice on engaging teenagers in language learning. Have you tried thinking outside the box with students? Tell us about it in the comments… Another Brick In The Wall Musicians have been flogging this particular dead horse for years: stop treating teenagers like an alien species that we … Read more

How well do you know Saint George?

23rd April is a busy day. Besides being St George’s Day here in England, and the day of Sant Jordi in Catalonia, it’s also Shakespeare’s birthday, the anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, World Book Day and UN English Language Day 2015. That’s a lot to pack into one day… Are you celebrating … Read more

Time to say ‘Dyw genes’ to Poldark

I don’t know about you, but here at EuroTalk we’ve been very much enjoying the BBC’s latest Sunday night drama, Poldark. Set in the late 18th century, and based on the books by Winston Graham, it’s the story of Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner), who returns from the American War of Independence to find his father dead … Read more

Misadventures in self-studying a language

Today we welcome back English teacher Kelly Wang, to share a few of the mishaps she’s experienced while self-studying Finnish. Have any of these things happened to you? Or do you have a funny story from your language learning? Tell us about it in the comments! PS Bonus points for anyone who can name all the cultural … Read more