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Ian Scarborough - German student

26/12/2015

In 2016 I intend to take on post graduate training in my profession and taking on a language has allowed me to find clarity and a consistent study routine in preparation for my studies. VLLC provides a great mix of online and independent learning as well as one on one tutorship. All the components I will come across in my immediate future. Further, my work takes me to Europe annually and my confidence to communicate in Germany has increased significantly after my time with VLLC. My children are also learning German at school and I am better equipped to help them with their homework and encourage them to pursue a second language as they grow.

Thank you to the team I have encountered at VLLC. You have all been wonderful. I have no hesitation in recommending you to friends or family for their learning needs.

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My adopted children are from Thailand...

11/12/2015

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I am studying Thai because my adopted children are from Thailand and we recently we discovered that one of my daughters, Amie has a full blood sister Bam who was born in 1999 who was also adopted, but still lives in Thailand.

One day when Amie is older, I have no doubt she is going to want to meet her mum and sister.
She has no interest in learning Thai language but I felt strongly that it was important for me to learn Thai so I can translate between them when they reunite/meet. Im positive it will make the experience so much more rewarding and heart felt. I would also like Bam to feel like she has a positive male figure that she can have a connection with. Again, the language will help bridge that gap.

It has been challenging taking on learning Thai especially when I'm a single dad with a house and kids to run, a business to operate and all that life throws my way. But I am enjoying the challenge and am making progress.

My number one advice tip is to know that is normal to feel like your struggling with the new language. Don't beat yourself up about it. The positive mindset will return so just accept that you are having a difficult period of learning and that you can actually be curious about it rather than resistant.

I have found that is goes away like a receding tide much sooner if I'm curious about why I am having difficulty, rather than permitting myself to feel negative about it. It's actually a choice.

Every second Sunday I will totally immerse my brain in Thai language. From the moment I wake until I go to bed that night I will study, listen and think as much as possible in Thai.

An interesting tip I got, which I first thought was ridiculous but is actually a great technique (Never discount something until you try it, right?) - Hold your phone to your ear and have an imaginary 2 way conversation in the language. You can do this in public and as long as there is no native speaker to hear you, no one will know you are making mistakes. I like this because you have to think about both questions and responses etc.

Tip: Put the phone on silent, otherwise you will look like a goose if it rings.

My final tip is - Any substantial goal will overwhelm us if we do not break it down into smaller, more achievable short term goals. We need those little triumphs along the way to keep us motivated and prevent potentially quitting because it seems too far away or too big a mountain to climb.

Congratulate yourself occasionally.
Sa-wat-dee-krup, Mike

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Cindy Parker's Spanish adventure..

4/12/2015

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I have long wanted to visit Europe, I love history, old buildings, long gone crafts, stories and traditions however I have a husband who has an aversion to flying. Late last year I sensed a weakening of his resolve to travel too far so I seized the opportunity and asked him where in Europe he would like to go if he had the chance. France, Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, Greece maybe?

To my surprise he very quickly responded “Spain”. Needless to say I was at the travel agent within the hour! And then I got to thinking, wouldn’t it be cool if I learnt to speak some Spanish before we went? So the next stop was VLLC and the delightful Mali and Vivian. I didn’t have time to complete the Cert II before we left, however, I did get a fair way in and we covered a lot of relevant subjects. And I must say, I surprised myself, when after landing in sunny Barcelona after a long 30 hours in transit, I immediately struck up a conversation with the taxi driver…in Spanish…and he didn’t laugh at me! Confidence riding high, I went on to order all of our meals and drinks in Spanish, ask directions, shopped and purchased tickets all without incident for the rest of our trip. Yes, I got some things wrong sometimes…damn conjugations…but at least I tried, and bless the Spanish, they seemed to appreciate the effort.

There really is a special feeling that you get when you are at a stall in La Boqueria in Barcelona ordering various fruits like a local, or asking a local where the nearest bus stop is without having to ask if they speak English first. Or, as happened to us in Madrid, assisting an American family in ordering their dinner at a restaurant where the waitress spoke no English and the family in question spoke no Spanish. It was 42 degrees and the family had just arrived from the States and they were tired, hungry and very hot and could not get the waitress to understand them. The father was getting quite stressed so I went over to them and asked if I could help. They relayed what they wanted to me, chicken on this, no meat on this, cheese with this, beer, coca cola etc. I, in turn, passed the order on to the waitress, clarified a few things with both parties and all out war was averted! I even had to visit a local hospital in San Sebastian and managed to convey to a doctor who spoke very little English what was wrong. An hour later, medication in hand and all was well!

Spain is a wonderful country. It exceeded my expectations and we barely scratched the surface. I can’t wait to get back there and see some more. I loved wandering the cobbled laneways of the Gothic and Jewish quarters in Barcelona and stumbling on sitar players strumming in the shade of the Cathedral, the quirky eccentricities of Gaudi and the fascinating story behind his buildings, the grand buildings in Madrid and falling asleep under a tree in the most beautiful park on a 43 degree day, the Alcazar, the flamenco and the relentless heat in Seville, wonderful, traditional Toledo, crazy, crazy Pamplona (did I mention how crazy it was) and the San Fermin festival and of course the beautiful beaches and fabulous food of San Sebastian…and don’t get me started on how good the sangria was!

But one thing I will say, knowing even a little of the language enhanced my trip in more ways that I ever thought it would.

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Ian Scarborough - German student

My adopted children are from Thailand...

Cindy Parker's Spanish adventure..

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