Learn a language for Travel blog - VLLC Language Courses

Italy - five places that language unlocks..

19/4/2022

Italy is a popular tourist destination and a country that has many hidden gems. For the vast majority of visitors the main hubs are the only places they get to. It is often because firstly they do not know about these places, and secondly, because they cannot speak Italian and ask about them to know about them. Here are five places that the Italian language can unlock in Italy.

Montefalco in Italy’s Umbria region, is a sleepy Italian town famous for Sagrantino wine and magnificent scenery. Montefalco is a little off the beaten track, and its peace and tranquillity makes it worth a visit alone. The San Francesco Museum houses some of the best works of art in Italy. Speaking Italian will open up this amazing, less travelled place.

If you are flying on a budget airline to Venice, there is a good chance you will land in Treviso. Treviso is a picturesque walled city, 20 miles outside of Venice. Seemingly untouched over the centuries ,once you enter through the medieval gates, you will twist and turn your way around the city through a maze of narrow cobbled streets. Many of the streets were once water courses, and it is not difficult to picture the town in days gone by. Peaceful, intriguing and somewhere where speaking Italian will open up a whole new world. Treviso is a must.

Lake Como is very much a tourist Mecca, but it has a smaller, less familiar, but equally beautiful smaller sister. Lake Iseo is popular with hikers and Monte Iseo is the smallest lake island in Europe. With no cars and fewer than 2000 residents, Monte Iseo is a place that can only truly be experienced when one speaks Italian. The calm and the quiet make this a truly hidden place in Italy, where the real Italy can be experienced.

Gargano is an Italian national park with the perfect balance of sun soaked, sandy beaches and tranquil pine forests. This is one of the top places for Italians to take a vacation in their own country. In peak season, virtually the only language heard spoken is Italian. If you visit here, speaking Italian is very much essential, but speaking Italian will ensure that you vacation as Italians do. This region is barely known by tourists and is one of the best kept Italian secrets.

The best way to describe Portovenere is the sixth Cinque Terre village, officially, there are five but Portovenere has no railway station. Portovenere is peaceful, not full of tourists and a wonderfully friendly little town by the sea. A number of other, equally tranquil villages are found nearby and when you speak Italian the whole Liguria region opens up in a friendly, colourful bouquet of places to visit and stay.

Speaking a language will always open up a country and allow you to see it, and experience it, in a completely new way.

Speaking Italian will open your eyes to one of the most wonderful countries on earth.

Learn Italian at VLLC before you go and open your eyes to a whole new world!

How Different Cultures Celebrate Easter.

12/4/2022

The celebration of Easter takes on many forms around the world. While it is a Christian tradition marking the death and resurrection of Jesus, countries across the globe participate in it. The celebrations are as diverse as the cultures that celebrate. Here is how different countries celebrate Easter.
Germany
Elaborate decorations of daffodils, bunnies, eggs and branches fill homes in Germany around Easter time. Eggs are painted and sometimes exchanged. In many places across Germany, bonfires are held to mark Easter as well as welcome the Spring.
Spain
In Spain, Easter is marked with somber vigils held in the streets with symbols of crosses, candles and statues of Jesus and Mary. Participants are clothed in robes, veils and hoods and a sacred song is sung. These processions are not limited to Easter weekend but take place across the entire Holy Week leading up to Easter.

Bermuda
Unlike the sombre vigils of Spain, Bermuda’s celebrations reflect its relaxed culture. Like many other cultures, people eat hot cross buns across the weekend and on Easter Friday many go out and fly kites.
The Philippines
In The Philippines, Christians mark Easter by participating in processions. Men participate in one procession and walk behind an image of Jesus, while women partake in another following an image of Mary in a black veil. The processions meet at the church and girls dressed as angels remove Mary’s veil, and the joyful celebrations follow.

Ethiopia
Churches in Ethiopia celebrate Faskia, the 55 days leading up to Easter in which participants abstain from meat and animal products, similar to lent in some other cultures. Sombre vigils are held on the night before Easter, but on Sunday Christians celebrate with food, music and dancing.
France
In typical French style, one French tradition in the town of Bessières celebrates Easter with cooking. Volunteers come together to cook a giant omelette, made up of thousands of eggs. Easter is one of the most widely celebrated traditions in the world, and people across the globe celebrate in diverse ways, reflective of their unique cultures.

References
Stasak, J 2022, ‘How Easter is Celebrated in Countries Around the World’, Wycliffe, 25 February.

Italy.... better when you speak Italian.

5/4/2022

With any country, a visitor can get by with a phrase book, Google translate, some broken language and plenty of hand gestures, and for some, just speaking in their own language louder and slower hoping the person they speak to understands is the norm. But to get under the skin of a country, to see life as a native and to get a greater understanding of what is around you and what makes a country what it is, nothing beats speaking the language and being a part of the culture.

When in Rome, so they say, do as the Romans do and when visiting Italy on vacation or for business nothing could be closer to the truth. Italy is a wonderful country that comes alive by speaking the language and not just in Rome but any city, small town or rural village. Language lifts a layer off a country, a whole new country opens up and with Italian you really can do as the Romans do. There are countless tourist attractions to see and visit in Italy and it is easy for anyone to simply visit, look and then check off the bucket list. But what would it be like visiting these attractions knowing you can converse, understand the signs, feel the emotion?

There is a place in the middle of Venice called Isola di Burano that is famous for its colourfully painted houses. It is a popular tourist attraction and many people just book their tickets, have a look around, snap a selfie and consider it as seen. But if you spoke Italian you would suddenly be able to go beyond the colourful houses and strike up a conversation with a local. Going a little beyond just good morning and very much passing the time of day, you will be a tourist who is able to experience the life and culture of one of Italian’s own. It’s the little things that bring Italy to life when you speak Italian. Theatre trips can be taken because you understand what is being said, a small local village play can be as marvellous as a performance at La Scala in Milan. Simply because you speak Italian, you understand and what would normally be reserved for the Italians, can be enjoyed by you.

All the many works of art that Italy is famous for can be visited with a whole new confidence when you speak Italian. Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper can be talked about with Italians as you gaze at the masterpiece, you might even get better ticket prices just because you speak Italian. But you can absorb works of art and question if you must in the local language, conversation can be struck up with an Italian art student and suddenly a whole new perspective on a painting or sculpture is found and appreciated.
But it is not just the leisure tourist who wants to get close to the arts of Italy who is a winner by speaking the language. As a business visitor, your host, customer or supplier will feel confident in inviting you to real Italian events and places when you can converse, this will allow you to get closer to the people and the Italian way of life that may very well be the difference between you winning your company the business.
Each and every attraction has a whole new appeal when visited with a speaking knowledge of Italian, the leaning tower of Pisa, the Sistine chapel, the Colosseum in Rome or just a stroll through the vineyards of Tuscany become places with deeper meaning and greater understanding that create a better memory allowing you to really say “L’Italia e Bella” – Italy is Beautiful as the sun sets on your visit.

Shunbun no hi - Japanese Equinox

9/3/2022

Shunbun no hi is the Japanese holiday which celebrates the spring equinox in Japan. This holiday falls on the 21st March this year and is part of a seven day period known as Haru no Higan (Spring Higan). On Shunbun no hi, the hours of light equal those of the of darkness and it is a time to mark the changing of the seasons. Each September, another higan is celebrated, this time marking the autumn equinox.

While the origin of Haru no Higan is unknown, it has been celebrated since the 8th century when the Emperor of Japan mandated it’s observation. So how do the Japanese spend Shunbun no hi? Many people head back to their hometowns and spend a portion of the day tending to the graves of their ancestors according to ancient Buddhist tradition. In Buddhism, the term higan means “other shore” and refers to the belief that there is a river between this life and the next.

Four Reasons To Learn The Local Language Before You Land

8/3/2022

For English speakers, the world of travel is relatively accessible. In many of the countries that you travel to, many of the key individuals you will need to communicate with will have learned basic English. You can often get by without speaking more than the basics of the native tongue. However, for a full experience of a country, speaking the language is essential. Here are 4 reasons why you should learn the local language before you land.

Navigation. There are few things more intimidating than arriving in a country where you don’t speak the language. Road signs, train stations and maps are written in unreadable words and navigating the city becomes impossible. Relying on strangers to direct you also becomes risky as even those that speak your language are likely to misunderstand or misdirect you. At the basic level of safety and navigation, proficiency in a country’s language immediately boosts your experience.

Connections. As the principal way humans communicate, language is essential for connecting with others. Building friendships with people you would never otherwise encounter is one of the greatest benefits of travelling. While you may be able to get by with hand signals and fragmented phrases, genuine connection with the people of the country you are visiting is enabled only by a shared language.

Discovery. One of the downsides to being a tourist is having to rely on tourist information. Geared towards making profits and pleasing diverse markets, the products and information accessible to you as a tourist barely scratch the surface of the culture you are visiting. To discover the real hidden gems of a city, listening to local advice and exploring the city independently offer the best potential. Without the language, these become impossible.

Understanding. Language is a fundamental part of culture. It reflects the character and traditions of its country and the values of the people who speak it. For this reason, a full understanding of a place and its people is impossible without a knowledge and appreciation of the language which holds them together.

In order to experience the richness of a new place, connect authentically with people and reap the full benefits of a travel experience, proficiency in the local language is essential.
Amy Galliford.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival ......

3/3/2022

I was reading about the Japanese cherry blossom festival as I know it is usually about this time of year and found this article on a website which I have referenced below. It was really well written so I have just included their information:

Anyone travelling to Japan in the springtime is sure to experience one of the more exceptional natural events in the seasonal calendar. Hanami, or flower viewing, is the annual Japanese custom of enjoying the blooming foliage after the winter weather subsides. While Hanami specifically refers to the blooming of cherry blossoms, many plan events around the one to two week period where nature flourishes with colour and fragrances.

Said to have begun in the late 8th century, the flower viewing tradition is widely believed to have started in the Nara Period. The seasonal event was used to welcome in the new year's harvest while marking the beginning of the rice planting season. In the Heian Period , Emperor Saga would welcome this time with celebratory feasts and parties under the Sakura trees in Kyoto's Imperial Court. While originally limited to Japanese royalty and the elite upper class, Hanami spread to all citizens by the Edo Period in the early 1600's. The custom still lives to this day as visitors from around the globe partake in this traditional event. Since then, the annual custom has drawn visitors to witness the beautiful seasonal changes while pinpointing and celebrating the beginning of the fiscal and scholastic year with friends and family. A typical Hanami usually consists of holding an outdoor party under cherry blossom trees during the day or night. Food, beer and sake are brought to a picnic as visitors bask in the cherry blossoms that fall from the tree. These parties last well into the night as the moon illuminates the pink blossoms.

While cherry blossoms bloom throughout the country, there are a few cities and regions famous for their Hanami festivals. The castle town of Hirosaki, which holds the Sakura-matsuri festival, is one notable Japanese city famous for its bountiful cherry blossoms that draw people from both near and far. Also, travel to the centre of the Nara Prefecture to find Yoshino-yama a mountain with over 30,000 cherry trees that is considered to be the best viewing spot in all of Japan. Or make a trip to the cherry blossom viewing tunnel at the Japan Mint in Osaka, where every April the grounds are open to the public for one week so that visitors may enjoy a prime view of their cherry blossom trees. Over 100 varieties of trees bloom at the Japan Mint tunnel, giving visitors the opportunity to distinguish between the various sizes and shapes of the flowers. Finally, if your trip leads you to Tokyo in the spring time, explore Ueno Park where 1,200 blossoming cherry trees burst to life. Don't forget to make a stop at one of Ueno Park's many museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, National Science Museum, and Japan's first zoological garden.No matter where your travel arrangements lead you, a visit to any number of cherry blossom festivals in Japan is guaranteed to be a joyful occasion that pinpoints the cleansing of the mind and new beginnings.

Reference: http://us.jnto.go.jp/heritage/bf_cherry.php
To find a list of Japanese cities famous for their cherry blossoms, please visit: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/interests/cherry.html

Why travel is beneficial for your health...

18/1/2022

Everyone loves to, or at least dreams of travel, but did you know travel can actually be good for you? Sure, travel can have its downsides, delays, lost baggage and other stresses, but for the vast majority of the billions of people who travel every year, this is not the case. The vast majority of travellers whether travelling for business of pleasure have few stresses if any at all.

So why is travel beneficial to your health? Travel can boost your immune system. It sounds bizarre, but travel helps your body fight infection and illness. Travel acts like a probiotic because your body is exposed to so much. Exposure to the dirt and germs of other countries is good for you and builds up stronger antibodies inside you. This, in turn, boosts your immune system.

An expanded mind improves brain health. Travelling introduces your brain to new experiences. New people, new cultures and new sites, sounds and smells. Hearing a new language and challenging yourself to learn and speak it is just an added boost to brain health. Studies have shown that there is a definite increase in creativity, cultural awareness and growth in a person generally. Good brain health leads to emotional stability, and in many cases, a more fulfilled life.

Lessen heart disease and increases fitness. Some people who have stressful trips may disagree with this, but in general, travel reduces stress in a person and everyone knows that reduced stress is good for the heart. Studies have shown that people who travel at least once a year on vacation to rest are less likely to have a heart attack. Sure, a lot of travelling means being sat on a Boeing at 39,000 feet for hours on end, or could mean just lounging on the beach soaking up the sun. But travelling to new places encourages people to explore, and exploration means getting up and getting active. Travel can provide an opportunity to try new things such as an extreme sport or it may just be that you walk around the city you are in more than you would at home. Travel is, for many, about exploring and doing new things, of course, there will be days of rest but it is getting to see the sites and sounds that really makes travel special.

Healing places. Some people travel for healing or at least upliftment, and there are many places around the world where people go just for this. Spas, springs and places of energy relax or uplift the body and soul. There are energy points that some believe in, such as Stonehenge in the UK or the pyramids of Egypt. Only by travelling can you find these healing places. Don’t forget certain foods found in some countries offer many health benefits, sometimes it is just the fact the fruit, for example, is picked off the tree by you and its freshness is what makes it better

Travel is really good for you. Most people enjoy it and to really gain more out of the experience, a language makes things even better. Speaking the language of the country you are visiting will make you feel more at ease and you will relax. A language can also help you communicate with locals and perhaps find out an age-old remedy, health boosting food or habit that could change your life forever. However you look at it, there is nothing wrong whatsoever with travelling, so, go on, get out there, explore and be healthy.

The Language of Christmas..

15/12/2021

Can you imagine what it would be like if you were unable to have Christmas if you could not speak ‘Christmasese’? If Christmas had a language all of its own, would you take the time to learn it? What would it be like if you saw people loving Christmas and enjoying it because they spoke ‘Christmasese’ and you couldn’t? It would not quite be the same, and imagine if Christmas didn’t come to you but you had to go to it?

As we all know there are some words that are associated only with Christmas, and some things that worldwide are part and parcel of Christmas. In the many and varied traditions, these words would somehow form a part of ‘Christmasese’ and you would have to learn them. These words might include:
Mistletoe – a small twig like plant that people kiss under
Presents – gifts given to people (or pets) wrapped up in shiny paper
Christ - The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is the reason for celebrating Christmas
Holly – a dark green bush with sharp pointed leaves and red berries often used for decorations
Mince Pie – a sweet pie eaten at Christmas
Tinsel - strings of shiny, glittering tassels that are used as decoration
Carols – songs sung to celebrate the season
Turkey – a large bird, killed and cooked for lunch – normally very dry

For anyone coming to visit the land of Christmas, these simple words would be very helpful. Phrases like “Merry Christmas” and even ‘Happy New Year” would be frequently heard, or a ‘Christmasese’ translation at least. A large, portly gentleman would be seen wearing red, and cheerfully shouting, “Ho Ho Ho” and calling out these strange words: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, and unmistakably Rudolph, but of course, we all know they are the names of his reindeer and you only ever hear them spoken about at this time of year, but if you couldn’t speak ‘Christmasese’ you would not have a clue!

Christmas would not be Christmas is if you had no idea what was going on, and if people spoke in a language you didn’t understand, you would feel like an outsider. The meaning of Christmas might just get a little lost, but thankfully, one does not have to learn a language to enjoy Christmas. Christmas is a universal language, understood by everyone, and whether Christmas is celebrated in Spain, China, Vietnam or Poland, while traditions may change, the language that is quintessentially Christmas doesn’t.

The language of Christmas is a language of love, happiness and hope, it can be translated into any spoken language you choose, but the feeling, the sentiment, and the meaning is the same wherever you find yourself. Christmas is a time where one language is spoken. The barriers of language that we know exist, can fall away when a welcoming smile, a handshake and a hug speak more than words themselves, as Christmas comes from the heart and is easily shared.

Celebrate Christmas this year, and as you do, think of your loved ones, and then think of people all over the world who are celebrating the same but saying any one of the following…

عيد ميلاد مجيد Joyeux Noël!, Frohe Weihnachten!, 圣诞快乐, Καλά Χριστούγεννα!, メリークリスマス, ¡Feliz Navidad!, Selamat Hari Natal!, สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาส, C рождеством! 메리 크리스마스 and Buon Natale!

You don’t have to go and visit 'Christmas' and no matter what language you speak, the sentiment is the same, and we wish you a Merry Christmas.

“Merry Christmas” from VLLC

Top destinations for travel experiences

9/12/2021

In the last three or four decades, the world has shrunk. As aircraft have improved, so travel has become easier and then with the introduction of low cost or budget airlines, so the cost of air travel has dropped. Furthermore, thanks to the internet travel has become easier, new destinations are easier to suss out, and ways to book experiences have just become simpler at the click of a button.

So where are the Top destinations for travel experiences? It could be said that everyone has their own idea of a great place to travel and explore and this is true. So, to get to the bottom of the Top destinations for travel experiences who better to look at than TripAdvisor. With TripAdvisor places and experiences are ranked and rated by real people thus the destinations that make their top places lists should be pretty good and interesting.

Here are the top 5 destinations for travel experiences:

Costa Rica ranks at the top of the current list and with its La Fortuna de Sam Carlos region offering unusual experiences such as Volcano Hikes and Sloth Seeing it is no surprise why. For the more adventurous traveller, Costa Rica has so much to offer. But imagine just how much more of this fascinating country you could explore if you spoke Spanish?

When it comes to the top US travel experiences, it will come as no surprise that Hawaii sneaks in at the top. To be precise Kauai is the top destination. The all year-round good weather certainly plays a part in this part of the world getting such a high ranking. Of course, there are some bucket items in the region such as surfing and yet again exploring some volcanoes. Thankfully, English is the spoken language in Kauai, so no further languages are needed unless you do not speak English.

The Nordic region is always a top destination for all travellers. Norway may lack the sunshine of Costa Rica and Hawaii, but it makes up for it some other interesting things. Tromso is the top destination in Norway according to Trip Advisor and having a grasp of Norwegian may well come in handy. Tromso tops the list because of experiences such as feeding reindeer and of course the amazing night-time views of the Aurora Borealis.

New Zealand used to be far off the beaten track in terms of distance but today is an easily accessible country. Rotorua in New Zealand has come top of the charts for great places to visit because, again, is has some awesome experiences. With white water rafting and jet boat rides through the Tatukua Gorge it is very much a place for those who like a bit of adrenaline flowing through their veins.

At number five on this list of Top destinations for travel experiences is Puerto Vallarta in Mexico. Mexico is another country that will open up dramatically if you speak Spanish but even if you don’t Puerto Vallarta has plenty of enjoyment for everyone. From an ATV adventure in the Sierra Madre to Tequila tasting after a zip-lining day out you are pretty much covered when it comes to having fun.

But these are not the only places you can visit. The world today is your oyster, and if you want to take home a few pearls, learning a language opens things up beyond your wildest expectations.

Language Tourism

5/10/2021

Many of us are currently making the most of COVID and the lack of travel and are getting ready when we can travel abroad again. The thought of not being able to talk and even ask for the simplest thing is always a frustrating and unhappy event. When travelling to a foreign country the inability to communicate, even in the simplest form can be frustrating and unhappy event. When tourists have had such experiences because of a lack of the local language, even though their overall tourism experience was great, the first thing they are going to report back home is the unpleasant fact of being unable to communicate. Some try to overcome this by a reliance technology as a substitute for learning the language. Even if folks do not like talking to a machine, although it may help for the moment, this dependency can easily disappoint due to a lack of supporting WIFI or app, leaving you unable to get what is needed!

Two of the most spoken languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. This is the reason they are the most popular to learn. There is a growing realisation that it pays to match certain career skills with a language. Although it takes a lifetime to acquire mastery in engineering, accounting or say marketing It takes a lifetime to become a master’s in engineering, Accounting or even Marketing it takes so little time to learn a language. Most skills in any endeavour are improved by the valuable addition of a language, especially Mandarin or Spanish.

At VLLC we find that students learn languages for many reasons, the main being:

Professional development: foreign languages give individuals a competitive advantage in today's global environment;
Employability: The individual becomes more employable if in possession of a foreign language and enables you to work elsewhere in the world, as well as work in international companies in this country which have a global presence.
Bridging cultures: The addition a foreign language in your repertoire opens the culture of the target country. The process becomes a tool to bridge gaps between cultures as well as of use in travel, negotiating trade deals etc.