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Have you ever thought of studying overseas?

26/11/2019

Some of our students in the past have learnt a language with VLLC purely to have adequate language skills to be able to study in an overseas university. Here is a selection of information on some of the language requirements for studying abroad.

There are obviously different language requirements for different overseas universities and institutions but there is a basic framework, the Common European Framework (CEFR), which divides learners into six different levels:
A Basic Speaker

A1 Breakthrough or beginner
A2 Waystage or elementary

B Independent Speaker

B1 Threshold or intermediate
B2 Vantage or upper intermediate

C Proficient Speaker

C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced
C2 Mastery or proficiency

For each level, there is a description of what the learner has to be able to do in reading and writing, and speaking and listening. Those descriptions apply to any language. Usually, the expected level for study programmes in most world countries is around B. However, certain universities or programmes might require a higher level than that.

There are many first class education opportunities in Germany, especially in the fields of engineering and music. One of our previous students at VLLC wanted to study music in the heart of the classical music world, Germany and needed to learn German to make this possible. He was accepted into the Detmold Hochschule für Musik, where the audition process and interviews were conducted only in German.

In Germany there are certain language requirements that you must have prior to acceptance. They measure this level through a standardised test called the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH). This test includes listening and reading comprehension, writing, an oral exam and comprehension and use of science and language related to study. The examination result is expressed in three levels, DSH 1, DSH 2 and DSH 3 which equals approximately the CEFR levels B2 C2. For most programmes, DSH 2 is required. It is very important to know that both the written and the oral part of the examination have to be passed with at least the level you would like to achieve. DSH 3 in the written and DSH 1 in the oral part results just in a total level of DSH 1 for example!

An alternative to the DHS is the TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache). This is more widely standardised and can be taken prior to arriving in Germany. It contains 4 parts which are speaking, academic writing and reading and listening comprehension. The spoken part is recorded and then assessed and related into levels, TDN3, TDN4 and TDN5 which are similar to the DSH levels. To let you know how that compares to universities' entrance levels, if you received at least a TDN4 in all the areas of speaking, academic writing and reading and listening comprehension, you would be qualified to study at all German universities.

To be able to study in each country there is a different test. In France there is the Diplôme dEtudes en langue française (DELF) and the Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF). In Spain there is the Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) which is an official qualification and recognised by the Ministry of Education in Spain and the Certificado de Español: Lengua y Uso (CELU) which is another internationally recognised proficiency test of Spanish.

If this is a direction you are interested in taking, to broaden your educational horizon and help you to live the dream of working in a foreign country, contact VLLC to start your language journey today.

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Doing business in Spain: simple things matter

12/11/2019

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Spain has a population of 47 million and is a popular trading partner for many other countries around the world. Just like every country, Spain has its quirks, must do’s and must not do’s concerning business. To get a foothold in Spain, nurture it and then succeed, is perhaps easier than one thinks, speaking Spanish helps a lot too, and these few tips may take your business dealing from Bueno to Muy Bien.

A Few Things About Business: A Spanish person is more likely to do business with you if there is chemistry between you. You should present yourself as dignified, respectful with just a hint of modesty. The Spanish do have a good sense of humour and if you keep things tame and gentle the odd joke will make things easier.

Don’t stress too much about an agenda not being followed. For the Spanish, an agenda is more a set of guidelines than a road map, and the order you have things in may not go with the flow your counterpart prefers. Be prepared to discuss more than one touch point at a time, this is not designed to trip you up but is just the Spanish way of doing things.

There is a myth about Spain being a little sleepy and siesta time has become a part of perceived Spanish culture. Contrary to popular belief, Spain does not shut down for the afternoon. At the peak of summer lunch breaks may be extended or the pace of work may slow a little with employees working until around 8 pm because it is simply cooler. When doing business in Spain don’t expect your working day to end at lunchtime; the Spaniards like to work as hard as anyone else and get the job done.

Conversations, Meetings and Meals: The Spanish take great pride in their culture, traditions and history and be prepared to hear a little bit of this even in business conversation. Spaniards are relatively conservative and don’t take kindly to bragging and boasting. Be who you are and just relax, the very fact you are meeting means they have done their homework and are interested in doing business with you.

While the myth about siesta time may well have faded in modern business there is still a hint of a laid back attitude in doing business in Spain. This is evident in timekeeping and it is not uncommon for a business meeting to start 15 or up to 30 minutes late. The Spanish work hard but they also set a slower pace to get more done, more effectively.

Eating is a social activity in Spain and while business can be done over lunch or even Tapas, meals with your Spanish counterpart should be seen as times to strengthen the relationship and get to know more about the people you are doing business with, not just the company.

Finally, a little tip for the beer drinkers, do not simply ask for Cerveza (Beer) but rather ask for a Cana or Tubo to avoid being given a large or even overpriced beer. But then again, if you spoke Spanish you would perhaps know this already.

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Doing business in Spanish...

5/11/2019

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Spanish is a widely spoken language worldwide and Spain of course is no exception. Yes, there is a generation that now speaks English as much and as well as they do Spanish, but this fact does not mean Spanish is not essential when doing business in Spain. It is perhaps because of the fact that a younger generation speaks English that to get business done in Spain the Spanish language is more important, with conversing with senior or older management, in fact speaking Spanish is a sign of respect.

There is also another reason why speaking Spanish for business in Spain is important, and it all has to do with relationships. Business relationships in Spain are not made electronically or on the phone, business relationships are made face to face, and more importantly, outside the work environment. For this to work it is clear that speaking Spanish is an advantage and opens up the door to successful business.

Culture plays a big part in business in Spain, and speaking the language allows for this to be understood. Discussing contracts with your Spanish counterpart in Spanish allows culture to be embraced and also makes room for the finer details of any negotiations to be better understood. Spaniards are very proud of their products and are always more cautious when exploring products or services from outside Spanish borders. Speaking Spanish eases the tension and allows for confidence in you, the person, your company, and your products or services to be developed and absorbed.

Business meetings tend to be fairly formal in Spain, and the personal relationship built up over time, externally to any meeting, is very much respected. Knowing how to pronounce a person’s name is very important as the heritage of the family name is something most Spaniards are proud of and hold dear. There are informal and formal terms used in the Spanish language and knowing these will influence the direction of any business meeting. It is recommended that at first meetings, the formal tenses and greetings are used until such point as first names and less formal language is used by the host.

Doing business in Spain, in Spanish, makes business easier. One needs to understand that business meetings very often discuss decisions that have already been made and opinions are not often discussed, so despite speaking Spanish, your opinion, no matter how eloquently presented, may mean very little or nothing. The use of the Spanish language when doing business in Spain is much more about building up a relationship. The Spanish are people who are very much about appearance perception rather than actualities, and the strength of the business relationship relies very much on the personal relationship.

Speaking and understanding Spanish makes comprehending contracts a great deal easier, and the language once spoken, can lead to long and satisfying relationships, both professionally and personally, as in Spain the two go hand in hand.

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Have you ever thought of studying overseas?

Doing business in Spain: simple things matter

Doing business in Spanish...

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