Today we have the chance to speak to Rajul Chande founder of Get Fluent Fast, a practical publication for accelerating the learning of languages.

Why did you decide to write a booklet on Language Learning?

Mainly, I just wanted to get motivated to tackle a new language (German) which I found a bit daunting.  I’m short of time and wanted to be efficient, so did some research on learning methods and memory techniques.  It all got a little out of control and I ended up creating a website at www.getfluentfast.com!

So where do you get your inspiration for so many Language Learning Tips?

It comes mostly from friends and colleagues.  Having lived and travelled in different countries I’ve always met multilingual people.  I’ve tried to observe and learn from them.  Most are far more “natural” than me at languages, so I need to keep dreaming up new tips and short-cuts to keep up with them.

What is your favourite tip for language learners?

My favourite tip is simply “have a go”.  There’s no need to be self-conscious.  The people who learn fastest show no fear at all.  Another favourite is “chisel away a little each day”.

As founder of Get Fluent Fast, what has been the most fulfilling moment for you?

It’s when someone tells me they found a tip on the website or in the booklet that helped them overcome their irrational fear of a language (like me with German!)

And dare we say, what’s the worst bit about running your own language company?

There isn’t a worst bit as far as I can make out.  I do it purely as a fun hobby.

What languages do you speak?

I’m confident in Spanish because I work with Spanish colleagues.  My French is sound though a little rusty in speaking, my Italian rustier still.  My German is like a toddler taking his first tentative steps…likely to fall over at any moment!  I am nurturing my languages like “children”, all at differing stages of development.

Why do you think that so many Brits don’t speak a foreign language?

In the UK, 38% of people claim to speak a second language.  Within the EU it’s 56% and in countries like Sweden and Holland I’m sure it’s higher still.  I think it comes down to the lazy expectation we have that “everyone else speaks English”.  There’s also a lack of emphasis at school.  It really bothers me that languages continue to lose sway on the national curriculum.  James, you need to start a campaign!

Apart from everyone buying a copy of Get Fluent Fast, what can be done to encourage more people to take up languages?

People need role models, preferably someone they know well enough to say “if he/she can do it, so can I”.  It’s about the motivation to start.  My friend Adam at University (a scientist who previously disliked languages) went from zero to hero in French because of a girl he met on holiday (now his wife!).

What do you think is the most fulfilling thing about learning a language?

For me it’s about connecting with people.  Nothing beats the thrill of “clicking” with someone in their own language.  The Answer English conversation events are the perfect opportunity to experience this.  Also when you travel, knowing the local language multiplies your enjoyment tenfold.  For me, you pack at least a few good expressions for the trip as you would your toothbrush.  It’s a necessity, not a luxury.

Where do you intend to go with Get Fluent Fast?

By posting daily tips at www.getfluentfast.com I want people to take control of their own learning, not rely on others.  It’s always in your own hands.  Learning languages is one of life’s most stimulating and enjoyable challenges.

Thanks Rajul for taking the time to speak to us.

In our series of top London sites, this week JiaJun visits the National Gallery.

“Here you are, National Gallery” I have been waiting for this moment for a long time and finally, I can see your real face! Painting is a kind of art and can also be a form of entertainment if you really like it! Today is a good time to experience the real western style of painting! Let’s enjoy it together!

The National Gallery, which was founded in London in 1824, holds the British national collection of art. The entrance fee has remained free until today! Most of the collections are Western European paintings dating from 1250 onwards.

My first impression was the building – magnificent: old style, but not in a way that make you feel old. In front of the National Gallery is Trafalgar Square which is another beautiful view to add to your sightseeings! It is a wonderful place to relax after a whole week’s intense working or studying, isn’t it?

I started from room 2 -14 which holds the paintings dating from 1500 to 1600. The Virgin of the Rocks painted by Leonardo da Vinci, The Ambassadors painted by Holbein, The Entombment painted by Michelangelo, The Madonna of the Pinks by Raphael, and The Adoration of the Kings by Gossaert are all the paintings from this period. Although magnificent, these paintings were difficult to appreciate for a student like me because I don’t have enough knowledge about paintings! So, I went to room 15 – 37, and in this room, each painting has a story behind it which is very attractive to people who are interested in ancient lives! There is one painting which I would like to talk about here is Mr and Mrs Andrews painted by Gainsborough. Mr and Mrs Andrews sit under a tree and they are looking at somewhere very quietly! The cloudy weather set against the beautiful landscape, created this famous painting!

One picture which I like a lot is the Sunflowers painted by a very famous Dutch painter – Van Gogh. It is not a normal sunflower like in real life; in this painting, there are many sunflowers with only the upper part of them placed in a flower bottle. I will say that it is for decorating the environment!

Rooms 33 – 39 are the rooms that hold the paintings dating from 1700 – 1900. These are the most recent paintings collected by the National Gallery and they are also the ones that are probably most appreciated by normal people like you and me! Some examples I recommend you to have a look are Madame de Pompadour by Drouais, The Stonemason’s Yard by Canaletto, The Fighting Temeraire, and Whistlejacket by Stubbs.

The opening hours are 10am to 5pm everyday, on Wednesday, it opens until 10pm. If you want more info, please visit the National Gallery website.  If you are looking for an English course in London that takes you to the National Gallery check out English Language Cultural Experience course.

Fast-expanding Spanish property development company Raminova, have been in touch with Answer English.  They are looking to recruit a bilingual Administrator to work in their Central London Office.  To be eligible for this role you must have a good command of both Spanish and English.  Based in Covent Garden your duties would include answering the phone to client enquiries, liaising with the sister Spanish office, organising visits and secretarial work. 

Raminova has a a small office so would suit someone who is professional, self-motivated and reliable.  Full-time role available but hours can be made flexible to suit the right candidate.  Please check out their website for more information on the company: Raminova.  If you are interested in applying please send your CV and covering letter to me: james@answerenglish.com and I will forward it on to the Managing Director.  Best of luck.

Yesterday at 12:00 Answer English drew the names out of the hat for our La Dolce Prize Draw.  Up for grabs were 10 tickets to this weekends La Dolce Vita exhibition in Olympia.  Congratulations go to the following winners: Marco Giacomelli, Giulio Scala, Lucy Pearse, Lucy Scala, Maria Payne, James Edmondson, Jen Green, Julia O’Brian, Sofia & Massimo.

Answer English was planning on going to La Dolce Vita this Sunday, 11th March.  The idea was to meet in the entrance hall at 12:30 and go in as a group.  So if you are a lucky winner or were planning on going to La Dolce Vita anyway and want to join up with us, please e-mail James: james@answerenglish.com or call the offices on 020 7402 8651.

For more information go the Officiail Exhitibion website: La Dolce Vita

Hi, nice to meet you all in the year of pig 2007!

Who’s this Monkey? It’s me, Chengyi – a very clever and lovely monkey from China! I am a brand new member of Answer English. Originally from Guangzhou (a modern city in Southern China), born in the year of monkey, I started to teach Mandarin Chinese in London in 2005 after I achieved MSc in Education in Cardiff.

I met James in a language show in west London. Fascinated by his idea of language exchange activities, I joined Answer English to launch the Chinese-English evening. Now the new event is just around the corner! Our first Chinese-English night, which must be as exciting as other successful language events, is coming on 13th March in Chinatown. If you are a Chinese fan or English fan, come to the night to practise languages, make friends and enjoy a glass of wine.

Warning: you shouldn’t pay any peanuts at the night as Monkey is absolutely allergic to them!

See you soon!

Chatosferabella – a slightly ununsual word.  Taken from 3, chat - talk, sfera – globe and bella – beautiful, this is the name of a company I’ve recently been in touch with about working together.  Based in Kehl, and run by Camilla Ponti & David Johnson, they, amongst a whole range of linguistic and cultural services organise what they call ‘tables’.  Not a million miles away from what we do with our Language Learning Experience nights, these tables are opportunities to bring language students together with native speakers.

The have a ‘table’ (pronounced tah-ble like you might say it on the continent, as oppose to the thing you might have in your dining room) in London this Friday: 9 March.  Run by Stefania and Katya, this takes place every 2nd Friday between 19:30 and 22:00.  They have chosen a fantastic backdrop for this event, Café 2 of the Tate Modern on Southbank.  The idea is that at each table a different language is spoken: French, Italian, German, Spanish, and so on.  At least one
Native Speaker is present per language to shape conversation and hopefully lead to an interesting inter-cultural exchange. We were hoping to go but are now set to be appearing on Trevor McDonald’s new TV show that night, so are planning on going to the next one.  Interested in going? Contact Chatosferabella

Chatosferabella offers anything from Translations to Online Language Training, Linguisitic Cultural Travel advice to Web Design & Management.  If you are interested in hearing more check out their website: Chatosferabella

Today we talk to Neil Harris from Excel English. Neil is the Business Development Manager and LLP Course Coordinator there and was fundamental in organising the event at the British Council in January.

So Neil, thanks for agreeing to talk to our students about your School and Teacher Training courses. How long have you been working as a teacher trainer?

I first started back in 1994 when I helped set up a two-week course for the Belgian Ministry of Education in the north of England. Since then I’ve been involved in teacher refresher courses in the UK, I’ve run INSET sessions for teachers linked to English in the North and I have also run Cert TESOL courses.

And you’ve been involved with Grundtvig and Comenius funding on a national level, haven’t you?

That’s right. I was involved in writing, delivering and marketing a range of courses for project leaders and participants of Comenius and Grundtvig networks and projects. As a result I was asked to represent the UK as a course provider at the Grundtvig 3 biennial conference in Paphos in 2005. The trip was great fun although hard work and to be chosen to represent UK course providers was obviously a great honour.

How do you find it compares to say working as a student teacher?

In many ways the basic skills are the same – being able to gauge the needs and wants of a group and delivering them. Clearly you gain in confidence and you become much more versatile as you gain in experience but the rush of delivering a good session never decreases.

What does the Excel English Teacher Training course consist of?

We’ve taken the classic teacher refresher course, combining language development and methodology input and tried to give it added value. So besides lots of work on increasing teachers’ confidence and versatility in the classroom, we also look at what the funding bodies (the National Agencies) want in return. Teachers are expected to share what they have covered on our course with their colleagues when they get back home (the so-called dissemination and valorisation activities) and this can be quite stressful. We basically look at ways we can help teachers to do this in a meaningful and practical way. And of course, because we are the only London-based provider of teacher refresher courses in the LLP (Lifelong Learning Programme) database, we make sure our teachers really make the most of their time in London itself.

I imagine you’ve learnt lots from the teachers that attend the course as well?

Absolutely. Where to begin? Well, besides the many classroom activities which have been shared in the training room (and this is essential in my view for a successful course – after all we are all teachers together), I have learnt so much about being with people. A poignant memory from the very first course I ever worked on is talking to a Hungarian lady whose grandfather had been executed in prison as a political dissident when she was a child. His last wish was to see his granddaughter, the teacher I was working with. His last words to her were “You are my country’s future, guard it carefully”. I learnt more from her about dignity and self-esteem than I could every have taught her about language teaching.

What is the best bit about being a teacher trainer?

Seeing teachers grow in confidence and be willing to take risks. Leaving a training session knowing that whatever has been learnt came as a result of collaboration between a group of teachers and being able to facilitate that process.

And dare we say the worst?

Allowing myself to slip into the role of so-called expert, a role which some (fortunately not many) teachers want their trainer to assume. When this happens, sharing stops and it all becomes rather one-way. Not good!

What happens on a typical day on the Excel English Teacher Experience course?

I’m not sure that there is a typical day, as such, but if there were, it would include some language development work and an input session chosen by the group of teachers we are working with. Hopefully, and most importantly, there will be lots of laughter as well.

Tell us a little bit about the school?

Excel English is a little bit of countryside in London, hence why we call it the city school with country style. We are based in Muswell Hill in North London and we are able to offer teachers a range of accommodation types (homestays and self-catering residence) closer to the school than is the norm for London schools. We are accredited by the British Council, a member of Quality English and the only London-based provider of teacher refresher courses in the LLP database.

And can you tell us a bit about the local area?

I used to live in Scarborough on the beautiful north-east coast and people told me I was mad to move back to London. I show them photos of Muswell Hill and they can’t believe it’s London, it seems much too green and open to be in the capital. Tell them that it’s just 25 minutes into the heart of the West End of London and they turn green with envy!

It’s not all study study study, do you organise social events?

We most certainly do organise social and cultural activities and that’s why we have called the course the English Teacher Experience. We want our teachers to experience not only the best possible training but to make the most of being in London. We organise London walks and museum visits for the culture vultures, trips to the local pub (teacher love the idea of a drink in a former church!) and a choice of optional excursions every weekend. It really is a complete experience.

There are so many English schools out there, Why do you believe Excel English a great place to study?

Our British Council accreditation and our membership of Quality English serve as proof of our high standards as does our expertise in offering teacher training for many years. More than that, the location is a real plus and for many our size is ideal – no more than 140 students (of whom 15-30 will be teachers on refresher courses) at the school in the summer means a very friendly, family-like atmosphere. And don’t forget, we offer great value for money too.

Any advice for applying for courses at your school?

My three top tips would be:
1. Read the course description in the LLP database carefully http://ec.europa.eu/education/trainingdatabase/index.cfm?fuseaction=DisplayCourse&cid=3905 so you know exactly what to expect so and can relate this to your needs as a teacher when applying for funding.
2. Give yourself at least a month before the application deadline to make sure all your paperwork is in order.
3. Think about how attending the course will relate to the European dimension of your teaching and be able to demonstrate this in your funding application.

And any tips you could give our readers about language learning in general?

Now that’s the subject of an entire teacher training course in itself! If you mean language learning in the host country (in this case, England), I guess it would be to think about how it differs from studying at home. Think of everything you do as a language learning experience. This means, for example, reading and listening to anything and everything, but critically. Ask yourself if the language used by a native speaker is the kind of language you would have used in the same situation – if not, what’s the difference? I love the concept of learners as language archaeologists, excavating structures and lexis and trying to work out what they mean and how they work.

Thank you Neil for you fascinating insight into Teacher Training. If you are interested in studying at Excel English, for more information check out the School and their Teacher Training courses.

Bullfighting, Sevillana dancing, El Dorado TV series, Paella, Julio Iglesias, Package Holidays the Spanish have made an indelible print on British Culture. But there is so much more to discover than just red rags and Torremolinos. And now you have the chance without catching that easyJet cheap flight to Magaluf, as the best of Spain is coming to Olympia with the Viva Espana exhibition.

Highlights include the very best of flamenco dancing, live music, and Spanish gastronomic treats from celebrity chefs Simon Shaw of El Gato Negro and Luis Vallina from L-Restaurant. If that wasn’t enough Brendan Cole will be joining the judges panel at the first Strictly Spanish Dancing exhibition, brush up on your Spanish at a language session, and check out properties to be bought across the Iberian Peninsular.

Answer English has been kindly given 10 tickets to Give Away by Blendon Communications. These tickets are each worth £12. So if you are interested in entering our Prize Draw send you name, telephone and address to James: james@answerenglish.com for a chance to win!

Viva Espana is at Olympia and runs between the 16th and 18th March. We will almost certainly be going down on the 18th, so if you are interested in joining us, make sure to give us a call: Contact Us

Hablas espanyol? Thanks to all those that came down to our 5th Spanish night. It was great to see that both we have a hardcore that seem to come every time – you know who you are – plus a load of new faces. Special Thanks must go to Soledad from Languages at Lunch who encouraged a number of her students to come down despite many of them only beginning Spanish a few weeks ago!

Congratulations go to the prize winners Laura from Spain who took the Collins dictionary and Dee who won the Language CD set from Gazelle. Thank you to all of those that continue to support Answer English and contribute to our goody bags: Don Quijote, Malvern House, Spanish Express, the Instituto Cervantes, Gazelle Publications and Hot English Magazine.

The photos are now up on the site: Past Events. The next Spanish night will be on Tuesday 20 March, if you are interested in going, send an e-mail to James: info@answerenglish.com or call us on 020 7402 8651 to reserve your place. We are trying to grow these nights so Londoners especially if you are interested in practising Spanish in a fun and relaxed environment - please get in touch!