Although I am a native Dutch speaker and have lived in the UK for many years, I still have the occasional embarrassing steenkolenengels (literally coal English) moment. Also called Dunglish: the popular term to describe the mistakes made by some native Dutch speakers when speaking English. The Dutch term steenkolenengels goes back to the early
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I am an Upper Sixth Form student studying French, German and Italian. I love learning foreign languages and hope to pursue this passion at university. Not only are modern language skills highly desirable in the eyes of employers, but they also enable you to gain a better understanding of the world in general, through learning
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To quote Robin Williams’ brilliant character John Keating in Dead Poets Society, “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race […] poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” Besides being what keeps us going as a species,
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When it comes to communicating with each other, grammar plays a role of the utmost importance; without grammar, we would be unable to construct intelligible sentences. However, as an active part of any language, grammar is bound to evolve with time, and not everyone experiences this change in the same way. Find out if you
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With summer only one month away and the sun making a comeback in Cornwall, it’s difficult not to feel the call of the sea. This is why Anja is taking Team AJT on an exciting surf lesson today. So let’s celebrate the beauty of the Newquay seaside with idioms from across the sea. It will
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The majority of people nowadays speak a second language. After all, it is quite a useful talent in our globalised world where you are more and more likely to meet speakers of a foreign language. You may be required to become bilingual either because of your job or because you are moving to another country.
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The main rule of French cuisine is that everything tastes better when smothered in butter, absolutely everything! Do you know why the French (and myself included of course), actually eat escargots? This chewy piece of rubber merely serves as an excuse to fancily sip on tiny cups full of buttery extravagance. So, if butter can actually
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As a translation agency we don’t only specialise in translating one language into another. We also love cultural diversity! And we believe that it’s sometimes the little and quirky, and sometimes the truly vast cultural differences, that make a trip abroad all the more worthwhile and build our fondest, or at least funniest, memories. Like
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Are you a language lover looking to break into the translation industry and wondering whether you need a degree under your belt? Not sure which subject will give you the right skill set for your career? As a current student of translation studies at Heidelberg University in Germany I have gained some first-hand experience of
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“Mayday mayday, we are sinking, we are sinking!” “Hello, zis is ze German coastguard. Vat are you sinking about?” With this little commercial from a German language school (see clip above) we introduced ourselves to about 150 students at the Fowey River Academy last Friday. The motto of the day was “Languages at Work” and
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