Two Languages, One Brain.

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Euro London

Learning a new language can be an extremely long process in order to become fluent – even if you are a native speaker. From the day we were born we are on a mission to speak, the curiosity of language to a child is clear to see as they strenuously try to communicate with us via babbles and gurgles. It’s a fascinating memory when a child says their first word, but even more fascinating when they can speak two languages. Some people accomplish learning languages two or three times over making them bilingual, trilingual or more. In fact it’s incredible the way any brain can function between two languages – so how is it actually done?

Scientists are only beginning to look closer at the mind of a polyglot in order to understand learning influences, behaviour and the brain structure itself when a second, third or fourth language is acquired.

Humans have been known to be simple linguists even inside the womb, before birth. This is because brain mechanisms are fully developed from 30 weeks onwards and therefore are able to hear what their mothers say and absorb elements of the language. Elisabeth Cros, a speech therapist with the Ecole Internationale de New York states that “Before 9 months of age, a baby produces a babble made up of hundreds of phonemes from hundreds of languages.” [1]

Learning two languages whilst a child is young is generally easier as they aren’t fully aware of what they are doing. But how do we choose which language to speak in, with more than one language to choose how does our brain function and not constantly mix between languages? The truth behind this is that the brain, regardless of age, does in fact get confused when juggling more than one language. Ellen Bialystok of Toronto’s York University calls it the dog-chien dilemma. [2] This is when a person who speaks two or more languages toggles between two words in order to describe something.

However there have been numerous studies which identity the benefits of knowing more than one language within education, work and even health. For example studies conducted on both monolinguals and bilinguals showed different results when it came to cognitive decisions. Even though both groups performed tasks accurately it was clear to see that bilinguals performed faster as well as more metabolically economical in executing the cognitive mission, using less energy in the frontal cortex than the monolinguals.

The brain is the most complex organ of our bodies with its function to control the other organs of the body, a vital organ that without it we would cease to exist. As previous studies have proved knowing a second language keeps the brain sharper later on in life. [3] Preliminary imaging work suggests that language behaviour can be visible in the brain. Some studies, for example, have shown a thickening of the cortex in two brain regions but most importantly the left inferior parietal. This part of the brain helps code language and gesturing.

Bialystok has also found differences for bilinguals which suggests denser signalling and complexity of functions due to fatty sheathing that insulates nerves and improves ability to communicate – this may account for the decision making when choosing between which language to use during communication.

Do you face any challenges in communication because you speak more than one language?

[1] [2[http://healthland.time.com/2013/04/23/bilingualism/
[3] http://www.eurolondon.com/blog/en/keeping-your-brain-in-shape/

Could Simplified Communication Lead To Language Extinction?

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Euro London

Is the art of learning languages soon to be a thing of the past? Over years linguists have tried a number of different ways to simplify communication between cultures; this is usually done via the pictograph (signs and symbols).

Pictographs originate from the Ancient Sumerian, Egyptian and Chinese. These early pictographs were ideograms which essentially conveyed meaning via symbols. Pictographs are often used in writing and graphic systems in which the characters are to a considerable extent pictorial in appearance.

Today pictographs are used in similar ways throughout the world in order to communicate at ease between different countries that do not speak the same language. For example ‘emergency exit’ signs, the sign with the little man throwing something in a bin or ‘hazard’ signs – anyone who sees this no matter what language they speak automatically understand the meaning of it. Signs and symbols will only increase as time goes on, but will this leave the population of the world not learning languages?

In many parts of the world pictographs are used on a daily basis at public toilets, airports, around cities and towns when it comes to directions and even now on mobile games such as Angry Birds which is navigated by arrows and not language. Linguists are predicting that as communication becomes more digital and visual, the future of language as the use of symbols and signs are on the increase. What will happen to the use of language leaning if language barriers can be reduced in day to day situations?

There are both advantages and disadvantages of pictographs. A significant advantage is that it can communicate to a large audience of a number of languages and still convey meaning. On the other hand, the disadvantage is they can unfortunately only convey a minuscule amount of information.

Undeniably pictographs make travel significantly easier; helping visitors navigate with ease around the country to see landmarks and sites. But in reality although signs and symbols allow some form of ease within communication, it doesn’t actually assist in human interaction. But general human interaction still counts for a lot for a significant amount of the population. Foreign languages are seen as a successful career tool, particularly with the growing demand for multilingual skills within businesses.

Nevertheless could it be argued that despite the growing need for multilingual skills within businesses, laziness could take over language learning? What do you think? Share your thoughts with us.

Verbal Vs. Sign Language

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Euro London

Language, whether spoken in French, English German or even Tagalog is an amazing cognitive ability in which we (as humans) understand, learn and produce. One of the more amazing discoveries is that even with over 3,000 spoken languages in the world today dozens of similarities in characteristics between each and every language. Language can be defined as a systematic way to convey meaning using symbols and sounds.

Speech is the dominant means of linguistic communication – many people have come to think that language and speech are the same thing due to their similarities. However, Sign Language definitely suggests otherwise. So, why is this? Well, those that belong to Deaf communities create language using manual gestures, but at the same time in doing so their language shares the same design and mechanisms that spoken languages possess.

Research into sign language and verbal language was conducted by Professor Iris Berent at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts to discover the flexibility of the human language. A paper written by Professor Berenet and her team provide evidence that English speakers can easily learn and recognise key structures of American Sign language, even though there have been no previous exposure or familiarity with this language. [1]

American Sign Language is the predominant sign language that is used within the deaf communities in both the United States and also the English speaking areas of Canada. [2] ASL also meets all of the criteria that a language should have, this includes generativity and syntax. Scans of the brain have been taken by researchers; this imaging scan demonstrates that the same areas of the brain that are activated in people who hear spoken language are also activated in deaf individuals when they use sign language.

Surprisingly to many, sign language and spoken language share a number of similar characteristics. Further to the brain activity spoken and sign language both construct words via syllables which are ‘meaningless.’ A research group decided to examine whether or not non signers would be able to discover the structure. The results suggested that participants extended their linguistic knowledge from spoken language to sign language. This finding is significant because it shows that linguistic principles are abstract, and they can apply to both speech and sign.

Can you communicate via sign language, if so what other similarities can you tell us about with regards to verbal language?

[1]http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130403200208.htm
[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Sign_Language

How To Get Ahead In The Global Market

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Euro London

So, how do you get ahead in the global market? In one word – languages. The world is becoming smaller (hypothetically speaking of course) therefore it is becoming increasingly costly, in a number of ways, to remain monolingual. Learning languages is now vastly becoming an obligation in today’s business markets.

It is thought that those who grow up learning multiple languages have a distinct advantage over only English speakers. This follows the census that shows 22.1 per cent of Londoners (roughly 1.7 million) have another language besides English as their main language. London is increasingly a city of polyglots, where some households speak more than three languages. There has also been a large shift on focus in the last few years on getting England to become a more multilingual country. This focus has been on schools in particular as learning a foreign language has not been compulsory in British schools since 2004 but the Government is consulting on reinstating them from primary age.

So just how much can learning a foreign language assist you in overcoming the challenges we face today?

- Languages allow you to expand your view of the world which encourages reflection on the relationship between language and culture. This is something that can be crucial in a global business market.

- Further to this, language also allows you to develop your intellect, memory, and learning habits.

- Knowing and understanding a different language can expose you to modes of thought and viewpoints that are available only in the foreign language and its culture.

- Language can teach and encourage respect for other ethnic groups.

- Not only this but they can contribute to the achievement of national goals, such as economic development or national security

All of the above can all be advantageous in the global markets and they are all beneficial due to languages.

Dr Sharma senior lecturer in linguistics at Queen Mary, University of London said: “Multilingualism is excellent for job prospects. These London kids who are bilingually proficient could find a great advantage the more Britain looks to these regions for business partnerships. At the moment the situation is quite dire in Britain in terms of foreign language learning.” So what is the delay in language learning? Help your future or the younger generations future and encourage language learning today! [1]

[1] http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/multilingual-children-are-best-equipped-for-global-jobs-market-8529012.html

Are Birds The Reason We Speak?

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Euro London

Have you ever questioned where language derived from? Some believe it originated from the Twenty-sixth dynasty in Egypt whereas others, rather comically, referenced cavemen in their answers. However, could a rather unlikely thought be true – that birdsong was the actual origin which language derived from?

In the 19^th century, Charles Darwin wondered what the similarities between birdsong and human speech were as he observed their similarities in pattern. In his studying he believed that ‘The sounds uttered by birds offer in several respects the nearest analogy to language.’ [1] Researchers from MIT and scholars from the University of Tokyo, strongly believe that Darwin was on the right path in his speculations with language and birdsong.

Evidence suggests that human language is a merge of communication forms which similar communications can be found in the animal kingdom from birds to primates; in particular birdsong which closely resembles the expression layer of human sentences. There are also different types of expression as well as songs that come from animals such as birds, bees and primates that are similar to human language. All humans, bees, primates and birds communicate either visually, through a range of sounds and body language and it is therefore thought that the human language evolved through these animals. Professor Shigeru Miyagawa from MIT’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy said that ‘It’s this adventitious combination that triggered human language.’

The theory behind the link between birdsong and language is that as something evolves it builds on old parts. This is seen over and over again in evolution and even in languages today across the globe even if the old structure is slightly different.

Where did you think language came from? Share your thoughts we’d love to hear from you!

[1] http://web.mit.edu/press/2013/how-human-language-could-have-evolved-from-birdsong.html

The Trouble With A Lack Of Communication…

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Euro London

Have you ever had such a strong connection with some one, perhaps a partner, a relative or even a best friend, one so close that you are able to instantly understand what they are saying even with minimum communication? This could be via a simple glance, or even an exchange of a few words. Well this is the type of communication that is regularly practiced in Japan.

In Japan there is a saying about words – “hear one, understand ten.”[1] This phrase is pretty self explanatory; meaning that the Japanese do not deem it necessary to have long winded conversations in order to understand what is being said. This is practiced in both social and business orientated situations. The idea behind this is that two people working together should be so in tune with each other that wordy explanations are not necessary.

The Japanese believe that a direct statement that is said should hold a minimal 10% of the message; the further 90% understanding should come from the other person. This type of communication for Japanese people is meant to prove the strength between two people, either through a long period of working together, through having soaked up the same corporate culture, or simply by virtue of sharing the Japanese culture. This is similar to the strong connection of relatives or best friends, as mentioned earlier.

However this can cause problems when it comes to international business and negotiation. For example, other nationalities (e.g. Americans) expect business deals to feel 100% transparent but with the way other cultures and countries (e.g. Japanese) communicate this is not always the outcome. This is due to the lack of understanding between cultures and their communication as Americans can find the way Japanese people to communicate in a way that perceives them to be almost narrow minded and seem like they don’t want to share their opinions.

Have you ever studied a language or are you from a culture that abbreviates words or has a lack of communication between two people, but is still perfectly understood or on the other hand people find untrusting? If so what have you done to overcome this?

[1] http://www.japanintercultural.com/en/news/default.aspx?newsid=204

Famous Bilingual Families

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Euro London

Now you’ve heard from our previous blogs (such as ‘Bilingual children are better at problem solving’ and ‘Think you’re smarter than a baby…think again’, just to name a few) what the positive affects of being bilingual can have on a person throughout their life. Positive affects include improving cognitive skills and delaying dementia such as Alzheimer’s later on in life. [1] Other more recreational advantages include being more culturally respective whilst travelling.

There is a world of people out there that raise their families bilingual – we thought we would share some well know celebrity bilingual families.

Shakira – Famous Columbian ‘hips don’t lie’ singer Shakira announced in September 2012 that she was expecting her first child with fellow famous footballer boyfriend Girard Pique. Shakira speaks English fluently, however her mother tongue is Spanish and had therefore said that she will be raising her child bilingual in both Spanish and English.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Oscar award winning Gwyneth is not only a great actress but is also fluent in Spanish. She recently showcased both talents of a role she played in the hit American TV series Glee. Ms Paltrow studied abroad when she was just a teen and therefore picked up the language, she is now currently trying to add French to her list of skills. Gwyneth revealed that she only allows her children to watch cartoons in French or Spanish as she raises them bilingual.

Salma Hayek – Mexican born actress Salma Hayek is fluent is both Spanish and English with her husband being fluent in French. The couple’s daughter is trilingual in all three languages and has even taken in upon herself to teach her mother French. Amazing!

Johnny Depp – The multitalented actor Johnny Depp starred in the remake of the French film Chocolat, which allowed him plenty of time to polish up on his French language skills. Alongside his French film role Johnny Depp also lived in France for a number of years where he raised his two little girls speaking both French and English – both of which are apparently better than him!

Heidi Klum – Although Heidi Klum may be a household name in America, her roots are German. Heidi therefore carried on her heritage by teaching her children German as she believes it is important to speak more than one language.

Colin Firth – We might stereotype Mr Firth as a somewhat typical ‘posh’ Brit – particularly based on the film roles he is usually cast in, but he is bilingual. Just like in his role from ‘Love Actually’ Colin learnt to speak Italian before he married his Italian wife. The couple decided later to raise their two children bilingual in both English and Italian.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt – One of the most famous couples in the globe, Brad and Angelina have been exposed to a number of languages in their lifetime. However, French and English is commonly used in the household as the power couples estate is located in the South of France which is why they also have decided to raise their children learning French as a second language.

Are you familiar with any other famous bilingual families?

[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/feb/18/bilingual-alzheimers-brain-power-multitasking

Is Your Personality Affecting Your Language And Learning Ability?

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Euro London

Personality can affect a number of factors in a person but have you ever considered if it could have an affect on choice of words or even when it comes to learning a language?

According to new research personality affects the way a person speaks. Personalities that are introvert tend to use language that is precise whereas extroverts have a tendency to be vague. [1] Various studies have acknowledged the link between personality and language on a number of different levels. However the usual study is about the content of what different personalities choose to talk about.

For example, it is more likely for an extrovert to talk about family and friends, and to use words like “drinks” and “dancing”, which makes intuitive sense given that people matching that personality type are expected to spend more time socialising. On the other hand, introverts include more articles in their speech such as “a” and “the”. It was concluded that Introverts linguistics conveyed a higher perception of trust than that of an extroverts linguistics.

Other language studies have also been taken in order to try to explain the effects of introverts versus extroverts on language, this time when learning a language. Many second language teachers feel that students with outgoing personalities are more likely to be successful as a second language learner than a less outgoing personality. A number of language teachers also believe that the extroverts will create more situations to engage in conversation in the target language.

In contrast a German psychiatrist Manfred Spitzer points out that introverts are able to stimulate themselves to learn while extroverts require external stimulus. [2] This is more likely to cause the introvert to excel over the extrovert when learning a language.

Do you think personality can lead to whether learning a language is easier or not?

[1] http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.gr/2012/11/introverts-use-more-concrete-language.html

[2] http://www.teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/article/viewFile/514/345

Using Music As A Key When Learning A Language

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Euro London

Learning to play a musical instrument can change your brain. Music training can lead to improved skills such as; listening, learning, memory, attention and literacy skills, speech and foreign language skills. Over the last twenty years researchers have made advances in the theory of language acquisition and its positive links with music.

According to research the neurological links between language and music are enormous but the key thing to remember is that music activates more parts of the brain than language does, on both the right and left sides of the brain. [1] It is considered to be more likely that those learning a new language will remember words or phrases when it is accompanied in a tune like form rather than if it is just heard or spoken.

State Opera of South Australia chief executive Timothy Sexton said that “You have to be able to hear a language; you need have that music education to tune the ear to the pitch and subtleties of a foreign language.” [2] Many people are unaware of the connection between language learning and music and therefore not actively made the connection with it but it is a critical advantage.

It is concluded that there should be an investment into music training perhaps in schools as particularly early music education had been shown to have wide-ranging benefits. So perhaps if you are learning a new language and are finding it slightly too rigid and dull, why not make it fun again to reach your goal.

Have you used music as an advantage whilst learning a language?

[1] http://www.everydaylanguagelearner.com/2012/01/30/language-learning-tip-use-music-learn-foreign-language/

[2] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/music-the-key-to-learning-language/story-fn9d2mxu-1226507858819

Is Texting Ruining Our Language?

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Euro London

In 2011 there had been a rise in mobile phone subscribers with a staggering 87% [1] of the worlds population being mobile subscribed. It could be argued that our language is a suffering victim due to mobiles and the slang they create. If this is true, what are the consequences for the future generations of the world?

According to research figures show that, 95% of 18-24-year-olds own a mobile phone and 97% of them text on a daily basis. Last year alone 8 trillion text messages were sent. Simon Fraser, a University linguist is trying to determine whether these texts are in any shape or form ruining our language. As well as French professor Christian Guilbault collecting more than 7,500 texts messages from several provinces as part of his Text4Science study to also determine this hypothesis.

One study suggests that texting, in relation to the effect it has on our language, is not as bad as we may have thought. Abbreviations are being used just as equally as the real thing for example; “u r” / “you are”, “please” / “pls”, and “thank you” / “thx”. [2] On the other hand, another study suggests that people who text often are less likely to accept new words than people who read more traditional print media. The theory behind this is that traditional print media exposes people to a variety and creativity in language that is not found in colloquial peer to peer texts.

Research concluded that texting would not have a lasting impact on the spelling and grammar with the younger generations. Many may argue that the way we text depends on whom we are speaking to, just as face to face conversation is altered. So although there are a number of abbreviated words such as ‘OMG’ and ‘LOL’, it in general lays no bearing on how people would write. Academic writing will not be tainted by this as people realise that there is different context. It is a must to realise that language is evolving over time and if this wasn’t the case we would all be speaking just like Shakespeare.
Do you think texting has altered our language in any way (negative or positive)?

[1] http://mobithinking.com/mobile-marketing-tools/latest-mobile-stats/a

[2] http://sourcefednews.com/is-texting-ruining-the-english-language/infographic/

Invest in Your Future Career By Using A CV Clinic

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Euro London

Do you realise 53.7% of CVs are tossed straight into the bin without more than a 30 second glance from recruiters? Your CV should be your marketing tool that showcases your relevant skills, abilities, and accomplishments, expressing your credentials in a way that allows employers to truly notice you. The professional job market is highly competitive hence why you should refrain from using CV templates as it’s unlikely to help you in your application. Some may argue that CV templates are a good idea but why you would want to have a document that looks exactly like everyone else’s is beyond us.

The negatives of using a CV template can include:
Your CV will not be unique enough as hundreds of people have access to the same template. A unique and individuality needs to be expressed via your CV as it is the first impression an employer will receive of you.

By using a template it simply communicates to a potential employer that you are unable to format a document yourself which in many cases will not work in your favour as it may imply that you have a poor work ethic.

There are a few websites that offer help when it comes to writing up a CV that offer their own qualifications. For example if you are a bilingual speaker they rate the level of your language. Now when you hear this you may think ‘What a brilliant idea’ however this is not the case as employers do not know the marking criteria or what each level even truly means which can be off putting and time wasting.

However it’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to CV templates, they do offer the absolute basics when it comes to writing a CV – something which might be a lot of help to people. On the other hand we highly suggest CV clinics are used. CV clinics can indeed be the better option when it comes to your CV. Not only are clinics better than a generic template but they offer a personal touch, an opportunity that allows the clinic to see the type of person you really are when it comes to the working world and are able to put this across via your CV.

Euro London Appointments is attending the language live show from the 19^th October until the 21^st October [1] where we will be holding our very own CV clinic for language candidates. So why not come and join us – it’s free!

[1] http://www.languageshowconnect.co.uk/Content/Welcome-LS-LIVE-Homepage

Keeping Your Brain In Shape

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Euro London

Every year at some point or another, we are all are concerned about our physical appearance – the way our hair looks, the way our skin looks or our weight. This concern is dealt with by going to the hairdressers, purchasing the latest skin care products or taking up a new exercise regime. The battle is constant for us to feel at our best, but when was the last time you were worried or even just thought about the strength of your brain?

The brain is the most complex organ of our bodies with its function to control the other organs of the body, a vital organ that without it we would cease to exist. As previous studies have proved knowing a second language keeps the brain sharper later on in life. As the brain plays such an important part on our body and lives it can make us wonder why are we not taking a bigger interest in trying to keep our brain at its best?

In a recent study in Sweden, Scientists studied young recruits at the Swedish Armed Forces Interpreter Academy who learned a new language at a vast pace. Participants involved went from having no knowledge of a language such as Arabic, Russian or Dari to speaking it fluently simply by learning the language over the short space of 13 months. [1]

Whilst observing what happens to the brain when a language is learnt in a short space of time, scientists did indeed detect some change in the brain. MRI scans were taken before and after the intense language courses were undertaken and show particular developments in the parts of the brain (both hippocampus and the areas of the cerebral cortex) that are associated with learning new information. The precise development of the brain was determined by the amount or lack of effort that was put into learning and studying the languages. Therefore those that took a greater interest and effort in learning these languages over the course of 13 months found that their brain had developed far more than those that did not.

Consequently “there is a lot to suggest that learning languages is a good way to keep the brain in shape” as said by psychology researcher at Lund University Martensson.

Do you personally feel sharper during or after learning a new language?

[1] http://www.businessinsider.com/language-learning-makes-for-bigger-brains-2012-10

Why A Recruitment Consultancy Is Better Than Flying Solo.

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Euro London

Technology VS Human Interaction.

Technology, what would we do without it? The vast development of technology has enabled businesses to accomplish what was once considered unthinkable. With travelling being more accessible than it’s ever been, to the invention of the internet; the rise in global technology is allowing businesses to connect at an easier rate than ever. Nevertheless, the power of technology can be lost in value almost instantly in virtual space if you aren’t articulating human interaction alongside it.

As a multilingual recruitment consultancy we liaise with candidates and clients across the world so technology is something we value greatly. However, in saying this it does not detract our attention from having real human interaction. Whether communication is over the telephone, via email or face to face meetings with clients or candidates we as a consultancy can provide it.

There are further downfalls with the rise of technology which is automated services; having to speak to a robot like voice rather than a real person. Recent research from our candidate’s shows that they believe the ‘human touch’ is a necessity in today’s job market rather than CV’s collecting dust virtually online. If recruitment consultancies articulate the balance of technology and human interaction everyone (businesses and applicants) can benefit. Further to this consultancies can (particularly in the on going economic crisis) be a great asset to companies and candidates looking for the right person to hire. In August 2012 Eurostat estimates that 25.466 million men and women in the EU-27, of whom 18.196 million in the euro area (EA-17), were unemployed. [1] With the current economic crisis employment rates are at their highest in Europe making it very difficult to find a job. It could be argued that with the help of consultancies unemployment rates could drop as recruiters can filter the right candidates with the skills and attributes needed for job positions while the business hiring can focus on the interview process.

Top tips when working with a recruitment consultancy; be truthful about your experiences, credentials, income, career goals and reasons for leaving your prior employment.

[1] http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics

Survival Of The Fittest Language

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Euro London

According to researchers one language dies every two weeks, washed away like writing in the sand – a somewhat disturbing revelation. Now, as we are all aware (from our own back ground) a single language holds depth such as history and culture which helps us understand where we came from and consequently shapes our future. What could this mean for the future of languages and the population of the world?

With there being 7,000 languages that exist today and languages dying every two weeks it’s hard to determine which languages will conquer. Could languages face what evolution faced with a battle of survival of the fittest? If this is the case at present, the English language is leading the race, particularly in the world of business.

At present the English language is considered to be symbolic of modernity, work, higher education, business, economics and science and technology. Historically speaking, it has also always been a language that is the most successful as it is spoken on every continent around the world.

However this may not always be the case particularly due to the rapid loss of languages. It is easy to say that English as a language will not completely disappear, yet it may not be the predominant language of the future. Languages such as German could be in the running for the future language as Germany is a leading power for technology, medicine and science. Mandarin is also in the limelight as the Chinese are becoming a major economic power and growing more each and every day. Other possible contenders for language of the future include Spanish, Hindi-Urdu of India and Arabic could be among the most popular languages of the future.

Top 10 disappearing languages:

10. Chamicuro (Chamekolo, Chamicolo, Chamicura)

9. Dumi (Dumi Bo’o, Dumi Bro, Lsi Rai, Ro’do Bo’, Sotmali)

8. Ongota/Birale

7. Liki (Moar)

6. Tanema (Tanima, Tetawo)

5. Njerep

4. Chemehuevi

3. Lemerig (Pak, Bek, Sasar, Leon, Lem)

2. Kaixana (Caixana)

1. Taushiro (Pinche/Pinchi)

What do you think the language of the future could be and why?

How Many Words Do Eskimo’s Have For Snow?

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Euro London

Have you ever heard that Eskimo’s have 32 words for snow? Well you’ve been tricked by an old urban legend. They have no more words for snow than in English or any other languages. However, what they do have is 32 demonstrative pronouns to indicate which entity the speaker is referring to and distinguishing it from others.

In English there are only four modern demonstrative pronouns which are “this”, “that”, “these” and “those” as well the as archaic additions of “yon” and “yonder” which rarely play a part in the English language these days. Many languages like English make only a two way distinguishment, ‘this’ would indicate something close to the reader and ‘that’ would indicate something further away from the reader. Other languages such as Portuguese make a three way distinction; distinguishing between proximity or the first person – objects near to the reader, medial or second person – objects close to the addressee and a distant third person distinction – objects far from both the reader and the addressee i.e. “this book”, “that book” (near you), “that book” (away from both of us).

In many languages grammatical gender options may also play a role; Spanish and Portuguese have kept their gender demonstratives, masculine, feminine and neuter.

The Eskimo-Aleut language doesn’t have any official relation to a language family at this time and is generally thought of as a language isolate (a language which has no demonstrable genetic relationship to another languages) although it does bare similarities to languages native to Eurasia. Eskimo-Aleut has 32 words for demonstrative pronouns including “that one high up there”, “this one that we can’t see” and “that one in there” – i.e. in a house.

There are only a few individual examples where another language comes close to having so many demonstrative pronouns in their vocabulary. With 7000 languages alive in the world today, the Eskimo-Aleut language is almost unique.

Languages Making A Come Back Around The World

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Euro London

Last week languages made the news in the UK for the wrong reasons, yet again the number of students studying a language at A-level has fallen. The news came as no surprise to most and marks another consecutive year in which those studying languages fell. Just 43% of students studied a language at GCSE level (16 years old) and even less at A-Level (18 years old) with only 12,500 students studying French and less than 5000 studying German at A-level [1]. Many have attributed this to the previous government’s decision to make studying a language after the age of 14 voluntary, as well as technological breakthroughs in the translation sector causing many students to question the need to learn a second language.

But have the winds now changed in the Anglophone world where many assume that “everyone speaks English anyway”; reports over the last few weeks certainly seem to show positive signs.

In June it was announced by British education minister that all children going through the education system will start learning a second language from seven years old, a great victory for those of us who support the use of languages from an early age [2]. It’s also been announced that the UK will see the opening of its first bilingual primary school in Brighton in September which will teach the national curriculum in both English and Spanish [3].

In America too languages are showing signs of better health, budgets which cut their investment in foreign languages early in the new millennium are now finding funds to invest in their language classes [4].

In a rapidly developing world where traditional economic powerhouses are being confronted by the emergence of the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as well as other countries, English is being challenged around the globe by other languages. This shows in the UK’s A-level statistics where Arabic, Mandarin and Russian all displayed marked increases in students studying them.

It’s not only the English speaking world that has shown that learning a language is important. The Prime Minister of Belgium announced this week that he was now competent in Dutch adding to his fluency in French, Italian and English thus demonstrating that you are never too old to learn a new language at the age of 61.

The rise of the BRIC nations may not be the only reason that languages are on the up. There is a growing consensus that a second language can help you personally, privately and professionally – would you like to see a greater emphasis on languages?

[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/aug/16/alevel-foreign-languages-decline?newsfeed=true

[2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18384536

[3] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-19294317

[4] http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x2103325228/Foreign-language-making-comeback

Bilingual Children ‘Better At Problem Solving’

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Euro London

Historically it was thought that learning a second language when young could lead to ‘language confusion’ and be detrimental to a child’s academic growth. However recent studies have been proving this stigma wrong time and again in recent years. Studies have shown that it can increase a child’s communication and social interaction abilities above those who can’t speak a second language [1]. There are also medical benefits with studies of later life adults who know a second language showing that it can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s by several years [2].

Previous research has been backed up this weekend when a study into primary school pupils aged 9 was published in the International Journal of Bilingualism. 121 children, 62 of which were bilingual, were involved in the study from both Scotland and Sardinia. Those children who were not bilingual knew either English or Italian alone. Those who were bilingual knew either English and Gaelic or Italian and Sardinian.

The study showed that bilingual children outperform children who only speak one language in creative thinking and problem solving skills. Dr Fraser Lauchlan, a lecturer at Strathclyde University, who conducted the test along with their Sardinian colleagues at the University of Cagliari said, “Bilingualism is now largely seen as being beneficial to children, but there remains a view that it can be confusing, and so potentially detrimental to them.” Adding “ our study has found that it can have demonstrable benefits, not only in language but in arithmetic, problem solving and enabling children to think creatively.”

The study not only found that both English-Gaelic and Italian-Sardinian speakers outperformed their monolingual counter parts, it also showed that those English-Gaelic speakers out performed those who spoke Italian and Sardinian. The study concluded that the differences could be attributed due to Gaelic speakers having formal teaching lessons in the language and extensive literature compared to Sardinian which is not widely taught in schools, surviving by oral tradition, meaning there is no current standardised form of the language.

The study is another great success story adding to the growing call for children to learn languages.

[1] http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/bilingualism-is-good-for-learning/

[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/feb/18/bilingual-alzheimers-brain-power-multitasking

10 French Loanwords Used In The English Language

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Euro London

The English language has been influenced by many languages over time from German [1] and Celtic to Spanish and Dutch, languages have “lent” their words to English throughout history due to war, trade and politics. It could be said that English has been influenced most by the French language with estimates putting the amount of French words used in the English language at around 30% of a standard English dictionary. These include standalone French words that have been incorporated into the English language as well as French words combined with English influence and English words with French influence. Much of the French language that now appears in the English language has been imported over the centuries following the Norman invasion in 1066, where William the Conqueror took to the Throne of England and the Norman language began to be used for administration purposes and by the ruling elite. Over time Norman French was incorporated into Old English and formed the building blocks of the modern English spoken today. Some of these French loanwords are still noticeable in the English language today so we thought we’d take a look at 10 French loanwords that are used in English on a daily basis.

Ambulances have been a well know concept in military terms since the 15^th century, but it wasn’t until the 19^th century that ambulances were used to treat civilian populations; the word is of French origins and means “walking hospitals”.

Chauffers may be drivers to the Rich and Famous but the word can find it’s origins in 19^th century France when cars were steam powered, much like the rail roads, meaning the driver would literally have to stoke the fire of the car as he drove; giving the French meaning of “stoker”.

Dossiers have become somewhat derogatory terms for reports with bad news contained with in them or a file from a whistle blower the government might not have wanted seen, but this French word means nothing more than a “bundle of documents”.

An Entrepreneur is a French loanword for an individual who obtains money through risk and initiative, launching new businesses and accepting full responsibility for the outcome.

Faux Pas are violations of socially acceptable and cultural norms; the term finds it’s origins in French translations of “misstep” or “false step”.

Some words join the English language simply by being named after a place or location. Mayonnaise for example can trace its origins to Mahon in Majorca, Spain, becoming known as “maonesa” in Catalan and then Mayonnaise after it was popularized by the French.

To obtain a mortgage is one of many legal terms lent to English from French and is used by many people to by their own property. The term literally means “death contract” meaning the contract ends when the person dies or when the contract is fulfilled.

The Renaissance was a cultural movement between the 14^th and 17^th century that has given us some of the finest artwork and architecture in history. The word which literally means “to be reborn” wasn’t coined until the 16^th century, halfway through the Renaissance period.

You may have picked up or brought a souvenir whilst on holiday or visit to another country which could have included items such as a t-shirt’s, spoons and magnates; but the literal meaning to a souvenir is “memory” and that usually lasts longer than any object you buy.

Something that is unique is something that is one of a kind and that’s exactly how it translates from French origins, translating literally as “single”.

The rich French language has lent many words to English over time enhancing the language’s diverse origins immeasurably.

[1] http://www.eurolondon.com/blog/en/10-german-loanwords-used-in-everyday-english/

Multilingual Tennis Players

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Euro London

The oldest Tennis Tournament in the world began yesterday in the London suburb of Wimbledon. The Grand Slam see’s 100’s of Tennis stars compete to win the title of one of the most prestigious championships of the Tennis championship circuit. Past winners of the tournament have included Boris Becker, Pete Sampras, Björn Borg, Steffi Graff as well as Serena and Venus Williams.

As a company whose primary focus is on multilingual recruitment we thought we’d focus on the players of this year’s tournament who speak several languages, holding up the multilingual beacon for linguists everywhere.

Arguably the seminal player of recent years has been Rodger Federer! He’s won Grand Slam after Grand Slam across the Tennis circuit (16 to date), winning the Wimbledon open six times between 2003 and 2009. He is also probably one of the best linguists on the tennis circuit; effortlessly switching between his four languages of native Swiss-German, German, French and English in interviews with the press; both before and after tennis matches (and usually after winning). He will be well remembered long after he is retired for being one of the most professional Tennis players in the history of the sport both on and off the court.

Novak Djokovic, who was winner of the 2011 Wimbledon championship, is well known for his lively rivalry with Spaniard Rafael Nadal, meeting each other 33 times in recent years (Nadal currently holds the lead with a 19-14 advantage). But Djokovic may be less well known for his rivalry with Rodger Federer, meeting each other 26 times in the past, with Federer holding the lead against him with a 14-12 game lead. However, Djokovic also appears to be a language enthusiast as well, speaking his native Serbian along with English, German and Italian; seems like they may start competing over that soon.

If Rodger Federer’s the men’s seminal player of the last 10 years then Maria Sharapova is arguably the women’s. Sharapova’s parents were originally from Belarus, but concerned at the effect of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 moved before she was born to Russia and then moved again to the USA to attend a tennis academy when she was seven, this enables Maria to switch between her Russian mother tongue and adopted English language almost effortlessly and with very little of an accent shown.

With the Two week tournament underway and being covered from all over the world, knowledge of a second, third or fourth language may come in extremely handy for a tennis player, let us know of any other Tennis players you know who are multilingual?

Can A Law Save A Language?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Euro London

Authorities on the Indonesian island of Java passed a law last month requiring all inhabitants to speak a little bit of Javanese each week in a move to try and preserve the language and the culture of the island. The news was announced following approval by the legislative council of Java passing bylaw No. 17/2012.

The law, which comes into affect in 2013, may be more symbolic than pragmatic, as it doesn’t state how the obligation to speak Javanese will actually be implemented and measured or stipulate any sanctions for violations of the law; how a court could prove an individual had not spoken Javanese in the last 7 days is also highly questionable.

In interviews with the media, Councillor Muhammad Zain, one of the main advocates of the bill, has argued that the main threat to Javanese isn’t from Indonesian, (Java’s second most spoken language), but English, which is being used to enjoy western film and TV shows as well as giving residents the opportunity of using it to find office work in nearby Australia.

In our recent blog post we talked about the current options available to us to protect endangered languages using digital technology to catalogue languages [1]. We’ve also seen cases in particular countries where languages are legally protected by law due to the historical relevance, Maori in New Zealand for example [2]. But whilst Maori has approximately 156,000 speakers (2006), in the 2000 census of Indonesia it was revealed there were 85 million speakers of the Javanese language, exempting it from UNESCO’s endangered language list, whilst 146 other Indonesian native languages are at risk of extinction [3].

In practice the law may be more concerned about the preservation by local government of the island’s culture as it requires Javanese authorities to promote the use of the language through the naming of public places and buildings in the Javanese language. But the motion to encourage people to speak Javanese through law is certainly interesting and we’ll be keeping an eye on this news story whilst it develops.

[1] http://www.eurolondon.com/blog/en/is-technology-the-future-of-language/

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_Language_Act

[3] http://www.unesco.org/culture/languages-atlas/index.php?hl=en&page=atlasmap

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/21/residents-obliged-speak-javanese-preserve-culture.html

10 German Loanwords Used In Everyday English

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Euro London

Many words used in languages throughout the world can find their roots in other languages, either evolving from an older language or from being loaned from another language. So we thought we’d take a look at which German words are being used in the English language on a daily basis.

1. A Doppelganger is an identical double of an individual person with no relation to each other. Doppelganger is German for ‘double walker’ which in folklore is the paranormal double of a living person; in English it literally maintains its meaning without the folklore.

2. Wanderlust is a German loanword adopted into English in1902 meaning ‘yearn to travel’, the term originates from “wandern” (to hike) and “Lust” (Desire) a modern German equivalent for wanderlust is “Fernweh” meaning ‘crave for travel’.

3. Neanderthals is the term used to describe our ancestors who used to inhabit Europe and Eastern Asia. The Species is named after the site of their discovery just east of Düsseldorf in Dussel’s Neander Valley, ‘Thal’ was then added the German word for valley.

4. The word rucksack is again a German loanword, combining the German ‘der Rücken’ meaning the back part of the body and ‘sack’ from the Middle English meaning bag.

5. Lager originates from the German “lagerbier” meaning ‘beer brewed for keeping’; originally this was directly translated to English ‘lager beer’, but was shortened to lager in the 1850’s.

6. The fuel Diesel is derived from the German ‘Dieselmotor’ named after its German inventor in 1892, Diesel would then go on to power much of the worlds transport including cars and trains.

7. Zeitgeist is another German loanword combined from the German for Zeit (time) and Geist (spirit) translating into the “spirit of the time”.

8. The Glockenspiel is the word you may associate most with having German origins literally meaning ‘play of bells’ from “Glock” (bell) and “Spiel” (play), the instrument may not be found often in modern music but is still used in the massed bands.

9. Kindergarten is literally translated from German into “Children’s Garden” first coming into use in the early 19^th century as a social experience for children moving from the home into education.

10. Hamburger may be the best known German loanword to the English language in the world. Hamburger comes directly from Germany’s second city of Hamburg where in the beginning of the 19^th centaury 1000’s of Germans emigrated to the USA, taking food delicacies with them including the Hamburg steak, later becoming known as the hamburger.

Proofreading Your CV

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Euro London

Your CV is one of the most important documents you will ever produce! You will therefore need to write cohesively and accurately and make sure there are no spelling mistakes which may see your sparkling experience and well written personal statement dismissed in a heartbeat.

Communication has always been vital and in today’s world it’s easier and more important than ever. Emails, instant messaging and social networking have meant that being able to string a written sentence together is crucial. Documents littered with typos can be embarrassing for the author and can lose you an interview you really want. We thought we’d put on our thinking caps and put together a list of our top tips we think will help you not to include a spelling mistake on your CV.

First of all, don’t proofread it – not right away at least; wait for a couple of hours after you’ve written it. This will enable your eyes to take a break from what you’ve written and allow your brain to read what’s actually on the paper and not what you think you’ve written.

Review a hard copy – If possible print out a copy of your text to look over instead of viewing it on a screen. Review the different factors involved in your CV looking at the sentence structure, wording, grammar and punctuation.

Read aloud – this can help not only catch out any spelling and grammar mistakes but also make sure your words have the correct meaning. Make sure you are using the correct spelling and meaning of a word that may be a homophone; words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings, something a spell checker won’t catch. I.e. their, there and they’re.

Lastly, make sure you get a second pair of eyes to look over it – a new set of eyes can usually pick up errors you may have missed or are been unsure about.

The CV is the first thing a hiring manager will see about you and it’s important to make a good first impression so make sure you have proofread your CV to the best of your ability and give yourself a head start in the job hunt.

Multilingual Football Managers

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Euro London

International management is a major factor of corporate business in the globalised world we live in today and one of the best examples of global management is a football club. It can be owned by a an investor from one side of the world, managed by a tactician from the other side of the world and made up of players from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities; not to mention the training staff and support team. So when Roy Hodgson was appointed to be the manager of the England national team we were surprised to find out that he spoke other languages, seven to be precise. Aside from speaking English, Roy Hodgson speaks fluent Norwegian, Swedish, German and Italian as well as some Danish, French and Finnish [1]. We wondered to ourselves why we’d only just heard about his multilingual capacity and set about looking for other European managers and Footballers who can speak several languages.

Arsène Wenger has not only had a successful career managing Arsenal football club, he’s also fluent in French, German and English as well as having a grasp of Italian, Spanish and Japanese. If that’s not enough, he also holds a masters degree from the University of Strasbourg, which he completed whilst continuing his professional football career before moving into management.

The self professed “special one”, José Mourinho, is not only a master tactician; he’s also a master linguist. José can speak 5 languages fluently which include Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and English as well as knowing some Catalonian; sounds like he’s practically perfect in every way.

Alex Ferguson is reported to have picked up intermediate use of some languages during his highly successful time managing Manchester United including French and Portuguese which he learnt from his French and Brazilian players.

It’s not only managers who are great linguists; several footballers not only know how to play the beautiful game but also to speak some beautiful languages too.

Ask Thierry Henry what’s French for “Va Va Voom” and he’ll be able to tell you the answer in 5 different languages including French, English, Italian and Spanish as well as a Creole language, (a stable natural language developed from the mixing of parent languages [2]).

Clarence Seedorf has not only won the Champions League title 4 times with three different clubs, he also has a lively ability with languages. Not only can the Dutch international speak Dutch, he can also speak English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.

Aside from being one of the best players ever, Zinadine Zidane can also speak 6 languages. His language knowledge includes Berber, Algerian, Arabic, French, English and Italian. Zidane may unfortunately be remembered for his actions during the 2010 world cup instead of his footballing prowess or his knowledge of languages though.

Do you know any Football managers or players who can speak several languages? Let us know.

[1] http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/roy-hodgson-inside-the-mind-of-englands-814842

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creole_language

12 Inspirational Quotes On Languages

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Euro London

Over our 22 years in the multilingual recruitment sector we’ve seen some great quotes on the advantages of knowing a second language. We thought we’d put together our 12 favourite quotes we’ve found from our personal reading and group discussions to highlight the advantages of knowing a second language.

1. If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart – Nelson Mandela

2. Language is the roadmap of a culture. It tells you where its people are from and where they are going – Rita Mae Brown

3. To have another language is to possess a second soul – The Emperor Charlemagne

4. Whereas one language now often makes a wall, two can make a gate – Walter V Kaulfers

5. Those who know nothing of foreign languages, know nothing of their own – Goethe

6. A different language is a different version of life – Federico Fellini

7. The limits of my language are the limits of my universe – Ludwig Wittgenstein

8. You can never understand one language until you understand at least two – Geoffrey Willans

9. The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language – Ezra Pound

10. Thought is the blossom, language the bud and action the fruit behind it – Ralph Waldo Emerson

11. Change your language and change your thoughts – Karl Albrecht

12. The quality of our thought is boarded on all sides by the quality of our language – J Michael Straczynski

What’s your favourite one? Do you have a better quote about languages?

15 Amazing Language Facts

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Euro London

1. Human speech organs are capable of producing over 800 sounds when we are born. In infancy a child learns which sounds are important to his or her native language and to disregard the rest. The older we get, the harder it becomes to learn the sounds that are part of a different language causing an accent to form.

2. There are around 6500 languages spoken in the world today, however about 2000 of these languages have less than 1000 speakers, with around 500 of those languages almost extinct.

3. Mandarin has the most native speakers of any language with approximately 1200 million, followed by Spanish (approximately 400 million). Only 5% of the world population natively speak English (approximately 350 million), however English has approximately 1500 million speakers including those who know it as a second languages and as EFL.

4. There are only about 225 native languages of Europe about 3% of the worlds total amount of languages.

5. Most languages can trace their language family tree through languages with a common ancestor. There are 8 language families for Europe’s 225 languages to be split into. Including the families of Romance language (Italian, French and Spanish) Germanic language (English, German and Scandinavian) and Slavic language (Russian, Polish and many other eastern European countries). However some languages have no known language family such as Basque, these are called Language Isolate.

6. The most common languages used in Europe that are not of indigenous decent are Arabic, Chinese and Hindi; each one with their own writing system.

7. There are around 300 languages actively spoken in the London alone.

8. Although gestures shown by body language can change meaning depending on the culture and country, there are gestures that are universal which include expressions to show happiness, sadness, boredom, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.

9. Many languages have more than 50,000 words however we use just a fraction of these in everyday conversation.

10. German has the most native speakers in Europe being an official language in Austria, Switzerland and Lichtenstein as well as Germany.

11. After Latin, the Spanish language is most heavily influenced by the Arabic language due to Spain’s naval trading history.

12. One of the greatest playwrights of the English language, William Shakespeare, invented the words obscene and puking. He also reputedly came up with the word “eyeball” as there is no known use of the word before its appearance in “A Mid Summer Night’s Dream” as well as the name “Jessica” where the name is first referenced in “The Merchant of Venice”.

13. French is an official language of Luxembourg, Haiti and more than 20 other African countries. The second largest French speaking city in the world isn’t in France, it’s Kinshasa the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

14. Although Latin is still used much in Law and science, Vatican City is the only country that has Latin as an official language.

15. Languages evolve all the time. The internet has not only added new words to dictionaries such as “lol” it has also added new meanings to old words; an internet “troll” is now commonly used to describe someone who uses inflammatory language or goes off topic in discussion.

Network Your Way To The Perfect Job

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Euro London

Since the beginning of time, humanity has strived to communicate with each other. This was initially done through grunts, gestures and body language, before becoming more civilised; forming words, sentences and the written language. Then came international interaction; tribes became allies and these allies formed countries, trade routes sprouted as empires formed and expanded. The wish to trade goods formed, as did a need to communicate with each other. This saw the initial need to learn a second language and translation take place, a lesson not lost on our part today. Over the last century, International cooperation and increased technological innovation has led to the biggest increase in breaking down barriers in human history. Boats became trains; trains became planes and in the last 20 years the biggest innovation since… well, what do you think the most important inventions of history have been? No matter what preceded the Internet as the latest important technological breakthrough, you can’t deny it has been the defining invention of the last 20 years! Since you are reading this you will almost definitely have some kind of access to the Internet, undoubtedly the biggest communication network ever created. It’s changed the way you hear the latest news, read the latest articles and share the latest information with your friends. Through this mass communication ability, a whole new ability to interact has sprung up, labelled the social networks. The undoubted kings of these are Facebook, the micro-blogging service of Twitter and the professional network of LinkedIn. Here for the first time in history we now have the ability to communicate with people or companies around the world in just a matter of seconds. Many international corporations have Facebook and Twitter pages you can like and follow; Starbucks has 29 million likes on Facebook alone. If you have access to any of these channels you can take a proactive position to look for a job! Joining professional networks to interact with possible contacts, making sure you keep up to date with latest industry news and developments within your field can really show your commitment to any potential employer.

Like many of these companies, we also have our own Social Media channels we communicate through to try and help you. So if you have Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or Google+, follow these links and let us know what you think!

There’s no such thing as a multilingual President

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Euro London

This week saw the race to be the Republican presidential candidate hit the headlines around the globe for all the wrong reasons!

The reason wasn’t any pending legal issues or personal life discrepancies; the reason was much more worrying than that!

This week the Republican candidates, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, were targeted through ad campaigns because they are multilingual! Mitt Romney was discredited for being able to speak French, whilst Jon Huntsman viewed with suspicion because he speaks Mandarin. I’m not an expert on the manifestos of each of the individual candidates, but I think it’s beyond belief that a perspective leader of any country would face suspicion due to the fact they are multilingual, let alone the campaign to be the president of the United States of America.

English is spoken by many people around the globe and is considered the lingua franca of the modern world. However the percentage of the global population able to speak English as either a first or second language is about 25%; far less than what is usually thought and almost equalled by the percentage of mandarin speakers. The perception that everyone speaks English is an old wives tale that was never really true in the first place.

Knowing a language can lend you much in life! First and foremost, it makes you much more employable; although evidentially not for Presidential elections.

Corporate institutions are focusing their efforts all over the world, requiring communication and integration between staff; the problem with this is often the language barrier. This is one of the main reasons that corporate industry is hiring more and more multilingual corporate staff; it’s nice to have staff with different life experiences as well.

Then there’s the effect on your intelligence! Whether you learn a language as a child or later on in life, there is an increasing amount of evidence that being multilingual provides an added advantage in communication, cognition and social interaction than those who can’t speak a second language [1]. There is also research that shows that the ability to speak more than one language may reduce the susceptibility to mental illnesses such as Alzheimer’s [2].

You might use your languages on holidays and travelling, maybe you like connecting with new people all over the world, or perhaps you learnt your second language just to understand your native language better.

What ever the reason, there has never been a better time to be multilingual for your career and for your personal life!

[1] http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/bilingualism-is-good-for-learning/

[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/feb/18/bilingual-alzheimers-brain-power-multitasking

Happy New Year

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Euro London

Last week we celebrated Christmas, now it’s time to conclude the festive season! After eating all the food, opening all the presents and drinking all the champagne, it’s now time to welcome the New Year!

So let’s celebrate what we’ve accomplished and plan for what we want to achieve. The New Year is synonymous with doing something new. Resolutions; be it joining the gym, giving up a bad habit or taking up something new, are made around the world.

What do you want to achieve? Perhaps one of the options above, perhaps you’d like to shed a few kilos or perhaps you’d like to start a new job or career path and if you do, we’re here for you.

Wherever you are in the world on New Years Eve, have fun celebrating the start of the 2012!

These are some spectacular scenes from around the world last New Year! Where is the best place you have spent new years?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2WNK0_mbCc&w=560&h=315]

It’s The Season To Be Jolly

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Euro London

It’s that time of year again!

The time of year when you wake up hoping today’s the day, the time of the year that it’s socially acceptable to wear the jumper your auntie got you four years ago, the time of year when the airwaves are filled with those songs that get everyone singing along and evoke the memories of your childhood.

That’s right, as the great Noddy Holder would say; “It’s Christmas!”

So hang up your stockings, write your Christmas cards and enjoy the Christmas markets. The last two months of planning and preparations have come together for this day! This one day; where the family get together, Christmas crackers are pulled and the Christmas dinner is carved. So enjoy it! For this day comes but once a year. So from Euro London Appointments Joyeux Noel, Fröhliche Weihnachten, Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

We’ll be asking what your new year’s resolutions are going to be next week. So put your thinking camps on and ponder what you’re going to change next year! Whether it’s losing a few kilos or finding a new job we want to know what you’re going to do differently.

Merry Christmas!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG4BPNvayWo&w=420&h=315]

What Impact Is Social Media Having On Your Job Hunt?

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Euro London

If you look back at the last few years, there has been a growing buzzword used by businesses, organisations and individuals situated all over the world. This word is Social Media! The amalgamation of two very different words, social media was born out of the World Wide Web.

It has the ability to report the news to you, live and uncensored, the ability to bring down governments and the ability to get you a job!

In a recent survey of employers, 90% would check a social media network before or during a candidate’s interview process. These include Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, so if you’re on any of these networks, which statistically you probably will be; you’ve been warned!

Tweets on Twitter, Photos uploaded on Facebook and updates posted on LinkedIn may not be as private as you think and could unfortunately damage your job hunting opportunities and career prospects.

However, if you manage your social media networks right, far from being damaging, they can enhance your job hunting opportunities and it’s not as if it’s hard to do, you do it on a daily basis after all.

Check your privacy settings and what groups or pages you may like! More often than not you may have set your photos to private, but not any groups you may be a part of and these can show up on your flashcard page. If you don’t want recruiters/employers to see this, either leave the group or look to change your privacy settings.

Be careful what you say and to whom, Twitter is a prime suspect for this point. Twitter can turn from a friendly micro-blogging device into a disaster for your career opportunities very quickly, with one rash tweet.

Apart from taking care of your social media in a reactive role, you can also take a proactive position! Joining professional networks to interact with possible contacts, making sure you keep up to date with latest industry news and developments within your field can really show your commitment to any potential employer to your ambition and commitment to any career.

Social media is the new kid on the block and it’s got lots of friends in high places, be aware that recruiters no longer rely on just the interview to hire someone anymore.

First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Euro London

Whether you are going to an interview or starting your first day at work, it’s important to make a great first impression! Of course, you’ve heard it all before, but how can you be sure your first impression is a positive one? Studies show that a lasting impression will be formed of you within 30 seconds to ten minutes of meeting you, and this impression will last!

So what are the tricks, tips and all the good bits that can be shown off about your personality in these ten minuets to make a great lasting first impression?

Firstly let’s get rid of the clichés in this scenario! The strong handshake and not arriving late are the bear basics of the first impression and hopefully you know them already!

Your body language is the most important part to the art of a good impression! Studies show that 70 % of what you say is conveyed by your body language and a further 10% by the tone of your voice. This means that 80% of what you’re actually saying isn’t the words you are speaking at all. Standing tall, not slouching and making good eye contact is a great place to start when meeting someone new, as this will convey confidence and ability. If you are sitting down, don’t fold your arms or create what is called a unconscious barrier to you. Sit with your hands out and have an open, welcoming posture; smile and listen – we were given one mouth and two ears for a reason! This will lead you onto the second part to help develop a great first impression.

Making good conversation! You may have already accounted for 80% of a conversation, but you’ve still got 20% to fill. This is a virtuous circle, the more conversation you make, the better you get at it and the more you will converse, so everyone is a winner, but remember that there’s a difference between good conversation and small talk! It’s very easy to spot small talk, it’s irrelevant and forgettable, an engaging conversation will leave a positive lasting impression.

Whether it’s a job you are going for or your first day; Research the company! Know what they do, how big they are, where they have offices etc, you don’t want to be left looking dumbfounded if someone asks you a question about the company. It takes 10 minutes to look into a company’s profile and shows that you are committed to the company from an early stage.

No matter how advanced our technology may be getting, it will always be important to make a personable good first impression! So make sure you’re prepared for your first interview and your first day.

Cover yourself with your Cover Letter

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Euro London

Over the last few months we’ve given you some of our best advice on how to land that dream job of yours. We’ve given you great advice (well we think anyway) on how to write a CV, but what was missing from that advice is the obligatory Cover letter you need to send in with that brilliant CV of yours.

Cover letters are short articles, no more than one A4 piece of paper long, you write about yourself to send in with your CV. They don’t need to be long, they don’t have to be fancy, but they do have to explain why you are perfectly suited to the job. This means tailoring each and every cover letter to the job you are applying for. Whilst the jobs you apply for may not be that different to each other and you may not feel the need to change your cover letter, every hiring manager; no matter how similar the role, will have a different idea, a different set of attributes they will be looking for. It will therefore be up to you to demonstrate these indirectly through your actions written out in both your CV and your cover letter. Do your research on who they are looking for.

You may have heard the famous John Kennedy quote: “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”, the same can be said about going through the interview stages of an organisation. Incorporate the research you have done for the position into this covering letter and emphasis what you can do for the company.

Often if you are emailing or sending a CV to a recruiter the covering letter will be the first information they see about you, it’s so important to make a good first impression! Like previously stated in our blog on how to write a great CV, check for spelling and punctuation mistakes, make sure what you are sending out is literally perfect.

Overall cover letters should complement not duplicate your CV, if you find you’ve repeated the same points on both your CV and your cover letter, have a second look at what you’ve written.

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Euro London

The UK jobs market has seen one of the biggest squeezes in recent times with the decline in the availability of jobs, which is being matched around Europe. Even Germany, seen as the steady ship of Europe, is seeing a contraction in the number of jobs available and a rise in the number of people who are unemployed.

Being a multilingual recruitment agency, we often place people of various nationalities from around Europe into another country in Europe for a role, most are happy to relocate.

But it seems that in the UK, this option is extremely limited by the lack of ability to learn or even try and learn another language. A report out last week [1] states that two in three Brits can’t speak a single foreign word! We think that the report may be over exaggerated, but we know that other points were re-iterating what we have always known; that the majority of the British public’s attitude to want to learn a language is abysmal.

Without the possibility of relocating abroad to work, apart from the obvious British tourist hot spots, there is a very slim chance of finding work in a non English speaking country, vastly narrowing the number of job opportunities.

We often find that many of the companies we are working with to place staff, here and elsewhere around Europe, desire English speakers. But native English speakers more often than not, are not able to speak another language.

It’s not only the lack of experience and language ability that can hold someone’s job search back, but the lack of will to relocate or commute to any job that is not located on their back door.

It’s a global world; it’s time we all started thinking global.

Have a nice day! Goodbye! Au revoir! Auf Wiedersehen! Arrivederci! ¡Adiós! Ok, you get the point.

[1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062982/Two-Britons-speak-SINGLE-foreign-word.html

Equality – Is it just a word?

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Euro London

It’s been decades since most states within the European Union developed legislation that protect men and women from discrimination in the workplace on matters such as pay and promotion. However, this week new statistics out have showed a worrying trend. All three of the top stock exchanges of Europe; London’s FTSE, Frankfurt’s DAX and Paris’s CAC, have Less than 20% of the seats on the board of directors occupied by women[1]. This week, Theresa May, the United Kingdom’s home secretary, stated that she thinks the UK alone is missing out on £21 billion a year in growth in the markets through a lack of female leaders and a further £42 billion a year would be produced if there were as many female entrepreneurs ran businesses as men [2].

So why is there still the fabled “glass ceiling” for so many women, when not only is there legislation to prevent discrimination, but also groups set up to help, such as the 30% club on the FTSE which hopes to see 30% of the number of the seats on boards taken by females. (I’m not sure why it’s not 50% to be honest, if you’re going to aim to make a difference, why not aim for equality?). There is also a general consensus that female board members are greatly beneficial, bringing a type of process and calculation to situations where a man’s pride may have taken over in a male dominated environment.

So is it a lack of ambition? Perhaps; But the world has turned into the most equal it has ever been! Where before the norm would have been for a daughter to cook and clean, to be the doting wife to the husband who would go out to work, nowadays a daughter is just as encouraged and supported as a son to go out and aspire to be all they can be.

Perhaps then women don’t want to fall into the stereotypes of a leading woman “conniving…ice queens…single…a token…a cheerleader”, but are these stereotypes still relevant today? Were they ever truly relevant at all…apart from in the films? The female leaders of some of the worlds biggest companies, such as Indra Nooyi, the chief executive of PepsiCo, has never lived up to any of the previously stated stereotypes.

So why do you believe there is still a disproportionate amount of men in positions of leadership? Especially in industry, the lucrative banking and petroleum companies etc. When do you think we will be equal? Will we ever?

[1]http://www.corpgov.deloitte.com/binary/com.epicentric.contentmanagement.servlet.ContentDeliveryServlet/USEng/Documents/Nominating-Corporate%20Governance%20Committee/Board%20Composition%20and%20Recruitment/Women%20in%20the%20Boardroom_Deloitte_012011.pdf

[2] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2057723/Theresa-May-Female-talent-boost-economy-60bn.html

How Much Trouble Is Europe In?

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Euro London

This week has seen a culmination of the troubles that have been brewing for months within the economy of Europe. All current decisions made now, are being made to avert what would only be described as financial recession; it seems that the future of Europe is hanging on a knife edge.

There have been some quite considerable changes within EU member states; Italy and Greece have both appointed new leaders to try and stem the flow of ever growing worries within their economies, whilst Spain appears to be heading for a change of leadership.

Interest charged on government backed bonds is hitting unprecedented levels; these rates indicate the risk perceived on the ability of the country to pay it back, the higher the interest, the higher the risk. Earlier this week Greece was faced with having to pay back 22% on top of what it initially borrows over the course of 10 years, and there is a very high fear that Greece won’t be able to meet its commitments and that is worrying the financial markets. To put that 22% in perspective, Germany’s interest on a 10 year bond is just over 2%.

However, positive news can be found in the consolation that the economy of the 17-nation Euro Zone grew by 0.2%, between July and September, not much but at least it has grown, kept buoyant primarily by the German and French economies after several other countries including Greece’s economy shrunk.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has described the ongoing Euro Zone situation as the continents toughest hour since World War Two, a highly charged use of words that was sure to grab the headlines across Europe and highlight how serious the predicament we are faced with.

What are your views on the current situation around Europe? Have the EU leaders got it right?

European Day of Languages; is it even worth the paper it’s written on?

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

Last week saw the 10th anniversary of the European Day of Languages “celebrated” throughout the European Union. If you didn’t realise, don’t worry you probably weren’t the only one.

The day which is officially organised by the Council of Europe and has a budget of 30 million euros was launched in 2001 to alert the public to the importance of learning a language, as well as promoting Europe’s rich and diverse linguistic heritage.

But in an era where every day seems to celebrate and promote an idea or cause, we ask the question, is the European Day of Languages even worth the paper it’s written on?

This year being the 10th anniversary we think it could have been the perfect opportunity to promote the importance of learning a language and the benefits it can bring to an individual. Unfortunately the well financed day passed by with a general lack of acknowledgement from the media and with few people knowing about it, the day faded into near obscurity. In the United Kingdom there were a small number of libraries that ran events and a few primary schools that held assemblies, but with a lack of a central organisation within the UK, it seems to have been but a drop in the ocean.

Elsewhere in Europe there was a greater attempt to celebrate the day, in Belgium there were poetry readings on the Metro and in Poland a gala dinner was organised to highlight the advantages of knowing a second language.

Here at Euro London we’d like to see the importance of learning a language championed every day by the European Union and not just one day a year, however well meaning it may be.

We’ll leave you to make your minds up on whether the day was worth the 30 million euros that were spent on it.

What better reason to learn French – to win the X Factor of course!

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

When we came across this story at Euro London, we couldn’t help but read on. A British student winning the French X Factor?! It sounds absurd, but Matthew Raymond-Barker touched the European nation’s hearts with his renditions of pop classics in the native language. Although admitting being less than perfect at the language when he arrived in the country, with the X Factor winner’s crown at stake Matthew quickly found his fluency with French.

The story is a perfect example of how language learning can open up opportunities that you may never have dreamt possible. Ok, this is a rather exceptional example but nonetheless illustrates that you do not need to let language be a barrier to your ambitions.

Learning a language may just be the X Factor you need to find your dream job!

Boosting the value of your language degree!

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

Graduate employment has been hit hard by the recession, with students finding it increasingly difficult to find a job following graduation. Although there is a reported 2.6% rise in graduate opportunities this year, finding employment is still a daunting prospect for many students.

At Euro London, we meet language graduates who are finding it difficult to find their niche in the world of work, leaving them feeling despondent about their job prospects and overlooked in favour of their European counterparts. They often find that although speaking a language can lead to certain opportunities, if not combined with relative work experience it can be difficult to find employment.

The year abroad, that is a mandatory requirement for many language degrees, offers you the chance to demonstrate your ability to adapt to a foreign environment and interact with people from different cultures. This is an invaluable skill in the workplace and makes you an appealing candidate if a job involves travel.

However, at Euro London we also actively encourage language students to support their language skill with extra activities such as internships, holiday jobs and work experience. Seeking experience in the fields that you enjoy is just one way to increase your chances of standing out from the crowd. In addition, work experience can be an excellent opportunity to test out different job sectors and discover which one suits you best.

Combining your language skill with other experience and qualifications ensures that you have a varied and well-rounded CV that increases your value to any employer.

Do you feel your language skill is valued by employers? We would love to hear your opinions and experiences, so leave your comment below.

What could your language degree do for you?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

This article will be part of a series of blogs focusing on language graduate employment.

Here at Euro London, we often encounter students who are unaware of the career opportunities available to language graduates – with many perceiving translation or teaching as the only options to utilise their language skill. We aim to dispell this myth!

Although a career in translation is a viable option for many multilingual individuals, it only represents a small minority of the employment opportunities available. We deal with companies that want multilingual individuals for a diverse range of sectors, recruiting professionals with languages into banking, office support, igaming, HR, marketing, sales, IT and customer service – proof that languages are a valuable commodity within a wide range of careers!

While a language will not always be advertised as essential to a role, it can be advantageous to an employer. In particular, languages provide an important means of communication to businesses with overseas clients. Within international businesses it is also increasingly expected to trade in the buyer’s language, therefore fueling the need for those with language skills.

So whether you wish to to be in HR or PR, an accountant or an actuary, your language may have a niche value. Taking a look at these broader options will enlighten you to the alternative career choices that your language degree could hold!

Don’t forget to check out next week’s blog for ways that you can add value to your language degree…

What kind of language learner are you?

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

Whether you’re a natural when picking up the lingo on holiday or just can’t get your head round your adiós and au revoir, we all have different learning styles when approaching languages. The process in which you learn a language can often determine whether you throw your books down in frustration or reel off vocabulary with ease.

As individuals, we have a natural preference for a particular style of learning. Discovering which style is best suited to you can enhance the process of language learning, as well as making it a far more enjoyable enterprise. Here at Euro London, we encourage anyone and everyone to take up new languages and whether you are a visual, kinaesthetic or auditory learner here are some handy tips to help.

Visual – Do you delight in drawing mind maps? How about scribbling down lists? If yes, then you may be a visual learner. Visual learners thrive on seeing vocabulary written down and therefore flash cards can be a useful prop to learning.

Kinaesthetic - If you enjoy learning through the act of role play and interactive group work then you are most probably a kinaesthetic learner. Kinaesthetic learners prefer to reinforce the act of learning through a physical activity. Interactive language games are perfect for those who prefer this style of learning.

Auditory - Do you find yourself singing Adele’s latest hit, word for word? Then you may favour auditory learning. Auditory learners tend to pick up conversational language more rapidly than others and rely largely on the spoken word to process information. Making up rhymes to remember vocabulary and listening to language tapes are both ideal approaches to learning a language for these individuals.

Discovering whether you favour visual, kinaesthetic or auditory learning may just be the key to unlocking your language potential!

Bilingual Officers – The Future of Policing?

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

The future of policing?

Ever had your purse pinched? Well fear not, the police’s latest weapon in the fight against crime is here: the bilingual officer. The recruitment of overseas officers is a police initiative set up to crack down on foreign gangs, many of whom target the Westfield shopping centre.

French-speaking officers have been used in an undercover operation to infiltrate an Algerian gang. Although this may read like a James Bond script, the use of bilingual policemen has led to the arrest of ten individuals responsible for theft.

Inspector Dan Stobbart claims that such measures are necessary to tackle the growing number of foreign gangs in the area, especially at a time when the police are experiencing Government cuts.

Only time will tell whether this is an effective and sustainable approach to policing gangs, however, in the mean time foreign criminals better watch out for those who may be listening in…

5 easy ways to make sure your language skills don’t go rusty

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

If you’re a multilingual jobseeker, your language skills are your bread and butter. In a competitive market, particularly with many bilingual and multilingual graduates out of work, it’s important that, if you’re not a native speaker of your chosen language, you keep your skills as honed as possible.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with five effortless ways to make sure you stay on top of your language skills!

1. Stop watching films in English (unless, of course, you’re not a native English speaker!) – watch some European cinema instead! Even if you’re watching an English film, change the audio track to your second language. Doing this a couple of times a week is an easy way to immerse yourself in the sound of the language without being in the country.

2. Talk to your friends! For example, if German is your second language, keep up the regular conversations with native German-speaking friends. Ask them to point out any mistakes and make a note of them at the end of the conversation.

3. Read a book or a magazine in your second language. Doing this will give you the time to pause and check on any grammar or vocabulary you’re not sure of.

4. Learn a new word every day – even native English speakers feel the need to increase their English vocabulary so why not do the same with a second language? The more articulate you are, the greater the edge you have over other candidates.

5. Play games! Sites like Sporcle are great resources for language quizzes for those times you feel like brushing up (and competing against yourself).

Keeping yourself at the top of your game doesn’t have to be a big effort, nor does it have to change anything about your regular routine, apart from the soundtrack!

The top five reasons to learn a second language

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Steve Shacklock

With English fast becoming a global language, and certainly the language of business, many people have taken on the attitude that it’s unnecessary to learn a second language. After all, if everyone speaks English, who needs to make the effort?

Here at Euro London Appointments, we seriously disagree! We are always talking about how language skills can increase your employability but that’s not the only reason why language skills are beneficial. Here are the other top five reasons you should learn a second language:

1. Studies have shown that being bilingual actually structurally changes the brain and increases intellect, especially for people who have been bilingual from an early age. Therefore bilingual people are more likely to have a rounded intelligence than monolinguals.

2. Language is not just about semantics. Having access to a language means having access to another culture and coming to truly understand it. This is great for business as different cultures have different ways of doing things and makes you more desirable to potential employers!

3. Knowing a second language increases your knowledge of the English language. Many non-native English speakers are sticklers for grammar – the same goes for language students. Learning a language from scratch makes you more aware of your native language’s grammatical structures.

4. Language skills get you into university. Some UK universities are now rejecting applicants without at least a GCSE in another language. Degrees are generally a path to a better job, therefore learning a language is a ticket to a better career!

5. Last, but by no means least, learning a language widens your appreciation of art, cinema, travel, music and the list goes on. By learning another language, you’re giving yourself access to a whole world of culture and art that you may have never experienced!

So don’t rely on the language skills of others. Take matters into your own hand, learn a language and open lots of new doors!

We must save the year abroad

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

It’s great news that the Government is going to fund the placement scheme for undergraduates studying abroad for the next year. But we must make sure that this funding doesn’t just last a year, but is long-term. What is the alternative? The UK could be in danger of developing a real language skill shortage that could compromise its position as an international business leader.

At Euro London we have seen a significant fall in fluency levels among language graduates over the past five years, largely down to a decrease in the number of people taking a year abroad. The UK already has rising University fees and fewer young people studying languages now that they are no longer compulsory. If we remove the year abroad, it would lead to the problem worsening, causing a severe lack of language talent.

With the UK operating in an increasingly global marketplace, employers need people that can communicate effectively with others around the globe. Not only does that require strong language ability, but also good cultural knowledge, and the year abroad is crucial in providing students with both of these skills. However increasing costs and student debt mean that many aren’t willing or financially able to take advantage of the experience. The UK needs to try and preserve the year abroad if it wants to remain competitive.

It’s understandable that students may be scared to put what they have learnt in the classroom into practice, or that they want to avoid the year abroad so they can graduate as quickly as possible. However the best way of securing the top jobs and start paying off those debts is to take full advantage of the year abroad to really boost their employability. Language speakers – you don’t realise how in demand you are!

No GCSE in languages, No place in our sixth form!

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

Is this the way forward? Simply not allowing pupils into a particular sixth form if they have not studied a language at GCSE? Well according to two schools in Essex it is the very answer! Both schools have claimed that from 2012 no pupils will be accepted into their sixth form unless they have at least one GCSE in a language – furthermore they have to have gained at least a C grade!

Harsh or fair you may ask? Can you really turn pupils away if they do not fit this requirement? Apparently so and the reason the two schools are giving is the deepening language crisis in the UK. The news has been filled with stories in recent months about a reduction in the number of pupils taking up GCSE’s in languages – after all it is now no longer compulsory and we have blogged on the subject very recently. Continue reading →

Hyper Japan

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

Our Japanese desk took some clients to the recent Hyper Japan event – and what a successful day it turned out to be. It was the first time the event was put on so we had no idea what to expect but had done our research and looked forward to seeing and hearing all about Japanese culture – we weren’t disappointed!

We had a great time! We got to sample some great Japanese food – octopus ball and one of my favourites, sushi; we were even shown how to make it by a top sushi chef! We listened to some great music and our clients seemed to enjoy it as much as we did! So why did we go to the event and why was it being held? Continue reading →

Learning a foreign language – the way to boost your career

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

We recently featured in an article in the Guardian discussing how learning a new language can really boost your career and that it is never too late to learn. To see the article and our comments in full click here. But here’s a summary of the piece:

Speaking to people in their own language for business purposes will yield results; people are far more likely to speak freely and openly if you are speaking in their own language
In jobs in sales, marketing or technical support, languages can really open doors. In fact it is estimated that having an additional language on your CV can add between 10% to 15% to your salary.
For those looking to boost a career, and in particular the graduates that are currently facing a tough time getting work, learning a language is very beneficial.
Most countries may speak English, and whilst some business may very well be completed in English to accommodate parties from across the globe, if you are seen to know a language and demonstrate this it can help to retain business. It is form of courtesy to show someone you can and are willing to speak to them in the native language.
Cultural knowledge is just as important as being able to speak another language. If you know the way of life of the country you are doing business in or with it will really prove beneficial.
The five most useful languages to learn currently are as follows: French, Spanish, Swedish, German and Russian.

What’s your experience? Can you relate with the points in this article or are you thinking about learning a language to boost your career? Let us know!

Are schools teaching languages the right way?

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

When you learn a language at school, say for GCSE or at A-Level are you equipped with the necessary skills to get by in the country in question? This was the question asked in a recent article on the BBC. We all know that the uptake of languages at GCSE and A-Level is decreasing but for those who do pursue a language are they coming out with just a qualification or do they have the ability to speak the language?

The BBC article suggests not and whilst French is generally the language us Brits can speak, or can say a few words in even those that pursue it often don’t come away with an ability to speak it. In fact language expert Paul Noble goes as far as to say that “students realise that even if they do get a GCSE in French, they still won’t be able to speak the language”

So does this explain the reason why students are not taking up the language? It may be one reason but another one is surely that it is not compulsory to do so. If it were students may be inclined to carry on learning the language after GCSE.

We’ve blogged about this issue before and we certainly think that languages should be compulsory but what we also believe is that students should be taught in such a way that they can speak the language once they have finished their learning. Maybe a possible option is to make exchanges with other countries mandatory so pupils visit the country and have to speak the language?

What are your thoughts? If you studied a language at school were you able to speak it when you finished the course?

123 year old language makes a comeback

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

Ever heard of Esperanto? If not, you might be interested in an article I came across recently which discusses it. Esperanto is a language that was created over 100 years ago and is spoken by huge numbers of people across the world and was officially recognised by the UN in 1954.

Esperanto was introduced by Dr Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof, a Polish doctor who wanted to devise an international second language to enable people to communicate worldwide. While the language may have declined over the years, with the increased use of the internet worldwide, Esperanto is seeing a comeback! Continue reading →

A-Levels & languages

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

With A Level results recently published there have been plenty of stories in the news about the lack of university places for some students and the increase in the number of students bypassing further education and opting to go straight into work. This got me thinking about some figures recently published about languages.

According to the National Centre for Languages (CILT) recent figures show that there has been a 3.7% fall in the number of students sitting A-levels in modern languages. Whilst there may have been an increase in those sitting the Spanish exam, those taking German and French both decreased which seems to have become a recurring theme over the years. But why is this the case? Continue reading →

Bilingualism key to prevent language extinction

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

I came across an interesting piece on twitter last week regarding bilingualism and it caught my attention for two reasons – firstly the very nature of my job means I am always on the lookout for stories regarding languages and secondly it reminded me of a post I wrote recently on disappearing languages.

According to researchers in Spain the dominating languages such as English have led to the decline and eventual extinction of less dominating languages like Scottish, Gaelic and Welsh. This, they say, is proven by mathematical models. Continue reading →

French is useless!

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

‘The useless modern foreign languages such as French’. That lovely quote was in an article I was reading in the Independent last week. ‘Ridiculous’ was my first thought (and still is) but let’s put it into context. The quote came from former government minister Chris Bryant when he was (we assume) trying to defend the actions of the previous Labour government’s failures to increase foreign language learning to school children. Chris Bryant wasn’t saying that languages shouldn’t be taught; on the contrary he was encouraging the teaching of foreign languages but just the ‘useful’ ones which he quoted as ‘Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese‘!

We’ve blogged before about the previous government lobbying to get languages such as Mandarin on the school curriculum but what amazed me was that a language like French that is so poplar and widely spoken was branded as useless by Chris! In our job as recruiters we see lots of jobs that specifically require French, which certainly shows it is not useless. More to the point shouldn’t we be encouraging the learning of languages whether it be French, German or Mandarin?

As pointed out in the article ‘according to some estimates it [French] has 265 million native or second language speakers, more than Arabic for instance, and is the most important trading language in large parts of Africa and elsewhere’. Clearly then in our opinion French is not useless and will continue to be an important language for the foreseeable future regardless of what an ex minister claims!!

Euro London works with ‘toy of the century’!

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

We’ve got some exciting news we thought would be nice to share with our readers. We have secured a contract with the LEGO Company to provide them with staff for their European Contact Centre. The LEGO Company is looking for approximately 50 staff to work during their high season.

We will be providing the LEGO Company with Customer Service staff to work in their Customer Service centre in Slough which will deal with customers across the whole of Europe. So that means we are looking for candidates that speak a variety of languages including German, Danish, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.

This is great news for us and we are excited to be working with the LEGO Company to help them deliver an excellent level of service across Europe. If you are interested in one of these positions and have the necessary skills or know of someone who you think fits the bill then be sure to get in touch with Sarah Oades at s.oades@eurolondon.com – and don’t waste any time – we are looking for candidates who can start in the Autumn!

20 years of recruitment success

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

We are pleased to be celebrating our 20th Anniversary here at Euro London appointments – doesn’t time fly?! There have been a lot of changes in the recruitment sector over the past two decades and we have witnessed them all – both the ups and the downs.

We came across a video recently that we recorded back in 1999 when we were approaching our 10th Anniversary and a lot has happened since then – we have expanded throughout Europe and I certainly now look somewhat older (but wiser)! It’s also amazing how much we have moved on in terms of video production and digital media – the video may only be 11 years old but it still made a few of us chuckle – and who knew 11 years ago that this video would end up on YouTube and our blog?! Continue reading →

Disappearing Languages

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

There are currently over 7000 languages spoken in the world but if we are to believe recent findings by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) by the end of this century half of these languages will have vanished entirely.

“Approximately half of the world’s languages are considered to be endangered. And we may be losing a language as often as every two weeks” commented Profession David Harrison. These are quite shocking statistics and according to Harrison, the reason these languages may soon vanish is because “speakers are pressured to assimilate to a more dominate culture” – in other words individuals are made to believe that their mother tongue is not desirable and other languages are better. Continue reading →

Brummies have their language skills tested

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

The BBC covered a story a few months ago about some bemused motorists that were confronted with a ticket machine with instructions in German! Users of the Birmingham multi storey car park were surprised to find that when the car park was full the machine suddenly switched to giving German instructions! Not very useful if you don’t speak German!

“Maybe the machine got confused” was the response of Birmingham City Council when asked why this was happening. They also described the error as a result of a change in software and motorists were assured that the problem would be fixed and there were staff on hand to help translate if people needed it.

An interesting story and maybe not the most common reason to learn a language but it really does show that having language skills does come in handy – even in situations like car parking!

Have you encountered any problems like this? If so we’d love to hear about them!

Public sector mishaps

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

If someone phoned you or your organisation asking for information in a foreign language what would you do? Would you be able to communicate with them? The Times recently featured an article titled ‘Parlez vous any other language at all?’. The article followed up a study they carried out whereby they phoned several public service bodies and asked varying questions in several different languages. The aim we suppose was to see how well front line staff could cope when faced with unpredictable situations.

Whilst the article was funny it was shocking to see how many organisations do not have staff equipped with basic language skills. The first example was with NHS Direct – the Times phoned them up asking for information on free bottom transplants on the NHS in Brazilian Portuguese! An odd topic some might say but it was clearly designed to show that it doesn’t matter what you might be asking for – the reality is you probably won’t get very far! As so it was true – NHS Direct couldn’t understand and rather than try and find someone that did or try and say I don’t understand the person on the other end of the phone just repeated what he/she was saying louder and louder (in English of course!) before slamming the phone down! You would think that the NHS might have some staff with foreign language skills – not the case here! Continue reading →

Vote for us!

Posted on May 13, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

Some good news for us here at Euro London, we’re delighted to have been shortlisted for bab.la and Lexiophiles’ Top 100 Language Blogs 2010 in the category of blogs for language professionals! If you enjoy our blog or if you’ve found any of our posts informative or entertaining then please drop us a vote by clicking here. At the same time we always welcome feedback so if there’s anything you’d like to see on our blog in future please drop us a comment and let us know.

Thanks!

Lobby for Latin?

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

We’ve blogged before about Ed Balls’ announcement that all school children should be given the chance to learn Mandarin at school. But now it appears that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson also has his own ideas on what the state school curriculum in the UK should be offering kids – the chance to learn Latin!

Boris Johnson is lobbying for Latin to be added to the state school curriculum and was quoted as saying “I firmly believe that we must not starve the minds of students eager to embrace the great intellectual disciplines of Latin……..we cannot possibly understand our modern world unless we understand the ancient world that made us all and there is simply no better way than to make young minds think in a logical and analytical way”.

His comments, as always, have sparked much debate on the subject and so we started a discussion on LinkedIn a few weeks ago to gauge public opinion on the matter, which attracted huge responses. Critics called it typical of Boris and his public school mentality and said that he was simply “grabbing headlines”. They argued that school children should of course be taught languages at school but what would be beneficial to them would be to learn modern foreign languages that they would, in the future use to further their careers (French, German, Spanish etc). Some also argued that teaching Latin just wasn’t realistic for schools to do – why? There is simple a lack of Latin teachers.

These arguments are valid, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and there were also plenty of people that agreed with Boris. They argued that encouraging the teaching of any language to children is a good idea – “it opens up your mind to a different culture, a different way of thinking and understanding where we are coming from” all of which are important later in life and in the world of work.

With the election looming and education being a key issue – who knows what will happen – I guess we will just have to wait and see after 6th May!

Try Life in Another Language

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

The National Centre for Languages in association with the Department for Children, Schools and Families launched the ‘Try Life in Another Language’ campaign. The campaign is designed to get as many kids learning a second language at school so that they are better placed to get a job when they reach the beginning of their careers.

The campaign was launched following a survey of 500 employers which found that other than I.T, the most important skill for jobseekers was to have a second language on their CV and this really set them aside from other candidates and furthermore, salaries for people with another language was higher.

As we all know, the job market was greatly affected by the recession so this got me thinking about language skills and the recession – were those candidates that did not have a second language simply unemployable? Of course not – but clearly those that did were at an advantage and having a second language can help candidates get a foot in the door at a time when competition for jobs is particularly high.

We recently blogged about a petition which calls for the Prime Minister to reinstate the compulsory teaching of modern foreign languages up to the age of 16 – we hope you all signed this petition and fingers crossed we will soon know that all kids at age 16 will have some grasp of a foreign language and, if they choose to pursue this – a good chance at getting the job they want!

Spotlight on translation

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

We spend a lot of time spreading the message that there are a wide range of jobs you can do with languages – anything from a football analyst to a games tester – and that linguists don’t have to choose either teaching or translation as a career path. However should you want a career in interpretation, it’s a great place to be.

I recently found an article about the interpretation industry which I thought was really interesting. Here are some key facts it points out about the industry:

Under the Human Rights Act of 1998, law courts now have an obligation to provide interpreters for people involved in a case who cannot understand or speak the language being used.
In the UK, Her Majesty’s Courts Service pays interpreters a minimum of £85 a day, rising to at least £110 a day for weekends or public holidays. An interpreter can charge more if the language they speak is less common.
For simultaneous interpreting – where the interpreter translates the words as the speaker is talking – it can rise to as much as £550.
The NHS also has obligations to offer equal access to healthcare for non-English speakers under legislation including the European Race Directive and the Human Rights Act, allowing translators to save lives.
The languages currently most in demand are Urdu, spoken by people from Pakistan, Pashtu (Afghanistan), Punjabi (India), French and Polish.

To read the rest of the article click here.

Language quiz

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Steve Shacklock

I came across this recently thanks to a tweet from @multilingualrec – a quiz that tests how many languages you can identify. If you think you’re good at languages, see how many of these you can get in 7 minutes! I got 16 – how did you do? http://www.sporcle.com/games/ZapRowsdower/foreign_language

The most popular language is!

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Steve Shacklock

Recently we thought it’d be interesting to get your thoughts on some questions so we posted a poll here on our blog. The response was good – although maybe we gave you too many options because we had a major draw on our hands!

The most popular languages, each with 17% of the vote, were: French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian and Scandinavian. Next with 8% each were German and Chinese, with neither Arabic nor Polish getting any votes.

The popularity of French surprised me as I assumed most people would have some knowledge of it – but maybe our respondents wanted to know more! With Spanish being such a widely spoken language this however was not a huge surprise. I myself voted for Japanese as I think Japan is a fascinating country and one whose prominence is growing, and the language is so different to any European one. I also think Arabic is an interesting language and one that is becoming increasingly important to know so I thought more people would be voting for that.

So what did you vote for – and more importantly, why?

What do you sink?

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Steve Shacklock

I recently saw a tweet from language portal bab.la that made me laugh. It was a link to a video which is a perfect example of why it’s important to know another language:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmOTpIVxji8]

Yes, it’s an old one. But as they say, the old ones are usually the best! And it does demonstrate a good point. Bad translations and language misunderstandings can be embarassing at best, potentially damaging at worst. So to avoid these pitfalls in the workplace, make sure you have the linguistic ability in place – or you might find yourselves in dangerous water like those in the video (excuse the pun.)

Language Show

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Steve Shacklock

Do you think languages are given enough reward in the workplace? It seems that the majority of linguists don’t. 65% of multi lingual job seekers surveyed by the Language Careers Fair said that they didn’t think that this ability was given enough reward and recognition in the business world. Another 80% were considering going abroad to use their language skills. Languages are a vital skill that any team needs today. Yes, times are hard, but hopefully as conditions improve, companies will give this issue some serious consideration.

The Language Career Fair, sponored by multilingualvacancies.com, will take place within the Language Show – the UK’s biggest event for everyone who loves or works within languages. The Language Show will run from 30th October to 1st November at London’s Olympia.

Are you job hunting? Euro London will be hosting a stand at the Language Careers Fair, so if you’re interested in what opportunities are out there, come and talk to us. But register first so you can get entry absolutely free. As well as the Careers Fair, the Language Show will be hosting demonstrations, performances, seminars and language taster sessions.

Hope to see you there!

10 jobs you can do with a language

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Steve Shacklock

When you ask a lot of people what jobs languages can offer, you get a range of answers, but the majority will say “teacher” or “translator”. And I think that this is half the battle when it comes to encouraging young people to learn languages – they think “what’s the point?”

So when we worked with some students from Lambeth Academy, we came up with the top 10 jobs that most people don’t know you can do with a language, to highlight that languages can lead to exciting and well rewarded career opportunities. These are all jobs that our consultants have recruited for over the past few years (in no particular order!)

Video games tester – playing video games to test that they say the right words in the correct language
Private jet sales executive – selling private jets, or fractional ownership of them, to high net worth individuals across Europe
Football analyst – watching and analysing the latest European football matches and producing reports on the failures and successes of the team. These are passed onto traders to aid investors in betting more successfully
International assignment manager – working for a large international company to help colleagues re-locate from country to country. You organise a place to live, schooling if there are any children involved, removals etc
Luxury yacht sales manager – Selling yearly memberships to “high net worth individuals “ who want to be charted on a route around the world on their private yacht and waited on by their own staff
Tour organiser – organising tours for pop bands around Europe, organising and booking venues and general diary and transport management
Art editor – editor and designer for a large internal magazine for a global bank
Journalist – uncovering the latest scoop on international financial trends and reporting on the information for a financial magazine
Press conference assistant – interpreting for Arsenal FC Manager Arsene Wenger and Jose Antonio Reyes for Champions League fixtures in Spain
Recruitment consultant – yes we had to get this in – you can work all over the world, recruiting people from all over the world into a range of sectors, from marketing to law, finance and IT

How can we help?

Posted on September 22, 2009 by Steve Shacklock

The CBI has caused controversy this week by announcing that University students should pay more for their loans and tuition fees. However an aspect of its report that has been lost amongst this debate is its advocacy of boosting language learning.

In the CBI’s press release, its Director-General Richard Lambert said, “Business should engage more with universities, both financially and intellectually. More firms should help design and pay for courses for the benefit of the current and future workforce, and more firms should offer students practical work experience. In return for this extra investment of time and money, business will want to see more emphasis given to certain subjects, such as science, technology, engineering and maths. Languages are also seen to be important, and the Task Force argues that more should be done to prepare students for the world of work, and teach them the generic skills that will help smooth their pathway into employment.”

According to the report, many companies have already committed to helping the cause, pledging to offer more internships and graduate positions. Although that’s a great start, is it enough? Can more emphasis be put on languages when it’s not even compulsory to study them at school? What could be done to better prepare students for the world of work? And how should companies help design academic courses? Let us know your thoughts.

Why learn a language?

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Steve Shacklock

We are always going on about how many opportunities learning languages can provide and it seems that more people are catching on to the benefits of having this skill on their CVs. Saint George International (SGI), the language training specialists, saw a big increase in the uptake of foreign language courses in the UK over the first half of 2009, as people turned to languages to put them a step ahead of other job seekers in this competitive job market. This got us thinking what the top reasons for learning a language are, so here are ours:

Cultural understanding – when you learn a language, you learn so much more than vocabulary and grammar. You get a feel for the country, its practices and its people, which is crucial when doing business on an international scale.
A for effort – yes English may be considered the lingua franca, but your customers or potential customers will see you as so much more professional if you are able to converse with them in their own language. Even if you just manage a ‘hello’ it shows that you’ve made the effort.
Opportunities – the world is your oyster with a language or two under your belt. Not only does it provide opportunities to take a range of interesting positions abroad, it could open the door to a promotion or new job opportunity here in the UK.
Be wise – your new international business partner may be willing to talk to you in English, but what about when they’re talking to their colleagues? If you’re in a meeting and not able to understand everything that’s being said, can you be sure that you’ll be happy with the outcome?

What have your experiences been?