languages-for-businesses

[languages-for-businesses]

Not enough room in the space by Tim Lai-Smith, 7th October 2017

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How are your parking skills?

There are many things I like to compare between living in the #USA and living in the #UK.  One thing that is definitely not good in the UK is the size of the #parking spaces. 

Today I faced a real challenge when I went out with our 1 month old son and parked in a space with no #cars either side (as the #family #parking area always seems to be full). The only issue seemed to be the lengthy walk to the #ticket machine and #store which didn’t bother me.

When I returned to our car more people had arrived and there were few free spaces and of course my car was sandwiched.  I couldn’t get the #baby’s car seat in, it was impossible!  So what does someone do in this situation?  Balance the baby on the roof, ask a stranger to watch their child while reversing the car, or put the child in the boot while they reverse?  Of course none of these are a good idea.

I ended up dropping the back seat, and skillfully maneuvering the car seat through the boot and into place, making me think, there either needs to be more #family #parking, larger spaces in general or I should use the #bus which I am sure will inspire a #blog post one day!

[languages-for-businesses]

Did Nikola Tesla predict the Use of Drones in 1898? By Diogo Silva Santos, 6th October 2017

 http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

Nikola Tesla believed that #peace on Earth could be brought about by unmanned machines which would be so powerful that they could end any war. The thought of their menace would be enough to make rivals sit down and start peace talks. The way he envisioned these machines resembles what we know today as #drones.

Nikola Tesla thought that the #robot would be so groundbreaking that it wouldn't require any wires, cables or any sort of electrical or #mechanical connections to be remotely controlled by a human being. For Tesla, the most practical way of controlling such a #machine would be airwaves, impulses or radiations, being the range of these the only limit to where the robot could be used.

It is interesting to realise that a brilliant mind of the 19th century could so accurately describe a 21st century machine, but it is appalling to think that the peace he thought this type of weapon would bring seems far-fetched today. This says a lot about the type of #war we have now, and the level of violence our #world has to face.

[languages-for-businesses]

Rome by Sophie D, 5th October 2017

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Rome, in the heart of #Italy really is one of those cities you need to put on your bucket list. I travelled there a few years ago and I still marvel at how wonderful it is today. I mean, if you’re a history buff you will literally scream (not ashamed to admit I did and I’m not even into history that much) when you walk past the #coliseum, the Pantheon, the Sistine chapel, the #Roman forum- I could go on.

However in my opinion the place to go to get the best view of the city is Castel Sant' Angelo, for which there is a hefty amount of steps to climb, and once you reach the top, you’ll feel like your legs will collapse-but believe me you’ll be thankful you did it. It is undoubtedly one of those cities which remind you how important #history and #culture are and even if cultural trips aren’t really your thing- I’ve never met a person who visited Rome and didn’t like it. Plus once you eat in Rome, you’ll be scarred for life because nothing will compare to the gelato, the #pizza, the wine…Oh there really is no place like Rome.

[languages-for-businesses]

Terry Pratchett, King of Strange by Nakita Mason, 4th October 2017

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At the age of 66 Terry Pratchett, prolific #author of over thirty science fiction books sadly passed away. #Pratchett of course didn’t write your standard science fiction, it was comical science fiction, a niche which few others have dared to delve into.

When reading a Pratchett, you can only assume he had more #imagination than he knew what to do with, every story is a clash of colour, oddity and delight. The majority of Pratchett’s books for example, are set in his #Discworld Universe and if you aren’t familiar with this world it currently floats atop the back of a Giant turtle.

If you have never yet tried any of the wonderful Mr Pratchett’s work (and I’ll admit, it’s an acquired taste) then I strongly recommend you begin with ‘Mort’. This Discworld novel revolves around a retiring Death (a character that pops up frequently) looking for an apprentice.

This is just one story, there are many others, all created by the brilliant and wonderfully #quirky Pratchett. He was a #storyteller like no other and is sorely missed.

[languages-for-businesses]

10 Weird Museums of the World by Diogo Silva Santos, 3rd October 2017

 http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

Some well-traveled people might think that there is nothing left in the world that can #surprise them. This list proves that there are still some museums left, that will astonish or amaze in a way never thought possible:

Bata Shoe Museum (Toronto, Canada) - 13 thousand pieces, explaining the #evolution of shoes to date.

Museum of Brands and #Advertising, (London, England) - a huge collection of original boxes of the most famous products in the world - highly recommended for those who study or appreciate #marketing.

Glore Psychiatric Museum (Missouri, United States of America) - founded by George Glore, a crude and uncensored collection that shows in (too much) detail the #history of mental treatment.

El Museo de Las Momias (Guanajuato, #Mexico) - mummies, mummies everywhere! Mostly standing upright! One has to be comfortable around mummies to properly enjoy the visit.

Hair Museum (Missouri, United States of America) - a whole museum dedicated to hair locks and extensions that belonged to celebrities and unknown people (because why not?).

Museum of Death (Hollywood, United States of #America) - extensive collection of death related items, which manages to spook the faint-hearted and amaze #daredevils.

Sewing Machine Museum (#London, England) - dedicated to sewing machines (you guessed correctly!) this museum can explain and show you everything you ever wanted to know about these useful machines.

Siriraj Medical Museum (Bangkok, #Thailand) - some might call it a competitor to the Museum of Death, as some of its centre pieces are several types of organs that were infected by worms...

National Mustard Museum (Wisconsin, United States of America) - mustard fanatics rejoice! With close to six thousand mustard varieties from all over the world; even those who don't particularly like #mustard should manage to find one to their liking.

The Museum of Bad Art (Massachusetts, United States of America) - celebrates the art that is "too bad to be ignored". The home of #art pieces that are misunderstood by everyone except the #artist who made them...

Next time you are in an 'I have seen everything type of mood', why don't you visit one of these museums, and prepare to be surprised while learning something new.

[languages-for-businesses]

Why do languages matter? by Elisa Baelus, 2nd October 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

"Language is what makes humans human".

That pretty much answers the question. Human life, whether you look at it from an economic, #social, scientific or another angle, is made possible through language.  Roughly said, that’s the core of the eloquent message broadcast by the brilliant cognitive scientist, linguist and Harvard professor of #psychology, Steven Pinker.

In a #London Real interview, he was asked perhaps one of the most hated and dreaded questions among linguists and language aficionados: “Why do linguistics matter?” It’s a sensitive topic and one that would push most people into a defensive position (it’s hard to argue sometimes and not be intimidated if your conversational partners are very pragmatic and tech-focused).  Maybe the biggest reason for this is that people involved with languages sometimes have trouble answering that question themselves.  I for one sure found it difficult. While I never had any doubt about how much I loved #languages as a language grad, I did sometimes worry about the #economic significance of it. “What am I going to do with this? How is this useful? Who is going to hire me?”

[languages-for-businesses]

How We Were, How We Are and How We Can Be by Diogo Silva Santos, 1st October 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

Contrary to popular belief, it is known today that personality, empathy and intelligence do evolve over our lifetime.  Although it is easier when we are younger, we can still learn, adapt and evolve whenever we want.

Our brain doesn't stop evolving and develops according to our needs when we "ask it to". The brain isn't limited by age, new neurones and new neural padrones (or new knowledges and skills) can always be created - life is changing and being alive requires change.

The longest study about human personality couldn't find significant similarities between the 14 year old and 77 year old self of study subjects. The study conducted by researchers from the University of Edinburgh indicates that our adolescent personality can be very different from our personality in late adulthood.

The study began in Scotland in 1950, when 1,208 14 year olds answered a personality assessment questionnaire in order to evaluate their self-confidence, perseverance, emotional stability, ponderation/ scrupulousness, originality and willingness to learn new things.  In 2012, 635 of the 1950's adolescents were successfully located and now 77 years old, two-hundred accepted to participate in a follow-up study which showed that there wasn't a significant statistical relationship between the 1950's results and how they themselves, their relatives and their friends classified the participants' personalities.

The study isn't conclusive as it doesn't determine that this necessarily happens to everyone but rather indicates the possibility that our personality can change over our lifetime. These results agree with those of other studies which suggest that the longer the time frame between questionnaires, the bigger the differences between who we were and who we are today.  Haven't we felt this? Especially when we look at an old picture taken decades ago when we were just five or six years old... Is it us? Or is it someone that we once were but is gone now in favour of a different (better) person? Like a river that flows in the same place forever while constantly receiving new streams of water.

[languages-for-businesses]

Paintings of Nguyen Lan Vy by Le Thanh Hai, 30th September 2017

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The young #artist, Nguyễn Lan Vy, is not concerned about the appreciation of her #art on conventional merit.  When drawing a horse she does not try to capture its exact appearance, but rather, is happy with a certain likeness.  Furthermore, when feeling that the piece is not strong enough, she adapts an idea and is satisfied with a helicopter when she is unable to draw a good enough plane!

According to Trần Ngọc Thêm- Professor of Vietnam Studies, Vietnamese Folklore artists used precisely this method in their #creative works. In the ‘Postmodern’ world this is also what we can anticipate from an expressionist like Nguyễn Lan Vy who finds inspiration in #music and reproduces this on a two-dimensional space.

Already with her own distinct style, I believe that Nguyễn Lan Vy is becoming a citizen of the #Global Art World, and we could all use her method of self-expression and encourage our children to give art a try!

[languages-for-businesses]

A Dutch-speaking Flemish person living in Belgium by Elisa Baelus, 29th September 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

Introducing oneself as #Belgian during my studies abroad usually caused one out of the two following reactions: people either didn’t really know where #Belgium was, or they did, in which case they most often remembered it had something to do with #Brussels and think everyone speaks #French. In the first case, people would often be a bit embarrassed and apologetic, which prompted me to put them at ease and laugh it away – after all, my own geographical knowledge is close to non-existent so I’m not really one to talk. In the second case however, I’d be somewhat annoyed. I would tell them that yes, Brussels is in Belgium (1 bonus point), but no, not everyone speaks French (-5 points). I would tell them that I’m from Flanders and that I speak #Dutch. This didn’t make much sense to a lot of people, understandably. Some people had heard of Flanders before, and to my pleasant surprise one person even referred to #Flanders as the northern half of Belgium. It was usually the language part most people couldn’t wrap their heads around. For those who wonder, I’ll try to explain, for those from home: please forgive oversimplifications and #historical inaccuracies.

The official language in Flanders is Dutch. Many bitter #political battles have been fought over this establishment, and for a very long time French was bon ton amongst the elite and therefore the #language used for official affairs until an equality law put an end to that in 1898. Important to know also is that one upon a time Belgium and the #Netherlands used to be united, hence the shared language. There have however always been many varieties and #dialects, and the language differences between Belgium and the Netherlands have grown much bigger over the years, up until the point that we now officially speak of Belgian Dutch, or as the locals have it, Flemish. #Flemish is however still more regarded as a dialect and is not an official language, which is why we continue to confuse well-intended curious #foreigners with explications as intricate and long as our own dear #political system.

[languages-for-businesses]

What Should I Read Next? by Diogo Silva Santos, 28th September 2017

 http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

In their #digital form or #classic paper, #books always teach us something new, they entertain us and even accompany us wherever we go. Our free time goes much too fast when we’re reading a good one!

The trouble is finding a new author we like. I admit I tend to rely too much on a dozen or so authors that I already know I enjoy #reading.

A website called whatshouldireadnext.com, wants to give us all a helping hand to find new authors we would like and also the actual book we should read after the one we’re reading right now; and enjoying so much we don't want to reach the end of!

A daunting task done by a cleverly straightforward #website that has already helped me find great #authors that I would have failed to notice otherwise.

Clever websites like this are definitely worth a visit and should be more commonplace. After all, being aware of every new book release is not easy.

[languages-for-businesses]

Circular Walk by Tim Lai Smith, 27th September 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

The other day, my three years-old son and I went for a walk; well I was walking, whilst my son was on his new #scooter that his aunt and uncle from #Canada had bought him for his recent #birthday.

As the sun beamed down on us we made our way along a somewhat bumpy path (against the safety suggestions in the scooters manual), but my son seemed to be doing just fine.

When it came time to turn around and make our way back to the car, my son insisted on carrying on and eventually we completed a large circular tour of the beautiful park.

It was towards the end of our circular tour that we crossed a stream and soon stumbled upon a wonderful flower patch with daffodils in full flourish.  I stopped to take some #pictures and my son became fascinated by the ducks and the colour of the flowers. 

It then dawned on me that our walk was not much longer by carrying on in a circle, yet we saw different things and it was by far better than the first half of the #walk.

[languages-for-businesses]

How to really learn a foreign language by Elisa Baelus, 26th September 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

Learning a new #language is tricky #business. It is a process that takes time and perseverance, and the road to #linguistic success is long and full with never-ending classes, tongue-twisting new syllables to master and discouraging moments where native speakers look at you with a puzzled look on their faces, because they have no idea what you just said – and neither did you.

But hey, it’s not all bad. Because guess what? Once you conquer those hurdles and actually have your first, proper conversation with a local, you’ll feel like you can take on the world. That exact moment, when you’re filled with pride of what you’ve accomplished, that’s what you do it for.

So how do you get to that point? There are plenty opportunities out there to learn a language, so many in fact that it becomes really difficult to choose. My advice, pick a format that suits you. That might seem a bit obvious, but it’s harder than you think. Some people will go to a course because it’s the one that came best recommended, or because their friend goes as well. But you should choose something that fits with your schedule and suits your personal ambition, whether that is an evening class or an online course you follow from home.

What is the key to becoming really fluent in a foreign language though? Going abroad. Of course it’s not that easy, especially if you already have a job or if you’re saving up for something else, but real-life conversation with a native speaker, and preferably total immersion in the language, is the secret sauce that will top of the end result. So even if you can only go for a couple of days during your summer holidays, go. It will be worth it.

[languages-for-businesses]

What Can the NHS Learn from its Poorer Counterparts? by Sophie Mihell-Hale, 25th September 2017

 http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

The UK’s National Health Service, or NHS, is the largest publicly funded health system in the world, with over 1.3 million employees and treating over 3 million people every week. However, despite its pivotal role, the NHS has not been spared the government’s recent cutbacks and the service has been set a £30 billion saving target, to be reached by 2021.

While the effects of the cutbacks can be seen in every area of the NHS, from limits on medical equipment to unit closures, it was announced this week that the service was still facing a #funding shortfall and was at risk of reaching only two-thirds of its overall saving target by 2021. As a result, the NHS has been told to look abroad, specifically to its poorer counterparts, for greater savings ideas.

So what can be learnt from looking #overseas?

In India, attention has been drawn to its Aravind Eye Care cataract clinics. The clinics have 400,000 patients a year – 60% of the volume the NHS has for the same procedure – yet performs surgeries at one-sixth of the cost. With levels of surgery success that match the NHS, the difference lies in the surgeons’ time allocation, more of which is spent in surgery at Aravind clinics. Adopting their approach could save the NHS £1.1 billion a year.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s Medicall Home scheme has also been highlighted. A service which reduces unnecessary GP visits by alternatively providing a nurse-operated telephone service to deal with any queries or problems they may have, it is predicted that such a system in the UK could save up to £800 million a year.

Ghana’s mobile phone based solution was another scheme made example of, where patients, instead of seeing a doctor directly, have photos and details sent via mobile phone for “interpretation by a doctor at another location”.

All these ideas validate the argument that quality #healthcare can be provided at lower cost and the NHS most certainly can learn from them. The real question is, however, can these ideas work here? We shall have to wait and see.

[languages-for-businesses]

Marketing v Staff by Diogo Silva Santos, 24th September 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com 

There are many variables which can make or break a #business but one important aspect is often overlooked- the staff, especially how happy they are in their job role.

The importance of a happy staff is definitely more noticeable in a shop. I would even dare to say that customers don't mind paying extra for a good product if the salespeople are helpful and kind to them.

A positive attitude throughout the day, the willingness to find a particular item without caring if it takes some time to find it, and being close enough to help the customer when needed are three positive things that only efficient and happy staff do, and today's #customers definitely notice and appreciate that!

'Allowing' a buyer to roam around a shop without assistance, and not bothering to reply to emails or answering phone calls are clear signs that a business doesn't really care about its customers, and it doesn't matter how much is spent on advertisements that say otherwise.

A contented workforce makes a difference even when mistakes are made. The way staff apologise and acknowledge mistakes in order to regain the customer's trust can be the difference between return custom and resentment; from never returning to the shop to considering a lawsuit... An unhappy customer can also be very vocal and destroy the shop's online reputation, which will take its toll on future custom.

In today's online world, who doesn't google a shop before visiting it in order to read what other customer’s #experiences are?

Keep your customers happy by keeping the staff happy. Make the staff proud to be working at the shop in customer services. It is a win-win situation for every business owner and probably much cheaper than an #advertising campaign.

[languages-for-businesses]

IELTS by Gabriela Sambuccetti, 23rd September 2017

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Muchos #hispanohablantes interesados en #estudiar o trabajar en el Reino #Unido tienen que pasar por la instancia de examinación del IELTS. El IELTS es el #sistema de evaluación internacional de #inglés. Está dividido en IELTS #general o #académico y es reconocido por más de 9000 #organizaciones a nivel #mundial.

En las #universidades se pide tener un nivel de entre 6 a 7.5 puntos en el resultado de este test, dependiendo de la #carrera elegida. Y en algunos trabajos también exigen el IELTS para corroborar que el aspirante tenga un nivel de inglés avanzado.

El #examen consta de cuatro partes. La primer parte es el “listening”, un módulo de cuatro secciones con diez #preguntas cada una. La segunda parte del examen es el “Reading” que tiene tres secciones con cuarenta preguntas. Y la tercera parte es el “writing” que se divide en dos partes (la primera requiere escribir 150 #palabras en 20 minutos y la segunda 250 palabras en 40 minutos). Finalmente está el “speaking” que consiste en una #entrevista con el examinador de alrededor de 15 minutos.    

Es un examen muy útil a nivel #laboral y #académico, y por eso mismo suele ser muy estresante. Pero en el test se evalúa fluidez y naturalidad, por ende, se pueden poner en práctica algunos ejercicios de relajación para sentirse cómodo al momento de rendir.

[languages-for-businesses]

A rolling stone by Nakita Mason, 22nd September 2017

 http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com

What was the best thing you got out of University?

I had a letter recently from a #university friend.  It’s only been five years since I left #Bradford University, and already it’s like another world, highly coveted and sorely missed.  My education thus far hasn’t quite paid for itself, not obviously, but then University is much more than the course you take, it’s the people, it’s the challenge. My closest friends are people I met at school or university, and the vast majority of them I don’t see or speak to for most of the time, months or years in some cases.

But that’s the beauty of them. Nothing changes. You reminisce about the past you both remember so well and still find the same sparks of humour in the happenings of now.  With the true friend, time isn’t an obstacle, you remain tethered.

Rarely is any venture wasted, and whilst University did not bring me the integrity and fortune as I’d hoped, it did bring me lifelong #friendships and a learning experience that went beyond the #classroom. I have several friends from university and #school that stand out for me and all taught me something new. I can only hope that I gave something back in return.

[languages-for-businesses]

First impressions by Diogo Silva Santos, 21st September 2017

http://www.languagesforbusinesses.com 

We all do it. We judge the book by its cover, we judge a show or #movie based on the first minute and we judge someone by the very first impression we have of them. We spend more time with those that we think might be worthy of our trust and #friendship. Of course, we all make mistakes and sometimes end up trusting the wrong people.

How can we improve this? It may be easier said than done, because we actually have to spend some time and effort not trusting our gut. It's so difficult it could almost become a new way of life, but if we give chances, we may be surprised to find out that our first instinct was wrong, and our lives become richer.

However, in those cases where our instinct was right, we rest assured knowing that nothing was lost, perhaps just a bit of our time. With this "exercise", our first impressions will get better and better over time. We will really listen to those we meet, and our judgment will be based on facts rather than on #impressions.

How many good things passed us by because we didn't care to take a closer look?