01603 260869
Have you ever wondered how to translate proverbs into other languages? Are the same concepts used, or totally different ones? Well, the answer is that some are, whereas others are totally different.
In German, ‘wir haben alle unsere Kreuz zu tragen’ is a direct translation of the English ‘we all have our cross to bear’. ‘To put all one’s eggs in one basket’ however does not involve eggs nor baskets in German. The expression is ‘alles auf eine Karte setzen’ (to put everything on one card). Read more
Italy is a popular holiday destination. With almost 40 million visitors per year, it is the fourth most visited country in the world. What do you know about this beautiful country and its people? Here are some interesting facts for you….
One language which is closely related to English is German. German sits within the West Germanic arm of the Indo-European language family, together with English, Dutch and Flemish, Frisian, Yiddish, Afrikaans and Luxembourgish. There are certain similarities regarding grammar, syntax and vocabulary with the Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) and Icelandic which, together with Faroese, are among the North Germanic languages. Read more
The sun is shining and many people are thinking about holidays. There is so much choice and a lot of information is readily available to us thanks to the internet. So what are the most popular destinations for the Brits?
Spain has long been a favourite of British holidaymakers, and it remains the UK’s number one holiday destination. Whether it is one of islands (such as Mallorca) or a resort on one of the Costas, there will always be many tourists from around the UK all around the country. Read more
I have been sent some documents as I am conference interpreting next week. I go through the powerpoint presentation, checking the vocabulary for any new concepts. Every industry has its own jargon, and sometimes there can be linguistic challenges. It is better to do the homework, so I can be fully prepared. This also helps interpreters look professional when they are on their assignment. I am grateful for the internet; it would have been a lot harder ‘in the old days’ to get acquainted with these new concepts and learn about the company I am interpreting for.
When you have a letter to translate for work, want to produce your CV in a different language, or have any other translation need, it is tempting to save money and ‘do it yourself online’. Is this a good idea? Read more
Exam season is well and truly upon us. For those studying a language, the oral has taken place by now. Different exam boards offer different variations on what is required – some students have to prepare a presentation in the foreign language, others answer questions in the exam, although they get a few minutes’ preparation time. Read more
Hello and welcome to my new website! I look forward to welcoming current students and clients, and meeting new people. Please spend a few minutes looking around my website to get an idea of what I can offer. Maybe you know someone who is struggling at school? Why not point them in my direction? I not only offer help with French, Spanish, German or Italian at any level (and help with preparation for GCSE and A Level), but also offer tuition for literacy, which affects so many other subjects in addition to English. Or perhaps you own a property abroad and wish you could speak Italian, Spanish, French or German to get the most out of your ‘adopted country’? Are you planning a holiday of a lifetime somewhere and wish to learn a few phrases before you go? Maybe your business has the need for interpreters when foreign clients visit, or you need documents translating?
If I can help in any way, please get in touch, either by phone or email. I look forward to discussing your language requirements with you. I am always happy to offer advice, after all, language is my passion! I hope you will check my blog from time to time for some interesting articles and linguistic advice.