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Jan 11

Legal English in Focus: The Language of Contracts – The Language of Legal Correspondence

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Legal correspondence forms an important part of the day-to-day work of a lawyer, particularly since the advent of the email. It is often assumed that emails are less formal than letters. However, in reality, the required degree of formality will invariably depend on factors such as the relationship of the writer with the recipient, the level of seniority of the recipient and the subject matter of the email.

Anyone working in a legal context in English should be familiar with the key expressions and terminology of Legal English. Here are a few important expressions used in semi-formal legal correspondence.

Business Meeting 12LajosRepasi i1 Legal English in Focus: The Language of Contracts The Language of Legal Correspondence

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Salutation
Where there is no named recipient, the phrase “Dear Sirs” is used. However the phrase “Dear Sir/Madam” is often preferable because it is gender neutral.

Where, on the other hand, the letter is written to a named individual with whom the writer does not have a close relationship and is thus not on first name terms, the appropriate gender specific title must be used. With regard to women, unless the writer knows that the recipient is married (where “Dear Mrs” is used), the appropriate title is “Ms”. Even if you know that the recipient is not married, it is best to avoid the title “Miss” as this tends to be considered too pejorative. The exception would be if the recipient has identified herself as “Miss”, possibly using her maiden name in her professional work, in previous correspondence.

A thorny problem arises where the name of the recipient does not make it clear whether the recipient is a man or a woman. For example if you had to write to a lawyer in Finland called Teppi Jaskalainen and were unsure whether Teppi was the name of a man or a woman, the appropriate solution would be to write the entire name in the salutation e.g. “Dear Teppi Jaskalianen”.

References to Previous Correspondence
There is a great variety of possible phrases that seek to refer to previous correspondence between the writer and the recipient such as:

  • “Further to your email dated 18 November, I am pleased to inform you that our client is willing to accept the proposed amendments to the confidentiality clause.”
  • “Thank you for your email dated 18 November”.
  • “I refer to your email dated 18 December”

Be aware that the second and third sentences are more succinct than the first, which in addition to referring to previous correspondence also seeks to set out the purpose of writing the letter.

Introducing Comments
Where the email sets out numerous comments on a particular clause in an agreement for example, including one of the following sentences that introduces the comments is common:

  • My comments on Clause 7 are as follows:
  • We have the following comments on Clause 7:
  • Our comments on Clause 7 are set out below:

Sending Documentation
When sending documentation by email we use the word “attach” but when we include documents with a letter we write “enclose” instead:

  • Email: “I have attached the draft shareholder agreement.”
  • Letter: “I have enclosed the marked up Schedule 2.”

If the writer expects the recipient to read the document or react in some way (e.g. give his comments), they would write “I attach for your attention”. However, where no action is expected on the part of the recipient, we would merely write “I attach for your information.” This would be appropriate, for example, when sending to a client a new brochure or an update on the law.

Giving Good and Bad News
You can introduce good news by using the common phrases “I am pleased to inform you” or “you will be pleased to hear that” in the following ways:

  • “I am pleased to inform you that Regional Court has rejected the Defendant’s counter-claim.”

The common phrases “I regret to inform you” or simply “unfortunately” introduce bad news:

  • “I regret to inform you that the court fees for lodging a claim at the Regional Court will be 575 Euro from 1 February 2011.”

Closing Remarks
There are several expressions that typically come at the end of a legal letter or email:

  • “Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter”: This expression is extremely helpful when the writer has made several requests earlier in the letter.
  • “If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me”: This phrase should be inserted when the letter contains advice. The phrase can be made slightly less formal by using the words “please feel free to contact me…”
  • “I hope that this matter will receive your prompt attention”: This phrase is useful when the writer has expressed his concern earlier in the letter that the recipient has failed to do certain things. e.g. pay an invoice. This phrase therefore acts as a reminder for the recipient to remedy the situation

Requesting Future Contact
It is common to end letters with the phrase “I look forward to hearing from you” irrespective of whether the writer expects the recipient to respond in writing or merely telephone him.

Signing Off

There are different ways of signing off depending on the context and relationship to the individual you are writing to.

  • If the letter begins with the salutation “Dear Sir/Madam” the appropriate ending is “Yours faithfully”.
  • If the letter is to a named individual e.g. Dear Mr Peters, then the appropriate ending is “Yours sincerely”.
  • Where the relationship with the recipient is closer, one can end the correspondence with “Kind regards”, “Best regards” or simply “Regards”.

Anyone taking a Legal English training course or looking to improve their Legal English skills can benefit immensely from reading through the key expressions and their use that we highlight in this series about the language of contracts.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2012

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Jan 04

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language – Outside the Training Room

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Anyone learning a foreign language should set aside some time for self-study, engagement with the language, immersion, discovery or whatever else you like to call it. What takes place in the formal language learning setting during the allocated times is not enough if you want to make real progress on your language skills. Anyone learning a language and taking a language course needs to allocate time outside the training room to practise and develop the skills learned in the formal setting.

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language - Outside the Training Room

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Practice makes perfect

Although you may not be assigned ‘homework’ between every training session, it’s important that you find the time to review previous lessons and any learning from them. It is only by reviewing your previous sessions in a critical way that you will be able to increase your comprehension and memorisation of new vocabulary and expressions you are learning. In order to memorise vocabulary items so that they can be used spontaneously, research suggests that you have to repeat each item at least 10 times. During training, your trainer will probably use activities that disguise repetition so that the process is not dull, so reviewing the activities you did in the session will help you to further engrain the new vocabulary and expressions into your language repertoire.

A web of language tools at the ready

Exposing yourself to the language you are learning as often as possible is one good way of getting used to its sounds. The internet has a wealth of reading material for all languages, so spend some time searching for the level and content of materials that best suit you. Reading articles and reports can also help you to expand your vocabulary and get used to the way the different structures of the language work.

Language learning can be fun

In addition to podcasts and articles, the internet also offers a wide range of fun activities and games which can help you to develop your language skills while playing something enjoyable. For those learners who have a higher level, there are foreign language radio stations, podcasts and videos. Try not to aim too high as you listen to these programmes as this can quickly demotivate you. Be sure you can understand a large percentage of what you hear so that you can develop your listening skills.

There’s nothing like the real thing

One of the best ways you can improve your language skills is by spending some time in a country where that language is spoken. Experiencing the real use of the language can be a very motivating experience and allows you to experience the language in ‘real’ situations outside the artificial environment of the training room. Having the opportunity to experience the culture of the country where the target language is spoken can give you added reasons for pursuing your training. A love of a language is usually closely associated with the love of a country where that language is spoken. The best way to experience a country and to practise its language at the same time is to stay in a family. This experience is open to all ages and can offer a combination of lessons and social experiences.

Among other benefits, immersion in a target language country can greatly improve your comprehension skills. Understanding the spoken language is vital as it holds the key to being able to participate in meetings, discussions or conversations. If you don’t have the opportunity to go to a target language country, then there are usually foreign language clubs you can join or online language chat forums.

No matter where and how you spend time developing your language skills outside the training room, the key to your success is not to be shy and stay determined. Get involved in as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ‘have a go’. The more you practise what you have learned in your language courses, the more you will develop your skills – leading you to greater confidence and competence in the language you have selected. Don’t let your language learning stop when you leave the training room!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2012

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Oct 24

Wittols, Aerodromes and Charabancs – How Words in Everyday Language Are Becoming Obsolete

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We often hear about words being added to dictionaries as they become part of everyday vernacular, but have you ever heard about any words that get removed? Some people argue that if a word has existed at some point in time then it merits a place in the dictionary. After all, who knows when someone may come across it in an old text and need to look up the definition? Others say that dictionaries should reflect the language that we use in the here and now, and so those words which have become obsolete in everyday language should no longer have a place in the dictionary.

Language and culture are constantly changing, so how do we keep up with these changes without losing our past?

Wittols, Aerodromes and Charabancs – How Words in Everyday Language Are Becoming Obsolete Language Training Courses

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Collins Dictionaries has recently announced that they will be dropping various words from its smaller English dictionary versions as they have become obsolete and outdated. According to The Guardian, some of the words which have made it on to this list of extinction include:

  • Wittol - a word used in the 1940s and earlier to describe a man who tolerates his wife’s unfaithfulness.
  • Aerodrome – a word which refers to the place where aircrafts take off and land. It is almost the equivalent to today’s ‘airports’. The word is still used in official documents by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) but rarely in everyday language.
  • Charabanc - referred to a motor coach usually used for sightseeing. This word comes from the French expression ‘char-à-bancs’, which means wagon with seats.
  • Succedaneum - signifying something used as a substitute. This word is mostly used in the medical sphere to describe any drug that can be taken in place of another.
  • Supererogate - not performing more than is actually required.

While some words become obsolete from everyday language, others still exist but their meaning has changed over time. Words like fun fur have remained in use as their meanings have been adapted to current circumstances. Fun fur used to refer to cheap animal fur that had been dyed in several colors until the 1960s. Today it refers to synthetic fur.

Though many of these words on the list are rarely used in modern society, they will still have a place in the bigger dictionaries as they might be relevant to specific fields, and logistically there is enough space to keep them there unlike in the smaller versions.

Words and their meanings are always bound to specific contexts and times in which their meaning makes sense. Anyone learning a language needs to be aware of how words are used today and historically in order to correctly interpret and understand their meaning. Language courses can help people keep up with the constant changes in language to make sure that their skills are the most appropriate for today’s modern world.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Oct 12

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language – Inside the Training Room

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Learning a language, as with learning anything, should remain interesting or else it can quickly become a chore. Once this happens, the motivation seeps away from the learner and the end of the learning process is in sight. This reasoning is particularly important for foreign languages as learning a language well can take years. It’s really important therefore that anyone taking a language course has the content and materials tailored to their unique needs and requirements.

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language - Inside the Training Room Language Training Courses

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Cinema fans would obviously be drawn to using film extracts, trailers and film reviews. Sports fans on the other hand would be more attracted by sports websites, sports TV channels, sports articles and columns in magazines and newspapers and sporting profiles. Obviously, if learners are in a group then they have limited control over the material provided. Whatever their preference and learning style, however, the methodology and content of the language course needs to be adapted appropriately to create maximum impact.

Learners are essential to the success of the learning process and are consulted more now than they ever used to be about their interests in an effort to ensure the most appropriate material is being used. For younger learners in schools, this is rarely the case as there is a curriculum and a lot of pupils to cater for. For professional adult learners, however, there is much more flexibility in the way that language courses are adapted.

Adult learners need to take responsibility for their own learning as this will create the most effective results. Learners who lack the right level of motivation, curiosity and open-mindedness about language training will struggle to see any concrete results. Here are a few things that learners can do or be to make their language course as effective as possible:

  • Learners need to be open-minded about how learning a language through different training approaches can benefit them. They need to be open about their personal interests and learning style so that the trainer can adapt the course in such a way that will remain interesting for the learners.
  • Learners also need to show a curiosity and willingness to understand the different structures of the target language and the way its grammar works. Asking questions and being inquisitive about the language rather than just memorising things will create the most learning opportunities that will be beneficial in the long term.
  • For learners in group language courses, sharing knowledge and ideas with other learners can help solve problems and facilitate progress. There is also the important social element present in a cooperative environment which can increase learners’ motivation and maintain their good levels of attendance in difficult times. The idea of working together with others to do activities, often referred to as task-based learning, has become an important approach in language learning.
  • As in any language, vocabulary is essential. For communicative purposes, it is arguably more important than grammar. It’s therefore imperative that learners are motivated to learn a certain number of new vocabulary items per week. These items need to be learned in context, so their precise meaning and how they are used can be fully understood. The pronunciation and spelling of the word are obviously important as well but may also depend on the level of the learner’s language ability and needs.  Being selective is essential as there are simply too many words in any language to try to learn them all.  This is the job of the learner outside the classroom and the job of both the trainer and the learner inside the classroom.

Language learners play a huge role in ensuring the success of any language course. By understanding their own learning style and sharing this with their trainer they can not only enjoy training more but they will also learn more effectively. Motivation, open-mindedness and curiosity are all essential for any language learner, not only in the training room but in practising the language in the real world.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Aug 31

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language: Choose the Most Effective Training Method

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There are many different ways to learn a foreign language. Whether you select an individual language course, group session, telephone training, eTraining, intensive course, immersion programme, home-stay or self-study, you need to first understand your personal preferences and learning style.

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language, Language Training Course, Choose a Language Training, Language Learning Styles, How to Learn a Foreign Language

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One way of figuring out which training format is best for you is by looking at your own personality and character. For example, eTraining requires a level of self-discipline to connect regularly to the site to practise. Individual training sessions work best with people who are able to plan their time effectively as missing training sessions can have a negative effect on learning. Group training sessions are effective for people who are willing to work through the language learning with other group members.

Another aspect which will help you to determine the most effective language training format is to look at your individual learning style. There are many different models of learning styles, but one model of learning styles suggests there are three different types:

  • Auditory – understand and acquire information well by listening to explanations or language dialogues
  • Visual – need to see the things written down and prefer different forms of visual learning like graphics and videos
  • Kinaesthetic – prefer active lessons with dynamic games and role plays that apply the learning to a practical context

Visual learners may not benefit from telephone training which lacks visual components, whereas kinaesthetic learners may benefit greatly from group training which includes role plays and movement. Training which involves lots of verbal discussion in the session and saves written assignments for self-study may not appeal to visual learners who need to see things written down. Meanwhile, training that uses a very communicative approach and lots of interactive activities may appeal to auditory and kinaesthetic learners. Knowing your learning style can help you to select the best training format and approach.

In addition to some of the methods we’ve explored here, there are a number of other training formats which could appeal to your personal style and preferences. The Community Language Learning (CLL) format, for example, uses humanistic techniques to engage the whole person in the learning process.

Other language training sessions use music and rhythm to tap into the non-rational and non-conscious influences on language learning. Increasingly language training also incorporates technology to increase the impact of training, whether through language eTraining solutions or language media centres which provide the tools to practise learning from the session.

Before signing up for a language course, it’s therefore really important to think about your learning style and preferred approach as well as your training objectives. This will ensure that the training format you select will give you the most opportunity to improve your language skills.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Jul 29

The Importance of Language Skills in Hospitals

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A recent article in The London Evening Standard revealed the impressive figures of London’s hospital spending on interpreters.  Some hospitals, like The London NHS Trust, spend up to £2.2 million on translators and interpreters per year.  In all, the total sum of spending in London hospitals reaches £15 billion.

If the amount of money invested in interpreters is so important, it is because hospitals must deal with people from different nationalities that do not understand or speak English very well.  Indeed, the UK’s capital city gathers a notable number of communities speaking a mixture of 140 different languages.

Hospital Nurse Jacob Wackerhausen i2 The Importance of Language Skills in Hospitals

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Immigrants may know how to speak English but vocabulary related to the medical field is very specific and lends itself to more miscommunication.  The difference between hospitals and other public institutions is that peoples’ lives are at stake, so misunderstandings can be particularly risky.

It is crucial therefore to pay attention to language in fostering a trustful and comprehensible relationship between medical staff and both patients and family members.  The choice of words used is highly important in order to avoid confusion and to calm and ease families’ minds.

As a result, interpreters are essential in providing real assistance to patients and families.  By speaking the patients’ native language, they can help to create a trustful and calmer atmosphere in the normally stressful situation of hospitalisation.  This is even more important when it comes to announcing bad news as the choice of words is essential in order to relay information without misunderstanding and offer the most effective support to the patient and/or family members.

Hospital administration is also an important factor as patients and families must fill in forms not only regarding social security but also regarding previous illnesses, allergies and medical issues.  Terms must be very specific and technical so immigrants and foreigners might have some difficulties understanding it all and may therefore struggle to complete the forms correctly or completely which can lead to confusion and even medical mistakes.

Developing a strong set of language skills through language training courses can help medical and hospital employees provide better care and support for international patients and improved management of families.  By speaking to their patients in their native language doctors can create a trust that will help them to more effectively deal with their health questions and problems.

Medical staff should not only have access to interpreters but also be able to speak some of the main languages that go through the hospitals in order to reassure the patient and handle the situation in a better way.  From a practical perspective, it can save time and money and also help to decrease the number of interpreters that hospitals pay for. Language training courses can help to make a difference in hospitals and save more lives.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Jul 18

Bilingualism and Pluralingualism in Global Corporations: How Business English Training can Improve your Competitive Edge

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As the presence of global corporations grows around the world, so too does the importance of language training. Companies are increasingly recognising the link between language proficiency and business performance and many are actively seeking to assess and improve the Business English language skills of their employees.

Bilingualism and Pluralingualism in Global Corporations: How Language and Business English Training can Improve your Competitive Edge, Business English, learning Business English

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Although it can be a long-term investment, acknowledging and embracing bilingualism and pluralingualism in global corporations is an opportunity cost and a means of gaining competitive advantage. The baseline is simple: without language proficiency, communication is hindered; without effective communication, business performance suffers. Business English Courses can equip multinational organisations with the communication tools they need for global success.

The ROI of Language Training

The International Research Foundation’s study on the impact of pluralingualism and bilingualism in global corporations suggests that there is a real and measurable economic return when investing in language and Business English training for employees. Given the cost of training, this should be an encouraging finding for multinational companies. The study also found that ineffective communication in the corporate environment puts organisations at a significant disadvantage. All in all, good language skills are a must in global corporations and investing in the development of these skills is profitable.

Languages, often classified under the social sciences, may appear to have a ‘soft’ exterior but their impact can be extremely hard-edged. This hits the right chord with global corporations who desire impact and value. In this respect, the challenge of language learning becomes multifaceted. While companies understand the importance of language training, they also seek evidence that it adds real value.

The International Research Foundation indicates two main areas of loss and four main areas of gain around language competencies in global corporations. Studies have shown that a loss of revenue and decreased productivity are the main adverse effects of poor language proficiency. For example, this could be in the form of language barriers causing frustration for customers, thereby potentially losing their long-term loyalty. Likewise, a discrepancy in the understood goals of a company expansion might make the process much more drawn out than necessary.

Benefits of Language Training Outweigh the Cost

Although language and Business English training can be costly initially, this is outweighed by the potential for an increased revenue stream and better productivity. In other respects, employees are likely to feel less pressure when communicating with colleagues and stakeholders if they are equipped with the right language tools. As a result, language competency will provide a greater sense of work satisfaction and increase talent retention. Employees will also be able to manage day-to-day communication better by responding more quickly and accurately to emails and conversations.

Financially, language and Business English courses make sense. How else then can companies make this investment really worthwhile? Businesses are beginning to realise that a ‘one-English for all’ strategy is no longer the answer to effective communication in the corporate world. Rather, language training should be more focused and function-specific. HR professionals need to learn language relevant to HR while financial professionals should learn language relevant to their field, and so on.

Learning the right language, therefore, is a must. Mehrabian says that communication comprises 55% body language, 38% voice and 7% words. Although we can use body language and tone of voice to convey more meaning in communication, words form the very basis of communication in business. Language, the carrier of words, is vital to the communication process.

Ineffective communication can result from using the wrong words in the wrong contexts. This can lead to delayed or misinterpreted messages and action in the business environment. Consider investing in a series of Business English or Legal English training courses depending on your context to help maximise your employees’ potential and improve your organisation’s performance and long-term bottom line.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011
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Jul 06

Bilingualism – Bilingual Students Achieve Better Exam Results than Monolinguals

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A recent report published by CILT (The National Centre for Languages) has confirmed that bilingual pupils achieve better exam results than monolinguals. The report, “Positively Plurilingual” showed that Portuguese children at secondary schools in London, who continued to study their native language, were five times more likely to achieve five top A* to C grade passes at GCSE than those that did not. The study also found that 11-year-olds in Hackney (a borough of London), who spoke more than one language at home, outperformed those pupils who only spoke English.

Bilingualism – Bilingual Students Achieve Better Exam Results than Monolinguals

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The report, with an introduction by CILT’s patron, Sir Trevor McDonald, highlights that too many schools are missing out on the opportunity to ensure that bilingual students continue to develop their language skills (other than English). McDonald continues “Rather than thinking in terms of an “English-only” culture, we should be promoting “English-plus”. The advantages of bilingualism are clear from the findings of the CILT research. In addition, the report cites research carried out in Canada, by York University, which showed that bilingual people were better at multitasking than those who only spoke one language. The research indicated that bilinguals regularly exercise the part of their brain known as the pre-frontal cortex which reinforces attention span.

But how many children are bilingual in the UK? The CILT report estimated that more than 850,000 children – more than one in eight – spoke a language other than English at home. The report concludes that the linguistic map of the UK is changing with the number of languages in use growing and spreading across the UK.

To read the report in full, please click here to download.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Dec 20

How to Make the Most Out of Your Language Training

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The Encyclopedia Britannica defines language as a “system of conventional spoken or written symbols used by people in a shared culture to communicate with each other. A language both reflects and affects a culture’s way of thinking.”

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We often interpret the world around us through the prism of our cultural roots and language categorises our experiences. For example, in Dyirbal, an Australian aboriginal language, balan is a lexical category coined to refer to women, fire and other dangerous things, as well as exceptional animals. This illustrates the fact that languages reflect communicational needs specific to their people and learning a language implies embarking on a long and exciting journey that will enhance your communicational skills and raise your cultural awareness and sensibility.

We know by now that language, defined by the people it serves, shapes their interactions with each other and the world around them. It is clear then that language training is not only a matter of memorizing a series grammar rules and repeating topical vocabulary. Although these are key activities that should not be overlooked, acquiring a new language equals learning a new skill for life. You need to understand surface concepts and structures but also have to discover aspects you can connect with. Familiarise yourself with its culture, food, people, places… Connect with your new language and discover a new passion. Give yourself the chance to use your new skills as often as possible to make the language learning process as effective as it can be.

Here is a list of tips to help you during your language training course:

Study out loud: by doing this, you engage your auditory memory. You may be used to relying on your visual memory when reviewing notes and reading textbooks. As strange as it sounds, this new form will keep you motivated and help you with pronunciation at the same time.

Do little and often: do not be tempted to go through your notes at the last minute. Learning a foreign language requires perseverance. It is more effective if you practise a few minutes each day as it is easy to lose a new skill due to lack of use.

Take intensive courses regularly: by treating yourself to a few intensive language training sessions every now and then, you will see results faster and have the chance to recycle and consolidate the areas you have learnt in your extensive training.

Enjoy the cultural experience: whether it is eating typical food, watching local movies, following a sports team or visiting the country whenever you can, make an effort to include aspects of your new language in your everyday life.

Recycle: try to review old material and combine familiar information with new topics. Language learning is a cumulative process.

Keep your perfectionist side at bay: too much attention to detail can hinder your progress. Aim for communicative competence rather than lexico-grammatical perfection. Mistakes are part of learning. Accept them and focus on getting your message across, understanding what happens around you and – above all – enjoying a journey of discovery.

Bearing in mind and applying these advices during your language training course will greatly help you to learn quickly and efficiently.

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Nov 15

How to Learn a Language – Part Three

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When following a language training course, regular practice or study is much better than irregular bursts of activity. It is also important for you to vary the kind of activities you do as well, otherwise you will soon become bored. Vary between listening tasks, on line grammar activities, graded readers and on-line chat, etc. Some learners might be frustrated at how difficult the level of language available to them appears. This is why graded readers and learner magazines exist. It is advisable to buy these with an accompanying CD so that you can continue doing listening practice.

How to Learn a Language – Part Three, language training, how to learn a language

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Try to remain realistic about how long it takes to learn a language. If you attempt to find quick fixes then you risk being disappointed. It is also a fact that learning a language is not like learning how to ride a bicycle: language is easily forgotten when it is not practised. Therefore, an important aspect of learning is also maintaining what has been learned during your language course through recycling.

A person, who is interested in the culture of a country where the target language is spoken, is probably more likely to feel motivated to learn the language. If you do not know about the culture, then try to find out some things that might interest you. If the culture does attract you, then you are more likely to want to do some research and visit the country.

Don’t spend time unnecessarily studying language points that are similar if not identical to those in your own language. Information is available that gives advice on which points need more attention than others. For French speakers who are learning English, for example, Catherine Walker in the book ‘Learner English’, Cambridge, 2008, states that ‘French shares many phonological characteristics with English. French speakers do not have great difficulty in perceiving or pronouncing most English consonants, but some vowel sounds present problems’. The French speaker therefore knows what pronunciation areas to concentrate on. Therefore minimal pairs such as ‘leave and live’, pull and pool’, ‘paper and pepper’ should be focused on. As far as grammar is concerned ‘The French and English grammatical systems are very similar in most ways’…(Catherine Walker) There are some important differences, however, such as the fact that French has no equivalent of the English progressive or continuous form. Therefore the difference between such sentences as ‘He lives in York’ and ‘he is living in York’ is not very clear to French speakers. In terms of vocabulary, certain false friends should be a priority. Some examples of these false friends are: actual or actually (the French ‘actuel’ means ‘current’ or ‘present’). Ignore (The French ‘ignore’ means ‘not to know’). ‘Pass an exam’ (The French ‘passer un examen’ means ‘to sit’ or ‘take an exam’)

Finally and most importantly, learning a language should be fun and it will only be fun if you focus on subjects that interest you. If you are interested in politics, the environment, sport or cinema, for example, it is a good idea to use the Internet as a source of vocabulary and articles that relate to these areas. For higher level learners, buying a magazine in the target language is a sure way to increase language learning motivation. Doing something in the target language is a great way to practise. Playing on-line games alongside or against opponents from other countries can help. Recent research in adult learning shows that ‘you’re likely to remember 20% of what you read and 30% of what you hear … and a staggering 90% of what you see, hear, say and do’.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2010

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