Imagine you are working in a different country where you do not speak the language…

- Would you recognise a warning sign?

- Understand an important safety message?

if it were not in your native tongue?

This is a dilemma faced by migrant workers every day here in the UK and for obvious reasons it needs to be addressed and there is legislation which places responsibility clearly with either the employer or the agency providing staff to address health and safety and in particular issues relating to language and communication.

The Health & Safety Executive requires employers of migrant workers to address the following issues or run the risk of prosecution.

• Provide essential induction training and any necessary job-related/vocational training;
• Provide relevant information about the risks to which they may be exposed and the precautions they will need to take to avoid those risks;
• Consider the needs of workers who may not speak English well, if at all, and whether you need translation services;
• Make sure workers have received and understood the information, instruction and training they need to work safely and consider how to ensure it is acted upon;
• Make sure workers are adequately supervised and can communicate with their supervisors;
• Make sure workers know where and how to raise any concerns about their health and safety and about any emergency arrangements or procedures.

Language is fundamental to these issues and it is interesting they only consider translation, which while a solution, it is a sticking plaster contrasted with the lasting impact of providing language training for the migrant workers, the supervisor or indeed both.

Here at the Vici Language Academy we are adept at addressing these important health and safety issues and work with organisations to determine the most appropriate way to ensure language is not a barrier to health and safety.

This can include on-site training or here at the Academy and can including training the workers to be sure they understand key health and safety terminology through to wider relative language skills. Or alternatively we can equip those in a supervisory role with the language skills to speak to the workers. Ideally a combination of both can provide a belt and braces approach to health and safety.

There is also evidence that many migrant workers take lower paid work because of poor language skills; this means that with the right support and training your migrant workers could deliver at a higher level for your organisation.

So please put health and safety first and talk to the Vici Language Academy where we speak your language.

In the global marketplace more and more businesses are employing workers for whom English is not their first language as companies recognise the best person for the job may not be a native of this Emerald Isle.

If an employee has the right skills why should language be a barrier, especially when help is on hand from the multi-lingual team here at the Vici Language Academy in Newbury in Berkshire?

Clearly if it comes to health and safety issues then it is obvious why help learning a language should be on hand, however have you considered the difference language skills can make in the boardroom?

For example we recently helped a director who is French; he can speak excellent English and has no issues communicating day to day, however he contacted the Vici Language Academy after a series of board meetings.

He felt that the nuances were being lost in the boardroom on issues of culture and values, which are naturally of great importance to the direction and success of a business. The truth of what cultures and values represent should not be lost in translation.

It does not impact on day to day business, however within the important confines of the boardroom the nuances of important decisions can be lost in translation and this could have a real impact on the outcomes or implementation of resolutions.

We followed our trademark bespoke approach which means that before deciding what language programme will meet a client’s needs we ensure our understanding of their reasons for wanting to learn a language, their ability and crucially their learning style.

This way we can always be sure to tailor any language training we offer to meet the needs of a client together with their ability and the way they prefer to learn.

In this case it was further developing English language skills to better explain the nuances that are needed in the boardroom. Equally it could have been that French language skills were useful to other people at the company.

Here at the Vici Language Academy we pride ourselves on finding the right approach to help businesses flourish through effective language training whether that is in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese or even English as a foreign language.

If you face challenges in your boardroom through differences in languages do contact the Vici Language Academy as I’m sure we can help.

Have you found your perfect holiday home? Dealt with the paperwork? Done the decorating? Met the locals?

Yet…

• Don’t feel quite at home?
• You want to get involved but can’t quite manage to?
• Is there something missing to make this experience the one you had always dreamed of?

Don’t worry. Most property owners abroad feel the same.

Try to imagine how you would feel if you could speak to your neighbours clearly and accurately; make friends and even strike up a conversation in the village café? How about dealing with local tradesmen with ease and getting the best deals; surely that would give you a sense of pride and achievement?

Is ‘fitting in to the community’ the last piece of the puzzle?

My advice is to try and make your property investment go further by mastering the local language.

1. Choose a language programme to suit you, personally:

• short or long term
• flexi class times
• group learning
• personal coaching

2. Also, go for the right teaching methods. I suggest the Communicative Approach: a real hands on experience of the language and the only one that works for people with property abroad.

Why? Let me explain…

Having studied languages at school then lived abroad (where the real test starts), language teaching in control of grammarians who taught you that after all the conjugation, declensions, irregularities and exceptions were mastered, surely, fluency would follow is … NOT my cup of tea!

I defy the language-teaching tradition of rote regimentation and grammar worship. There should be no chart to learn, no homework, no drudgery, and no tests. But all fun! The emphasis should be on real conversation between teachers and students and ideally, it should take place in a relaxed ‘café’ atmosphere.

Wouldn’t you prefer real-world to student-world contact with the language?

Nobody is too old or too busy, there is always a way! And that beautiful house you’ve just purchased is by all means, well worth it!

01635 5224210 is the number to call if you need a friendly chat and lots of great (and free!) advice.

Whether a businessman or a tourist, one of the first phrases anyone wants to learn before travelling to a foreign country is how to ask for a coffee – so perhaps not surprising that Cappuccinos, Lattes and Americanos will be at the ready, just for you, from 9am this Saturday!

The inviting aroma of coffee will be percolating through Arcade House where the friendly babble of 10 different languages will be heard – or even 11 when you realise we teach English too!

Life is always busy at VICI as we are now into our fifth year of business and growing rapidly (especially since our Director, Nathalie Danon-Kerr won an Entrepreneur of the Year Award just before Christmas) so holding a successful Open Day is our chance to invite you, to come in and ‘sit down and relax’. (PS: we promise not to test your language skills but to inform you and advise you on the best language techniques around and mostly, the most appropriate for you)

Let Victoria, April or Celia guide you around our quirky, homely and surprisingly spacious Academy! It is our annual Open Day and we would love if you could join us!

You are welcome to register your attendance by sending us a quick email: celia@thevici.com request a complimentary half hour consultation or simply turn up! We would be delighted to see you there!

Oh, and of course, we will have… Lots of great offers and vouchers available for committed learners!

Learn French, Improve your Spanish, Excel in Italian, Dare Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish or Polish…. Your trip starts here!

A samedi! Nos vemos! A presto!

01635 522410

Having been in the language industry for 10 years, I have watched things evolve quite drastically. English is the international language; no one will contest this. However, the rest of the world now speaks English; speaking English is therefore no longer (in my opinion) a competitive advantage.

It is a commonly accepted fact that the best team in the workplace is one which can communicate effectively and work together for a common goal. In an ever growing international community, the general consent is that the coalition of English and other languages within the work place should rapidly produce a better overall productivity and create an enhanced working environment.

But that’s not the most exciting part…

Imagine the sense of belonging and achievement that will derive from greeting colleagues in their mother tongue… How would you feel if you could hold that very important meeting in your client’s language?

This is what makes language learning worthwhile and inspiring.

Bonjour Monsieur, puis-je parler à votre Directeur de Recherche, s’il vous plaît?
Wir haben leider nur wenig Zeit. Darf ich Sie bitten, sich kurz zu fassen?
No dude en consultarme si necesita más información.
Я бы хотел переговорить с вами по поводу нашей встречи в пятницу

If you can carry on any of the above conversations without prompting, you probably don’t need my advice! 

If not, your goals should be:

1. To show key members of your staff that by adapting to their strengths and understanding their weaknesses, professional and highly trained language coaches can help them grow into a language naturally and effectively
2. Aid them in developing long lasting relationships with their foreign counterparts inside and outside of the business
3. Educate key members of your staff on how to embrace a foreign language as part of their working values and ethos

Being bilingual will make your team smarter; and at VICI, we will personally guarantee the results!

In an ever growing international business community, if you are serious about putting your company in a very different league to most then, I am sure you will want to talk to us. Visit our Business Page or contact  April on 01635 522410 or email her: april@thevici.com

Then, one day, I realised that what I truly loved was being surrounded by people, adapting to their strengths and understanding their weaknesses. I liked the idea that we should believe in everyone’s potential and help people grow. I enjoyed relationships that lasted, based on acceptance and support.
What could I possibly do that encountered all this? TEACH, may be?!

I chose foreign languages as my medium. Why? Never once have I met a person who hasn’t told me that he or she wouldn’t love to speak at least one foreign language. It is not so much about people’s ability to learn, their willingness to challenge themselves or even about personal development. It is about the connection we feel when we share the same language and culture.

The sense of belonging and achievement that derives from imagining yourself greeting new people in their mother tongue; or participating in that very exciting discussion in a different language is quite simply amazing!

When five years ago, the Independent newspaper said that I was ‘an inspirational teacher’, it gave me a true sense of purpose.  It wasn’t about languages; it wasn’t about teaching. It was about inspiring others.

Starting innocently, my main goal is now to build a business that will inspire people to attempt the same experience… Be it to help people with foreign languages or build a business based around languages.

This is why The VICI Language Academy was created 4 years ago… To ignite the communication revolution and inspire others!

VICI is NOT a traditional language school; it is a community of local people with a strong sense of belonging and the same desire and aspirations. Our staff inspires their students. Our students inspire other students. It is all based on sharing and caring.

There are really only two ways we can influence others: by manipulating them (buy my language course and speak French in 2 weeks) or inspire them to one day, conquer that all impossible dream of becoming bilingual. We hope to achieve the latter.

Okay so I did it. I went against my values (of preaching for language coaching) and bought one of these books that teach you a language in 10 minutes a day. I always wanted to learn Italian. It is not only a beautiful language but I love the country too so learning Italian has been on my bucket list for years.

I bought one called ’10 minutes of Italian per day’. I thought this would suit my hectic lifestyle and rather pronounced (may be even acute) impatience. I did well. I stuck to it. For two weeks.

When it comes to language learning, having taught French for years to students ranging from 2 to 89, on a 1:1 basis or in rather large groups, to pupils from deprived city areas to doctors, lawyers and top executives, one thing remains in my eyes: the communicative approach works. In a nutshell, the communicative approach relies on a hand on experience of the language over accurate grammar (to start with).  

I was happily surprised when I opened my book that it based its core learning method on the communicative approach. Minimum grammar, lots of set phrases, all in context, with plenty of images and easy exercises. I was immediately hooked!

After a few days though, my enthusiasm was still intact but the lack of progress worried me. It became quite apparent that unless I dedicated a serious amount of time to self-studies, I wasn’t going to get anywhere. I understand this. Learning a language well takes time, discipline and commitment. However, having done it before, I know that the pleasure far outweighs the pain. I was ready for the challenge! So what made me think that this was not the method for me after all?

Learning a language should be fun and engaging. Sharing the experience with a coach or even a small group is, in my opinion, what makes the experience a worthwhile journey. Speaking a foreign language if it wasn’t to share it would appear rather pointless.

When learning Italian, I want to make sure that what I know I know well (I don’ t expect to be fluent anytime soon). I need to know that my pronunciation is as accurate as can be. I want to understand the ‘ins and outs’ of the language, I want to practise colloquial expressions and ask questions. I also want to learn something different each time. I want to recycle what I have learnt using different exercises and contexts. A book follows the same pattern for each and every lesson and quite obviously, there is no one to interact with. Half way through my book, I felt boredom approaching and it worried me.

Learning a  language using the same pattern means that you train your brain to learn ‘in a box’. Not good! What happens when you have a conversation with some ‘real’ people? Your brain just doesn’t stretch that far, it panics when no pattern is being followed. Have you ever taken part in a real life conversation that follows a pattern? Nor have I. Therefore book learning cannot work.    

And then came the distractions… But not the right kind: kids asking for their tea, the dogs in need of a walk, a phone call from the office. I was studying with a book that I could pick up and leave whenever I wanted. It should have helped with my lifestyle. It didn’t.  A book is too easily dropped on a table. I wanted some support, some attention. I needed to know what I was good at and what needed improving. I needed someone to push me and be kind when needed be. I needed a language coach!

So I did, I booked myself into a class and I’m really looking forward to starting!

Despite all this, I don’t think that this was an inefficient method.  Great to teach me a trick or two and (hopefully) impress my Italian coach on Friday, upon arrival! Perhaps I have a level of expectation that is slightly too high. To me, ‘essential’ means that I will be at ease going to Italy for the week-end and while not fluent, still feel at ease in an environment where the language is mostly unknown. Sadly, studying with a book on my own hasn’t quite reached that far.

My favourite part of the holiday is to actually stop. Stop and listen. Stop and enjoy. Today, I am taking great pleasure in listening to my boys, who just recently turned 9 and 6. After a game of pétanque in the south of France under the scorching heat, they are playing and chatting away indoors. They are bilingual in French and English. My husband on the other hand hasn’t quite made it yet so whilst on holiday in France, the boys are his personal interpreters!

I am sat here being quietly astonished by the true gift being bilingual is and so many observations come to my mind:

-          My boys’ ability to swap from one language to another with so much ease is touching.

-          They understand what need translating for their dad and what is unimportant…

-          They ask about new words they hear and don’t quite understand the meaning of.

It feels like they are ‘wired’ to constantly learn and absorb all that they hear.

-          They translate colloquial expressions for their Dad so he understands French humour.

-          They explain to him play with words and why it is (or not so) funny.

-          They watch entertaining programmes on TV and ask their dad if he ‘gets it’ (else they’ll explain)

Sharing is the best part of learning.

-          When in Barcelona for the day, not speaking Spanish is okay, they ‘get languages’ so being surrounded by a one they don’t understand is ‘no big deal’. (This, while I am trying my best to order ‘una cerveza, por favor’ with an accurate accent so I get a Spanish reply! Mission accomplished by the way… Pfew!).

-          Their eyes sparkle and they are proud to get the recognition of many other tourists and shop keepers for being so ‘clever’!

The confidence with which they interact and the social recognition they get at such a young age is palpable.

Being bilingual myself and utterly convinced by the asset being multilingual can be, I am amazed by the vivacity with which my children interact in what is for them a multilingual and multicultural world.

‘We speak French and English’ adds Sacha, 9. ‘I have done a short course in Russian and I am soon to start learning Portuguese‘. ‘I’m going to do Spanish’ retorts Maxandre, 6 ‘and when I’m done with this, can I learn Russian, Mummy?’. ‘We are an international family!’ they both said vividly.

It is one thing reading about the elasticity of bilingual children’s brains. Experiencing it first hand is incomparable.

For more info on how to turn your kids into language whizzes, contact The VICI Language Academy on 01635 522410 or email learn@thevici.com.

www.thevici.com

Are you sure you feel 100% safe in your current job?

Pause and think about this for a moment:

•       Most organisations these days deal with international colleagues, partners and associates.
•       There are no more borders when it comes to business!
•       People travel at the drop of a hat, companies open offices abroad for economies of scale
•       Social media has brought the world to our computer screens.

So, what does this mean? It simply entails that monolingual people will very soon, be past their sell by date in the workplace! 

I’ll give to you, reading this post, you are likely to be English. That’s lucky; I had to work hard for years to write this blog in your language today!

So, why speaking a foreign language when the rest of the world speaks English?

Simple. You can tell yourself that you own the international language so you are safe. You wouldn’t be completely wrong. But you can be a little more realistic and realise that the world is moving and evolving and unless you have a wicked idea that’s going to change the world or you are part of the Steve Jobs’ legacy and ensured a fortune, you need SKILLS or your sell by date gets even closer!

Let me tell you a story about my friend John: he was the UK Sales Director of the biggest database provider in the world. This meant that his workload was extremely heavy. When he decided to move on for a new and less demanding position, he found the perfect job and thought he had it in the bag! To his shock, he didn’t! Someone else, of the same brilliant calibre, had walked in the interview room, speaking French!

I got a ’3 for one’ there: for one situation, I got 3 clients. You will have guessed the first one: John himself. The others: John’s children. ‘I never want that to happen to them’ he said. ‘They must speak a second language.’

Speaking a foreign language WILL make a difference to you or your children.

Regardless of your reasoning, aspiration and desire, The VICI Language Academy is the place where to start! Call us on 01635 522 410 or learn@thevici.com for a trial at no cost and no obligation in some fourteen different foreign languages!

You know what they say: if I tell you how good I am, you might be doubtful; if someone else says it, you will believe it!

Last Saturday, we invited Samantha (former secondary school French teacher) to the Academy to observe lessons and give us some feedback. 

I was so astonished (and proud) by the report she wrote that I wanted to share it with you all!

So there it is:

‘The Vici Language Academy from Bartholomew Street, Newbury caters for all ages and abilities and I was mostly amazed by:

-         Teachers’ passion and learners’ engagement

-         A sociable and pleasant atmosphere in which to learn

The Infants… were obviously happy to be in the room. They all seemed to like the warm up games and activities, which recapped aspects of the language they were already familiar with. Some children seemed ‘off task’ at this point, but in keeping with the Vici’s ethos of French class being fun, they were gently cajoled into participation, rather than disciplined.

The Juniors…  started their lesson by reading books in French. They were clearly very proud of their abilities, and were pleased at what they had achieved. The teacher was lively and enthusiastic, and this rubbed off on the students. They were confident with a grammar point that was explained to them, and even the youngest were able to complete the grammar exercise effectively.

I only spent a brief amount of time with the Teenage group…… but what I saw was great. They were able to work out some quite complicated questions in French. They were concentrating, and relaxed. The group atmosphere was supportive and they were encouraged to have a go.

 The atmosphere in the adults’ group was amazing…… more like friends meeting for a coffee than a French class. I observed the initial half hour in which they engaged in a role play exercise with confidence and imagination. They were obviously very enthusiastic about the language and had an excellent rapport with the teacher.

Throughout the four lessons, what I saw was engaged learners being given freedom to learn by flexible, passionate teachers who were able to adapt their approach to learners’ individual needs. The atmosphere was that of a fun, sociable club rather than a stuffy classroom.’

If you too, would like to experience the above, give us a ring now on 0800 021 7181 or email learn@thevici.com