Take Off In... holidays

In April, people's thoughts start to turn inexorably towards the coming summer months, and the summer holiday period*. When going away in the months of summer, many people choose to travel to destinations outside of their national borders, where the culture is different, life is different, and the language is different.

And for many, a language barrier when on holiday can turn a memorable rest into a tortured break. So to ensure that foreign holidays go swimmingly, AskOxford and Oxford's Take Off In... language learning series present a few choice learning tips, essential words, and cultural tit-bits.

Bon Voyage!

Learning tips

Work at your own pace
Make the most of the time you have available to study. As a general rule, don't try to do too much at once. You will often find you can learn more effectively if you study for half an hour or so at regular intervals, rather than try to do a whole unit in one sitting.

Remember that you can go a long way with just a little language
Even if you feel unsure about your ability to form correct, complete sentences, you'll find that it is possible to communicate with just a few words. Above all, don't worry about getting things wrong: people will still be able to understand you. They will also appreciate that you are making the effort to speak their language and will be more receptive. The more confidence you gain in actually communicating, the more fluent you'll become.

Speak, speak, speak!
Practise speaking as often as you can — even speaking to yourself is good practice. Try recording yourself whenever you can — especially when doing the pronunciation practice activities. Compare your pronunciation with the master version, see how you can do better and have another go. If you do this several times, you will find that each version is better than the last.

Get used to hearing everyday language at normal speed
Apart from listening to the course recordings, you could watch films with subtitles, listen to a foreign radio station, or watch foreign language TV stations if you have satellite or cable TV. Even if you don't understand much of what is being said, it is a good way of getting used to sounds and intonations. Choose programmes according to your own interests; you'll learn much more effectively about subjects you're keen on.

Essential Words

Cultural Tit-bits

Appellation d'origine controlee - France
The quality-control system imposed on the production of higher quality wines. The label identifies the approved wine-growing area and specifies the vineyard of production.
AStA - Allgemeiner Studentenausschuss - Germany
A students' union which consists of 12 student boards elected by a student parliament that is voted in annually. AStA deals with all student issues, including financial, cultural and social concerns, offering advice and support.
Camino de Santiago - Spanish
A pilgrimage route since the Middle Ages across north-western Spain to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. The city was founded at a place where a shepherd is said to have discovered the tomb of St James the Apostle, and its cathedral reputedly houses the saint's relics.
Code Napolèon - France
The civil code introduced by Napolèon Bonaparte in 1804 in France and in the European territories dominated by France at the time. It was named the Code Napolèon in 1807. The code attempted to unify the customs of northern and southern France and was a combination of rationalist and traditional principles. It includes key concepts such as equality for all in the eyes of the law and no recognition of privilege. The code was adopted in most of continental Europe and is a lasting legacy of the era.
Biergarten - German
A rustic open-air pub, or beer garden, which is traditional in Bavaria and Austria but can now be found throughout Germany. It is usually set up for the summer in the yard of a pub or restaurant and serves beer and simple meals. In Munich beer gardens the drink comes in a litre-sized glass, called a Maß. The standard everyday pale beer most people order is a Helles, a dark beer is a Dunkles, and a wheat beer is a Weißbier.
Fiestas patrias - Spanish
In Latin America, a period of one or more days on which each country celebrates its independence. There are usually military parades, firework displays, and folk activities typical of the country.
Variètè française - France
Songs written in French for a French-speaking audience are known as variètè française. This popular and productive musical genre is encouraged by a law which stipulates that a prescribed amount of air time be allocated to it on the French national radio. It is also celebrated at the annual Francofolies music festival in July in La Rochelle.
Kaffee - German
This refers not only to coffee as a drink but also to the small meal taken at about four in the afternoon, consisting of coffee and cakes or biscuits. It is often a social occasion, as it is common to invite family or friends for Kaffee und Kuchen (rather than for tea or dinner), especially on birthdays and other family occasions.
Tertulia - Spanish
A discussion group. Formerly, tertulias were groups of men who met in a caf"o talk about soccer, bullfighting, literature, cinema, politics, etc. Some of these became very famous, as they included important political and cultural figures. Now tertulias are often televized discussion programs.