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Impacto social

Why learn French? 7 TIPS that will change your view of this language

We live in a globalized world, dominated by English as the universal language. But today, knowing English in addition to your native language is no longer enough. Many jobs require a third language as a determining skill when selecting a candidate. We have expanded our language offering and have included French in our new programs. In this blog we want to encourage you to learn this language, offering you some tips that justify why it is important to master French. Reasons to learn French If we think of our neighbouring country, we think of Paris, l’amour, les croissants… And the fact is that French is the second most chosen language by our students after English, and it is possible that those who do not decide to study it do so because they think it is a language of little use. A serious mistake, let’s see: 1- French is spoken by more than 274 million people in the world (it is the fifth most spoken language), across the 5 continents. It is the official language of no less than 33 countries and there are more than 68 countries that are considered French-speaking. It is also the official language of the UN, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee and the International Red Cross, among others. French is the language of the three cities that host the European institutions: Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg. After these initial data, do you think that learning French will not open doors for you? 2- We are dealing with the seventh most widely used language on the Internet and in new technologies. The importance of its media extends throughout the world: TV5 Monde has more than 50 million viewers a week around the world. Knowing French allows you to look at the world in a different way. 3- It is a language valued by companies. English is normally essential in the working world, but French is second only to it as the language of choice for organisations (distribution, automobile, luxury, aeronautics…), as it is spoken in countries with a significant economic level such as Canada, Belgium, Switzerland and of course, France. 4- French is the language of culture and the arts. It is the French is the international language of cooking, theatre, visual art, dance and architecture. But certainly of literature and fashion. French literature has been an important influence on the way of writing, style and the general development of literature itself, particularly in the 19th century (Victor Hugo, Marcel Proust, Baudelaire or Jacques Prévert). As for fashion, Paris is the undisputed world capital of fashion and has been home to several fashion giants, such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Dior. What better way to enrich your cultural level thanks to this language? 5- Learning French makes it easier to learn other languages. Nearly 50% of all words in the English language have common roots with the French language. Some examples: “war”, “challenge”, “pedigree” and “pride”… Without talking of course about its relationship with other Latin languages. We have many words and grammatical constructions that are almost similar in Spanish, so learning this language will be quite easy for you. 6- The language of love. We take that for granted, don’t we? We have always associated French as a passionate and sensual language. According to certain surveys and polls by the Babbel website, Victor Hugo’s language is ranked as the language of love with 34% of votes, leaving Italian and Spanish behind. It seems that French will not only help you find a job, but it can also help you flirt. Oh la la! 7- This is the advantage that will allow you to study at a French university. French universities are among the most prestigious in the world (Sorbonne, Pierre et Marie Curie University, etc.) as are its grandes écoles (HEC, Polytechnique, ESSEC). Students who are fluent in French can also, under certain conditions, access French government scholarships to undertake a postgraduate degree in France in all disciplines and obtain an internationally recognised diploma. In addition, studying in France is very affordable and there is no need to finance your studies or combine them with a job. However, you can always do so while you study, as paid training during school term is one of the great opportunities offered by the French education system. Hello, my friend! Are you coming to France to learn this language full of opportunities? Are you ready to improve your future with us? Check out our new programs for people over 16 years old. You can go to Lyon, the gastronomic capital of the world, and improve your level of French while living like a true Frenchman.

Impacto social

7 Curiosities about Berlin

At Connectors Plus we never rest and we are always looking for new destinations, programs and opportunities so that you can learn different languages and live unparalleled life experiences. A few days ago we talked about the French city of Lyon and now we are going to the engine of Europe:Germany and its crown jewel, Berlin. When we think of Berlin, adjectives like cosmopolitan, alternative, modern, open, bohemian come to mind… Well, Berlin is all that and more. Let’s discover it together! What you didn’t know about Berlin: 1. In Berlin there is a University that has produced 29 Nobel Prizes. The Humboldt University of Berlin is a successful university that has served as an inspiration for other renowned institutions such as Harvard and Cornell in the United States. One of its most popular Nobel Prize winners was the physicist Albert Einstein. Do you want to become the new Einstein? 2. The Berlin Wall was built in a single night. The Berlin Wall was built during the Cold War, on 13 August 1961, and divided the city into two: the western half and the communist half. It is now one of the most important tourist attractions in the capital of Berlin. 3. The city, which was once dubbed “poor but sexy” by its mayor Berlin is one of the cheapest European capitals to live in. It doesn’t have the highest average salary in Germany, but we’re talking about a minimum wage of €1,600. The average rent is around €700 per month, and if you share a flat, a room will cost you around €350 per month… Affordable if you’re going to study. It is one of the most multicultural and open cities in Germany and there are a large number of startups and international companies that make this city one of the most interesting destinations for entrepreneurs from all over the world. It’s not too difficult to find a job if you don’t speak German yet. Don’t worry, because if you have a good knowledge of English, that will be enough, and you know that we can help you with that. In addition, you can always train yourself a little before you go. To do this, we recommend the following blog where you can find resources, grammar explanations, useful phrases, texts, songs, videos, etc… https://www.alemanista.com/ 4. Berlin is constantly being rebuilt Wherever you go in Berlin, you will find a city under construction. The city was completely destroyed during World War II by the Allies. There is an urban reconstruction project, known as “critical reconstruction”, whose architect is the Berlin architect Josef Paul Kleihues; a project that began shortly after the fall of the wall and is scheduled to be completed no less than 2050. 5. The famous Donner Kebab was invented in Berlin. It is common knowledge that Berlin has a large Turkish population, but did you know that the “kebab” as you eat it in the Turkish restaurant on the corner was invented by a Berliner of Ottoman origin? Back in the 1970s, they began to put the meat (which until then had been served on a plate) in bread together with salad, the typical sauce and voila! The kebab as we know it became a revolution in the German capital. 6. Berlin means “Swampy Land” The city was built on a swamp. When you walk around the German capital, you will be struck by the multitude of coloured pipes you will see on its streets. No, they are not works of art, they are real pipes! And this is because the level of humidity under the ground in Berlin is very high, so they decided to take them out of the subsoil and paint them to make them more aesthetically pleasing. 7. The “Museum Island” There are more museums in Berlin than rainy days, and it rains quite a lot there. The cultural offering of this city is mind-blowing! There are more than 170 museums, so you’ll have to make a list to select the most interesting ones according to your tastes. But what is absolutely essential is a visit to what is known as Museum Island. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, this island on the River Spree is home to 5 major museums that contain some of the greatest works of art in history. Almost two centuries old, Museum Island represents the purest spirit of the great museums, with neoclassical buildings and collections ranging from archaeology to sculpture and painting. The two you shouldn’t miss for anything in the world are the Pergamon Museum or the Bode Museum. I don’t know what you’re waiting for to ask us for information. Berlin is now within your reach, you just have to call us or write to us and we will tell you everything you need to know. Are you up for it?

Impacto social

Did you know that today is World Youth Skills Day?

This day was proposed by Sri Lanka and approved by the UN in 2014 as a way to claim the need to develop skills and raise awareness among countries about the importance of investing in training to, above all, encourage employment and promote gender equality in the social and labor spheres of our young people in a world where youth unemployment currently has a rate of 22.4% in 2020. We are tired of constantly and negatively categorising youth and new generations. An example is the NEET generation (in 2016 there were 259 million young people classified as NEETs), which has been much talked about in recent decades… This is nothing more than an example of the frustration of young people who do not lack motivation or these skills, but who do not find an option for the future, perhaps due to the formative and educational weaknesses of deficient educational systems that encourage the development of these skills. That is why at Connectors-Plus we always want to encourage our young people, you, to take action to improve your future through training, learning skills and competencies that you will only achieve if you embark on experiences that go beyond your horizon. In today’s world, where competition is overwhelming, it is more necessary than ever to go out, study, work and develop your future by obtaining new skills and higher qualifications at all levels. This year, the theme of Youth Skills Day, as it could not be otherwise, will focus on “the talent of a resilient youth in the era of COVID-19 and beyond”. This situation is a test of force majeure for all, but together we must face it by betting everything on you. United Nations World OrganizationWorld Youth Day 2020 is being celebrated in a challenging context. Lockdown measures and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the global closure of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, threatening the continuity of training development. It is estimated that around 70% of enrolled youth have been affected by school closures. According to the survey of TVET institutions, which draws on data collected jointly by UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, distance learning has become the most common way of imparting knowledge, not without certain difficulties regarding, among other things, the adaptation of curricula, the preparation of apprentices and trainers, connectivity or assessment and certification processes. Before the current crisis, young people aged 15-24 were three times more likely than adults to be unemployed and often faced a prolonged period of transition from school to work. In post-COVID-19 societies, as young people are called upon to contribute to the recovery effort, they will need to be equipped with the right skills to successfully manage challenges and the resilience to adapt to future disruptions.