I studied French and German when I was at school, and being able to speak these languages has been very useful to me in social and work situations. Later I studied Spanish part-time in a similar arrangement to Language Classes UK, with a group of colleagues working in my office. We were all beginners and our teacher came to the office once a week for the classes. This was a convenient way to learn, in a small group and we all got plenty of chances to practice.

Living on an island as we do, I think it is really essential for all UK residents to understand at least one other language. If you can speak another language quite fluently you can get involved with the people you meet when you travel. One to one teaching can help you brush up on a language that you already speak, I had private tuition in French for a year and that helped me to negotiate a business contract with a French company. Without that level of competence in French I would not have been able to negotiate the best terms for my company.

Theses are very sensible reasons to learn a Foreign language, but let’s also remember that it is really enjoyable. When you have the chance to visit that country and start speaking to the people you meet, you will just have a much better time, getting involved in conversations that can lead to lasting friendships and great experiences. If you do not already speak another language you can start learning easily wherever you live in the UK.