Advancing your career – Language Teaching Centre | LTC

Online learning is the future

LTC Team — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:07:56 +0000

Online learning or distance learning is here to last. When “in-person” learning is still very popular, online learning is now playing a bigger role in training options.

Distance learning is more than a temporary solution implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now an established tool and here is why:

1- You can learn from the comfort of your home or your office.
What is better than learning from your comfy home?

2- Cost-effective: no transport or even accommodation for immersion courses.
Online or distance learning is helping to democratise access to education by reducing all the costs related to “in-person” learning.

3- Time efficient: No commuting time, no need to take your holidays to attend a course.
No need to be stuck in traffic to join your learning centre!

4- Increased accessibility: Location is no longer an issue.
You can learn from absolutely anywhere unless you have an internet connection and a screen!

5- Efficient: live learning is proven to be as efficient as “in-person” courses.
Would you say that your meetings with your colleagues are less effective online than being sitting in a board room? Online live learning is offering the same dynamic as the traditional classroom.

6- Entertaining: live learning format uses more interactive material such as videos, quizzes, etc more in correlation with our current modern habits than the traditional book.
Just looking at our day-to-day life, screens are all around us! Our lifestyle is changing so quickly with new technologies, why the learning environment should stay stuck in the past ?

If you want to start learning a language online: info@ltc-capetown.com

The MBA is your way to a secure career.

LTC Team — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:50:35 +0000

Looking for a safe environment to grow your business skills and network? The MBA is your way to a secure career.

Join fellow business professionals for this virtual MBA event. Business schools from around the world look forward to meeting you online on 21 August in South Africa.

Discover the best in business education. Here’s what you get at the event:

Individual video meetings with MBA programme directors from UC Berkeley, University of Rochester-Simon, Manchester Business School, Maastricht School of Management, Rotterdam School of Management, and many more
Insights on online and hybrid learning options and flexible formats
Personal consultation for your business and management studies
Expert business insights and MBA admission webinars
Chance to win $1000 in financial aid for your MBA
Diverse scholarship opportunities

How to build your future with an MBA

The MBA degree provides what you need to be the best in business and leadership. AACSB data shows 95% of MBAs land a full-time job within 3 months of graduation, and 74% get hired while still in school. The median salary of MBA grads is 75% higher than those with a Bachelor’s, according to GMAC.

Here are some more of the benefits:

It’s safe. Strengthen your career with the world’s most reputable business degree. The MBA guarantees a safe space where professionals grow and learn. It opens the door to unlimited business opportunities.

It’s flexible. Choose the learning format that fits your professional style. Go for a full-time MBA to experience the full benefits. Balance work and study with a part-time MBA. Explore the online trend with distance learning.

It’s global. Expand your view of the business world with an MBA abroad or at home. Make connections that span the globe. Join a unique business network with MBA participants from diverse backgrounds.

Access MBA is free of charge, but online meeting slots are limited. Register early to save your spot.

English courses on WhatsApp

LTC Team — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 17:36:10 +0000

After the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, the Language Teaching Centre decided to promote social distancing by transferring the in-person courses to online courses.

After more than a year of operating online and offering distance learning, we realised that accessibility to language courses, even with the development of video conferencing such as Zoom, remains an issue for a big part of the South African population.

The equipment needed (smartphone from latest generations, tablet or laptop), as well as the cost of data and access to a reliable mobile connection, are indeed major obstacles.

Looking at the South African market, WhatsApp was the most popular app in 2020, according to Statista. It was consequently a tool that we had to consider in order to democratise the language courses.
After studying this new tool, we came up with an exclusive curriculum format:
Short lessons of 15 min to work on conversational skills.
The key to learning the language is “practice and repetition”. After the 15-min Whatsapp conversation, the teacher will be able to correct and give feedback to the learner who will be able to implement those new skills in a new lesson/conversation the next day. This format is improving the learner’s listening skills but not limited to. Pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary are also improving in a very easy, simple and fast way.

We offer the Whatsapp lessons for English and Afrikaans and we hope to be able to offer more languages soon.

If you want to start your learning journey: info@ltc-capetown.com

10 tips to be a successful online language student

LTC Team — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:15:57 +0000

Online lessons

While travelling abroad to learn a language is currently very difficult, learning a language online is a great alternative. Nonetheless, it is important to practice the language outside the “classroom” just like your language course would have provided you.

Here are some very easy tips to enhance your language skills and learn faster the language :

1- Review your notes every day after class and do your homework.

2- Listen to the radio in the language you are currently learning.
This is a great tool to improve your listening skills! Contrary to watching a movie with or without subtitles, you do not have the images to understand the context. Consequently, you will have to concentrate to understand what the presenter is talking about.

3-Read!
If you are beginner, start with short stories. Don’t be ashamed to read children’s books even.
If you are learning business English or if you are a little more advanced, read some press articles.
Reading will help you to better your grammar and your vocabulary.
While reading, write down the words you do not understand and check the meaning in the dictionary.

4- Have your personal vocabulary notebook
Write down all the new words you’ve learnt on a daily base. Writing down new words will help to improve your writing skills but also help you to memorize the new words.
Review this vocabulary list regularly so that you can check if you have integrated the words or if you still need to memorise them.

5- Watch movies in the language you are currently learning
Watching a movie is fun and while you are relaxing in front of the TV, you will learn new vocabulary and improve your listening skills.

6- Learn with songs
Songs are perfect to improve your listening skills. Music is also part of the culture of the new language you are learning. As learning a language is learning a new culture too, listening to music will bring you the cultural elements needed to comprehend this new culture.

7- Watch Ted Conferences and webminars
On top of learning the language, you will have some great insights from the Ted Conferences speakers. You will also develop your critical skills in this language.

8- Cook a “local” dish
Follow an online recipe and discover the flavours of this new culture!

9- Watch documentaries about the country
To learn faster the language, you need to understand the country’s History, geography and culture.
You can access great documentaries very easily online.

10- Have fun!
Having fun learning a language is a key component to learn faster.
You also need to understand that “nobody’s perfect” and making mistakes is part of the learning process. Just have fun with your new skills and dare!

With LTC Online school you can learn up to 11 languages and start this fun learning journey !

Discover our LTC online school :
https://www.languageteachingcentre.com/online-school/

Discover our English Demo lesson :

How to choose your online language course?

LTC Team — Tue, 26 May 2020 15:41:51 +0000

Many options are behind the concept of “online language courses” :
Skype, Zoom, internal platforms accessible with tutors around the clock, Youtube channels, App, private tutor on Whatsapp … You can be lost in the jungle of online language courses! How to make the right choice? How to make sure the course will suit your expectations and personal agenda? Shall you invest or stick to “free” online courses? Well… It all depends on you! Here are some guidelines to find the right online language course for you.

1- Would you prefer a “personalized” learning environment?
It is important to know if you would prefer keeping the same teacher all along your online language course and hence, create a personal relationship with your teacher or if you prefer the flexibility of some online language platforms offering access to online lessons around the clock with different teachers following a script.

At LTC, we think that learning a language is learning a new “people skill” and consequently should remain “personalized” and friendly. Being comfortable with your teacher will also help you learning the language faster as you will dare to ask questions and speaking more.

2- Are you able to study by yourself?
A great number of free language course platforms or app require a lot of self-discipline! No one to check on your notes or making sure you even log in for your lessons. It also requires a lot of “research” after the lessons as no one can answer your questions. Are you strong enough to start this long journey on your own?

At LTC, your teacher will give you regular feedback and will make sure you attend your lesson. Attendance is part of the requirements for your certificate.

3-Why do you need to learn a language?
Do you want to learn a language for fun or personal development with no specific deadline or do you need to acquire this new skill for your academic or career goals ?
If you have a specific deadline to learn a language, it would be easier for you to reach your goals with a teacher who will assess your needs and will advise you accordingly. Private online lessons are also best if you have very specific needs (if you need to prepare an exam or if you need to get ready for a new job) as the teacher can tailor the curriculum.

4-Do you need a certification at the end of your course?
If you need to prove your new skills, especially for your CV, you will need a certificate!
Pay attention to that key element when you decide on enrolling to your online language course.

5-Expertise and Accreditations
It is important to check the background of the online institution. How many years’ experience in language teaching? Is the institution accredited? Are the teachers certified?
Too many “private tutors” are “only” native speakers but never learned to “be a teacher” and even more an “online teacher”. It is consequently essential to check those points before investing in your online language course or you may be frustrated with your course taught by “amateurs”.

6- Check the learning environment
The format used to teach the language online is very important. Even if WhatsApp is very convenient as we all have it on our phones, it does not guarantee a great learning format. A teacher needs to be able to see your writing and give feedback immediately as well as having a “whiteboard” where the teacher can write so that you can work on your reading and writing skills. WhatsApp can be convenient to enhance your speaking and listening skills but will be very limited for an overall improvement. You also need to check the device needed to log in. Is it limited to a computer access or can you join on your phone if need be?

At LTC, we have decided to teach via ZOOM. This platform does not require any technical knowledge from the customer and fulfills all the criteria to ensure a good online learning environment.

Do you need more information about our online school ?

Boost your CV while being on quarantine!

LTC Team — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 14:05:50 +0000

Bored with Netflix? Staying home is not challenging you enough? Take a course online!

Nowadays, thanks to new technologies, you can learn from the comfort of your home.

In “Group classes” or “private tuition”, you can decide what would suits you best !

Here is a short list of websites offering online training courses :

edX : https://www.edx.org/course
Shaw Academy https://join.shawacademy.com/online-digital-marketing-course
Coursera : https://www.coursera.org/
Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/
Udemy https://www.udemy.com/

With LTC, you can learn a new language online via skype.

Online English Lessons can be booked at a time that suits you between Mondays and Fridays. Depending on your goal in the language, you may book for however long you need to reach that goal. The lessons are 45 minutes each, but you may book a double lesson, which goes for one and half hours. For example, if you book your session from 14h00 until 15h30, it means that you have used up two of your lessons. Languages available: English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic.

(Contact us for more information:info@ltc-capetown.com)

Enjoy !

Five Life-changing Reasons to Learn a New Language

LTC Team — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 13:53:40 +0000

Deciding to learn a new language can open up a world of opportunity for you. It can, quite literally, change your life.

But it doesn’t need to be scary. LTC in Cape Town is all about making language learning enjoyable and relevant for our international and local students.

Here are some fantastic, life-changing reasons to immerse yourself in a new language…

Boost your self-confidence. Plucking up the courage to start speaking in a foreign language isn’t easy, but as soon as you do, your confidence will grow. What’s more, confidence in this area of your life will translate to others too, so the sky is the limit.

Keep your brain fit. You actually become smarter when you learn to speak a foreign language. Challenging your brain to recognise and negotiate meaning in a foreign language will keep you mentally fit, and in turn,
will improve your problem-solving skills. It also improves memory.

Have more fun while travelling. Learning a few phrases from a book may help you bargain for something in a colourful market, but being able to hold down a decent conversation with the locals in a foreign language, now that will definitely enhance your travel experience — and your
bargaining skills.

Expand your world. Our learning environment nurtures friendship among students. Friends learn new things about each others’ cultures.
This builds understanding and establishes common ground around
shared likes, such as sport. The world really is a global village. Goaaaal!

Make you more employable. If you want better employment opportunities and to achieve your career best, learn a new language. This will undoubtedly make you more attractive in the global marketplace.
There are many more great reasons to learn a foreign language, all of which lead to the same end — transformation.

Internship & Volunteering program: How does it work?

LTC Team — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 07:54:07 +0000

Nowadays, the internship program abroad is getting more and more popular among the student population. How does it work?
Our LTC Internship coach, Zsofia Ivony-CEO of Intern Cape Town, is answering all your questions!

1. What level of English is recommended/requested to apply for an internship?

The recommended minimum level of English would be Upper-Intermediate level, which is a B2 level according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This means that you are an independent user of the language and have the necessary fluency to communicate without effort with native speakers even if you make some mistakes.

2. Can you tell us about the application procedure? What are the minimum requirements?

The first step is to send us your CV, so we can determine your key skill set. When your skills set is in demand, we contact you for a skype chat to establish your English level, your motivation and set your expectations. We might recommend some changes on your CV so that it better suits the local market. Then we send your application to multiple companies that are looking for your skill set and profile. When we get a positive response, we set up another interview with the company. After a successful interview, we assist with the visa procedure, the accommodation search and meet you in person when you arrive to Cape Town.

3. What is the average duration of an internship or a volunteering program?

Most companies need interns for at least a 3-month period, so it is beneficial for both parties. Volunteering can be shorter as you are “helping out” an organisation and they are happy with whatever time you can dedicate to them.

4. What are the internship/ volunteering fields available?

We specialise in the business field, where skills in marketing, sales, finance and law are needed. We work with smaller companies so the interns can gain experience in every department and can actively participate in the decision-making process.

5. What kind of tasks can I expect during my internship?

The main tasks will be the ones related to your studies and previous experience so that you can validate your internship at your school or deepen some knowledge that you already have. However, sometimes you will be required to learn new skills and execute tasks that are necessary for the running of the company. This could include some daily tasks that might seem unnecessary to you. You should always look at the tasks as potential learning possibilities and ask as many questions as you can to perfect the execution.

6. Would you have a success story to share with us?

I have many success stories… One would be when the intern was so successful in his internship that the company asked him if he could continue his work as an associate from his country. Another one would be when the company owner calls me in despair because the intern finished their internship and they need a new intern immediately… but just as great as he or she was…this happens often…which means that your work is meaningful and valuable for the company therefore you contributed to the South African eco-system.

7. Who needs more than that? According to you, what are the benefits of an internship abroad?

An internship abroad not only gives you the work experience you need to enter the highly competitive job market but also gives you the chance to stand out. Why? Because having lived in a different country shows the recruiters that you are determined ( no matter how complicated the visa procedure is) that you are adaptable and open-minded towards a new culture and last but not least, that you are an independent person who can make decisions, defend them and…do all that in ENGLISH. I truly believe that future leaders come from global citizens who make a real impact on our world, simply because they see the bigger picture.

Contact us for more information:
http://www.languageteachingcentre.com/contact/

Zsofia Ivony, CEO
Intern Cape Town

Benefits of a gap year abroad

LTC Team — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 08:19:33 +0000

A gap year is typically a year-long break before or after college/university. During the gap year, a student normally travels or maintains some type of regular work.

Is taking a gap something for you? That depends on your goals and how your gap year plan matches those goals.

There are so much different options for your gap year. You can travel the world, advance your career or find yourself.

Every gap year is different but some benefits that apply to every gap year.

Benefits of every gap year:

Freedom/flexibility
You are finally in control of your own life, you can choose your schedule based on your interests and goals
Independence
A gap year is a chance to be on your own and work on your independence, get to know yourself and step out of your comfort zone

Learning a language
You can take language courses or improve your skills by just speaking a new language every day. Improving your language skills means you enrich your life and expand your career options.
Purpose in life
A gap year is a chance to invest in yourself. Whatever it is you enjoy, a gap year is the chance to chase it with all of your heart.

Reflection
Sometimes you feel like your life goes by so fast and you don’t have time to stop and reflect. Now is the time to figure out what you want.

How to prepare for a year abroad:

Finances, save enough money for your time abroad.
Health preparations such as vaccinations and malaria tablets.
Travel insurance
Documentations like a passport and visas.
Tickets and accommodation.
Spend your last weeks with family and friends.

Safety tips for a gap year abroad

Pack only the essentials.
Prepare and plan ahead before you arrive.
Know where and how to get help.
Don’t go out alone in the dark.
Do research on the water and food standards of the visiting country.
Respect the local culture.
Know the risks of the destination country.

The benefits of a gap year are endless. The right gap year will meet your goals and help you accomplish the benefits you are looking for.

LTC offers gap-year options combining language courses, internships and official exam preparation. Contact us to start your adventure nowhttp://www.languageteachingcentre.com/contact/

Go abroad for your internship!

LTC Team — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 08:03:12 +0000

The world keeps changing and having global work or internship experience are a must in the current era. But an internship abroad is so much more than work experience, it’s about leaving your comfort zone and push yourself in every possible way.

Benefits of an internship abroad:

You become more interesting for companies because you gain experience abroad
The immense benefits of speaking a second language fluently
Developing your global network. (Friendships and business relationships)
You can bring your knowledge into practice and improve your skills and experience in the field of activity.
Personal, academic and professional growth.

Tips for an internship abroad

Make sure your resume speaks for you. Your CV can show who you are, what you’ve done and what you hope to achieve during an internship abroad.
Find the right country for you. Certain aspects such as living cost, safety, and industry can influence your time abroad and internship outcome.
Save enough money for extra costs and fun activities.
Know what to expect, do some research into your destination country. Such as history and religion
Learn some words of the language and cultural norms to fit in.
Connect with your co-workers
You will probably need an international insurance
Wrap things up at home, meaning cutting out unnecessary subscription fees like gym memberships

But most of all enjoy your time abroad, make new friends, get out of your comfort zone and live your best life.