language course in cape town – Language Teaching Centre | LTC

Cape Town Slang 101

LTC Team — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 08:08:04 +0000

Cape Town is such a mix of different cultures and languages, therefore it’s a given that the city would have its very own “language” or slang. And boy, Cape Town’s slang is unique!

Here’s a list of the most popular Capetonian slang words and what they actually mean:

Ag (ah-ch): To show resignation or annoyance.
Example: “Ag no man!”

Awê (ah-weh): a greeting.
Example: “Awê, brother!”

Babbelas (bah-bah-luss): Hungover. Comes from the Zulu word “i-babalazi” which means drunk. The term was adopted by the Afrikaans and is now used as a term for “hangover.”
Example: “I am so babbelas!”

Bergie (bear-ghee): Comes from the Afrikaans word “berg” (mountain) and was initially used to describe the vagrants living on Table Mountain. The word is now used in Cape Town to describe any type of vagrant.
Example: “That bergie is asking for money.”

Bokkie: From the Afrikaans word “bok”. Used as a term of endearment similar to the word “sweetheart.”
Example: “Hello bokkie.”

Bra (brah), bru (brew): Comes from the Afrikaans word “broer” (brother) and is a term of affection used among male friends.
Example: “Howzit my bru!” “Hey bra!”

Braai (br-eye): word meaning barbecue.
Example: “We’re having a braai.”

Cheers: Can be used as a toast or greeting.
Example: “Cheers!” or “Cheers bru, see you later.”

Dop: Alcohol.
Example: “Don’t forget to bring the dop.”

Eish (ay-sh): Another expression derived from the Zulu language. Exclamation of surprise similar to “oh wow!” or “oh my!”
Example: “Eish! That must have hurt.”

Eina (Ay-nah): Exclamation used when in pain.
Example: “Eina! That hurt!”

Entjie (eh-n-chee): Cigarette.
Example: “Come smoke an entjie with me.”

Howzit (how-zit): Greeting. Means “hi”. Shortening of “how’s it going.”
Example: “Howzit my bru?”

Ja (yaah): Afrikaans word for yes. Ja is used by most South Africans, not just the Afrikaans.
Example: “Ja, let’s go.”

Jislaaik (yiss-like): An expression of astonishment similar to “Geez.”
Example: “Jislaaik! That’s awesome!”

Laaitie, (lighty): Refers to a young person – especially males.
Example: “He’s still a laaitie.”

Lekker (leh-kah): Nice or delicious.
Example: “That was a lekker braai.”

Takkies (tack-kees): Sneakers.
Example: “I want to buy those new Nike takkies.”

Tjommie, chommie (choh-mee): Friend.
Example: “There’s my tjommie!”

These are only a few of the many slang terms used by Capetonians.

The Language Teaching Centre

You don’t only get to take a language course in Cape Town with us at the Language Teaching Centre – we also expose you to the wonderful culture and languages of the Cape. Besides the wonderful view of the harbour and Table Mountain from our spacious classrooms, the excursion programme is designed to allow students to discover this beautiful city. LTC is a great place to study English in Cape Town.

The secret to learning a new language successfully

LTC Team — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 09:46:01 +0000

Want to know the secret to making your attempt at learning a new language more successful? Want to find out what will keep you motivated and learn much faster? Well, that secret is…confidence.

“Confidence comes from not always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong.”

-Peter T. Mcintyre

Yes, that secret might not seem like much, and may come across as more of a disappointment, but if there is one thing you can do to fast-track your language learning it is being confident. Your success depends on your level of confidence. It may sound obvious, but it isn’t actually. Confidence is the biggest hurdle anyone who is trying to learn a new language has in the beginning. Languages are about talking to people, putting yourself in situations where you might not feel very comfortable. If you lack the confidence , you will never truly be able to speak the language you are learning properly.

It doesn’t matter whether you make mistakes or that not everyone you talk to reacts positively. All that matters is that you are out there trying your best with what you know – and ultimately learning from your mistakes.

“Belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance”
– Webster’s New Universal.

Once you start believing in your abilities and start saying you “speak” a language rather than that you are “learning” a language, your learning will speed up. As a result, you will focus less on what you are getting wrong and start focussing more on what you are getting right. Just keep at it – the more you speak, the less you will worry. Remember that any progress is good and means you are getting better at the language. Perfection isn’t nearly as important as believing in yourself.

Once you are confident, you will start thinking about correcting your mistakes. Yes, some native speakers will correct you, but that’s how you learn! No need to be embarrassed.

Learning a language by yourself is taxing – and usually unsuccessful. Most people quit once they hit a speedbump in their learning. But taking a Language Course in Cape Town with the Language Teaching Centre (LTC), you are not alone! At LTC you are encouraged to work hard and strive to learn the language you have chosen. With the help of our highly qualified teachers, you will be taught in a nurturing and positive environment where you will be encouraged to try your best. You don’t have to struggle by yourself – let the Language Teaching Centre help you.

Sound like a native speaker with idioms

LTC Team — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 14:17:40 +0000

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an idiom is: “A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.”

The main difference between a fluent speaker and someone who is learning a language is obvious: the fluent speaker knows how to use idioms.

Every language has a “flavour” such as the words, jokes, and phrases that can’t really be translated into another language. These aspects of a language play a big part in the personalities of native speakers of a specific language.

An example is Italian. It is a language packed with beautiful food-related idioms to express joy, problems, and so much more in daily life – most of which can’t be translated literally into another language. The word “abbiocco” is used to describe the contented and sleepy feeling one gets after a nice big meal. The closest phrase to this in the English language is a “food coma” which means being so full you can barely move. Or the phrase “Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco”, which directly translates as “not all doughnuts come out with a hole”. This means that something doesn’t turn out as you expect it to. An English speaker would instead say “there’s more than one way to skin a cat” which is similar to the Italian phrase.

Another example comes from Portuguese. The word “apaixonar” describes the moment just before someone declares their love to another. It is a verb, the actual act of falling in love. The closest word in English to this is “impassioned” but compared to the meaning “apaixonar” has, it is quite bland.

These words and idioms mirror the culture of the language they originate from. While Italian uses phrases that have to do with food, English speakers are much more likely to use idioms that offer disturbing images for comic effect. This reflects the dark humour of the British.

Using idioms that are unique to a specific culture is a huge part of your cultural identity. As someone learning another language, the quicker you understand – and begin to use the idioms of the language you are learning – the faster you will be able to have meaningful conversations with a native speaker.

But not to worry, you won’t have to do this all by yourself, the Language Teaching Centre (LTC) is here to help. LTC gives students from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds the opportunity to learn and engage with other diverse students and learn and discover more about each other’s languages and cultures. Study English in Cape Town, or Portuguese, Spanish, Xhosa, Zulu, German, Mandarin, French, Arabic, and Afrikaans. So do it – take a Language Course in Cape Town at the Language Teaching Centre. You won’t regret it!