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The best things to do in Cape Town

LTC Team — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 11:08:19 +0000

Cape town is an amazing place in South Africa to enjoy a lot of activities. There is a real cultural and natural beauty. So I would like to advice you about activities, which you cannot miss.

The most beautiful beaches in Cape Town

You have to go to Camps bay, Clifton, Llandudno and Muizenberg. At most of them, you can do surfing, kayaking, swimming, play volleyball, football and tanning.

The most athletic activities in Cape Town

You have to hike Table Mountain and have a drink at the top during the sunset. It is a really good experience even if it is difficult, you will be so proud of yourself and the view is just incredible. You can climb Lion’s head or Devils peak too.

The funniest experience in Cape Town

You can taste pretty good wines in Cape Town. If you are a wine lover, it is possible to taste some of it in Constantia but there are other wine tasting farms in Durbanville and Helderberg. For another experience, you can go to Stenllenbosch or Franschhoek, outside the city. The perfect option is to choose 4 or 5 estates that tickle your fancy and just have fun.

The most relaxing experience in Cape Town

Do you love nature and garden? Kirstenbosch is a beautiful place to walk in nature and have a quiet moment. It is a big and amazing garden with a canopy, waterfalls, and a place for concerts. You can enjoy live shows on Sundays or enjoy an open-air cinema. It’s definitively a place that you can’t miss.

Kirstenbosch

The most amazing experience in Cape Town

If you have enough time to do the Garden Route, it is just a beautiful experience. You leave Cape Town for 3 days and you can discover the beauty of the south coast, you can go to George and experience an amazing tour.You can kayak, hike, swim in waterfalls, do the highest bungee jumping of South Africa, enjoy a Safari and discover an elephant sanctuary.

Obviously, it is just some ideas and there are a lot of other activities to experience in Cape Town. In my opinion, it is the best city ever because you cannot get bored, especially in Summer whether it is day or night.You will always have something to do, so come on and join us in South Africa.

Article written by Julie from France, student and intern in Cape Town.

My Cape Town experience

LTC Team — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:30:45 +0000

Let me introduce myself, my name is Barbara, I study in Maastricht in the Netherlands and can call myself very fortunate because I’ve been given the opportunity to do my internship in the most beautiful country in the world, South Africa.

I can’t believe I’ve been in Cape Town for four months now, on one hand ,it seems like I’ve been here a lifetime already but on the other hand, the time has flown by so fast.

South Africa is a vibrant country where multiple cultures, languages,people, religions and unify. Did you know South Africa has eleven official languages?

But like any other country, South Africa has its own manual, because every country has different habits, norms & values. So if you’re planning a trip to South Africa, and more specifically Cape Town and want to get the most out of your stay here, I will share some tips and tricks and tell you a little bit about my experience here.

Before departure

Make sure the following things are arranged before traveling to Cape Town:

Valid passport (of course)
Flight reservations
Credit card
South African phone provider – I used Vodacom myself but most of my friends had CellC
Proof of medical cover valid in South Africa
Apply for Visa (All documents need to be filled in in English and with a black pen)
Applying for a Visa can be time consuming so make sure you start early, you’re dependent on other institutions such as the bank, hospital, police and of course the government. You can contact an immigration lawyer to help you throughout the process.
Always bring a warm sweater or jacket, the saying that Cape Town can have 4 seasons in one day is not a lie.

Accommodation

Home sweet home, wherever you go, a place where you feel happy,comfortable and safe is essential. A nice home where you can unwind after a busy day at the office or an adventurous activity. There are a lot of places to stay in Cape Town, such as hotels, apartments, hostels but the best option I believe would be a host family. A host family will not only provide you with a nice place to live but they can also be your helping hand. Ask your school,mediator or maybe even family and friends for help when finding a nice place to stay.

I personally lived in two neighborhoods in Cape Town, the first month of my stay I stayed in Observatory (aka Obs). Obs is known to be quite a safe place to live, it is a very hipster and vibrant part of Cape Town, located next to Woodstock. It is, however, a bit further away from the city centre. But I really enjoyed the vintage vibe Obs had, some lovely coffee places, café’s and restaurants are located in Obs so it’s definitely worth the visit. The other neighborhood I stayed in was Bo Kaap. Well known for its colorful house sand Muslim community Bo Kaap is a nice place to stay.

Public transport

Make sure that you’ve installed the Uber app (you need a credit card for this) on your phone. Though Cape Town has a lot of option when it comes to public transport, Uber is the safest and most trustworthy one and probably cheaper than taking a taxi too.

All Uber drivers are checked and inspected by Uber. The airport has a few currency exchange offices so make sure to draw some South African Rands.

Another good option is taking the My City Bus, though I don’t have any personal experience taking the bus, I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback about it.

My favs

Now that I’ve given some general information about Cape Town, I would love to share some of my own experiences:

There’s a lot of amazing things to do in Cape Town. Climb Lions Head and visit Wally’s Cave, Table Mountain, watch the sunset on Signal Hill with a bottle of wine and good company, have a stroll along V&A Waterfront and have some lunch at the Food Market there, visit some of the many amazing museums (I loved Zeitz Mocaa and Slave Lodge was impressive and interesting too).

My standard weekend would be as follows, Fridays my friends and I would have some pre-drinks at la Parada Bree street,afterward, we would go to Long street.. Saturday morning, a few friends and I would go to Muizenberg to surf. There are a couple of surf schools where you can rent a suit and board. In the evening we would have a ‘’family braai’’ at our friend’s house and play some board games.Sunday Funday we would start the day at the beach, this was either Camps Bay or Clifton Beach no2. A list of other nice beaches would be:

Platboom
SN. Tidal Pool
Bakoven
Hout Bay
Llandudno
Maiden’s cove
Soetwater, Kommetjie
Buffels Bay

Food, food and more food.

Before I came to Cape Town I wasn’t aware of the amazing food they have here. Besides gaining experience and knowledge, I’ve also gained some weight being here in South Africa, because the food is just scrumptious (it might have been the wine as well). I’ll first give you a list of my best lunch spots:

Dunes – Hout Bay
Truth Coffee – 36 Buitenkant St Cape Town
Folk – 7 Bree St. Cape Town
Kleinsky’s Delicatessen (best bagels in town!) – 95 Regent Rd or 32 Parliament St.
Giulio’s- Cornerstone House, 16 Loop St.
Haas Collective – 19 Buitenkant St.
Clarke’s – 133 Bree St.
Jason Bakery – 185 Bree St.
Smak – 22 Bree St.
Kauai – Multiple locations

There are a lot more lunch spots, so these are just a few. There is however one I would like to mention in particular, ”Die Strand Loper’’if you are a fish lover just like me this place is heaven. Die Strand loper is a very low key spot (kind of makes you feel like you’re in a pirate movie)where you get 10 delicious meals and its BYOB (bring your own booze). Die Strand loper is an hour and a half drive from Cape Town,but it is most definitely worth your time. You will just have to experience this amazing spot for yourself (it is advised to make a reservation in advance, just visit their website).

Now let’s continue with a few great restaurants for dinner, I have to be honest with you, this list consists of both affordable and a bit more expensive restaurant:

Mzoli’s – is a Butcher, ‘Braai’-restaurant in Gugulethu, one of Cape Town’s Townships
Mama Africa – 178 Long Street (typical African food)
JC – 18 De Villiers Rd, Zonnebloem
Tiger’s Milk – Multiple locations
Mantra – 43 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay
The Bungalow – 3 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay
Jerry’s Burger Bar – 123 Lower Main Rd. Observatory
Oishi Sushi – Online or via Uber Eats
Asoka -68 Kloof St, Gardens
Kloof Street House – 30 Kloof St, Gardens
Your’s Truly – 73 Kloof St.
Today & Tomorrow – 71 Kloof St.
Villa 47 – 47 Bree St.
Beluga – 70 Prestwich St.
Three Wise Monkeys – La Rhone Building, 77 Regent Rd.
Love Thy Neighbour – 110 Bree St.

Always something to do

South Africa provides so many amazing activities and opportunities to make your time abroad the best ever. Near the end of September my friends and I went on a road trip to Hermanus, and this I highly recommend. We stayed there for two nights and went kayaking with whales (if you want to go kayaking in Cape Town go to Atlantic Outlook). Being in such close proximity to such a majestic animal feels unreal.

The drive to Hermanus is already a breath-taking experience itself.

Saturdays are not for sleeping in but for waking up early so you can visit one of many green markets. Visit the Old Biscuit Mill market for the best food and souvenir shopping or go and take a look at Oranjezicht market near Waterfront to do some healthy groceries or try some of the fresh food from one of the booths.

If you’re in the mood for some tranquility and nature, visit the Kirstenbosch Garden, this beautiful park is filled with exotic birds and plants and is the perfect place to have a nice and peaceful day out of the house.

The Company Gardens is also perfect for a peaceful stroll to escape the busy city life.

If you’re a love a good glass or bottle of wine just like me, visit either Franschhoek or Stellenbosch, and enjoy one of the many wine tastings while drowning in the stunning scenery around you.

My favourite was the Zandvliet Wine Estate because my family and I were allowed to blend our own wine and it had a lot of sentimental value to us.

If you’re planning to stay in South Africa for a longer period the Garden Route is of course something you cannot miss!

I honestly don’t think I have enough writing space to tell you about all the amazing places and experiences here in South Africa. This country is extraordinary.

All the things I’ve experienced here in South Africa have honestly changed me as a person. Learning about different cultures and habits, seeing the harmony between various religions. I’ve come to realize I’m not very musically talented and don’t have any rhythm compared to African people. The kindness people show each other and of course the wildlife and breath-taking nature. The proximity of stunning beaches and mountains. I would like to thank everyone who made this experience one to never forget, I’ve learned to really appreciate the small things in life and to take nothing for granted, to be kind to everyone around you and to help wherever you can. To appreciate nature and everything it’s given us.

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.

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!