From our blog
News, developments and articles from Regina Coeli
Little time and still learning a language
Learning a language takes time. If your days are already jam-packed with work, sports and family commitments, it can be hard to fit in time to study every week. Then it’s a godsend to be able to concentrate completely on learning a language for a week. That's what Edo Boerefijn, Chief Operating Officer at Cryonorm, did, for example.
The language of the ‘Hollandse pot’
Every winter, steaming hot plates of food magically appear on tables in Dutch homes everywhere—things like big pots full of snert, boerenkool or hutspot. These are collectively called Hollandse pot, or stamppot. These are quite hearty meals that fill the belly and warm up you right down to your toes. Even though Dutch winters aren’t as cold as they used to be, these dishes are still wildly popular in the winter months.
Sharpen your saw
Language is the most important tool we have for communicating. Without it, we cannot express how we feel, what we want and who we are. You may recognise that feeling when you suddenly have to explain something in Dutch, German or French, noticing the frustration bubbling up as you search for the right words.
Building trust and a network through Arabic
Samuel Hanna Gadalla started a new job in sales at Story Auto Import-Export over six months ago. Exactly the right man for the job, his boss thought. That’s because Samuel not only knows everything about cars, but he also speaks fluent Arabic. At Story Auto Import-Export, they could put that to good use because they export loads of cars to Arabic-speaking countries. So why did we spot Samuel attending an Arabic course at Regina Coeli?
Ten tips for doing business in Italy
Italy has one of the largest economies in Europe, but not one of the most accessible. Sometimes, it can be challenging to get your foot in the door there, not only because of the numerous regulations but also because of culture. So, what works when doing business with Italians? Regina Coeli’s Italian language trainers have put together these ten cultural tips to help you succeed in Italy.
Language is crucial during video calls
Meetings, job interviews, sales interviews: they’ve been taking place en masse via video calls in these corona times. In many instances, it’s been a godsend, and online contact via Skype, Zoom, Teams and other platforms have numerous advantages, including less commute time. But there are disadvantages too, such as the loss of all kinds of non-verbal signals during such calls. These matter more to your communication than you might think. You largely have to lean on your verbal skills during online face-to-face conversations. Have you developed them enough? Also in a foreign language?