From our blog
News, developments and articles from Regina Coeli
How the French interpret gestures
Non-verbal communication differs from country to country and this is often one of the reasons why intercultural communication is such a challenge. This explains why a simple discussion can take an unexpected turn, quite unintentionally.
French courses: the tailor-made approach
French is both a working and an official language of the European Union, the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO and other legal entities and governing bodies. The language is spoken on five continents, which makes it a truly global language. Yet if you do not live in a country where the language is spoken, you will probably not hear or read it often. This is in sharp contrast to English, which is an ever-present feature of daily life.
What is the difference in Italian between ‘buono’ and ‘bene’?
People learning Italian sometimes use the words ‘buono’ and ‘bene’ incorrectly. They associate ‘buono’ with eating well and ‘bene’ with how good the food is. Unfortunately this doesn’t work in Italian.
Are you on holiday or on vacation?
What a strange question! If I’m on holiday then I’m also on vacation. They mean the same after all. But as a result of the economic crisis,…
Italian expressions - In vino veritas
Drinking good wine, within limits of course, is so much part of Italian culture that the language is peppered with sayings and expressions to do with wine. Here are five of them.
Into the jungle, armed with Portuguese
One of the first organisations to send employees to Regina Coeli to learn Portuguese was Mammoet, the company that many people will have heard of in relation to the transport, assembly and removal of oversized objects. The red cranes and heavy transport equipment that belong to this originally Dutch concern are often seen in action on, for example, Discovery Channel when they report on huge projects that have involved Mammoet.