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Falling for Autumn: why are autumn traditions in the US so at odds with the weather? Eleanor Curtis Tuesday, 7 November 2023 Across social media, Americans living in the southern states are giving a taste of their fall décor. However, this is completely at odds with the weather in the places they live, consisting of orange leaves and pumpkins. Is there a reason for this cultural difference, or is it just something we must accept about the American experience? For us in the United Kingdom, autumn means a cooling down, a marked change in the seasons. It is usually rung in by wind and rain, and as the leaves change from verdant to burnished gold, temperatures drop and layered knitwear makes an appearance. However, in the southern states of the US, the season of autumn is simply marked by the appearance of pumpkins, and burnt orange porch décor. Why is the culture of ‘fall’ so reminiscent of English weather in a place where the temperatures rarely drop below twenty degrees centigrade? Perhaps the most iconic representation of fall in the US is Caitlin Covington, the face of so called ‘Christian girl autumn’. She rose to notoriety by documenting her obsession with pumpkin spice, sweater dresses, and knee-high boots on Instagram, becoming the archetypal representation of the American fascination with Fall. Covington, 33, makes an annual ‘pilgrimage’ from her home in Charlotte, North Carolina, to the wooded countryside of Vermont, timing her trip to experience the optimum orange leaves. While iconic, she is not the only thing that comes to mind when thinking about the cooler months in the American south. Think pumpkin patches and orange toned door wreaths, sleeveless cable knits, and fake leaves on front lawns. Why is this such a widely seen cultural practice? Why are the American south so obsessed with the out of season? Generally, fall in the states is the beginning of many cultural landmarks, like the football season, back to school, and preparations for winter. But this is the same across all 50 states, as well as here across the pond. This idea of a culturally important season of ‘fall’ does not explain the obsession with fake unseasonal décor in the south. Perhaps it has something to do with the origins of the United States, and the colonial progression from the north – where the weather and seasons are much the same as they are here – across the west and southern areas of the continent. Perhaps this cultural iconography conveys a sense of nostalgia, think the quintessential americana moment. These decorations and obsessions conjure images of small towns, community, harvest, and abundance. Perhaps here there is evidence of the desire to return to the ‘good old days’. However, it could all simply be the work of consumerism, that very American ideology, where the buying power of the dollar drives cultural consumption. Fall ends with the important cultural festival of Thanksgiving, which in its inception, incorporates real autumnal ideas of harvest, warming foods, and a convivial ‘northern’ feast. Perhaps this is also where these cultural elements find their derivation. However, after Thanksgiving, the plastic pumpkins and fake leaves get replaced by frosted Christmas trees and fake snow, so perhaps the Southern States’ obsession with decorating according to the seasons of the north is simply ingrained in their lifestyle. For a place where it hardly ever snows to be decked out in white across the Christmas period, there must be something integral to the society going on. About the Author Eleanor was Lingo's Treasurer for 2023-24. She is very interested in cultures across the world, and how languages and history influence these. She loved being a part of Lingo Magazine, a collaborative community showcasing all the elements of language and culture that our world has to offer! Falling for Autumn: why are autumn traditions in the US so at odds with the weather? Eleanor Curtis Rugby: A culture of respect? Eleanor Curtis A Rose By Any Other Name: ‘Cobs’ and ‘Jitties’, ‘Barms’ and ‘Ginnels’ Eleanor Curtis Copyright free p hoto by Erica Marsland Huynh on Unsplash . For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Autumn Decorations USA Fall Weather Eleanor Curtis Categories: Culture Thought Piece Global Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Recipe of the Week: North African Chicken and Chips Emily Dawson Saturday, 10 December 2022 Recipe of the week with @ems.homecooking will teach you a new dish from around the world. This week we're back in North Africa with a twist on the typical dish of chicken and chips. Serves : 2 Difficulty : 3/5 Time : 1hr to 1hr 20 minutes Origin : North Africa This dish is a North African twist on your mum’s typical Friday night chicken and chips dinner. While it sounds complicated, this meal is super simple, and it basically cooks itself – something a bit different to the typical, potentially boring meal. You can add any vegetables that take your fancy (or even eggs, which is traditional) to further enhance the flavours and the heartiness of the dish. While the presentation of this dish looks a little funny, the flavours are incredible. Ingredients 3 chicken drumsticks 1 medium onion 2 cloves of garlic 1 stock cube 2 tsp ras el hanout (cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger and turmeric) 1.5 tsp cumin 1 tsp parsley Half a jar of chickpeas 1 or 2 potatoes Salt and pepper Method Preheat the oven to 180/200ºC. On a medium heat, cook off the chicken drumsticks until the skin has browned and the outside of the chicken looks cooked. Add in the chopped onions and garlic and cook off until they are soft. Stir in the spices ( ras el hanout and cumin). Once these spices are mixed in, add in one stock cube with enough boiling water to just cover the chicken. Season with salt and pepper and the parsley. Then, leave the pan on a medium-low heat covered with a lid for about one hour. In the meantime, peel the potatoes and chop them into chips. Place them onto a baking tray with a drizzle of oil and season with salt and pepper. Once the chicken has been cooking for 15 mins, put the chips in the oven to cook for 45 minutes. With 10 minutes left before the chicken is ready, add in half a jar of chickpeas. At this point you can add in any other vegetables that you might want; green beans, peas and broccoli are some of my favourites. After 45 mins, the chips should be crispy, and the chicken should be falling off the bone. This is the sign that everything is ready to serve. I take the chicken off the bone beforehand so it’s easier to serve between two. Enjoy! For more savoury and tasty treat recipes, follow @ems.homecooking on Instagram. Let us know if you recreate Emily's recipe at home! About the Author Emily is a fourth-year student, studying Spanish, Chinese and Business. She is an avid baker turned chef who can often be found in the kitchen making content for her Instagram (@ems.homecooking). Emily was our 2022/23 Treasurer. Recipe of the Week: Shakshuka with Merguez Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Chicken Curry Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Vegan Pasta Bake Emily Dawson Images provided by Emily Dawson. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Emily Dawson North Africa Cuisine Chicken Cooking Dinner Categories: Recipe of the Week Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

An Intro to Taiwanese Music Chris Stankley Tuesday, 29 November 2022 A brief introduction to the Taiwanese indie music scene from our resident Chinese music expert. Listening to music in a foreign language is a great way to pick up new vocab and improve your listening skills but listening to the soft piano ballad mandopop hits in the charts can get repetitive. Taiwan is making it big in the Chinese-language music scene. So, even if you’re not learning Chinese and are just interested in finding new music, hopefully, there’s something that takes your interest. イルカポリス 海豚刑警 (hǎitún xíngjǐng) (Dolphin Police) Song recommendation: 羽球少年 (yǔqiú shàonián) (Badminton Boy) Inspired by and named after a character from the manga KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops , this Taipei-based band’s music is influenced by Japanese rock and pop music. The band’s light-hearted and fun music has become the group’s signature style. Their album and EP covers, as well as their promotional materials, are upbeat and colourful, apparently reflecting the Dolphin Police manga character the band’s name is based on. Although it is hard to find a similar-sounding English-language band, the band’s drummer has said the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, among others, served as inspiration for some of their music. No Party For Cao Dong Song recommendation : 山海 (Shānhǎi) (Wayfarer) “Quiet. Loud. Honest” – this is how Taipei-based band No Party for Cao Dong describe their musical style. Formed in Taipei in 2012, No Party For Cao Dong has quickly become a popular name among fans of Taiwanese indie music. Their first album and only one to date, The Servile, is a story of sorrow, grief and anger which speaks to the frustrations many young people in Taiwan have about society, according to the band. Despite the political nature of their music, No Party for Cao Dong has found success outside of Taiwan, playing concerts in mainland China, South America and even featuring at Glastonbury in 2019. Fans of the band are still waiting for the release of their second album which has been delayed due to the pandemic but if the band can recapture the magic they found with their first album, you will be hearing a lot more about his band in the future. deca joins Song recommendation : 海浪 (hǎilàng) (Wave) Also formed in Taipei, deca joins can often be heard playing in Taiwan’s packed cafés and bubble tea shops. With a more relaxed, lo-fi-inspired sound than other indie-rock groups, deca joins’ music is perfect to listen to while studying. Their most recent album, 鳥鳥鳥 (Bird and Reflections), incorporates more jazz and hard-rock elements into their music, taking the band’s sound in a new and exciting direction. Bassist Xie Jun-Yan has said that the band’s music and message can be summed up as not giving up on your dreams, which is a great message for anyone who has had to learn how to use 把. 無妄合作社 (No-nonsense collective) Song recommendation : 開店歌 (kāidiàn gē) (Opening Shop Song) Another politically charged band, the group was started by members of a Marx reading group at National Taipei University. Their songs have been used by politicians at rallies as well as to celebrate election victories. Reminiscent of the Foo Fighters, No-nonsense Collective says that their music is inspired by “cigarette smoke, forest game, and city pollution”. In 2018, they won the Golden Music Award in Taiwan for best band, beating out favourites Eggplantegg and 告五人, putting the band on the map in the process. Following this success, the band has released an album and an EP and put on free shows across Taiwan to help promote Taiwanese culture and music. 告五人 (Accusefive) Song recommendation : 披星戴月的想你 (pīxīngdàiyuède xiǎngnǐ) (Missing you) Accusefive is another band that gained mainstream success after winning an award at the prestigious Golden Music Awards, making them one of the most popular bands in Taiwan right now. The group of three friends formed in Yilan in 2017, and after their song ‘披星戴月的想你’ was featured during an episode of the popular Taiwanese series Yong-Jiu Grocery Store , they quickly became a household name. Their first and most famous album, 我肯定在幾百年前就說過愛你 ( Somewhere in time, I love you ), incorporates psychedelic rock, retro disco and indie rock tracks into one project. The theme of the album is love, and every song touches on a different aspect of it, whether that be love between friends, family or lovers. Other bands you might like: Eggplantegg TRASH 老破麻Old Slut Distortion Wayne’s so sad 爱是唯一 (àishìwéiyī) Bremen Entertainment Inc. Check out Chris's curated playlist with all his top Taiwanese recommendations below. About the Author Chris is a fourth-year Spanish and Chinese student. In his free time, Chris likes to listen to foreign language music and cook vegan food. European Music Festivals to Attend This Summer Niamh Woodhouse An Intro to Taiwanese Music Chris Stankley “Mother of God, banish Putin”: A Reflection on Pussy Riot’s performance in Nottingham Jess Henrys Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chris Stankley Music Chinese Taiwan Indie Categories: Culture Cultural Guide Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! 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French and Spanish < Back Millie Adams Millie is immersed in the world of travel. As part of her year abroad she spent spent a semester in Martinique and a study semester in Cuba. Whilst on that side of the world, Millie took the opportunity to travel around the Caribbean. Millie was our 2022/23 Travel Editor. Latest Articles by this Author Climate Change Refugees: the victims of global warming 15/02/22 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo 15/02/22

MEETINGS & EVENTS Lingo Magazine fosters a welcoming, open-minded environment where everyone can join in on semi-regular events that happen throughout the year. Want to meet other Lingo members? Check our calendar below for any upcoming meetings and events! Event Title Event Time Event Date Change the event description to include your own content. Adjust the settings to customize the style. November 2025 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Lingo Magazine Launch Party The Angel, Hockley SOCIAL SECRETARY The 'Social Secretary' position has yet to be filled! If you think this could be you, keep an eye out for the next election dates and nominate yourself for the role! This role includes (but is not limited to): Planning and co-ordinating varied and engaging social events for society members to attend. Ensuring social events are accessible, following SU guidelines and processes. Networking with event organisers and venues. Could it be you next?

Film Review: Lee (2024) Sarah Taylor Tuesday, 1 October 2024 ‘Lee’ details the life of Lee Miller, a successful model and muse to May Ray who became a war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. The film opens with a care-free existence for Lee and her friends on the brink of war. Lee’s strong, defiant personality is quick to rise to the surface with her meeting her future husband, Roland, and you get a real feel for her character. ‘Lee’ starts off by photographing the devastation caused by the Blitz and is already showing her immense creative talent. The film details the challenges faced by women at the time, as Lee has a lengthy battle to get to be a war correspondent and only succeeds because of her American citizenship. Women were not allowed in combat, which makes Lee’s achievement even more remarkable. The film dramatically changes direction with Lee firmly planted right in the action, photographing the first battle of the film, where her shock and disbelief is evident as she tries to navigate various trenches and hide outs. Lee’s mental health is the undercurrent of the film, with only a small reference to the traumatic event she suffered early in childhood in the last 10 minutes of the film which clearly had a devastating effect on her. She identifies with a small child who has suffered the same experience in what is a very moving scene when Lee and her companion, American photographer, David E. Scherman, see the devastating effects of concentration camps, Buchenwald, and Dachau. Lee’s heavy drinking is also evident throughout, but Lee is no casualty. What you see instead is a strong, courageous woman who puts herself in the centre of the action capturing remarkable photos. The compassion her companion shows her is heartwarming in moments of her vulnerability, but for the rest of the film she is more than capable of looking after herself and the film depicts a deep friendship based on mutual respect for each other’s character and talent. Almost immediately David collaborates with her and is clearly in awe of her strength, both supporting each other through their individual difficulties. The film’s use of location takes you through her journey as a war correspondence and the various sights associated with that, a real contrast to the beautiful, sunny days in France, and an indication of just how bleak war is. The lighting is used to do just this with later scenes taking on a grey appearance with barely any light showing, further reinforcing a menacing darkness that has all too much encapsulated everything. The film is excellently cast, with Kate Winslet the ideal choice for Lee, surpassing all expectations. I do not think I am aware of any film Kate has not delivered an outstanding performance but in this she is spectacular, you really cannot imagine any other actor playing this role. The character of Audrey, played by Andrea Riseborough really compliments Lee and does her best to support Lee in all areas of her work and their friendship proves amusing to see as well as very moving. Lee is a reminder to us all the remarkable strength women have, and the film shines a light on the incredible contribution women gave for the war effort. About the Author Sarah is a staff member here at the University working as a Senior Research Administrator for the Faculty of Engineering. She loves writing and culture, and thought that Lingo Mag would be a fantastic opportunity to combine both passions. She also loves photography, books, history and walking. Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film Mhairi MacLeod An evening of 'Santi' Emily Brown Athena: A French Film Review Holly Cromwell Images via Sky For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Film review Categories: Review Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

International Film at the Oscars Holly Cromwell Tuesday, 14 March 2023 In honour of the 2023 Oscars on Sunday evening, 12th March, Holly takes us on a brief tour of international film as seen on the Oscars corner of the big screen. The Oscars have always been incredibly euro-centric, and that’s if they even manage to step outside the comforts of homegrown American film. They didn’t try to hide this at first – until 2020, the category Best International Film was called Best Foreign Film – so every film considered foreign was relegated to a single category with little chance of the coveted Best Picture award. Even then, it wasn’t the cast or crew that received the price but rather the country of origin. What’s more, each country is only permitted to submit one nomination, quite the statement for the Academy, which describes its membership as global and its awards as “the highest honours in filmmaking”. We can only assume that the world of film only exists where English is spoken and that those who dare produce art in their own language will be happily herded into their pen. This plays out across the board. Before this year’s awards, a mere six actors have won an Oscar for a non-English-speaking role and one of those, Youn Yuh-jung, spoke a non-European language. That’s the same number that have won awards for roles predominantly in sign language. Of course, we can’t write an article about the Oscars and international film without mentioning Parasite , the first international film to ever win Best Picture. That said, it was in 2020, so it did take them 93 Oscars to get it right! Everyone knows Parasite ; Bong-Joon Ho pushed international film back right into the spotlight, spawning a notorious copycat industry to invest and promote more of his fellows. So maybe that tide is changing – although Asian and non-European international film remains a sight much less common in the western consciousness than their contemporaries. The stakes seem higher now, with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu hunting for an advantage against each other and producing foreign language films in most major territories. You find this category mentioned in articles and videos as one of the most interesting to follow, a prize that is rarely undeserved. So there’s a reason to actually turn on the TV this year. Even then, the legacy of “best foreign film” looms large. In 2020’s landmark Oscars for international film, both the Nigerian-made Lionheart and Austrian Joy were disqualified as their scripts which were primarily in English somehow made them less international, or perhaps not “foreign” enough. Specifically, Lionheart ’s disqualification caused quiet outrage as English is in fact an official language of Nigeria; part of their national tapestry, regardless of the fact it’s a product of colonisation. They have the right to produce art in their languages without being penalised for it. Bong-Joon Ho famously called subtitles the “one inch obstacle” to America, and to extend his metaphor, anglophone audiences. Non-English-speaking audiences have traditionally been seen as less easily commercialised and as such the languages we learn in school: German, French, Italian and Spanish, are much more likely to win than their counterparts. The African continent collectively has only won three times while Europe has won fifty-seven times. That said, every year culture-focused journals and magazines churn out articles about how this edition’s awards were either a high point for values of diversity and inclusion or disappointing given the recent efforts towards those values, across every award and every type of diversity. The Oscars have taken some very heavy hits over the last few years. With the rise of on-demand streaming, live television everywhere has seen viewing figures go down the toilet but for award shows, and film/TV awards particularly, it seems worse and worse. The Academy’s distaste for streaming is a whole other article, but with online content being the most accessible, the awards have become less and less relevant to the wider public, and the decisions of the Academy come under more and more scrutiny. That’s without their yearly controversies adding a couple more nails to the coffin. International film is slowly gaining popularity, so perhaps it can help plug a few leaks on this sinking ship. About the Author Holly was our 2023/24 Culture Editor. An English and French student, Holly is interested in languages and cultures, with a particular interest in film. For her, writing for Lingo is a way to enjoy this further and be a bit more purposeful with her interests, find and share new things! Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film Mhairi MacLeod An evening of 'Santi' Emily Brown The Rise of Foreign Language TV Holly Cromwell Header image provided by University of Nottingham Filmmaking Society Oscars 2022 For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Holly Cromwell Academy Awards Film International Film Cinema Categories: Culture Opinion Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

French and German < Back Olivia Marshall Olivia was our Welfare Officer for 2023-24. After graduating with a BA in French and German with Translation in 2022, Liv is now completing an MA Translation Studies. Apart from being passionate about translation, she loves to travel, explore new places, and experience different cultures. She is looking forward to meeting others with the same interests through Lingo. Latest Articles by this Author The Forgotten Victims of the Holocaust 17/06/24 Cannabis Legalisation in Germany 10/04/24 Karneval: Germany's obsession with Native Americans 19/02/24

Athena: A French Film Review Holly Cromwell Tuesday, 17 October 2023 A review of one of the best made French films I've seen. Athena (2022) is a masterpiece. Oddly topical, beautifully shot, and as gripping as it was upsetting, ‘Athena’ is an impeccably designed film with a live wire tapped into modern French politics. To go from hearing about riots in France after a black teenager is shot by police, to then watching an acclaimed French film about riots in France after a black teenager is shot by police; it’s quite a surreal experience. The story follows the lives of three brothers whose lives are suddenly plunged into chaos following the tragic death of their youngest brother. Following the release of video footage of the killing, each brother expresses their grief differently: the eldest brother begs for calm in memory of his brother, while the now youngest rallies the grief-stricken community, both in their housing project and across France, and violence erupts. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I will say that this plot is full of twists and turns, and while realistically chaotic in its depiction, the story has the distinct aura of a Greek tragedy. As a voracious reader, I could see the broad strokes of the story from the offset, and I spent the rest of the film in grim resignation of the resultant death and destruction. This film makes no qualms in its intention of confronting the audience with uncomfortable truths, including the realities of violence and police brutality, and the consequences of prejudice. It provides a quintessentially French perspective on film as an artform by theatrically presenting an innately political situation in such a way that it doesn’t come across as preachy or activist, and, as I have come to expect from French cinema, each shot is stylised to perfection. That perfection comes in chaos. This film is all fast-paced action and explosions, sandwiched between heartbreaking emotion and the confusion of the plot. Every tool in the filmmaker’s arsenal is used masterfully to make the watcher experience the stress of this civil war. I did not watch the whole thing; I took a break in the middle whilst my friends kept watching. This film is so well done that the instant I returned to the sofa I was completely reabsorbed into the story, even as I felt every muscle in my shoulder’s tense. If, like me, you’re not quite in the right mindset for two hours of your heart in your throat, watch the “making of” video on YouTube. It’s just as much a masterpiece as the film. Alternately, watch the opening sequence. I will force anyone I meet in the next year to watch this. It has pyrotechnics, stunts, and all multiple protagonists all in one take, unbroken for 11 minutes. As an amateur filmmaker I was no less than inspired. About the Author Holly was our 2023/24 Culture Editor. An English and French student, Holly is interested in languages and cultures, with a particular interest in film. For her, writing for Lingo is a way to enjoy this further and be a bit more purposeful with her interests, find and share new things! Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film Mhairi MacLeod Violeta by Isabel Allende: One Hundred Years on the South American Continent Mhairi MacLeod French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 1/2 : The City of Lights Jess Henrys Copyright free images via Pexels. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: France Film Drama Culture Romain Gavras Holly Cromwell Categories: Culture Review Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Interrailing Rachel Lara Hoddes Sunday, 14 July 2024 Rachel gives us a comprehensive list of everything she wishes she had known before setting off on her interrailing adventure, sharing her top tips and tricks for a smooth-sailing rail holiday. Interrailing is an incredibly popular travel option nowadays, with around 350,000 students applying for passes annually. I myself have travelled as a student in Europe twice now, so I'd like to think I am somewhat able to share with you a list of tips and tricks for enjoying the fast-paced holiday style preferred by our age group. These range from common sense tips to surprising insights, as even though travelling can be super exciting, it can also be stressful and tiring. Dehydration: Don't Underestimate It This may seem obvious, but intense travelling, especially in hot and humid conditions, can lead to dehydration. It is crucial to stay hydrated to avoid exhaustion, as the last thing you want is to be trekking round a foreign country armed with your ghic and Google translate, only to be referred to completely the wrong service due to language barrier (definitely not based on a real story)! Planning regular drinking intervals, carrying electrolyte packets, and considering locations with water fountains is key to ensuring you can stay healthy and remain active throughout the trip. Additionally, avoid day-drinking and consuming too much caffeine (this may be rich coming from me!), as they can majorly dehydrate you. Factor in Melt Time Constant travel and activity can be exhausting, particularly with disrupted sleep from night trains or noisy hostel roommates, so it is important to have a space to decompress. This doesn't have to be at your accommodation, but putting in headphones on a train sometimes just isn't enough. So, this year, whilst travelling with my friends, we factored in what we called "melt time". We would find a quiet location as a base and split off, some opting to sit with headphones in and watching the bags whilst others would wander off alone to take in some solitude. It really helped us all recharge and ensure that we weren't (too) snappy. Dietary Requirements When travelling in a big group, there are likely to be a lot of dietary requirements. From allergies to religious restrictions to even veganism, we often found ourselves in need of very specific foods. We found that using websites such as "Happy Cow" and learning specific food-related words in local languages to find suitable food options. I would also recommend finding a Lidl or equivalent supermarket to stock up in safe snacks and drinks so that everyone always had something they could eat. Overwhelming Itinerary The main goal of interrailing is to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. To do this, a lot of planning goes on to ensure that everyone involved gets what they want out of a location. But for me personally, I get overwhelmed by a busy itinerary, particularly as things can be so unpredictable when travelling. Trains can be late, people can fall ill, and sometimes you just need an extra lie in. To combat this, I joined the trip late, opting to do only 1 week instead of 2 as despite really wanting to go to all locations, I knew I would get overwhelmed and burnt out due to the amount we had planned. Know your limits! Another thing worth considering is doing a walking tour on the first day of arriving in a location. These are super useful as they allow you to properly experienced a location and gained both cultural and historical knowledge. It also means you can return to locations that caught your eye and assess whether some of your main interests prearrival are actually worth the excursion. And they don't have to be expensive too! Many tours are free with a tip basis so you pay what you think the tour was worth after participating. Also, it's worth downloading some of Rick Steves' free audio guides which provide concise and informative city and attraction tours. Navigating Conflict In every high stress environment, conflict is always going to arise. And travelling, despite being super fun and rewarding, is also stressful. Cohabiting in close proximity with a range of personalities, dietary requirements and routines can be a recipe for dispute - but that's okay! What is important though, is to make sure that you're looking after yourself and others. The best way to do this is by ensuring you're communicating effectively as a group, and setting boundaries for your physical and mental health. Conclusion Since beginning university, I have tried so many new and rewarding things, but interrailing has definitely been one of my favourites. The cherished yet often ludicrous memories I have made will last a lifetime, and I certainly recommend it to anyone with a thirst for exploration. However, it can be difficult and often exhausting, so I hope my tips will help you on your exploration of some of the world's best train routes. About the Author Rachel is a Second Year English student who outside of her degree, lives everything theatre. She is Technical Manager for the Nottingham New Theatre so when she's not doing coursework, she's probably at the theatre rewiring a light or telling off a speaker for not listening to her. She also love climbing, swing dancing, baking and singing, as well as writing for lingo! She likes to write about topics that really grab her attention or mean a lot to her. Is sustainable travel possible during your year abroad? Chloe Brewster How to Navigate the Navigo: A Guide to Paris Transport Charlie Bodsworth Beyond Creatures: Unveiling Pokémon’s Multicultural Universe Jasmine Johal Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Rachel Lara Hoddes Travel Travel Guide Trains Categories: Travel Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

The Language of Lies: Exposing the Unreliable Narrator Saskia Johnson Tuesday, 18 March 2025 Have you ever wondered how language is used to construct lies? By delving into some of literature's most famous liars and unreliable narrators, I hope to conceptualise the act of deception and prove that dishonesty is not as easy to detect as you may think. While we encounter many notorious liars in literature, we may not even realise that the deception has sometimes taken root within the narrators themselves. As readers, it is natural for us to trust the narrators of the stories we read. Therefore, identifying unreliability is not always intended to be easy and may even be utilised purposefully by the author. That’s not to say that lying isn’t often obvious in many popular texts. Take Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello, for example. Throughout the whole play, the audience is aware that Iago is weaving lies whereas the other characters do not, often falling victim to his manipulations. This is because lying takes place in verbal communication through the act of violating, meaning that the quality of contribution to the conversation has been jeopardised by the speaker without their interlocutor noticing. The use of recurring utterances of other characters such as ‘honest Iago’ makes it clear that his deception is successful. It is important that this is communicated to the audience as it is Iago’s evil motives that drive forward the understanding of the play and subsequent tragedy. This is very different for unreliable narrators who are, for the most part, very subtly constructed by the author to be deceptive. Point of view is one of the most important linguistic considerations when attempting to understand how the unreliable narrator is established. Through first-person narration and third-person close narration, the reader sees the world through the consciousness of the narrator and subsequently, their subjective world. One of the most well-known, yet not strikingly obvious, unreliable narrators is Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby. As a first-person narrator, the reader experiences the world of the novel through Nick’s eyes. In this case, we are dealing with a narrator who is full of contradictions and is easily influenced by those around him. For instance, when Nick first attends one of Gatsby’s parties, he is enchanted by what he witnesses and feels a certain admiration for Gatsby himself. However, when he attends another one of Gatsby’s parties with his cousin, Daisy, he is struck by the artificial nature of the events, just as Daisy herself is. This prompts us to question whether we can trust Nick’s psychological and ideological perception of the events. Is Daisy really the bad guy? Or is Nick too enamoured by Gatsby to be able to think any differently? In this case, it is unclear whether F. Scott Fitzgerald is making Nick unreliable to represent an interior message or if this is a characteristic associated with Nick’s personality idiosyncrasies. It’s times like this when I greatly admire authors and their ability to channel a mind, or multiple, in order to immerse the reader within the story, to leave them enchanted by flawed characters, clueless to the real messages creeping beneath the surface. Maybe next time you read a book, you’ll outwit the author. Just take a second to consider–am I being lied to? About the Author I have always enjoyed reading and creative writing! Upon coming to uni, I developed a particular interest in the study of linguistics which I find helps me to analyse texts and even write my own. Lingo gives me the opportunity to become a better writer and discover what it's like to be a journalist, writing about the things I am passionate about. Copyright free images courtesy of Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Language Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing Mhairi MacLeod Tuesday, 24 May 2022 Have you ever considered au pairing in a foreign country? Not sure what it actually entails or if it is an experience for you? Our Deputy Editor, Mhairi, shares her rollercoaster experience of au pairing in Barcelona and the realities that come with it. After my term in Peru was cancelled due to the dreaded Covid, I found myself desperately reaching out to the Spanish family that I worked for in the summer of 2019. My friends and family thought I was crazy as all they had heard for the last two years was how I absolutely hated au pairing and that the pressure of looking after two feisty Spanish boys had formed stress lines on my forehead at the young age of 19. I would never do it again. I shouted this from the rooftops whenever anyone asked about my experience of au pairing. Yet here I was sending a jumbled WhatsApp message to the same Spanish family asking if I could come and live with them again for three months. A week later, I was unpacking my suitcase in the same spare room as last time. The room where I had cried so many tears on FaceTime to my parents saying I just wanted to come home (who knew a 4-year-old could make me cry). All I can say now is that I am so glad that I took the risk to go back as my memories of au pairing had been heavily overshadowed by the occasional bad moments back in 2019. I had forgotten just how incredible the experience had been, the friends and memories made, and the huge improvements to my Spanish. There’s nothing like being sat around a dinner table with what seems like hundreds of tíos y tías, primos y abuelos, all talking over each other in their fiery Spanish. In the middle of their heated debate, in an attempt to acquire some backup, one of them would ask ‘the English girl’ what she thought. What felt like hundreds of heads would turn to stare as I tried to form a coherent sentence in Spanish without crumbling from embarrassment. It really is a humbling experience and made an oral exam seem like nothing. Oh, and did I mention that I was living in a huge house in the middle of Barcelona, with a beautiful garden and pool? Now it doesn’t sound too bad at all. Like many things, the experience of au-pairing has its highs and lows. When I first stayed with the family in 2019, the two boys were four and six years old. For a 19-year-old, who didn’t have much experience looking after children, I was plunged straight into the deep end. How was I to know that a four-year-old could cry over his sandwich not being cut the right way? Or that the six-year-old was actually very fast and on several occasions decided to run off down the street and cause me to look like a crazy lady chasing him? It probably took around two months to settle in properly and for the boys to get used to me. After that, it got easier and in hindsight was really great fun. I discovered that the boys were hilarious, whether they knew it or not, and despite their tantrums and meltdowns, they were actually sweet children. Some of my favourite memories are teaching them to swim in the pool and singing Calma by Pedro Capó with them every day. The parents were also the kindest and most accommodating people I have met, who always wanted to make me feel at home. They took me on their multiple family holidays, to the mountains in the Pyrenees, their family home in Cadiz, and weekend trips to beach houses, they really were so generous. I got to experience the local version of Spain and I was made to feel like one. When I returned at the start of this year, the parents were even more welcoming and kind. They constantly praised me for doing a great job with the children and if I looked tired, they would offer to help or tell me to have some more free time to relax. My work schedule was so convenient, and I had so much time to explore the city again. I would wake up at 6 am and get the kids up and ready for school. They would leave for school at 8.30 am (or thereabouts, it was always a bit of a stampede) and later I would pick them up at 5 pm. That left me with a whole day to do absolutely whatever I wanted. I filled this time with language lessons, exercise, exploring the city, and going to the beach, the list was endless. At 5 pm I would walk to their school and look after them until their bedtime at 9 pm. Just in time to go out and have dinner and drinks with my friends in true Spanish local time. The weekends were also my time off and the family often went away so I regularly ended up with a free house and some much-needed peace and quiet. On the occasion that they didn’t go away for the weekend, I had a fun time explaining what a hangover was to the kids, and that ‘yes I don’t look well’. This second time around with the family was an incredible experience, despite the occasional tantrums and meltdowns. The kids were now six and eight years old, they were more independent and welcomed me into their little lives like an older sister. I also cried considerably less than the first time, which in au pairing terms is a great sign. I now have such a good relationship with the family that they treat me as one of their own. They are constantly messaging me to offer up their various houses in Spain for a holiday or telling me that if I am in Madrid I need to visit this amazing bar, visit ‘tío Pablo’ who will give me a lift to the airport, and meet ‘cousin Paz’ who will take me on a night out. The Spanish really do have family everywhere. It sounds funny to say but I feel like I have a second Spanish family and I know that should I ever need their help they will always be there. I got to know Barcelona incredibly well and felt like a local, giving city tours and guides to my friends and family from home. On top of this, I met some great people from all over the world at my language school, some of who I now consider some of my greatest friends. I realise how lucky I was to have such a great experience with this family, as I know it is not always the case for other au pairs. For me, the experience of au pairing was something that made me grow up very quickly, there is a lot of responsibility and suddenly you are the adult answering all sorts of questions from two very inquisitive children. My favourite was the classic ‘how are babies made?’ to which I swiftly tried to change the topic by pointing to a dog on the other side of the road. Make no mistakes, it’s tiring and when I say tiring, I mean truly exhausting. I remember being dropped at the airport after three months with the family and falling asleep at the airport gate from sheer exhaustion. At times it’s not glamorous and it will make you question why you ever signed up for it. However, I can truthfully say that it is an invaluable experience and in my opinion one of the best ways to learn a language and experience a foreign culture. Whilst it wasn’t my ideal year abroad, Covid-19 has meant that we must be flexible and adaptable. Oh, and let’s not forget the other spanner in the works called Brexit. It is ok to feel disheartened that things have not gone how you may have wished however, this is proof that sometimes the ‘worse’ option can work out for the best. About the Author Mhairi is currently in her final year studying Spanish and Chinese. On her year abroad, Mhairi spent her time in Barcelona, Taiwan and Peru. She joined Lingo Mag as Deputy Editor 2022/23 to share her enthusiasm for languages, culture, and travel. "Learning a language is so much more than memorising verb patterns and grammar. Immersing yourself in films, books and music is where the magic happens." Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Images provided by Mhairi Macleod For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Spain Year Abroad Advice Mhairi Macleod Living Abroad Au Pairing Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE