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Here's to you, spontaneity Isabelle Clark Wednesday, 5 October 2022 How a poster in Verona helped me ditch the planner and embrace the unknown. For me, travel planning is almost as fun as the trip itself and I love mapping out my journey. Just imagine comfy clothes, a cup of tea, some great tunes in the background and making your travel dreams become a reality. Bliss… Having a well-planned itinerary is likely to save you money, time and stress - all important things when you’re travelling. A detailed plan is perfect for when you only have a short time to explore or want a little extra sense of security when you’re away from home. But sometimes, and I mean just sometimes , it’s good to break the bounds of your itinerary in the name of being more free and spontaneous; it’s fun to be a bit more adventurous… If you’re confined by the need to have your movements mapped out to the minute, you’re likely to miss out on some wonderful moments - big and small. Like walking past a cool neighbourhood bar and stopping for a drink and a bite to eat, or the unexpected offer of a different activity or side trip - even if it means missing out on something else you’d planned. Going where the wind takes you, that’s the phrase. My favourite spontaneous moment of the summer, one that will live with me forever, is my visit to the opera at the Verona Arena. Smaller only than the Colosseum and the Amphitheatre of Capua, the arena was constructed in 30 AD and has played host to spectacles down the ages such as gladiator fights, duels, arts, and sport. As I was wending my way through the ancient, beautiful arches that surround the arena, I noticed a poster for the Arena di Verona Festival. For nearly 100 years this annual summer event, known for its world-class performances, has drawn opera fans from across the world. I’m not a die-hard opera fan, and wouldn’t usually have paid much attention, but I searched the calendar of shows and could see what looked like a truly awe-inspiring set under construction. And Turandot was on that evening. Aside: If, like me, you weren’t sure what Turandot is about, let me tell you. The opera is set in Beijing’s Forbidden City where a princess is trying to find a suitor. Let’s just say that her unique approach to dating might not work out so well these days: she asks all her suitors to solve a riddle, if correct she’s all theirs, but if wrong, they are brutally murdered. Tinder just seems so tame, doesn’t it? Back to my story… I was so drawn in by the history of the arena, the awesome-looking set, the story behind the opera and the fact that I had never been to anything like this before that I immediately booked a ticket and dragged one of my friends along with me. And I don’t say this lightly… it was the most stunning experience of the year. The opera itself was fantastic. The costumes, set design, and venue were out of this world and were (although clearly I wasn’t around in Roman times to compare) I understand, quite traditional. Despite a few rows of plush red chairs at the front, most of us were seated on the stone steps. I was sitting on the same stone that others had sat on in the first century AD. And not one of the performers used a microphone, their voices naturally reverberating through the arena reaching even me in my cheap seat at the back. I can’t see how this magical experience can be topped this year but here’s hoping… So, you know what? Go buy that ticket, go pop into that neighbourhood bar, take up the suggestion of a side trip. Isabelle and itineraries will forever go hand-in-hand but here’s to you, spontaneity, and all of the fun you bring. About the Author Isabelle is in her second year here at Nottingham and enjoys writing about her travel adventures, sustainability in travel and the outdoors over on her travel blog and Instagram account, Isabelle's Itinerary (under isabellesitinerary.com and @isabellesitinerary , respectively). We can't wait to hear more of her tales! 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo Millie Adams 24 hours in... Barcelona Grace Whitaker Why you should visit Strasbourg Chloe Brewster Images provided by Isabelle Clark. 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: Isabelle Clark Spontaneity Verona Italy Culture Categories: Travel Travel Stories 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

48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Tuesday, 15 February 2022 Join Niamh, a French and Spanish third year, for 48 hours in this beautiful, Andalusian city, full of life, culture and history! Seville has been an important city throughout Spanish history, from its Moorish routes to the country's Golden Age, when the city benefited from the hordes of riches brought from the New World. The result of this is that is has become a city rich with a beautiful culture and an extraordinary history. As well as being a cultural hotspot, the Andalusian capital has a bustling nightlife, making it the perfect destination for a city break. Full of hotels, Airbnbs and hostels, the city has plenty of places to stay – even on a student budget! Day 1 The best way to start your day in Andalusia is with an authentic breakfast! Pan con tomate, toasted bread served with salmorejo (tomatoes blended with bread), olive oil and occasionally cured Serrano ham, is something you have to try when visiting Seville. In the majority of cafes, you can order this alongside a coffee and fresh orange juice, amazingly for under €5. Walking through the cobbled streets of the city, you'll be able to find many places offering this deal. But I recommend Café Mamá Inés, with it serving a range of coffees and alterations on the classic pan con tomate. The second reason Mamá Inés is the ideal place to start you trip to Seville is the location. Situated on Plaza Zurbarán, it is just a 30 second walk from one of the city's most iconic (and controversial) landmarks - Las Setas. Las Setas de Sevilla Las Setas, or ‘The Mushrooms’ as it's known in English, is a relatively new addition to Seville’s landscape, with construction being completed in 2011. Although contrasting to the rest of the quarter’s architecture, it is still an impressive structure and with a short escalator ride up, you have access to viewpoint across the city – completely free! Top Tip! Remember to bring your student card for discounts and deals across the city! After a look over the city from the top of the Setas , wander along to one of the three UNESCO World Heritage sites that Seville has to offer, el Catedral de Sevilla . Said to be the third biggest Church in the world, this colossal building has been a central part of Seville for nearly a thousand years. Having watched over the city for all this time, you get an immense sense of the history held within the building, especially around the tomb of the renowned explorer Christopher Columbus. With beautiful architecture and decoration throughout, you can easily spend an afternoon walking through the Cathedral, its side chapels and gardens. Don't forget La Giralda Tower included in your ticket for another breath-taking view across the city! La Giralda Tower Moving into the evening, the city gets even busier. An integral part of Spanish culture is the nightlife and Sevilla is a great place to experience this! Begin your evening with a meal in one of the city's many restaurants - from a traditional tapas bar to cuisines from afar! We went for Asian tapas at Sibuya Sushi Bar and very much recommend! After dinner, visit a bar or chupitería. These won't be hard to find - squares across the city will be jampacked with enthusiastic locals and visitors alike enjoying a cerveza or glass of tinto. For more of an exclusive feel, there are also plenty of rooftop bars on offer to sip a cocktail and watch the sun go down! Day 2 Undoubtedly, one of the most popular breakfast spots in Seville is La Mala Brunch. Offering a range of dishes, such as traditional tostadas, classic eggs benedict and waffles & pancakes to satisfy those with a sweet tooth, there is something for everyone at La Mala Brunch. Although remember to book or arrive early as it can have around an hour waiting time! Pancakes at La Mala Brunch After desayuno , it's time to explore the Real Alcázar, a remnant of Arab rule over the city. This enchanting palace has been a royal residence since the eighth century and you can tell why the royals love it so much! With its Moorish facades, tiles and domes, it really transports you to another era and world. As well as, a walk around the extensive and tranquil gardens will certainly help you recover from the night before! Top Tip! As you may have heard, Seville is famous for its oranges - their trees line the streets and fill the gardens of its palace. However, don't be fooled by their vibrant colour! They are extremely sour and bitter and VERY unpleasant to eat. We learnt the hard way! Following the beautiful Alcázar, make your way to the Plaza de España in Parque de María Luisa. It is a little bit of a walk (20 minutes) from the city centre but definitely worth the trip! Or if the walk is a little too long, there electric scooters to rent dotted around the city. The plaza is bordered by colourful tiled alcoves, each representing the different provinces of Spain, and features a moat. Rowing boats are available to hire for €6, making it a very budget friendly sunset activity. For the final night in Sevilla, I recommend doing something quintessentially Spanish! So cross the River Guadalquivir in La Tirana, the old gitano neighbourhood of the city. La Tirana is rumoured to be the birthplace of flamenco, so there's no better place to watch a show! Small, intimate venues are scattered throughout this barrio, offering authentic and thrilling flamenco performances nightly. So grab some tapas and cerveza and enjoy the show! About the Author Niamh was the founder of Lingo Magazine, was Editor-in-Chief for 2022/23, and is now a Lingo alumni. Speaking French and Spanish, she has a particular interest in articles about history, culture and travel! Whilst studying in Cadiz, Niamh met other language students from universities across the UK and soon discovered that many of them write for language magazines at their universities. Seeing this gap in the market for a language magazine, she set up the magazine alongside an amazing committee for her fellow and future language students at the University of Nottingham! Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Images Provided by Niamh Woodhouse 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: Tips Spain Seville Food History Niamh Woodhouse Categories: Travel City Guide 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

Saving your centimes: How to do Paris on a Budget Francesca Wren Wednesday, 16 March 2022 Having lived in the French capital during her year abroad, Francesca gives us her best money-saving tips, whether you're just visiting Paris or staying for a while Paris is well-known as one of the most expensive cities in Europe and can easily rinse your bank account if you’re not careful. Whether you’re looking to spend your year abroad here, or just a flying visit, here are some tips to keep your wallet looking healthy when you get back. The Navigo Pass With a Navigo, you can purchase a year, a month, or even just a week or days’ worth of unlimited travel in the Île-de-France region. For travel in all 5 zones of Île-de-France, it costs around €22 for a week, €75 for a month and €800 for a full year. Many employers will also reimburse employees for their Navigo travel costs. This is one for the residents I’m afraid, as a Navigo can only be purchased and used by someone with an Île-de-France address. However, train tickets in Paris are reasonably priced, costing €1,90 for a single way metro ticket and around €4 for a single way ticket into the city from outside the ring-road. Happy Hour If you know where to look, Happy Hour can start as early as 4pm in the city and finish at 2am. Areas like Châtelet, right in the centre of Paris a short walk up from the Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter and the Bastille, are full of Happy Hour bars and restaurants. Typically, around €6 for a cocktail and €4 or €5 for a pint is reasonable for a Happy Hour bar in Paris. Drinking wine is also a great way to get to losing your dignity before losing your cash – costing as little as €3 a glass in some bars. Bring your Passport to the Louvre Everybody is gagging to see the Mona Lisa, but make sure you don’t pay €25+ for entry by bringing your passport along. If you are under 26 years old and have an EU passport or residency visa, most museums in Paris are free so long as you can prove you meet the requirements for free entry. On weekdays most museums are pretty quiet, but on a weekend it’s best to book in advance – you can still book your free tickets online too, just remember to bring the confirmation and proof of age to avoid being charged when you arrive. Walking Although metro tickets aren’t too costly, little expenses soon add up. Paris is not a huge city and walking from place to place is a good way to avoid the tourist traps and save a bit on travel fares. For instance, walking from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower takes less than 50 minutes and is the perfect chance to find a spot for dinner later. Cycling around is an option too – Vélib green bikes are set up in spots around the city and can be hired for €5 a day. There are many designated cycle lanes throughout the city, and I would strongly advise you stick to them; cycling on the road in the centre of Paris is a dangerous game and drivers here often don’t look or indicate before moving. Considering staying further out This is one for those looking to live in the French capital but considering living outside the ring road. It could end up costing you half as much as living in the city, and with the average room in a shared flat or 9m2 studio apartment going for around €800, it’s something worth thinking about. However, the commute is long and laborious, and many areas of suburban Paris leave much to be desired at the least, and at the most can feel very unsafe. As a resident of Paris, you can also look to apply for CAF ( Caisse Allocation Familiale ), a type of housing benefit that will reimburse you up to €200 a month of your rent if it exceeds 25% of your income. Like everything in France, the paperwork and processing will take some time, but you will be reimbursed for all except the first month spent in your residence. Food As a rule, restaurants in Paris are not very cheap – with some exceptions. If you are studying in Paris, you can go to CROUS restaurants, where a full cooked lunch can cost as little as €3 if you show your student card. Also, a lot of restaurants offer a ‘ formule’ (a set menu) that will often work out more cost effective than buying the dishes separately. In areas such as the aforementioned Happy Hour hotspots, you can quite easily find restaurants offering reasonably priced set menus (although this can prove more difficult for vegetarians). Takeaway creperies and kebab shops are also a great option if you don’t fancy a sit-down dinner and can be a decent alternative on a budget. Overall, Paris is an expensive city compared to others in Europe, but, if you know what to look out for and have the right savoir-faire , you can definitely do Paris on a budget. About the Author Fran is a final year French student, returning to campus after completing her year abroad in France. She spent her time working as an English language assistant in the suburbs of the Paris. She can't wait to share her tips of living in Paris and her anecdotes of a year abroad with the readers of Lingo! Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys Images provided by Francesca Wren. 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 Tips Living Abroad Paris Budgeting Francesca Wren Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Feature 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

Just Stop Oil: Who are they, and why are they throwing soup on paintings? Caitlin Morrell Thursday, 14 November 2024 In the last few years, Just Stop Oil has consistently attacked art and culture to raise awareness of its concern about global warming and climate change. But why throw soup at paintings? This article investigates the protest group's origins and reasoning. A few days ago, Just Stop Oil supporters were spotted at Parliament Square dressing the Gandhi Statue with an orange high-vis and covering it in salt. A few days before that, supporters dressed a Nelson Mandela statue. And a few days before that, an Emmeline Pankhurst statue in Manchester. Even Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and agriculture, in the British Museum and the Beatles in Liverpool were dressed in the same orange high-vis. Just Stop Oil’s iconic orange is here, there and everywhere to say that, no matter what, they will be there to continue spreading their environmentalist message. Since the National Gallery banned liquids after three supporters threw soup at the famous Vincent Van Gogh painting Sunflowers in October, the environmental activist group has been taking more public advances in their plea for change in the lead-up to the London Palestine protest that took place on Saturday. But the string of protests did not start from there. Just Stop Oil organiser and face of the movement, Indigo Rumbelow , describes the group as non-hierarchical with the collaboration of organisers, scientists, lawyers and former workers in the oil industry, whose activists and associates spread awareness of their demands through numerous tactics. While Just Stop Oil went public in 2022, Rumbelow said that the group in fact originally formed in December 2021 as an attempt to take a new route in climate activism, with the intent “to engage new people.” Since its formation, more than 3,000 associated with Just Stop Oil have been arrested trying to spread their message: ” End fossil fuels before they end us.” Just Stop Oil is not the only environmental activist group to cause havoc. Extinction Rebellion, officially XR for short, made headlines in October 2019 for climbing on top of London trains during rush hour. Insulate Britain, blocked the M25 in 2021 , making themselves the headline’s subject as well. These incidents created further controversy and debate over freedom of speech and the right to protest in a manner that disturbs the public. Just Stop Oil has always been controversial to the public because of its illegal means of protesting. From vandalising paintings in museums to interrupting football matches. They have even gone so far as to vandalise Stonehenge in June , spraying paint onto three of its stones. But Just Stop Oil’s taste for targeting culture is a different tactic compared to the other groups. While their earlier protests did include traffic distribution, the disruption of their later tactics is much wider given that much of culture is reliant on art, music and sport. In the span of a few years, they have managed to disrupt all sorts of highly-covered events in culture, from the British Grand Prix in 2022 to a West End production of Les Misérables . But why attack the very thing that connects the community? Just Stop Oil justified their choice to attack culture: “ Yes – art is precious. We share that love deeply. What we want to do is salvage a future where human creativity is still possible. We’re terrifyingly close to losing that, so we have to break the rules.” The pressure group are more than aware of the implications of their tactics - “ Art is sacred in our culture” - but the need to spread awareness is more important to them, even if at the cost of art. Their plea for change is scrutinised because of public and government opinion, but the facts are in their favour. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 3.6 billion already live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. NASA identified that climate change can cause extreme weather changes - as seen recently with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton that devastated Florida - with the potential of these becoming more extreme in the future. The figures are rising as the temperature of the Earth does. Just Stop Oil’s methods, while visually erratic, may seem sensical. “ It is upsetting to disrupt people but it’s far more upsetting to stay silent as we watch this horror unfold,” says Rumbelow in an article with the Guardian . If considered with the facts, there is some truth to this. After all, as some may say, desperate times call for desperate measures. About the Author Local to Nottingham, Caitlin is an International Media and Communications student and the 25/26 Publicity Officer. While she has yet to actually spend a year anywhere, she has an appreciation of travel/culture and would like to explore outside of her birthplace. Besides late night crash outs, she enjoys laughing at bad films, writing fiction and pacing her room with her music on full blast. 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: Global Affairs Environment 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

Hidden in Plain Sight: Poverty at the Edge of Paradise in the Dominican Republic Katie Barr Thursday, 23 October 2025 By all appearances, the Dominican Republic is a vision of tropical abundance. Powder-white beaches stretch endlessly beneath leaning palms, kissed by the gentle churn of turquoise waters. In Punta Cana, sprawling resorts dominate the skyline like monuments of inequality, fortified by manicured lawns, marble lobbies, and all-inclusive opulence. Tourists sip mojitos in infinity pools and post sun-drenched selfies beneath thatched cabanas. For them this is paradise – curated, controlled and pleasantly insulated from reality. Yet beyond the gated splendour of these resort compounds lies a different Dominican Republic – one defined not by leisure, but by endurance. In neighbourhoods where roads crumble, electricity flickers unreliably and access to clean water can be a luxury, the daily lives of most Dominicans unfold in sharp contrast to the glossy fantasy of the adjacent hotels. There are no pavements here. Instead, people walk directly in the roads, weaving carefully between cars that stop abruptly to pick up friends and relatives. Small, weathered huts line the roadside. These are makeshift stalls where vendors sell everything from handmade crafts to food. The ground is littered with broken plastic and discarded wrappers – a supposed refuse of a community too busy surviving to keep clean. The roads themselves are narrow and uneven. People dart through the traffic, navigating this informal maze with practiced ease: building sights for new hotels, water parks are being erected, billboards plastered all over advertising real estate agents and encouraging tourists to buy property. Beach sellers roam tirelessly up and down the shore, carrying trays of colourful necklaces, bracelets, and handwoven baskets. They spend hours under the sun, hoping to catch the eye of passing tourists. Yet even when a visitor shows interest, they often haggle relentlessly, pushing prices lower and lower for pieces that embody generations of culture and craftmanship. In the rural interior and urban peripheries, poverty is not an anomaly, it’s the norm. This stark juxtaposition – five-star extravagance flanked by deep-rooted economic hardship – is not simply an unfortunate coincidence. It is symptomatic of the structures that underpin modern global tourism. Resorts in the Dominican Republic are often foreign-owned and run as self-contained economic zones. Guests arrive by plane, are whisked to beachfront resorts in private shuttles, and remain cocooned within the confines of an all-inclusive model. Every need is met within this compound: meals, entertainment, excursions, even shopping. Pay enough money and you can be met with your personal butler who opens your door and caters to whatever you need. As a result, money circulates within a closed loop – from tourists to resort management to overseas investors – leaving only a faint economic imprint on the surrounding communities. Despite tourism in the Dominican Republic generating a record $9.75 billion USD in 2023, the wealth remains concentrated among a small elite, both local and foreign. In fact, many hospitality workers claim to work up to 12 hours a day for as little as $1 an hour. Bartenders serve drinks they could never afford and housekeepers clean rooms more luxurious than any home they have known. Maintenance crews quietly ensure the illusion of paradise holds, while relying on tip culture to pad their salaries. The business model behind these resorts is one of exclusion – designed to maximise the comfort and safety of tourists, while minimising their contact with local poverty and politics. One of the most striking ways resorts maintain this illusion is through the language and behaviour of their employees. At Dreams Onyx, in Punta Cana, staff are carefully trained to refer to tourists as family and to respond to every request with scripted phrases such as ‘our pleasure’. It feels like the vocabulary is more than courteous phrasing. It seems a deliberate form of emotional labour and social control. Employees learn to embody an attitude of warmth and unconditional service, creating a veneer of intimacy that masks underlying inequalities. Calling tourists ‘family’ is a powerful rhetorical device. It suggests a closeness and mutual respect whilst subtly reinforcing the hierarchy between guest and worker. The phrases such as ‘our pleasure’ transforms simple tasks into performances requiring constant emotional regulation. Staff are expected to smile and express gratitude even when tired or frustrated, supressing genuine feelings to sustain the resort’s polished image. This scripted politeness smooths over tensions that might arise from stark inequalities. It creates an environment where guests feel pampered and appreciated, while workers negotiate complex feelings of servitude, pride and invisibility. The result is a carefully managed social dynamic – a performance of paradise maintained by the often invisible sacrifices of the local work force. The workers are essential to the industry yet remain marginalised. The Dominican Republic is undeniably beautiful. Its true wealth is not the palm-fringed beaches or glittering resorts. It is the resilience and spirit of its people. Until tourism models shift to prioritise fair wages, labour dignity and local empowerment, paradise will remain an unequal illusion framed by paved infinity pools on one side and poverty-stricken communities on the other. About the Author 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo Millie Adams 24 hours in... Barcelona Grace Whitaker Violeta by Isabel Allende: One Hundred Years on the South American Continent Mhairi MacLeod Header photograph from istockphoto.com Tags: Culture Travel Politics Categories: Cultural Guide Cultural Spotlight Culture 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

Japanese: One Language, Three Writing Systems Charlie Bodsworth Friday, 12 April 2024 Japanese is one of the linguistically furthest languages from English, and its three writing systems are no exception. Let's take a quick walk through the history behind them and how they work harmoniously together. While there are a handful of languages out there that use more than one writing system, Japanese takes this idea to a whole new level. It uses THREE writing systems simultaneously, having been intricately woven together over the course of history. Take a look at this simple sentence, for example: Japanese 私 は ピザ を 食 べるのが 好 きです。 Romaji watashi wa piza wo ta beru no ga su ki desu. Translation I like eating pizza. The red parts are kanji . The blue parts are katakana . The rest are hiragana . So why are there three, and how do they all fit together like this? Kanji 漢字 Literally meaning “Chinese characters”, the kanji writing system is - as you can probably now guess - derived from the Chinese writing system. Japan had its first contact with Chinese in the 1st century, but continued to be a predominantly illiterate area until kanji ’s importation around the 5th century. Over time, there have been some adaptations to these characters, as well as several kanji that are unique to Japan, called kokuji (国字 - meaning “national characters”). While it is now estimated that there are around 50,000 kanji characters in total, only 2,000-3,000 are in common everyday usage. Kanji is used for writing nouns, verb stems, and other key semantic information. Due to the lack of spaces in Japanese sentences, kanji helps to make the key information stand out and speed up reading. Most kanji have two readings, dependant on context - a kun-yomi 訓読み and an on-yomi 音読み. The former is the original Japanese pronunciation, and the latter is derived from the Chinese pronunciation of the character. As for the writing itself, the characters are usually pictographic or ideographic - in some way visually representing its semantic meaning. For example, mountain 山 ( yama ) has a peak in the middle, kind of like a mountain itself. Similarly, some kanji are modular and expand on one another to show a connected meaning, such as tree 木 ( ki ) and forest 森 ( mori ). See how it basically contains three little trees! Hiragana ひらがな Next up are the kanas : hiragana and katakana . In the 6th century, Japanese poets developed a writing system called man’yōgana , which utilised kanji ’s phonetic values, rather than semantic values. This system evolved into today’s hiragana - a writing system that was first created and used by ladies in the Japanese imperial court during the Keian period by visually simplified man’yōgana . In hiragana , each symbol represents a sound - usually a consonant followed by a vowel (e.g. ka か, sa さ, ta た), with the sounds a , i , u , e , o , and n being exceptions. Hiragana is mostly used for grammatical indicators, such as particles and verb endings. It can also be used in place of kanji , where the specific kanji is unlikely to be known, such as in children’s books. While there are several nuances to this writing system, one important feature of note for the two kanas is what is called dakuten 濁点 and handakuten 半濁音. These are little marks that are placed in the top-right of certain kana characters to indicate slightly different voicings. For example, ひ (hi) has no mark, び (bi) has a dakuten , ぴ (pi) has a handakuten . This feature was first introduced in the 16th century by travelling Portuguese missionaries who wanted help differentiating these sounds. Katakana カタカナ Katakana is a further simplified phonetic alphabet, based on Man’yōgana and created by Buddist monks during the 9th century. It functions almost identically to hiragana , but is primarily used for foreign loanwords or names (so your name would be written in katakana !). It can also be used for things like onomatopoeia and emphasis. While Japanese is certainly complicated to wrap our English-speaking and Latin-writing heads around, there is so much culture and history to how its writing systems work together and complement each other. So if you want to learn more, don’t let it intimidate you, just enjoy the learning process! ありがとうございます！ Arigatō gozaimasu! About the Author A nerd in every sense, Charlie was our 2023-24 Language and Linguistics editor. She completed a BA in Modern Languages with Translation Studies, including a year spent in Paris, and is soon to complete her MA in Translation Studies. She speaks French and has just started learning Japanese! In her spare time, she plays video games, watches movies, and spends plenty of time with her two gerbils. Portuguese loanwords in Japanese Aidan Cross Words of the Year 2023 Charlie Bodsworth The Language Taking Over the World: English as a Lingua Franca Emma Burnett 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: Japanese language writing alphabet Charlie Bodsworth Categories: Language and Linguistics Language Study 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

A Thai-ing Together of Culture and Cuisine: Zaap Thai Street Food Review Beth Walker Monday, 8 August 2022 Our Social Media Manager, Beth, recently ticked off a classic UoN bucket list activity and went to Zaap Thai Street Food. Read on to hear about her experience of a taste of Thailand in Nottingham As a third-year student, I have long awaited the chance to try Zaap. I’d heard great things about it and last week, the wait finally came to an end, and I lunched there with a friend. “The vibrant colours and cultural decor were unique and immersive.” Located near Maid Marian Way, Zaap just about escapes the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Upon first walking in, I was really impressed with how much character the restaurant has; it felt so authentic, as though I was walking down a busy street in Thailand. The vibrant colours and cultural decor were unique and immersive. When I visited it was quite busy, which heightened the busy Thai street food recreation too. We walked in and were shown to a table for two. Given my excitement at the setting and ambience, I couldn’t wait to try the food. The Zaap menu has a wide range of different Thai delicacies, and I was spoilt for choice – I’ll leave you to decide whether that’s a good thing or not. They also had a wide range of vegetarian options. What did influence my decision, however, was that it was all a little bit more expensive than I had imagined. Don’t get me wrong, items from the Zaap menu aren’t extortionately priced, but from a value-for-money perspective, you can go elsewhere and receive more for the same amount of money, or less. We ordered drinks before we got our food. My friend opted for a watermelon bubble tea, which was bright green but apparently very sweet and refreshing. I ordered a Virgin Thai Star mocktail, which was really nice and creamy, but unfortunately quite small. “…when our food arrived, I instantly had food envy.” As it was only lunchtime, I opted for two of the smaller dishes: chicken gyozas and a bao bun with satay chicken. My friend had ordered one of the curries, which I had fancied but thought might be too big for lunch, but when our food arrived, I instantly had food envy. Her curry looked amazing and, compared to the small portions I received, it was an appropriate size. Zaap’s chicken gyozas arrived first and while they were on the small side, they were absolutely delicious. These were unlike other gyozas I’ve previously tried, as their shells were pastry-like. I thoroughly enjoyed these and would order them again. My bao bun arrived shortly after, although not at the same time as the rest of our food. Unfortunately, I noticed a small dark hair on the side of my plate. While this was unpleasant, I did quickly notify the waitress and she took it away immediately. However, it was brought back very quickly, and the plate did look the same, so I am unsure whether I was given a new plate or the hair was just removed. I was a little bit put off by this, but the hair hadn’t been touching my food, so I proceeded to try the bao bun once the waitress had brought it back. The satay chicken was so tasty, as was the bun, although perhaps a little on the dough-y side. If I were to visit Zaap again, I would go for one of the curries that my friend had ordered. The staff were friendly but seemed rushed off their feet, meaning that aspects of the service were either rushed entirely or took far too long. For example, the waitress came and took one of our plates while we were still eating, but then we were sat waiting a long time to receive the bill. Overall, I did enjoy the food at Zaap and I think everyone should go just to experience the quirky decor and atmosphere. However, certain aspects of the restaurant let it down. In terms of value for money, staffing levels and perhaps hygiene, there is work to be done. ★★★ ☆☆ About the Author Beth loves languages. She studied French to A Level and still try to maintain her skills through listening to French music and reading French articles. She also studied Spanish to GCSE level, although nearly wasn’t allowed … When choosing her GCSE options, she was certain that she wanted to do both French and Spanish. However, the school didn’t allow it as they said it would be too difficult to learn two languages at the same time. She wrote two letters to the head teacher, one in each language, explaining her passion for language learning and, thankfully, he allowed her to continue studying them. As an English student she considers herself a true wordsmith. She is fascinated by how languages work, and this fascination is going to inspire much of the content she creates for Lingo. She can’t wait to start working alongside the super talented Lingo Committee to produce what she's certain will be a fantastic new languages and culture magazine. Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys A Taste of the Mediterranean in Nottingham: Review of Yamas Beth Walker Holi on the Downs 2022 Beth Walker Cover image provided by Zaap Thai on TripAdvisor. 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: Beth Walker Restaurants Thai Street Food Categories: Culture Nottingham Eats 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! LOAD MORE

English and Hispanic Studies < Back Eva Bywater Eva has just finished the 3rd year of her English & Hispanic Studies degree, which she spent in Spain, Costa Rica, and Argentina. She loves to read, travel, and do yoga :) Latest Articles by this Author Year Abroad Tales: The World’s Biggest Serranito 01/10/24

Climate Change Refugees: the victims of global warming Millie Adams Tuesday, 15 February 2022 Communities around the world are at risk of losing their homes due to the effects of climate change, causing a new wave of refugees seeking a new place to call home. Millie explores this new, growing problem. The state and health of our planet determines physical and human events much more than one might first observe. Climate change, a destructive and primary adverse consequence of the declining health of this earth, is having a detrimental impact on our vital resources. We rely on safe drinking water, sufficient food, secure shelter, and clean air to survive. Imagine that one day you lose access to one of these necessities and have no choice but to flee your life, home, or even country. Global warming has exacerbated the changes to our natural world and has caused a long list of environmental concerns. There is often little consideration, however, for those who suffer first-hand the destructive impact of increasing temperatures or rising sea levels. It is estimated millions of people have been displaced because of this and a new subset of migrants has emerged in the last two decades – climate change refugees. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , climate change refugees are defined as “persons displaced in the context of disasters and climate change”, and the new concept does not entirely exist in international refugee law. Yet, a study in 2017 estimated that there were more internally displaced people due to climate-related disasters than conflict. There are hundreds of examples of refugees seeking asylum as a direct result of climate change that vary between each region and community. The country that has experienced some of the highest average temperature increases in the world is Mongolia. A report confirmed that Mongolia is warming at a rate three times faster than anywhere else on the globe. Due to their nomadic culture, many Mongolians are wholly dependent on their land and livestock. The increasingly hot and dry summers, however, contribute to the death of thousands of livestock. The reoccurring financial loss and the lack of economic support has caused a mass migration of herders moving to the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. The overpopulated and polluted city offers little opportunities for farmers who suffer poverty and lack access to public services. Whilst high temperatures and drought are the results of the climate crisis in Mongolia, other parts of the world are struggling with flooding, hurricanes, and destructive tropical weather. In January 2022, the island of Madagascar was hit by Storm Ana, followed by Storm Batsirai only two weeks later. The twin storms destroyed homes, took lives, and caused water levels in rivers to rise dramatically. Resources are already outstretched and the Red Cross estimates that 150,000 will be displaced. Weather-related disasters in Madagascar have increased in intensity and frequency and exacerbate the long droughts that impact the south of the country. However, there may be hope for greater legal representations for climate change refugees. In January of last year, a landmark case ruled by the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) determined that governments must recognize climate change as a legitimate reason to seek asylum. Ioane Teitiota struggled to access drinking water in his home country of Kiribati (an island nation in the Pacific) due to the climate crisis. He migrated to New Zealand but was denied refugee status in 2010; he therefore took his case to the HRC to challenge his deportation. Teitiota’s legal success suggests greater protection of the rights of island nations, but the case is also a worrying insight into the future of low-lying islands that are in danger of increasing sea levels. In conclusion, the gradual climate changes we are experiencing are intricately linked to economics and politics. Global powers and multi-million companies have a responsibility to minimise their contribution to global warming which has a disastrous impact on the poorest areas in the world. The climate refugee crisis is therefore by no means merely an environmental issue - it more than ever concerns the protection of human rights, today, and for future generations. About the Author 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. Climate Change Refugees: the victims of global warming Millie Adams 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: Millie Adams Climate Change Refugee Crisis Madagascar Mongolia United Nations Categories: Thought Piece Global Affairs 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

German < Back Abigail Eden Avid bird-watcher and lover of languages! Lingo is so accessible, I couldn't miss the opportunity to contribute. Latest Articles by this Author

University of Nottingham Alumnus < Back Hui Liu Hui Liu is an alumnus from the School of Education. She joined the Rambling and Hiking Society during her study at the University of Nottingham and developed her interest in hiking. She explored the Peaks, the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales and some other outdoors. She believes the world is always worth exploring, just as human potential is limitless. She speaks Mandarin Chinese, English, Thai, and is currently learning French. 谢谢！Thank you! ขอบคุณค่ะ Merci beaucoup! Latest Articles by this Author

French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 2/2 : The Long Five Years Jess Henrys Friday, 26 August 2022 Welfare Secretary Jess continues her interview with born-and-bred Parisian, Stella, to gain an inside perspective on President Macron and what the next five years could look like for France. Read part one here. We had talked about some lighter things - Paris, places, people, pastries – but a cloud hung over the conversation. The elephant in the room was the President. Well, not the president himself, but Macron’s re-election to the French presidency just a month before was still present in people’s minds, especially in a room full of students. I broached the subject with Stella. J: Shall we talk a bit about politics? S: Yes, let’s talk about it from my very left-wing French perspective! [laughs] No no, I will try my best to be objective in my answers. J: Well, we’ve seen the election in the past month [24th April 2022]. Can you share some of the general thoughts and feelings in France before the election, that you saw or that you heard? S: There was a lot of tension, and sadly, a lot of anger. I think that most French people don’t find what they need or what they want in French politics. Macron has been elected at like, 58 percent… it’s very low against the far right. But actually, he was elected by, like 30 percent of the French people, the rest of them haven’t vote or have voted far right. There are a lot of people who are feeling abandoned or not listened to. It explains the rise in racism or homophobia or these things. Macron was re-elected with a majority of 58.55% of votes, versus Marine le Pen’s 41.45%. It is a narrower margin than his victory over her for his first term in 2017, and with a turnout of only 72% (the lowest in over 50 years), left-leaning individuals like Stella are naturally worried. S: I think the media aren’t being fair, which is a dangerous thing to say, but I think they are doing a bit of sensationalisme. There has been some analysis of which parties had access to tv interviews and magazines. The far-right had, like, 40 percent of it and the far-left was not listened to at all. It has been very discredited because the far-right has the shock factor and such a huge audience. I believe so many more people voted for them because it was all they saw. There is a sense of injustice in France from a lot of people, which I think is fair. It’s justified. J: How do you think those sentiments have changed after the election? S: I think a lot of people are resigned, like, let’s go for five more years of this. This is going to be a long five years. J: What do you think the next five years will look like for France? S: Like the last five years. A rising in disparities between French people who are just going to want to attack people more. A rise in violence towards women and homophobia and… Macron knows that he is a president for the rich and it’s just going to get worse. He does some things right, I’m sure, but he has to make things better. National hospitals are so poor, for example. There was recently a professorial concours – the exams taken to become a teacher – and they’re lacking almost 100 professors in each subject. A lot of schools will be lacking teachers and not be able to teach properly because the teachers are treated so poorly by l’État. They are not well paid, the conditions are awful, they don’t get to choose where they work or anything. This is going to be a long five years. night falls over Paris, photo taken of the lights of the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides dome, as seen from the Montparnasse Tower J: How does this differ in the Outre-Mer? (French overseas territories) You have family there, can you tell us a bit about those places? S: I think the main difference is that the people don’t really see themselves attached to France. Very often, legislation doesn’t apply in the same way there than here. For example, during Covid, we had a curfew, and theirs lasted a lot longer than ours did, but their restaurants reopened before ours. It’s different because it’s so far away. Back there, my aunt has lived [in La Réunion] for a while and adopted the Créole lifestyle. People call France La Métropole, as if it’s another country, it’s not really home. I would say that they have a lot of grievances. The Outre-Mer is marked by the remnants of colonisation, and they are discriminated against in a few things. Life there is very expensive. Groceries mostly come from France, and they don’t really access their own products there. People are poorer but the cost of life is higher. But I feel like, because it’s Créole, it’s like… they help each other out all the time. I think maybe it’s a trait of poorer populations, so I don’t want to fetishise it, but it’s a beautiful way of living. This is La Réunion - I don’t want to speak for other parts of the Outre-Mer because I know that some of them are very angry towards La Métropole. La Réunion… it’s okay… even though there’s obviously lots of problems. Where I come from, it’s annoyance but not anger. J: Thank you for talking about these things. If you were running for President, what politics would you make? S: [laughs] I don’t think I should ever be President. I think I’m rather a violent person and I would be so annoyed at all the hardships of politics and the negotiating and everything. I would go crazy. I would probably say some very rude things towards people I should never ever be rude to! J: And just to confirm for the record that all opinions expressed have been the opinions of one Stella Cabaret and not of the whole of France, or of this language magazine. S: Obviously! I do not mean to speak for all French people, everything I have said has been mine and mine only and not objective, of course. J: Well, thank you for sharing those thoughts with us! S: It was a pleasure. Stella sits in the window of my Paris apartment in her signature blue denim jacket and holds up a peace sign [end of interview] For more information on the French presidential elections, and how they work check out a comprehensive article by our editor-in-chief, Niamh, here . [all photos by Jessica Henrys unless stated otherwise] About the Author During her year abroad, Jess spent a semester in St Petersburg, Russia. According to Jess, when she first arrived, she barely knew a word in Russian and felt completely overwhelmed, but the city soon revealed its delights to her, and it became a home. She hopes that by sharing some of my Russian experiences, other travellers to the city can be comforted, and learn to love it as much as she did. Jess also jetted off to the French capital so she certainly had an incredible year abroad! Jess also has experience of being a Peer Mentor and is very knowledgeable about the university’s Support Services. She’s got a lot of enthusiasm to bring to this role! Jess was one third of our 2022/23 Welfare Team. A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse "El silencio de otros": 45 years of the Amnesty Law in Spain Aidan Cross French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 1/2 : The City of Lights Jess Henrys Images provided by Jess Henrys. 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: Jess Henrys France Politics Macron Elections Categories: Interview Global Affairs 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