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Welcome Week Click through our articles below to get all the tips for staying on top of your studies, guides for experiencing some culture in Nottingham and anecdotes for new and current language students. NEW POST! CHINA'S "DEMOGRAPHIC TIME BOMB": TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE? 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 ... 100

Spanish and Portuguese < Back Jessamy Guest Jessamy is a languages student learning Portuguese and Spanish. She was drawn to Lingo Magazine because it seemed like a great combination of appreciation of languages and cultures and an opportunity to write specifically about current events. She is particularly interested in the goings-on in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries but also global issues and international relations. The workings of the world endlessly fascinate and bemuse her. Latest Articles by this Author A Reflection on Tensions in Ukraine 15/02/22

English with Creative Writing < Back Bethan Beddow Bethan, an English with Creative Writing student, has a passion for writing, specifically writing about things close to her heart, such as underrated Welsh culture! Latest Articles by this Author Exploring the hidden treasures of Wales 15/12/22

The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages: realistic or idealistic? Rosie Loyd Thursday, 17 March 2022 With the demand for foreign-language speakers on the rise, new research has uncovered just how valuable these skills can prove to be to the UK on an economic level. Examining the current and future language-learning scene, 3rd year Spanish and Mandarin language student and Current Affairs Editor, Rosie Loyd, highlights this report’s main findings. Comparing these against the clear trend of declining uptake and accessibility to certain languages, beginning in primary schools and working its way up to university level, she poses the question of whether our government’s vision for a “Global Britain” is realistic or, rather, idealistic. According to a new report , published by the University of Cambridge and the not-for-profit research institute RAND, investing £1 into the learning and education of Arabic, French, Mandarin, or Spanish, could return approximately £2. Using a macroeconomic model with hypothetical scenarios, researchers examined the UK’s economic performance between now and 2050, assessing the different outcomes if more students at Key Stage 3 (KS3) and Key Stage 4 (KS4) were to study one of four languages, reaching a level suitable to a business setting. The study was based on the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP), an initiative being delivered in state schools since 2016. The programme’s aim was to have 5,000 students on track to attain at least a B1 level (HSK3) in Mandarin by 2020 at the end of Year 10, followed by a GCSE in Year 11. As of September 2021, there are around 8,000 pupils enrolled in the programme. Researchers calculated a cumulative increase of £11.8-12.6 million in the UK’s GDP by 2050 if there was a 10 percentage point increase in the uptake of Arabic at KS3/KS4, and between £11.5-12.3 million for Mandarin. These two languages correspond to about 0.5% of the UK’s GDP in 2019, whilst French (£9.2-9.9 million) and Spanish (£9.1-9.8 million) figures, correspond to about 0.4%. To arrive at these calculations, the study considered the costs required to provide such language teaching, noting that programmes such as French and Spanish, which are likely to be already well embedded in schools, would cost less, whilst Mandarin, and especially Arabic, would be most costly. Furthermore, researchers considering the relationship between languages and bilateral trade flows found that a full eradication of language barriers with Arabic-, Chinese-, French- and Spanish-speaking countries could increase UK exports annually by about £19 billion. It is clear that languages and the opportunities they create have the potential to bring significant returns to the UK economy. But this is wholly dependent on the assumption that there will be a continued uptake of foreign languages in the coming decades. Recent statistics suggest that this is not looking likely. The 2020 Language Trends report , published by the British Council, showed that although French remained the most taught language at KS2 level (primary school) in 75% of the responding 608 schools, followed by Spanish taught in 25%, Chinese was available in less than 3% of schools. Arabic was not on the list. In the same study for 2021 , responses from 756 schools presented French and Spanish with similar figures to the previous year, whilst Chinese was at 3%, and Arabic was taught in less than 3% of primary schools. There is a consistent uptake of French and Spanish for GCSE exams with over 120,000 and 100,000 entries recorded respectively. Mandarin and Arabic, among others, fall into the category “Other modern languages’”, which saw a drastic decrease in GCSE entries from approximately 31,000 in 2019 to just over 22,000 in 2020. Fewer GCSE students taking languages means fewer A-Level students developing these languages to a higher level. There is a clear domino effect reaching universities, with acceptances onto modern language degrees decreasing by 36% between 2011 and 2021. Analysis There seems to be no issue with the uptake of French and Spanish across all levels of education. That’s promising, then, if this new report’s estimates for economic benefits are something to go by. The lack of Mandarin and Arabic in primary schools, however, must be addressed, not only to reap supposed economic rewards, but also to keep up and develop alongside the ever-changing yet constantly interconnected world. There are, after all, over 1 billion Mandarin speakers. And, whilst these two languages are considerably more complex than European languages - I can vouch for that as a University Mandarin language student - they are, nonetheless, crucial when it comes to both business relationships and the continuous need for communication abroad. One reason many students opt for French and Spanish, even when other languages are available, is because those are traditionally what their parents were taught in school. The lack of non-European language teachers further reflects this. The ‘otherness’ that students might associate with languages to which they are unfamiliar, such as Mandarin, Arabic, or Japanese, for example, needs to be quashed with urgency. These languages, and their people, are the future, and one will no doubt look foolish if seen fumbling about with Google Translate in a few decades’ time. The recent government report on a ‘global Britain’, addresses our need to communicate with China going forward. But is this realistic or idealistic? One section suggests that “China’s increasing power and international assertiveness is likely to be the most significant geopolitical factor of the 2020s. […] Open, trading economies like the UK will need to engage with China and remain open to Chinese trade and investment. […] Cooperation with China will also be vital in tackling transnational challenges.” If “cooperation”, then, is so very pressing, the government needs to take more action and responsibility to counter the clearly declining figures of uptake for GCSE exams and above. The most obvious place to start is by targeting primary schools, where education begins. Providing more language teachers, more funding for material and, most importantly, making languages such as Mandarin and Arabic compulsory subjects on curriculums will be the first most crucial steps. Until a significant number of students begin to study these languages, thus making it the “norm” in schools, there will be no continuous flow of the subjects’ uptake. Languages are an invaluable skill. The government needs to make sure its citizens have every opportunity possible to access these languages, which have the potential, as this new report suggests, to reap rewards for the economy. About the Author 5 podcasts to help you improve your French Niamh Woodhouse The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages: realistic or idealistic? Rosie Loyd Our top 5 tips for keeping on top of your Chinese Rosie Loyd 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: Rosie Loyd Language Learning Economics UK Government Categories: Language and Linguistics Analysis 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

International Media and Communication < Back Katrina Luu Katrina is a 21-year-old British Born Chinese student from Leeds, currently studying International Media and Communications. 'With a love for all things creative, I am always looking for new ways to express myself, so my hobbies consists of art and fashion. What drew me to Lingo Magazine was the unlimited opportunity to express ideas and creativity, collaborate with like-minded people, and contribute to a platform that values diverse perspectives and voices.' Latest Articles by this Author Discover Nottingham: A Journey Through Its Historical and Cultural Landmarks 27/09/24

Celebrating Women in Languages this International Women’s Day Mhairi MacLeod Tuesday, 8 March 2022 Mhairi, our Deputy Editor in Chief, lists some top female linguists to celebrate intelligent females across the globe for International Women's Day It’s that time of year again. The day when people come together all over the world to celebrate women. In honor of International Women’s Day 2022, I would like to present five incredibly inspiring female polyglots. But what is a polyglot , I hear you ask. A polyglot is a person who has the ability to know and speak several languages. The following five women, although they are certainly not the only ones, are all lucky enough to have this remarkable skill and I know that I am definitely slightly envious. Cleopatra First up, we are traveling back in time all the way to Ancient Egypt. Many people know of Cleopatra as the Queen of Ancient Egypt who ruled for three decades, yet few people are aware of her impressive language skills. Reportedly, Cleopatra was an extremely clever woman who could speak nine languages including Greek, Egyptian, Hebrew, and Arabic. Malala Yousafzai Fast forward to 2022 and we have the incredible Malala Yousafzai. Malala is a Pakistani activist for female education and the world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Her native language is Pashto however she also speaks Urdu, the national language of Pakistan. In October 2012, Malala was shot in the head by a gunman on the way home from school for speaking out about female education. After this horrific incident, she was hospitalised in Birmingham, where she eventually moved with her family. This helped her to become fluent in English and on top of this she can also speak Swahili. This woman can definitely do a lot. Check out the video below to see Malala's language skills! Audrey Hepburn Next up, we have the ever glamourous and talented Audrey Hepburn, most famous for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn was born in Belgium to Dutch parents and then moved to the Netherlands where she grew up, making Dutch her mother tongue. According the actress’ youngest son, she was fluent in English, French, Dutch and Italian whilst also practicing Spanish. Take a look at the video below to watch her speaking each language and sounding like a native in each one. Queen Elizabeth I Going back to the past again, this time to the first Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603) the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Despite the unfortunate circumstances for her mother, Queen Elizabeth was said to be an extremely intelligent woman and was able to speak a grand total of ten languages. Her main languages were English, French, Latin, and Italian and she was also known to speak Spanish, Dutch, Welsh, and Cornish. She was certainly an international woman. Natalie Portman Finally, we have the Hollywood actress and Harvard graduate Natalie Portman who speaks a total of six languages and has been learning others including Arabic. Natalie was born in Jerusalem and grew up speaking Hebrew and English and has since learned French, Japanese, German and Spanish. Natalie proves that you can always have languages in your life, no matter what career you have. About the Author Celebrating Women in Languages this International Women’s Day Mhairi MacLeod Violeta by Isabel Allende: One Hundred Years on the South American Continent Mhairi MacLeod 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: Mhairi Macleod Female Linguists History Celebrity International Women's Day Categories: Language and Linguistics 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 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 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

Liberal Arts < Back Esha Singh As part of my Liberal Arts degree, I study Spanish and have returned from my year abroad in Spain and Cuba. This experience, combined with the interdisciplinary breadth of my studies, has provided me with invaluable insights into the dynamic relationships between language, identity, and culture. I am also interested in pursuing a career in journalism, and with a magazine like Lingo that intersects language and culture, I am eager to translate my experiences and offer my contributions! Latest Articles by this Author El idioma como un salvavidas: ¿Cómo pueden las diásporas mantener viva su herencia? 26/01/26 How students help build tolerance on and campus and beyond 01/05/25

International Media and Communication Studies < Back Gabrielle Wroe My name is Gabrielle and I'm a third year studying International Media and Communications. I love travelling, photography and music, I really enjoy going to concerts with my friends. I was drawn to Lingo as I love writing and wanted to expand my skills. Lingo also covers many topics that I am interested in and allows me to learn about different cultures which I find super interesting. Latest Articles by this Author 周末好去处：湖区 18/11/25 Weekend Getaways: The Lake District 17/03/25

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

Recipe of the Week: Vegetable Soup Emily Dawson Thursday, 24 November 2022 Recipe of the Week with @ems.homecooking will teach you a new dish from around the world. This week's recipe is a hearty vegetable soup, perfect to keep you warm and full as we enter winter. Serves: 4 Difficulty: 3/5 Time: 1 hour The use of ras el hanout in this recipe creates a plentiful and unique combination of flavours. This spice is a mixture of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper and cardamom, native to North Africa. This dish is a perfect lunch served on its own or as a dinner with garlic bread or salad. As the days get darker and colder, soup is a perfect tummy warmer to come home to or to take to university with you! Ingredients 1 onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 potato 2 carrots 1 courgette 1 pepper 1 cup of peas ½ cup of lentils 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp tomato puree 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube in ¾ litre of water 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp ras el hanout 1 tsp cumin Salt and pepper Olive oil Method Chop all the vegetables into 1-inch cubes, place in bowls of water to keep them fresh. In a large pan on a medium heat, cook off the onions and garlic in the olive oil. Once the onions have softened, add in the paprika, ras el hanout and cumin and cook off for a couple of minutes. Add in the chicken stock, chopped tomatoes and tomato puree. Stir to combine everything together. After adding in the stock, chopped tomatoes and puree, add in the carrots and cook for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, add in all the other vegetables, including the lentils which should be soaked in boiling water for 2 minutes prior. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Cook on a low heat for 40 minutes until everything is soft. Leave the lid off for a thicker soup or leave the lid on for a thinner soup – this is personal preference. You can blend the soup once it is cooled, however I like to leave mine chunky. Again, this is personal preference. Enjoy! For more savoury and tasty treat recipes, follow @ems.homecooking on Instagram. About the Author 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 Cuisine Cooking World Food Soup Categories: Culture Recipe of the Week 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

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 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