Resource Centre
Welcome to our resource centre, full of information, articles and blogs on language training around the world.
February 15, 2022
As we’re speeding into the middle of 2024 already, let’s take a look at all the major events and cultural celebrations which are due to take place all over the world!
February 7, 2022
Communication is key when it comes to business in this global economy. However, many businesses struggle to navigate the international market as they are not equipped with the relevant language skills. This puts them at a disadvantage to their competitors while running the risk of losing out on valuable opportunities.
February 1, 2022
As you develop your skills – and your vocabulary – in English, you may start to notice that English has many words that look or sound exactly the same but mean something different, which can be pretty confusing. (This tricky quality of English trips up many native speakers too!). In this article, we untangle these similar-seeming words so you can boost your English vocabulary with confidence, whether you are learning the language or want to polish your English language skills.
January 24, 2022
The growth of international business in the 21st century has been a driving force behind the need to communicate clearly and quickly with customers, partners and entire teams. English is a major language of global business, so it should come as no surprise that offering professional English language training at your company can have a big impact on your business.
From key employee benefits to boosting your company’s profit potential, here are just a few reasons why a corporate English language training programme is a smart investment for your business.
January 18, 2022
The MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region is home to some of the most interesting, resource-rich and business-oriented countries in the world. It is a hub of economic wealth, with industries ranging from energy (principally fossil-fuel based energy) through to technology and finance. In this article, we take a look at the countries of the MENA region and the languages spoken in this culturally diverse and economically volatile part of the world, and we consider how useful these languages might be for businesses looking to operate in the region.
January 14, 2022
What will be the most spoken language in 2050? The truth is, there is no one definitive answer to this question. It depends on a number of factors, including population growth, migration patterns, and technological advances.
However, it is likely that a number of languages will dominate the conversation by 2050. This guide is here to talk you through key popular language forecasts for the future, and the reasoning behind them.
January 4, 2022
Many people are now adding another language to their repertoire. This is because there are numerous benefits to learning a second or third language, including that learning a foreign language can add 10-15% to your salary and boost bonuses!
December 21, 2021
’Tis the season to be jolly! In the closing weeks of 2021, the future does indeed seem to gleam a little brighter than it did at the end of 2020, and we truly hope that 2022 is a year of happiness, hope and prosperity for all our readers.
In this festive article, we gaze back to the traditions of celebrations past before looking ahead to the New Year, when learning a new language may be at the top of your list of resolutions. But how to follow through and keep to your good intentions? We offer some sound advice to help you start as you mean to go on.
December 9, 2021
There are a number of languages that are great for business in 2021 and beyond, but what about Japanese? Is Japanese a good language to learn for business? Keep reading to find out.
December 7, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at Russian, the language of the largest country in the world.
November 23, 2021
There are many reasons that you may need to learn Turkish. Whether you’re a young professional looking to improve your opportunities in the Middle-East, or a corporate business wanting to target an international market, Turkish language for business can be a great tool. Keep reading to find out why.
November 23, 2021
Learning Hungarian might seem like a huge task, but at Simon & Simon we are experts in language training, so we’re here to help. Here are our top tips on how to learn Hungarian. (In order!)
November 16, 2021
There are many reasons to train your staff in a new business language, but with a growing demand for Arabic language skills in the professional environment, is Arabic a good language to learn for business? Keep reading to learn all you need to know.
November 9, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month, we take a look at Italian, a European language that may boost your manufacturing business into the highest-quality end of your sector!
October 26, 2021
Though the languages you can learn for business are endless, they will differ depending on your industry. However, there are a few languages that can be especially useful (and profitable!) to learn as a contemporary business. Throughout this handy article, we will discuss the 4 most profitable languages companies can learn alongside the ins and outs of why. Keep reading to learn more!
October 7, 2021
This year, we will be sharing some interesting facts and helpful tips and tricks to help you get started when learning a range of new languages. From January through to December, we will be digging deep into a new language each month to help you find the language you want to learn next – the one that best fits with your personal and professional goals.
October 6, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at Dutch, the language of the Netherlands – one of the European Union’s most open and competitive economies.
September 28, 2021
At Simon & Simon, we pride ourselves on the quality of our Professional Business Language Training Courses. As experts in the language teaching industry, Simon & Simon could be perfect for you if you’re considering teaching English to Polish adults in the near future!
We offer a flexible range of Polish language training options in a range of locations across London, the UK and worldwide. With courses run at home, in your office, or at our offices; a range of hours; and a choice of group or individual sessions, there really is something for everyone, so why not get started today? Learn from native Polish speakers with an average of 15 years’ teaching experience and join 40 million Polish speakers worldwide today!
September 21, 2021
Like many European languages, Spanish has accumulated and integrated a number of English words – or Anglicisms – and many of these are identical to the original English, while others have been adapted slightly in pronunciation or spelling. In this article, we share some common Spanish Anglicisms – and warn you of a few false friends that sound the same in English but mean something completely different!
September 15, 2021
Recently, the British Council published the results of its latest annual Language Trends survey of language teaching and learning in English primary, secondary and independent schools. While we may not have a crystal ball or be able to predict the future, these survey results can give us an indication of the language skills that current and future students may be leaving school with and taking into the workforce.
In this article, we tap into some of the key findings – including how the pandemic has impacted language teaching in schools – and we reflect on what this means for the UK’s future language skills base.
September 7, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at Arabic, the language of the MENA region and the fifth most widely spoken language in the world.
August 31, 2021
Turkey has a deep history and is full of cultural treasures. With everything from Byzantine ruins, Greek temples, Ottoman Empire buildings, alongside skiing in vast mountainscapes or sandy beaches on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, there are so many places of interest that make this country one not only for exploring but also studying as well.
August 23, 2021
Learning Spanish for business is a great investment. Spanish is the third most popular language in the world (after English and Mandarin Chinese), and it is spoken in significant economies in Central and South America. But what about doing business in Spain itself?
In this article, we explore the best ways to conduct yourself – and the embarrassing pitfalls to avoid – when doing business in Spain.
August 16, 2021
English-speaking countries have always been popular as work destinations for people from around the globe. Decent pay, fair working practices and good living conditions in places such as Australia, New Zealand, America and the UK mean that these countries attract talented workers from all different parts of the world. Popular careers include jobs in hospitality, where excellent customer service is a must.
August 10, 2021
In the business world, learning different languages helps maximise your opportunities for business, work, networking, and of course for travel. But sometimes it can be difficult to know which are the best languages to learn, and which are the most important languages for business.
August 2, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at Portuguese, a European language that has crossed the Atlantic and is now primarily spoken in Brazil.
July 27, 2021
English is a lingua franca (bridging language) that enables people all over the world to connect personally and professionally. In the first article in this two-part series about the evolution of English over time, we explored the origins of English, from Old English in the 5th century to the post-Industrial Revolution world of the 20th century, when the social and cultural influence of English received a new boost from the United States becoming a global superpower.
In the second and final part of this series, we consider how technology, social media and future generations may influence the way that the English language continues to evolve.
July 20, 2021
The English language has evolved into a globally relevant means through which people can connect. Advances in science, industry and technology over centuries have added a wealth of complexity to the modern version of the English language.
In the first article of this two-part series about the evolution of English over time, we take a deep dive into the history of the English language – from its earliest forms to how the 20th century saw the social and cultural influence of English increase.
July 12, 2021
Many words from history have their roots in Latin, while the Ancient Greeks, famous for their love of philosophy, drama, and mathematics, have gifted us with many of the words that contribute to our scientific lexicon. Don your spectacles (from the Latin spectaculum – a form of specere, meaning ‘to look at’), pull on your lab coat (laboratory also has its roots in Latin – from labor, meaning ‘to work’) and come with us into the lecture hall as we zone in on the special terminologies of science and history.
July 7, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month, ahead of Bastille Day (France’s National Day on 14th July), we take a look at French, the language of one of our nearest European neighbours.
June 29, 2021
The more you practise reading, listening, speaking and writing in a language you are learning, the more your fluency and comprehension will improve. But what about when you want to learn a third – or fourth, or fifth – language? How can your existing skills benefit your future language-learning efforts?
In this article, we explore how learning a new language can speed up the process of acquiring more languages further down the line, and the tangible benefits to your brain – and to your business.
June 22, 2021
A ‘lingua franca’, usually translated as a ‘common’ or ‘bridging’ language, provides a communication channel for people who speak different languages. But what does ‘lingua franca’ really mean, and how relevant is the concept when it comes to doing business or learning a language?
In this article, we explore why having a bridging language can be extremely valuable in the business world – notably English, the global language of business.
June 15, 2021
Each language has its own idioms, known as colloquials, that feature as integral parts of everyday conversation. But whilst native speakers might turn a blind eye to their appearance in everyday chatter, non-native speakers may be rubbed the wrong way if they struggle to understand the context of the conversation.
In this article, we summarise the top 10 colloquial English phrases non-native speakers need to know when learning the English language.
June 8, 2021
In a time when many of us are working from home, conversations about overseas working and global mobility may be taking a backseat – and yet the opportunities still exist to extend businesses into new areas and nurture overseas prospects. In this article, we explore some of the trends emerging in global mobility in 2021 as a result of the pandemic, including remote working, virtual assignments and overseas moves – when the time is right.
June 1, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at Japanese, the language of a small country with a top-three economy and a manufacturing industry operating at a scale that can rival anywhere in the world.
May 25, 2021
English is the most widely spoken language in the world, as well as being the international language of business. However, many rules of the English language leave language learners scratching their heads in bafflement!
Grammar is one sticking point when it comes to learning English, but there are other obstacles that can trip up even the most determined language learner. In this article, we demystify some of the more unusual aspects of the English language that can make it seem hard to learn.
May 18, 2021
Providing English communication skills can have a plethora of benefits for businesses whose employees may not speak English as their primary language, especially if they have departments such as distribution, hospitality or warehousing.
In this article we’ll emphasise the benefits for businesses considering improving their staff English communication skills.
May 12, 2021
Gen Z is the smartphone generation, and technology is integral to how Gen Zers live. As they enter the workforce, they may well have different expectations with regard to their training, professional development and career opportunities than the Millennials that came before them.
We have put together a white paper to explore the different ways employers can appeal to this technologically proficient generation – including how they can provide a learning and development experience that helps their company stand out in the recruitment market and retain the talented Gen Zers they hire.
May 4, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at Hindi, the main language of India and one of the top four languages spoken around the world.
April 27, 2021
In a recent article, we wrote about words that were becoming obsolete in the English language, and many of them would be near-impossible to translate (especially the Shakespearian insults!). But what about some of the more commonly used English words that are almost impossible to translate directly to other languages without losing some of their nuance along the way?
In this article, we explore a few examples of words that you will only find in their intended form in the English language – and a couple of potentially familiar examples from Japanese too, with English doing its best to assimilate them!
April 20, 2021
To conquer a new language, you ideally need to remember all sorts of grammatical rules and regulations – including ones that make your written and spoken communications as accurate and effective as possible, which is especially important in business.
One way to help you make sense of grammar when learning a new language is to deepen your baseline understanding of your native language, which for many of us in the UK means tackling English grammar. In this article, we look at a few unusual English grammar rules head-on.
April 13, 2021
Learning Spanish can have your tongue-twisting as if it is limbering up for a limerick competition. However, with a little practice, you can perfect your pronunciation in no time. In this article, we share a few useful tips to help you get your Spanish pronunciation sounding just right.
April 6, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at German, a European language that has more business and political impact than you might think.
March 30, 2021
In a recent article, we took a look at some of the new words that have entered the lexicon in the past few years, and how language is constantly evolving. But, as in the animal kingdom, where exciting new species are discovered every year, it is inevitable that the opposite also occurs and there are some extinctions too. Certain words inevitably become casualties, cut from the dictionary as others crowd them out.
In this article, we reverse our approach and take a light-hearted look at some older words that have fallen out of favour. Join us as we shine a curious beam back in time to illuminate some fascinating words that are now all but obsolete.
March 23, 2021
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is the home of the Arabic language, the language of Islam and one that is rich in historic and cultural resonance for the world’s Muslims. Today, the language is equally important from a business and international relations perspective, with MENA region countries offering investment and business opportunities across a range of sectors. In this article, we share a few interesting facts and figures about the Arabic language and culture in the Arab world.
March 16, 2021
Languages are always changing, and English is no exception. With every year, new words are created and perhaps even added to the dictionary, giving them a sense of permanence in a changing world.
In this article, the first of two on how English has changed and continues to evolve, we explore how and why new words enter our lives. We also take a look at a few of the more unusual business terms that have appeared in recent times.
March 9, 2021
When learning a language becomes an act of necessity rather than a ‘nice to have’ hobby, the focus turns to how you can achieve this task and, just as importantly, how quickly. Building your level of fluency step by step is overtaken by a need to understand and be understood at a useful level as soon as possible!
In this article we share five tips to help you get started and achieve your short-term language-learning goals, as well as lay the groundwork for advancing your skills over time.
March 2, 2021
Every month this year, we will be turning our focus towards one of the core languages we love to teach – looking at the language’s potential for business, considering a few facts and figures to put its global prospects in context, plus sharing some tips to help you get started. This month we take a look at the primary language of the UK, English, and consider how significant a strong understanding of business English can be for growing a business’s prospects around the world.
February 26, 2021
Do you know how to say thank you in Spanish? You may already be familiar with ‘Gracias’ but did you know there are several more ways to express your gratitude in Spanish?
February 23, 2021
The idea of learning two languages at once sounds instantly appealing – after all, learning languages is one of our favourite things! But the answer to this question is more complicated, and it depends most of all on one further question: What is your motivation?
In this article, we consider the pros and cons of learning two languages at once.
