Month: January 2025

From Screen to Conversation: Taking Your Language Learning to the Next Level

“I’ve been using language apps for two years, but I still can’t hold a conversation.”

This is something we hear all the time from people joining our language courses. They’ve mastered the gamified exercises, earned countless virtual achievements, and can perfectly translate sentences about owls riding bicycles. But when it comes to ordering food in Paris or chatting with locals in Madrid, they find themselves stuck.

The Missing Piece

Language apps are brilliant at what they do – introducing vocabulary, basic grammar, and giving you that daily dose of language practice. They’re like having a pocket-sized language primer always at hand. But language isn’t just about remembering words and rules – it’s about connection, culture, and real-world communication.

That’s where our courses come in.

What Real Language Learning Looks Like

Whether you’re joining us in person or connecting online, you’ll be part of a live, interactive learning experience. Your native-speaking tutor will welcome you and your fellow students in their language, and suddenly you’re having a real conversation – not just selecting multiple choice answers or swiping through flashcards. Yes, you might stumble over words at first, but you’re speaking with real people who encourage and support you. This is how natural language learning happens.

In our courses, you’ll:

  • Jump straight into authentic conversations from day one
  • Learn the expressions locals actually use (not textbook phrases)
  • Pick up natural pronunciation from native speakers
  • Understand the cultural context behind the language
  • Build lasting friendships with fellow language enthusiasts

A Different Kind of Progress

While apps measure progress in points and streaks, we measure it in real-world achievements:

  • Having your first unscripted conversation
  • Understanding jokes in your target language
  • Successfully handling unexpected situations abroad
  • Making friends in another language
  • Thinking in your new language instead of translating

Breaking Through the Digital Ceiling

Many of our students come to us after hitting what we call the “digital ceiling” – that frustrating plateau where app-based learning stops delivering results. They’ve built a foundation but need something more to achieve true fluency.

Our courses provide that crucial next step. Whether you’re a complete beginner or have been using apps for years, we’ll meet you where you are and help you build practical, usable language skills.

The Human Touch

Our native-speaking tutors don’t follow rigid scripts or pre-programmed responses. They adapt to your needs, answer your specific questions, and help you navigate the nuances of their language. They’ll explain why locals phrase things certain ways, share cultural insights you won’t find in any app, and give you personalised feedback that makes a real difference.

Learning That Fits Your Life

Whether you prefer learning in person or online, we’ve got you covered. All our courses are available in both formats, so you can choose what works best for you:

  • Join us in the classroom for face-to-face interaction
  • Learn from home with our live online sessions
  • Evening options for busy professionals
  • Small groups for maximum speaking practice

A World of Languages

From East Asian languages to European classics, we offer ten options including:

Each language is taught by native speakers who bring their culture and real-world experience to every lesson.

Your Next Step

Ready to move beyond an app? Whether you’re planning a trip abroad, connecting with family heritage, or simply love languages, our courses will help you achieve your goals. Bring your app-learned vocabulary – it’s a great foundation! We’ll help you transform it into real-world language skills you can actually use.

Join us and discover what it feels like to truly speak a new language, not just learn it.

Explore our courses today and take the first step toward genuine fluency.

City Writes Springs into 2025 with an Exciting in-person Literary Extravaganza

City Writes Springs into 2025 with an exciting in-person literary extravaganza and submissions are open.

City Writes, the showcase for all the creative writing talent coming from the short creative writing courses here at City St. George’s, is back and supercharged for Spring. We will be holding the event in person in Northampton Square, 7pm 26th March, and we have a bumper line up.

Not only do we have the amazing Short Story Writing alumna Han Smith, a 2024 Goldsmiths Prize shortlisted author coming to read from her debut novel, Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking, we also have readings from some of our incredibly talented tutors: Jem Bartholomew, Caroline Green, Katy Darby and Martin Ouvry. More details of all four tutors will be forthcoming over the next few weeks, so do keep an eye on your inbox.

Han Smith grew up in Japan, Russia, the UK and elsewhere. A queer writer, translator and adult literacy teacher, Han is the recipient of a 2019/2020 London Writers Award, and has been shortlisted/longlisted for the 2019 Mslexia Novella Award, the Bridport Prize, the Desperate Literature short story prize, and the Brick Lane short story prize. She has also been published by Lunate, Five Dials, Cipher Press, Versopolis, Litro, The Interpreter’s House and the European Poetry Festival. She lives in London. Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking is her debut novel and was shortlisted for the 2024 Goldsmiths Prize.

We couldn’t be more delighted by her visit to City Writes. She’ll be reading from Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking and taking part in a Q&A with tutor and City Writes host, Rebekah Lattin-Rawstrone. We’ll then be asking our tutors to join us on stage for a broader Q&A with the audience.

Joining this stellar line up will be our competition winners. This could be you!

For your chance to read your work on stage, in person, with Han Smith, Jem Bartholomew, Katy Darby, Caroline Green and Martin Ouvry, all you need to do is send the best 1,000 words of creative fiction or non-fiction to rebekah.lattin-rawstrone.1@city.ac.uk with details of your name and the short course you took, or are taking, by Friday 28th February. Full details and submission guidelines are here. Whilst we accept YA, we don’t currently accept children’s fiction, poetry or scripts. There will be five competition winning slots available and we can’t wait to read your submissions.

In the meantime, don’t forget to save the date for the event. It is free and doors open at 6.30pm for drinks and nibbles. Book your place for City Writes Spring 2025 at Northampton Square, 7pm, 26th March. The booking link is here. And as an extra bonus, all attendees get 10% off their next Creative Writing Short Course, as long as you book by 30th March.

City Writes Spring 2025 needs to be in your diary now!

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