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Some tips for improving your languages

14 May

Being such a multilingual and international university, studying at the University of Luxembourg implies the fact that you will probably have courses held in (at least) 2 languages (French/English, French/German etc). Even though you are already profficient in one or 2 languages, I think it is always room for improvement.

The UNI provides you with language courses for each semester for more than a reasonable price, you can find out more details here. Besides this, I would like to share with you some interesting websites where you can practise English, French of German for free:

Personally, I recommend www.memrise.com and www.duolinguo.com. These websites have a more creative approach towards teaching languages, are very user-friendly and quite fun. You can simply connect with your Facebook account and start learning.

Learning online, by yourself is not enough, especially if you want to improve your speaking. For this you have to get into real interactions with other persons. Tandem is a good idea and you can easily find a Tandem partner at the University or in general in Luxembourg, as people here are eager to learn languages.

Also, you can try the Polyglotte Club; its meetings take place every Tuesday at Le Foyer (Rue Heine). Here, you have the opportunity not only to speak German, French, English, Italian, and Luxembourgish with native speakers, but also to meet new people that just arrived in Luxembourg and why not, to make friends. The participation fee is just 1 euro/year for students.

How do you improve your languages? If you have more tips, please share them with us…

Save the dates and the money!

1 May

As you probably noticed, Luxembourg is quite an expensive country, but now in May you can take advantage of some big shopping events, where you can find some plenty of different things for very good prices. Here is what I warmly recommend:

On Saturday, the 4th of May, there is Stroossemaart. On this occasion, the streets of the city center and those near of the train station will be closed to vehicle circulation and retailers will outrun themselves in special offers and discounts. Do not miss it, it takes place just once a year!

The very next day, on Sunday, the 5th of May, the shopping sprint for good bargains continues in Place Guillaume II, where the ”vide-grenier” takes place. Here, you can find different second-hand items, from clothes and jewelry to books and DVDs.

I hope that you are already familiar with the Glacismaart, it will take place on Sunday the 12 of May. If you are not, you have to know that there you can find everything from clothes to flowers, from italian sweets to fruits. Normally, this market is held every third Sunday of every month (untill October) in Place de Glacis.

If you are more passionate about antiques, on Saturday, the 18th of May, you can pay a visit to the Brocante flea market and antiques sales in Place d’Armes. Who knows, maybe there you will find some really original gifts or decorations!

Wonderful Luxembourg City

22 Oct

While the weather is still so good as it was during the royal wedding-weekend (I really hope you did not miss the big event), you should absolutely have a break from studying and step out of the library to visit some of Luxembourg City’s most beautiful spots.

As Luxembourg City is not that big, you don’t even need that much time to have a nice walk through the old town.

Just across from the library on the Consitution Square stands the famous “Gëlle Fra”. The Golden Lady was set up in 1923 to commemorate the Luxembourgers who perished in the First World War. Today, it symbolizes freedom and resistance for the Luxembourg people in general. Continue reading 

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