Carina Troche

Multilingualism: growing up speaking four languages
Travel

Multilingualism: Growing up speaking four languages

More than half of the world’s population is bilingual, according to recent estimates. However, only 1 in 4 UK citizens speak another language fluently and rates of bilingualism in the UK are some of the lowest worldwide. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise, in light of these statistics, how differently my UK and international friends see the topic of bilingualism. When they find out I speak four languages, most European friends want to find out if we have any in common – other than English, of course. If we do, this may lead to a discussion in Spanish, German or, rarely, Dutch within a matter of minutes.
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Posted Jan. 24, 2020
How to overcome the language barrier
TravelYear abroad

Year abroad prep: How to overcome the language barrier

There is no doubt that if you plan to spend some time abroad whether that's an entire year, a few months or even just a holiday, you might be a little nervous about how to behave-especially if you’re visiting a country where you don’t speak the language. After all it is a nerve wrecking thought whether you’ll be able to order lunch in a café, set up a bank account, or deal with any other challenges that may come your way.
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Posted Jun. 14, 2019
happiest countries in the world
Travel

The happiest countries in the world

Happiness is hard to measure – but a United Nations (UN) report attempts to do just that. In honour of World Happiness Day, it ranked countries based on people’s self reported happiness, GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, trust, corruption, perceived freedom and generosity.
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Posted May. 29, 2019
Best student cities
TravelYear abroad

The best student cities around the world

Do you want to study abroad, but aren’t sure which country or city to go to? Choosing the ideal destination for your year abroad can be difficult, but if you’re looking for a great student experience, a quick glance at the QS 2017 top 10 student cities could make your choice just that little bit easier.
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Posted Apr. 19, 2019
Augar
Features

What post-18 education proposals are on offer?

The eagerly awaited Augar review, due to be published in “early 2019”, will attempt to find answers to some of the most pressing issues surrounding higher education. From increasing graduate debt and tuition fees to a lack of university department funding, the entire university sector has faced continuous calls to...
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Posted Mar. 24, 2019
Image: Pexels
Travel

How authentic is the Birmingham Christmas Market?

With the festive season fast approaching, fairy lights, Christmas trees and ornaments are decorating more and more houses and student flats across the UK. However, pretty decor and presents aside, the beginning of the Advent period (the four weeks leading up to Christmas) also traditionally marks the start of the...
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Posted Dec. 10, 2018
Smartphone use
Features

Smartphone addiction is becoming Britain’s latest affliction

Whether you see your friends on their phones checking social media while you’re having dinner together or you witness strangers hunched over screens while crossing a busy road, it is virtually impossible not to notice how omnipresent mobile phones have become in daily life. Along with this trend, it seems...
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Posted Nov. 27, 2018