This summer’s tournament is once again proof the beautiful game is a universal language, spanning iconic powerhouses to exciting debut nations.

48 teams are heading to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. So, fans will hear a colourful mix of languages echoing through stadiums, fan zones, bars, and city streets.

Play with a World of Words

 The teams competing represent more than 40 different languages, reflecting a phenomenal linguistic melting pot.

Intrepid first-time qualifiers include:

• Jordan – Primary language = Arabic
• Uzbekistan – Primary language = Uzbek
• Curaçao – Primary languages = Papiamentu and Dutch
• Cape Verde – Primary languages = Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole

Elsewhere, familiar faces are making a long-awaited return:

• Scotland – Primary languages = English and Scots
• Norway – Primary language = Norwegian
• Haiti – Primary languages = French and Haitian Creole

And then, there’s the many teams whose mother countries are home to multiple languages.

Take One Team with Four Languages

 Most countries rally around a single national language. But Switzerland likes to keep things interesting.

Depending on where you are, you’ll hear:

• German
• French
• Italian
• Romansh

“Thus, there are different versions of the salutation you’ll hear the most when following the Nati: Hop Suisse/Hopp Schwiiz/Forza Svizzera/Ancora Svizra,” explains the New York Times Athletic’s The Language of Soccer series. “They all mean the same thing – ‘Go Switzerland!’”

Kick Off with Host Languages

 The tournament’s 16 host cities mainly speak the following languages:

• USA host cities – English
• Canadian host cities (Toronto and Vancouver) – English, plus French also an official language nationally
• Mexican host cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey) – Spanish

At la Academia, you don’t need any excuse to experience new cultures, hear new languages, and realise passion for the game sounds similar everywhere.

Get in touch whether you’re cheering in Spanish, Arabic, Norwegian, French English… or just the language of football.

Think military parades in Rome and Frecce Tricolori jets painting the sky red, white and green. Oh, and did we mention Italians in their hordes raising a glass of something divine.

It’s a feast for the senses that really makes you want to go all in and learn Italian. 

Italian is More Than a Numbers Game 

“It is the second most widely spoken native language in the European Union with 67 million native speakers. About 13.4 million EU citizens speak Italian as their second language,” according to the World Population Review’s article Italian Speaking Countries 2026. “Including all Italian speakers around the world, the total number of Italian speakers is about 85 million people.” 

But truthfully, going with the flow isn’t why anybody falls in love with it.

You learn Italian because of:

• The food and wine – Yes, it’s world class to savour and quaff. And then there’s knowing what you’re actually ordering.
• The culture – Italy invented the Renaissance, after all.
• The people – Italians are known for being warm, passionate, and genuinely delighted when you try speaking to them in the mother tongue.

And then there’s your career prospects going up a notch or several.

Learn Italian for Work? Assolutamente! 

Italian business language training for corporate clients is also on the rise.

A case in point is the UK arm of a major Italian pharmaceuticals company in Cheshire. They work with a leading local language school, (that would be us, at la Academia). And we bring more to the festa than learning a language.

Moreover, real business savvy and cultural know-how are vital for business Italian. This is what equips staff at every level to get more confident, communicative, and productive when working with their Italian colleagues.

But today’s busy professionals don’t take too receptively to the dry teaching methods that used to send you to sleep in the school classroom. Instead, it’s kept engaging and fun with elements like:

• Role play
• Listening exercises
• Real life scenarios
• Popular culture 

Who Else Wants to Be La Bella Lingua Ready?

 Republic Day might just be the sign you need to learn Italian for business, pleasure, or both.

At la Academia, we’d love to hear from both total beginners and rusty returnees.

Get in touch about our beginners courses, private tuition, or a FREE try before you buy business Italian taster session at your office.

Unsurprising then, World Marketing Day every 27th May continues gathering momentum.

But here’s the thing. Even the most dazzling campaign falls flat if it doesn’t speak your audience’s language and literally gets lost in translation.

Enter marketing translation services.

What Makes Marketing Translation Services the Secret Weapon Leading Marketers Swear By?

 Behind every successful global brand is a brilliant translator making sure your marketing messages don’t mean something laughably unfortunate in another language. Yes, this happens, more than you’d think.

For this reason, professional language services are the engine room of global marketing for the following good reasons:

• Clarity out of confusion – The wrong word choice can kill a campaign. But expert marketing translation services ensure your message attracts rather than repels.

• Cultural nuance is everything – Humour, tone, and idioms vary wildly across languages. That killer joke your UK team adores might raise eyebrows in Beijing or Berlin.

• It’s not just what you say – It’s how, when, where, and to whom you say it. Context is key. Language professionals understand this better than anyone.

So, what sort of business uses professional language services for surety everybody’s speaking the same language?

What Products or Services Can You Translate? (Spoiler: Pretty Much Everything)

If your audience sees or hears it, it deserves to be said perfectly in their language. So don’t think about language services in terms of sector specificity, but more for things like:

• Ad campaigns
• Social media content
• Website copy
• Email marketing
• Packaging
• Exhibition stands and associated comms

Speak Their Language, Win Their Business

 At la Academia, we get how marketing is about understanding people, their psychology, their culture, their world.

Accordingly, our marketing translation services make this possible across borders.

As Medichecks Marketing Manager Cerys Gardiner told the CIM (Chartered Institute of Marketing) in her recent article International Day of Marketing: Why it’s time to #CelebrateMarketing: “…if you’ve ever built a great campaign, introduced a content idea that people loved, or even helped a customer find the right solution for them, you’ve made a difference. And that’s something worth celebrating”.

Get in touch if you’re dreaming of success of non-English speaking countries.

The language of Miguel de Cervantes, Rafael Nadal, Shakira, and David Silva feels unstoppable. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed in the UK. 

The Numbers Tell the Story

Language Magazine’s recent article Spanish Growth Accelerates put the data into the discussion in no uncertain terms.

 The global Spanish speaking community grew by a massive 30 million people in 2025 alone = a 5% jump in a single year. That’s equivalent to roughly half the UK’s population deciding to learn Spanish in the same twelve-month period.

In addition:

• Spanish is now the third largest native language in the world, behind only Chinese and Hindi

• More than 120 million people have chosen to are learn Spanish outside of Spanish speaking countries

• Language experts predict there could be 100 million people learning Spanish by the turn of the century

This all beggars a burning question. 

Why Is Everyone Keen to Learn Spanish?

 There are many and varied reasons why learners across the UK (and beyond) are choosing Spanish:

• It’s genuinely not that hard – Spanish is one of the friendliest languages for English speakers to pick up. You’ll be ordering tapas with confidence proximamente.

• Hello, holidays – Spain is the UK’s favourite holiday destination. Sounding like a local rather than a tourist is priceless.

• Career gold – Spanish is the official language in more than 20 countries. Accordingly, there’s a lot of doors waiting to be opened.

• Culture is calling – Cultural relevance continues soaring, from Rosalia to Antonio Banderas or the pintxos and tapas trend. 

The World is Speaking Spanish. Ready to Join In?

 At la Academia, you’re invited to join out next guaranteed sell out Spanish Course for Complete Beginners:

When:             Wednesday 17^th June 2026 at 7.00 – 9.00pm for six consecutive weeks
Where:            la Academia, Cheadle
Cost:                £120.00

Get in touch to learn Spanish if you’re dreaming of Barcelona, eyeing a promotion at work, or want to finally understand what Daddy Yankee is getting all hot and bothered about.

This is firmly in your wheelhouse with business language training on your agenda, because there’s no single path to language brilliance in the corporate sphere. It’s completely subjective.

Plus, it’s a winner with employees too.

How Language Learning Gives Power to Your People

 Many workplaces are global workplaces circa 2026. This is why speaking your client’s language is a superpower, equipping your team to:

• Grow their mindset in a way they learn best
• Build resilience and confidence that goes way beyond the office
• Sharpen the practical skills that keep them adaptable and ahead

Business language training does all three. And here’s how. 

Group Classes = More Fun and More Practice

Group business language courses are comms gold, due to:

• Lively role plays
• Pair exercises
• Real conversation

All these interactive methods are designed to get them speaking faster, on a flexible schedule around your business, at your local language school or at your workplace.

And the added bonus? Many groups add cultural awareness training or international dance sessions to the mix. Yes, language training for work can be and should be fun if it’s going to maximise engagement and progress. 

1:1 Business Language Training Tailored to Your Specific Needs

 Need industry specific vocabulary?

Already past the basics in Spanish, French, Italian, or Chinese?

Individual tuition programmes are built around specific goals, in the language that matters for your work, and the vocab that demonstrates common ground. 

Make Language Learning at Work Count

At la Academia, we’ve had the pleasure of working with some seriously impressive companies. And they keep coming back because we make business language training  something to look forward to.

Get in touch and we’ll find the ideal fit for your people, on a group or individual basis, from beginner to boardroom ready.

Why this date specifically? Because every 5^th May is World Portuguese Language Day, when people worldwide celebrate one of the planet’s most spoken tongues.

But there’s more to it than meets the eye. In fact, there are five good reasons why learning Portuguese is more than just learning a new language.

Let’s run through them and see what sways you the most. 

So, Why Learn Portuguese?

Global data giant Statista ranks Portuguese in the Top 10 of The most spoken languages worldwide in 2026, with 269 million Portuguese speakers across the globe.

It’s flourishing across South America, Europe, and expanding African nations. Not to mention Brazil’s economic hub São Paulo alone has more Portuguese speakers than the whole of Portugal.

José Mourinho made it look cool. But here’s how Portuguese is vying for a spot on your language learning list, besides the “Special One” effect:

1. Career gold – Portuguese is an official language of both the EU and African Union, making your CV stand out by association.

2. Booming tech – Lisbon is Europe’s hottest startup scene. And Brazil’s fintech sector is exploding.

3. Business doors swinging open – Opportunity is everywhere, from Brazilian agritech to Mozambican markets.

4. Easier than you think – Music to any language student’s ears. So, you’ve already got a head start if you know any French or Spanish.

5. Travel like you belong – Picture yourself roaming Rio’s vibrant streets or Lisbon’s pastéis de nata sweet spots with total confidence. Learn Portuguese and you can.

 Your Next Chapter? It’s Written in Portuguese

At award winning la Academia, we’re only a por favor away when you decide now is the time to learn Portuguese.

Get in touch to start your Portuguese language learning adventure your way, whether your needs are professional or cultural.

But May is International Mediterranean Diet Month, when fresh ingredients, bold flavours, and shared meals bring people closer together.

And the languages of the Mediterranean are as rich, expressive, and full of personality as the food.

So, why not fall in love with a language if you’ve already fallen in love with a Mediterranean country via your stomach? There’s a veritable buffet to choose from. 

Learn Spanish 

Spanish is everywhere, from Andalucia to Alabama. So, it’s seriously useful.

What’s on the menu:

Paella, tapas, tortilla, fresh seafood, olive oil, vibrant veggies

Why learn Spanish:

• One of the most widely spoken languages globally
• Ideal for travel, business, and social confidence
• Business Spanish helps you build corporate and trade relationships besides order wine (although… priorities)

Learn French

 French is romantic. But it’s also influential across business, culture, and travel.

What’s on the menu:

• Ratatouille, bouillabaisse, crusty baguettes, cheeseboards and a lot of good wine

Why learn French:

• Spoken across multiple continents
• Perfect for both leisure learners and career climbers
• Business French = added confidence in meetings and at exhibitions

Learn Italian

 Italian is a gateway to passion, people, and plates of perfection.

What’s on the menu:

• Pasta, pizza, risotto, espresso, gelato

Why learn it:

• Intensifies cultural experiences and menu knowledge
• Brilliant for business with Italian partners
• Fun, expressive, and genuinely joyful to learn

 Beyond the Classic Mediterranean Languages

 The Mediterranean is a linguistic mosaic, extending further than its most commonly known and spoken languages.

In addition, there’s Albanian, Arabic, Croatian, Greek, Maltese and Turkish.

And each one opens a different door, both culturally and professionally. 

Ready to Order? What’s Your Next Flavour?

 At la Academia, our expert tutors bring Mediterranean languages to life, for travel, business, or sheer enjoyment.

Get in touch for the French, Italian and Spanish courses available now, from beginner to advanced, including tailored business language training.

And the rest of the Mediterranean languages? They’re equally as tasty and valuable. But available on request and custom designed around demand.

And more people are catching on here in the UK.

Why the Chinese Language Means Business

Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. This is why learning Chinese can help you achieve serious results in many and varied ways, such as:

• Building stronger relationships with international clients
• Standing out in competitive industries
• Negotiating foreign travel and culture with confidence

But it’s not only individuals choosing to learn Chinese to better their chances. Additionally, businesses are leaning in. After all, a few well-placed phrases break the ice faster than any handshake.

And circa 2026, there’s less pain and more gain than ever.

Worry It’s Too Hard to Learn Chinese? Not Anymore

 There’s no papering over the fact Chinese is demanding. But it’s far from impossible at a leading language school, where teaching systems include:

• Beginner courses to get you speaking from day one
• Structured lessons keeping progress steady and you motivated
• 1:1 tuition to fast track your skills

The right support makes all the difference when learning Mandarin or exploring Cantonese. And perhaps surprisingly, it’s great fun too, regardless of age and experience. 

 Not Just for Grown Ups

 Learning Chinese is just for business professionals, right? Wrong!

It’s not in every classroom yet. But momentum is building:

• Mandarin is one of the fastest growing languages in UK education
• More schools and clubs are introducing it early
• Young learners are approaching it as a future fit skill

Accordingly, China Daily’s Zheng Wanyin reported in her recent article More in UK keen to learn Chinese language:

“Heated discussions have also been taking place in the UK about how to build the country’s China capabilities, with the report stressing that the education sector – which produces a pipeline of graduates with Mandarin language skills, knowledge of Chinese culture, politics and history, as well as firsthand experience of the country – must be included in the long-term investment strategy.” 

Start Your Middle Kingdon Era Here

At la Academia, why not join us in celebration of history, culture, and connection? Plus, it’s a powerful reminder the future is yours for the taking if you can communicate across borders.

Get in touch to learn Chinese for business, travel, or pure curiosity.

For all these reasons, EFL lessons continue to open doors, boost confidence, and make life a whole lot easier.

Here’s how and why.

The UK is Still Top of the Class for English as a Foreign Language (for Obvious Reasons)

The UK remains the hottest go-to destination for learning English, and you can clearly see why:

• Trusted, high quality teaching standards
• Real life immersion you can’t replicate online
• A vibrant mix of cultures, accents, and experiences
• Students who stay longer, explore more, and get stuck in

As a result, demand for learning English as a foreign language in the UK is more than holding its own, despite global competition and uncertain travel patterns.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not moving with the times. On the contrary. 

What’s Changing Over Time?

The ways to learn English are keeping pace with busy 2020s life. For example:

• Flexible formats equip you to mix in-person and remote EFL lessons
• Specialist courses are on the rise, like EFL for business and industry specific training
• Real world practice for using English besides studying it, instigating a rise in language tourism

“This group is a key target for UK tourism due to the value of their visits, the opportunity to encourage repeat visits to the UK for young travellers and the English language training industry’s contribution to the UK economy,” VisitBritain told English UK in its article Facts & Figures.

What’s the Real EFL Difference?

Solid English skills are transformative for individuals and businesses alike, helping people to:

• Settle faster into life in the UK
• Build confidence in social and professional settings
• Communicate clearly at work
• Feel part of a community, not outside it

At la Academia, English as a foreign language isn’t taught in a vacuum. It’s built around real people and real goals, including:

• 1:1 EFL language tuition for privacy and precision
• Social, supportive, and cost-effective group EFL classes
• Tailored EFL training for professionals, from business teams to elite athletes
• Practical learning beyond the classroom

Get in touch for learning English with connection and confidence, not just labouring on grammar.

But add music, movement, and a splash of global colour? Suddenly, they’re all in.

The introduction of dance into multicultural days for schools combines work and play. As a result, it’s a fun and powerful way to get them started with language learning without even realising they’re learning.

What’s more, today’s Bollywood and flamenco sessions for schools are a far cry from the days the boys squirmed about holding hands with the girls. Because we’ve had Strictly Come Dancing since then, making dance cool again.

Why Dance Works at Multicultural Days for Schools

 Children learn best when they’re engaged, active, and enjoying themselves. For these reasons, dance ticks the following boxes:

• Boosts memory – Movement helps anchor new vocabulary
• Grows confidence – ‘In the moment’ participation
• Improves focus: – Dancing can intensify concentration
• Encourages expression – Ideal for children finding their voice in a multicultural, multidimensional world

Think of it like language learning without the worksheets.

Flamenco and Bollywood Examples

 These two cultural dance styles are prime examples of bringing language and culture to life in the classroom:

• Flamenco from Spain – The rhythmic clapping, stamping and expressive movement originated in Southern Spanish culture. Its amalgamation of music, song and storytelling is a brilliant way to introduce Spanish sounds and rhythm to young ears and minds.

• Bollywood from India – Its high energy, expressive and personality packed vibe blends styles like bhangra, hip hop and jazz. Every movement is part of a story, making it ideal for exploring language through music and emotion. What better way to celebrate Diwali or Eid in class?

But there’s more going on here than throwing shapes.

Shake Up Your KS1 Language Lessons

 At la Academia, our dance sessions bring more than fun routines to multicultural days for schools. Think:

• Recognition and repetition of new words
• Connection of language with cultural experience
• Excitement of learning something new, without fear of otherness 

Get in touch to turn up the volume on confident, curious, culturally aware learners. And take our word for it. Pupils willingly learn more dancing their way around the world than sat at desks.