• Caitlin Morton, Condé Naste Traveller

Morton had a boo-tiful time writing her 53 haunted hotels around the world you can stay at – if you dare article. Let’s follow suit and explore some of the world’s most spine-chilling stays this Halloween. And we don’t just mean eerie vibes. We’re talking full-on haunted histories!

Remember to pick up a few local phrases for chatting with the ghostess with the mostest when you’re planning a ghoulish getaway.

Hotel Burchianti in Florence, Italy

Renaissance masterpiece with some lingering visitors, anybody? Guests have seen a skipping child, a knitting woman, and felt freezing breaths. A gentle ciao could help break the ice (pun intended).

Chateau de Marcay in Marcay, France

This Loire Valley chateau arbours a terrible tale of woman accidentally shot dead by a local farmer. Her tormented soul is said to remain to this day. You might want to practice saying Ça va? Because you never know when you’ll meet this ethereal guest!

Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, Massachusetts

The Hawthorne is a real haunt-spot in the witchy town of Salem! This is why TV shows Ghost Hunters and Bewitched both took an interest, with guests reporting tugged sheets and a spectral woman in the mirror of Room 612. Perhaps a good idea to brush up on excuse me in English, just in case you unexpectedly bump into a mischievous spectre.

Ruthin Castle Hotel & Spa in Ruthin, Wales

This medieval gem in North Wales has hosted some doomed tenants in its time, including Bloody Mary herself. Lady Jane Grey’s ghost is also said to wander the halls. Brave enough? Learn a bit of Welsh to truly immerse yourself in the spirit… or spirits.

Toftaholm Herrgård Hotel in Lagan, Sweden

Beneath its Scandinavian charm lies the tragic tale of a forbidden love at Toftaholm Herrgård, with the ghost of a heartbroken young man allegedly roaming Room 324. His fate? Hanging himself from the rafters. Maybe soothe his troubled spirit with a cheery hej (hello) in Swedish if you hear the shutters slamming.

Learning languages opens doors (and possibly secret passages) to the world’s most haunted hotels! Are you ready to book your ghostly getaway?

At la Academia, we’re all about making language learning fun, whether you’re chatting with local mortals or maybe even a phantom or two! Our engaging, immersive teaching methods will cast a spell on you in no time. Ready to unchain new languages (and maybe a supernatural story or two)? Get in touch to explore our classes and 1:1 tuition options today.

After all, dedicated fans travel far and wide to participate in the spectacle and atmosphere at iconic stadiums in France, Italy, Wales, Scotland, England, and Ireland. English might be the universal language of sport. But, how about igniting your match day experiences in French, Italian, Welsh, or Gaelic?

Be the MVP of the Fan Zone

A little linguistic flair goes a long way. And a basic grasp of the local language is a golden ticket to Six Nations triumph. Why? –

• Shared Fandom – Speaking the local language opens doors to genuine connections with other rugby fans and friendly locals. Whether it’s pre-match banter or celebrating post-victory, it’s a nice touch to be able to share a few words in their language.

• Linguistic Sat Nav – Lost? Not for long when you can confidently ask for directions. It’s a breeze when you’ve got the basics down to find your way through the vibrant streets of host nations.

• Cultural Immersion – Immerse yourself beyond the game in the rich tapestry of each host nation’s culture. The ability to communicate and understand other languages unlocks a deeper appreciation of the places you visit.

• New Friendships – A warm “Santé!” in France or a “Slàinte!” in Scotland is a great icebreaker. Language is a powerful catalyst for sharing a toast with fellow fans and making new friends.

So, why not book yourself a crash course before you pack your jerseys and team flags?

At la Academia, we help hundreds of adult students every year to break down language barriers in preparation for their hotly anticipated trips abroad. Are you next? Get in touch  to score your own language learning touchdown.

It doesn’t compare to the biggest players like the Chinese and English languages. But unsurprisingly, Italian language learning continues to be wildly popular amongst students of all ages, for many different reasons.

We recently quizzed our powerhouse Italian tutor Anna Maria Forti Sheikh about her own personal experiences of Italian language learning, as a student and a teacher.

Here’s what she had to say…

• Thanks for your time, Anna Maria. Let’s start at the beginning. What are your earliest memories about the language?
  

“Growing up in Italy in the ‘70s in a small Italian village inspired me to learn other languages besides Italian. Because like most young people, I dreamt of escaping one day and exploring other countries.

“Since the age of about 7, I would dream of going to Rome, and also to England to learn English, so that I could travel the world.”

• Well, you made it! Do go back to Italy much these days?

“Typically, now I finally live in England I’d love to go back and live in Italy…. life, eh?! But for now, I tend to go and see my family at Christmas, and I also spend the whole summer there.” 

• Tell us a bit about what you love about the Italian culture?

“I love the way people celebrate being together as a family and as a society.

“And you couldn’t really talk about Italy without mentioning the food! I love to explore the myriad of possibilities of cooking the same ingredients in so many ways.

“In fact, I created a cookery course called ‘Fast Food Italian Style’, for simultaneous Italian language learning and cooking for children and adults. This resulted in the offer of a TV programme called ‘Chefs and the City’.  Eventually my cookery book was published and adopted by more than 70 schools in America. Can you think of a more delicious way to learn another language?”

• That’s fantastic. Are there any other ways your career has twisted and turned because of the Italian language?

“Yes. Going back to my university days, I won a scholarship to study English in London. That was one of my dreams fulfilled, and it was one of the most interesting times of my life!

“I got my degree in Modern Foreign Languages back in Italy and I became an English teacher there.

“Then, when I made the decision to come to England, I taught both languages. To be honest, at the beginning I found it harder to teach Italian than English!

“I’ve also been a speaker at several conferences, focusing on the inclusion of traditional and popular culture in Italian language learning, such as films, literature and fairy tales.”

• We know you have a very busy life. But, what about any ‘me time’?

“My free time is more and more sparse now, thanks to l’Accademia… ha, ha!

“I enjoy writing children’s stories in Italian and English. But I’d also like to translate them into other languages, at least Spanish and French.

“I also run pasta masterclasses in a famous restaurant in Manchester. Look me up if you’d like to uplevel your lasagne, tortellini, ravioli and gnocchi! I have to admit it’s a great outlet for my love of cooking, because my children are better than me now, so I’m banned from the kitchen at home!

“On Saturdays, I play the recorder in different orchestras. And when the weather is nice, I like to go for walks in the countryside.

“My wish now is to seriously travel more! Maybe one day!”

At La Academia, we’d love to accompany you on your Italian language learning journey. Get in touch for a chat about evening classes at the school in Cheadle, 1:1 tutoring, or Italian for business.