Latest news with #languageSkills
Associated Press
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Voices for Humanity Ignites a Revolution for Learning with Eva Rehorova
LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 25, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Scientology Network's VOICES FOR HUMANITY, the weekly series presenting heroic change makers from a variety of faiths, cultures and nations, working to uplift their communities, announces a new episode featuring educator Eva Rehorova. VOICES FOR HUMANITY airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network. Among European nations, the Czech Republic ranks fourth-worst in English language skills. Eva Rehorova viewed learning English as a necessity to prospering in the post-communist economy. Now, her award-winning English language schools are helping tens of thousands of Czech citizens attain the proficiency they need to succeed. ABOUT EVA REHOROVA Eva Rehorova was born in a mountainous town in the Czech Republic and lived on the campus of the school where her family worked. After the country's Velvet Revolution brought down communism, foreign companies poured in and suddenly, having strong English language skills—the de facto language of business—became the foundation for a newfound hope to live better lives. She taught herself English, then moved to the country's capital, Prague, where she saw others struggling and giving up their dreams of achieving success in their careers. After discovering L. Ron Hubbard's Study Technology, she understood its potential to help Czechs overcome the barriers to learning a new language and went on to become instrumental in setting up the Life Improvement Through Education (LITE) schools. LITE is now the number one English language school in the country and has successfully taught English to over 50,000 people using the tools of Study Technology. Eva Rehorova is the Executive Director of the Life Improvement Through Education English schools in the Czech Republic. ABOUT THE SCIENTOLOGY NETWORK: The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists; showing the Church as a global organization; and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases documentaries by independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths but share a common purpose of uplifting communities. Scientology Network's innovative content has been recognized with more than 125 industry awards, including Tellys, Communitas and Hermes Creative Awards. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. CONTACT: Media Relations [email protected] MULTIMEDIA: Photo link for media: Photo Caption: Eva Rehorova, Executive Director of Life Improvement Through Education (LITE), stands at the forefront of a learning revolution in the Czech Republic. Her award-winning English language schools, utilizing L. Ron Hubbard's Study Technology, have empowered over 50,000 Czech citizens to achieve proficiency in English, opening doors to success in the post-communist economy. (Photo courtesy of Scientology Network). NEWS SOURCE: Church of Scientology International Keywords: Religion and Churches, Voices for Humanity, Scientology Network, Learning, Eva Rehorova, Life Improvement Through Education, Czech Republic, proficiency in English, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Church of Scientology International) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P127155 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
CNA
22-06-2025
- General
- CNA
Basic dialect classes for migrant domestic workers to better care for the elderly
03:30 Min Basic dialect classes are being offered to maids to help them better care for the elderly. It's hoped that by strengthening their language skills it'll help workers better understand the seniors under their care.
Washington Post
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo is expansion team's go-to interpreter for international players
OAKLAND, Calif. — Julie Vanloo smiled as the memory came back to her and the nursery rhyme words from her childhood became familiar again and just flowed. A short phrase in French from her days as a schoolgirl in Belgium. Vanloo's ability to communicate in multiple languages has been crucial as the expansion Golden State Valkyries develop chemistry and find ways to make sure everyone can understand a given play or defensive set. Her teammates are often in awe. Part of an international roster on the Valkyries, Vanloo's language skills have helped everybody get comfortable on a team that has been changing by the week. Vanloo, Temi Fágbénlé (Great Britain) and Janelle Salaun (France) are currently competing for their countries in the EuroBasket 2025 tournament. That has led to much mixing and matching for coach Natalie Nakase, who has counted on players like Vanloo making key assists on and off the court. The Valkyries (5-6) will host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Thursday night in their sixth home game — all of them sellouts — at Chase Center. Vanloo will miss the fanfare of that matchup as she plays for Belgium — and she'll certainly brush up on her language skills while away. For Vanloo, a commitment to building her speaking skills became as important as her basketball talent as she dreamt of reaching the WNBA. She speaks English, French, Italian and Flemish, the dialect of Dutch spoken in her home country. 'Slowly you step up to the next level and when we go to high school and we're 12 years old, we really start to drill it, we start to learn it, both English and French,' she said. 'It's like six to nine hours per week we really learn English and French in Belgium. All of our series and even our cartoons are in English, we use subtitles for French so that's how we actually learned the accent and everything. 'So that's for all the kids out there, language is important, it's an advantage. I think you are rich when you know multiple languages because it's just easy to communicate and to create a bond with people.' She didn't always love it and she's not always perfect. But Vanloo has remained vigilant about learning. 'My goal was to come play professionally, to come to the league one day. If I have a goal, nobody's going to stop me,' she said. 'For basketball, I was very, very motivated to learn languages.' Vanloo was selected by the Valkyries from Washington in the expansion draft last December. She is one of eight non-American players on Golden State's roster representing six countries — Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Kayla Thornton played in Korea and realizes the challenges of trying to live in a place where she doesn't speak the language. She tries to use a few words with her teammates when possible. 'I do pick up on some of the stuff because we do have Italians and we do have French,' Thornton said. 'When I do hear it I kind of do catch on, I do know a few phrases. Most of the time they teach you their lingo, and that's the bad lingo.' Vanloo's ability to share her basketball expertise and the basics takes pressure off Nakase. 'I think what's really helped is Julie can translate for all of them. Julie speaks everyone's language so that's kind of been really key, just how we can connect that way,' Nakase said. 'Imagine going to another country and you have no idea. When I played in Germany I really wasn't understanding but I made sure I paid attention. So it's been nice to have Julie because she's listening, she's doing extra for a teammate.' Laeticia Amihere of Canada, a native French speaker who didn't make the opening game roster but has since re-signed with the team, counts on Vanloo. So does rookie guard Carla Leite, who's from France and is working to gain confidence speaking English. 'A lot of us speak French and a lot of us speak different languages so to be able to use that on the court to our advantage I think it's been great,' Amihere said. 'And she's obviously helping out the French and the French are helping us all just work cohesively and try to find a way we can communicate easily. It's been cool hearing different languages in the locker room. I'm used to it. Some people may not be used to it but I think it's dope.' Kyara Linskens is also from Belgium. She can relate to Vanloo's drive to reach the WNBA and do all the little things — like learning multiple languages — to get there. 'I realized (the importance), because I wanted this,' Vanloo said. 'I'm telling you, when I want something I'm going to do it until I can't.' ___ AP WNBA:
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo is expansion team's go-to interpreter for international players
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Julie Vanloo smiled as the memory came back to her and the nursery rhyme words from her childhood became familiar again and just flowed. A short phrase in French from her days as a schoolgirl in Belgium. Vanloo's ability to communicate in multiple languages has been crucial as the expansion Golden State Valkyries develop chemistry and find ways to make sure everyone can understand a given play or defensive set. Her teammates are often in awe. Part of an international roster on the Valkyries, Vanloo's language skills have helped everybody get comfortable on a team that has been changing by the week. Vanloo, Temi Fágbénlé (Great Britain) and Janelle Salaun (France) are currently competing for their countries in the EuroBasket 2025 tournament. That has led to much mixing and matching for coach Natalie Nakase, who has counted on players like Vanloo making key assists on and off the court. The Valkyries (5-6) will host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Thursday night in their sixth home game — all of them sellouts — at Chase Center. Vanloo will miss the fanfare of that matchup as she plays for Belgium — and she'll certainly brush up on her language skills while away. For Vanloo, a commitment to building her speaking skills became as important as her basketball talent as she dreamt of reaching the WNBA. She speaks English, French, Italian and Flemish, the dialect of Dutch spoken in her home country. 'Slowly you step up to the next level and when we go to high school and we're 12 years old, we really start to drill it, we start to learn it, both English and French,' she said. 'It's like six to nine hours per week we really learn English and French in Belgium. All of our series and even our cartoons are in English, we use subtitles for French so that's how we actually learned the accent and everything. 'So that's for all the kids out there, language is important, it's an advantage. I think you are rich when you know multiple languages because it's just easy to communicate and to create a bond with people.' She didn't always love it and she's not always perfect. But Vanloo has remained vigilant about learning. 'My goal was to come play professionally, to come to the league one day. If I have a goal, nobody's going to stop me,' she said. 'For basketball, I was very, very motivated to learn languages.' Vanloo was selected by the Valkyries from Washington in the expansion draft last December. She is one of eight non-American players on Golden State's roster representing six countries — Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Kayla Thornton played in Korea and realizes the challenges of trying to live in a place where she doesn't speak the language. She tries to use a few words with her teammates when possible. 'I do pick up on some of the stuff because we do have Italians and we do have French,' Thornton said. 'When I do hear it I kind of do catch on, I do know a few phrases. Most of the time they teach you their lingo, and that's the bad lingo.' Vanloo's ability to share her basketball expertise and the basics takes pressure off Nakase. 'I think what's really helped is Julie can translate for all of them. Julie speaks everyone's language so that's kind of been really key, just how we can connect that way,' Nakase said. 'Imagine going to another country and you have no idea. When I played in Germany I really wasn't understanding but I made sure I paid attention. So it's been nice to have Julie because she's listening, she's doing extra for a teammate.' Laeticia Amihere of Canada, a native French speaker who didn't make the opening game roster but has since re-signed with the team, counts on Vanloo. So does rookie guard Carla Leite, who's from France and is working to gain confidence speaking English. 'A lot of us speak French and a lot of us speak different languages so to be able to use that on the court to our advantage I think it's been great,' Amihere said. 'And she's obviously helping out the French and the French are helping us all just work cohesively and try to find a way we can communicate easily. It's been cool hearing different languages in the locker room. I'm used to it. Some people may not be used to it but I think it's dope.' Kyara Linskens is also from Belgium. She can relate to Vanloo's drive to reach the WNBA and do all the little things — like learning multiple languages — to get there. 'I realized (the importance), because I wanted this,' Vanloo said. 'I'm telling you, when I want something I'm going to do it until I can't.' ___ AP WNBA:
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
From Joey Barton's French accent to Steve McClaren's dismal Dutch effort: When English football expats get foreign languages WRONG after Trent Alexander-Arnold dazzled with his perfect Spanish at Real Madrid unveiling
British players have a track record of struggling outside of the United Kingdom. Watching an export of ours speaking in an exotic tongue can seem like a new episode of An Idiot Abroad. Ian Rush was said to have quipped that 'he couldn't settle in Italy - it was like living in a foreign country.' It was an astute observation. A generation of players with a reputation for appalling language skills has been the norm. That is why when Trent Alexander-Arnold stunned Real Madrid by introducing himself in flawless Spanish, it was like watching Arthur pull out Excalibur from the stone. Few had thought it possible. This wasn't just a PR gig, it was months of practice in another tongue. It's a sign of a player that cares about his new club, home, and culture, and a sign of respect to the fans that will worship him. It's also a symbol of a new type of English footballer, one that isn't afraid to step out of the cultural comfort zone and move on to new things. Alexander-Arnold is not alone. Fikayo Tomori dedicated himself to learning fluent Italian and regularly delivers post-match broadcast interviews in the language at AC Milan. Jude Bellingham has seemingly had a good start to his Spanish lessons, with a certain affinity to the word 'vamos'. Unfortunately, we are not free from the memory of their forerunners who butchered the languages of their hosts. Here are the most memorable. Joey Barton at Marseille (2012) - The Mocking French Accent Joey Barton invoked his best impression of Officer Crabtree from the BBC Sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! while on loan at Marseille. After his Ligue 1 debut against Lille, he ditched the scouse, for a self-proclaimed 'Bartonese', a new dialect of English, in which the speaker adopts a hyper-stereotypical French persona. He said 'Maybe the one criticism of the French Ligue is it's a leetle bit boring'. He then tweeted, 'Steve McClaren… eat your heart out'. Gareth Bale at Real Madrid (2013 - 2021) - 'I don't have a clue what you've said' 'Golf. Wales. Madrid.' Famously in that order. What wasn't written, but was definitely included as a subheading of that Madrid part, was 'Spanish'. Bale did not want to learn Spanish. It's lucky he was a supremely talented footballer playing for an incredibly gifted team. The tactics were easy. Give the ball to Cristiano or Benzema, or have a pop yourself. Simple. A hilarious video was released in which Bale took part in a chat with Spanish publication Marca, during which a small group of Madrid players exchanged information about themselves in order for fans to get to know them a little better. Standing together in the Real Madrid team plane, Bale joined Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Casemiro for a chat. He was asked gently by former teammate Modric, 'what are the three things you carry in your luggage?' Bale looked perplexed. 'I don't have a clue what you've just said,' replied the Welshman with a deadpan expression. Joe Hart at Torino (2016) - Tried his best In his Torino introduction, Joe Hart read fluent Italian directly from a script for his, before asking everyone to only ask him questions in English. He let out an enormous sigh of relief once he'd finished reading out his, *checks watch*, 39 seconds of Italian. There wasn't much more Italian after that. But Hart did insist that he was going to put in every effort to become more adept in the Romance language. 'I'm doing [language] lessons at every opportunity. I think it was most important for me to learn how speak and communicate with the players on the football field before I could have a conversation in a coffee shop,' he said. 'Now I'll be looking to take major strides forward top really improve my Italian in order to interact on a daily basis.' Steve McClaren at FC Twente (2008) - SCHTEEVE When 22 Jump Street was released in 2014, one of the opening scenes had the world in stitches. When Channing Tatum's character 'Jenko' is pressed for his identity by members of the cartel, he panics and responds with a laughably cringeworthy Spanish-infused response of 'my name is Jeff'. Comedic genius. Steve McClaren was ahead of the curve. When interviewed by Dutch media, he put on a super-thick Dutch accent, announcing himself as 'Schteeve' and maintaining it throughout his two year spell as manager. And maybe it wasn't the worst idea. Something rubbed off on the players, as they won the Eredivisie title in 2009-10. Jadon Sancho at Dortmund (2021) - Germglish Hybrid Jadon Sancho was electric at Dortmund. Simply one of the best English youngsters there had ever been. After scoring two goals, one of which was a screamer, in the final of the DFB-Pokal, Sancho delivered his post-match interview with a curious accent. He spoke like Karl, the German exchange student trying to make friends in freshers' week, rather than Jadon, the 20-year-old winger who grew up in South London his whole life. It didn't look forced, either. That's just the sign of a man who immersed himself into Westphalian culture, even at the expense of his own. Jadon Sancho was a storming success at Borussia Dortmund but never quick cracked the lingo David Moyes combined English and Spanish in one of his early interviews at Real Sociedad - but quickly regretted it David Moyes at Real Sociedad (2014) - Oh no, David While managing Real Sociedad, David Moyes attempted Spanish during an interview but faltered when he forgot the word for 'times'. 'I know about the B-team,' he began. 'I know about some of the players. They have been training with me, dos, tres, quatro... times, and, er, but I've not seen them play.' His visible regret mid-sentence was noted as a relatable but awkward moment. Unlike Barton, at least Moyes was trying to speak the actual language rather than a bizarre form of accented English. It didn't his case. He only lasted 42 games with the Spanish side before returning to English football with Sunderland.
