About - Cheltenham Language Clubs Network

About the Cheltenham Language Clubs Network

Cheltenham, also known as Cheltenham Spa, in Gloucestershire, is located in the Cotswolds: one of the most attractive regions of England and a key destination for visitors to Britain. Cheltenham is home to several clubs, circles, groups and societies for foreign languages. Currently, the Cheltenham Language Clubs Network is made up of:
- Cheltenham French Circle
- Cheltenham Spanish Circle
- Cheltenham Swedish Book Group
- Gloucestershire Swedish Club

There are also six new groups and these are hoping for more people interested in these languages:
- Cheltenham Finnish Enthusiasts
- Cheltenham Greek Enthusiasts
- Cheltenham Polish Enthusiasts
- Cheltenham Portuguese Enthusiasts
- Cheltenham Russian Enthusiasts
- Cheltenham Turkish Enthusiasts

Greek and Portuguese have been added on 31 May due to considerable interest

Some background information

The Cheltenham Language Clubs Network was established in April 2008 to provide a combined resource for language clubs in Cheltenham wishing to promote themselves together, and to provide each of these with a designated online presence within a website for the Network. Additional online facilities will probably be added to the website in due course according to each club’s requirements and wishes.

The name Cheltenham Language Clubs Network reflects the interlinking of language clubs within Cheltenham, and will hopefully soon also make interacting with other foreign language groups both in Britain and abroad easier through forums, online chat and similar.

It is also hoped that improved understanding of international relations and cultural differences, vitally important for successful international business, can be encouraged through this website and the individual language groups forming the Network.

“A study last year by CILT, a government quango overseeing language learning in the UK, found that an estimated £7-£10 billion a year is lost to exports by companies’ inability to understand foreign languages and cultures. An even more devastating study by the Hay Group this year found that 90% of cross-border M&As [mergers and acquisitions] and JVs [joint ventures] between British and overseas countries fail to reach their objectives due to lack of understanding between the parties caused by language and cultural gaps. Interpersonal, intercultural and language skills are the ghosts at the overseas business feast. Most managers ignore them because they don’t understand them and don’t know how to get to grips with them. And, anyway, they all speak English, don’t they? Yet, like Banquo’s ghost in Macbeth, they keep appearing at the table.”
- The Newsletter – HW Fisher & Co., Spring 2008

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