Language lessons in Reading

Known for its rich history that dates back to medieval times, Reading is one of the largest towns in England. With a population of 161,780 estimated residents, people from all over the world have chosen Reading as a place to live, making the local community very diverse. In fact, according to the 2020 census, 17% of the population is foreign-born. Among the different immigrant communities you can find in the city, the biggest ones come from Poland, India and Pakistan. It is hardly surprising, then, that many of the town residents speak a language other than English at home, the most commonly used being Polish, French, Punjabi, Spanish and Russian.  

If you live in a melting pot of cultures like Reading, learning a language is the best thing you can do. Not only will it improve and expand your social life, but it can also advance your career and change the way you see and think about other cultures.  

Where to study foreign languages in Reading

In Reading, there are prestigious universities and institutions where you can study a vast array of languages. The University of Reading, for example, offers 9 different language courses, taught at five different levels, from absolute beginner onwards. The languages you can study are Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Russian, Japanese and Spanish. Each of the classes is taught by experienced teachers who will help you develop the four key language skills in an interactive manner, while also teaching you about different cultures of the countries where your target language is spoken. What’s more, this is a great option for those wanting to get a certification.

There are also many useful resources worth exploring at the eight public library branches in the city. The biggest one is Reading Central Library, located at Abbey Square, where members can get access to Transparent Language, an app where you can learn more than 80 foreign languages, including French, German, Urdu, Hindi, Polish and Arabic.

Language exchange groups in Reading

Reading Language Exchange is a great option if you’re looking to practise your target language and make friends from all over the world at the same time. They meet every Tuesday at 6 pm at a local restaurant called Wetherspoons the Back of Beyond, located at 104-108 King's Rd. The events held by the group are completely free and the best thing is language learners of all levels are welcome.

If you are particularly interested in learning French, The Reading French Language Group organizes events every week where in addition to practising your French language skills you can play French board games, participate in French quiz nights, dance to French music and watch French films. To find out where they meet every week, you have to join their virtual group. To do that, you’ll need to pay the membership fee of £3 per year and answer some of their host’s questions. 

Cultural institutions and events in Reading

In Reading, you can listen to the best music in the world at the oldest popular music festival still in existence, the mythic Reading Festival. Some of the world’s most famous bands have played at the festival across the years, so it comes as no surprise that people from all over the world come to town to enjoy this festival. This year, the Reading Festival will be held in August, at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue in central Reading and its line-up includes impressive bands and singers from across the globe like Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against the Machine, Maneskin and Megan Thee Stallion.

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in French culture, you might want to attend the Bastille Day Fest, which takes place every year on the 14th of July at the Forbury Gardens.  This festival has been celebrated since 2012 when a young Frenchman called Vincent decided he wanted to celebrate Bastille Day in Reading. With a little help from some friends, he ended up creating this fun festival where all the family can enjoy performances from many French performers, taste delicious dishes, and see some of the many French-themed stalls while they don their red, white and blue. 

Language jobs in Reading

Studies have shown that speaking a foreign language can increase your salary by at least 1.5 to 3.8%. This is especially true if you live in an important commercial centre like Reading, where many multinationals in the tech industry like Microsoft, Agilent Technologies and Huawei Technologies are constantly looking for applicants who can speak at least two languages for positions like Technical Support Engineer, Regional Systems Analyst and Account Specialist.

What’s more, because so many languages are spoken at Reading, being multilingual would help you build all kinds of business relationships with members of different communities across town, which can take your career to the next level. 

Get started now!!!

Now that you know all the ways learning a language can improve your experience in Reading, the only thing left to do is start learning! If you’re looking for unique, completely personalised lessons, the best place to study is Listen & Learn. First, if you’re not sure how good your language skills are, you can take one of the free level tests on our website. After that, just send us a quick enquiry and someone from our team will make sure you’re paired up with one of our excellent teachers who will tailor a lesson according to your goals and interests. So what are you waiting for? Stop postponing that language you’ve been wanting to learn for years and get started now!