Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, said in an interview that one of his biggest regrets is speaking only English. According to Entrepreneur, the Top 6 Languages Global Minded CEOs Should Know
 are

1. Spanish
2. Portuguese
3. Chinese Mandarin
4. Russian
5. Arabic
6. Russian

Also frequently mentioned in our increasing globalized economy are Hindi and Persian.  Interedsted in learning one of these?  Check out our web site for more information.

So you've heard about the water problems plaguing Rio, as they prepare to host the Summer Olympics in 2016.  In many of Brazil's urban areas, sewage is not collected or treated, as it is in the U.S.  In Rio, much of the waste runs through open-air ditches to streams and rivers that feed the Olympic water sites.  This poses a serious health risk for the athletes.  In the U.S., such areas would be shut down immediately.

If you were thinking about traveling to Rio, whether for the Olympics, vacation,or work, would this keep you from attending? 

What Class Will You Take This Fall?

Our schedule of fall classes is out!  Click here to link to the Fall 2015 Catalog of Courses. World Language classes begin on page 84.  Or go to the CCBC homepage and enter the language you are looking for in the query box.   We offer three different levels of classes: Getting Started, Basic, and Intermediate/Advanced.  From Arabic to Urdu, we have a class for you. Check out the schedule, and get started!

To register, click here .

It's Bastille Day!

Bastille Day is the French National Holiday, and celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution.  This day commemorates the storming of the Bastille, a medieval fortress that came to be used as a prison.  The prison was a symbol of the harsh rule and absolute power of Louis the 16^th.  By capturing the prison on July 14, 1789, the people signaled that the king’s power was no longer absolute, and the first Republic Was created in 1792.

Bastille Day is a huge celebration, with parades, dances, fireworks, and family gatherings.

Want to learn French, or continue your studies?  We offer classes at all levels, from beginning to advanced.  Check out our class options here .

image from schaefers.com

Out and About...

CCBC sponsored a float in Catonsville's 4th of July parade.  Helping out was Thu Schaeffer, our lead World Languages instructor, and her grandchildren.

And here is the group shot!

What are the World's Most Common Languages?

Here are the top 10 most common languages, based on number of native speakers ( list from Accredited Language Services):

1. Mandarin
2. Spanish
3. English
4. Hindi/Urdu
5. Arabic
6. Portuguese
7. Bengali
8. Russian
9. Japanese
10. Punjabi

CCBC Life Enrichment offers classes in 8 out of 10 of these languages. For more information, visit our web site.  To register, click here.

Women's World Cup 2015

The Women's World Cup has begun!  The youngest player?  18. The oldest player?  39.  Number of teams participating? 24.  How many world languages do we offer that would enable you to watch a team's game in the native language, and understand what was being said?  11

Register now for classes beginning this week!
Click here to register!