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Valentine's Day Around Europe

18/2/2018

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For couples across Europe, indeed all around the world, February 14 marked a very special day: a day where many people went to great lengths to show their love for one another.

Once upon a time, women in England would position five bay leaves on their pillows before they went to sleep, one in the centre of the pillow and one on each corner of their pillows. This was rumoured to encourage dreams of their future husbands. Alternatively, they would wet bay leaves with rosewater and place them across their pillows.

Up in Norfolk, Jack Valentine is the Santa Claus of Valentines Day. Children keep an ear out for his arrival, although he is rarely – if ever – seen. He leaves sweets and small gifts at their door.

Whilst couples across the UK may have been exchanging gifts, cards, enjoying a romantic meal for two at a posh restaurant or a night in front of the television with a takeaway and their favourite film, how was this occasion being marked in French- and German-speaking countries?

France has long been seen as one of the most romantic places in the world and it is thought that the very first Valentine’s Day card was sent by by Charles in 1415, whilst imprisoned in the Tower of London,

The French traditionally also took part in the loterie d’amour. Men and women would gather in houses that faced each other across the street. They would call out to one another, with a view to pairing off.

If a man was not happy with the woman with whom they had been matched, they could leave them and find another to take their pace. All those women left without a partner by the end of this ritual would get together for a bonfire afterwards, upon which they would burn pictures of the men who had left them and shout insults at members of the opposite sex.

This is one tradition that no longer exists, as the French government banned it after it grew beyond their control.

Valentine’s Day didn’t really take hold in Germany until the 1950s, with the first Valentine’s Ball taking place in Nuremberg in 1950. Even now, however, many Germans see Valentine’s Day as a commercial invention dreamed up by the flower industry.

Valentine’s Day has not really gained in popularity in Germany over the years, although couples may give flowers, chocolates or even lingerie. They may go out for dinner at a restaurant or enjoy a meal at home with their partner.

It would appear that the most romantic of all Germans are the Bavarians – 54% of all Bavarians celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Meanwhile, in Austria, tradition prevails, with Austrian women expecting flowers and chocolates and, where possible, a romantic dinner into the bargain. Austrian men are less inclined to flirt and may even give off confusing signals as a result. Austrians may even enjoy some time in a spa as part of their Valentine’s Day celebrations.

What did you do to celebrate Valentine’s Day? What form would your perfect Valentine’s Day celebration take?

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The Last Night Of 2017....

31/12/2017

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Looking back over the past year, it has been an exciting one for me here at Indigo Languages, with regular requests for the completion of small proofreading and translation assignments, with very complimentary feedback from customers who have returned on more than one occasion.

I believe I may have promised faithfully, at the beginning of the year, to update my blog much more regularly than I have done in previous years. Looking back over the past year, this does not appear to have transpired in the way that I would have hoped!  In 2018, I shall endeavour to post more regular updates on the goings-on here at Indigo HQ...

Don't forget you can join in the fun by finding us on both Twitter and Facebook. We've had some lively discussions over the past twelve months and it's always interesting to hear what everyone has to say!

This Christmas has been a particularly busy period. I cooked Christmas Dinner for five people on Boxing Day, which appeared to go down well.

And that made me wonder, just what form the traditional Christmas Dinner takes in other countries around Europe and further afield. I found this article in the Independent, where everything sounded so delicious and I would definitely give them a try. But am I the only one amongst us who would find it hard to break with the Christmas traditions with which I grew up and try something new?

As we hurtle rapidly towards the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, I know that many people around Europe will be indulging in the annual tv event that is Dinner for One - I remember my German friends sending it to me on a VHS video tape, many moons ago, and wondering why, as a short film in English, this has been enjoyed by so many people around Europe whilst still being largely unknown here in the United Kingdom!

Have you seen it before? Does it form part of your festive traditions? How do you spend New Year's Eve?

Whatever you do, I wish you a very Happy New Year and look forward to working with many more of you in 2018!

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The Importance Of Learning A Foreign Language

26/8/2017

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I haven't always worked in an environment where knowledge of a foreign language is crucial, but I have long recognised the value and importance of being interested in foreign languages and of trying to learn them.

So when I read this article in the Guardian newspaper yesterday, I was horrified to think that anyone could be advocating not learning a foreign language in the school classroom and felt compelled to put together my thoughts on the subject.

The Benefits Of Learning a Foreign Language

Whilst the author of this article may be of the mistaken belief that there is little point to learning a foreign language, I would dare to disagree quite fiercely with his viewpoint. As a pupil in the secondary school classroom, I loved my time spent learning foreign languages - beginning first with French, then German and, a few years later, Italian.

I thrived on the task of putting together complex sentences in the classroom in a foreign language and making them say exactly what I intended them to say. I loved the opportunity to travel to foreign towns and cities with my school and take in the local sights and culture and sample the local food and, in particular, to be able to practise conversing with local people in their own language.

Just as we appreciate when foreigners come to the United Kingdom and try to speak with us in English, I imagine that they must value our efforts to master their language when visiting their country. I think that this is an important step in maintaining good relations with other countries.

And, as this article illustrates, there are a great many other benefits to learning languages, particularly if one starts to learn them at a very early age.

Increasing Constraints On The School Timetable

I am naturally always going to advocate the inclusion of foreign languages in the school timetable. However, I do respect that not everyone wishes to pursue a career where it is necessary to possess knowledge of a foreign language and that, for these people, their interest in foreign languages is purely for pleasure.

Some youngsters are already certain, when they make their GCSE choices in preparation for the start of Year 9, exactly what they want to do with the rest of their life, both educationally and professionally whilst others may still be unsure as they enter their last few days of the Sixth Form.

And, as the Government continues to recommend more and more subjects that must be covered within the curriculum, some may argue that what they see as more practical topics should take precedence over the teaching of foreign languages.

Naturally, of course, I'm not about to rush to advocate anything of the sort, however with so many subjects to incorporate into the school week and the need to be seen to be offering a broad education to pupils, I wonder whether it would be beneficial to introduce a kind of 'stranded' education system?

What Do I Mean By 'Stranded'?

There may be another, more appropriate word to use to describe what I am thinking of here, but I believe that, in some countries around Europe, there is the option for students to pursue an education which is mainly focused on sciences, or one that is predominantly arts-based. Perhaps there may even exist a similar option for foreign languages.

Here within the education system in the United Kingdom, I find myself wondering whether, alongside the 'full' GCSE in each subject, we could offer at GCSE level the option to take a combined humanities GCSE (incorporating aspects of history, practical geography - such as map reading skills - and religious education) or a combined arts GCSE (covering core aspects of music, drama and art) or a combined languages GCSE (offering basic yet practical language classes in one, two, maybe even three different languages across the two years to enable young people to communicate with their peers across Europe).

That way, youngsters who know that they want to pursue a career in the science industry could, for example, choose to take more sciences as their main subjects and, alongside them, a combined GCSE in foreign languages and/or the arts to give them a basic yet practical knowledge of these subject areas.

Similarly, someone who might be more inclined to choose foreign languages as their main focus, but who recognises the importance of having a basic knowledge of certain scientific concepts which may prove useful in their daily life, could choose to take extra languages at GCSE whilst continuing to study practical aspects of all sciences in a single combined science GCSE and a little drama, art and music, all of which enhance creativity and build confidence, in a single combined arts GCSE.

Breaking Down Barriers

For me, one of the greatest benefits of learning a foreign language is the doors that it opens up - on a professional level, obviously, but also on a personal one.

In a political climate where we seem intent on closing ourselves off from the rest of the world, the ability to converse with someone in their own language and to forge positive relations with foreigners by continuing to show an interest in their language, their culture and their people is incredibly important.

So whilst the Guardian columnist may be of the opinion that there is little need to learn a foreign language, I personally believe that language learning should continue for as long, and as often, as possible.

A New Day, A New Language?

I've often considered trying to learn some Spanish. I may have said this before but the only sentence I can reliably recall in Spanish is "Have you seen my space ship?" - which, whilst it may raise a giggle among friends, is, perhaps, not the most useful of Spanish phrases to be able to say. So I really must address this at some point soon!

If you found the time to sit down and pick up a new language, which language would you choose?
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Out and About at Sussex Prairie Gardens, 13.08.2017

19/8/2017

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The news and media have been dominated by conversations about Brexit and the possible implications for British people at home and abroad as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union.

On many an occasion, I have contemplated drafting a blog post of my own on the subject but, on each occasion, I preferred to refrain. I didn't much like the idea of commenting on my website on such a hotly debated topic, although I am sure that it would generate a lively discussion.

I prefer, instead, to contemplate the many positives of living in a society that has been vastly enriched by the influence of foreign cultures in ways that are in evidence all around us - in the fabrics we wear, the food that we eat, the films that we watch, the music that we listen to... almost without us realising it, foreign languages and cultures have an impact on a large part of our daily life!

I think it's been fantastic to see the success of foreign language hits like "Despacito" in the UK music charts and equally lovely to watch tennis star Henri Leconte adding a little French flair to the current series of Celebrity Masterchef.

But what I love even more is to walk into a beautiful venue like Sussex Prairie Garden and be greeted, on entering the Gardens, by a sign that welcomes visitors in a wide variety of languages - many of which I couldn't identify.

It's little things like this that make me smile. I'm determined not to incite discussions on my website about the advantages and disadvantages of Brexit - but I love being out and about and stumbling across signs like this in foreign languages, signs that integrate a little of the beauty of a foreign language, a foreign culture into our own.

How many such signs have you come across on your travels? What's the best one you have seen?
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2017: The First Four Months

7/5/2017

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A Belated Happy Easter To You All!

I trust that you all had a wonderful Easter and that you still have some of your Easter chocolate left over! (As I write, I'm munching on an Easter egg I happened to find in my cupboard. I tend to keep my chocolate in the fridge, so the eggs currently residing in my cupboard are ones that possibly slip my mind until I go to fetch something from the cupboard for dinner!)
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In much the same way as I have done every year since I can remember, I spent some of Good Friday taking part in the local Lions Club Swimarathon to raise money that would ultimately be split equally between the Lions Club's own chosen good causes, Chailey Heritage Foundation's DRM Project and the Seahorses Swimming Club, members of which I was supporting in the water. We swam in relay for 55 minutes to raise as much money as we could for these two worthy causes and I was so proud of our wonderful swimmers. I would love you to get behind us and show your support by sponsoring our two amazing teams. We had a great time - and I, for one, was still aching the following morning!
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Indigo Languages: The Year So Far

It seems utterly ludicrous that we are approaching the second week in May already - how did that happen? Where did all that time go? And what have I been up to here at Indigo Languages since my last blog entry?

Proofreading

Since January I have been blissfully busy working on a number of smaller proofreading projects for clients.

In a recent meeting with Susan Ball, I learned that there could be a third book in her Universal Life Lessons series in the pipeline.

I look forward enormously to finding out what lies on the pages of this latest offering and to proofreading the book in the near future.

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Learning New Languages

I'm also painfully aware that I have yet to explore the two glorious language learning tools I have at my disposal, a CD rom to teach me Dothraki, of Game of Thrones fame, and Kloo's game for learning Spanish. I can't wait to try these out, although I must confess at this point that I have not once seen an episode of "Game of Thrones" (is that bad?!) - perhaps venturing into the linguistic world of Dothraki will inspire me to watch the show!?
What's more, after a recent (and amazing!) stay at the IceHotel in Sweden, I returned with an inclination to try to learn Swedish.

My cousin is married to a lovely Swedish woman (who is, naturally, highly proficient in English) and they have children who are growing up in a bilingual environment. And so I think it would be nice, when next we meet, to be able to hold a short conversation with them in Swedish!

I will be sure to let you know, in the coming weeks and months, how these language related antics are progressing!

What about you? Did you make a New Year's resolution to begin learning a new language? What language did you choose to learn (and why)? And how is it going?

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Why not let us know about your own language endeavours in the comments below?
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New Year's Resolutions!

15/1/2017

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New Year's Resolutions!

When the last New Year came around, I was terribly determined to spend more time on updating this blog more regularly. Unfortunately, whilst we, as humans, often have the best intentions, sometimes  life has a funny way of throwing other ideas into the mix.

Last year was a busy one for Indigo Languages, where I was asked toproofread a number of shorter documents as well as the highly impressive second offering from Susan Ball at Universal Life Lessons.

I also offered tutoring and study support sessions to a number of students at GCSE level as well as preparing a short translation from English into French for a client and translating elements of a website from German into English to enable a client to consider the products on offer and to place their order.

In 2017, I envisage refining the services offered here at Indigo Languages to a more focussed combination of proofreading, translation and homework support. 

Whilst I have enjoyed tutoring over the past couple of years and have met some lovely, highly dedicated and motivated students, I know that my true passion for languages lies within the realms of manipulating them to find the best way to convey meaning.

With this in mind, I will continue to focus my attention in 2017 upon growing the proofreading and translation aspects of my business, which I was pleased to see grew steadily throughout 2016. I will also continue to offer my highly popular homework checking services.

As we make our way through 2017, I look forward to growing Indigo Languages even further, and to assisting you with all of your proofreading and translation needs.

Wishing you all a belated Happy New Year!

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Back with the Blog!

2/10/2016

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Catching Up On Correspondence!
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I must confess - and apologise! - for the fact that it has been such a very long time since I last posted a blog entry. In the last twelve months I have mainly been busy getting to grips with my full-time role within a great company in the aviation industry, as well as carrying out a variety of translation and proofreading tasks alongside this.

I have translated a number of important documents over the past twelve months, including letters in French and an assortment of assignments in German. 

I have also had the pleasure of proofreading the second book in the Universal Life Lessons series, "Universal Life Lessons: Gift of your Greatness" before its publication on International Day of Peace 2016.

A Slight Change In Direction

In the past year, as well as proofreading and translation, I have also supported a number of pupils as they prepare for their GCSEs but from this point forward I have decided to focus my attention predominantly on proofreading and translation.

I will continue to offer the homework checking service for those pupils who need some assistance with short homework assignments but for now I am looking to concentrate on both proofreading and translation.

As always, should you have an article that you would like to have proofread or translated, please contact me through this website to discuss your requirements.

I look forward to hearing from you.
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International Translation Day - 30.09.2015

1/10/2015

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Hot on the heels of the European Day of Languages, yesterday saw another important annual event in the diary of any linguist: International Translation Day.

​Translating Through The Years

Translation can be a very rewarding profession, and one that is ever-changing.  Once upon a time, a translator’s resources would have been limited to a huge number of big, bulky dictionaries that they may have needed to transport from one venue to another in the course of their working day. These days, we have access not only to a wealth of exciting material online but also to discussion groups and other forums that are designed to allow us to consult with other professionals.  It’s an exciting time to be a translator!

Clients, whether professional or personal, also benefit greatly from these developments.  Technology has helped to simplify the translation process – just a few clicks and a client’s document lands in the inbox of their chosen translator, who could be living half way around the world in a completely different time zone, and can be back with them again in a flash.

​And if someone has received a short letter or email from a penfriend that is written in a foreign language, and they want to have a general idea what it’s about, the simplest of online translation websites can be a breath of fresh air.  It may not be able to handle the same level of complexity as a human being, but a simple ‘copy and paste’ into the box on the screen and that person’s letter suddenly begins to make sense!

The Role Of The Translator

​But while so much has changed in the world of translation, there is a lot that remains the same. A translator’s goal has always been, and always will be, to enable people to understand what has been written and here, at least, nothing has changed. Translators continue to strive to produce work of the highest quality, ensuring that the piece they produce fits the brief provided by their client, whose duty it remains to inform the translator of their brief with as much detail and accuracy as possible. 

The Concept Of Translation In Science Fiction

If we look back over the last ten, twenty, even thirty years, the concept of understanding a foreign language and the idea of bridging gaps in understanding between different species of alien has been explored to great lengths.

Several science fiction series and films have granted their characters a special gift in the form of a universal translator that enables them to understand many languages spoken by the aliens with whom they come into contact. In Farscape, there was the translator microbe, while Doctor Who’s TARDIS is also kitted out with a universal translator that allows the Doctor and his companion to understand and communicate the many alien languages they encounter. Star Trek is another show in which characters benefit from universal translators.

What Other Devices Are Used?

​In the Star Wars series, in which the characters often continue to speak in their own language, subtitles are used selectively. If an element of a particular story line hinges on characters being unable to understand something that R2D2 has said, then such an exchange may not be subtitled. On the other hand, if a story line involves one character giving an important speech about avoiding death at the hand of baddies, you’ll find this speech will have subtitles. 

The Use of Real Languages In Fictional Series

What is even more interesting about Star Wars and their approach to incorporating ‘alien’ languages is that, unlike the Na’vi language of Avatar fame, the ‘alien’ languages spoken were, in fact, real languages, perhaps lesser known languages that you would find spoken somewhere on our planet.

The Pitfalls Of The Electronic Translation Device

Whilst there are, of course, distinct advantages to having a device, in whatever shape or form that it might take, that translates everything you hear around you into a language that you can understand, personally I feel that such devices take some of the magic and appeal out of learning a foreign language.

Some may also lack the level of accuracy to which we have become accustomed when delegating a piece of translation to a trusted translator.

The End Of Language Learning As We Know It?

With all these whizz-bang electronic translation devices emerging and at our disposal, do you worry, as I sometimes do, that we will we lose the incentive, the motivation to try to learn foreign languages for ourselves? That, with the development of so many different means by which to understand words written and spoken in a foreign language without having to first learn the language from scratch, we will become a generation of people that simply bring the visions to life that were once captured in science fiction film and series of years gone by?

If someone offered you the chance to be implanted with a universal translator of some kind, would you take it?
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European Day of Languages - 26 September 2015

26/9/2015

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​​One of the most important days in any linguist’s calendar must be the European Day of Languages. Held every year since 2001, this is a day on which the Council of Europe strives to encourage its 800 million citizens to learn a new language, whether they are young or old, in school or in work.

​The Council believes that this is central to promoting intercultural understanding. It is also vital to the cultural heritage of Europe as a continent. As reported in an article in The Guardian last year, there are 23 officially recognised languages within the European Union. Alongside these, there are more than 60 indigenous/minority languages and a handful of others spoken by smaller groups of migrants.

How Have Children Been Marking The Occasion?

I have been finding out how some children have spent the day from some of my young friends. One of them told me how the children at her school had marked the occasion. 

Rosie told me how the Year 3 pupils spent time learning about countries in addition to France in which French is spoken, including Madagascar and Canada. In Year 4, children were learning about countries like Peru and Chile, where French is spoken. 

She went on to explain that Year 5 and 6 learnt some French songs and had fun cooking some foreign dishes. Meanwhile, in Year 7, pupils continued with their normal lessons but with a Spanish and French twist, learning about Christopher Columbus in their history classes and Louis Pasteur in French lessons. They also learnt to play Pétanque. Year 7 and 8 pupils painted Picasso faces in art. In Year 8 the children learnt a Spanish poem about a guitar and they also had fun cooking foreign delicacies!

As Similar As They Are Different?

​​One of the things that I love about foreign languages is their uniqueness. Some share a certain quality or qualities, yet each foreign language remains distinctive. Many of you reading this post will have undoubtedly already come across the video in which characters say a series of foreign words.
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Whilst their pronunciation is exaggerated and inevitably spiced with more than a hint of over-emphasis, the words chosen demonstrate in some small way that some languages do, indeed, sound similar to others, whilst others may stand out a little more for their unique sounds.​
If, like me, you’re a keen linguist and love exploring and finding out more about foreign cultures, you will love the advantages that learning a foreign language brings.
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Think how many different European, even world languages you know. How many of them can you speak? How much do you know about the countries in which these languages are spoken? Learning new languages and about different world cultures can open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at the world!

Another Year, Another Language...

​For Christmas, I was given a rather wicked present: this audio CD to teach me Dothraki, the language of “Game of Thrones.” It's been a busy year for me so far but, since today is the European Day of Languages, this seems to be the perfect time for me to take up learning a new language! 
​If you would prefer to learn a European language, rather than one taken from a television series, maybe Kloo Language Games can help. I'm sure they would be only too happy to advise you on their range of bright, exciting games designed to help you and your family to learn French, Spanish or Italian in a fun and inventive way! ​
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My Challenge to You!

They were kind enough to send me this great game to try out with some of my young friends - I can't wait to have a go!

I’ll be posting about my progress with learning both Spanish and Dothraki in the coming months so keep an eye on the blog!

While I’m deeply engrossed in beginning to learn these two exciting languages, I’m challenging all of you to try learning a new language too.

The important question, of course, is:


Which language will you choose?

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A Linguist Is For Life, Not Just For Term-Time!

19/8/2015

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Busy Is As Busy Does...

It's been a crazy few months here at Indigo Languages - but I have a few moments to stop, sit down, catch my breath and update you all.

Term time has ended for now so my pupils have the whole of the summer holidays to relax before lessons start back up again in September. But while my pupils have been enjoying a break, I have spent time focusing on some proofreading tasks.


The beauty of proofreading is that I receive requests not just from local clients but also from those that live further afield - I have assisted a number of clients in both Germany and America in the past twelve months.

And, just recently, I received an email from Australia!

"My Brilliant Blue Bohemian Butterfly"

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Four months ago, a young woman passed away. She had a chromosome abnormality that gave medical professionals reason to believe her life expectancy would be significantly reduced. They did not think she would reach adulthood. 

Anna, meanwhile, had other ideas. She defied all the odds, growing into an amazing young woman. Anna passed away at 29 years of age.

Her mother, Susan, was so inspired by her daughter's sheer and total determination that she penned this insightful account of Anna's life, infused with a splash of humour and many useful resources.  


Susan hopes that, by writing this book, she will pass on invaluable life lessons that she herself learned from her daughter.

Universal Life Lessons

You can find out more about Susan's Universal Life Lessons From My Brilliant Blue Bohemian Butterfly - and even order the book! - here. 

I absolutely loved and relished the opportunity to proofread this extra special book. As someone who works with youngsters with special needs alongside language interests, I could identify with many of the sentiments expressed in the book.

The Indigo Languages Proofreading Experience

I'm always ready and happy to proofread any assignment, whether it be a single paragraph or a hundred pages long! I work thoroughly, carefully and with exceptional accuracy on all the proofreading tasks that I undertake.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me to find out more about the service I offer and how I can help you, whether you are putting together promotional material for your business or an article about one of your interests to be featured in a local or national magazine!


You can email me at sally@indigolanguages.co.uk or, alternatively, please use the Contact Form!

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    About Me:

    I split my working week between a full time job within the aviation industry, individuals with special needs & languages (specifically French and German).

    I love to make time to travel the world - sometimes Europe and sometimes beyond! 

    Current TV viewing favourites include: Sherlock, Bones, The Big Bang Theory, 
    Doctor Who and NCIS.

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