June 25, 2025

You look good!

I hope you’re well. It’s been a while since I wrote something here! A few months ago, we needed to find space for the language school’s page, so we used my personal page for our last term’s language courses.

Now the language school’s page has its own space (please see how wonderful the autumn language courses look!) and now I can re-start blogging here again. It feels good to be back!

Today, I’d like to say a few words about new mums. Since recently welcoming a new pair of little feet to our family, I have become one of them (again!). When walking with my little miracle or meeting friends, many people have complimented me with the phrase ‘You look good!’, sometimes with a surprised tone: Hey, a new mum can look beautiful. Those complements reminded me how important it is to take care of myself, even when it’s not always possible (!). Whenever possible I try to treat myself with self-respect and pay attention to my daily routine and rituals to make sure I prepare and eat heart-warming meals, have time to rest, read a good book (a very good companion when breastfeeding!), go to bed early (even just to quietly meditate or read a book), listen to music I like, and move my body (for now it’s walking and doing a happy dance). Today, I’m raising my glass of water to all new mums for your well-being and beauty. Cheers to long milky days!

To all my readers, I hope to write another post soon. Meanwhile, I’d like to wish you a wonderful summer.

Thank you for being my reader.

February 13, 2025

Autumn timetable at Bristol Language School is ready

Our autumn timetable is ready! Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language courses or see our current offer below:

AUTUMN LANGUAGE TERM 2025

Arabic 

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 3 Course: Course programme

Elementary Level 5 Course: Course programme

Intermediate Level 8 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Chinese (Mandarin)

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 3 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

French

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 2 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

German

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 3 Course: Course programme

Elementary Level 1 Course: Course programme

Elementary Level 4 Course: Course programme

Intermediate Level 2 Course: Course programme

Intermediate Level 3 Course: Course programme

Upper-Intermediate Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Italian

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Japanese 

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Polish

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 3 Course: Course programme

Elementary Level 6 Course: Course programme

Intermediate Level 7 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Portuguese

UP! Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 3 Course: Course programme

Intermediate Level 4 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Russian

Boost Course: Course programme

UP! Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Elementary Level 1 Course: Course programme

Intermediate Level 1 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Spanish

Beginner Level 1 Course: Course programme

Beginner Level 2 Course: Course programme

Elementary Level 1 Course: Course programme

Please click the link to enrol on our autumn language course.

By booking our language course, you agree with our T&C.

Please get in touch if you need your level assessed or you need more information about our language courses: office@bls-courses.co.uk & +44 (0)7938038875.

If you’re interested in individual tuition (general, business or exam preparation), please follow the link.

Thank you for learning languages with Bristol Language School.

BLS Team

December 11, 2024

Book review: Breath by James Nestor

“If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe better.” Andrew Weil

As we’re approaching the end of 2024, I think I’m brave to say that if there is one book you read in 2025, let it be Breath by James Nestor. For your health, well-being and overall sanity. Yes, I’m serious. I read it a few months ago, but waited for the right (aka free!) moment to put together this short review, as I wanted to recommend this book to you. I found this publication fascinating: from knowledge of the past, interesting experiments, scientific facts to practical advice. While reading the book I was becoming more and more aware of my own breath, and I slowly started re-discovering the beauty of breathing. To introduce any changes into my breathing practice sounded so simple, but in reality, it was and still is much more challenging. I’m not going to share more details about this book, as I don’t want to spoil the pleasure of reading it yourself, and discovering the story behind our own breath.

As I’m publishing my words in December, I’m taking this opportunity to wish you a wonderful and calm Christmas, and a most prosperous New Year, 2025! Thank you for reading my blog and let’s meet here in 2025!

With love, Kinga

November 20, 2024

Travelling corner: Returning to Exmoor (Autumn 2024)

I last wrote here in July and it feels exciting to be back with a travel story after a while. We first visited Exmoor 10 years ago in early autumn, then we returned to this region five years ago and that was in winter. This year, we went back in the autumn. The weather was nice: some sunshine, mostly cloudy (but it didn’t rain!).

Slowing down

We didn’t plan much for our stay in Exmoor. I think it can be difficult to slow down when travelling or on holiday, and I try to do my best to actually relax. To be able to enjoy my morning (barley!) coffee without any rush, chatting about everything with my family or reading for pleasure. Exmoor is surrounded by beautiful nature, hills, sea and ancient forests, so even having a walk is a treat in itself.

Walking

Walking in Exmoor is a different level of experiencing nature. When we went in the autumn, we felt the smells of the mushrooms and damp soil, the colours were beautiful and falling leaves made the walking experience more magical.

Minehead

We enjoyed starting our time in Exmoor by climbing the North Hill which begins in Minehead. We didn’t manage to reach the peak this year, but walking was fulfilling our need to just be in nature. While in Exmoor, we also went to visit the tiny museum in Minehead; it’s opposite the steam train station (oh yes, you can go on a stream train ride from Minehead!). I enjoyed reading about Punch and Judy, who were local marionettes giving shows in Minehead – it’s a shame that this puppetry tradition belongs to the past now. We also visited our favourite place, The Toucan Café, which serves delicious dark hot chocolate (of course, it needs to be dark!).

What are your memories from visiting Exmoor? Please let me know in the comments below.

July 3, 2024

Travelling Corner: Camping Postcard (Summer 2024)

I’m sending you this virtual postcard from our camping trip we went on a month ago. We’re already back, but I wanted to send you some greetings from the sea just as summer has begun. I’m planning to take some time off blogging to complete other projects and spend some idyllic time with my family and friends. I started reading some very interesting books, so I just can’t wait to share their reviews here (see my recent book reviews on the school’s blog). Wishing you a lovely summer, full of sunshine and nature.

See you in September!

What are your summer plans? Please let me know in the comments below.

May 22, 2024

Book Recommendations. Summer 2024 Edition.

Since being less present online, I have started reading more. I have collected a list of my favourite books over the last few months and here are my recommendations for summer 2024. You’re welcome to add them to your summer reading list 😉

It’s Going to Hurt by Adam Kay

It’s as funny as it is terrifying and sad. It’s written in the form of a diary by a doctor journaling his path as a junior up to the more senior positions. It has some interesting medical terms (for those loving words, me!), but overall the stories flow nicely and the language is approachable. It’s interesting to get to know some ins and outs and bests and worsts of being a medical doctor.

Lady’s Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin

The perfect summer read. Light, funny, gossipy and elegant. I couldn’t put the book down, was too curious to close it without turning a page to read just a bit more. I’ll need to read other books by Sophie Irwin.

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady By Edith Holden

My copy (from the library) has drawings and hand-written journal entries. It’s a year-long journal with beautiful illustrations of trees, flowers, birds and insects. Each month has a short etymological explanation, days to note and month’s mottos, poems and the author’s nature diary. The richest months are in summer, so I recommend reading it now and getting some inspiration for long walks in nature.

What’s on your summer reading list this year? Please let me know in the comments below.

April 17, 2024

Travelling corner: Exploring South Pembrokeshire (Wales, UK)

I like returning to South Pembrokeshire in Wales. It has some therapeutic effect on my body and mind. Our favourite beaches and spots we enjoy visiting are all there. Last summer, we wanted to explore this region even more and I’d like to share some of our travel stories with you today. Perhaps you can use them as an inspiration for the coming warmer weather.

Bosherston Lily Ponds

I wanted to go for a walk around the Bosherston Lakes for a while, but somehow I thought it’s a long walk and might be too strenuous for my kids’ little feet to complete. I was surprised that the walk actually takes only about 30 minutes one way! It’s an easy path along the lily ponds with a beautiful destination point: Broad Haven South Beach. There is a NT car park in the village of Bosherston.

Carew Castle

We like visiting castles in summer and last year we chose Carew Castle. To be honest with you, I was positively surprised by this visit. The castle is nicely restored, with a café, small playground and toilets at the entrance. In the castle itself, there are many rooms to visit, towers to climb, and you can even try your archery skills. On top of that, the castle hosts events and last summer we attended a fairy event, which my girls enjoyed a lot. We also went for a walk to the tidal mill where we visited a well-equipped museum with a little play area for children with an authentic quern and seeds to make flour.

Caldey Island

What a paradise island to visit. We parked our car in Tenby, walked to the harbour and sailed in a little boat to Caldey Island. It is an island of monks, wild nature, interesting architecture and locally-made chocolate. Just walking around the island feels so surreal and magically beautiful, and these impressions come from both nature and the surrounding buildings. To end our island stay, we went to the beach to enjoy the shallow seashore and lagoon waters. Even though there were many people in the sea, we spotted a seal swimming nearby.

Do you have a favourite travel destination you enjoy returning to? Please let me know in the comments below.

March 20, 2024

Book review: Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

I saw this book recommended on one of the parenting channels and for some reason, I felt it was going to be an interesting read. I wasn’t disappointed. In a way, it presents a sad picture, because it shows that something as natural as being a parent has become a struggle. These days, I have a feeling that many parents could relate to the author’s parenting struggles and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness. When reading Doucleff’s publication, I went back to my favourite books which I read years ago, e.g. to Jean Liedloff and The Continuum Concept. In the first chapter of The Continuum Concept, we read about the author’s reaction and how she felt shame by the fact that in the US, women feel inadequate bringing up their children, unless they read a book written by a strange male. [p. 14] The second book I went back to was Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish​​. In this publication, we find so many examples where adult parents still feel so much pain because of their own childhood and how they were raised.

Now, let’s go back to Hunt, Gather, Parent. Why had this book been written? As you can guess, because of the mother’s struggles and her difficult life where her beloved little daughter became her enemy. The author was so desperate to find a solution to her own parenting struggles that she decided to embark upon a mission to find the answer. She visited some hunter-gatherer cultures where parents build a relationship with their children based on cooperation, trust and personalised needs. [p. 7] She visited a Maya village in Mexico, an Inuit village of Kugaaruk in Canada and a Hadzabe village in Tanzania. With each visit, she made some inspiring observations which changed the way she parented herself. In the Maya community, she found the most flexible and cooperative children; in the Inuit community, it was the emotional intelligence of the parents and grandparents and finally; in the Hadzabe community, it was the autonomy and courage of the children.

The book also contains some wise words from members of the community. We read that:

“In Maya culture, there’s a belief that everybody has a purpose (…)” [p. 76]

“When you yell at children, they stop listening.” [p. 145]

“With the !Kung hunter-gatherers in southern Africa, the word for ‘learning’ and ‘teaching’ is the same (n!garo), and parents will often use the phrase ‘She’s teaching/learning herself’ while a child is trying to figure out how to do something. Why interrupt their learning?” [p. 252]

For me, one of the most beautiful stories was the peaceful birth story of the Inuit mum. I also enjoyed learning about a special word for a kiss for the Inuit children called a kunik; this is when you put your nose against the child’s cheek and sniff their skin. [p. 145] However, the element that I didn’t like or understand much was about parenting through scary stories (I need to research this more!).

The book definitely made me think about my own parenting style and the parenting styles present in Western culture. Have you read this book or a similar one? Please let me know in the comments below.

February 21, 2024

Goodbye 2023 and hello 2024

Hello for 2024. It’s my first post of the New Year. I hope it’s been a good year for you so far.

Before writing this post, I went through my last year’s reflections and plans. It’s interesting to see what was important to me then.

So first let’s see what 2023 was like. It was a bit more of a challenging year for me. I think it required more of my energy to navigate our home, home-education, children-raising and my business. But, we did it. It was also a year of beautiful trips, theatre, family and friends’ visits, amazing nature walks, family bike trips and wild swims. I also started being less online on social media and noticed how liberating it was. Even though I wasn’t a frequent social media user, it still played a role in my daily life. Now, I try to visit once or twice a week and try to make the time I spend more focused and short. Why was this important for me? Because this gave me some mental freedom and instead my curiosity and appetite for other interests grew. I started cooking and reading more. I’m happy I chose this path, even though I still see a part of social media as being educational and inspirational, but with my limited presence there, it’s enough for me.

So what are my plans for 2024? I definitely want to continue being less on social media. I plan to write on my blog regularly: books, home-education, sustainable travels and bilingualism. I’d also like to have monthly dates with myself, my husband and all my children (individually!). It’s important to me to have this one-to-one time: to enjoy those special moments in each other’s company. I want to continue reading and listening to podcasts in three languages and during this year I’d like to add a 4th language. Finally, I want to find joy and comfort in my simple daily life.

These are my reflections on 2023 and visions for 2024. Have you made plans / visions / dreams for the New Year? Please let me know in the comments below.

December 13, 2023

Book review: Don’t Worry by Shunmyō Masuno

If not now, when? [p. 73]

If you remember my book review of Zen: The Art of Simple Living, I mentioned in it that this book was my bedtime story. The same actually happened with another publication by Masuno. Don’t Worry was also my bedtime read, as it made me calm and positive before falling asleep. 

The book is divided into 5 parts with 48 short chapters and is beautifully illustrated. Each chapter can be treated as a little prompter to meditate and reflect on some important life matters, e.g. about being gracious, cherishing the morning, going with the flow, making good connections and being a good listener, as well as more practical / fundamental topics like money, aging, illness and death.  

Here are some of my favourite words of wisdom:

“It’s okay to feel down, but get yourself up again soon” [p. 55]

 “Words possess awesome power” [p. 97]

“Your turn will surely come around” [p. 100]

 “You be you, and let others be themselves” [p. 114]

“The more you’re able to forgive, the happier you’ll be” [p. 180]

I’m taking this opportunity to wish you a wonderful and calm Christmas and a most prosperous New Year of 2024! Thank you for reading my blog and let’s meet back in January!