Is your English ready to take you around the world? English is the lingua franca of the world and opens doors to those who speak it. This week, we continue our globe-trotting with a visit to the south-east of France (but of course if you land here, outside the tourist areas you’ll need to brush up on your French!)

The south-east of France, characterised by hot and sunny Mediterranean weather, pristine sea waters, evergreen olive groves and picturesque lavender fields, is one of the most beautiful regions of France.

July and August are excellent months to visit the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region. During pre-pandemic times, it is one of the busiest times of the year as the weather is beach perfect, lavender fields are blooming and the festival season is in full swing.

From Marseilles to Toulon to Nice, the French Riviera or Cote d’Azur along the Mediterranean Sea is lined with stunning sandy beaches and charming towns that will make you want to stay forever. As its name implies, the waters of the beautiful coastline are the colour of azure and is perfect for swimming, yachting, or simply lounging on the white sand.

Near-endless fields of lavender dominate the hilly landscape of Grasse – a quiet, pretty medieval village located between Cannes and Nice. The village holds the distinction of being the world’s perfume capital. In August, the town plays host to the Jasmine Festival, a three-day celebration of the jasmine, one of the key raw materials for Grasse’s famous perfume industry. There will usually be parades, fireworks, dancing, flower stalls, battle of the flowers and a search for Miss Jasmine. In fact, nearly everywhere you turn in Provence, particularly in the Luberon district, you will see a lavender field. If you’d like to learn more about lavenders, visit the Lavender Museum in Luberon. It is the place to learn everything about lavender cultivation and production.

Olive production in Provence goes back to the times of the Ancient Greeks. Producing a mere 5,000 tonnes of olive oil annually, it is, however, not a major producer compared to its European neighbours. Olive oil from Provence is not sold outside the region so remember to buy home a bottle after touring an olive grove. Tours to olive groves and mills are available with a simple search of the internet. These visits incorporate walks along marked trails, talks on olive cultivation, tasting sessions and cooking classes.

The Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is most famous for the Gorges du Verdon, the Grand Canyon of Europe. The Verdon Gorge is a haven for the active. Its centrepiece is a 21km-long and 700m-deep canyon with the turquoise-green Verdon river running through its middle. The cliffs along the river banks offer a sensational backdrop for kayakers, and the pocketed limestone rock offers thousands of routes for rock climbers.

Words to learn:

characterised – of a feature or quality

pristine – not spoilt or polluted

evergreen – having green leaves all year round

picturesque – visually attractive, resembling a picture

stunning – extremely impressive or attractive

charming – very pleasant or attractive

azure – bright blue in colour like a cloudless sky

lounging – relaxing

mere – small amount

incorporate – contain or constitute

cultivation – growing of a crop

medieval – resembling the Middle Ages

distinction – excellence that sets something or someone apart from others

haven – a place offering favourable opportunities

sensational – very impressive or attractive

backdrop – serve as a background

The journey towards English proficiency is filled with endless possibilities and adventure, just like one’s travel to new and exciting places. Embark on this journey with ILTI, just like 40,000 others who have done so over the last 33 years. Take the first step by visiting ilti.edu.my or calling 010-395 3067.