Learning
the English Language
Each year thousands of young people travel
to the UK to attend courses to learn or improve their English. For
most, it is a voyage of discovery - discovery of a new language
and the new opportunities that it brings, the discovery of new friendships
which can last a lifetime. So how can you, when you’re thinking
about coming over to England, make sure that all these wonderful
things happen for you too?
Probably the most important decision is your choice of where you
are going to study. There are three issues you should address: let’s
take each in turn.
Firstly, where in the UK do you most want to go to? There’s
no right or wrong answer - different people have different views.
Some want to go to a more rural area; others want to see the north
of England or Scotland; others may want to stay with friends or
relatives or some will want London as one of the world’s favourite
capital cities.
London is one of the most compelling cities in the world. It offers
an incredible range of museums and art galleries, including the
Tate and National Galleries, the Natural History and Science Museums
and the Victoria and Albert Museum, wonderful historical places
like the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament, glorious
ceremonial occasions like The Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham
Palace and - in the summer - the Trooping of the Colour, and, of
course, the concerts, pubs, wine bars, clubs, discotheques and shopping
for which London is justifiably famous. Any trip to England should
include some time spent in London - so why not base yourself here?
Secondly, if you do decide to come to a College in London, pick
one where you can be confident that you’ll have made significant
progress by the time you leave. However much fun you might intend
to have, the main reason why you’re coming over is to learn
or improve your English. So how do you choose a College where you
are likely to learn well?
Look for a College where you are tested when you arrive, to make
sure you go into a class at the right level for your ability: this
will ensure that you won’t waste you time being taught things
you already knew, and also that you don’t find yourself sitting
in a class where everyone else is much better than you - a depressing
experience!
Look for a College where the Government Inspectors have confirmed
that the teaching is of exceptionally high standard. ETC is very
proud to have been awarded a Grade 1 (the highest level) by the
Inspectors last year for English as a Foreign Language (EFL). These
external audits are Government - sponsored, completely independent,
and demanding: if they are happy with the standards of teaching,
you too can rest assured that you will not only benefit from excellent
teaching but will also enjoy the expertise of highly experienced
and qualified staff!
Many Colleges have many different courses. Summer school which
runs over the summer holidays, includes intensive tuition, often
accommodation with a local family and a full programme of excursions
and social activities. There is a wide range of English as a Foreign
Language (EFL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
courses which run during normal term times, and modular programmes
which allow you to study at your own pace (perhaps from home). These
include courses leading to academic GCSE and A Levels and vocational
qualifications like NVQs and GNVQs.
Most Colleges have extensive experience of welcoming students from
abroad. Usually there is a special prospectus for the Summer School
which is available on request. Most Colleges supply a comprehensive
information pack for all kings of students from overseas who want
to study English, from courses for complete beginners through to
courses for mature Business people who want to improve their command
of Business English.
So whatever your reasons for studying English in the UK, ask for
an Information pack from the Colleges and you’ll find a course
to suit you.
Author: Alison Carpenter, Lecturer for EFL, Ealing Tertiary College,
London U.K.
This article first appeared in Educational Courses in Britain
