What makes a good language school?

English improvement takes time and effort, and so requires a lot of hard work from you.

Do you need to improve your English language skills? Are you worried about the language skills you will need at university or college? Are you considering enrolling for a course in English as a Foreign Language? Or perhaps you are already attending a course and working hard, but feel that you are just not making progress … English improvement takes time and effort, and so requires a lot of hard work from you, as the student. However, it is important that the school you’re attending is providing you with the right kind of support. To do this, the school should:

• Provide a warm welcome.

• Provide a safe and secure learning environment so that you feel comfortable walking around.

• Provide a good support system: be able to answer your questions, help you with accommodation, visa applications and getting to know the school and the city you’ve chosen to study in.

• Make the administration as simple and easy as possible.

• Keep the classes small. The general rule is to have about 8 to 12 students in a class on average. The beginner classes in particular should be small as these students need more individual attention from the teacher.

• Employ only well qualified and experienced teachers.

• Be accredited by a recognised institution: this will mean that the courses have been approved and that the teaching standards are checked regularly.

If your school makes you happy, if the teachers and other staff are friendly and helpful, if the courses are good and you feel that you are being well looked after, then you will find that learning English is fun and much easier.