English Language Travel: Choosing a School

Students planning to take a trip to learn English in an English speaking country will find the options somewhat beguiling. The choices available in regards to destination, school, language course and accommodation can make even the most hardened language holiday student’s head swim.

Specialized travel agents, like those found in specialist Language Travel Magazine, can take a lot of the guess work and time out of choosing the correct school for you. These guys are a wealth of knowledge and well up to date on the movers and shakers in the world of English language teaching.

Alternatively, you can go it alone and research English schools online. Here are a few points to consider when choosing an English course.

• Accreditation - is the school recognized by the governing bodies which oversees quality control in the industry? A school without accreditation is like a taxi driver without a driving license.


• Syllabus - No matter how long you are planning to stay, the school should have a methodology and curriculum which it implements and adheres to. You need to be sure that the skills you wish to improve on will be attended to. For example, if you want to improve your listening, you need an English course where time will be set aside to listening exercises.


• Nationality Mix and Class Size - How do you fancy a fortnight spent learning English abroad in a room full of students from your own country? With a little research you can get percentages on nationality mix. This won’t guarantee who you will share a class with, but it might give you an advantage if you ant to avoid your countrymen or not. Similarly, find out what the maximum class size is.


• Accommodation - English schools generally offer a variety of options like homestays, hotels and residences. Be aware of the amount of time and simplicity in getting to and from your accommodation. Find out if the neighborhood is convenient for shops and whether its location is quiet or busy enough for your tastes.


• Social Program - Time spent in lessons probably won’t account for much of the time you spend abroad. Good schools have mixed and stimulating social activities with social leaders and guides to keep students entertained.

Good luck on you English course!