In America - you will answer, and you will be partly right: for many years, those wishing to study English (especially if it concerned its subsequent use in business relations) went overseas. But if your life plans are not connected with America, it is still better to study English in its 'historical homeland'. Standards created in Great Britain or with the participation of British educational institutions are recognized almost everywhere. Moreover, as the cost of language courses abroad becomes more and more affordable for residents of the former Soviet Union, the possibility of a cheap flight and the geographical proximity of the country of study become of great importance. Visa conditions are also very important, and they, as is known, are becoming increasingly strict in the USA.
Today's guide from the BBC will help you learn how English teaching is organized in practice in the UK, and will answer the most frequent questions about how to choose a language course and what to consider before going to England. You will also learn about organizations offering help to those who have decided to study English in the UK - after all, they will always need cargo transportation, buying air tickets, etc.
Where to go to study?
According to the latest data, there are about 800 English language schools for foreigners in the UK. As with everything - from buying a car to choosing a life partner - you can find a language course in the UK via the Internet. Both individual schools and organizations that combine information about all schools in the UK have their own websites, for example UKstudy, English in Britain or Globalstudies.
However, almost always the information is offered to you in English - and in many cases the language has yet to be learned! One of the mentioned sites tried to translate its pages into Russian using machine translation, but produced, rather, a convincing demonstration of why, in fact, English language courses are needed and why one should not rely on the wisdom of electronic translators.
If your level of English proficiency does not allow you to accurately understand the contents of the sites, or if you do not trust the anonymous compilers of such guides, then there are companies at your service that select a course based on the level and duration of study, your funds and any individual wishes. By choosing a language course, visa and transport support from these firms, you largely insure yourself against unforeseen circumstances.
You can also get information about language centers offering English courses for adults, children and teenagers at the local branch of the British Council. This non-profit organization, among other things, promotes British education around the world and will provide you with information about various language schools or, for a fee, help organize an educational trip to the UK.
The British Council issues its certificate to schools, and to date about half of all schools have such a document and meet the requirements set by the Council regarding teacher qualifications, teaching methods and the maximum number of students in a class. However, the absence of a certificate does not mean that the school is not capable of providing quality education. 'Obtaining a certificate costs school owners a lot, and many of them, especially small ones, prefer to do without such a document,' says Ali Kosari, head of UKStudy.com.
At the same time, however, one must be aware of the existence of so-called 'visa factories' - schools without any accreditation and with extremely low tuition fees. They are mainly used by those who need to get to the UK at all costs. You should not count on a quality education in such institutions.
Money, work and entertainment
No one will undertake to answer the question of how much a good English language course costs. Its cost is determined by a variety of components: the duration of the course and the intensity of classes, the number of students in the group, various accommodation options, additional learning opportunities (for example, 24-hour Internet access) and the entertainment program.
Naturally, the price will be different - depending on whether you are looking for a study program on your own or use the help of specialized firms. In the latter case, according to the educational center STUDY FLiGHT, the total cost of a trip for a four-week course in London, with group tuition and 20 lessons per week, including accommodation, visa processing and private medical insurance, can range from $1,200-2,400. To this you will have to add the cost of the flight, transport costs in the city of your choice and, depending on the specific course program, the cost of excursions and entertainment. A more detailed description of expenses can always be obtained either from the agent you choose or from the school itself.
There is a temptation to think that the best, including English language training, is in London. The capital really offers a wide selection of schools and, of course, impresses visitors with its flavor, attractions and entertainment. However, studying there also has its problematic sides - first of all, the costs (both monetary and time) of traveling to and from school and (for those who are looking for a room or apartment on their own) the high cost of housing.
There are exceptions. 'In London there are both the most expensive and the cheapest English language schools in the whole of Britain,' says the head of STUDY FLiGHT, Mikhail Kudryavtsev. 'And you need to understand that price is not always an indicator of quality.'
According to the latest statistics, London remains the most attractive destination for those coming to study, followed closely by schools in Oxford and Cambridge. Also popular are English language centers for foreigners on the south coast of England - Brighton, Bournemouth, and Torquay. There are, of course, fewer nightclubs, museums, and galleries there, but who knows, perhaps for you the most beneficial thing is concentrated study of assignments and sea air?
From “Which Watch” to a Diploma
Do not rush to declare “I don’t know anything” – it is quite possible that your secondary education has stayed with you more firmly than you thought. Before the start of classes, each school offers prospective students tests to determine their real level of language proficiency. If a standard human resources questionnaire operates with three degrees of language proficiency, British schools offer from 6 to 10 levels in their tests, depending on the methods used. In some cases, tests must be taken even before leaving for the United Kingdom.
For all courses, with the exception of short-term ones (two to three weeks), intermediate tests are usually provided. This allows the program or the level of classes to be adjusted in order to achieve optimal results.
As for the examination upon completion of the course, it depends on the duration of the program you have chosen. Each student takes a final test and receives a certificate. Its exact content varies from school to school, but it always gives an idea of what exactly the student has achieved. The school may also provide a detailed document listing all the skills acquired and how the learning process proceeded. This usually applies to expensive courses and may be useful for companies sending their employees to study in the United Kingdom.
The IELTS certificate, universally recognized in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and recently in some organizations in the USA and Canada, can be obtained only by passing a separate exam. Such a document is necessary for admission to foreign higher education institutions and in some cases for permanent residence abroad.
Is the result guaranteed? As with any education, not 100%, but many years of methodology for teaching foreign students, combined with the desire of the student himself, usually bring very good results. You should not rely only on the famous “immersion” – in language acquisition, as in any other learning, diligence and thoroughness are required. It is important to have a good idea of what level of English proficiency your chosen course provides and to make the most of the tests during the learning process if such an opportunity exists.
Here the benefit of working with intermediary companies is more than obvious: if the school, the learning process, or even a particular teacher does not suit you for some reason, the intermediaries will talk to the school administration on your behalf. Even if your requirements do not match the rules of that school, its administration may make exceptions, not wanting to strain relations with a company that year after year provides it with an influx of students.
Where is your return ticket?
The short word “visa” usually inspires terror. Endless queues and humiliation at the window, attempts to prove that you are not a camel... Unfortunately, in many cases these unpleasant associations have real grounds. The Union of Tourist Agencies every year compiles a list of the most “impenetrable” Western embassies. Nevertheless, in the late 1990s, after a series of critical publications, the British embassy, along with the representative offices of other countries, reorganized the work of its visa department, and now obtaining a visa has become less burdensome. Confirmation of this is the constantly growing number of CIS citizens coming to England to study. Applying to the embassy through an educational firm or agency with special accreditation also contributes to a painless visa process.
When reviewing documents and talking to those who want to obtain a visa to enter the United Kingdom, embassy staff want to make sure that learning English is a real reason for the trip, and not a pretext to cross the British border for permanent residence in the United Kingdom. The necessary list of documents to confirm this usually includes a detailed letter from the host school and proof that you can pay for the training itself and necessary expenses during your stay in the United Kingdom. The ability to prove that you intend to leave the country at the end of the study period is also considered important.
Short-term visas (for up to six months) do not give their holders the right to work in England. Those who go to study for nine months or longer have the opportunity to work part-time, but not more than 20 hours a week. Even in small towns there is always a need for temporary workers: many students work in cafes and restaurants.
Those who go to study in the United Kingdom can invite their relatives to join them, provided that they support themselves with their own funds. At the same time, visa rules state that family members arriving with those who study in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months have the right to work.
Having a long-term student visa gives its holders the right to extend their study programs and stay in the United Kingdom for a period exceeding the originally specified one. At the same time, immigration authorities warn that it is impossible to obtain a student visa by coming to the United Kingdom as a tourist - this must be done where you permanently reside.
Everyday life is not scary
Even for seasoned travelers, a trip abroad - a source of pleasant surprises, new impressions, an opportunity to broaden one's worldview and make new friends. But for many, especially the first time, a visit abroad is accompanied by considerable anxiety. Whom should one turn to for help?
Large schools and language centers have special departments whose task is to help students adapt and solve everyday problems, but such activity is not obligatory for schools. And here, as in many other cases, the presence of an intermediary agency can be extremely important.
It must be remembered that students visiting the UK on short-term (up to six months) visas do not have access to the British National Health Service and cannot receive free medical care. Unlike other Western European countries, having private medical insurance is not a mandatory condition for entering the UK, but it would be extremely reckless to go abroad without ensuring medical assistance in case of emergencies.
Most schools offer their prospective students several accommodation options. Among the most common are staying with private families, in student dormitories, or in small private guesthouses with three or four rooms. As a rule, students live two per room. However, it is not difficult to arrange accommodation in separate apartments or hotel rooms, although, naturally, such housing will cost more.
During the course selection process, the meal plan is also clarified. Any accommodation scheme usually includes breakfast. You can have both breakfast and dinner at home, and there is also a "full board" scheme, in which the dormitory or host family provides either three meals a day, or breakfast, dinner, and a packed lunch.
Those who come for up to six months and do not have bank accounts tied to international payment systems such as Visa or MasterCard have no choice but to bring a supply of cash. Students coming for longer programs have the option, on the recommendation of their host school, of opening a bank account.
Many educational agencies and individual schools offer their clients free phone cards for calling home, or even free mobile phones to use during their studies. However, the liberalization of the telecommunications market in the UK means that international telephone communication is becoming increasingly affordable every year.
Those who have a driving license translated into English may rent cars for 12 months from the time of entry into the UK - again, with a recommendation letter from their school. Given the right-hand traffic and some differences in the rules, it is recommended to practice driving with an acquaintance before going to a car rental agency.
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