A general language course suits absolutely everyone - an excellent program of 4-5 lessons a day allows you to devote time to all aspects of the language, with an emphasis on developing communication skills. Free time can be devoted to communicating with friends, getting to know the host country, or work.
If you have tight deadlines and serious goals, then an intensive course is suitable for you: 30 or more lessons per week give you the opportunity to make the most of your study time and achieve your goals in the shortest possible time. To increase the effectiveness of learning, you can choose classes in mini-groups (of 4-6 people).
The best result can be achieved on a combined course, where group classes are combined with individual ones, in which you can work in detail on a particular aspect of the language (grammar, specialized vocabulary, pronunciation).
An examination course is needed primarily for those who would like to continue their education abroad. This is a special intensive program of preparation for passing a language exam, whether it is IELTS, TOEFL or the Cambridge English exam, DELF and DALF for French, D.E.L.E. for Spanish or C.I.L.S. for Italian. Such courses start on strictly specified dates, duration - 4, 8 or 12 weeks. The school will help you register for the exam, which you can take at the end of the course.
For school graduates who have not yet decided on a specialty but wish to get an education abroad, the 'Academic Year' is ideal. This comprehensive program consists of a general course and specialized modules: familiarization with the culture and traditions of the language being studied, attending university lectures as free auditors, preparation for exams, business basics, business English, information technology. In the program, you will not only master reading, writing, listening and speaking, but also learn to study in a foreign language, that is, take notes in lectures, work with graphs, tables and diagrams, give oral reports and presentations, and participate in discussions. Having reached an intermediate level of proficiency in a foreign language, students get the opportunity to undergo an internship at a foreign company. The duration of the program is 20, 30 or 40 weeks. During the course of study, students can receive as many academic consultations regarding admission to a university or college as necessary, visit educational institutions, and meet with future teachers. The study center will help to properly prepare and submit documents to the chosen university.
If you are interested in learning a language used in a particular professional field, or you want to combine language classes with sports, art or your hobby, then a special course is suitable for you.
Another option is a foreign language in the teacher's family, when you study the language while living in the home of a qualified teacher. Language acquisition continues constantly - after lessons, during breakfast, lunch and dinner, during excursions and walks.
Well, for avid travelers - a multi-course, which is conducted not only in several centers, but also in several countries. The duration of the program is from two months.
Which country to choose?
This question is asked by many students and their parents, guided by various criteria - cost, distance from home, purity of pronunciation, safety, visa regime, living conditions, opportunities for sports, environmental situation, etc.
For those who are going to study English abroad, there are at least seven options. At the top of the popularity rating, of course, is Great Britain - more than 350 language schools, 600,000 foreign students annually. The cost of a standard course is from 180 pounds sterling. The cost of living varies depending on the area and living conditions. The most popular cities are Brighton, Cambridge, London, Hastings. The visa regime is quite strict, but with proper preparation of documents, a positive result is guaranteed.
Ireland (more than 150 language schools) acts as an alternative to foggy Albion. Here you will find high quality teaching at a moderate cost, magnificent nature, pure pronunciation (such a phenomenon as London Cockney is absent in Ireland), a family atmosphere and an individual approach. In terms of visa regime, people from 16 to 26 years old who go on long-term programs (3-6 months) have the greatest chance of getting a visa.
Malta is considered an ideal place for vacation courses or the 'English + sport' program. A suitable option for a first trip abroad, a painless visa procedure, low cost.
Due to geographical remoteness and, as a consequence, the high cost of air travel, it is worth studying English in Canada and the USA under serious, long-term programs - such as 'Academic Year' or 'English for Professional Purposes'. Unique in variety and richness are also vacation programs for children in Canada, where they will get acquainted with unique nature and lots of adventures. Getting a visa is quite difficult, and a personal interview must be passed even by children.
Australia and New Zealand are destinations for lovers of exoticism and sports. In these countries, it is possible to surf and ski on the same day. Due to geographical remoteness, going for less than three months makes no sense. After the introduction of new rules for issuing an Australian visa in July 2001, it has become much more difficult to obtain one. Serious financial documents, translated and notarized, are required. In New Zealand, you can study for up to 90 days on an ordinary tourist visa. To obtain a long-term visa, you must pass an interview. Getting visas for both countries is complicated by the fact that visa departments are located in Moscow, which significantly increases waiting times.