An English summer?

London in the summer

A student asked me recently if he should go to the UK this summer to study English. I answered that yes of course he should go, if he had the time and the money. However, he then asked me which language school he should go to. This is a much more difficult question to answer and it's one that I've been asked before by students.

When you choose an English language school, you need to think about what type of experience you want. Some of the things to think about are:

• Do you want to be in a city, a town, or in the countryside?
• Would you like a big school with lots of students, or a smaller school where you can get to know everyone personally?
• What type of course do you want e.g. general English, business English, academic English or exam preparation, such as FCE, or IELTS?
• How many hours a day do you want to study and be in classes?
• What type of activity programmes does the school offer e.g. discos, day trips, or excursions?
• What type of accommodation does the school offer?

Whichever school you choose, check the details carefully before you decide e.g. does the cost include accommodation, meals and social activites, or are they extra? Also, if the school is in the UK, check that it is accredited by the British Council. You can get a list of their accredited schools here.

Wherever you go, have a great summer and enjoy the experience!