English language schools and courses in the UK

In today’s world, English is a universal way of communication between people almost anywhere on earth. Therefore, there can be many purposes for learning it and everyone chooses their own. For example, someone needs to speak English for:

• If you are an international pupil or student and wish to study in England;
• In the business world, English is the most widely spoken language and employers assume that an employee speaks it;
• to promote its business in the global market and ensure its growth;
• a smooth and quick understanding of different sources of information;
• of easy socialising and making new acquaintances.

And of course, there is nothing better than learning the language in an English-speaking country. In the United Kingdom, everything around you will help you to adapt and understand the language more quickly, providing you with natural, minute-by-minute practice. Immersing yourself in the process of communicating with native British speakers will help you to start thinking in English, which is especially important and valuable. Attending professional classes is also necessary, and our article will help you navigate through the variety of English language schools and tell you what to look for when choosing one.

A variety of English language learning options

The variety of English language learning programme options gives you the opportunity to choose the learning format that best suits your goals. There are several basic options:

• full-year programmes that allow you to gain academic knowledge;
• summer camps;
• Intensive programmes of short duration with quick results;
• internships with immersion in a professional language environment;
• preparation courses for various examinations;
• other forms of training.

Each referral necessarily fulfils key requirements:

• A modern approach to learning English based on a symbiosis of methodologies. This allows you to maximise your knowledge and consolidate the material with the help of various interactives;
• excursions to the sights of the UK broaden students’ outlook and cultural development;
• creating conditions for acquiring new acquaintances.

In some cases, a summer language camp can be a complete package to maximise your child’s comfort. This can help them to focus on their studies and enjoy an exciting period of life in the UK.

The main pros of learning English in the UK

To undergo such training to get the maximum of useful knowledge in the most accessible and memorable form – isn’t it a student’s dream? Language schools and English language courses in England have a number of positive features:

• taught by native-speaking teachers;
• the possibility to choose the study formats that are best suited to the initial level of training;
• The classrooms have the latest equipment to play any educational media material;
• only professional teachers with sufficient experience lead educational programmes;
• living in the UK provides constant language practice. The use of English becomes a necessity not only during classes, but also in everyday tasks;
• the opportunity to get an internship in England and start a successful professional career in one of the most prosperous countries in the world;
• a variety of accommodation choices to maximise the comfort of learners;
• constant adjustment of the training programme depending on the results of regular tests, identification of knowledge gaps and their filling;
• issuing a certificate at the end of the training that is recognised worldwide.

In addition to a great language immersion experience, all courses have other significant benefits to suit almost any student’s needs:

• A wide variety of different programmes focusing on learning English for different purposes: work, exam preparation, travel, basic communication. There are also focused programmes to prepare you for higher education;
• Schools are based in many cities in the United Kingdom, so you can always find a city that is comfortable for you, and in it – a suitable type of accommodation: family, hotel, apartments and other options;
• Most courses start new study groups every week and are easy to join.

Language programmes for children in England

Children’s English language learning most often takes place in the following formats:

• holiday programmes for 2-4 weeks for schoolchildren aged 7-18;
• Intensives for 2-24 weeks for teenagers from 16 years old;
• 6, 9 and 11-month advanced courses also for young people from 16 years of age.

Location of training bases

When choosing a programme of study, you can also decide where you would like to live during your studies. Most cities and towns in the UK have facilities. London, Oxford and Cambridge are the most popular, but other cities are also available.

4 aspects of learning English quickly and effectively

Mastering the language directly in England is the best choice, as it combines a number of essential conditions that contribute to quick memorisation of the material, increase the speed of speech perception, and increase the readiness to maintain a conversation in any situation. 

1. Constant communication in English makes you adapt faster and speak English yourself, because it will be used not only in classes, but everywhere: in transport, shops, on walks, excursions, etc. Quite quickly such circumstances stimulate the brain to reorganize itself and begin not only to understand English, but also to build dialogues, the quality of which will grow day by day.
2. Regular exciting excursions will introduce students to the history of the country, its rich cultural values and the traditions of British life.
3. If you wish, you can become a participant of any sporting event, visit an amusement park, arrange a trip to the most beautiful protected areas, and much more.
4. Interacting with students from different countries provides invaluable communication and co-operation skills. This experience will also help you to deal with various business issues at work.

Peculiarities of learning English in Great Britain

All English language courses in the United Kingdom have their own particularities:

• The right type of visa is required for your stay and study in the country, depending on your plans;
• There are over 40 dialects of English, each of which is spoken in a different area. Keep this in mind when planning your travels to different parts of the UK.

Variety of English language courses in the country

British language courses offer a wide variety of educational programmes depending on the expectations of the students. Standard educational programmes provide basic knowledge of grammar, phonetics and vocabulary. For a more detailed study it is worth considering specialised courses, for example, One-to-one is an individual programme that involves interaction between a teacher and only 1 student. The quality of learning material with this approach increases significantly. 

There are also major areas for focused English language learning, such as:

• Academic English – gaining academic knowledge for higher education;
• English for work – learning the specific skills needed to successfully complete work tasks;
• Business English – theoretical and practical material for further work in the international arena.

You can also choose many other areas of study. It is worth deciding in advance what you want to study and what results you expect to achieve in order to find the most suitable course in England.

Entry requirements for language courses in England

Enrolment for each course starts in advance, so you should book your place on your favourite course well in advance. To do this, you will need to fill in a registration form on the website and pay either a registration fee or a deposit. The difference between the deposit is that this amount is part of the subsequent payment for the entire course, whereas the fee is payment for the opportunity to register. However, both cash forms are non-refundable if you change your mind and subsequently withdraw from purchasing the course.

After registration, you will be notified of the acceptance of your booking and will receive a sheet with full details of payment for the entire course. The payment must be made at least two weeks before the start of the course. Then wait for an invitation from the school to start the course. 

Visa application to study English in the UK

As language schools and English language courses involve physical presence in England, one of the most important points of preparation will be to apply for one of the visa types:

• UK Standard Visitor Visa – suitable for short courses of six months or less;
• UK Short-term study visa – intended for language courses lasting six months or more, but not more than 11 months;
• UK Student visa – required for students who plan to study for more than 12 months. And, for example, to obtain it, you will need to: fill in an application form, attach passport details, bank statements on financial solvency, an invitation from the school to study, a receipt of course fees, documents on the solution of the issue of accommodation (rental agreement, hotel receipt or other suitable certificate). In some cases it is necessary to undergo a tuberculosis test, minors need a written consent of their parents. Qualified immigration lawyers can advise you on all the nuances of obtaining a visa to England.

English language courses in the UK are the key to successful language learning through total immersion in the environment. Depending on your future plans, you can choose schools with a focus on preparing you for higher education, honing your communication skills for work and business development, or other areas of interest. If organised correctly, the process will be interesting and rich. In addition to the academic depth of language learning, there will be a lot of new acquaintances, interesting excursions and other activities, the pleasant impressions of which will always inspire you.