Talking sense

Tony Millns, English UK explains the global market for English and why the UK leads the way in English language teaching

Make sure you choose an accredited centre when seeking an English language course

English has become the global language of business and diplomacy and Britain, the home of the English language, has established itself over the past 50 years as the market leader in English language courses.

More than 575,000 students every year choose to learn English in Britain, an estimated 43% of all students who travel abroad to study English. What attracts them is the UK’s reputation for excellent English language teaching, the worldwide recognition of British qualifications and the opportunity to experience British culture alongside their language learning.

Courses for all

English language students in the UK are of all ages, from different countries, and from all walks of life. Some students come for a few weeks, some spend a number of months improving their language skills and gain work experience; some come to learn specialised business English which they need for international roles; some older students come for English plus recreation, such as Scotch whisky tasting or golf; and some come to start a programme that will lead from English study to A levels or degrees at UK universities.

Quality kitemarks

Put “English language courses” into Google and you will get hundreds of results. So how do you choose the right language centre? Fortunately there is an easy way to narrow down the choice, which is to consider only centres accredited under the Accreditation UK scheme, which is managed by the British Council in partnership with English UK, the world’s leading language teaching association. Accredited centres are entitled to use the marque “Accredited by the British Council”. Accreditation is based on a rigorous inspection including teaching, management, accommodation, welfare and social programmes, as well as marketing information.

Finding a reputable language centre There are over 400 accredited language centres throughout the UK comprising universities, further education colleges and private language schools. There are two main ways to find them. Firstly, you can look on the British Council’s website (www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-students), where there is a full list. Otherwise you can narrow down the choice by considering only those accredited centres that are members of English UK, which has over 360 member centres.

English UK is a registered charity with the key aim of advancing the education of international students in the English language. Its members are private language schools, educational trusts and charities and language centres in further education colleges and universities. In addition to being accredited under the Accreditation UK scheme, English UK members also subscribe to strict rules and a Code of Practice on ethical business, which sets these centres apart from non-members. Furthermore, if a centre closes, English UK can help students finish their course at another member centre, keep their accommodation, or return home, as they prefer. This gives a strong guarantee that if you pay for a course at an English UK member centre, you will have made a safe choice. You can search for English UK members on www.englishuk.com.

Location

Although the highest concentration of English language centres is in the south and south-east of England, with many centres in cities such as London, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton and Bournemouth, the choice outside these regions is still extensive. Scotland has 19 accredited centres, from Glasgow and Edinburgh up to Aberdeen, Wales has eight and Northern Ireland has four.

Across the country from Whitby to Chester, through the cosmopolitan hub of Birmingham and the Midlands, down to Devon, learners can choose to study in the environment that suits them best. Those in the UK for work may be constrained by their location, but others can decide whether they prefer to be in a big city or the countryside, in a small but historic centre such as York or Norwich, or in a small town such as Salisbury or Totnes where they can walk from accommodation to the centre.

The UK has an excellent reputation for teaching English

Visas

Students wishing to follow a short English language course should enter the UK on a student visitor visa. From 1 September 2007, those on a visitor visa are no longer allowed to enrol on a course of study. For longer courses, and if students want to take paid work (up to 20 hours a week is allowed), students should apply for a student visa in their home country. The rules on visas can be found on the UKvisas website (www.ukvisas.gov.uk). Students should apply in plenty of time, and will usually need to show that they know what course they will be studying and how it can help them, that they have the money to complete the course without any support from the UK government, and that they intend to return to their home country after the course. If they intend to work, they need to explain why and get the right class of visa stamp (code 2).

The UK is in the process of changing the visa system for students. From February 2009, in addition to demonstrating that they have enough money to pay for the course and all their expenses in the UK (without working or UK government benefits), students will have to show that they are enrolled at a UK education institution which is on a new Register being set up by the Home Office (UK Border Agency).

In July 2007, the government announced that private sector colleges, including English language schools, will have to be accredited to be on the new Register. For the English language sector, the only accreditation body that has been approved by the government is the Accreditation UK scheme. So from early 2009, students who wish to enrol on courses at private English language centres in the UK will get visas only if the college is accredited by Accreditation UK. All member centres of English UK are already accredited under this scheme.

Fees and accommodation

There is a huge range of prices catering for all budgets. Courses start at under £100 a week, while top-quality individual tuition for executives may approach £2,000 a week (including accommodation and meals). Living with a British family is both costeffective (around £100 to £150 a week depending on the facilities and location), and a good way to practise English. There is a range of other accommodation options, from hotels and hostels through to rented flats. The best way to choose is either to visit the centre in person and investigate available accommodation, or to discuss your choice with a reputable agent in your own country or the UK. An agent can help make many arrangements, from travel documents and insurance through to course and accommodation.

Even when they charge a fee (most gain commission from a centre when they place a student there), it can be money well spent to talk to someone who has visited the centre and knows the place. Whatever your motivation for studying English, the flexibility, customer-focus and, above all, assured quality of English UK members will meet your needs.

For more information, visit: www.englishuk.com

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