Advice for your Studies

GETTING READY FOR STUDY

• Course Book

Your teacher will tell you which book your class is using and you can buy it or collect it from Reception. Even if you are here for a short time, your course book will be very useful to you. It contains reference materials, such as grammar summaries, vocabulary lists and other information that you can use here and when you go back to your country.

• Dictionary & Other Books

Make sure you have a good English – English Dictionary and a grammar book. Ask your teachers, talk to other students and look in the Study Centre. You can buy them from the bookshop in Reception too. The bookshop also has a small selection of reading books at different levels that you can buy.

YOUR LEVEL

We are very careful to put you in the right class. If you think your class is too easy or too difficult, talk to your teachers and they will help you.

LEARNING EFFECTIVELY

• Learning Style

The lessons here may be different from English lessons in your country. Your lessons will include a lot of oral work with your partner or in a small group. This is because our training and experience show us that an active, communicative learning style with pair and group work is effective. Students often study a lot of grammar in their own countries, but the important thing is that you can use it correctly when you speak and write, so lots of practice is very important. If you have any questions about your studies, you should talk to your teacher.

• Correction

Don’t expect your teacher to correct all your mistakes when you are speaking. This would stop you from speaking fluently and would not help you to communicate well. Your teacher will, of course, correct some of your more serious mistakes.

• Study Centre

This is open from 9am to 5pm, except when a class is using it. A teacher is in there at certain times during the day to answer any of your questions. You will probably also have a Study Centre lesson with your class when you will be able to ask your teacher for more help with your studies

• Extra English

If you need English for a particular situation, such as your work or exams, it may be useful to have one-to-one lessons or extra group classes. For more information about this or if you have any other problems, you can talk to your teacher or the Director of Studies. You can arrange to see the Director of Studies about this or any other matter if you go to Reception

• Learning Independently

Develop your own learning style; there is no right or wrong way to organise your studies. You can discuss with your teacher and other students about which materials and methods will help you to continue to learn when you get back to your country.

• Lateness

Please make sure you arrive on time for all of your lessons. The first lesson of the day starts at 9:00. If you arrive more than 20 minutes late, your teacher will ask you to wait until after the break to join the class. This is so that you do not interrupt the lesson for the teacher and the other students

Using English in your Social Life:

SOCIAL PROGRAMME

The school organises a Social Programme with trips to local places, such as museums, sports facilities, restaurants, etc. These are usually led by one of the teachers. This is an excellent way of seeing something of London and getting to know the other people in the school. You will feel at home much more quickly if you mix with other students.

CLASSROOM

Try to sit with different students in every class – you will make friends more quickly; making friends with students who don’t speak your language is an important way of improving your English.

OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL

Social Programme is obviously a great way to practise your English in a fun setting.If you are in a homestay, it is good to talk to your host family and practise your English. Try to take every opportunity to listen to English on TV, radio and films and to read all the magazines, newspapers and books that are available to you. English is all around you – make the most of your opportunity and most importantly, we hope you enjoy all that our schools and cities can offer you.