Do write to us with
your views about the English language and any questions you
may have.
| Dear Sirs,
My son has been learning English at school for three
years. He likes the language very much and is doing well.
I should like to send him to an English language school
in the United Kingdom this summer. I hope that if he
spends some time with English speakers he will not only
improve his English but he will also learn something
about the British way of life.
My wife and I will be unable to accompany him to the
UK so we need to be sure that he will be looked after
well during his course. How long should he go on a course
(we were thinking of two weeks)? What kind of courses
are on offer? How much will we have to pay? My son, who
is 14, is a keen football and tennis player so we would
be interested in a school with sports facilities.
I should be most grateful for any information and advice
that you can give me.
Yours truly,
Fritz Hahn
Geneva
|
The editor's reply
As your son is only 14 and if this is his
first visit abroad without you, two weeks is probably long
enough for him to be
away from home. You will certainly wish to choose a centre which
will look after him from the moment he arrives in the country.
He would benefit from staying with a family, preferably with
children of his own age (although it is not always possible to
find a perfect "age match") so that he can learn about the British
way of life. On the other hand, you may prefer him to be in a
residential centre with other students. The advantage of the
latter is that with a mixed nationality group, everyone is forced
to use English naturally, as the medium of communication. However,
again it is not always possible to guarantee this. Your son may
find many other students who speak his language and they may
be tempted to use that rather than practise their English.
It is advisable to select a centre which offers a busy programme
of activities. Many language schools offer mornings of English
tuition followed by excursions to local or national places of
interest, or sporting activities, in the afternoon.
A list of English language schools in the UK can be obtained
from ARELS (The
Association of Recognised English Language Schools). This gives
information on each school listed: a brief description plus details
such as: target age range, length and content of course, extra
facilities available, type of accommodation, etc. Prices are
also given. Telephone +44 (0)171 242 3136 or fax +44 (0)171 928
9378; address 2 Pontypool Place, London SE1 8QF. |
