Are you wondering which English Course is the best for you? Which course meets your requirements and will help you to achieve your goals? Which Is the best English course to learn in general? Well, when signing up to an English Language course there will always be the tough decision of which course to pick. There are many different English courses out there, all aimed at different skill levels and with different focusses. So, which is the best to pick?
Throughout this article we will be covering what some of the best English courses to take are, as well as looking at the best places to study, and the best English exams to take based on your specific requirements.
Which English course will be the best suited for your learning style? Keep reading to find out…
Which English Course Should you Take?
The question of which English course you should take isn’t an easy one. The English course you decide to choose will depend on a huge range of factors, whether that be your existing level of English understanding, your desired outcome from studying a course, or simply where in the world you would like to study.
The English course you take is all dependent on you as a learner. Some will find it difficult to pick up a new language, particularly if they haven’t learnt one before. Whereas, some will find it a lot easier, particularly those who already have knowledge of other languages.
There are various different English courses that language schools offer. But, with most English language courses, it will all depend on your age, since different age brackets will have different requirements and focusses. There are courses aimed at young learners, usually between the ages of 10-17, as well as various courses for adults with a range of different abilities and focusses, for example, beginner, intermediate, and advanced courses, or courses specifically aimed at helping a student to prepare for certain exams, for example, CELTA. In recent times, there has even been an increase in the number of English courses aimed at really young learners, as young as 3 years old. The selection of English Courses available out there really are endless.
To really discover which English course you should be taking, you need to ask yourself some questions:
How Old Are You?
As mentioned above, the English course you choose often depends on your age. If you are young, and still at school or college, it will be unlikely that you are looking for a business English Language course. Similarly, if you are older, and looking to learn the English Language, even at a beginner level, then it is unlikely you will want to join an English Summer Course, where the majority of students will be in their teens.
What Is Your Current Ability Level When It Comes To English?
Your ability level does often tie in with your age, but that doesn’t mean its always the case. When choosing an English Language course, it is important to choose the one which best suits your level of ability. If you have no experience using English, then an advanced English course just won’t be right for you. Likewise, if you already have a good understanding of English, then you are just not going to see any value enrolling on a beginner’s course.
What Are You Trying To Get Out Of Learning English?
You need to have a think about what the end goal of you learning English is. If you are studying for business purposes, then a business English language course will be right for you. If you are studying the language simply so that you can get by in an English speaking country, then a beginners or intermediate course will be the one for you. You will really need to have a think about what your goals are and the desired outcome of studying an English language course.
Is There A Specific Exam Or Qualification You Are Studying For?
If you are studying for an English exam, then there are plenty of courses out their aimed at exam preparation. Perhaps you are studying for the Cambridge First exam, or maybe the IELTS exam. In which case, exam preparation courses can help you to focus on exactly what you need. The course teacher will even be able to adapt the focus to your specific strengths and weaknesses
By asking yourself these questions you will be able to form a good idea of the courses available to you and which might be best for your requirements.
Choosing the Best English Course to Learn
Choosing the right English Course should be based on a range of factors, including your age, ability level and where you want to study, etc. If you’re an absolute beginner, wondering how to learn English, then an advanced course wont me the one for you. Making sure that you pick the right English course is key to your success. If you know exactly what you want to achieve and what you want to get out of your English Langauge Course, then making the right decision won’t be too hard.
If you already know exactly what course to take, and its just a matter of finding the best English course provider, then there are plenty of thing you can do to help you to make that decision. Take a look at the reviews of various English schools who offer the course you are looking to enrol on. Look for a course provider who has good reviews on sites such as: Facebook, Trustpilot, and on Google. You can also look at website such as English UK, the professional organisation representing English language teaching organisations in the UK, or The British Council, who established the first accreditation scheme in the world for English language schools, to discover some of the top English Course providers in the UK. There are similar bodies all over the world, for example the Australian Association for the Teaching of English in Australia, the NCTE in the USA, and many more.
Discover LTC’s fantastic range of English Courses today, catering to all levels of ability and various different age groups.
A big factor when choosing the best English course to learn for you, perhaps the most important factor, is location. This might well in fact be the main reason you are taking the course, to travel somewhere new! If you are looking to study abroad, in an English-speaking country, then you have plenty of options. Studying in an English-speaking country will enable you to practice your English language skills with native speakers, in an authentic environment. But, if the thought of being far away from home does not appeal to you, then not to worry. With more than 8,000 international schools across the globe, I’m sure you can find something a bit closer to home.
Where Is The Best Place To Study An English Course?
Choosing a course in the right country is a personal decision that you have to make. Often, this decision is what has sparked an interest in enrolling on an English course, so that you can visit somewhere new. The country or location you choose is all dependant on what you are looking to get out of your course, and what kind of culture you want to indulge in. The main English-speaking countries that you might want to look at are: England, North America, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, all of which are popular destinations for foreign students learning English.
If you already know where you would like to visit, then it’s time to start investigating which English course and school are the best in that location.
If location isn’t so important to you, and you are simply looking to make the most out of your time abroad, then you have plenty more options. Studying in an English-speaking country does help when studying the language, as you can get real life practise. But, its not essential.
Make sure to do some research into the different schools and locations, to make sure they meet your needs and requirements in terms of: pricing, accommodation, experience, and education. You also want to make sure that the location you choose has excellent facilities and plenty to do. Although you will be studying English, this will not take up all of your time. You will want somewhere to unwind and settle down after a long day studying English!
What English Course do you Need to Study a Degree in the UK?
There are various different English courses out there that can help benefit your career and future learning. Having an English language qualification of some form can be a great help when looking to progress with your studies, since most universities in an English-speaking country require you to have good English reading, writing, and speaking skills. This is to ensure that you can keep up with the lesson in terms of understanding, but also so that you can contribute to discussions, work with others, and perhaps even give presentations.
In the UK, among other English-speaking countries, all teaching is in English and you must be sufficiently fluent in English in order to be able to benefit from your education. If your first language isn’t English, you will need to prove that you meet the requirements of a university. And this will often mean taking a proficiency test, such as IELTS, or some other form of English qualification such as the Cambridge Certificate in ADVANCED English or the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English. Some universities will have their own courses and exams to demonstrate your level of English.
Often, you will need a minimum C in GCSE English or an equivalent qualification such as the French Baccalaureate or German Abitur.
What is the Best English Teaching Course?
If you are looking to eventually teach English students in some form or another, then you will want to work towards an English Language teaching qualification such as the CELTA or TEFL certifications. There are plenty of English language course providers out there who cater to this specific course, helping you to prepare in advance, and some course providers will even provide a preparation course, and the exam, all from the same location.
There are numerous English teaching courses out there, which does make it difficult to choose the right one. Below we have detailed some of the most popular English teaching certifications, to help you to make the right choice:
CELTA
CELTA is a practical English language teaching qualification that provides you with the necessary knowledge, and hands-on teaching experience, to help you qualify as a teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL). Many employers around the world will specifically ask for a CELTA certification.
TEFL
TEFL, or Teaching English As A Foreign Language, is a certification that is typically required by schools and language institutes when they want to hire well-trained teachers. You don’t necessarily need a teaching qualification, degree, or prior teaching experience to teach English abroad. However, schools in countries like Spain, Japan and Argentina want to hire people with a TEFL certification.
TESOL
Similar to TEFL, but slightly different in the fact that TESOL is the teaching of English to non-native speakers in native English-speaking countries. A TESOL certification will often be required when looking to teach non-native speakers in locations such as: The UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa
DELTA
DELTA, or a Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, is slightly more advanced than the certifications mentioned above. DELTA is for teachers who already have experience, at least a year’s, and is suitable for teachers in any context working with any age group.
Checkout our recent blog post, How To Prepare For An English Language Course, to pick up some tips on how to best prepare for your English Course.
Teaching English to others is a hard and lengthy process, so you need to make sure that your English skills are the best they can be before you can think about teaching in English. The certifications and qualifications mentioned above will also make it much easier to find work. There are lots of English language course that will help you achieve the grammar, punctuation and speaking levels required for teaching, its just a matter of choosing the right one for you.
Which English Exam Should You Take?
There are various English exam’s you can take, some of which we have mentioned above such as IELTS, Cambridge First, CELTA, TEFL, and many more. But, which exam is the right one for you and your requirements?
Well, choosing an English exam is heavily dependant on what your focus is. If you don’t have any plans to start teaching English, then a TEFL or CELTA exam wouldn’t be appropriate. Where as, if you are simply looking for an English qualification that could help you get into a UK university, then the IELTS and Cambridge First Certifications will be of benefit.
If you plan to take an English exam, then you probably have a good idea of why you are taking it and how it is going to benefit you. If you are only considering an English exam, then doing your research and having a proper think about why you want to take an English exam, and how it is going to benefit you, will be important.
How Can an English Language Course Benefit you?
English language courses can be beneficial for many different reasons. They will help you to improve on your English skills. They can provide you with an extra qualification for later in life. And it can also be a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and experience new cultures. Taking an English language course can help you to communicate better with people in native English-speaking countries, and some jobs will also look for people who can speak an additional language, giving you an edge over others.
Enrolling on an English course will help to boost your confidence, and by enrolling on a course in a country other than your own, you will be exposed to new cultures, new people, and a whole new language.
Learning a new language, immersing yourself in a new culture, and meeting new people will all help you to grow as a person.
If you would like to find out some more information about what the best English Course would be for your requirements, or to enquire about the range of English Language courses we have on offer here at LTC, then please get in touch today. LTC are one of the best English Language Schools in Eastbourne, catering to various different age groups and ability levels. You can get in touch with LTC today by using our contact form, by emailing us at: info@ltc-eastbourne.com, or by calling us on: 01323 727755. Discover which English course is best with LTC today…