Choosing the Right English Course

If you have decided take the first steps to learning English or simply wish to improve your capability it's essential that you find a course provider best suited to your needs. There are a huge number of choices available and not all of them are recommended; make sure to research the institution before you hand over any course fees...

The influx of non-native speakers and growing demand for English classes have led to a worrying amount of ‘Language Schools’ setting up everywhere from the basement of a fish and chip shop to meeting in the nearest local park on Saturday afternoons. Some of these may be cheap and accessible but more often than not they will not provide any real qualification. Even if learning English quickly is your only concern it’s still advisable to partake in a course that will give you a recognisable qualification; this will show any potential employers the level of English that you have.

The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) was established in 1969 under the direction of the Department of Education and Science. It monitors and regulates the standards in EFL schools (English as a Foreign Language). Sue Hackett, the Project Director of ACELS says that she would advise anyone who wants to learn English to make sure that the college is recognised by them: Make sure that the course provider has been passed by the Department of Education and Science; the best way to do this is to go to our website www.acels.ie and look at the list of colleges that are approved. If they are listed it means that they have reached the necessary standard and will provide you with sufficient teachers, tools and surroundings.

Schools that are listed by the ACEL have passed inspections that, according to Sue, are carried out in two separate brackets. Firstly the inspectors assess the academic nature of the course by ensuring that the quality of the course is up to standard. Secondly other elements such as the area and location are considered along with the size of the classes (ACEL approved schools run classes that contain no more than 15 people to encourage maximum attention).

Enrolling in an English class requires dedication and sacrifice; don’t let the commitment you make be wasted. A little research and a quick look on the ACEL website will save you a lot of time and money in the long run so if you’re tempted to answer an ad posted in your local supermarket promising cheap English lessons; check if they are ACEL approved; if not, pick one that is. You’ll be glad you did…