How to Find a Good English School?

English school selection criteria

1. Location
2. Qualified teachers
3. Clear curriculum
4. Class size
5. Level checks
6. Recommendations and Accreditations
7. Variety of courses
8. Price of the course
9. Too good to be true?

Let’s look into more details.

1. Location

Decide whether you can travel to school and for how long or whether it’s better to take an online English course. Combining a full-time job and studying English on an intensive course might not be easy. Make an effort and look for schools in your area or close to your workplace. Choosing a school close to where you work or live will save you time and money on travelling. An extra hour or two you save this way can instead be devoted to studying English.

What if you have decided to attend a course abroad? First of all, try to find a language school in an English-speaking country (e.g. the UK, Canada, Ireland). In Europe, the best choice is the UK with a significant number of language schools. London, Eastbourne and Brighton are among the most popular and student-friendly cities.  What is more, it is a common practice for schools to offer accommodation or at least help to find a host family.

2. Qualified teachers

Qualified teachers are the key to successful learning. Teaching staff should be experienced and qualified to teach English accordingly with either a degree or recognisable certificate e.g. CELTA, Trinity TESOL or Delta. An additional point to consider is whether you will be taught by native speakers and teachers with a native-like level of English. 

3. Clear curriculum

A good language school should provide a standardised, clear programme to cover all aspects of language studying: listening, reading, speaking, writing, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

If you want to know what to expect from your English course, it is essential to know the start date, finish date of your course and what material will be covered during the course. Most probably you will be obliged to purchase a course book.

The best English language schools will help you set your personal learning goals and track your progress. 

4. Class size

It might seem that the class size is irrelevant, however, it is also one of the key features when considering a language course. Small groups, around 4-8 students, are the most effective. Although you will still be able to learn in larger groups, it may affect your learning process, due to a loss of attention from the teacher and therefore make overall performance worse than expected.

5. Level checks

Make sure you are tested before entry to match the right level, later during your course and when you are about to finish. This will help to monitor your progress and build your language self-esteem. Also, just the right course level (not no high and not too low) will help you make the most of your course. 

6. Recommendations and Accreditations

Once you’ve done some online research and you have shortlisted a few schools to choose from, look at recommendations or reviews. Ask around your friends, have they studied there? How was it for them? Follow the school’s social media e.g. Facebook or Twitter so that you can become familiar with the school’s profile and students who attend courses.

Secondly, check if the school has accreditation. Although there are many excellent small schools without accreditations, an accreditation will give you some extra assurance. Good language schools are inspected regularly by accredited bodies e.g. The British Council or IALC (International Association of Language Schools). Accreditation assures that the quality of education meets strict standards in management, welfare and teaching. If you choose a school without accreditation, check the teacher’s qualifications, class sizes and curriculum to verify the standards. 

7. Variety of courses

The more options available, the higher chance of finding a suitable course. Does the school offer general English courses, courses focused on speaking, exam preparation, specialised classes and individual lessons? As you make progress, you may want to supplement your course with some extra classes. 

The perfect language school should provide a variety of course times including morning, afternoon and evening classes, not to forget the weekend courses.

8. Price of the course

It would be a perfect combination to find a school with great recommendations, small group sizes and low prices! In reality, low prices should raise a red flag. If this is the case, in all probability, teachers are underqualified and the number of students per class may be high, making it detrimental to your learning. 

However, having said that reasonable pricing is always a bonus.

9. Too good to be true?

Another red flag we often see is an offer that seems too good to be true. If it does, it probably is. Common over-promising overs include statements such as: ‘four times faster’, ‘effortless learning’, and ‘be fluent in one month’. Be prepared to put some work into your progress and it will take a reasonable amount of time. 

A good language school will be able to give you an idea of how much time it will take to reach a desired level of English depending on your current level.