Choosing an English course can be difficult because there are so many to choose from. Firstly, you have to choose the right academy.
You should consider your objectives before you search for an English course. Think about why you want to learn English. Is it for work reasons or is it because you simply want to improve your level in order to make it easier to speak with people from other countries?
Ask yourself what you want from the course. Do you want to improve your reading skills? Do you want to become more fluent in speaking? Is your writing weaker than the other parts of the language and therefore you want to practise that?
Whatever it is that you want from an English course, you will find it, but knowing what you want will make it much easier to find the right school for you.
The best course for improving my speaking
The direct method is a great way to improve your speaking because it involves practising conversing in the language from the very start of the course, no matter what your level is. This is because the teacher will help you to answer his or her questions through speaking. They will guide you through your answers and correct any mistakes that you may make, for example with grammar or the structure of a sentence or how to pronounce certain words correctly.
Another thing to consider when choosing an English course, is whether or not the school offers classes online. Maybe you prefer to take an online class rather than a face to face class at the school. This could be because it suits your timetable better or maybe even because the school that you want to study with is located a long way from where you live.
Studying in an academy which employs native English speakers is very important. If you are learning a language, it is integral to your progress that you are learning from people who have a native level. It is important too that the teachers are fully trained to teach the language.
You may also want to study in a school that offers activities outside the classroom. These may be conversational group activities or seminars which teach you about different parts of the language like grammar and spelling.
All of these things are what you should think about and decide whether you want them or not. This will help you choose the best academy for you and what you hope to get from the course.
Cuando no está enseñando, le gusta jugar al
golf, viajar y seguir al Manchester United. Glenn también habla español e irlandés.
Glenn is a supervisor and senior teacher at Callan School Barcelona and has been teaching English since 2010. Since joining Callan in September 2011, Glenn has worked with thousands of students to help them improve their language skills.
Glenn is originally from Dublin, Ireland, and studied journalism before becoming an English teacher.
When he is not teaching, he enjoys playing golf, travelling and following Manchester United. Glenn also speaks Spanish and Irish.
- Speaking English on the telephone - 5 October, 2024
- The best English courses and how to choose them - 1 October, 2024
- How to prepare for an interview in English - 26 February, 2024
Come and see our school and take a free level test
Free English resources
- Telling The Time
- Verbs followed by another verb
- Phrasal verbs and prepositional verbs
- The contraction of the word “is”
- Conditional Sentences
Resources by levels