Every day hundreds of people like you decide to study English as a second language in Barcelona. They are aware that English has become the universal language and is the most spoken language in the world. They know that speaking English will only bring them advantages both personally and professionally.
4 factors to help choose the English course that best suits your needs:
If you have already decided that you want to take part in an English course in Barcelona, based on our experience with thousands of students who have learned English at our academy for over 30 years, we recommend that you find out information about more than one language school before making your decision.
Don’t go with the school that is closest or cheapest. It is an important choice to make because it involves a financial matter, your time and your desire to learn! You have to be sure that the academy meets your expectations.
When choosing an English course that is good for you, to make sure your learning is optimal and that you can achieve your goal in the safest and most effective way, you must consider the following elements;
1º Decide on your objective with the English course;
Each person studies English for different personal or professional reasons. Therefore, before choosing an English course, it is important that you define what your goal is and in what time frame you have to achieve it.
With this clear objective, it is easier to consider what type of course you want to take: intensive, annual,1-1, business English, certification exam preparation, etc.
It is important that the team at the centre where you study can recommend which course or guide you on a combination of training elements that best suit your needs.
2º Learn your current level of English from an expert;
Before starting any course, you must clearly understand your current level of English To do this, it is essential to take an oral and written English level test with an expert who can precisely confirm the level you have.
This way, you can more accurately estimate which course you should join in order to achieve your goals as soon as possible.
3º Work on the areas that you most need to improve in;
It is important that you analyse what your strengths are and the areas that you need to improve on. Do you find it difficult to understand spoken English, but find it easy to read in English? Do you know a lot of grammar, but are you afraid when it comes to speaking?
A level test allows the academy to evaluate grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and general fluency, both spoken and written, to advise you on what type of course you need, based on your objectives and your availability.
4º Analyse the schedule;
Now that you are clear about what you want to achieve, what level you have and what you need to do to improve, you should think about the weekly hours that you can dedicate to learning English and the schedule of the academy. If it isn’t close to where you live, or where you work or study, it is important to choose an academy with a flexible schedule that suits your circumstance.
If your goal is to learn English as soon as possible, there are several academies that offer intensive courses. Of course, keep in mind that it also depends on the amount of time you can allocate to practising. Ideally, you should dedicate a minimum of 6 hours a week to learning in order to progress effectively.
When choosing a course, make sure that the time of the lesson is compatible with your daily schedule, otherwise you could also opt for an online English course that allows you to study from home more comfortably.
Time can be an important factor in maintaining continuity and discipline when studying. When learning a new language, it is vital to be consistent and not miss any classes or assignments.
Therefore, choosing a course that is flexible is usually the best option.
4 Factors you should look for in a good English Academy:
1º Quality of the centre;
Before undertaking an English course, it is always advisable to research the school where you want to take it, to find out if it is certified or recognized within education. Look at the reviews of previous students or students who are currently studying to become informed about the methods, strengths and weaknesses of the program.
The quality of an English school is also essential when generating your resume. The best-known schools will have more weight and credibility when applying for jobs.
2 º Experience and standards of the educational centre;
If quality is important, experience is another factor that you should give importance to. The standard and trust of teaching in an academy with a few years of experience and a certain type of students, than that in a school with a long history and a wide range of students, with different ages, different objectives and backgrounds.
3 º Teaching method;
The teaching method is another factor that you should consider when deciding on an
academy. What type of teaching is carried out, how much importance is given to the oral part, how many students attend class, teacher training, etc. is it essential to know these things, if it is suitable for your objectives.
We are the only English academy in Barcelona approved to teach English courses using the Callan Method, a methodology based on conversation that is successfully taught in different cities around the world and is the preferred method of many Spaniards who sign up for English academies in England, because of the speed with which it allows them to speak English.
Some important questions to ask:
Does the school have expert staff to test me and guide me?
What is my English level?
What types of English courses can I take?
How many students are there per group?
Does the school carry out regular assessments to measure my progress?
Are there personalized options so that the course really adapts to my needs?
4 º Opportunities for practice;
Having a space to practice is essential in order to consolidate the learning of a language.
In addition to studying the content, the program should recommend the possibility of learning the English that you will encounter in real situations. Therefore, if what you want is to speak English quickly, it is important that, during classes, the oral part is the main focus and we will offer you other activities to improve your understanding and speaking in English outside of class.
Choosing the best English course for you is not an easy task
As you can see, choosing the best English course for you is not easy. You have to be very clear about what you want to achieve and in what time, based on your current level and your strengths and weaknesses.
Our experience, as an English school for over 30 years, tells us that you should not simply settle for the academy closest to your home or work, or the cheapest one. Visit several schools, evaluate if their good and not so good aspects. Remember that an English course is an investment of both time and money. These factors are important, so choosing a good academy is important to ensure that the results will be what you expect.
If you are considering the idea of learning English, don’t think twice and get started as soon as you can, especially now that you know what you need to do to find the best course for you. Speaking English will open many doors for you, don’t hesitate!
Translated by Melissa Bland
You may also be interested in reading:
6 razones para realizar un curso de inglés
¿Por qué me cuesta aprender inglés?
Ventajas de los métodos directos-comunicativos para aprender un idioma
¿Por qué aprender inglés en una academia?
conoció Callan cuando vivía y trabajaba en Londres en 1990, ha dedicado toda su vida a promover la enseñanza del inglés desde una visión mucho más práctica y exitosa que la que ofrecían los métodos tradicionales .
Cuando su trabajo en la escuela se lo permite, le gusta escapar a cualquier lugar del mundo.
Director of Callan School Barcelona for more than 30 years. Since she first found out about the Callan Method when she was living and working in London in 1990, Silvia has dedicated her entire life to promoting the teaching of English from a much more practical and successful perspective than that offered by traditional methods.
When her work at the school allows her, she likes to get away to trips to varied locations all over the world.
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