English Language Teaching

Boarding schools and colleges have a great deal of experience of helping students improve their English language skills

The kind of English language support provided for students varies according to the kind of school or college they attend. It will also depend on their age and the academic programme they are following.

Support at schools and colleges

Mainstream boarding schools

Traditional UK boarding schools refer to English language teaching for international students as English as an Additional Language (EAL) or English as a Second Language (ESL). Most schools expect students to use only English while they are studying and although almost all boarding schools provide some English language teaching for international pupils, this provision varies a great deal from school to school.

It is important, therefore, to find out as much as possible about what the school or college provides, and what costs are involved, before making an application. Some schools charge extra for EAL teaching, but many now include at least some support in the basic school fees. When schools charge for EAL teaching, the cost of tuition varies, as do the qualifications and experience of the staff responsible, so check these details before enrolling at a school.

Independent schools try to offer a full curriculum of study to international students, but sometimes it may not be possible for a child who has not previously studied a subject to join a course. Schools may offer EAL instead of this subject or during the periods scheduled for English on the timetable. Independent schools often offer the opportunity for students to prepare for public exams such as the Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) exams, an IGCSE in English as a Second Language and the IELTS English test.

International study centres

International study centres specialise in preparing younger children and teenagers for a mainstream boarding school. Many study centres successfully prepare students to sit GCSE exams, helping them to get the grades needed to go on to study for A-levels or equivalent qualifications at a mainstream school. Study centres also take pupils who want a short experience of school in the UK. They are very flexible, and will accept pupils at different times of the year, at different ages and levels of English, and for different lengths of time.

Study centres are relatively expensive, because they provide intensive language teaching, often between 10and 18hours per week. Highly qualified teachers take very small classes of about six to eight pupils and often offer one-to-one tuition for individual students who need it. Tuition covers all aspects of the language and includes the use of idiom and pronunciation.

Many study centres enter their pupils for public exams in English language, such as the Cambridge ESOL exams. Pupils can take exams that are suitable for their age and level of English, even from a young age. The exam certificate provides an objective assessment of the pupil’s level of English. This helps mainstream schools to decide on the suitability of the candidate when a pupil applies for a place. English language teachers and educational institutions in most parts of the world also recognise such English language qualifications.

Pupils who are only in the country for a short experience of school life in the UK may be able to use the English language qualification to validate their experience while they have been absent from education in their home country. This is often especially important for older students. For more information on international study centres, please click here.

Tutorial and sixth-form colleges

Many independent tutorial colleges and sixth-form colleges specialise in academic programmes for international students. These colleges provide relevant tuition and English language support. Staff are professional specialists in teaching or caring for international students, and so have a real understanding of their particular needs. Many of the staff have lived and worked overseas, and therefore have had first-hand experience of language difficulties and culture shock.

Preparing for study in the UK

English language programmes

Pupils should consider attending a short English course before starting at a boarding school or college. Even if a school has offered a place, you must be realistic about the level of your child’s English. Can they write accurately about a complex topic in English? Can they speak fluently and join in a discussion with native speakers of English?

If they are not confident of their ability, an intensive English language programme before joining the school will be highly useful. Sometimes schools offer a place on condition that the pupil takes such a course.

The older the student, the more advisable it is to take a short course before joining boarding school or college. This is because such students need English for academic study in particular subjects, as well as to communicate more generally. Also, students taking GCSE or A-level exams need to have a high standard of English by the start of the course so that language problems do not affect their grades.

The British Council, through its Accreditation UK scheme in partnership with English UK, currently accredits over 560 UK private language schools, boarding schools, international study centres, colleges and universities. Accredited institutions are formally inspected by independent experts once every four years. Inspectors also make random and unannounced visits to such institutions.

Institutions must show that they have achieved and maintained high standards not only in teaching English but also in the care of the young people under their charge. You can find out more about the institutions accredited by the British Council under this scheme at www.educationuk.org/english or  www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation. Your local British Council office and reputable local agents can also advise on suitable English language courses in the UK. You can find details of your nearest British Council office here, and more on our British Council page. For details on VISA nationals, please visit here.

General study programmes

How can your child prepare for the study and teaching methods used in UK schools and colleges? They can either take a course in your own country before they leave, or enrol for one of the short programmes that are offered during the spring or summer holidays at UK boarding schools or international study centres. The advantage of taking a course in the UK, apart from the academic and recreation programmes, is that your child will have the opportunity to become acclimatised to the British way of life before the academic year begins. Look for a summer programme that is designed for students of the same age as your child and for their particular academic needs. A specialised course will offer leisure activities, sport and excursions, but should be relevant to the personal circumstances and needs of each student on that course. You can find out more about holiday courses at UK boarding schools here.