BAI Languages » How to select an English School

Whether you are new to English or following through on their long-pending resolution to learn the language, you should be aware of the criteria for selecting your academy. This can be a confusing endeavor for students and parents, and due to a lack of knowledge final decisions are often made based on price and location. While this is important, quality must be your number one consideration.

To make sure you make the right choice consider the following three points:

ASK QUESTIONS

Ask to see the classrooms, study areas, library, and get a “feel” for the school, but most importantly, ask to see the qualifications and teaching experience of the school’s teaching staff. When you are “shopping” for an academy in September, it is probably too early to know who your specific teacher might be, but students and/or parents should check to see if the staff are recent university graduates with little or no classroom experience, or are they dedicated and qualified professionals who have been practicing their trade for many years. This difference should be the most important factor in your choice of schools.

DETERMINE YOUR LEVEL OF ENGLISH

Before (never after) you sign up at any language academy, the academy should give you both a written and spoken entrance exam to determine your level of English. Immediately after taking this exam, ask what your level is and ask to be shown clearly where that level is within the framework of the academy’s plan of study. If you are interested in any of the Cambridge Exams, It should be clearly understood how many hours/courses you need to arrive at this level and how this is to be accomplished within the structure of the academy. (Cambridge Exams officials recommend approximately 600 hours of organised study starting from beginner level to arrive at a FCE pass level. For example, for an absolute beginner, that would mean six years of study in an academy offering 100 hours per course). .

INFORMATION

Perhaps the best way to get a feel for the school is to spend some time speaking with our staff, teachers and students who have chosen to study here. At the end of the day, the student’s evaluation is the best indicator of the work we do. Check out our student testimonials below to see what they have to say.

Why Study at the British American Institute?

With over 25 years of experience, up-to-date methodology, and highly qualified teachers we can help you reach your language goals. During this time thousands of satisfied students have passed through our doors, many of them passing one or more of the University of Cambridge Exams (link: testimonials).

Our students can choose from a range of courses, meeting the needs of almost every type of learner. Regardless of your age, your level or what you want to achieve, we have a course that is right for you.

As a British American Institute student, you have access to our friendly and helpful staff, library, exam practice materials, video (TV series and films), and travel agency. Our goal is to make learning an enjoyable experience and to encourage you to use English immediately—at home, at work, or when travelling.

But, the most compelling reason to study at the BAI is our experienced teachers (link: teachers).