What to consider when choosing an English course

Most private language schools offer English courses that follow established programs accompanied by established textbooks. While this type of English course gives a structure to the student’s lessons, the downside of such an English course is inflexibility. Each student has different needs and not all units of the established textbook may be relevant to the student’s needs or to the student’s daily work or life. Another disadvantage is that many of the language schools have rigid level tables. After assessing a student’s level, they are assigned a course appropriate to their level and assigned a level after a certain number of lessons, even if they have not yet reached the next level. This means that the higher level English course could be too difficult for them, leading to a loss of confidence and demotivation.

At the beginning of an English course, it is important that each student sets some goals so that they have a focus and can measure their progress. These course objectives should be realistic and measurable. For example, ‘By the end of this English course, I will be able to give a business presentation fluently and confidently’.

For busy professionals in the city, perhaps the most convenient and efficient way to have English lessons is to have a personal teacher deliver lessons at home or at the workplace. The teacher and the student can agree on the most suitable time for the English course and the student does not have to travel to obtain a flexible and personalized course.