Defining the best option to study English can be overwhelming, everyone assures they have the formula for you to learn the language even in a short period of time (in this article we don’t question that) however, remember your learning progress will mainly depend on you, and in a less proportion on the language school.
So, what are the main factors you should consider when choosing the program or institution to study English, here’s a list I propose for you.
- Confirm that the school’s learning program adheres to internationally recognized standards.
- Do they issue a nationally or internationally recognized certificate authenticating the level of proficiency in the language?
- Number of class hours or length of the course offered to acquire the desired level.
- The school timetable is flexible or fixed?
- Individual, group, online or in-person class proposal.
- Do teachers have certifications? What is their profile?
- What’s the school experience? How long ago was the institution founded?
- Do they have a placement test for your level of English so that you don’t start from scratch? (only if this is your case).
- Do they give you a free trial class or a demo class to experience interaction with the teacher and the platform?
- Can the lesson package be canceled at any time? Are there any penalties for canceling? Refund system?
- What is the school’s contact media? Do they have testimonials from companies or students to support their services?
- The school’s teaching method is adapted to my learning style and needs?
1. Confirm that the school’s learning program adheres to internationally recognized standards.
First of all, it is important to know what the school’s standards are, each one has to follow proven guidelines to determine the level of the language acquired by its students; in other words, it must be clear to define how much you master a language in the four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) by the end of your course.
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR); this scale is used as a reliable point of reference for describing competencies in different languages, including English, is widely accepted throughout Europe and is becoming increasingly common in the rest of the world. This detailed system was officially published in 2001 and was developed by the European Council and the support of Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at the University of Cambridge; it is divided into six levels (A0: Beginner, A1-A2: Basic, A2-B1: Pre-intermediate, B1: Intermediate, B2: Intermediate-High, C 1-C2: Advanced).
There is also another model called the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines (ACTFL), this scale was developed by the FSI (Foreign Service Institute) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in 1986, they designed a description of what people can do with the language in terms of speaking, writing, listening and reading in real-world situations in a spontaneous and unrehearsed context. It is divided into 11 levels (rookie low, medium or high, intermediate low, medium or high, advanced low, medium or high, and, higher).
So, remember these are the guidelines that the language school follows, consequently, students will be able to prove their level of English, some schools will even be able to issue an official document, or you will have to take an exam to get the certification at an approved application center.
2. Do they issue a nationally or internationally recognized certificate authenticating the level of proficiency in the language?
Some schools may issue certificates of the levels you have completed at their institute, however, to officially check your proficiency in the language, you need to submit an exam that is valid nationally or internationally. Few institutes are also registered as “test centers” to take such tests on specific dates, however, this will represent an extra cost for your English course. Nowadays, more and more job vacancies are requesting a language certification as part of their requirements, so choosing which certificate is right for you will depend on your personal goals.
In addition, language schools also offer preparation courses for various language certification examinations.
3. Number of class hours or length of the course offered to acquire the desired level.
The time to finish an English course or any other language course varies greatly, depending on the student’s perseverance and personal interest in learning it; however, within the range of language existing schools, what you will be able to find are packages or plans that will help you reach the level of English you want in a short period of time.
Let’s say that some plans may be more intensive than others, however, this will depend primarily on your availability, as you would expect «the more, the merrier» if you have more exposure to a language (listening to it constantly), the greater your chances of becoming familiar and comfortable with it.
4. The school timetable is flexible or fixed?
It may seem obvious but, this is a way to rule out options that do not fit your needs, here you will find alternatives of face-to-face or virtual/online courses; or, a combination of both.
Usually, face-to-face courses are set at fixed times (morning, afternoon, Saturday) and, at the school’s premises, you may also hire a teacher for private classes setting the meeting place and schedule.
And, of course, the most popular format today, online classes, practically here you have the simplicity to choose your schedule, the most competitive options give you alternatives 24 hours a day.
Just as an additional note, if you choose the online format, it is vital to take into account the technical requirements so that taking the virtual classes won’t turn out a complete headache, you can consult this without any problem with the language school, however, the most basic requirements are usually:
- Internet connection: wired (for a more stable connection, the most advisable) or wireless.
- Broadband (3G or 4G / LTE).
- Minimum speed is 10 Mb (More than 30 Mb would be much better).
- Built-in microphone or with USB or Bluetooth wireless connector (hearing aids with a microphone would be ideal).
- HD webcam or webcam integrated or with USB connector.
5. Individual, group, online or in-person class proposal.
Language schools have understood that the fewer students there are in each group, the greater the individual benefit, which is why, among the options, you will find private lessons one on one; or, small groups, the range is between 3 and 6 students per class or the maximum up to 12 students (for face-to-face classes).
Along with the next point, one issue to consider that will also depend on your preference will be your classmates’ profile; for instance, do you prefer classmates from your country or would it be more helpful to talk to classmates from all over the world?
In language schools with a global reach, you will have greater opportunities to interact with people from different countries and thus hear a language with a variety of “accents”.
6. Do teachers have certifications? What is their profile?
If you choose a school created in your country, you will most likely find teachers of the same nationality, of course, this does not diminish their quality, since some teachers have long careers that include certifications and hours of teaching experience. Moreover, in this type of school, the requirements of their teachers vary, some institutes will require specific certifications showing evidence of proficiency in the language, verifiable pedagogical skills or credentials, or some academic degree.
On the other hand, schools that offer only online classes have been created in countries such as France, Ukraine, Canada, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the USA, Venezuela, the United Kingdom, among others; these schools are familiar with a global recruitment mechanism having a base of teachers from and located in different parts of the world. By this, I mean that in addition to requirements such as certifications and qualifications in teaching, you will be able to find native teachers.
Of course, the more specific the requirements for school teachers, the greater prestige and competitiveness they will gain from the range of options available.
7. What’s the school experience? How long ago was the institution founded?
We all have heard – or used – some sayings “like good wine, gets better with age” or “With age comes wisdom”, to say basically, within the time you´ll know something backward and forwards, therefore you will optimize any process.
In contrast, you may think that the new is usually innovative, avant-garde and, more adaptable to today’s technological needs, and that’s also a valid point, so again, this will depend on your criteria and what you’re looking for.
8. Do they have a placement test for your level of English so that you don’t start from scratch? (only if this is your case).
The answer is YES, all schools make an initial diagnosis of the level of English you have, in several of the options they even invite you to take this test for free through a form on their website, so you can do your studies without having to start with the basics.
9. Do they give you a free trial class or a demo class to experience interaction with the teacher and the platform?
This experience will be very valuable and, in the same way, increasingly implemented by language schools according to their policy of customer satisfaction.
Some language schools handle this experience by means of scheduled appointments with a teacher so that you can have real interaction and learn about the design of their platform; others, broadcast sample classes of what a live class looks like through their social media or web pages. And, finally, there are schools that prefer to offer you a free 7-day trial, however, you will need to carefully check the policies of the school about canceling the service in case you are not convinced, otherwise, after the trial period, most will charge you automatically without consulting you.
10. Can the lesson package be canceled at any time? Are there any penalties for canceling? Refund system?
This is another critical point I’d suggest taking into account because circumstances in your life can change; however, don’t forget, the progress of becoming proficient in any language will depend on your level of commitment and how much you take advantage of all the resources the school provides as part of your learning.
But, if you find yourself in the need to pause or cancel your course or classes, read carefully the cancellation and refund policies of the school. Such information is usually public through the school media platforms, institutions with good profiles will bet for transparency, openness, clarity, and understanding from the get-go; so, in case you don’t find this information first-hand you have the right to request some guidance directly with the school as well.
11. What is the school’s contact media? Do they have testimonials from companies or students to support their services?
When a school is national, i.e. it has facilities in your own country, so you can easily find the address or contact number of the school located near you, therefore, be able to go physically to the school on its various social platforms or official media.
Besides this, it is also vital to know the ways of contact you can have in addition to being able to go physically to the school, this information applies to all options, however, it becomes extra important especially if you choose an online language school based in another country. For these cases, the following means of contact are very common:
- E-mails.
- Social networks (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram, etc.)
- Official website.
- Blogs.
- Online help chats on the website.
- Contact form on website.
- Contact telephone for customer service (less common, but possible).
Don’t forget to check the number of followers the school has on their social networks, even you will be able to notice the acquaintances/friends you have who also follow the school’s page, and in that way, to connect with that person to learn about their experience, this is very valuable.
EXTRA POINT: If you want to be even more thorough check if in your country it is possible to consult the commercial history of any institution; for example, in MEXICO, the Federal Consumer Procurator’s Office (PROFECO) in its section “Comercial History” (Buró Comercial in Spanish) allows you to review the complaints received or the main reasons why clients complain according to each registered company, you can also see how many of them have been solved. This will help you set precedents of the company and allow you to make a more informed decision. Also through this same institution, it is possible to review how virtual stores are being monitored, allowing consumers to check whether these sites that carry out transactions through digital commerce comply with the provisions contained in the Federal Law on Consumer Protection, for more information check HERE.
12. The school’s teaching method is adapted to my learning style and needs?
As a final point, I invite you to do a self-analysis of the reasons why you need or want to study a particular language.
If you are already single-minded about learning a language, I invite you to do a self-analysis and ask yourself how do I learn best? That’s right, have you ever wondered this? Perhaps on your path as an apprentice you’ve heard that there are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic students.
Basically, we’re talking about how the learning process varies for everyone, and if you have better self-knowledge of what type of learner you are, it will also help you choose the language school that offers a style of teaching more suited to you.
Answer this simple form to find out what type of apprentice you are.