8 RULES ON HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD ENGLISH SCHOOL:
1. Do not go by papers or magazine rankings.
These rankings are made without any trustworthy basis, very often according to questionnaires filled in by schools themselves and in many cases no one qualified verifies them. What's alarming is the fact that the names of any experts who rank the schools are kept secret. This is why we find so many surprising placements in the rankings, which are often clearly abused.
2. Look for the recommendations of known and recognized organisations that deal with the quality of teaching e.g. PASE in Poland and EAQUALS in Europe.
Schools certified by PASE and EAQUALS are checked by these institutions during visits lasting a few days. It is a very detailed visit made by recognised Polish and European linguists and teacher trainers (metodyk). They check every aspect of the school what it offers. Very often the Certificate is not given at once, only after any shortcomings have been adjusted. Obtaining the PASE and EAQUALS recommendation is a big distinction, and guarantee of teaching standards. If you are thinking of joining a school which is certified by these organisations you do not have to ask many important and essential questions because those questions were already asked by PASE and EAQUALS inspectors and they decided that you can trust that school.
3. If the school has not got the PASE and EAQUALS recommendation it is necessary to ask about:
- The qualifications of the teachers and teacher trainers
- What are the rules of enrollment ( it needs to be written test and interview or a recommendation from the previous year)
- “After classes” activities ( the school should provide extra activities like conversation groups, language workshops etc.)
- location (rooms where the classes are held should be bright and neat as well as comfortable and suitably furnished.wyposażenie
- Equipment ( free access to a library and the internet and a net classroom)
- Reliable methods of promotion and information (for example: check if your understanding lesson times is the same as the school’s, how many students can join the free conversation classes and who is leading it, what are the school regulations concerning failed exams - will you be given any money back?
4. Ask for “the teaching method” a particular school is using
There are many different methods of teaching , school can choose to use one or combine a few of them. It is important to know which method a particular school is using you have to think whether that method will suit you. Not everyone can stand constant repetition, others wouldn’t be happy with an archaic syllabus which was written a long time ago and cannot be changed. It is possible you will not feel good with constant individual work on computers, for example. Maybe the relaxation method is not suitable for you either because you need inspiration and energy given by work with teachers and the group.
5. Do not be satisfied with the answer: “Our school is using 'komunikatywn±' method”
It is a very common answer to the method question. But it is avoiding the answer. It is because the school itself might not know what kind of method they are using. It might happen when the school is really an intermediary between teachers and students. It gives a location and works as an intermediary collecting the money and passing it to teachers after collecting their share. In that case the method is not important to the company, and very often lays beyond the interest of the school. The school may not hire a director of studies because they think it is too much hassle or too expensive.
So every teacher uses a method which is comfortable for them because there are no inspections or care for the quality and level of teaching.
In that case asking for a method is pointless; as you will get the information that, the method is “modern communicative” approach. It is not good if a school cannot give a precise answer to the “method” question.
6. Notice that a school without a director of studies cannot guarantee nor think-through a path of education.
It is true that everything depends on a good teacher, his skills and personality. But a problem might occur when the following year a teacher changes. When the teacher is the only person to decide about the method you could be very disappointed.
7. Take great notice of the advertisement materials.
It should be written in clear and correct language. Leaflets and booklets should be on good quality paper. School which do not care about it’s promotional materials might as well do not care about other important things.
8. Notice how the school communicates with it’s clients and potential clients.
Incompetent service from the Reception Desk is a bad sign. Schools which do not train it’s employees might not care about other things.
And how do these rules apply to International House Integra?
Before we decided to stop taking part in magazine rankings because of the suspicious rules of verification, International House Integra was twice in the top 10 of the list in one of the top magazines.
Our schools are recommended by PASE (IH Katowice, IH Opole) and EQUALS (IH Wrocław) what is more IH Bielsko Biała since 2006 has been authorized to be a British Council Exam Centre. This means that we fulfil all the requirements concerning teachers’ qualifications, teaching methods, enrolment rules, payment flexibility and reliable information and truthful advertisements.
We teach using the International House method. John Haycraft – linguist, writer, journalist and cosmopolitan, created it. It was accepted by British …Association, and than accepted as basis for methodology courses at Cambridge University.
This has popularised the IH method to the extent that it seems like it has always existed. However, when it was created in 1954 it was something new, even revolutionary. This method teaches you not about the language, rather it teaches you to use the language, in order to communicate. The core of the International House method is that most important is the person who is using the language not the language itself.
The idea of practical language teaching is based on a simple assumption: we only use English during classes. New words and phrases are introduced in “real-life” situations – presented through miming, drawings, examples or mini-drama.
Apart from that, we also use traditional methods involving vocabulary, grammar, listening and reading comprehension, and homework. We inform our students about the progress they are making (in case of kids we inform their parents). After finishing the course, all students receive a certificate from International House, which is widely recognized.
One lesson stands for 45 minutes. According to IH standards, each class consists of no more than 12 students, and we cannot organize lessons beyond this. We guarantee students who pass our inside-school exam will pass the Cambridge exam. We do not offer free conversations because of the high numbers of enrollment. However, they are available for an additional fee.
This year once again we offer 12 scholarships for most talented teenagers. We call this our “Champion Group”. Patronage of Mr Alan Stretton, a British Consul, “Gazeta Wyborcza” and Pearson Education Poland.
In addition, we guarantee that any student who passes our IH in-school exam will pass the cambridge exam. Our excellent reception staff is highly informed in the kind of courses we have on offer and will be glad to offer you assistance or provide any information you may need. We employ consultants who by themselves or with help of metodyk can help and inform.
