Checklist of a good language centre

How can I be sure that a language school offers quality services?

• Make sure that the school is recognised by the Department of Education. Recognised schools are being inspected on a regular bases to guarantee that lessons are educationally sound, teachers fully qualified and the overall running of the school is based on the students’ needs.
   
• Try to find a school, which is also a member of a recognised association of language schools, such as MEI-Relsa in Ireland. Directors of these schools meet regularly to discuss curricula and teaching methods, to keep up to date with current trends and more.
   
• Small classes are the key to success! A language needs to be spoken. Avoid classes with 12 or more in a group. The smaller the classes the bigger the learning effect.
   
• Contact with people from different cultures gives you the chance to practise your English also outside the classroom. It expands your horizons and offers a variety of possibilities. Try to find a school with a good mix of nationalities.
   
• Try to find a small school, where students and teachers know each other and enjoy socialising during break time and in their free time. Teachers and fellow students will be happy to introduce you to the best pubs and restaurants in town, to local clubs, parties and more. In big centres students cannot get the same support.
   
• The location of the school can be important as well. If the town is very small and quiet there might not be enough to do in your free time. Big cities can be very impersonal and it is often difficult to make friends. Ideal for language learning is a friendly and lively town, where you won’t feel bored but where people have still time for each other and enjoy making new friends.
   
• If you do not like to share classes with youngsters, make sure you book a course tailored towards adult students only.