English Colleges in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is found on the southern tip of Africa, bordered by the Atlantic and Indian ocean, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. South Africa gained independence from the UK in 1961 and is constituted by a huge variety of religions, cultures, ethnicities, and languages. English is the most common language spoken for business and official business, however there are 10 other official languages (half of which are more commonly spoken at home than English). These include Afrikaans, Southern Ndenele, Northern and Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. South Africa is a constitutional democracy which rejoined the Commonwealth when the African National Congress (ANC) came to power in 1994.
There is plenty to see and do in South Africa- from extreme sports to ecotourism to safaris. You can try crocodile cage diving, elephant walks, and green hunting (with darts for scientific research). South Africa is not only culturally diverse but also offers a huge diversity in flora and fauna as well. Some of the animals you can expect to see are lions, leopards, impalas, giraffes, and white rhinos.
English College in Cape Town
Cape Town is located on Table Bay and is the second biggest city in South Africa as well as its legislative capital. It is a popular destination for tourists because of famous landmarks such as Table Mountain ( a mountain that is actually table-shaped!) and Cape Point (where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans converge).
One English college in Cape Town is GEOS Cape Town, which caters for 100 students across courses such as General English, Intensive English, Business English, CAE preparation, and more. With small classes of up to 12 students, fun leisure activities, magnificent views, teachers and students from around the globe, and a school that is conveniently located at the heart of the city…GEOS Cape Town is an excellent choice for improving your language skills in South Africa.
TOEFL
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language
The Test of English as a Foreign Language is used to prove your English proficiency if you are a non-native speaker and are seeking enrolment at English-speaking universities or employment at English-speaking businesses and government agencies. The test is administered worldwide and only takes one day to complete.
TOEFL tests English skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing. The reading section has 3 passages on academic topics and then questions testing your comprehension of the text. In the listening section you will have to listen to two student conversations and four academic discussions, then answer questions that test that you have understood what you have heard. The speaking section consists of 2 different approaches: firstly the applicant is asked opinion questions and they must respond verbally, secondly the applicant has to read a passage, listen to another passage, and tell how they are related. Finally, the writing section tests skills through an essay and another integrated task.
It is advised that applicants prepare for the TOEFL test by improving their English language skills at an English school before applying. However if you do not achieve the score that you need, you can always resit the test after 7 days.
Why take the TOEFL test?
TEOFL is very widely accepted (almost every university in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK relies on TOEFL scores) for admissions and employment decisions. This is because the test is fair and accurate, with a consistent experience across the 4000 test centres. Furthermore, when the tests are being marked they are anonymous to ensure objectivity and preventing bias. The markers are all ETS (Educational Testing Service) certified experts as well.
As well as being unbiased, it tests practical skills that are actually used in day-to-day activities, academia, and the business world. It ensures that you can comprehend and communicate in English easily.
Learning English in Singapore
Why Singapore?
Singapore is an island and a city-state in South East Asia, at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Its closest neighbours are Malaysia and Indonesia. It is composed of 63 islands and the official languages are English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. It has a population of almost 5 million and is very cosmopolitan including Malay, Indian and Chinese populations. Its climate is tropical (which means its generally hot and sunny) with two monsoon seasons of heavy rains.
Singapore was a British colony from 1824 til Japanese rule during World War II, then again after 1945. It finally gained independence, merged with several other islands to form Malaysia, but then broke away in 1965 to form the Republic of Singapore. It is now a parliamentary democracy and has developed rapidly over the last few decades as one of the ‘East Asian Tigers’. Its major industries include electronics, financial services, petroleum refining, and offshore platform construction. It is now the 5th wealthiest nation in the world by GDP per capita (per person), with a very high standard of living which also pushed it to be the tenth most expensive city in the world to live in after Tokyo and Osaka.
Due to its varied heritage Singapore can boast of many attractions, including the various exotic adventures to be found in the ethnic enclaves such as exploring Chinese antiques, Arab bazaars, or Indian spices.
Studying English in Singapore
Singapore is a great place to study as it has invested heavily in education, resulting in world-class schools, universities and training-institutions. There are also polytechnic colleges and international colleges where students can study a curriculum similar to their native country. One of the unique features of Singapore’s education system is its large proportion of international students from over 120 nationalities, making it a diverse and cosmopolitan community where students can experience different cultures, languages, and cuisine. As English is one of Singapore’s official languages it makes it an ideal and exotic destination to study English as a second language.