Archive for the ‘English colleges in South Africa’ Category
You are currently browsing the archives for the English colleges in South Africa category.
2
Nov
2009
Learning English in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second biggest city in South Africa, its most popular international tourist destination and even the most popular tourist destination for the continent. It has a great climate, beautiful surrounds and well-developed infrastructure. While English is the most common language spoken for to conduct business, there are ten other official languages as well. The city is located on the shore of Table Bay, on Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans converge.
Tourist attractions include Table Mountain and Table Mountain National Park, a flat-topped mountain surrounded by steep cliffs, overlooking the city. Visitors can hike to the top, or alternatively take the cableway. The National Park, proclaimed in 1998 to protect the rare fynbos vegetation, contains two main attractions: the Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. The latter is the southwesternmost point of Africa, a rocky headland on the Atlantic Coast, and one of the major milestones for the Portuguese in 1488 in their attempt to establish direct trade relations with the Far East.
GEOS Cape Town
The GEOS Cape Town Language Centre is conveniently located at the heart of the city and offers a range of English language courses. Their courses are taught by highly qualified teachers, combined with a variety of fun activities and range from beginners to advanced English speakers:
- General English
- Intensive English
- Business English
- English for Tourism and Catering
- English for Business and Commerce
- English and Surfing
- English and Scuba Diving
- IELTS Exam Preparation
- TOEFL Exam Preparation
- Cambridge Exam Preparation
- Private Lessons
- Young Learners Program
- Tour Groups
Students are tested on their first day at the school then placed in a course most suitable for their level of English language skills. The classes are small ensuring individual attention and support, and progress is regularly monitored to make sure students are getting the most out of their course. The college provides a range of social activities including excursions around the city, school parties, sporting activities and barbeques.
23
Oct
2009
GEOS Oceania English Colleges
GEOS Oceania
The GEOS International Group has English language colleges around the world, including Europe, North America, Canada, Asia and Oceania. These colleges offer quality language teaching with highly qualified and experienced English teachers, professional accredited courses (such as CAE, TOEFL, IELTS), modern facilities in exciting and attractive locations, and flexible starting dates. The colleges often offer holiday programmes as well, with courses that combine sightseeing or a particular activity (e.g surfing, cooking, dancing) with English lessons.
GEOS International Colleges Oceania has English language schools in countries within the South Pacific, such as South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. These colleges have a reputation for providing students with outstanding teaching ensuring that student’s language goals are achieved, in combination with exciting cultural experiences. All the colleges are located in cities that have much to offer, from sightseeing to live entertainment, shopping, and various activities.
Oceania Colleges
GEOS Oceania’s Australian colleges are situated in Sydney (NSW, since 1973), Cairns (Qld, since 1995), Brisbane (Qld, since 1987), the Gold Coast (Qld, since 1997), Adelaide (SA, since 2006), Perth (WA, since 1991) and Melbourne (VIC, since 1997) - most of the Australian states in fact. New Zealand has GEOS colleges in Auckland (established in 1984), Christchurch (established 1997) and Wellington (established 2003).
The Sydney GEOS college started out in Bondi Junction and how has 3 other locations as well, all within easy access to public transport and the city centre. The Cairns college caters for approximately 220 students, and is right in the centre of the City with plenty of excitement available. The Brisbane college is situated over the Brisbane River, and located only a short walk away from cafes and shopping centres. The Gold Coast is famous for its beaches, and the college is only a 2 minute walk from Surfers Paradise beach. Adelaide is a beautiful parkland city, and the college is close to beaches as well as shopping and cinemas. Both the Perth and Melbourne colleges are in prime locations as well, perfect for combining tourism with education.
3
Aug
2009
Educational Agencies for Overseas Study
Educational Agencies
There are many details to organise when travelling overseas, and even more so when preparing to study overseas. From accommodation, to colleges, courses, the country and city you’ll be living in, transportation, flights, visa applications and more- planning to study abroad can be overwhelming. However, you can get help with your planning from an educational agency that specialises in organising overseas study.
Always choose a reputable agency to help you though as the decisions you make can have very important consequences. One way of determining the reliability of the agency is to check whether they belong to a national association that sets standards for the industry. It is often better to choose an educational agency that has been established for a number of years and has experience. Additionally, well-established agencies often thrive because their customers are happy with their services and so continue to use them, as well as giving referrals to friends and family.
Studying Overseas
Studying overseas, whether independently or through a student exchange program, has many benefits for students. Primarily it encourages independence and self-reliance as you go without friends or family. That doesn’t mean that you are without support, as many exchange programs have extensive support mechanisms in place. However it will mean that you will develop responsibility, initiative, maturity, and confidence as you learn to make decisions on your own. Of course you will also hopefully meet lots of new people and form new friendships through your studies. If you are learning a language you will also learn much more rapidly as you are completely immersed in a foreign culture.
Just as you would prepare to travel abroad, studying abroad will require you to do some research as well. Even if you are using an educational agency, you will still need to make decisions about where you want to go, which college or university to study at, and what type of accommodation you will need.