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UK Feedback
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UK language schools attract an impressive mix of nationalities to their classrooms and ensure that no one nationality dominates.
UK feedback at a glance
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Total number of students: (female 52, male 37, unknown 9) 98
Average age in years: 25.6
Average length of programme in weeks: 23
Average number of students in class: 10.6
Average number of hours of language tuition per week: 19.7
% of students who found out about their course through an agent: 37
% of students who booked through an agent or adviser: 50
% of students who had been on another language programme: 29
% of students who would recommend their school: 94
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| Respondents by world region of origin |
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Top nationalities |
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1. Asia 37%
2. W Europe 25%
3. Latin America 16%
4. C & E Europe 12%
5. Africa 3%
6. Middle East 2%
No reply 5%
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1. Korean 9%
1. Thai 9%
3. Turkish 7%
3. Colombian 7%
5. Brazilian 6%
5. Japanese 6%
5. Spanish 6%
8. French 5%
9. Swiss 3%
9. Italian 3%
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| In my class there are... |
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How easy is it to practise English with native speakers? |
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1. The right amount of students (52%)
2. Too many students (20%)
3. Too many students from one other country (15%)
4. Too many students who speak my language (9%)
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1. Quite hard (49%)
2. Quite easy (30%)
3. Very hard (13%)
4. Very easy (6%)
No reply (2%) |
| How did you find your programme? |
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Did you book your course through an agent or an educational adviser?
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1. It was recommended by an agent (37%)
2. It was recommended by a friend/relative (36%)
3. I found it on the Internet (20%)
4. I saw it advertised (6%)
No reply1% |
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Yes (50%)
No (46%)
Unknown (4%)
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Student reasons for school selection included:
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“The school offers a great variety of courses”
“The area is safe and the school has a good reputation”
“It was recommended by an agency and also because it is small and familiar”
“Good price and good location next to the beach”
“It was the cheapest school and there aren’t many Japanese students here”
“The school had its own student residence”
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| Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study? |
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Country
Yes (80%)
No (12%)
Unknown (8%)
City/town
Yes (58%)
No (31%)
Unknown (11%)
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School
Yes (32%)
No (55%)
Unknown (13%)
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Student nationality
A significant finding regarding the nationality mix of students taking part in this year’s Feedback survey on the UK was the decrease in the percentage of Middle Eastern students. Last year’s survey recorded a surge in student numbers from this world region, particularly from Libya which accounted for 6.5 per cent of total students and was number four in the list of top nationalities (see LTM, May 2007, pages 16-17). In the current survey, Middle Eastern students made up just two per cent of the total student body, compared with 15 per cent previously. Overall, 32 different nationalities were represented in our survey this year, down from 40 last year, although the nationality mix remained highly diverse with no single nationality making up more than nine per cent of total student numbers. Thai students replaced Chinese students as the joint-top nationality this year, sharing the top spot with Korean students and making up nine per cent of the student body. Chinese students made up just one per cent of students this year, down from seven per cent previously.
Student motivation
The largest group of respondents (37 per cent) described themselves as being students this year, down from 53 per cent last year, while a further 19 per cent described themselves as professionals and nine per cent were business people. Despite this, the average length of stay per student actually grew from 15.9 weeks previously to 23 weeks this year, with the largest group (38 per cent) studying for between 20 and 39 weeks. A further 14 per cent of respondents were studying for 40 weeks or more. The percentage of students saying that they were already using English in a work or study environment was evenly split at 38 per cent each, but 43 per cent said that they were learning the language for current or future work purposes. Just 20 per cent of respondents were intending to go on to further studies in the UK, which is surprising given the long average length of stay recorded.
Student enrolment
Agent usage was down among our survey respondents this year, with 37 per cent saying that they found out about their school through an agent and 50 per cent booking their course through an agent (down from 53.5 per cent and 60 per cent respectively last year). Instead, friend and family recommendations gained in popularity as a means of finding a language programme overseas, as this method was used by 36 per cent of respondents, compared with 26 per cent last year.
Standard of the schools
Class sizes ranged from four to 16 students and averaged out at 10.6, yet 20 per cent of respondents still thought that there were too many individuals in their class. Despite such an even spread of nationalities, nine per cent complained that there were too many students of their own nationality present. Turkish, Korean, Japanese, Colombian and Thai students were among those that shared this opinion.
Living in the UK
The cost per week of language tuition in the UK averaged out at £258.90 (US$523) and 86 per cent of respondents found the cost of living in the UK to be higher than in their own countries. Many respondents (49 per cent) also found it quite hard to practise their English with local people although a further 36 per cent found it to be either quite easy or very easy.
TThank you to the following schools for participating in our survey: Active Learning, London; Capital School of English, Bournemouth; CES Swandean, Worthing and London; Embassy CES, Brighton; Kaplan Aspect, Cambridge, London and Edinburgh; LAL Torbay, Devon; Language upon Thames, London; Live Language, Glasgow; Manchester Academy of English, Manchester.
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Contact any advertiser in the this issue now
The following language schools, associations and accommodation providers advertised in the latest edition of Language Travel Magazine. If you would like more information on any of these advertisers, tick the relevant boxes, fill out your details and send.
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