|
|
|
Personal learning
|
|
|
 |
|
Personalised learning – where students are taught on their own or with one other person – are a popular choice for the serious language learner in UK language schools, even in times of economic recession.
|
|
|
|
|
|
One-to-one courses are an easy add-on to our other existing courses and can be used to fine tune the orientation and content of a student’s course towards their own specialisations,” says David Jones from ETC International College in Bournemouth, voicing the opinion of many language schools that offer intensive personalised language courses along with more general course offerings.
One-to-one and two-to-one language courses are a common feature at many language schools in the UK and some report that they have offered such courses since their school was first set up. Stephanie Glasbergen from Lydbury English Centre says, “We have always offered one-to-one courses since we were established in 1985. Our two-to-one courses have arisen over the past five years due to an increased demand from students who want the effectiveness of individual attention for their specific purposes combined with a lower training budget.”
While attracting a higher price tag, individual language lessons with a dedicated teacher are seen by many students as an extremely cost-effective way of learning a language, especially for those where time constraints may be important. This is particularly true for corporate clients, as Glasbergen explains. “For the busy corporate company and growing businesses, language training is an investment in their employees,” she says. “Training on a one-to-one basis is seen to be much more effective as it can be individually tailored to the company’s requirements and thus improves international business and increases profits.”
A typical client for one-to-one or two-to-one language courses is one who has a serious reason for studying a language, according to Dean Jones from LAL Torbay, and are prepared to put in the groundwork for instant results. “Often students book intensive courses and then supplement the course with individual lessons to focus on specific elements of language, specialised topics or learner issues,” he says. “For example, a solicitor or lawyer may well book an intensive course to improve their general level of English and then take private lessons to focus on legal language. Typically, students that take private lessons are looking to improve their English for further study or to improve their career are aged 23-to-35.”
One-to-one classes have been available at LAL Torbay since the school first opened some 25 years ago. Jones adds, “There has always been a selection of our market willing to pay a slightly higher rate in order to benefit from individual attention.”
Jackie McGuire from Regent London says that the opportunity to take a one-to-one course as part of their language learning programme is available at all Regent schools. “They are most popular with our executive clients who are on a Business English course or an Intensive English course,” she says. “Around 40 per cent of our executive clients take one-to-one classes as part of their course.”
Most language schools feel that one-to-one or two-to-one courses are an essential part of their course offerings, even though they are often not part of the core business. Anton Borgen Davis from Globe English Centre in Exeter says, “[They] help us to attract new clients thanks to the flexibility they offer them.” Dean Jones goes further when he says that their student markets “expect for the school to have the facility for private lessons” and adds, “They are not significant from a financial point of view – the revenue from private lessons is lower than from group lessons – and when classroom space is limited by high student numbers in the summer only limited one-to-one lessons are available.”
The higher cost involved in studying on a one or two-to-one language course may put off some students, particularly in the current financial climate where students are more likely to be looking for bargains. Borgen Davis says that they have noticed a drop in demand recently, although he adds, “I do anticipate a rise long-term though as clients become more aware of the options open to them and seek a more personal service.”
Jones in Torbay believes that many students realise that more personal attention in a classroom setting can equate to better value for money and for this reason personal language courses will always be a popular option. “Students are very aware that the price of our private lessons is not significantly higher than the cost [to us in offering them] and I believe they are prepared to meet the price for the benefit of their work or educational career,” he says.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
