Nottingham Language Academy makes the grade with the British Council

Staff at Nottingham Language Academy are celebrating after the centre achieved British Council accreditation.

The quality standard has been awarded just over a year after the academy opened its doors at The Ropewalk in the city centre.

It means Nottingham Language Academy is now on a British Council approved list for teaching English as a foreign language.

Linda Walker, who launched the centre in September 2010, said: “We have had excellent feedback from the students who have learnt with us over the past year or so, but it is extremely pleasing to achieve the British Council accreditation.

“It gives Nottingham Language Academy a certain amount of status and kudos, and will also show future students that we are a place of learning that delivers results.”

The news comes as the academy also celebrates a number of new contracts with businesses across the region and abroad. It has been chosen to teach English to a group of French engineers working on a highly specialised project in the UK, to teach French to employees of an international retail organisation in the region, and will soon be teaching English to senior managers from Germany who are to attend intensive business courses at Nottingham Language Academy.

“The demand to learn and master English as a language continues to grow, as more people move abroad for work or leisure,” said Linda Walker. “We are pleased to be able to help our students achieve their goals, and to offer a service to businesses across the East Midlands and beyond who want to support their staff to develop their English or other language skills.”

Nottingham Language Academy provides bespoke ‘English as a Foreign Language’ training to businesses and individuals, as well as regular classes. It also offers English pronunciation classes during the day and the evening, as well as a range of English exam preparation classes such as First Certificate in English (FCE), Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which are required by many employers and universities.

In addition, the academy provides teaching in eight modern foreign languages, including French, Spanish, German, Italian and Japanese.
Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0115 9881318.

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English as a second language: Nottingham Language Academy launches summer schools

Nottingham Language Academy is expanding by launching its first summer schools.

The academy, which opened its doors last year, will be offering summer school sessions to teach English as a foreign language.

Aimed at people already living in the UK as well as those from overseas, classes will focus on general English, English for young learners and English for people hoping to teach English as a foreign language.

Running throughout June, July and August at the academy’s base in The Ropewalk, Nottingham, classes of no more than ten will learn in a structured and enjoyable way.

Courses include social activities including theatre and film visits as well as trips to London, Cambridge and Oxford. Trips will be tailored to suit individuals in each group, particularly the young learner groups.

For overseas students the academy is also offering to help arrange accommodation – with a local host as part of its Homestay scheme, in a guesthouse or hotel. It can also arrange pick-up services from East Midlands, Birmingham, Luton or Manchester airports.

“Our small class sizes and professional and highly experienced tutors mean students can get the most out of their time with us,” said Linda Walker, who runs the academy.

“We have summer schools to help those learning to teach English for the first time, those wishing to improve their English and youngsters aged from 10 to 17.

“The mix of in-class tuition and social activities will ensure all our students have a great time and staying in a British home can be the perfect way to practise your new language skills.”

The English Teacher Training Summer School offers over-18s 120 hours of tuition over four weeks starting on August 8. The course offers theory, teaching practise and observation. Participation in the whole four-week course is compulsory to achieve academy certification.

The General English Summer School has an ideal balance of structured learning and stimulating activities for the over-18s. It offers 15 hours of tuition and six hours of social activities each week. After initial assessment to place students at the correct level, they will develop all four language skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking – alongside grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

The Young Learners Summer School caters for students aged ten to 13 and 14 to 17 from beginner to proficient level. It includes 15 hours of English tuition and 11 hours of social activities each week.

Nottingham Language Academy offers tuition to individuals and businesses, and teaches English as a foreign language, as well as offering classes in the modern languages of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mandarin.

The modern foreign languages courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which now forms the basis of language teaching and learning in most European Union countries.

Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0330 333 6192.

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Polish politician joins English classes at Nottingham Language Academy

Polish marshal Marek Sowa – the Polish equivalent to a UK mayor - has spent three weeks at Nottingham Language Academy on an intensive course to improve his English.

As the Marshal of the Malopolska region of Poland, based in Krakow, he wanted to increase his knowledge of English and be able to communicate more fluently in the language.

So he opted to join classes at Nottingham Language Academy to help him deal more effectively with his role, which currently involves dealing with EU funding, investment and regional development and strategy.

“English is very important for my job,” said Marek. “I take part in meetings with other European regions and countries and I started learning English three years ago. Then I decided to come to England for a three-week intensive course.”

Marek stayed with a Woodthorpe family, and had six hours of lessons every day at Nottingham Language School.

“I found the lessons very interesting,” he said. “My English has improved and I had a good time. I was very happy with it and the teachers were good.”

He hopes the course will help him in his role as marshal.

“I’m involved in regional politics and development,” explained Marek. “Last year there was a lot of flooding in the region and we are now dealing with the damage. I also deal with EU funding, investment and regional development and strategy.”

Nottingham Language Academy, which is based in The Ropewalk, was recommended to Marek by a friend who owns a language school in Poland and who was taught English by one of the teachers at the academy.

“We were very pleased to have Marek as a student,” said Linda Walker, who is a Business Language Champion in the East Midlands and who launched the Nottingham Language Academy in September last year.

“He was a model pupil and it’s extremely satisfying for us, as well as for him, that his English has improved so much during the three weeks he spent with us.”

The school, which offers tuition to individuals and businesses, teaches English as a foreign language, alongside the modern languages of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Greek and Mandarin.

Classes are run during the day, evenings and at weekends, and are designed for people who want to improve their job prospects, travel and see the world, live and work abroad, gain a place at university or learn something new for the fun of it.

The modern foreign languages courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which now forms the basis of language teaching and learning in most European Union countries.

Nottingham Language Academy is based at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham. For more information visit www.nottinghamlanguageacademy.co.uk or call 0330 333 6192.

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