An effective option for those wishing to perfect their language skills is to take an English language course. The Indian Student's Editor investigates why each year over 300,000 students come to Britain for language training and why with a hundred years experience behind it, Britain can still confidently claim to be a world leader in the range and quality of courses available.

I would like to improve my English in the UK, where would I go to find a good course?

The British Council together with ARELS (the Association of Recognised English Language Schools), BASELT (the British Association of State English Language Teaching) run the ' English in Britain' Accreditation scheme for the 380 accredited private language schools and centres throughout the UK and also the various EFL (English as a Foreign Language) departments in the UK colleges and universities.

If a course is "English in Britain accredited" it means that it has been rigorously inspected by independent experts. That:

• The publicity materials accurately reflect the reality of the centre or course
• Students progress is accurately monitored
• The premises are safe and suitable for teaching
• The resources for learning (computers, work-sheets etc.) meet their academic standards
• The teachers are properly qualified
• The lessons are monitored by inspectors to see that the lessons are assisting the students with their English to a satisfactory level.

What age do you have to be to study English in Britain?

Language schools offer excellent courses for all ages including 'juniors' which combine a fun holiday with learning English. However, any other body apart from the British Council does not normally routinely inspect them. The British Council inspectors take the care and teaching of juniors very seriously, particularly when they are staying in the school's residential or home stay accommodation. They check that the homes they stay in are suitable, that they are properly supervised at all times and that people who shouldn't work with children don't have any access to them. They also check that the teachers are properly qualified and that the way younger students are being taught, and the leisure activities provided are suitable for their age group.

Where can I find information about the course available in the UK?

There are a number of resources available to help you find the course you want. A guide listing all the accredited centres, the 'English in Britain' Guide to Accredited Courses is available at most British Council offices overseas and also in the UK, as are the guides listing members of ARELS and BASELT, all of whom are accredited.

If you enjoy surfing the net, the same interactive database is available at www.EnglishinBritain.co.uk. Other useful website addresses include. www.baselt.org.uk and www.arels.org.uk

Are the EFL courses flexible at the centres?

One of the main advantages to the EFL courses in the UK is indeed their flexibility. Because of the variety of courses available their should always be a course to fit in with your own specific needs, so don't be shy in making your preferences known to the centre before you start. Many students tend to study English for Academic purposes and take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) to establish their proficiency in English to be able to join degree courses. Whereas other students may wish to learn or update their English purely for recreational purposes.

You can study in a group or one-to-one, intensively or in a more relaxed manner, focussing on speaking and listening or improving your writing and reading skills.

Wherever you feel you may need the work there will always be a course to suit you. One-to-one classes are very effective for some people, but others learn better in the friendly atmosphere of a class (and of course being in a class will help you to make friends - always an advantage if you are new to the country!)

Plenty of centres now specialise in 'Professional English, where you can learn English directly relating to your job. Intensive English courses are an ideal way of making rapid progress in a very short time. Comprising at least 30 lessons per week the course can be as long or as short as you want and can be taken at any time of the year. Another possibility is to do an 'English Plus' course, where you can study English for part of the day and another subject for the rest of your time.

Some people want a teacher who is young and enthusiastic, others want a more 'professional' approach from a mature and experienced teacher. You may want a teacher with qualifications in profession such as law or medicine as well as English. It really helps to spend a moment thinking about yourself as a learner (especially if you haven't followed a course for a while) what situations have helped you be a successful learner? What situations didn't work for you? Etc.

For more detailed information on studying English in Britain then contact one of the three main accrediting associations:

The British Council ARELS BASELT
10 Spring Gdns 56 Buckingham Gate Cheltenham + Gloucester
London London College of Higher Education
W1A 2BN SW1E 6AG Frances Close Hall
Swindon road, Cheltenham
GL53 4AZ
+44 (0) 1242 227 099 +44 (0) 207 930 8466 +44 0207 802 9200