BLC Blog

As a language school we have readily adopted many forms of social media as they are a great way of communicating and this enables us to reach our audience in a way they are familiar with. BLC can be found talking daily on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. However, the use of language is very different within social networks – do you know what RL, ROFL, LOL and tweet mean for example?

Do you find them useful aspects of language or hard to understand? Can you think of more examples of such phrases? You can give your examples and discuss whether you like using this type of language on our new online learning platform: Planet Bubble.

Bubble has just been launched to allow the learning of our students to continue beyond their time at BLC. Combining the fun of social media with the rigour of studying its aim is to encourage peer learning.

Anyone learning English can sign up using a simple form, giving you access to a wide range of language problems to discuss. These language tasks focus on popular topics, such as the identity of Banksy and the Occupy protest for example. There is also a place to chat with other English language learners and you can help others with their language questions. Have a look for yourself and become one of the early Bubblers!

The autumn term has been an eventful time for us here at BLC. To start with in September BLC was represented at both Alphe and Study World and we really enjoyed meeting new partners and potential new ones. We would like to congratulate those who won an award during the Star awards ceremony, including one of our valued partners ESL – it proved to be a fantastic evening!

Then Seonaid our Director travelled to Berlin in October for ICEF – an event we never miss. This was a great opportunity to launch our new BLC brand which we’ve been developing alongside our expansion and refurbishment.

November saw the BLC re-launch event taking place, where around 60 people including agents, hosts, students and suppliers had a taste of what we do. They all took part in the sample English language lessons on offer and had a tour of the school, which now has an urban art mural as well as 18 modern classrooms and 2 multi-media centres.

We’re now preparing for an event of a different kind: Christmas! Let’s hope the New Year brings many more new partnerships and continued growth of the school.

Due to the recent success of the English language evening classes, we are pleased to confirm dates throughout 2012.

Would you like to perfect your English skills for business? Need to improve your English to get a job? Or perhaps you would like to learn conversational English in order to meet people in Bristol? Or maybe you need to gain a certificate to demonstrate your level but don’t have the time during the day?

Whatever the reason, the BLC has a class for you! We offer evening classes to fit around your busy schedule, whether you are a busy working professional, parent or someone who would like to learn a new skill.

With classes on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6-7.30pm you can choose General English: a fun, practical course, Business English: focusing on real-life business situations and vocabulary, or the Cambridge FCE or CAE exam course: useful if you want to work in Europe using English.

The dates and prices are as follows:

10th January for 10 weeks - £300

3rd April for 10 weeks - £300

18th September for 12 weeks - £350

If you would like to find out more, go to our website or call now to book a class: 0117 929 2233. You can also apply online. We look forward to welcoming you to BLC.

Gavin is our Social Programme Co-ordinator and he recently got back from a trip to Japan to help the people affected by the Tsunami. He talks about his experience:

“I spent two years teaching English in Japan. The people, culture and history of Japan has given me so much, and for this reason I felt it was only right that I try to give something back. I chose a project through a good friend of mine with the YMCA and raised just over £1000 to fund my trip by selling paintings online.

The experience was emotional, incredibly heart-warming, inspirational, frustrating, enlightening, I could go on. Trying to communicate my feelings to people who lost so much was very difficult. The spirit and strength of character that the people of Tohoku have is humbling to say the least. I met some incredible individuals along the way. It is an experience I will carry with me always.

There is still so much to be done in that part of the world. The biggest immediate problem facing them is social breakdowns amongst communities, as hundreds of thousands of homes have been destroyed and people have been relocated to temporary housing, living with new neighbours from different parts of the affected areas.

Essentially the people of Tohoku want the world to learn its story, and not forget, that the struggle to rebuild is still very much alive.”

Gavin with Yamazaki san

The Bristol Language Centre has a fresh new look. Re-named BLC our school is undergoing a complete refurbishment and expansion, to create a school with a capacity of 250 students, from a previous 140. At the same time are re-branding in bold colours to reflect our dynamic, innovative approach to education.

The modern school will be able to offer 18 well-equipped classrooms, many with interactive whiteboards, two state-of-the-art multimedia centres with 24 computers in total, a new canteen and reception area for students and complete redecoration in bright new colours.

The Bristol Language Centre was founded in 2004 and has grown considerably since then, accepting students from all over the world. Founder and Director Seonaid Birkett commented:

“The English language sector is constantly changing and it is important that we evolve and adapt to continue to provide the best experience for our students. As the international language of commerce and diplomacy, the English language is vital to our students’ education and future. By learning English in Bristol, our students bring overseas income into the UK, and contribute directly to local families and businesses. English UK demonstrated that in 2010 the value of the ESL sector to the economy in Bristol was nearly £25m and in the UK as a whole it was 2bn.”

Would you like to perfect your English skills for business? Or perhaps you would like to learn conversational English in order to meet people in Bristol? Or maybe you need to gain an FCE or CAE certificate but don’t have the time during the day?

Whatever the reason, the Bristol Language Centre can help. We offer evening classes to fit around your busy schedule, whether you are a busy working professional, parent or someone who would like to learn a new skill.

With classes on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6-7.30pm you can choose General English: a fun, practical course, Business English: focusing on real-life business situations and vocabulary, or the Cambridge FCE or CAE exam course: useful if you want to work in Europe using English.

If you would like to find out more – come to our open day on Tuesday 6^th September, 6-8pm. You will have the chance to try a short sample lesson, take a test to establish your level of English and there will be free drinks and nibbles. Call now to reserve your space or to book a class: 0117 929 2233. We look forward to welcoming you to BLC.

We’ve just said farewell to our first group of juniors and the Summer season is flying by as we are being kept so busy!

They participated well in the morning lessons and continued the active social programme in the afternoons. In their last week they sampled The Lanes – an American-style bowling centre and had a trip to a traditional English seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare where they saw the pier, a sand sculpture competition and tried some lovely fish and chips. They took part in crazy golf and shopping at the popular Cabot Circus and learnt about Welsh life in Cardiff at the Castle, as well as seeing the famous Millennium Stadium.

We were really pleased to see the positive feedback from the juniors, with many saying they would like to come back next year. As Miguel Martinez Aransay, (aged 17 from Spain) commented: “The classes were very good. I learnt a lot of English. The teacher was perfect - he taught us a lot. The afternoon activities were good too.” See you next summer!

The next phase of changes to the Tier 4 student visas began on the 4^th July 2011, as outlined in our earlier blog from March. From now on the UKBA are going to make the following changes which will affect English language schools:

• restrict work entitlements to migrants studying at higher educational institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges only;
• restrict the sponsorship of dependants to those studying at postgraduate level at HEIs on courses lasting at least 12 months, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting at least 6 months;
• require education providers to vouch that a new course represents genuine academic progression;
• ensure that maintenance funds are genuinely available to the applicant, by introducing a declaration on the visa application form;
• commit to publish a list of financial institutions that they consider, on the basis of experience, do not verify financial statements to their satisfaction;
• introduce a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals applying to attend courses with Highly Trusted Sponsors.

The Bristol Language Centre is classed as a Highly Trusted Sponsor by the UKBA. We work hard to ensure that students obtain the correct visa and are able to study with us. We issue CAS statements and visa letters for students’ visa applications and we can demonstrate genuine academic progression for students on our English language courses. For more information or to make an application for one of our courses please contact enq@thebristollanguagecentre.co.uk

For more information about visas please check the following links:

UKBA

English UK

We are now taking bookings for the University Foundation Programme for Business, starting in September 2011 - an excellent course for students who want to develop their English to progress to University.

Lasting 2 or 3 terms of 13 weeks each, it is validated by the University of Wales and successful graduates can go on to study at the following universities on a vast range of Business-related Bachelor degrees from BA (Hons) Business Studies with Economics, or BA (Hons) Advertising to even BA Law:

• De Montfort University, Leicester
• The University of West England
• Kingston University
• University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
• Canterbury Christ Church University
• University of Gloucester
• Bath Spa University
• Swansea Metropolitan University
• Brighton University
• Buckinghamshire New University

To gain a place you need a certificate allowing university matriculation in your home country and IELTS 4.5 equivalent.

The teaching team who are responsible for delivering the programme have at least 5 years of qualified teaching experience each. They have taught English all over the world to a variety of ages, abilities and nationalities and they have a wide range of qualifications between them such as the Trinity LTCL Diploma in TESOL, DELTA, an English Language Teaching BA, a Modern Languages BA and an MSc in International Management.

About the programme:

The programme is taught over three terms of 13 weeks each and consists of 10 modules:

1. English for Study (Term 1)
2. Study Skills (Terms 1 & 2)
3. Basic Numeracy (Term 1)
4. Basics of Business (Term 1)
5. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) (Terms 2&3)
6. Basics of Accounting and Finance (Term 2)
7. Basics of Organisations (Term 2)
8. IELTS preparation (Term 3)*
9. Basics of Marketing (Term 3)
10. Economics (Term 3)

* This is not a ‘true’ module as is not assessed by the centre, but is an external validation of the language level of our students.

Contact us for further course information: application@thebristollanguagecentre.co.uk and feel free to download our brochure to see all our other exciting English programmes available this year!

On Tuesday 22 March 2011, the government announced changes to the student visa route. The announcement follows a major public consultation on the reform of Tier Four - the student entry route to the UK of the Points Based System

Home Secretary Theresa May said:

“The changes I am announcing today re-focus the student route as a temporary one, available to only the brightest and best. The new system is designed to ensure students come for a limited period, to study not work, and make a positive contribution while they are here.”

The changes that are likely to impact on BLC are as follows:

* From April 2012 all institutions wanting to sponsor students will have to be classed as Highly Trusted Sponsors and become accredited by statutory education inspection bodies by the end of 2012
* those coming to study at degree level will have to speak English at an upper intermediate (B2) level
* students at universities and publicly funded further education colleges will retain current work rights but all other students will have no right to work, and there will continue to be restrictions on work placements at courses outside of universities

While the new measures are not ideal, they still allow for overseas students to study on courses at below degree level, and the extended Student Visitor Visa route remains in place. This means that students on an English language only course will be able to study for up to eleven months, with no entry level language requirement, and we continue to be able to offer the university progression routes for students on a Tier Four General Student Visa.

The Bristol Language Centre has already gained Highly Trusted Sponsor status, has close affiliations with several universities, and offers a university validated foundation programme. I feel therefore that we are well placed to meet the challenges of the new system, and will continue to simplify the process for our students and agents as much as possible, while working within the rules of the scheme.

Seonaid Birkett, Director

28/3/2011

Links:

www.englishuk.com/en/english-uk/press-centre/press-releases

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

http://www.economist.com/node/18442053?story_id=18442053&CFID=160283152&CFTOKEN=75107617

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alasdair-palmer/8408580/As-one-immigration-loophole-closes-another-opens.html)