Some tips for better preparation for an English course in London
Are you ready for your English course in London? Start your preparation for an English course in London!
You booked an English course at a language school in London and wonder how you should prepare for it. Here are some tips for you to make the best of your experience: preparing yourself properly will allow you to enjoy a better and smoother English learning experience in London!
- Your luggage: some basic packing advice.
Make sure to pack everything you need to be prepared both academically and personally.
For your course, make sure to bring :
- notebooks, pens, highlighters, and a laptop or a tablet
- any textbooks or language learning resources recommended by your school
For your travel :
- passport, visa, enrollment documents, and insurance information.
- a list of emergency contacts, including your school’s emergency number, host family, and local embassy or consulate.
For your personal needs :
- comfortable clothing suitable for London’s variable weather
- a UK power adapter
- and any medications you might need.
- Your mindset: Motivation, goals, and engagement
Come to school motivated and full of energy. Your attitude at school will determine your success in class and greatly influence how positive your social experiences will be.
We advise you to :
- Set academic goals: everyone comes with a different level (beginner, intermediate, advanced) but also with different goals (improve General English, work on pronunciation, boost your writing skills, foster communication skills, or even prepare for an official English test): make sure to determine what your priority is to stay focus on your own goals.
- Be ready to participate in class: your engagement in class will make a difference! Motivate yourself to be proactive, answer questions, give your opinion, work with your classmates, and speak as much as possible to train yourself. Fatiha, a student who spent 42 weeks studying English in London felt that “it was a very productive period in [her] life, [she] tried [her] best to be committed, have self-discipline and attend school every day.”
- Be willing to practice English beyond the classroom: use every opportunity to practice English, either in social activities and extracurricular classes in and out of school, in daily real-life situations, or while spending time with your new international friends.
- Allocate time to your homework: if your teacher suggests some homework to revise what you have learned in class, do it; this will help you reinforce what you have just learned.
- Your wellbeing: create a new comfort zone around you
Traveling abroad requires adaptation and flexibility and you may feel challenged at first. You need :
- To settle in a host family or a shared flat ;
- To explore the surroundings to get to know the shops, leisure facilities, and health services around you; consult the dedicated information provided by your school.
- To discover a language school and understand how the school works as well as get to know the support staff and the teachers;
- And to socialize with other students you do not know yet.
Making the best of your stay at a language school in London requires you to re-create a comfort zone around yourself :
- Participate in the social activities, visits, and excursions offered by your school or your classmates: this will allow you to feel more at ease in your area and London; Renata, a Brazilian student at Nacel English School London commented: « The school made activities outside/extra: Camden Town, Ice Skating, Winter Wonderland, etc and a member from school went together with the students – security for us! »
- Find people you feel comfortable speaking with so that gain confidence in your English skills; enlarge the circle of contacts step by step ;
- Build a support network around you: connect with other students who look for contacts, help, and ask questions; form a team of students with who you may share similar challenges or difficulties; mutual support is crucial; don’t stay alone!
- Identify teachers and members of staff who can share resources and offer support. Seek assistance and guidance if needed.
- Take care of your health and energy: relax, recharge, practice sports, eat healthy as much as you can and avoid junk food, stay hydrated, sleep enough, attend cultural events, and go to the cinema or theatre! Make sure you keep a balance between study and leisure.
Studying English in London represents a great opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the English language and British culture while exploring a fascinating city. To make the best of this language travel experience in London, make sure to prepare yourself for the course: pack wisely, prepare yourself mentally for this experience, and create the best conditions around yourself to successfully study English in London. You are now ready for your preparation for an English course in London!
