LANGUAGE CENTER - what to look for?

Hi everyone,

Recently Iâ?Tve found out that many Vietnamese students are rushing for language centers with the hope of improving their English. Thatâ?Ts great! But do you really know how to choose one over another? Are you experienced enough to know which one is the most suitable for you? If your answer is maybe or no, Iâ?Tve got something helpful: THINGS TO CONSIDER IN A LANGUAGE CENTER.

#1 Cost â?" Tuition fee:
Obviously this is the most important factor when considering a place to study, especially when almost every center is seemingly the same. A high price doesnâ?Tt ensure good results. Likewise, a low one doesnâ?Tt at all mean itâ?Ts bad. Of course, the higher the price, the more likely it is that the center might provide you with better facilities and teaching staff. However, itâ?Ts you who have to decide whether the money spent is really worth it. There are other factors to consider before making the decision. So HOW?

#2 Teaching Staff:
Itâ?Ts the most important factor I have to say. Who teach you and how they teach you will determine to a large extent how much progress you can make after the course. Donâ?Tt be fooled by those colored and pompous ads displayed everywhere, telling you how experienced the teaching staff might be. Some might not be the same as what you are told. So this is what you can do to find out the TRUTH:

- Ask to sit for a trial class, (some centers might offer trial classes if they are confident enough of their qualities. If they do not, try to persuade them to sit on a real class).
- Search for information from those who are taking courses at the center.

What to ask for:
- Are the teachers really helpful? are they friendly?
- Do they care about how you react? will they ever notice your improvement and give some compliments to you?
- Are they trained to teach English as a second language? You know, we are all Vietnamese but not all of us can teach Vietnamese to foreigners, do we? That is the same case for English speakers. Some of them can speak beautifully but they cannot teach you how to speak English just properly. Teaching method counts here, and not everyone is born with it.


Alright, I guess thatâ?Ts enough for this time. Iâ?Tll come back with more tips on how to choose a good language center that is worth your time and of course, your money.

Best,

I took two general English courses at Apollo center when I was in Vietnam. I think some of the teachers over there are really good. The tuition fee is still expensive for us. Anway, I recommend this one for whoever wants to improve your English, esp your speaking and listening, to become not too shy in front of foreigners. Dont recommend for who wants to learn grammars and some sort of things like that, better go for Vietnamese teachers.

It's unbelievable we can be together !

Hi, I'm back with some more tips on how to choose a suitable language center:
#3: Facilities:
What they claim themselve to have doesn't mean what they are actually going to use. Look around to see how modern the center maybe. Pay attention to the class. Is there anything other than a radio cassette? I have to admit that most of us decide to go to a language center because that's where we can speak to foreigners. You might think that facilities play a minor role in this case. That's true, to some extent, only. A good center should maximize the opportunities their students may have in practicing the language. A movie can enhance our listening skill, especially to conversational English, rather than the slowly-and-carefully-pronounced English.
#4: Extracurricular activities:
We learn a language by practicing it. In these extracurricular activities, we get to use English in a practical way. These activities also help students within a class and a center build up a mutual bond which helps them feel like a family. This is very important because after you are going to spend about 3 days a week, 4 weeks a month and most of the time 3 months totally. Many centers have advertised that they frequently organize such events, blah blah blah. But, in fact, very rarely. I once asked a friend of mine who attended an X center what extracurricular activity was the most memorable to her. Surprisingly, she told me it was one time when all her friends went out to eat ice-cream after class. That's all she remembered about the center.
#5 Atmosphere:
You can make incredible progress in a perfect atmosphere for English. If you class for spoken English makes you feel sleepy. If the topics discussed are either above your head or have nothing to do with your interest, maybe you've made a bad decision. Atmosphere is one important factor in considering what center to go for. If the center is study-oriented rather than fun-oriented, which means people there take English seriously, it is the right one. You don't want to spend half your time speaking Vietnamese in an English center, do you?
Now comes the most important part: Your Attitude - How you should act in order to make the most of your time and your money
- Be demanding of yourself. Make full use of every opportunity offered: talking to teachers, always talking to your classmates in English, even when you are chit-chating.
- Be pro-active: Many Vietnamese students are a bit shy. We tend to keep silent and do not make the first move. If you find yourself in the same situation, better form this habbit right in your class because you're there to learn.
Choosing a course of English takes you some time to think about as the cost is so high recently. I hope you can get something helpful from my posts, and make wise decisions.
Scorps, can you share some of your experience in taking courses in Vietnam? I bet some other guys were not as lucky as you.

Yes, Wolfy, you''re doing such a great thing. I myself am having the intention of joining an English class at one of those centers. I have seen some ads on newspaper about the English intensive course at Oxford UK English. Has anyone joined this kind of class, or does anyone know about the quality of this center, please let me know! By the way, do anyone know any place that gives good communicating course that I can join, pliz let me know. Thanks a lot.
It''s nice to be important, but it''s more important to be nice...