Why learn with us?
Here at IH Bristol, we are passionate about teaching languages. We enjoy meeting new students and helping them all to make the most out of their stay in England. We recognise that each student is an individual and so we have an interview with each new student to make sure that we meet their needs. The more you know about an individual the more you can make the course fit them.
We also invite students to become involved in our English social programme. They can even ask for particular events if there is something they are particularly interested in. We want students to feel like they are part of the IH Bristol family from day one. If you feel at home, you will relax and the more relaxed you are, the better and the faster you will learn.
- Teachers and teaching style - Our qualified teachers have special methods to teach you modern natural English with a minimum of stress.
- Variety of courses - We offer general English courses in the mornings and these support an afternoon programme that can include exam classes or specialist courses such as video-making or drama.
- How your English will improve - You will improve your reading, writing, speaking and listening. New vocabulary and grammar will always be relevant to real-life situations.
- Support before, during and after your course - We will support your learning in various ways not only during your stay but before and after.
Teachers and teaching style
Our teachers are all qualified teachers of English as a foreign language and they are all part of an ongoing programme of teacher development. This means that they are constantly updating their teaching skills and learning the latest methods to ensure language learning success.
We have special methods to help you to learn English without stress. We think that's important. The most important thing is to help you feel confident about using the English you learn. We have lots of techniques to do this.
From the first day, from the first lesson, we focus on natural English, the language that is spoken by ordinary people everyday. We teach at phrase level so students can feel they are communicating in a natural way, in the same way as a native English speaker. We encourage students to learn large quantities of vocabulary through our Project 100 and we ensure there is variety through Phrase of the Day and the Cultural Question.
As a teacher training centre, we are aware of new methods and theories of teaching and we make sure that all our students benefit fully from these. The trainee teachers also provide extra practice for serious students hoping to make the most of their time in England. Some students will even have their English analysed in detail by a trainee and will receive a free learning pack designed specifically for them.
IHB video
Variety of courses
We offer a wide variety of course which are summarised in the table below. If there is a course which you cannot find, please contact us to find out if we can offer it to you.
| General English Courses | Intensive English Courses | IELTS Exam Courses | Cambridge Exam Courses | One-to-one | Special Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mornings | -------- General English -------- | |||||
| Afternoons | FREE | An extra 10 hours in the afternoon focussing on fluency and further development of the language you are learning during the General English course | An intensive exam preparation course covering all aspects of the IELTS exam in detail | Specific exam focusses for all the exams that we offer | The focus of these classes can be anything the student wishes to cover | These courses are run during the summer months for fixed numbers of students but can be added to a General English Course for groups of 10+ |
How your English will improve
Aims
The General English courses help students improve all their skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and learn the grammar, vocabulary and cultural knowledge necessary for living in the UK and using English in an international context. There is an emphasis on practical, effective and natural communication.
Improving every aspect of your language:
- Grammar - so you are more correct in English, and easier to understand
- Vocabulary and idioms - so you can understand much more English, and sound up-to-date in English
- Pronunciation of English - so your accent is better and you can speak English more naturally
- Spoken fluency - so you can speak in English about more things more easily, more naturally and faster
- Listening comprehension - so you can follow English conversations with more understanding
- Reading comprehension - so you can read all sorts of English texts and understand them better
- Writing skills - so you can write different sorts of English texts quickly, accurately and easily
- British life and culture - you will also learn about our culture, the media and the British way of life and of thinking
Support before, during and after your course
Before your course
Before you come to learn English with us, you can improve your grammar, vocabulary and social English by using the free exercises we have created on our website. They're a great way to prepare for studying English in the UK.
During your course
During your time here, you will learn English inside and outside the class. You will learn English from your teachers, of course. But we also want you to learn English after class. That's why we will help you become an independent English learner. This is very important.
When you take an exam, there's no teacher to tell you the right answers. When you are using English in business, there's no-one to tell you which tense to use in your telephone conversations. You have to be independent.
Here are some of the many ways we'll help you learn to be independent:
- Each week, we will give you a weekend project that will help you discover aspects of the British way of life.
- You'll learn a new useful phrase or expression every day before your first class.
- We'll give you over 50 different ideas for ways of improving your speaking, reading, writing and listening.
- Your welcome pack includes many essential phrases for you to communicate effectively in English outside school.
After Your Course
After your course, you will be in a better position to continue to learn English. Firstly, you will know many strategies for learning independently.
Also, you will be more confident about learning English. In addition, you will be able to continue using the Free Exercises and Learn English sections of this website.