Summer 2021 at IH Bristol

21st June 2021
Section: 
English Courses

It's officially summer!

Today marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - can you believe we're here already? Despite the challenges we're all facing, we are keeping very busy over summer 2021 and looking forward to welcoming more of you back to IH Bristol over the coming weeks and months.

With so much going on, we've put together a summary of upcoming courses in each department at IH Bristol this summer, what's on in Bristol, and an update on COVID-19 guidance and Brexit. We hope you find it useful, but if you can't find what you're looking for please do contact us and we'll be happy to help you however we can.

Upcoming courses 

Juniors

Summer Junior English Courses | 28th June - 20th August

  • 15 hours of morning General English lessons plus Creative Classes and social activities in the afternoon, and a full day excursion each Saturday. Optional homestay accommodation available

Summer Junior online | 5th July - 20th August 2021

  • 10 hours of morning General English lessons plus an optional 7.5 hours of online social activities

Teen Foreign Languages courses | 6/7th July - 17/18th August 2021

  • One hour per week on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons: choose from French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish & Turkish, GCSE, A Level and Beginner classes available. All in-person at our Queens Avenue site, except Turkish and Italian which will run online.

Adult English courses

Our General English courses are available to start every Monday, and can be taken for as many weeks as you wish (visa permitting). When choosing 30 lessons/22.5 hours per week, you can opt to prepare for IELTS or Cambridge exams in the afternoons. Study in person or online - book here

Our next Online English for Professionals course begins Monday 28th June

Exam Preparation

Part-time Cambridge Preparation Course - Online | 1st July - 2nd September 2021

  • 1.5 hours per week on Thursday evenings

Summer Intensive Cambridge Preparation Course (FCE/CAE) | 2nd-27th August 2021

  • 30 lessons of Cambridge Preparation lessons per week - FCE or CAE level available and course fee includes exam on completion
  • Following this, the next 10 week preparation courses will begin Monday 4th October (Monday 11th/8 weeks for CPE)

OET Preparation Course 

  • A 1-week intensive preparation course for the OET exam for healthcare professionals. Available monthly; upcoming dates are as follows: 12-16 July, 16-20 August and 13-17 September 2021

Exams

Exams are running as usual this summer and beyond: book a Cambridge exam here, or see dates for OET exams (for healthcare professionals) here

Teacher Training

CELTA Course | 9th August - 3rd September 2021

  • The most recognised and respected TEFL qualification available; once you have completed one of our four-week intensive Cambridge CELTA courses, you'll be able to work as a TEFL teacher anywhere in the world.

CELTA Introductory Course | 27 & 28th August 2021

  • Are you interested in a career in teaching English, but not 100% sure if it's for you? This two day introductory course is an excellent way to "dip your toes in the water" and learn some basic skills to get you started.

*Students completing the introductory course are entitled to a £150 discount on the full CELTA course if you enrol to take the CELTA within three months of the Introduction course.

Foreign Teachers of English course | 26th July - 6th August 2021

  • Our two-week intensive Foreign Teachers of English (FTE) course enables teachers who already have some experience to gain greater in-depth knowledge of the job and discover the latest teaching techniques.

Foreign Languages

 

What's on in Bristol

Bristol's events calendar is usually full to the brim over summer; as some restrictions are still in place, we sadly won't be experiencing the Harbour Festival this year however there are plenty of other events going on to keep you busy:

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

This year the fiesta is taking place in a different shape; as per 2020, this year the usual in-person festival will not go ahead. Instead, a ‘Fiesta Fortnight’ is planned with flypasts and ballooning spectaculars for two whole weeks in August. There's nothing like spotting balloons in the sky on a Bristol summer evening - we can't wait!

UPFEST

On 15th May, Upfest’s lineup of artists began painting 75 walls in 75 days; you can already see amazing new artwords in the neighbourhoods of Bedminster and Southville. This will finish with Upfest, a festival featuring hundreds of artists painting live over the August Bank Holiday weekend from 28th to 29th August at Greville Smyth Park. 

Colston at the M Shed

Bristol made news around the world last summer when the statue of Edward Colston was removed from its plinth in the city centre and dumped in the harbour. Colston played an important role in the growth of the city of Bristol in the 17th and 18th centuries, however his wealth was largely due to his role in the slave trade and so he is a highly controversial figure. The statue is currently available to view as part of "The Colston statue: What next?" exhibition at the M Shed. Tickets are free, but you must book in advance.

Sequences: Chase & Statsus at Greville Smyth Park

This new Drum & Bass festival will run on Saturday 24th July (restrictions permitting) in Bedminster, south of the river. 

 

COVID-19 

Lockdown in England

Last week, the UK government announced that the current covid restrictions will remain in place until 19th July 2021. Fortunately, nothing changes for IH Bristol or our students - schools, attractions and restaurants, cafes and bars etc are still open, with social distancing in place. Inside, social groups are limited to 6 people, or you can meet in groups of up to 30 outside.

 

BREXIT

If you are an EU national, you do not require a visa to study an English course for up to 6 months, but please make sure you bring your Certificate of Acceptance with you when you travel so you can prove the purpose of your journey if asked at the border. The only changes to EU nationals studying short-term courses are:

  • ID cards are permitted for entry to the UK until 30th September 2021. From 1st October onwards, you will require a passport to enter the UK.
  • EU nationals without "pre-settled status" may no longer work in the UK

If you would like to study a course for 6-11 months you will need to apply for a Short-term study visa

 

Travelling to Bristol

[Updated 16 July] The government is operating a "traffic  light" system for arrivals to England. If you are arriving from a country on the "green list" you do not need to quarantine on arrival, however if you are arriving from an "amber list" country you will need to self-isolate for 10 days after arrival. The lists are reviewed every 3 weeks - the last review took place on 15th July, and the next one is due to take place on 5th August, with changes due to come into effect the following week. Currently, vaccinated arrivals are still required to self-isolate, however this is currently in discussion. You can see full up-to-date guidance on our Covid-19 guidance and FAQs page here

 

Booking Terms & Conditions

We want you to be able to book your course with peace of mind, so we are offering free postponement in case you need to change your dates due to travel restrictions or illness. If you are required to quarantine on arrival to the UK, you can begin your course remotely from your accommodation (host families are available) to ensure you make the most of your stay. 

 

Useful Links

 

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us directly or call +44 117 90909 11 and let us help you!