Easy Languages

School

Seaside resort in the south of England

Bournemouth is without question one of the finest student towns on England’s Southern Coast. Its beauty and accommodating facilities have helped to make it an important centre of tourism, education and business. Public transportation is very well-organised, offering an excellent network of buses and trains extending throughout Britain and to many parts of Europe. London is only 100 minutes away by train.

Bournemouth hosts numerous events during the year, including powerboat races, vintage car shows, international tennis championships and windsurfing competitions. During the summer, there are weekly firework displays from the pier, laser light shows, the Musicmakers festival and the unique Flowers by Candlelight festival, where the people of Bournemouth gather to light 15,000 candles in the Central Gardens.

Bournemouth has five theatres and concert halls, offering a huge selection of events throughout the year. There are plays, pop and classical concerts, musicals, operas, ballets and comedy shows. Bournemouth is home to two orchestras, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta.

With over thirty night clubs and discotheques, including the two largest discos in the south of England, Bournemouth boasts a dynamic nightlife. There are also some 180 restaurants and cafés offering every type of international cuisine.

We offer general or intensive English courses in Bournemouth for adults or motivated students. We also offer the option of preparing for certain international exams, such as the Cambridge Exams ( FCE, CAE ) and the IELTS.

We also offer accompanied transportation to Bournemouth from Paris, Brussels, Mons or Calais every weekend during Easter and summer vacations. See the transport section for more details.

School

The ETC School, or "Educational Training Centre", is a family institution founded in 1987 under the guidance of Mr. David Jones. The school is known for the quality of its programmes and staff. The staff is both friendly and readily available. Long stay students can prepare for internationally-recognized exams, such as the Cambridge Exams and the IELTS. The ETC School is recognized by the British Council and offers English courses totaling 20 or 28 lessons per week (one lesson is 45 minutes long).

The school is located in the centre of Bournemouth, very near the town’s pedestrian area and the beach, some 500m from "the Square" and right next to the Central Gardens.

Courses

The ETC offers the following courses :

• Standard Courseload : 20 lessons per week
  These courses are ideal for students who wish to work on their English, but also enjoy their vacation. Classes take place either in the morning or afternoon, from Monday to Friday, year-round. Courses are available for all levels, from beginner to advanced speakers.
  
  
• Intensive Courseload : 28 lessons per week
  These courses are designed for students who are looking for a more intensive experience. Classes take place in the morning and part of the afternoon, from Monday to Friday. If there is a sufficient number of interested students, this course can be oriented toward TOEIC preparation without additional cost (this can be arranged on arrival).
  
  
• FCE, CAE or IELTS Preparation
  20 or 28 preparatory lessons per week, throughout the year. Please check the tab Prices & Dates for starting dates. Sessions are 12 weeks long.
  
  

Accommodation

Students stay in host families (single or double rooms available) or in a brand new student residence located next to the school and 2’ away (on foot) from the town centre and Bournemouth beach.

Host Family

For a truly immersive experience, we recommend staying with a host family. Breakfast and an evening meal are provided monday to friday. It is up to the student to purchase lunch during the week, which can be done either at the school's cafeteria or at the many local sandwich shops or restaurants. Students receive full board at the weekend.

The majority of our host families have been looking after students for years and are quite accustomed to it. They are regularly inspected by representatives of the school and are almost entirely the reason students leave Bournemouth with fond memories. (If you are a former student and wish to return to a host family you have stayed with in the past, please indicate this on your enrolment form.)

With your host family, you will often meet students of all sorts of different nationalities, giving you the opportunity to swap stories and experiences over meals and free time, all in English.

The families are generally situated in a residential area roughly 20-30 minutes walk from the school, or close to a bus stop. Bus journeys are straightforward and simple, and the families will be able to tell the students which buses to take.

Outside of the Easter and summer holidays, you will be able to book a single room without any extra cost. During these holidays, however, demand is much higher and individual rooms are therefore much rarer. You can still try to reserve an individual room at an extra cost and subject to availability.

ETC Residence

For stays of at least four weeks, you can opt for the school's own residence (18+).

Situated next door to ETC school itself,500 m from the city centre and 200m from the beach, this residence was renovated in 2011 and can now accommodate 90 students. A member of ETC staff will always be available in the central foyer, 24 hours a day, for any problems you may have.

Details

• Available for 18 years and up
• Shared rooms
• All rooms en suite
• Half-board included (at the school's cafeteria)
• Wi-fi internet connection
• Deposit of 200€ (return subject to damages)

Travel

Group Travel

During July and August, as well as during the Belgian Easter Holiday, Easy Languages organises a weekly accompanied trip from Brussels, Antwerp, Mons, Calais, and Paris to Bournemouth. More information here.

Individual Travel Organised by Easy Languages

We can arrange (unaccompanied) flights to England outside of the traditional dates. These can be reserved from Brussels or Paris to Southampton Airport. The prices in the table are indicative and subject to availability.

Travel Organised by the Student

The student is alternatively allowed to arrange his or her own transport to England. In some cases, a payable transfer from Bournemouth, Southampton, and London airports can be arranged (see table).

Visa Information

For non-EU residents, you can apply for the "Student Visitor Visa" to enter the UK. It is valid for 6 months, even you do not intend to stay for less time. You are not authorised to work. The visa application fees are not included in our prices. A conformation letter for applying for a visa will be send to you after you have paid all fees.

For more information, contact your local British Embassy or consult the following link: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Prices 2012

Prices include:

• The selected academic programme
• Host family in single rooms (excluding summer) or residence (shared room)
  
• Host family with full-board during the weekend and half-board during the week
• Half-board in residence at the cafeteria in school
• Academic materials and books
• All taxes and enrolment fees

Prices do not include:

• Transfers from Bournemouth station or Southampton airport

Dates 2012

Courses begin each Monday. Stays are from Sunday to Saturday, unless transportation is organised by us.

Dates for exam preparation courses :

• CFE or CAE preparation:
  - from 4/12/11 to 9/03/12
  - from 19/03 to 8/06/12
  - from 4/06 to 24/08/12
  - from 17/09 to 7/12/12
  
• IELTS preparation (non-beginners*)
  - from 9/01 to 30/03/12
  - from 2/04 to 22/06/12
  - from 25/06 to 14/09/12
  - from 17/09 to 7/12/12
  

*beginners can start each week

The school is closed the: 6/04, 9/04, 7/05, 4/06, 5/06, 27/08 and during Christmas holidays.