Easy Languages

Program

Destination

Galway is different, unique and special. As Ireland’s Cultural Capital, Galway has been described by W.B. Yeats as the ’Venice of the West’. It lies on the Atlantic west coast with the river Corrib running through the city.

The city is its people - warm, friendly, welcoming - a community with a sense of Ireland’s past and a sharp eye on Ireland’s future. They can share with you their clean environment, a thriving artistic and dramatic culture, traditional pubs with music to suit all tastes, top quality restaurants and a full calendar of festivals: poetry, the arts, music, horse-racing, oyster, show-jumping. Galway is an ideal location for the sport enthusiast: golf, fishing, horse-riding, tennis and badminton are all easily accessible.

Galway is Europe’s fastest growing city with a population of 66,000 people and is the gateway to Connemara and the Aran Islands, areas of unique ecological and geographical importance. The majority of its industries are based on modern technology, computers, telephone systems and medical equipment. It is an ancient city and had important trade links with Europe in the sixteenth century - Christopher Columbus was one of its most famous tourists.

School

Established in 1993, the institute is a language school dedicated to your English language needs and is recognised by the Irish Department of Education and Science as a school for the teaching of English as a foreign language. It is a member of Relsa, MEI, Galway Chamber of Commerce and Ireland West Tourism. Its excellent reputation is due to its convivial atmosphere, its international student base, and the quality of its teaching.

The school is a stone's throw from Eyre Square, right in the centre of Galway. Its state-of-the-art and comfortable facilities can be found on the top floor of a modern and well-lit building.

A library and a multimedia centre with Internet access are available to all students, who can also relax on the building's roof terrace.

Courses

The school guarantees quality courses that allow students to progress rapidly in oral as well as written English. The school provides course material and the teachers are all experienced and certified professionals. Each lesson is 45 minutes long and a placement test is provided at the beginning of each stay to ensure that a student is always at the most appropriate level.

• Standard General English: 20 lessons per week
  All courses have a core of grammar and vocabulary adapted to each level which the teachers put into practical application with comprehension and role playing exercises. The objective is to give students as much self-confidence as possible. The courses take place each morning from 9:00 to 12:30.
• Intensive General English: 30 lessons per week
  After the morning courses (see above), this programme provides afternoon courses dedicated to oral capabilities and communication strategies (vocabulary exercises, writing exercises, role play, outings to the city, presentations, conference English or other activities appropriate to each level).
• Business English: 20 General English lessons + 10 Business lessons per week
  Students take the General English classes in the mornings while the Business English classes run in the afternoons.
• IELTS Examination Preparation Courses
  These courses are designed to prepare students for the IELTS exams, which are indispensable for accessing British universities as well as being an international indicator of English ability. Upon arrival, students take a placement test to assure that they will be able to take the test of their choice. Two intensities are available:
  • 20 lessons per week
  • 30 lessons per week
    
    

Activities

In order to permit our participants to get to know Galway and Irish culture, the school organises numerous activities in the afternoons and evenings. Examples include: guided visit of the city, pub evenings, Irish literature evenings, school parties, quiz night, dog races, golf, visits to Connemara or to Burren, sports, film club, visit to Dublin, the Aran Isles, etc.

Accommodation

Accommodation in an Irish host family allows students to discover the Irish way of life and to practice the language with native speakers. The accommodation offered is in a single room and includes half board (breakfast and an evening meal) during the week and full board the weekends.

This is an ideal way for students to have regular communication with native English speakers, accelerating the learning process. All families are carefully selected by our local representative according to strict hospitality criteria. Depending on preference and availability, they can be located close to school or the town centre.

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

The general English courses begin every Monday, for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Holidays (there is no class these days and no compensation is provided) : 2/01, 19/03, 6&9/04, 7/05, 4/06, 6/08, 29/11

The school will be closed during Christmas vacation: 24/12/12 - 4/01/2013

The prices are detailed in the table above. They include:

• the chosen course programme
  
• accommodation in host family with half pension
• course material
  
• certificate of participation
  
• all of the enrolment fees

They do not include:

• Travel to and from Galway
  
• Transfer from the airport to the family
  
  

Practical Info

Transport

• We offer a transfer from Galway or Dublin airports.
• There are flights between Dublin and Galway with Aer Lingus for around 70 €.
• A City Link bus runs between Dublin Airport and Galway station. The journey lasts about 3 and a half hours, and tickets for this frequent bus can be bought on the spot.
  

If you prefer, we can book your flights to Dublin for you. Please ensure you make this clear when you enrol.

If you intend to book your own flight, endeavour to arrive the Sunday before the start of your course, and leave the Saturday following the end of it.

VISA Information

If you are an EU resident, you do not need a visa. A passport or ID card will be fine.

For students who do need a visa, and intend to study in Ireland, you will need to bring the following documents to your local Irish Embassy:

• an official letter from our partner school in Ireland, confirming that you have been accepted in a programme of study
• receipt of full fee payment to the school
• proof that you have sufficient funds to subsist during your stay

For more information, consult the following website:http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/