Easy Languages

College

Destination

Chichester is a small friendly city in southern England, easily accessible from London. The city is particularly known for its architecture and its culturally interesting atmosphere. The Chichester Festivities celebration (in July) and the Chichester Theatre Festival (April to September) attract thousands of visitors, who stay to appreciate the town’s fine architecture and its 20th century art collection. Chichester is also a student town with a dynamic and animated ambiance.

Chichester is a goldmine for explorers. It has a rich history, to be found in things like the famous Tudor Market Cross, or its exquisite Georgian houses. Shopaholics will also have a lot of fun with the huge range of exclusive brand-name boutiques and luxury artisan chocolatiers.

The College

Courses are given at Chichester College, our local partner school. The school’s facilities have been recently renovated and are impressively diverse. The range of facilities includes sports halls, a gym and climbing wall; a learning resource centre with a dedicated EFL section; recording studio equipment and music rooms; and modernized classrooms. The college also offers a vibrant social programme reinforced by its many community connections.

Students have complete access to the college's clubs and societies. Moreover there are activities organised especially for international students, such as trips to London or Brighton, international evenings, sport afternoons, theatre trips, etc...

Participants are integrated into a very international group where English is the only common language. During the school year the campus is shared by principally British students following typical academic programmes. Participants have unlimited internet access and can take Computer Science classes in their free time.

Program

Our international programme is subsidized by the European Union. It is targeted toward students aged 16 to 23, who have studied English for 2 to 6 years in school and who wish to improve their language or prepare for a university curriculum of English studies the following September. The programme is composed of 25 English lessons per week for 7 weeks and organised activities in the afternoons, evenings and on weekends.

Courses

Courses are lively, dynamic and cover all aspects of written and spoken English. Topics of discussion range from the educative system, the workplace, political institutions, British culture, etc. The majority of participants begin courses with elementary to intermediate English knowledge and share the objective of long-term improvement.

Students take a placement test on arrival and integrate into a group of maximum 18 students. The programme is composed of 25 hours of English per week. Course books and other academic materials are included in the enrolment fees.

Options

The programme has been designed to ensure that every student follows a course of study suitable for their level of competence in English and their interests.

For that purpose, we offer a selection of afternoon course electives for everyone to choose from. They are between 1.30pm and 4.15pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with a fifteen minute break from 2.30pm to 2.45pm.

Each elective amounts to 5 hours of study per week. They can include:

• Preparation for IELTS
• Air Cabin Crew Services
• Introduction to Marketing
• Travel & Tourism
• Holistic Therapies
• Introduction or Advanced Business English
  
• Grammar, Pronunciation & Communication
• English Cookery
  
• Film & Song
• Current Affairs

All courses are have a minimum class size and are subject to change at any time. Available courses will depend on your level of English and specific courses cannot be guaranteed.

Activities

During the course of the stay, the school organises numerous social and recreational activities according to the interests of the students. These activities might include sporting competitions, visits to the city, film screenings, theatre outings, and so on. One day trip is organised every Saturday. Students may need to pay entrance and transportation fees for some (non compulsory) activities, though any fee would be modest and well within a student’s budget.

Some student find small jobs in the evenings or on the weekends (outside of course times), which allows them to practice their English in yet another context. It is, however, essential and obligatory that students give their coursework priority.

Accommodation

Two types of accommodation are available for this programme:

• In a Host Family - with meals
  
  Students stay in English host families in a private room with half board (breakfast and a hot evening meal) during the week and full board the weekends. The families are carefully selected by our delegates following strict criteria. They are, in accordance with student preferences, close to the school or the city centre. Our families welcome the student into their home and provide an environment in which to practice English outside of classes. Not every family offers the same features (e.g. taking care of your laundry, letting you use the internet, watching television, etc). However we ensure a minimum level of comfort for all participants.
  
  The student must, of course, remember that they are being welcomed into a family's home and as such should respect and follow the rules of the house. The placement office will always be available in case of problems.
  
  
• In a Host Family - without meals
  
  For those who wish to be slightly more independent but still while sharing in the daily life of an English family, it's possible to stay in host family accommodation in a self-catering formula. A space is kept for you in the kitchen and the fridge so that you can store your food and prepare your own meals.
  
  The advantage of this formula is that you're a lot more flexible regarding when you want to eat (you don't need to warn the family if you're going to be late or if you're not coming back to eat one evening), which allows you to explore the local culture a bit more.

• Residence

A deposit is to be paid upon arrival. Here are the options available:

Woodlands Hall of Residence

• For under 18s, on campus
• Full board

The residence for students under 18 is in the premises of the campus and provides full board and accommodation to over 100 students. There are double rooms, two common rooms with TV sets and games consoles, and a quiet room. Meals are served in the campus’ canteen. A guardian is on duty night and day.

Bathrooms and toilets are situated on each floor. Two laundry rooms are available to the students.

Residents have their meals at the college cafeteria, in full board. They participate in one study session per week, which lets them enact the progress they've been making since their arrival. Activities and excursions are regularly organised by the residence and are included in the price.

Westgate Residence

• For over 18s, on campus
• Self-catered
• Warning: this residence fills up fast! Book as early possible.

Westgate Residence is situation on the college campus, and houses 160 students in single en-suite rooms. Certain rooms are accessible to students with reduced mobility.

The residence features a shared kitchen to which all residents have access. If you wish, it is possible to opt for a full board scheme, and you would have your meals in the college cafeteria. (See supplement in the price table).

Facilities include a lounge with a TV and DVD player, as well as vending machines with drinks and snacks. Internet access is available throughout the residence. Washing machines are also available to the students. Communal areas are cleaned every day.

You will need to bring: bed linen (although a linen package can be bought at the residence, including bedsheets and pillows), kitchen utensils, and crockery.

Stockbridge Halls

• For over 18s, 10 minutes' walk from campus
• Term or academic year
• Self-catered
• Open all year

This brand new residence will be opening its doors in September 2012, and will be able to house 300 students in its private en suite rooms. These are accessible to students with reduced mobility.

The residence is equipped with a communal kitchen available to all residents. If you wish, it is possible to subscribe to a full board meal plan, with meals to be taken in the college's cafeterias (consult the supplements in the price table).

Facilities include a lounge with a TV and DVD player, as well as vending machines with drinks and snacks. Internet access is available throughout the residence. Washing machines are also available to the students. Communal areas are cleaned every day.

You will need to bring: bed linen (although a linen package can be bought on campus, including bedsheets and pillows, for about 15€), kitchen utensils, and crockery (about 35€).

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

Arrival is on Sunday 01/07/12, Departure Saturday 18/08/12.

Courses begin Monday 02/07/12.

The fees are given in Euros and kept low thanks to a subsidy from the European Union. They apply to students from the EU who enrol for an entire session.

Prices include:

• Intensive courses (25 hours per week), including 15 hours General English and 2x5 hours of options
• Academic materials and course books
• All taxes and enrolment fees
  
• Chosen accommodation plan
  
• Chosen meal plan

Prices do not include

• Transportation to, from, and within Chichester
• Additional activities and excursions
• Optional insurance
• Transfers
  
  

Practical Info

Transport

It is possible to get to Chichester by train:

• From Gatwick airport
• From Heathrow airport (about 2 hours 15 minutes)
• From Southampton airport
• From London St. Pancras station (Eurostar) - 10/15 minutes to Victoria station, then 1 hour 30 minutes to Chichester

There are regular trains from Gatwick and Heathrow airports. There is a direct train from Gatwick Airport to Chichester which runs 2-3 times per hour.

However, Easy Languages can also arrange a transfer by taxi from all airports. Prices vary depending on how many students are arriving at the time. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to have more details on transfers.

VISA Information

For non-EU residents, you can apply for a Student Visitor Visa to enter the UK. It is valid for 6 months, even if you intend to stay for less time. It does not entitle you to work. We do not include any VISA application fees in our prices.

For more information, either inquire at your local British Embassy or consult the following website: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk