What is the Bury Language School teaching philosophy?
Our philosophy is to "Support the weakest student, while challenging the strongest.”
Our lessons are student-centred and outcomes based – our intention is that each and every student should feel that they can quantify what they have learnt each lesson.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language is our PASSION.
What is the weekly timetable?
15 hours: 10h00 to 13h00 – includes coffee break with teachers of 20 minutes (Monday to Friday)
24 hours: as for 15 hours plus 14h00 to 16h15 (Monday to Thursday) – includes 15 minutes tea break with teachers
Coffee, tea and conversation
The coffee/tea break is an integral part of our programme. Everyone meets in Room 3 for complimentary coffee, tea and biscuits. This is a chance for informal social interaction informally among all the students and the teachers, too. It is, for example, when we surprise a student with a birthday cake and card on their birthday – or congratulate them on results of an examination.
Friday afternoons: There are no lessons, but the school is open for students until 16h30 to use the resources or to participate in an activity organised by the school. Some of these activities are free and some involve a small charge. Examples might include a blue badge guided walking tour – historical, architectural or literary. They may focus on the beautiful Georgian architecture, the historical significance of Bury St Edmunds and the Magna Carta or Charles Dickens, Graham Greene and Christopher Isherwood’s family links with the town.
Local trips bus could include a visit to the medieval village of Lavenham for tea, or a visit to Gainsborough’s House Museum in Sudbury; a tour of the Greene King brewery in the town itself is one of our very popular tours. Cambridge, too, is accessible on a Friday afternoon, many students prefer to spend a full day on Saturday or Sunday.
Which programme should my student choose, Full-time 24 hours or part-time 15 hours?
The 24-hour programme includes IELTS and Cambridge examination instruction, as well as Business English modules in the afternoons. Most students enjoy the differentiation between the General English in the mornings and the more targeted modules in the afternoon – whether or not they have any interest in the examinations themselves. The teachers enjoy making whatever is taught relevant. In addition, the afternoon groups are often smaller – so this is a good opportunity for students to get really individual attention.
The 15-hour programme – mornings only is our General English programme. All our lessons take the mix of students into account in lesson preparation. The maximum number of students is 12, although the average number per class is usually around 9. The General English programme involves tuition, practice and confidence building in each of the four main skills areas: writing, reading, listening and speaking. Grammar practice, vocabulary extension, pronunciation workshops, and discussions on topical affairs of the day are just some of the aspects included in the syllabus. In addition, a student’s individual weaknesses are targeted in the homework assignments which are set daily. Regular individual feedback sessions are held with each student. If necessary, remedial work (e.g. extra listening practice, writing skills or pronunciation) is arranged as deemed necessary by the teacher or requested by the student.
What is the average age of your students?
The average age of our students is usually mid-20’s; however, in any one year, we always have a wide age range. The minimum age of our students is 16 except in the summer term when this drops to 14.
What is the nationality mix?
Please see our attached nationality mix for 2006 (January to December) and 2007 (January to August). We have a really wide spread of nationalities which encourages students to speak only English at all times. We see in excess of 35 nationalities a year.
Number of classrooms?
The school is on the first and second floors of a 17th century building with lovely views out of every window. It is in the historic core of the town, next door to the luxurious Angel Hotel, overlooking a large square above a traditional tearoom with lovely homemade scones! The school consists of a large office, four classrooms, the teachers’ room containing resources and a small library with Internet access for students. We also use a second building just around the corner for our summer adult groups complete with restaurant, bar and gardens. - the ideal place to study and meet friends.
Number of computers with internet access for students?
The school has wireless access throughout and most students bring their own laptops these days. We also have 12 laptops for students’ use around the school and in the computer centre.
Distance to homestays?
Most are within EASY walk of the school – maximum 20 minutes. In the summer, students sometimes have to stay slightly further out – and then if they are young and eager, they can cycle in – or will be given lifts in and out of school by their family. This is a pre-condition of us taking on a homestay family – and there is no charge to the student for this transport. Our families are all local people, handpicked by our homestay co-ordinator who has 12 years experience in Bury St Edmunds. The families are inspected regularly and conform to the necessary legal and health and safety requirements as laid down by the British Council. Our homestay families are great – and certainly a strong selling point.
What if a student wants to stay on a “room only” basis?
We do have a selection of convenient homes where a student can rent a room, and have use of the kitchen but be responsible for their own meals. For a mature student requiring more privacy and freedom, this is a popular option.
What is the population of your town?
About 45000 including the surrounding villages.
Why should a student come and study English in Bury St Edmunds?
I started the school in 1995 when I "discovered" Bury St Edmunds. I loved the town on sight, and to my mind it was the perfect location for students who wanted to immerse themselves in what I perceived as a truly English environment. The town is architecturally really beautiful, with a history dating back to Roman times and St Edmund, an early English king, martyr and patron saint of England. As a result, the abbey which contained his shrine was one of the holiest sites of Christendom. It was on this sacred spot that the Barons swore a loyal oath to John to sign the Magna Carta. People are often to be seen in the evenings in the fields surrounding the town with metal detectors trying to find Roman artefacts, and of course - treasure.
The town is picture postcard pretty, but still real. Everything is within easy walking distance, and the Abbey Gardens in the ruins of the Abbey (the school overlooks these) are a particular source of pride in terms of their floral beauty. The town has won the "most beautiful floral town in the world" in the small town category (internationally) a number of times. We have the oldest theatre in England, (really beautiful – see the website of the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds), many, many lovely traditional pubs (including the Nutshell pub which is the smallest in Britain), an art gallery and some great hotels. In addition to the traditional, we have a really great range of modern restaurants (all within a few minutes walk of the school). There is a new Multiplex cinema complex, interesting shops and excellent sporting facilities including a very large sports centre where students can enroll in a range of classes from aerobics to swimming in the Olympic sized pools or simply enjoying the water slides, jacuzzis or saunas. Walking, cycling, hiking and even horse riding are all available locally.
Within easy reach, are great villages to explore, as well as Newmarket – the centre of British horse racing a mere 10 miles away. Further afield is the coastline, with some beautiful coastal villages like Aldeburgh with its internationally famous annual classical music festival, pretty Southwold and the lovely sandy beaches of the Norfolk coastline. Norwich, a fine city with the incredible Norwich Castle Museum is an hour away – and Cambridge is about 40 minutes away by train or bus. London is a day trip – and there are regular direct trains (about an hour and a quarter) as well as daily National Express coaches to Victoria. These are a few reasons to choose Bury St Edmunds – in addition to the fact that it is a true “hidden gem.”
I wanted to live in this town, and I believed that others would too.
Why the Bury Language School?
I started the school as a "lifestyle" issue. I had taught in Cape Town, Liverpool, London and Rome, and I could not believe that there was not a Language School in the town. I believed, and still do, that every student who found their way to our school and was well taught – would pass on the message. And, so we have grown – by word of mouth in the main – year on year. One student in 1995 has turned into approx. 40 students a week today. We are still small, but every student is special as we all feel we are building something special.
Teaching is my passion, and always will be. If a student seeks teachers with passion combined with professional, planned and thoroughly executed lessons which are outcomes based, then the Bury Language School is the school for them. We are all fully qualified teachers with a wealth of experience, but none of us has lost the enthusiasm and excitement we feel in teaching.
Who are the team at the Bury Language School?
Ben joined the school as a teacher for a few weeks in the summer 6 years ago. We never let him go! He rose through the ranks to become the Principal three years ago. Sue was with me when I started the school 12 years ago and as well as being the Course Co-ordinator and homestay assessor, is a very popular senior teacher. Esme has been at the school, for three years (intermittently due to the birth of a child) and Sarah is our "new young one" who has been with us for two years. There is a sense of continuity and community in the school; any student over the past twelve years can return to the school, and one of us will definitely know her/him and will have taught them.
Can my student do examinations at the Bury Language School?
The Bury Language School is an examinations centre for the Cambridge and London examinations; I fervently believe that a student who comes for more than 6 or 8 weeks should be encouraged to sit an examination. It is great to be fluent in a language, but it is still greater to have some empirical evidence of this.
We feel that each and every lesson is important. I wish every student to feel that they are in a supportive and caring environment that encourages fluency at the same time as rewarding accuracy.
Now, come and visit!
Patrick Murphy Summer 2008
Founder / Director
