Who are we?
Welcome to Oxford School of English, a well-established language school situated in the heart of the city of Oxford.
Oxford School of English was founded 25 years ago with the mission of teaching English to students from around the globe and over our existence we have helped thousands of students achieve their English language goals.
Whether they are long-term students who want to improve their English to be able to live and study in the UK, or people coming for a few weeks just to brush up on some rusty speaking skills they haven’t used in a while, our flexible courses and dedicated staff have assisted students of all backgrounds, levels and ages in improving their English language abilities.
We are accredited by the British Council, the official organisation that inspects English language schools around the world and all our teaching staff are highly-qualified with many years of experience.
How does it work?
After booking online, potential students will be asked to do a placement test to assess their initial level. This will also be followed up by a conversational speaking test with the Director of Studies, either on the morning of their arrival or via videocall before their course if they wish.
Where will I stay when I’m studying?
Most of our students stay in a homestay, that is to say, they stay with a British family while they are in the UK. This allows students to practise their English outside the classroom and also to become more familiar with British culture. The families we use are all subject to strict background checks and regular inspections of their housing so you can rest assured that they all meet our high-standards of accommodation. Homestay accommodation includes both breakfast and dinner. Many of our families have been hosting with us for many years and we have had fantastic feedback about them.
We also have a limited number of self-catered residential flats in which students can stay if they prefer however these are subject to availability.
What different courses do we offer?
Our most popular courses are our General English classes which are open to all levels Elementary and above. We divide our classes by existing English level so each student will be learning material which is suitable for their current English level. We use the Common European Framework of language levels.
Elementary (A1): An A1 student can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. They can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Pre-Intermediate (A2): An A2 student can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance such as shopping, work and family. They can communicate in simple everyday tasks.
Intermediate (B1): A typical B1 student can understand the main points of clear conversation on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. They can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. They can describe experiences and give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Upper Intermediate (B2): A B2 student can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. They can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
Advanced (C1): A C1 student understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. They can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions, using language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
Proficiency (C2): A C2 student can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. They can express themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
We sometimes run Beginner courses too however we usually suggest that students who are of a Beginner (pre-A1) level we would suggest book 1:1 lessons so they can improve their level to get to the point where they can join our General English classes.
What time are the courses?
Our morning classes start at 9:30 and run until 12:30 for the 15-hour General English course. There is an extra lesson until 13:35 if you choose the 20-hour General English course. Our intensive course also includes a fluency lesson from 14:30-16:00. As this lesson is more of a conversation class, we suggest that students have at least an intermediate (B1) level of English before they choose the intensive course.
Are there any activities outside of school?
The school arranges weekly social get-togethers so students can practise their English in a more informal setting in addition to the classes. We also organise various activities like karaoke, bowling, quiz nights, film nights and also weekend excursions.
Can my children study at the school?
We also run a Junior Summer School every summer in July and August for 12-17 year old students which also includes trips to places like London, Bath, Warwick Castle and Brighton as well as other activities to help our students make friends and use English in real-life social settings.
What if I have a specific type of English I want to focus on like IELTS or Business English?
For students who have more specific language needs we usually cover these through 1:1 lessons which are geared more closely to exactly what the student wants.
Some of the more specialist forms of English we have experience teaching:
- IELTS and TOEFL preparation for students who need a particular score in order to study at an English-speaking university
- Business English (including preparation for the BEC (Cambridge Business English Certificate))
- Medical English (including preparation for the OET (Occupational English Test))
- Legal English
- Aviation English
- Hospitality English
Other more specific courses are available upon request.
That’s a brief overview of what we offer at the school but we pride ourselves on our flexibility and our ability to meet the needs of all our students. We are a smaller school which allows us to have a more personal approach and we always aim to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment where students can reach their full potential.
What makes Oxford School of English special?
The thing that really sets Oxford School of English apart from other language schools is our warm and welcoming atmosphere. Many students report feeling like they’ve joined a big family and tell us that thanks to our school, not only have they improved their English skills, but made friends for life from all over the globe. From day one, we seek to make students feel as welcome as possible because we know that that positive atmosphere encourages learning and personal development.
What can I learn from this blog?
Going forward in this blog we hope to give a bit more insight into what makes our school special and let you get to know our staff and students a bit better and learn some more about the wonderful city of Oxford as well as providing some tips and tricks on how you can better master the English language and achieve your own learning goals.
If you are at all interested in any of our courses for either yourself or someone you know like a friend or a child then do not hesitate to contact us at info@oxfordschoolofenglish.com with your requests or queries.
Joe Briggs
Director of Studies