Frequently Asked Questions

Express English College offers General English at all levels, IELTS Preparation, Business English and One-to-One tuition, where you can ‘design your own course’ around your own goals (for example English for work or for a specific profession). We also run a Junior Summer Programme for students aged 12–17, and tailor-made programmes for groups.

General English, IELTS Preparation and Business English can each be taken as 20 lessons per week or 30 lessons per week (Intensive). Each lesson is 45 minutes. One-to-One lessons are booked by the hour, and group programmes can be tailored to your needs.

That depends on you! However, to move from one CEFR level to the next, experts suggest 120-150 hours of guided learning is typical. You can choose to do this in a more intensive way, or over a longer period of time, according to your needs.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It organises language proficiency in six levels. A1 to C2, which can be regrouped into three broad levels: Basic User, Independent User and Proficient User. Your teacher will explain these levels in more detail during your induction.

You can take our free online placement test before you arrive. It checks your grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening, and includes a short writing task. It is followed by a short speaking assessment with one of our teachers, so that we can place you in the right class for your level.

You will receive in-class feedback during every lesson. Additionally, you will review your progress with the Academic Manager once a month during your tutorial, reflecting on your progress and improvements made through the month, and negotiating goals to help  you in your areas of weakness. At the end of your progress test, you will sit with the Academic Manager to evaluate the extent of your progress throughout the whole course and can be re-tested to measure your level of progression. 

A course book fee of £30 per level is added to your booking. All other learning materials used in class are included in your course fee.

Yes – Express English College believes independent study to be of great importance to enable you to develop and progress. In order to cater to the varied expectations of all students, we will assign a homework task (Mon-Fri) which must be completed by all, and a second ‘optional’ homework task for those who wish to dedicate more time to their home studies. Homework will be corrected together with your teacher the following morning in class.

Our maximum class size is 12. Your class members could be from anywhere in the world! 

Yes – in class, teachers are trained and selected to incorporate interactive activities and tasks so you get frequent opportunities to speak to your teacher, and your class members. In the afternoon, you will be speaking constantly – during activities, trips, in your accommodation, and out in the ‘real world’! 

If you need to cancel, please tell us as soon as possible and we will explain the options. The cancellation and refund rules are set out in full in our Terms and Conditions.

Choose your course, dates and accommodation in our price calculator and application form, then pay securely online by card. Your place is confirmed as soon as the payment is received. If you would like a quote first, or you are booking for a group, send us a booking request and we will reply within 2 working days.

Yes. You can stay with a local host family (homestay, half board – breakfast and dinner included) all year round. In July and August you can also choose a private studio in a student hall of residence. See our accommodation page for details and prices.

Our adult courses are for students aged 16 and over; students aged 16–17 need signed parental consent before the course starts. For younger students we run a Junior Summer Programme for ages 12–17. Please read our Under 18s information and Junior Terms and Conditions.

Use our booking request form for a single student or a group. We will send you availability, a quotation and our Group Booking Terms and Conditions. New agents can also apply through the Become an Agent page.