Our New Home in George Street

Posted on December 15, 2016

We have some exciting news to share: ELA has moved to a brand new location in the heart of the Edinburgh city centre: 71 George Street, 4th floor.

Our new location at 71 George Street

While we will miss the building on Melville Street, this new location offers incredible views of the city from every room! Who needs a decorative poster of Edinburgh Castle or the view to Fife when they can simply look out the window? Our new classrooms get lots of natural light and have a far more modern layout, offering our students and staff more comfort and convenience. We still have our fantastic interactive smartboards as well as classrooms perfect for groups classes, individual lessons or business English

The Castle meeting room

Our morning class make use of of our smartboards!

Additionally, the new site is in a far more central location, surrounded by a great variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and more. It is easily accessible from any direction of the city and perfectly situated for our students to go out and discover the best Edinburgh has to offer once their classes end for the day.

We are so thrilled to share this news with you – stay tuned for a special invitation to come see it for yourself and help us celebrate!

ELA is ten!!!

Happy birthday to us! Join us as we get misty eyed and take a trip down memory lane. Along the way there will be some fantastic vocabulary for you to learn- just see the bottom of the blog!!

A decade ago this month the Edinburgh Language Academy opened its doors for the very first time. From just 3 classrooms in Leith the school has grown to ten rooms spread over 3 floors in the west end.

For the last decade Olga, our director, has been here to oversee the smooth running of the school. We asked her for some personal highlights. Here are some of her most memorable moments from the first ten years at ELA:

• 12 year old Simone locking himself in the toilet and refusing to come out because he was so homesick for Italy! Olga remembers “we had to bribe him with chocolate to come out!”

• Abdullah from Iraq finally getting the 7.0 in IELTS he needed to bring his family to Scotland and start his masters. “It was his third attempt and he had so much riding on the result, it was really very emotional” says Olga.

• A day trip in 2010 to St. Andrew’s that coincided with the Open golf championship and tens of thousands of golf fans. “We had planned everything for the students but nobody told us about
  

  One of our early classrooms in Leith
  the golf! We were waiting in traffic for 3 hours.” (It’s fair to say that this isn’t one of Olga’s happiest memories….)

• Attracting our first big of students in November 2006 was a bigbreakthrough. “I remember thinking: we can do this. It proved to me that we were going to be a success.”

• The first teacher development course, for a group of Georgian teachers, the school ran. “It was a big challenge for us and it went really well; it was a big step for us and something I want us to do more of us.”

We have been in contact with staff from past years to see what memories they have of the school. Almost of them said: the students! It seems their happiest memories of ELA are connected to the students. David and Sarah, who taught at the school over several summers, remember the chaos of enthusiastic Spanish teenagers during summer school. “You never knew what exactly was going to happen but you knew it was going to be fun.”

Current staff also stress the students are the best thing about the job. “Working with people from all over the world, all in one

building, is incredibly rewarding” says Steve, our director of studies.

From Scottish Bridges to…

…horse riding. We’ve done it all at ELA!!!

Over the last ten years we have taken groups to every tourist attraction in Scotland and taught a huge range of exams to people from (almost) ever country you can name. We’re looking forward to ten years more!

To celebrate our 10th birthday we’re offering some great treats on our website, check out www.elacademy.co.uk for more information!

Match the underlined expression to the meaning, when you think you know the answers tweet! @E_L_Academy

1. Misty-eyed (adj)                                      6. Riding (v)
2. Take a trip down memory lane (v)       7. Coincided (v)
3. Oversee (v)                                               8. Breakthrough (n)
4. Bribe (v)                                                    9. Stress (v)
5. Treat (n)

a) To pay someone to do something in a dishonest way     e) To be in charge

b) Depend                                                                                   f) To remember things from the past

c) Upset and Nostalgic                                                              g) A big and important development

d) Something that isn’t ordinary but is very good                h)  To emphasize

e) To happen by accident

Trinity's certTESOL might be your dream ticket

Here at ELA we’re getting very excited about the Trinity CertTESOL courses that we’ll be running in the near future:

• 30/1/17 -24/2/17
• 5/6/17- 30/6/17
• 30/10/17-24/11/17

Maybe …..You’re looking to launch a career in language teaching,

..…You want to work while on a gap year

……You already have teaching experience but need a qualification

……You’re a non-native English speaker who needs to have their skills recognised

..OR.. you just want a career change

In all these cases Trinity CertTESOL can help. It’s one of the main qualifications in English language teaching and recognised world-wide by schools, governments, NGOs as well as multi-nationals. Doing our course means you can move into the next phase of our career with confidence or move abroad knowing you’ll work for a reputable school.

With certTESOL you can avoid this....

.....and enjoy great facilities!

So why choose certTESOL to take the next reason? Here’s how it compares to the CELTA:

• You’ll teach both adults AND kids, not just adults
• You’ll practise 1-1 classes, something the CELTA ignores
• Experience producing your own materials, a vital skill
• certTESOL is generally cheaper than CELTA, currently it’s £925 at ELA

Course Content:

The certTESOL is made up of 5 units and involves 130 timetabled hours per trainee, ten of which you will be teaching. You will need to pass all internal assignments to gain the certificate. But don’t worry; you’ll have two highly qualified teacher trainers to support you every step of the way.

At ELA your day will normally be:

0900-1215- teaching sessions with your trainers

1215-1300 Lunch

1300-1800 Lesson planning, teaching and observations.

Nearly everyone who has done a certTESOL course remembers it is an intense but extremely rewarding 4 weeks. Reading between the lines; expect a great experience but be prepared to put in the hard work!

Non-native teachers

Non-native applicants will need to do a pre-course interview with our qualified teacher-trainer before signing up. In general, Trinity trainees need IELTS 7.0 in all skills to join a course but remember: it’s the trainer who has the final say.

Could Erasmus help you?

If you feel your level of English may fall short of this, don’t worry. ELA has purposefully designed intensive courses to get you ready for the certTESOL.

Remember, as you’ll participating in an educational course you might qualify for theErasmus + programme, specifically designed for lifelong learning.

Still pondering certTESOL? Have a glance at some of our earlier blogs for ideas of great places to jet off to when you’ve finished your course at ELA.

Trinity's certTESOL might be your dream ticket

Here at ELA we’re getting very excited about the Trinity CertTESOL courses that we’ll be running in the near future:

• 30/1/17 -24/2/17
• 5/6/17- 30/6/17
• 30/10/17-24/11/17

Maybe …..You’re looking to launch a career in language teaching,

..…You want to work while on a gap year

……You already have teaching experience but need a qualification

……You’re a non-native English speaker who needs to have their skills recognised

..OR.. you just want a career change

In all these cases Trinity CertTESOL can help. It’s one of the main qualifications in English language teaching and recognised world-wide by schools, governments, NGOs as well as multi-nationals. Doing our course means you can move into the next phase of our career with confidence or move abroad knowing you’ll work for a reputable school.

With certTESOL you can avoid this....

.....and enjoy great facilities!

So why choose certTESOL to take the next reason? Here’s how it compares to the CELTA:

• You’ll teach both adults AND kids, not just adults
• You’ll practise 1-1 classes, something the CELTA ignores
• Experience producing your own materials, a vital skill
• certTESOL is generally cheaper than CELTA, currently it’s £925 at ELA

Course Content:

The certTESOL is made up of 5 units and involves 130 timetabled hours per trainee, ten of which you will be teaching. You will need to pass all internal assignments to gain the certificate. But don’t worry; you’ll have two highly qualified teacher trainers to support you every step of the way.

At ELA your day will normally be:

0900-1215- teaching sessions with your trainers

1215-1300 Lunch

1300-1800 Lesson planning, teaching and observations.

Nearly everyone who has done a certTESOL course remembers it is an intense but extremely rewarding 4 weeks. Reading between the lines; expect a great experience but be prepared to put in the hard work!

Non-native teachers

Non-native applicants will need to do a pre-course interview with our qualified teacher-trainer before signing up. In general, Trinity trainees need IELTS 7.0 in all skills to join a course but remember: it’s the trainer who has the final say.

Could Erasmus help you?

If you feel your level of English may fall short of this, don’t worry. ELA has purposefully designed intensive courses to get you ready for the certTESOL.

Remember, as you’ll participating in an educational course you might qualify for theErasmus + programme, specifically designed for lifelong learning.

Still pondering certTESOL? Have a glance at some of our earlier blogs for ideas of great places to jet off to when you’ve finished your course at ELA.

Introducing IELTS

There can be no doubt; IELTS has largely cornered the market for universities and visas. It’s a safe bet that if you want to study in the UK, or move here from the outside the EU, IELTS will help you on your way.

IELTS is recognised at universities and governments all over the world. In the UK it is one of only two exams recognised by UK Visas and Immigration. Students; IELTS will help you get your tier 4 visa to come to the UK and enjoy our fantastic colleges and universities. Remember that ELA is always happy to arrange short term Visa and TIER 4 Visa letters for candidates who qualify for them!

Clearly IELTS is more important than ever. So what is it????

Unlike most other exams IELTS can be taken by students of various levels, the exam is designed to evaluate a range of abilities. As such there is no pass or fail; instead there are bands from 1.0 to 9.0, with half scores also possible. You can see how it compares with the Common European Framework below:

IELTS tests the four skills of reading, listening, writing and speaking. Most candidates are relieved to find there is no grammar section! You also have the luxury of choosing from General or Academic IELTS, though the vast majority of people take the academic exam as it’s what universities and colleges want. Although the language in IELTS reading and writing can be quite formal there is plenty of room to produce phrasal verbs and idioms in the speaking! Just remember not to beat around the bush!!!

At ELA we have had a decade of teaching IELTS to highly motivated students. We have had the pleasure of seeing countless students from all backgrounds achieve the score they needed to progress in their academic or professional lives. As teachers this gives us the kind of job satisfaction that keeps us motivated!

We have a library stuffed with IELTS materials

• Various different course books
• Official IELTS practice tests
• Listening materials
• Interactive smartboards in classrooms
• Writing and speaking guides
• Vocabulary books

All of these resources are put to good use by our experienced teachers to make sure you’re given support in the areas you need. At ELA you can study for five hours a day. In the morning (9-1230) you’ll focus on expanding your language skills as well as academic English. In the afternoon you can produce the language you’ve learnt in our IELTS course (1330-1530.) Longer-term students will have regular tutorials with our director of studies, who will keep an objective eye on your progress.

If you’re ready to take on the challenge of IELTS then we’re ready to help. Contact us at dos@elacademy.co.uk to get started!

Location…….location…….location

Completed your Trinity CertTesol at ELA??? Here are some fabulous TEFL destinations where there are no shortage of jobs (check out tefl.com for an exhaustive list)

Czech Republic

Yes, Prague is still beautiful and still cheap! Go on, name another European capital city that is so affordable, liveable and has so many job opps. That’s right, you probably can’t.

Good for:

* money; you can probably earn the average Czech monthly wage very soon in your career.

* architecture, choose from one of Prague’s painfully cool but beautiful inner city areas or go for communist chic in one of the outer neighbourhoods

Will it be Žižkov or ….

Jižní Město (south city) ???

* Sport, there are teams galore for football and ice hockey fans. Kick off times range from 1800 Friday to 1000 (yes AM) Sunday. Don’t worry, good beer is always available.

* Film, the vast majority of cinemas use Czech subtitles so gorge on the city’s independent cinema scene

* Gigs, most bands feel obliged to add a central European leg to a tour. Tickets are normally very easy to come by.

*public transport, highly efficient and highly subsidized. You’ve really no excuse not to explore the capital and the rest of the country

* Language, the locals know it’s difficult and appreciate any sort of effort you make in murdering it

But hold on:

* Czechs think nothing of having lessons at 0720 before work! Few teachers can afford to turn down these pre-morning

Winter commute- tram style

classes so get your beauty sleep

* You will travel a lot, from company to school to private home. In the winter this can be tiring

* it’s an employers’ market and many schools want self-employed teachers. Plus, as most TEFL managerial

roles are occupied by Czechs you may need to look elsewhere for career progression

* Whisper it to your students but Czech food can be a tad monotonous. And stodgy.

Spain

Boasting a thriving TEFL market, a dizzying selection of beautiful places to live and noticeably more money than Italy (the other major European destination).

¡Olé!

* if you want a relaxed lifestyle with good public services look no further

* the Spanish know how to party, keep up with them if you can

In Spain even your grandparents stay up all hours

* Village or city? Mountains or beaches? Andalusia or Asturias? The range of destinations can be daunting, in a good way

* Contracts, most academies in Spain offer proper 10 month contracts with paid holidays. The work tends to dry up in the summer.

*Tapas, go to the right part of the country and you will effectively eat for free

As tasty as it looks

* Spanish and English share a number of Latin based words. Save time by asking ‘Is it the same in Spanish?’

* Region rules. You may have dined on Galician sea food but you haven’t tasted paella if you haven’t had it in Valencia. Which region is most        Spanish? Visit them all to decide!

* Quite simply: the people. Your classroom will never be dull. Your town center will never be quiet.

It’s not all tinto de varano :

* The climate is not all it’s cracked up to be. Madrid and Granada can be cold in winter and stifling in summer. Many rental flats in the south don’t have any heating at all!

White Madrid, a more common sight than you might expect

* Be aware that not all private academies are of the same quality. Do your research before you commit to a school!

* Learn the lingo to 1) make local friends and 2) enhance your promotion chances. Academies tend to want managers who can speak with parents and clients

* Remember the locals’ language skills may not be up to much, especially in more regional towns and smaller cities

* Fix a smile on your face, grab a strong a coffee and be prepared to teach kids!

China

Always an attractive option for the more adventurous TEFLer; teachers who go normally come back with tales of an unforgettable experience.

Get going for:

* the high salaries Westerners, especially those with relevant degrees, are often offered in big cities

* the buzz of International cities like Beijing and Shanghai with the thriving expat scenes

Enjoy the buzz of Beijing

* Shenzhen in the tropical SE, a booming city close to some of China’s best beaches

Dameisha Beach, Shezhen

* the challenge of a different script. Remember you can get by without speaking the language initially and there are lots of handy apps to help!

* the typically warm Chinese welcome

* a truly different society and a different world view

Remember:

* The air quality in some of the bigger cities famously leaves a lot to be desired

* There’s a big difference between teaching in private academies and public schools, make sure you know what you’re letting yourself in for

* Chinese work places tend to have a different mentality to their Western counter parts. Bosses are rarely questioned and saving face can be all important

* to carefully consider the reputation and location of the school/academy. Finding yourself as one of a handful of foreigners in a provincial city working for a poorly run organization….is best avoided