The Importance of Training for Cambridge Exams

A question that we are asked on a regular basis is ‘How does this exam reflect my level of English?’.
It is a very fair question, and, unfortunately, the answer is that it actually might not.

Whether it is for university, work, or just for the personal challenge, the Cambridge exams often represent the pinnacle of difficulty in English language development.
They are not easy to achieve and bring with them a sense of satisfaction unobtainable in any other area of language development.

But does it reflect your level of English? Not necessarily…

Passing an exam is somewhat different to achieving the language to enable you to order dinner at a restaurant.  Most language development occurs to improve communicative ability, not impress an examiner.  Unfortunately, that is not what is needed to pass the Cambridge exams.

The exam is divided into the four skills – Speaking, Reading (and Use of English), Writing and Listening. Each skill will test your ability to use/understand various areas within each skill but they follow a very specific structure.

The reading paper will test your understanding of general information and ask you complete multiple choice questions – along with completing a text by inserting multiple paragraphs.
The writing paper will ask you to write two pieces of text – typically one will be a report and the second one will be a choice. The listening paper, much like the reading paper, will ask you to analyse spoken texts and to fill in empty spaces. All of which aren’t really skills we utilise in our daily use of English, therefore, in order to pass these exams, specialist training is a must.


This does not mean that it is impossible to achieve a high standard of English without doing an exam, but it does mean that it is remarkably difficult to achieve a certificate of fair representation of your English level without first studying the nuances of the exam.

Glossary

pinnacle – the most successful point; the culmination.

nuances - a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

---Sign up for the Cambridge English Exams at ELA-Edinburgh.

Whether it is Preliminary, First, Advanced, Proficiency or Business Certificate, preparing for a Cambridge English exam does not need to be an arduous task.

At ELA-Edinburgh we will provide you with the training and support required to achieve your desired score.

Thinking about moving to Edinburgh

So, you are thinking about studying in Edinburgh? Good choice! Edinburgh is one of the most captivating cities in Europe, with students and professionals alike travelling here with the intention of staying for a few months but wind up staying here for a few years. ‘Multi-cultural’ is a word that is used to describe a lot of different places, but Edinburgh? 

Edinburgh wrote the book on ‘multi-culturalism’.

If you are thinking about relocating either permanently or temporarily, then here are ten things that you should be aware of before you arrive.

Doctors

Possibly the most important item on the list is healthcare. Scotland has famously free healthcare and registering with a GP (General Practitioner) is a straightforward process.  Once you arrive and you have your accommodation organised, just walk into any clinic and sign up.

Transport

Getting around Edinburgh is nice and simple. Our bus service is very reliable and our many taxi companies will help see you home whatever the hour.

If you are planning to leave the city to explore Scotland, then you should check the national rail service because you might be legible for a discount card.

Accommodation

Prices in Edinburgh vary by location but it is no secret that Edinburgh is an expensive city to live in.  As a general rule, the closer you are to the city centre, the more rent you can expect to pay. That being said, the areas surrounding Edinburgh are beautiful and the bus links are excellent.

There are options for traveling inside of Edinburgh aside from the busses, such as the many taxi companies and tram service.  If you wish to travel away from Edinburgh and explore the country, then, depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a discount rail card.

Eating Out

Edinburgh, as mentioned before, is a wonderfully multicultural environment and nowhere is it clearer than in its restaurants.  The variety of places to eat is simply staggering and they are not just restricted to the city centre. If you miss your country’s cuisine, Edinburgh may be able to provide you with the delicacies from your home in one the great variety of international supermarkets.

Of course, if you wish to experience traditional British food then perhaps a traditional pub is just the ticket!

Cultural Immersion

Edinburgh has a vast history which has been chronicled into its very buildings. From the narrow, winding streets of the ‘Old Town’ to the masterful creation that is the ‘New Town’, Edinburgh’s architecture is a delight.  Everywhere you turn you are reminded of a beautiful, but harsh, past that graced this city. 

Even Robert Louis Stevenson, one of Scotland’s greatest writers, once remarked:

There are no stars as lovely as Edinburgh street lamps.

So what do you need to do to get here? 

Well, if you are planning to study then you will probably need IELTS or TOEFL.  Or perhaps you are looking to settle here and become a British Citizen, if so then you will probably need to do SELT.  

At ELA-Edinburgh, we offer a number of courses that can help you achieve your goals of relocating to Scotland.  Our exam focussed courses will cover all of your university requirements and if you are intending to stay then we will be very happy to help. 

Glossary

Captivating – really beautiful

To wind up – to come to a destination that was not planned

To write the book on something – to be the first expert on something

Aside from – not including

Staggering – (adj) to describe something very positively

Just the ticket – used to describe something as perfect, often used for foo

Can Theatre enhance your language skills?

What is the key to boosting any learning process?

At ELA we believe it is always about finding the perfect balance between theory and practice, and if you are looking to improve your English, why not use Theatre!

The well-rounded educational value theatre plays is increasingly being appreciated in many respects, and here are 3 reasons why you shouldn’t underestimate its benefits when it comes to brushing up on your English skills:

• Attending theatrical performances presents learners with a wide variety of communicative contexts. 
• Listening skills are utilised extensively and students develop an ear for pronunciation and accent, which will help them to sound like native speakers. 
• Thanks to the diversification of plays, students gain a deeper understanding of communicative styles, avoiding those awkward moments when someone doesn’t know what the suitable level of formality is. More cultural awareness and less faux-pas!

Theatre productions foster creativity and encourage viewers to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, thereby increasing empathy and self-awareness. As a result, students’ confidence will increase.

In a nutshell, learning English through Theatre enables students to practice key skills such as listening and, on top of that, it brings in the element of fun and students are keener to express themselves in public among friends and colleagues.

This ‘Theatre & English’ Course could be your experience of a lifetime!

Edinburgh’s hustle and bustle during summer festivals is not to be missed, so our answer is simple: take your English to the next level in the enchanting capital city of Scotland.
It’s high time you joined our ‘Theatre & English’ Course at ELA!

The next course runs from Mon, 30 July to Fri, 10 August 2018.

Contact us to get more information.

The CPE exam

There are a variety of exam options for learners of English. The market is full of exams from different providers. However, for highly advanced students one exam stands out: the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

ELA-Edinburgh is an authorised test centre for Cambridge English

The CPE is a C2 level exam, meaning it is suitable for near native level users. It is certainly a challenging exam and a genuine accomplishment for anyone who achieves this level in English.The exam features four papers designed to test all elements of English:

Paper 1- Reading and Use of English (90 minutes)

Use of English tests grammar and vocabulary

Paper 2-  Writing (90 minutes)
Candidate must write two papers and a total of around 500 words

Paper 3 - Listening (Approx 40 minutes)
4 separates tasks that will be played twice

Paper 4 - Speaking (Approx 16 minutes)
Candidates will do the speaking tasks in pairs

Once you have the CPE exam, it is valid for life and is proof of the exceptional level of English that you have reached. It will boost any CV in a competitive market.

Often candidates for the CPE have reached an excellent level of English through living and working in the UK over a number of years and need a qualification that will prove their skills. If this is your case, the CPE may well be your answer.

As a test centre for Cambridge English, ELA-Edinburgh will run the computer based CPE exam on July 14th, candidates will receive their result in justtwo or three weeks. For more information email info@elacademy.co.uk or call 0131 226 6182.

Making the most of your time in Edinburgh

Welcome to beautiful Edinburgh! We're delighted that you've decided to study with us and enjoy our city but. most of all, we want you to improve your English!  You only have a limited time with us, so let's make sure you make the most of your time studying with ELA-Edinburgh.

Be Prepared

Come to class with a pen and a notebook for new vocabulary and grammar. It’s amazing how many students expect to remember language without writing it down. Sadly, most people do not have perfect memories.

ALWAYS record new language

Don’t be shy

Tell your teacher what you need and what you want to study. Be ready to give your teacher feedback on the lessons.

Move your cultural life into English

Remember that most language is learnt out of the classroom so one of the most important thing is exposure to the language. Learners who become fluent enjoy using English to socialise, read, watch TV or listen to music. Even if you don’t think you’re learning anything, your brain is busy absorbing and remembering.

Take advantage of the UK

Whilst in Edinburgh you will be surrounded by the English language. It’s difficult to understand all the new words and phrases you will encounter each day, but use the context to help you guess the meaning and don’t be afraid of making a mistake.

Use your teacher as a resource

Write down new words and phrases and check their meaning with your teacher.

Teachers love lots of questions!

Set yourself targets

When you study a new piece of grammar look for opportunities to use it; this could be just repeating it to yourself or fitting it into a context with familiar situations such as the daily life of your family or friends.  We want to see you produce it.  Imagine the satisfaction you’ll feel when you use the 3rd conditional perfectly!

Be Honest

When you don’t understand something or get confused please tell your teacher. Mistakes are good because we can learn from them and they give your teacher a better idea of how to help you.

Monitoring Student Performance

Proving to students that they are improving has always been a challenge for teachers and schools. However, there are ways to tackle this age old problem.

Entrance Tests

Before starting a course, students should take a short placement test to discover their level. However this kind of test is limited and to test productive skills we recommend students complete a short essay before arrival. Feedback can be given during induction on the first day. To complete the entrance tests, students should take a five minute speaking test and be given feedback on their ability at the start of their course.

Regular Testing

Whether it is weekly or fortnightly, regular progress tests and tutorials need to happen and the results stored for both teacher and student to refer to. This is also a vital opportunity for students to tell teachers how they feel about their classes and for the school to respond to changing needs.

Remember: your feedback matters!

Exit Tests

If possible, it is a great idea for students to do quick grammar, writing and speaking tests at the end of the course. This allows quick and simple comparison with the tests done at the beginning of the course. If all goes well, we should be able to prove to our students how much they have improved!

At ELA-Edinburgh we employ all of these tactics to give our students the best possible service. Judging from our happy students, it seems to be working!

Using Film in the Classroom

Here at ELA, we believe that variety is the spice of life. Learning, like all things,  can get boring if you do the same thing all the time. That's just one of the many reasons why videos are an important part of our eclectic approach. Here are some of the other factors that can make videos such a useful tool in the classroom.

An introduction to authentic material

We want our students to be exposed to as much English language culture as possible. By watching TV programmes and films in the original English version, learners are likely to pick up new expressions and hear a wider variety of accents. However, this can be intimidating and many students wrongly think it is too difficult for them. Introducing shorter, more manageable videos in a supportive classroom atmosphere can persuade students they are capable of watching longer videos at home.

For the Teacher

From a teacher's perspective videos can be tailored to every level from beginner to advanced. We can choose what grammar points to raise and what vocabulary to highlight as long as we plan in advance and watch the video ahead of the lesson! There are also lots of fantastic websites to help you incorporate film into your lessons.

Share critically acclaimed short-films with your students

For the student

Students often find videos a welcome change from the textbook and can understand vocabulary more easily as the video provides a natural context. Videos can also inspire incredibly student-centred activities where learners take their mobile phones out of the classroom to create their own videos.

One of ELA's Interactive smartboards

Technology plays a vital role in any modern ELT classroom. Our school is lucky to boast two interactive smartboards and internet access in every classroom. There really is no excuse not to utilise film!

A New Year's Resolution: Use Grammar Accurately to talk about the Future

Welcome 2018!  Welcome our annual promises about the year ahead!  It's the time of year to make resolutions about what we will do (or are going to do) in the next twelve months. But, as we all know, choosing the right tense to talk about the future is not always easy.

Popular resolutions

This week the teachers and students at ELA-Edinburgh have been making their own resolutions. Three of the most popular were
   * Cook a new recipe everyday
 * Spend less money
  *Walk to school

The problem is, what tense should we use to express these promises?

‘Will’

Most textbooks will tell you to use will (or future simple) for promises. If you somebody tells you a secret you might promise “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” As resolutions are a type of promise it can make sense to say “I will walk to school every day”.

‘Going to’

However, the most natural way to talk about resolutions is with ‘going to’. We use this tense to talk about plans, things we have decided to do. This means that “I’m going spend less money” sounds a lot more serious than “I’ll spend less money.”

What are you going to do in 2018? Tweet us @E_L_Academy to tell us your New Year’s Resolutions!!

The Schwa

Following on from our pronunciation guide, we bring you the most common sound in English: the schwa. The only sound in English with its own name, you will find the schwa in many, many words.

What is it?

The schwa is an unstressed vowel sound. This means that if a vowel is not stressed, it is probably pronounced as a schwa sound. You can listen to the schwa here.

Can you show me an example?

Say the word 'vegetable'  to yourself. And again. This is one of the most mispronounced words in English because learners want to pronounce every vowel. However in 'vegetable' the second 'e' and the 'a' are schwas, the only vowel that is fully pronounced is the first 'e'.

Why is this important?

Remember that, unlike many languages, English doesn't respect its vowel sounds. English speakers are lazy! We reduce, or just leave out, a lot of vowel sounds. This is why the schwa is so important. If you don't respect the schwa, you will mispronounce many words and your English will not sound as natural as it could!

IELTS Top Tips: Part 2

Following on from our IELTS Top Tips: Part 1 covering listening and reading, this week we bring you our guide to the productive sections of the exam: speaking and writing

Speaking

• Build a library

Collect your favourite phrasal verbs/idioms and make sure they can be used in a variety of contexts: e.g. describing likes and dislikes. Remember, you have a limited time to impress and it is vital you show off your knowledge

• Start your preparation early

Don’t leave speaking preparation till the end of the course. Start using your favourite expressions soon and try to use them every time you practise. The aim is for you to be able to produce a range of grammar and vocabulary that will impress the examiner and not seem forced.

• Use your voice

Don’t make the mistake of thinking pronunciation is only about vowel and consonant sounds. While accurate production is important you should also remember to change the speed and pitch of your voice to add emphasise, and enhance meaning.

Writing

• What’s true for speaking is true for writing

Like speaking, start your writing preparation early aiming to collect advanced grammar and vocabulary that you will be able to use in part 2. One possibility is to prepare a model for part 2 into which you can insert the details of your particular topic.

• Be practical in part 1

Remember that while part 2 is literary, part 1 is more scientific. You do not need beautiful vocabulary or a wide range of advanced structures to succeed here. Rather, ask yourself if a reader could recreate the graph/diagram/chart from your description. Focus on accuracy and detail.

• Tactics, tactics, tactics

You should be able to do well in writing as it is so tactical. Learn the rules and follow them. Pay close attention to the word count and most importantly: ANSWER THE QUESTION and resist the temptation to alter it to suit your interests or knowledge.

Contact us to see how we can help. 

info@elacademy.co.uk +44 (0)131 226 6182 

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IELTS Top Tips: Part 1

We all know what an important exam IELTS is, and many of our students at ELA-Edinburgh come to us with a target score for entrance to a British university.

For all IELTS students, here are our top tips for every section of the exam!

This week we tackle the receptive skills: reading and listening

Reading

• Read the questions carefully

There are many different task types in the reading section so don’t assume you know what to do!

• Underline the words that gave you the answer

Always check your answers before transferring them to the answer sheet. When you do this, ask yourself why you chose that answer. Look at the words you underlined and check you agree.

• Only take information from the text

It’s tempting to allow outside knowledge to affect your answer but remember the only relevant information is that in the text.

Listening

• Focus at all time

Remember listening is active and requires 100% concentration. It is hard work but switching off will cost you valuable points.

• Predict

Use the time you get before the exercises well. It is vital, especially in gap fill exercises, that you guess what could be in the gap.

• Keep calm

The exam writers are not your friends. They know you’re nervous and likely to put the first viable answer you hear. If you know the answer is a number, it highly probable there will be two or three numbers designed to confuse you.

Check the blog next week for our tips on the productive skills: writing and speaking

Contact us to see how we can help. 

info@elacademy.co.uk +44 (0)131 226 6182 

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

New Evening and Weekend English Courses at ELA-Edinburgh

ELA-Edinburgh is excited to announce its new evening and weekend English courses, for all those busy people unable to study during normal class hours. If you want to improve your English for confidence, your studies, or for the work place this is the perfect opportunity to take your English language skills further.

Until June 2018, we are offering affordable part time classes with experienced English language teachers during weekday evenings and on Saturdays. With our school based in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, it’s an ideal location to find some time to fit in English lessons.

“ELA-Edinburgh is by far the most enriching experience I have ever had in terms of language studies. In this school, you will learn a lot not only grammar, useful English expressions, but also about Scottish culture. The staff is very welcoming and they always make sure you receive the best attention. Despite all the stereotypes you hear on the grapevine, Edinburgh is the best city in which you can learn English and what a better option than learning or improving your English at ELA-Edinburgh”

– Raul Melendez (ELA-Student, October 2016-March 2017)

Whether it is an English course in General English, Business English, Cambridge Exam Preparation or IELTS Exam Preparation, ELA-Edinburgh has something for everybody wanting to brush up and improve their skills.

We are offering 

Evening courses Monday to Thursday 6pm - 8pm or 

Saturday morning's at 10am - 2.30pm. 

Visit ELA-Edinburgh to find out more 

Or contact us by email dos@elacademy.co.uk or phone 0131 226 6182

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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!