Study in Wales
We asked four ELT professionals and one former student to tell us what Wales has to offer students of English.
Why choose Wales?
Annie Brunt: They say good things come in small packages, and that is certainly true of Wales. With a population of just 2.75 million, this small country has managed to wrap up many things within its borders, from the rugged splendour of Snowdonia National Park to the cosmopolitan capital, Cardiff. And of course there are the beautiful "blue flag" beaches along the 1,200-kilometre Welsh coastline. Wales is a wonderful destination for students because it has something for everyone.
Sabine
Hoekema: Wales has a unique character to the rest of the United
Kingdom. It has its own language and identity, and the people are very
friendly and open to other cultures. The landscape is a combination
of hills, mountains and a beautiful coastline combined with vibrant
city and town life. There are also many industrial parks, where national
and international companies offer work placements.
Liza Watson: People choose to come and study with our language school in Wales because of its good reputation, but also because they are attracted by the peace and beauty of the area. Our school is in the Brecon Beacons National Park so the countryside is wonderful and there is no pollution or noise of traffic.
Roger Knight: It's wet, but it's the greenest, loveliest place on the planet. Wales is dotted with castles, Celtic monuments, wonderful old houses, and with mountains and rugged hills. The people are exceptionally friendly - all the students say this, no matter what their nationality. It has a lovely capital city full of parks, pubs, sports centres, swimming pools, nightclubs and restaurants with food from everywhere you can imagine. And there's great music: Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Bryn Terfel, Catherine Jenkins, Spencer Davies, the Lost Prophets - they all come from Wales.
Annie Brunt: Wales is a magical country that is steeped in Celtic culture and intriguing legends passed down through the generations. The most celebrated of all is the legend of King Arthur, famous for his bravery when fighting to bring peace to Britain. Like other areas of the United Kingdom, Wales is becoming more cosmopolitan and welcomes visitors from all over the world - many of whom come back year after year. Despite this, Wales has not lost its identity, and the Celtic influences are as strong as ever. Wales is a bi-lingual country, and while the vast majority of people speak English, you will see and hear Welsh - one of the oldest languages in Europe - all around you.
Mario Gonzalez: I was a student at an English language school
in Cardiff. I have now finished studying and like Wales so much that
I have decided to work here.
I am currently working in a busy bar on the high street in Cardiff.
I have come to learn that Wales is a completely different county to
England, Ireland and Scotland. Wales has a magnificent coastline with
long sandy beaches, especially in the Gower (Swansea), and it also has
a green and stunning countryside, fantastic historical monuments and
castles, and most of all, the Welsh people are very friendly and welcoming
to international students.
Where do most people tend to study?
Annie
Brunt: Language students are spoiled for choice when they come
to learn English in Wales. Whatever your age or ability, www.englishinwales.org.uk
will help you find the English language school for your needs. You can
also continue your education in a Welsh university. With over 30 Centres
of Excellence, Wales boasts world-class universities that offer undergraduate
and postgraduate courses over a range of disciplines and that attract
students from over 100 different countries.
Sabine Hoekema: Our organisation is based in Llangollen in North Wales. This is also where we give the language classes. The work placements, where you get the chance to put into practice what you have learned, are spread out all over Wales. During the work placements you live with a host family as close to your work as possible.
Mario Gonzalez: Most international students tend to study in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. I studied at a great language school located right in the centre of the town, and all pubs, shops, restaurants and public transport are so close. I studied there for nine months and my English really improved.
When is the best time to go?
Liza Watson: I suppose April until October inclusive is when the weather should be best, but the weather is always unreliable! We have serious students here, so any time of year is good for learning English.
Roger Knight: All year, but it's usually wet in March and April, and it can snow a lot from January to March. The weather can be inclement, but when you get up into those mountains, or walk along beaches five miles long, when the sun comes back out, you'll be blown away.
Annie Brunt: Any time! English language courses are available throughout the year in Wales, but the majority of learners attend summer schools. Don't worry about the weather - yes, we have a lot of rain in the United Kingdom, and Wales is no different; however, Wales also boasts some of the sunniest areas of Britain. The weather is changeable, so you could get glorious sunshine and rain in the same afternoon. The best advice is: pack sunglasses and an umbrella!
Who goes to Wales to study English?
Mario
Gonzalez: Here in Cardiff I have met students from all over the
world -Europe, South America, North Africa and South Asia. All the students
like to study in a language school first, and then some join a U.K.
university, while others return to their native countries with a good
level of English, and others (like me) decide to stay for a little longer
as Cardiff is a great capital city.
Roger Knight: Just about everyone on the planet. Cardiff is an exceptionally cosmopolitan city, and it has been for over 200 years.
Sabine Hoekema: ECTARC in North Wales works very closely together with the Generalitat de Catalunya [local government] in Barcelona, Spain. They select professionals and graduates for us. Successful applicants will then join the programme in Wales, which consists of a language course and three months of voluntary work placement in the applicant's own field of study or experience. You need to have some knowledge of English, but there is no need to be fluent, as you will be here to learn!
Liza Watson: Here at Trebinshun House our clients are usually middle and senior management from international companies, or professional people.
What would you advise a visitor to do in Wales?
Sabine Hoekema: Visit the Mountains of Snowdonia National Park in North Wales, visit Cardiff in the South of Wales, and have a go at one of the many outdoor activities on offer throughout the country
Liza Watson: Walking is fantastic in Wales as the scenery is wonderful both in the mountains and at the sea. It is a very historic country so there are many excellent castles and churches to visit.
Roger Knight:Swim in the sea - you won't forget it! It's one
of the best places in
Europe for clean, safe beaches. Camp on a beach with other students
- music and moonlight by the sea, good food, drink and company, light
a fire, enjoy! And see a match or concert in the mind-blowing Millennium
Stadium. Check it all out on Google.
Annie
Brunt: Outdoor types are thoroughly at home in Wales with mountain
bike trails and footpaths criss-crossing the whole of the country. As
you would expect with such an extensive coastline, water sports are
popular activities for visitors, and you'll find fishing trips, windsurfing,
waterskiing and snorkelling to name but a few. If you prefer less energetic
activities, try a stroll along a Pembrokeshire beach - a region declared
an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Or take a boat trip from Aberystwyth,
a stunning university town midway along Cardigan Bay, to see the dolphins.
Art lovers can delight in the displays at the National Museum and Gallery
in Cardiff or travel further north to the small market town of Machynlleth
to visit the Modern Art Museum, where work by Welsh artist Kyffin Williams
is on display. The mystical past of Wales is illustrated by the abundance
of castles scattered around the country: Caernarfon, Harlech, Conway,
Beaumaris, Pembroke - the list seems endless!
Mario Gonzalez:Go to Caerphilly Castle, go to the national park of Snowdonia - that is fantastic! - and take a sight-seeing tour around the city of Cardiff.
Annie Brunt: Whatever course you choose, from a two-week language course to a three-year degree, you will never lose the memories, or forget the warm welcome! Croeso i Gymru! (Welcome to Wales!)
Many thanks to ...
Annie Brunt
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
www.aber.ac.uk/language+learning
Liza Watson
Trebinshun House
www.trebinshunhouse.co.uk
Mario Gonzalez (former student)
Cardiff Management & Languages Academy
www.cmla.uk.com
Roger Knight
Albany Language School
www.albanylanguages.co.uk
Sabine Hoekema
ECTARC
www.ectarc.com