The best atmosphere to learn English quickly

Alfredo Aspra, a lawyer from Madrid, came to Heritage English for a short one-week intensive immersion course this August.  He had a full programme of one-to-one lessons from Monday to Friday with personal coach, Toby Wilks.  Alfredo had lunch with Toby every day after morning lessons, followed by an excursion when he visited local places of interest with his teacher, speaking and being monitored all the time.

 His host for the week was Pam Myatt - and this is what he wrote before leaving today.

"Toby is a really excellent teacher because the time learning with him is pleasant, fun and interesting.  He taught a lot of basic grammar rules that I had forgotton and much vocabulary - I learned many new words and phrases.

The host, Pam, is a fantastic person that she is worried that everything been OK all the time.  I have really enjoyed in this home.

The course is very intensive because you are learning continuously every minute; the teacher's time is dedicated to your learning and the results are immediate.  For people very busy it is the best method; you and your teacher are focussed in the same target and working together to do it.

This place, the environment, the people who live here and their professionalism and friendliness - all make the best atmosphere to learn English quickly.  The organisation and human quality of Heritage English Academy is fantastic and very admirable."

Alfredo
 



 

Progress fantastic.... I didn't waste my money!

Alvaro Brasil Correa came all the way from Rio de Janeiro to take 2-weeks intensive immersion with Heritage English this August.  He works as an electrician on an oil rig and he needs English to talk to suppliers and customers all over the world.  His main problem was understanding native English, American or Canadian speakers.

We asked him, what did he enjoy most?

"First - Lessons.  They are dynamic so that you never wait for break

Second - Conversation.  The teachers make you talk, even when you been a shy person 

Third - Meet people, the teacher make you listen to many different voices

Fourth - The cultural and leisure time.  This is the best way for describing the afternoons and evenings.  It is very important for you learn new words and expressions.

When I decided study in Heritage course, I couldn't imagine the effect of this one-to-one method.  It is not the cheapest way to learn, but really we can say that the progress is fantastic. 

 I also can say that I didn't waste my money!"

Alvaro

Project Manager now more fluent

Herve Le Gac from Nantes in France has completed an intensive week this August, staying with our host Pam and having lessons with Toby (see lesson photo above).  Herve is a Project Manager for the International Department of a waste management company in France.  He needed to become more fluent in order to discuss and present contracts and offers to international corporate clients in English.

Read below his comments about his immersion course:

"It was a very good week, discovering the English way of life.  Pam and Toby are very sympathetic and it was a pleasure to share the time with them during these seven days.  I thank a lot both of them!

"I need to work more to speak in English without mistakes, but I am today more fluent and that was my main objective.  The one-to-one method of learning gives efficiency because the teacher can adapt his course to the student.  It is important to participate and not to be afraid with mistakes .... to practise is the better way to improve."

Note: All students have lessons in the home of their teacher who collects them from the host family.  The full intensive executive week means they spend all day with the teacher and the evenings are with the host.  The evenings are important for them to practise talking with different people in a relaxed atmosphere.  Total English speaking contact time is 65 hours per week.

Flexible, responsive - dedicated and professional

Berit came to Heritage English from Norway in August this year for a  two-week one-to-one intensive immersion course.  She is based in Oslo and works as a researcher for the Oslo School of Architecture and Design.  Berit had two personal teachers who taught on different days.  She stayed with two host families, one in the first week and another in the second - in order to give her a wide range of people to speak with.

 She writes below about her experience:-

" The one-to-one tuition is simply a privilege.  It is hard work, but it is very effective and givs great results!

"As my vocabulary and fluency grew, so did my confidence.  I made progress every day.  I am also very impressed by the teachers' ability to detect my weaker areas and by how they found ways to work with me on this.    The teachers were very flexible and responsive to my needs.  One day we would work on my pronunciation and vocabulary, the other day we discussed topics within my work area.  We really had some inspiring conversations!

"The teachers at Heritage English are dedicated and professional.  Celia and Cherry are also wonderful people, not to forget Steve's wonderful cooking and contributions to my learning process.  All this made my stay here really worthwhile, both professionally and personally.

"Did I achieve my objectives?  Yes, and even more so.

"What have I most enjoyed... ?  What makes the Heritage English such a great experience is the variation in teaching methods and the very friendly atmosphere.  You feel safe even though you are challenged by having to use English in all kinds of situations.  One evening I found myself chatting along with some people I had just met.  This would not have been a comfortable situation before I came here.  I think I did quite good, and that was a wonderful feeling.  I also liked staying with my hosts, another opportunity to practice the language and to learn about life here in Lymington.

I will miss you all. 
Thank you.
Berit"

Robin returns and gets a suntan!!

In July Heritage English had the pleasure of a second visit from Robin who is French.  This year he stayed with the Browning family.  Above you see him (centre) with the Browning children.

Last year the weather was bad, but this year he went home with a suntan!  Here are his comments at the end of his two-week immersion:

"Most of all I enjoyed the conversation in England because it was a good thing for progress.  My English is now much better.  I liked the Browning family because they was very sympathetic and help me for talk English.  I like also teachers because they was very friendly and they did good lessons."


Robin was quite sad to leave, as were all his friends in England. 

Berta's dream comes true! .. and English so much improved, says teacher in Spain

Berta from Cadiz came to Heritage English in July and stayed two weeks with the Webb family.  Photo shows Berta (right) with Chloe Webb. 
During her stay the teachers, Gail and Jo, sent her first week lesson reports back to her family and her teacher Cristina in Cadiz.  Cristina wrote:

"We are all really happy for Berta because we know that she's having a great time and learning a lot with you.  She feels very comfortable with the family and loves her lessons.  

We truly appreciate the detailed jreports of her lessons.  It shows how professional you are.  I really like your methodology and the materials you are using with Berta.  I'm familiar with some of the textbooks you are using and they are really motivating and complete.  The activities you describe sound very useful.  I think I'm going to use some with my students as well!

I fully aagree with the approach you are using with Berta, building on her syntactical and lexical knowledge by giving her lots of opportunities to use it to talk about her own experiences and reality.  It's the best way to make learning memorable and meaningful.

We also want to thank you for arranging the trip to ondon for Berta.  You can't imagine how much it means to her.  Visiting London has been her dream for many years.

Before leaving Berta wrote:  "I really enjoyed everything because the family is so lovely.  I was so comfortable with theirs and I have to thank them because they always paid attention to me.  The teachers make the lessons so interesting and I think that my English is better than when I arrived.
And... I had a dream to go to London and it was made true!!"

After Berta returned home she had her first lesson with Cristina in Cadiz.  Her Spanish teacher wrote:

"Berta came to me yesterday and we spoke in English for an hour and a half. It's amazing how much she has improved in two weeks.  I notice it in her pronunciation, fluency and vocabulary.  And now she uses the past form of verbs - one of her main problems before.

"She was so proud when I told her I could see her improvement."