Dancing in Norwegian national costume

This is the national costume for Norway!
We love the visible swinging movement in this photograph sent by Berit in Oslo.  She is dancing with her daughter, Vilde.
Berit came to Heritage English in 2013 to raise her English level to the very high standard needed for teaching process design to post graduate students at the Oslo university.

Thank you for sending this lovely photograph Berit; it is interesting for us to learn about your cultures as well as showing you how we live in the UK.

Seasons Greetings to Students, Hosts and Teachers

Thank you to all the companies, parents and individuals who invested in Heritage English for their immersion language training this year.

Congratulations to our wonderful students for their achievements and to those who passed  examinations this year or succeeded in getting into a college or university.  

For those in business, we love to hear when you succeed in any way after your lessons with us - whether it is a presentation you made, a conference call you took part in, an interview or any communication at work when your training helped you to succeed.   The days are busy, but if you have time to write we love to hear from you.


Thank you to our wonderful hosts for the care and attention that they gave to the people who stayed in their homes during their English training programme.  Your warm welcome and your daily conversation before and after lessons really make an important contribution to the whole immersion experience.  Thank you also to the dedicated teachers who worked so hard to help their students achieve their personal objectives during their course.  Without the focus of  individual lessons that are tailored to the needs of each person, the progress they make in a short time would not be possible.

We wish you all a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous New Year.

One to one lessons with 2 teachers helped me to improve my speaking and understanding

Making a telephone call from the box on Milford village green!

Maxime came to Heritage English in November for one week of intensive one-to-one training with two teachers.  He stayed with a friendly host Pam who took him to several local events in the evenings.

He needed to raise his oral skills in using the telephone to respond to calls and complaints from users of IT services from within his company, an international corporation dealing in environmental services.

Writing emails was his other priority and during his lessons he studied many expressions to help him to be effective in English at work.

At the end of his training week, he wrote: "Il est tres interessant d'avoir a la fois des cours particuliers avec deux professeurs differents pour avoir deux approches differents ainsi que des sorties (musees, chateaux) pour pouvoir parler.  La famille d'acceuil a ete tres accuillantes et le fait d'avoir des activites avec la famille et d'etre en contact avec differentes persones est aussi tres benefiques"

" I have improved my oral English as well as my comprehension and this will help me in my everyday work when I have to communicate with British native speakers on the telephone

"I felt immediately at ease with my host Pam and my teachers Celia and Toby; I think that is very important in order to make good progress"

"I will use the new expressions in my presentation at a business Convention in November"

Our latest business student came in October for a short intensive one-to-one Monday to Friday course.  He wanted to focus on preparation for a business presentation to be made in November for the Purchasing and Procurement Convention.

Mr Vidal needed to present the purchasing processes and organisation of his company to 150 category managers and purchasing agents.  This was a challenge for a pre-intermediate level student.  He gained confidence in speaking in English and he raised his level from pre-intermediate to a low intermediate level in a short time.

At the end of his training he wrote: "I enjoyed everything about my course with Heritage English; the intensive one-to-one daily lessons, lunch outings/excursions and conversations with my teachers to speak about nature and the beach.

"I achieved my objectives for this week by a lot of communication with my two teachers, Toby and Sara.  I will use the language in my professional communications and at the Convention in November.

"Many thanks!"

Note for students: Mr Vidal stayed at a local hotel in preference to living with one of our host families.  He said afterwards that he would have liked conversation in the evenings with people.  This is the reason that we recommend for students take advantage of the host family opportunity.  The evenings spent with kind, helpful hosts in a warm friendly atmosphere re-enforces language learned during lessons.

A parent writes to say "Thanks"

Thanks from the grateful parent of Ahmed

Dear Heritage English,

I would like to thank you for caring and for the successful course of Ahmed. 

 I would also like to extend my thanks to the two host family for their accompanying, hospitality and good treatment to Ahmed.

Ahmed improves a lot in his English skills and I also notice enhancement in his behaviour. I believe one reason for this is the long period of his stay in England with Heritage English.

Again, I really appreciate all of what you did for him. We would like to arrange for him to come to you again in 2015 please.

Thanks and best regards,

M. Alhefdhi

We were delighted to hear from Ahmed's father.  This was his second 7-week immersion with Heritage English and we look forward to seeing him here again in 2015 for a third English language immersion vacation.

Ahmed enjoyed riding in the New Forest

What the young learners said ...

Comments and impressions written by junior students from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Japan at the end of their immersion course.  

They all came to Heritage English for a 1-1 immersion holiday vacation in 2014.  They had individual or small group lessons in the morning and afternoon activities accompanied by their teacher in the afternoon. 

At the end of the day they relaxed and enjoyed family activities with their host families. They had no contact with any non-native English people - speaking and listening to English all day, every day.

“I enjoy a lot of things, the local area like Bournemouth, the outings and a lot of conversation with my two teachers and my host family”

“My English is better. I can speak more fluently and I can understand more. I learnt lot of new word”

“My host family are very funny and very nice and kind.”

“My teachers made a lot of interesting lessons and conversations. I like my teachers very much.”

Michele from Italy with his teacher's daughter Gemma 

Lessons in the garden with teacher Samantha

“I visit lot of amazing things and I enjoyed a lot my course.”

“I enjoyed watching TV and liked the football so I could speak and hear English whilst viewing. Suggest future students take lots of photographs as it helps with conversations. I had a lot of photographs from Japan.”

“It was a good family to stay with but I was nervous about English food. Jim cooked my food and it was very good and I enjoyed it apart from celery. Lynn spoke very slowly to me and I thanked her. 
Isaac and Lillie were always talking to me and I was happy.”  (see photo right with Shingo on the left)

“I liked my lessons learning about English Culture, politics and types of houses. I thank the teachers who taught me very kindly.”

“ I had a nice room and bathroom where I could relax, do my homework and read books.”

We had lots of sunshine in England in June, July, August AND September this year.  

Students were able to enjoy all the fun outdoor and sporting activities that are available in this forest/seaside location.

Photos to come soon ....

August and September students

This summer we had lots of warm sunshine in the UK  - and some wonderful junior students as well as our usual steady flow of business clients coming to Lymington, England for top quality one-to-one immersion courses in English - always tailored to the specific learning needs of the individual student.

Everyone was delighted with the high standard of teaching and the care and comfort provided by the lovely host families they stayed with.  All went home feeling more secure, more confident and more fluent in speaking and listening to the English language.

We were too busy to post their testimonials at the time, but as soon as we catch up we have some great comments to report on the Heritage English Blogspot.

Watch this space!!

1-1 lessons very efficient; well adapted to my needs

Lessons with teacher Cherry (right)

Our latest student came for a 2-week intensive language training immersion.

Salima (left) works for an international company dealing in waste water treatment; she needed to improve her English for all kinds of business situations: presentations; negotiations; participating in meetings and socialising generally overseas.

She stayed with our host Linda whose conversation helped her to improve her "everyday English"  They developed quite a friendship and went to Bournemouth for the day together on Sunday.

About her lessons with teachers, Cherry and Toby, she commented: "The 1-1 lessons are very efficient.  They are really intensive and they are adapted to my needs.  I wanted to improve my English for business and it is done.  I've learned a lot of expressions, vocabulary and we did many role plays which are very useful.  

"After two weeks I feel more confident.  Thank you very much for the kindness of the team.  I've discovered the area and it was very pleasant for me."

Tres bonne formule pour progresser

Sylvie came to Heritage English for one week this month.  She works for an international company as a Quality Control assistant.

Her objectives were to raise her level as much as possible from A1+ or beginner to pre-intermediate.  She worked very hard in and out of lessons and she appreciated the afternoon outings - in particular a train day out to London with her teacher.  They managed to fit a Thames River Boat cruise into a packed day spotting Big Ben, Tower Bridge and walking over Westminster Bridge.

"Mes objectifs etaient d'etre plus a l'aise dans l'expression et de mieux comprendre mes iinterlocuteurs: objectifs atteints!  Tres bonne formule pour progresser - demande beacoup de concentration et d'effort!!!"

Mix of home life and school a good experience; host family was the best!

Arnaud works in sales for a company dealing in packaging for a wide range of international markets.  He needed to improve his English for his professional work dealing in negotiations and sales and for socialising with clients on overseas visits.

He stayed with the Colley family and had one-to-one lessons with two different teachers during his one-week intensive immersion in England.  Lessons take place in the home of the teacher.

The British summer is still very warm and we are enjoying blue skies with few clouds to spoil the sunshine.  His teachers took full advantage of the weather to take him to visit the Isle of Wight and other local attractions in this beautiful part of the south coast of England.

Arnaud's main problem was choosing the right tense in English and at the end of the week he felt that his teachers had located exactly where his difficulties lay.  "I think that now I have the good reflexes," he says.

Arnaud (centre) with Vanessa, Olivia and Nathan - his host family

About his host family he had the most to say:  " Vanessa and Nathan are really the best side of the course.  They learned me many words.  I'm like their own child; they cooked me very well but also they teached me many different new words.  

The teachers are good and to be in a house is more friendly than in a school and rich for the exchange.  The mix of home life and school is a very good experience, and it looks like holidays!"

1-1 lessons with excursions - a good combination; I'm convinced it will help me in the future!

As Regional Manager for the South West France region of a major international company, Christophe came to Heritage English for a one-to-one immersion in May.  His key objective was to write and to practise delivering a presentation about his company and its future developments in English.  He also needed to speak English at board meetings, seminars and participate in monthly internal company meetings. 

His priority was to improve his speaking confidence and to learn appropriate expressions and phrases for meetings, socialising and for guiding the audience through a power point presentation.  The course designed by his two teachers focussed on these key objectives.

Through a combination of formal lessons in the morning and planned activities in the afternoon, as well as continuous conversation all day (with the teachers) and every evening (with his hosts) he raised his global level from Intermediate to Upper Intermediate.

Lunch in the garden with the family at his teacher's house

"I enjoyed the combination between one-to-one lessons in the morning and the excursions with teachers after lunch.  I appreciated too to have a change of teachers during the week.
Celia was very welcoming when I arrived on Sunday; very good conditions to start the immersion week.

The two teachers were very good and the lessons were very well prepared.
My host family was really well chosen.  They took time to speak with me each day.  

The Lymington region is a nice place to visit, with an interesting history.

I think I have achieved my objectives.  Of course a week is not enough to become fluent, but my teachers gave me useful tools to do an oral presentation.  It was my aim, and I'm convinced that it will help me in the future.

To conclude, the organisation of this immersion week was accurate and I'll try to preserve the level I reached.

THANKS A LOT !! "

At the Beaulieu Motor Museum driving a vintage car!

Generous and charming hosts; 1 to 1 lessons adapted to my needs

Our latest student Teresa works for an international pharmaceutical company in the medical department.

  She arrived with a good level of English, but she wanted to eliminate some engrained grammatical errors in order to be more accurate in her professional presentations, interviews and meetings.

Teresa in the Garden Room of her hosts Cynthia and Roy

At the end of her intensive immersion week, this is what she said:

"The hosts were so generous and charming with me.  I felt very enthusiastic, learning English with my teachers, Cherry and Stephen.  They always tried to focus on my needs and adapted their lessons.
The outings were always attractive and full of culture.  The Lymington area is full of history.  I appreciated much to have both the sea and the New Forest.  The area is so preserved.  People are also very authentic and charming.

"I think the mix between lessons and outings is good.  Also the oral exchange with the host family helped me to make progress.
"I have learned to slow down, get the right word to the right situation.

"... and I will not forget the "s" at the end of the word!"

Votre formule: Parfaite!

Our latest business English student came for a one week intensive one-to-one immersion to improve his English for communicating with colleagues in London and other countries.

hard at work on Monday

end of the final lesson with Celia

As Manager of a major IT transformation project in a major multi-national company, he needed to present information; to explain processes; to describe progress and talk about the project on the telephone, face-to-face and in meetings.  During the week he also began to practise giving a power point presentation about the project.

His teachers were really impressed with his progress and his host family found him the perfect house guest.

What did he say about us?  He wrote in French:  "Tres sincerement, j'ai apprecie TOUT!  

• La qualite d'acceuil de la famille - d'acceuil ainsi que les professeurs
• Le rythme
• La diversite et la personalisation des cours

Avez vous atteint vos objectifs?  

"Je pense oui.  Je pense avoir progresse sur la prise de parole et dans le construction des conversations et bien sur dans la comprehension.

Que pensez vous de notre formule?  "Parfait"

Thank you Pascal and congratulations on your achievements.

Beginner makes great progress in 5 days

Jean-Michel with a New Forest pony at Beaulieu

Jean Michel arrived with the level of beginner.  He needs to speak with clients on the telephone and to send emails in the new role his company have given him to start very soon.  We had a lot of work to do and only 5 days' of lessons to get him closer to his target.

He had one-to-one lessons in the morning and one-to-one afternoons out in the country with his teacher, speaking English all the time.  He keeps the rare breed Shagya horses in Normandy and he was very interested to learn about the management of the New Forest ponies in our countryside.

This is what he wrote about his week in England... translated from French

"I appreciated the balance of lessons in the morning and visits with the teacher after lunch.  Host family lodging was an important element in helping me to progress.
I can now write emails to my clients.  My comprehension has improved but I must work more to improve my oral expression.

Standing beside the lake at Newlands Manor

The intensive immersion formula is interesting because I was in contact with different people all the week.  Discussions at mealtimes helped me to become more relaxed in speaking.  
Thanks to all the kind people who welcomed me so warmly.  I will keep a very good memory of this experience.


Bravo for the professionalism and the capacity to adapt to my level."

Lessons, conversation, host family and teachers - Tres bon experience et efficace

In front of HMS Victory in Portsmouth Harbour

Our latest business student, Benoit,  had to prepare for an international assignment in Africa where English was to be the company language.

He stayed at the home of Sam and Andrew Bown and had lessons with Toby and Celia.  We were all impressed with the progress he made in his English in only one week.  On arrival he was shy and could not find his words or sentences.  Also understanding was not easy. 


He had intensive lessons in the morning, followed by lunch at a local pub or at home with his teacher.  In the afternoon there were outings that Benoit really made the most of.  He understood how important it is to get out of the classroom and (under the guidance of his teachers) speak with all kinds of people in order to become fluent and accustomed to understanding different speakers. 

He wrote:  ".. famille d'accuil tres agreeable et tres accueillente.  Sam a pris beaucoup de temps pour me parler, m'expliquer des choses, organiser l'emploi de temps.  The teacher the lessons, the conversations,  ambience informelle et decontructee tres propice pour mieux apprendre.  
Adaptation des cours au besoins de l'eleve 


 

The Solent waters at Hurst, facing the Isle of Wight

"Tres bon experience et efficace"

"Intensive and efficient programme! Immersion is the best way to make rapid progress"

With teacher and dog outside Newlands Manor

Nicolas works in the marketing of pharmaceutical products at the Paris branch of an American-owned international  company. 

He needed to improve his English for making presentations and for communicating face to face, on the telephone with mainly British and US colleagues and clients.
He had two teachers who shared his training and stayed with his host Pam and her family for six nights.

"I've really appreciated all the different aspects of my immersion course in Lymington.  Pam and her family are very kind, warm and welcoming.  I greatly enjoyed our conversations.

"My teachers, Cherry and Toby were very focused on my needs and they have been very flexible. 
 I think we worked well together.

"I think that I have improved my English understanding which will help me very much for my professional work.  For people who really want to improve their English level, the immersion programme seems to me to be the best way to make rapid progress.  It's very intensive, but very efficient."

Nicolas enjoying a wet walk after lessons,  with his teacher and dog in the grounds of Newlands Manor