We have already talked on other occasions about finding a good English academy that prepares you to face exams like Cambridge, and that also teaches you English in a way that you enjoy and that it is not a torture for you to study it, is not an easy task. There are many English academies They advertise themselves by offering infallible “miracle methods” for learning English, and of course, they are not at all what they claim.
In fact, we'll all remember that method that came out a few years ago, which claimed you could learn English by studying one English word a day. Because, of course, by studying one word a day you know exactly how a sentence is structured, what verb tenses exist, etc. It's true that vocabulary makes up 80% of the bulk of a language, and having a rich vocabulary is most of the work done, but that's not the end of it.
We must know how to choose very carefully which professionals we will entrust our learning to.
But then, what does one need? good English academy to be your best option? We'll explain.
Requirements that an English academy must meet
- Academy facilities
Although it may seem like the least important aspect of teaching, the facilities of an English language school play a very important role in our learning, even if we don't believe it. And not just those of English language schools, but those of any training center, regardless of the level.
It must be taken into account that We are going to spend several hours in our English academy And, therefore, it's essential to be comfortable. If, on top of having to sit for long hours, the chairs aren't comfortable, it's too cold or too hot, there's no whiteboard, or any other impediment, this can impact how we shouldn't concentrate or how we wouldn't learn as we would like.
Of course, we must also mention cleaning. It's already quite uncomfortable to walk into a classroom that doesn't meet the necessary hygiene measures, but this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic, these hygiene and sanitation needs have multiplied, making cleaning essential.
2. Teachers trained to teach English classes
This is ESSENTIAL for any top-ranked English academy. It's not enough to just know English; you have to know how to teach it, too. Experts recommend trying to have bilingual or native teachers, especially the latter. Why? Because hearing a language from people who were born in a country where it's an official language prepares our ears and helps us understand it better.
On the other hand, it is also true that not all native speakers or all bilinguals are good teachers, because, as we have said, knowing a language is one thing and teaching it is another. Being a teacher in a English academy, high school, college, university, or whatever, not only involves having a thorough understanding of the language, but also ensuring that your students enjoy learning it and gradually overcome obstacles; it requires patience, enthusiasm, and awareness... And not everyone is cut out for it.
3. Suitable material for learning English
Using suitable material is also very important; the best way to prepare the Cambridge exams These are the books offered by Cambridge. Any English language school specializing in preparing for this type of exam will use these materials for their classes, even if they combine them with other books or materials such as movies, songs, etc.
Not only are the books and materials important, but the methodology is as well. It is essential that your English academy uses a appropriate methodology that is effective and prepares you well to face the necessary tests to obtain your certificate.
At Native English we use what we call the “Native Method” which basically consists of an iEnglish language immersion with native teachersOur teachers, in addition to being native speakers, are from different parts of the United Kingdom, which means a rich mix of accents that will prepare our students to understand everyone from London to Wales.
4. Teaching experience
As we've mentioned, it's also very important that the people in charge of our training are already trained. It's not enough to know a language; you have to know how to teach it, and that's a bit more complicated. It's necessary to know tricks, materials and resources that help students to better understand what we're explaining to them; it's no use listening to a lot of English if they can't understand even a 50% of the conversation you're having with them.
If the English academy that prepares you is also backed by years of experience and excellent results from the students they've trained, this becomes a good option for you.
In short, and referring to everything we have mentioned, there is nothing that is not important. Everything, to a greater or lesser extent, has its importance and forms a set of requirements that every English academy or training center, regardless of its type, must meet in order to be successful. help your students achieve their goalsIf the English school you're looking for doesn't meet any of these four fundamental and necessary requirements, you'd better look elsewhere. Native English, one of the best English academies in Cartagena, meets the four requirements mentioned above and we specialize in preparing for Cambridge exams.