LEARNER HANDBOOK
WELCOME TO
ES LONDON Welcome to your new English school in London. London has been voted the best city for students every year since 2018 (savethestudent.org), so you have made a great choice to come and study here.
Location
Our school is located in the heart of historic Bloomsbury, next door to the famous British Museum. We share our building with CIEE and you will be able to meet their students and staff during your stay with us. We are close to the Northern Line, Piccadilly Line, Central Line, and the new Elizabeth Line with four underground stations very close to the school. Covent Garden with its markets and boutique shops, the West End theatres and Oxford Street, one of the busiest shopping streets in the world, are all very close by. We share our building with CIEE, an American Study-Abroad college. ES English occupies floors 3 and 4. Please respect our neighbours in the building by not using the 1st and 2nd floors unless you have been given permission to do so. This handbook tells you everything you need to know about studying at ES English. If you still have questions, just ask one of our team!
Our Values
At ES we aim to help every student achieve personal growth, personal achievement and the best learning results for their circumstances, ability and needs. We work hard to create life-changing and long-lasting memories and to help our students make ambitious, well-informed, and broad-minded choices about their study choices affecting their future lives.
CONTENTS Who’s who?
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Student agreement
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Your studies
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Attendance
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Your course
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Junior Students
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Educlass
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Accommodation
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Social Programme
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London Travel
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Keeping safe and obeying the law
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Health and Safety
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Complaints
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Abusive Behaviour
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Wi-Fi Our free Wi-fi can be accessed by all students using this information: Wi-Fi ID: LHR-ES-London Password: TODAY-lake-P!n3 If you have a problem, please ask at the reception.
Who’s Who?
Niel Pama
Ryan Hannan
Angie Escobar
My name is Niel and I am the School Director. I am responsible for the ES London school. I am also the Welfare Officer.
I’m Ryan and I’m the Director of Studies. My job is to support all teachers and students to help you achieve your learning goals.
Hi. I’m Angie and I’m the Office Manager. I look after the office team to make sure your ES London experience is as good as possible.
Ben James
Carolina Lenis
Sara Calli
I’m Ben, the Assistant Director of Studies. I like to meet students to talk about study plans, levels, classes and course options.
My name is Carolina and my role is compliance. I will check your passports and visas, make sure you are attending classes and look after you while you are here.
I’m Sara- I work in finance. If you need any help with payments, it’ll be my be pleasure to help you.
Ana Prada My name is Ana Prada, I can help you with accommodation, offering advice and ensuring you are safe and comfortable. 3 1
Student Agreement Understanding what we expect from each other helps to create a relaxed and safe learning environment
Students can expect: • • • •
A high-quality, engaging and supportive teaching and learning environment. Clear information about course and programme requirements. Fair assessment and helpful feedback on their performance. Reasonable access to academic and general support staff (via email, in person or by telephone). • ES staff to remain professional at all times and not discriminate because of religion, sex, gender, ability, nationality, race etc.
ES expects students to: • • • • • • • • • • •
Take their studies seriously and work to the best of their ability Take full responsibility for their academic work and progress Participate actively and positively in teaching, learning and activities Respect the academic responsibility of ES Respect each other, teachers, staff and your hosts Respect the school and accommodation rules Respect all people with different cultures, religions, beliefs, abilities Attend all lessons Arrive on time for lessons Always do homework Always speak English in the school
YOUR STUDIES 4
Mobile devices can be a distraction so they must be switched to silent mode and put away during class. You are only allowed to use your phone in class when it is supporting your learning or your teacher gives you permission.
Your Studies When you arrive at the school, the first thing we need to see is your passport and enrollment documents, so please have them ready. It is our responsibility to check your identity and visa and if you have come from the EU, we will need to check the date that you arrived in the UK. We also need to have your latest contact details and the details of someone we can contact for you in case of an emergency. Before you start your course, you will need to take an online test. This will help us understand your level. We will also give you a speaking test to see how well you can use English in conversation. This will help us match your skill level to the general English and speaking classes. After you have been placed in a class, you will receive your coursebook. Please don’t write in your book until your teacher has approved your class level. Th cost of your first coursebook is included in your course fee. English classes in the UK may be a little different from the classes you are used to and it may take you some time to feel comfortable. Don’t worry – our teachers are very experienced in helping students from over seventy countries feel comfortable in class and they will have you joining in classroom activities very quickly. Get the best out of your studies • Give yourself study goals • Make a study schedule • Find somewhere quiet to study • Use a vocabulary book • Come to school every day • Review your notes • Review new language
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• • • • • • •
Take study breaks Join in class activities Ask questions Work together Be sociable Have fun Read! Watch! Listen! In English
Attendance What is expected of me? To achieve the best possible result, we would recommend attending 100% of the course. Attendance and punctuality are very important. Our minimum required attendance is 85%. We closely monitor student’s attendance rates and you will be contacted by the school if: • Your attendance falls below 90% at any point during your studies. • You miss more than 2 consecutive days of school. Why is attendance so important? From experience, students who have better attendance improve faster and achieve better grades for those taking exam courses. If you want to attend university in the UK you should attend every class If you are in the UK on a visa, or have been sponsored to study here by your government, it is our duty to report poor attendance to the proper authority. This may result in your visa or sponsorship being revoked and you will have to return to your country. Our agreement with you is that you attend the course and arrive on time for lessons. Arriving late and being absent regularly can make your progress slow and make other students unhappy. If this happens, you will be given a warning. If your attendance doesn’t improve, you may be dismissed from the course with no refund. Daily attendance registers are taken at the start of each class. Anyone who is more than 15 minutes late will be marked as absent and this will affect your attendance. Your teacher may not let you in the classroom if you are late. Please be aware that leaving class early and arriving back late after a break can also affect your overall attendance. What should I do if I am unable to come to class? You should contact the school by email or phone. It is important that we know why you are not in class. We do not accept messages sent to your classmates to be given to the teacher. Will my attendance rate drop if I am sick? If you are absent due to ill health, please obtain a letter from your doctor if this is for more than five consecutive days (including weekends.) This will then be classified as an ‘explained absence’ and will not affect your attendance rate. Send a copy of the letter to the school on or before the first day of your return. We will not accept certificates later than this. We understand that sometimes it is more difficult to attend classes on time. If you are having a difficult time, please come and speak to us so we can support you and help get your attendance back on track. 6
Your Course Whether your aim is to brush up your language skills, improve your English fluency, attain a high IELTS score or just study English for the fun of learning, our General English courses will help you achieve your personal objective. On an ES General English course, you’ll develop your language and communication skills, improve your reading, writing, listening and speaking whilst studying a range of topics, depending on your ability. You will also learn new grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Our courses consist of 20 lessons per week for semi-intensive English classes, and 40 lessons per week for intensive classes. Am I at the right level? If you feel that your class is too easy or too difficult, please speak to the teacher. It is normal to feel that the class is a little difficult at the beginning of your course – our classes might be very different from how you studied in your country.
IELTS Preparation Our IELTS course prepares students for the academic training modules which assess in four competencies: writing, speaking, listening and reading. As part of the course students will have a schedule of different learning activities such as class discussions, report writing, lectures and mock exams to complement their classwork. There is also regular examination practice under examination conditions to help students acquire good exam techniques. To join the IELTS course, you need to have a minimum level of B1+. If you are interested in taking IELTS when you are at the correct level, speak to your teacher or the Director of Studies. If you are interested in taking another exam (TEOFL, TOEIC, Cambridge First, Cambridge Advanced) or if you are interested in finding out a little more about under-grad or post- rad courses at a UK university, please contact our Director of Studies. Our University Counsellors Taghrid and Crispin will be able to give you advice on using the UCAS website and submitting university applications, as well as writing personal statements. 7
Junior Students ES London welcomes Under-18 students to our school through-out the year. The age range that we accept for our Junior Students is 12-17. These students are divided into two groups. 1. Students aged 16 and 17. 2. Students aged 12-15 Students aged 16-17 are able to join our adult classes and be part of our standard courses. This means that these students are able to join our classes any time during the year. Students aged 12-15 are not allowed to study with adults and will always be part of our Junior Programme. These take place at set times in the year and the students will generally be separated from the adult students in the school. In the UK, any student under 18 is legally a child. What does this mean for me? ES London takes the care of our students very seriously. Making sure that all students are safe from harm is called “safeguarding.” If any student is made to feel unsafe by the behaviour of any member of staff or another student, ES London will take this matter very seriously. Please look at our Dealing with Abusive Behaviour Policy on page 16. Safeguarding of children (U18 students) is the responsibility of all adults and if there is a situation where an adult or another U18 student makes a child feel unsafe, ES London will deal with this by: 8
1. Ensuring the child is safe 2. Investigating any allegations about the incident. 3. If necessary, remove the person making the child feel unsafe. 4. If serious enough, contact the police. We want all our students to feel safe and comfortable while studying at ES London. To help us, we ask students to: 1. Respect each other 2. Respect the school rules 3. Understand that it is an adult’s duty to ensure that children are safe 4. Report any concerns to our Welfare Officer, or to any member of staff if necessary. Any safeguarding concerns will be dealt with confidentially. Please remember that U18 students are not able to do the same things as adult students. There are certain places that they are not allowed to go, films and games they are not allowed to see. It is also illegal for an U18 student to smoke and drink alcohol, so do not buy them cigarettes or alcohol or ask them to join you. If you are ever in doubt, please come and speak to our Welfare officer, who will be happy to talk to you about this. For more information, please refer to our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which can be found on our website. Our Safeguarding team are Niel Pama and Angie Escobar.
The Student
PLATFORM
ES English have created on online student portal for you to have access to materials, class schedules, atten dance records and more – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - using the student dashboard. You should have received all the login details on enrolment. If you need any help, ask at the reception.
Features of The Student Portal: Student status Course End date Weeks remaining in their existing course Class schedule Student attendance Student test and assignments result chart Assignment submission
Online Testing Students can take online tests Check test results Check test feedback
Registered Classes Class timetable Class Details
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Registered Classes Academic resources Curriculum Assignments General class information
Registered Classes Students can provide feedback to the school about their course, teachers and content
Registered Classes See school calendar Register to take part in social and extra academic activities
Accommodation At ES, we understand how important your accommodation is and we will strive to help you find the most suitable option for your individual circumstances. We have partnered with professional accommodation providers to offer you a range of options to make sure you find what you are looking for. ES has partnered with some of the top student accommodation providers in the city.
Homestays To help you find your homestay, we offer students London homestays which have been selected for their friendliness. There is a great selection of homestays available throughout the city (Zones 1-5) that are conveniently located and close to public transport. Homestay accommodation is a great way for students to socialise and practise their English skills. Homestay also provides additional services such as airport transfers, insurance, kitchen equipment, bathroom equipment and more.
Student Residences Our portfolio of student properties includes locations such as Southwark, Tufnell Park, Liverpool Street and Russell Square. We single and twin rooms which are fully furnished with built-in wardrobes, beds, and study desks.
COMFORTABLE
WELL EQUIPPED
SAFE 10
Need some information? Come to the reception to talk to Anna about accommodation options at ES London.
Social Programme Enjoy an unforgettable adventure learning English in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities! As a top study destination, London is a popular choice for students from all over the world with its famous educational institutions. Not only is London a dynamic and fascinating city to live in and explore, it also offers an incredible English language immersion experience with endless opportunities to practice your language skills outside of the classroom. With the added charm of all four seasons, a fantastic local, regional and international transport network as well as world-class shopping and entertainment, it is no surprise that London is a highly sought-after study destination! Do you have any requests? We are happy to take your suggestions for a personalized social programme! Our social programme coordinator, Maarya, discusses the plans with the academic team so you will have an opportunity to learn something about the social programme in your classes, as well as some useful language that you might need on your activity. You can find our social programme schedule on the Student Portal, where you can also sign up for any activities you are interested in. Don’t forget that you may need to pay for tickets to take part in some social activities. Students who join the social programme learn English faster and learn more about London. What are you waiting for? 11
LONDON EYE
THE SHARD
BRITISH MUSEUM
SKY GARDEN
TOWER BRIDGE
London Travel Advice from www.tfl.gov.uk Travel around London with a Visitor Oyster card A Visitor Oyster card is a smartcard with pay-as you-go credit that allows you to travel on most public transport in London. Buy one online and have it delivered to your accommodation or our school. You can also use your contactless debit or credit card to pay as you go on London's public transport, although overseas transaction fees may apply. Touch in and out on the yellow card readers Remember to touch your Visitor Oyster card in at the yellow card reader at the start of your journey and to touch out at the end on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and most National Rail services in London. On buses and trams, just touch your card on the yellow reader at the start of your journey - you don't need to touch out when you get off. Travel outside the busiest times Plan your journey in advance with the TfL Go app, and where possible, travel when it's less busy. You could enjoy a quicker, more comfortable journey, especially if you're carrying heavy luggage/a rucksack, or travelling in a group. Stand on the right Always stand on the right when using the escalators at Tube stations, leaving enough space free for passengers in a hurry. Once you get onto the platform, always stand behind the yellow line and move along the 12
platform where more space is available so it's easier to board the next train. Travel differently You can hire a bike for as little as £2 with Santander Cycles, London's self-service, bike-sharing scheme, take to the air with Emirates Air Line, London's cable car, take a scenic boat trip along the River Thames Walk in central London - it's a great way to get around and experience the city. You'll find that there are plenty of street maps to help you get around and it could be quick than taking the Tube or the bus. Travel by bus Try travelling by bus - it's one of the cheapest and most scenic ways to travel. Remember, you cannot pay for your London bus fare in cash. You will need an Oyster or contactless payment card, or a valid ticket, to pay for your bus journey. Don't rush for the train! The Tube operates a very frequent service, so there's no need to rush for the first train. This allows you time to move down the platform where more space might be available. Need some advice? Why not talk to one of the Londoners who work at ES London?
Keeping safe & obeying the law We want your stay in London to be as safe and enjoyable as possible. London is a safe city, but one must still pay attention to avoid being the victim of a crime. To keep safe and on the right side of the law, please follow this advice. Keeping safe • If you are walking home late at night, try to walk in a group. • Do not display your money or mobile phone for others to see, especially when exiting tube stations, buses and clubs/pubs. • Always know where your bag is and keep an eye on it • Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. • Share your location with your friends or family so it is easy to find them and you don’t get lost • Plan your route home in advance The law • Do not carry or use illegal drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, LSD or amphetamines. • It is illegal to carry any sort of weapon. • You must be 18 or over to buy tobacco or cigarettes, whether for your use or somebody else. Be prepared to show your ID. • You must be 18 and over to buy alcohol. prepared to show your ID. • Do not steal – it is illegal. • It is illegal to have sex, or try to have sexual relations with someone under the age of 16. • It is illegal to travel without a valid ticket or touching in on the yellow oyster card reader. You may have to pay an £80 fine.
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Need some advice? Why not talk to one of the Londoners who work at ES London?
EMERGENCY UK
999
If there is a fire, danger to life or a crime in progress, dial 999 from any phone, and ask for either POLICE, FIRE, or AMBULANCE
NON-EMERGENCY
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• If your car has been stolen • If your property has been damaged • If you suspect drug use or dealing in your local area • To report a minor traffic accident • To give the police information about crime in your area • To speak to the police about a general enquiry
For advice from the British Council, you can download a guide by going to the web address below: https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/safety-first.pdf
OUR 24-HOUR EMERGENCY
+44 7490 342009
In case of fire ES London has a duty to bring to your attention its arrangements for the emergency evacuation of the premises. Please carefully read our evacuation procedure below.
1 2 3
ANY PERSON DISCOVERING A FIRE SHOULD:
ON HEARING THE FIRE ALARM:
REMEMBER!
• Sound the alarm • Dial 999 to call fire brigade • Attack the fire, if possible, using the appliances provided
• Leave the building by Fire Exit routes displayed • Close all doors behind you • Report to assembly point: Inside Entrance Gates at Russell Square
• Do not take risks • Do not return to the building for any reason until authorised to do so • Do not use lifts
Need a doctor? If you have an accident or feel ill at school, please tell your teacher or a member of staff. Look for first aid signage around the school for information about first aid kits and staff trained in first aid to help you. If you need medical advice, you can get phone advice by calling the National Health Service, NHS Direct: 111. Some overseas visitors to Britain are charged for medical treatment provide by the National Health Service. If you do not qualify for free medical treatment then you should have some sort of insurance cover in case you become ill. If you are in a homestay, ask them for details of their doctor or dentist. You may be able to register with their doctor or dentist as a temporary resident. The following GPs are close to the school. The Museum Practice is in front of the British Museum, Gower Street Practice is close to Malet Street Gardens and the University College Hospital is close to Warren Street Station – it is open 24 hours and has an A&E department.
Museum Practice 58 Great Russell Street, London, Greater London, WC1B 3BA 020 7405 2739
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Gower Street Practice 20 Gower Street, London, Greater London, WC1E 6DP 020 7467 6800
University College Hospital (over 18s only) University College Hospital, 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU 020 3456 7890
Complaints Policy Our aim is for anyone who studies at ES English to have a positive experience in their classes, accommodation and any other services provided by our school. If you have a complaint about anything related to your stay, provided by ES English, please inform us as soon as possible so we can deal with your issue quickly. We cannot resolve problems after your course has ended and you have returned home, so please tell us immediately if there is anything that you are not happy with. We aim to have the highest standard of services and your suggestions can help us maintain and improve our quality. Talking to us is the best way to sort out most problems. Your student portal has a system for you to make complaints. If you send us a complaint through the system, the right person will contact you to deal with your complaint. If you prefer to discuss the matter in person. please speak to either the Director of Studies or the Registrar if you have any issues. If they cannot resolve your problem quickly, you can take your complaint to the School Director. If you are still unhappy after talking to us, you can contact English UK and explain your problem. They will talk to you and ES English to try to find a solution that everyone is happy with. Most complaints are solved at this stage.
47 Brunswick Court, Tanner Street, London, SE1 3LH Tel: +44 20 7608 7960 Fax: +44 20 7608 7961 Email: info@englishuk.com 15
Dealing with Abusive Behaviour Policy ES London is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all staff and students: all forms of bullying, harassment, violent or abusive behaviour are unacceptable. Everyone who works here will: • Help you in any possible way • Speak to you in a polite and patient manner • Respect any differences that you may have In turn, our staff expect the same of the students and we have a zero-abuse policy. Employees or students who have bullied or harassed another member of the school will be subject to disciplinary action. This may result in suspension or dismissal or even reporting to the police if the conduct is criminal. Bullying behaviour can be: • emotional – being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting • physical – pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence • racist – racial taunts, gestures • sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments • homophobic – because of, or focusing on, the issue of sexuality • discriminatory – about disability, gender, age, religion, nationality or other differences • verbal – name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, malicious teasing • cyber – all areas of internet, such as email and internet chat room issues • mobile – threats by text messaging and calls • misuse of associated technology - e.g., camera and video facilities Harassment related to sex, gender reassignment, race, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation and age, along with sexual harassment, is prohibited in employment and vocational training. Harassment is defined as any unwanted conduct related to race, age, etc. that has the purpose or effect of either: • violating the dignity of an individual OR • creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive atmosphere for an individual People who are the victim of abuse can be extremely distressed and this can affect their health, happiness and development. If you are witness to or victim of any kind of abusive behaviour, please report this to our Welfare Officer or another member of staff immediately.
ES London 46-47 Russell Square WC1B 4JP, London, United Kingdom +44 203 874 97 48 marketing@esdubai.com www.eslondon.co.uk 16