What is it like studying English in the UK?

The choice of schools is far ranging, which is why the British Council provides accreditation, in order to give students a guarantee of choice and quality.

A British Council spokesman in London said: 'We regularly inspect organisations in the UK offering courses in English as a foreign language. If they meet agreed high standards of quality they are accredited by the British Council.'

So, what is it like studying English in the UK?

Raphael Geiger is a German student who studied the language in London last year as part of his goal to work in journalism. We asked him to tell us about his experiences. Raphael, aged 17, has already made a promising start to his career as editor-in-chief of the award-winning school magazine rückenWind, winner of the 2007 award for Germany's best school magazine.

Having located the St George International (SGI) language school in Margaret Street near London's Oxford Circus, says Raphael, a new student will have made a good start. SGI is one of more than 400 language schools accredited by the British Council.

'There is the academic director who welcomes you in a very warm and friendly way and shows you the grammar test you have to take to make sure you enter the right class,' says Raphael. 'This means you start at the right level.

'At SGI, students are divided into six levels from beginner to advanced, and normally no course should have more than ten students. You have the choice between a general course with 20 morning lessons per week, an intensive one with additional ten discussion classes in the afternoon or a combination between the morning classes, and one-to-one lessons after the lunch break.

'Although SGI is quite a small school with about 70 students, on the first Monday in July it gets busy. That's when the so-called "summer school" begins and the number of students increases up to 200. The few classrooms are no longer enough and the school has to rent some more at the University of Westminster.

'So, Iranian student Ardavan had to move. Having arrived one week earlier, 29-year-old Ardavan's intermediate course had to leave its old room at SGI and go to a new one at the university building. But Ardavan didn't mind. "Actually, I just feel content. I like the courses and the teachers are doing a good job," he said.

'Having lived his whole life in Iran, he began studying medicine, then left for London with the ambitious aim - after having improved his English in an eight-week intensive course - to one day enter Oxford University. "I know I'm still a long way from being able to do so, but I'm sure I will achieve my goal," said the self-confident student from Teheran.'

The students at SGI English school are from many countries across the world, including France, Asia (Korea, Japan) or are from southern European countries such as Spain and Italy.

'So-Jin belongs to the Asian group,' says Raphael. The 21-year-old from Seoul, South Korea, is convinced that: 'London is a great city to learn English. Very few other places offer such perfect surroundings to improve your English skills'. That may begin with the city's living conditions, she added, and goes further with 'the good qualifications of the teachers working in the capital, just one example out of many'.

Raphael continues: 'London may be confusing, but it's definitely fascinating, it may be huge, but it's not impossibly unclear; you may be a stranger, but immediately after arriving you become part of the nation of London. Whatever happens, London stays cool.

'At SGI, there's one sentence written on the notice board: "Don't only study - enjoy London!". It's the aim of the school's social programme to turn this slogan into reality. Run by the teachers in their free time, participants have parties, go to pubs, or discover the city with walking tours or museum visits.

'A typical week could look like this: after the welcome party on Monday, Wednesday offers you a tour throughout Westminster. On Thursday, you may participate in the movie night and Friday, you meet friends at the nearest pub. However, no museum trip at SGI is imaginable without a pub visit afterwards.'

Raphael sums up his personal experiences: 'Truly, a summer at SGI Language School, directly in the heart of London, is a great experience for young people. There is, apart from the improvement of their language skills, the chance to meet people from all over the world. In fact, nothing compares to that.'

For more information about accredited schools contact the British Council (02) 652 5480-9, www.britishcouncil.or.th.

Language of communication: overseas students often stay with host families in the UK, in homes selected by the school and regulated by the British Council. It can provide students with an enriching mixture of education and experience of the British way of life.

By Dick Meredith