The methods of a language school

Résumé du document

I have always been attracted towards the English culture, that is the reason why I chose to go to the United Kingdom. I have never ever been in an English speaking country, my stay lasted two months. I chose to live with an English family in order to speak this language all day long. Since last November, I have been looking for a work placement, but as my search was not productive, I had to use the collaboration of an associate to get a job. In May, I eventually had a training period in a language school, the Torbay Language Centre, it was not exactly what I expected but I was pretty sure that such an experience would be very useful for my language and work skills. My stay was in two main towns; Torquay and Paignton, both located in South Devon (the English Riviera). I could define myself as a daily worker because I took up a job in an English firm and I also had to travel everyday from Torquay to Paignton. Moreover, I was an unpaid trainee, but I was considered a member of the staff. I worked as seriously and even efficiently as an employee. As a receptionist, my work consisted in answering phone calls and taking care of receptionist general tasks, so I was always the first intermediate of the company with the students or even customers. I met a lot of different nationalities such as Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and German and so on. Thereby I found out how English was a real tool of communication for every foreigner. Torbay Language Centre is a well-known company even within the language schools world; consequently its number of students is very high and keeps on increasing (roughly 650 students per week). This training period was compulsory but I did not think of it as a problem but rather an opportunity to take. During my report, I will present what I have learnt within the English culture and within the company culture, and also, the difficulties that I faced and overcame.

Extraits

[...] I learnt a lot about social relation and how to assess reality of life. Discovery of England and an English speaking country in particular: Indeed, I had never been to an English speaking country before, I was looking forward to seeing England and listening to English people. Therefore, I discovered one the most beautiful part of England as Devon. Torbay is merely awesome; moreover there is nothing to choose between South East of France and South East of England. I cannot make a choice because these regions are so lovely. [...]

[...] For sure, I heard some stereotypes saying that English food was awful or that British weather was “rubbish” if I can say that. I cannot deny every stereotype because certain turned out to be true but plenty of those turned out to be false. I can describe them by sorting them out like this: Climate: I have to admit that it was not too hard to get used to the British climate, on the contrary it was easier than ever, and the climate was very nice and not warm. [...]

[...] The activity leaders are mostly appreciated; they are qualified and focused on the children matters. As I said before, they are the first contact with the children, and are almost all day long with the children, they have to report any problem and to be able to act if there is any injury or something else of a student. Reservation department Once again, the employees are all almost from abroad, we have in it a German girl, a Swede girl and eventually an English woman. [...]

[...] I realised that I could cope with stress, whatever their ages I could face the different student's problems, and from time to time I managed to organise my work. Social relationships are vital in a company; indeed an efficient company works in harmony. On the contrary, tensions within a company can only soar back the staff. As teamwork, everybody relies on each other. Through this experience I have been on the other side of a language school. Before I took up my work placement, I have always been a student but after my internship I have seen how a language school works not only from the teaching aspect. [...]

[...] After 3 years studying English at the University, I was skilled enough to write and listen to it. Nevertheless, once in England I have been aware that the English at school is not enough focused on casual vocabulary. Indeed, the casual language is actually indispensable to live in an English speaking country. All in all, it is by speaking with British people that I could eventually improve it. This stay in Torquay for 2 months was a real opportunity for me to take, and I do hope that it will not be the last. [...]