English UK

Yesterday was the AGM and Spring conference for English UK, the national association of accredited English language centres.

It's always good to meet up with representatives from other schools and share thoughts and ideas about our "industry". The biggest discussion was on new visa requirements for students from outside the European Union, which will become law in 2009.

I also attended interesting sessions on the student market in Turkey and Russia.

It made me realise how important it is to spend some time away from my desk. I usually spend far too many hours every day staring at my computer. Time to change my work habits!

Stuart Rubenstein
Principal

Old Friends #2

Maria (standing at the back) was in my class in '98 and visited London last week. We met up for breakfast in Primrose Hill but didn't have much of a chance to talk because Ben wanted to run everywhere.

When I look at some of our competition in London - the big schools which are usually part of a chain, with 200 or more students at any one time and lots and lots of teachers, I wonder what it is like to study or work in such a place.

The simple question is... if you come back to visit in ten years time will anybody remember you? At Language in London we believe that the school is part of the experience and not just the place where you study.

I know that if I was choosing somewhere to study, I'd prefer small and friendly to a school that is like a great big corporate language factory!

Stuart Rubenstein
Principal