Introduction | Advice for the Learner | Types of Courses for Adults | Finding a Course | Work Experience | British Sign Language

Types of language courses for adults

Information about the type of taught provision of language learning for adults is listed below. Specific information on course providers and courses are not listed, although further information can be found on Finding a course.

Taught classes

Adult education centres, FE colleges and higher education institutions offer day and evening classes in a variety of languages and will help the learners to speak foreign languages for social or work purposes. Centres may offer language courses at a range of academic levels (from complete beginners through to various public examinations). Some provide an opportunity to follow BBC courses currently being broadcast and many are now offering vocational courses. Saturday schools and courses abroad may also be organised (see Finding a course).

Short intensive courses are also run, some designed specifically for business and professional people, as well as company courses arranged to take place in-college or on site. For further information contact your local colleges, HE institutions or online databases.

Many cultural institutes run language courses or have language centres attached to them. Other services and activities include language courses abroad, social gatherings, lectures and film shows. Many countries maintain cultural institutes in Britain and their addresses can be found in telephone directories or on our National partners’ page.

Examples:

French:
Institut Français/French Institute
London (Tel 020 7581 2701), Edinburgh (Tel 0131 225 5366). Campus France information desk at the Institut Français (Tel 0207 073 1378) (French government funded service)

Alliance Française
London (Tel 020 7723 6439), Glasgow (Tel 0141 331 4082), and branches throughout Britain.

German:
Deutsche Kultur International (supported by German Foreign Office)

Goethe-Institut/German Institute
London (Tel 020 7596 4000), Glasgow (Tel 0141 332 2555), Manchester (Tel 0161 237 1077)

Italian:
Italian Cultural Institute
London (Tel 020 7235 1461), Edinburgh (Tel 0131 668 2232. Email: ici@italcultur.org.uk

Dante Alighieri Society. Loughborough and several other locations (Italian web page)

Portuguese:
Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Council
London (Tel 020 7235 2303)

Russian:
Society for Co-operation in Russian and Soviet Studies
London

Spanish:
Instituto Cervantes
London (Tel 020 7235 0353)

Spanish Tourist Office UK

Private language schools

There are also a number of privately run language schools to choose from. In the UK , these can be found in the Yellow Pages directories (under Language schools) and by enquiring at local reference libraries. Fees can be high, so it is worthwhile obtaining prospectuses to compare prices and course structure. Some schools may offer a trial lesson.

Distance learning

The BBC has on-line courses in French, German, Italian, Spanish and other, less commonly taught languages. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages

The National Extension College offers languages courses at GCSE and A Level. Tel 01223 400 200, Email: info@nec.ac.uk

The Open University provides beginners courses in Italian, French, German and Spanish, more advanced courses, including certificate and diploma courses in the last three and a degree in Modern Language Studies. Email: general-enquiries@open.ac.uk. Open University learning materials are also available to non-students.

The University of London offers BA degrees in French, German, Italian, and Spanish & Latin American Studies, through the university's external learning programme. Tel 020 7862 8398.

Other distance learning courses and correspondence colleges can be found by searching on the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC) website. Tel 020 7612 7090

Further Distance Learning Courses are listed on UK Course Discover (ECCTIS).

Institutions offering subscriber services enable students to study at times convenient to themselves, a facility particularly valuable to professional people. They offer use of their language facilities and can arrange guidance from a tutor, if desired. Tuition may be individual or group based. Contact your local college or university.

Private tuition

Private tuition, either one to one or in small groups, can be very efficient, especially for improving communicative ability, and can be arranged to suit particular requirements (for example, timing and course content) although it will usually be more expensive than attending a scheduled class.

The cultural institutes and the educational sections of foreign embassies may have information about tutors. In addition, the Institute of Linguists has a "find-a-linguist" option on its website. Adult education centres sometimes organise individual tuition. Individual tuition is also provided by private language schools (see above).

Prospective learners could enquire at the language department of a local school, college, or university if staff there could assist. (See subscriber services above). Local newspapers frequently carry advertisements offering language tuition but you will need to satisfy yourself that the tutor has adequate qualifications and experience.

Last updated 22/06/2007