Centre of English Studies (CES) Edinburgh
THE DESTINATION | THE SCHOOL | MAP | RACHEL’S TAKE | WHY THIS SCHOOL? | FACILITIES | THE COURSES | FROM OUR CLIENTS | HOUSING | SOCIAL LIFE | INSURANCE AND PRICING | REQUEST AN ESTIMATE | OTHER PROGRAMS | SIMILAR PROGRAMS
CES Edinburgh is located right in the heart of Edinburgh, so students can discover and explore the beauty of Edinburgh while improving their English. Edinburgh is a lively, university city, and students will make the most of their time living and learning in a dynamic, exciting environment.
Edinburgh has been Scotland’s capital city since the 15th century. The city is well known for its beautiful architecture, medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town and is the second most popular tourist destination in the United Kingdom after London. Many areas of the city, such as the castle and the medieval Old Town, are listed by UNESCO. It is famous for its arts festivals, such as the Edinburgh Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals in August. As a relatively small city, everything in Edinburgh is just a short stroll away, and the Scottish people will make the international student feel welcome and happy to be there!
CES EDINBURGH AT A GLANCE
- Year of foundation: 1999 as the Randolph School of English, CES Edinburgh in 2015
- Type of city: Capital (population 487,500)
- Position in the city: Center
- Minimum age in adult school: 16
- Size of school (maximum number of students in high season): 150
- Main type of public transport in Edinburgh: Most buses and trains every day until 23:30, night buses, bicycles
- Approximate number of nationalities in school each year: 30
Centre of English Studies (CES) Edinburgh Adult Building: 54 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7EH, Scotland
“I visited Edinburgh in 2006, and found it a charming and unique place to visit and study English. All of the people with whom I came in contact in various schools and accommodations, including my own (Inchgrove House) were exceptionally friendly and helpful. In just the few days that I was there, I heard bagpipes playing on the street, stopped businessmen in kilts for directions, and had haggis served to me at breakfast, confirming that those things are not just stereotypes! I can especially recommend Edinburgh for a vacation study, as there are many things to see and do in a short space of time and place, particularly in August, as the Edinburgh and Fringe Festivals take place that month. I was delighted to hear that CES, with whom I’d been working for so many years in Dublin, had purchased a school there, as it would mean that the same high quality and friendliness I had experienced in their other schools would also be available to my clients wanting to study in Edinburgh.”
CES Edinburgh
Why Study at this School?
- CES Edinburgh has small class sizes, allowing for a very personal and friendly learning experience.
- The school has many years of experience: It was founded in 1999 as the Randolph School of English, and the current owners (the Quinn family) have been in the language teaching industry since CES Dublin opened in 1979.
- CES Schools is one of the most respected English language school companies in Europe.
- The staff in its schools have an international reputation for their professionalism, friendliness and the attention they give to each and every student.
- CES schools have won multiple awards, including the prestigious Study Travel Magazine “Best English Language School in Europe,” which is nominated and voted on by agents around the world.
- CES Edinburgh is located right in in the heart of the city in a customized building with excellent facilities.
- The school’s courses are competitively priced for the Edinburgh market and offer good value for money.
- The teachers hold a university degree and the Trinity TESOL Certificate or CELTA qualifications, with many holding specialist EFL teaching diplomas and degrees. The teachers are chosen not only for their experience, but also for their enthusiasm, positive attitude and ability to make language learning fun.
- CES Edinburgh has one of the best CELTA teacher training centers in the UK.
- CES Edinburgh is a member of both IALC and Eaquals, two certifications that are more difficult to attain than the others for language schools around the world.
The facilities
THE FACILITIES AT A GLANCE
- 10 year–round classes with free high speed Wi-Fi connectivity
- 15 summer classrooms
- Self-access study center and computer room
- Student common room
- Student garden with BBQ and seating area
- Many shops, cafés and restaurants within 10 minutes’ walk
MORE ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES
CES Online Learning
All students will have free access to CES Online, the school’s fantastic FREE e-Learning platform. CES Online is designed to complement all of the current facilities of the school. From social program activities to online tutorials, the system offers students remote access to the world of CES before, during and after their courses. The Front Desk App and the Grammar App will allow them to study their grammar on the go and keep up to date with all social activities.
Needs Analysis
CES students’ needs are central to the weekly planning process. Each week, the teachers will discuss students’ needs and progress so that the plan is tailored to their requirements and they achieve their aims.
Self-Access Centre
All CES centers offer the most up-to-date technology and materials for students to use at any time. CES Edinburgh has a dedicated computer room with 12 computers connected to the internet and free WIFI for students’ own devices. A teacher is available every afternoon for advice on additional study. The school also has a dedicated self-access study library with graded-readers, a large DVD/CD library and magazines/business papers.
Tutorials
Students have regular, one-to-one tutorials with their teachers to design a personalized study plan and discuss progress and areas to work on.
Student Welfare
The school has a full time Accommodation and Child Safe Guarding Officer to look after students’ welfare and deal with any concerns that students may have. It also has a 24-hour emergency phone facility.
University Guidance
Students can discuss how CES can guide them in their potential career paths with the Director of Studies.
The courses
GENERAL ENGLISH AND EXAMINATION COURSES
- Minimum age – 16 years
- Course duration: 2-50 weeks
- Length of each lesson: 45 minutes
- Start dates: Most Mondays (General English and IELTS)
- Number of students in class: Maximum 14, Average 10
- Average age of students on General English Courses: 24
Standard Course
The Standard General English Course takes place every morning from Monday to Friday, leaving students free to join the Social Program or study on the CES Online e-learning platform and in the Self-Access facilities every afternoon. The morning lessons are divided into two parts and students will usually be taught by two different teachers. Lessons concentrate on building students’ knowledge of the language, focusing primarily on helping increase vocabulary and improving grammar so that they attain the levels of accuracy they require. Lessons also work on improving students’ overall communicative proficiency and fluency, focusing on the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. In addition to this, they will work on specific pronunciation difficulties and expand the range of language they use in real-life situations.
The course book is the basis for much of the curriculum, with supplementary material taken from workbooks, other resources and authentic and digital material. Every week the teachers make a class plan based on the student’s needs, the course book and our Curriculum Framework, which is matched to the CEFR (Common European Framework of References for Languages) Can-do Statements. Learning objectives for the week are set and shared with students on Monday morning. These objectives are reviewed again at the end of each week. Students will also have regular revision and testing to help them review their learning and measure progress. In addition, they will have regular online tutorials with their main teacher, where they can discuss progress and needs in more detail.
Number of lessons per week: 20
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday
Intensive Course
On the Intensive General English Course, students will follow the same program as the Standard Course in the mornings. They will also have afternoon classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, in which they will have the opportunity to improve their communicative proficiency through discussions, topical debates, authentic materials and video. The school’s modern teaching methods and use of supplementary materials give students the best opportunity to build their language skills and maximize the benefits of the time they spend at the school.
Number of lessons per week: 30
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday and 14.00 – 16.30 Tuesday to Thursday
Combination Course
On the Combination Course, students will follow the Standard Course in the mornings and have two afternoons of individual lessons. These are designed to meet the student’s individual requirements and give them the perfect opportunity to work on any specific language difficulties with their own teacher. In advance of the course or during their first individual lesson, the student will complete a Needs Analysis form with their teacher, in which they will be able to identify particular areas to work on. This helps the teacher to plan their lessons according to their specific needs, and ensures they get the maximum benefit from your lessons.
Number of lessons: 20 lessons of 45 minutes +5 hours added to Standard Course
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday and 14.00 – 16.30 two afternoons per week
IELTS Preparation Courses
Students who plan to go to university in either Ireland or the UK may need to take the IELTS Exam. CES will help them to achieve the grade they need to take them to further education. IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is the most widely recognized university entry requirement in Europe. It tests the four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. IELTS is a secure, valid and reliable test of real-life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation purposes. Most universities require a score of between 5.5 and 7.5. At CES Edinburgh, students follow the Standard General English course in the mornings and take IELTS preparation lessons three afternoons per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). If a student starts the course at a low level, their progress will be carefully monitored and they will be encouraged at every stage of their studies. They will then join the IELTS Preparation Course when it is most appropriate for them. The ideal level for joining this course is Intermediate (B1).
The course will focus on improving students’ level of English, as well as on developing exam techniques. At the end of each week, they will be given a progress test. They will take a complete IELTS examination in
the last week of the course. If a student plans to take the exam while they are studying at CES, the school’s IELTS administrator or the Director of Studies will help them with registration.
Number of lessons per week: 30
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday (General English) and 14.00 – 16.30 Tuesday to Thursday (IELTS)
IELTS Express Programme
This course is 2 week super intensive course that will prepare students for the IELTS exam.
Number of lessons per week: 36
Timetable: 9:30 – 16:30 Monday to Friday
NCUK University Pathway Programme
The University Pathway Programme is designed for students who are keen on applying for higher education in UK or Ireland. Students will study at CES for 3, 6 or 9 months to raise their IELTS score to the level required to join the partner delivering the Northern Consortium Foundation Programme (NCUK). This will provide guaranteed access to over 300 University courses in universities in the UK and Ireland. The programme will provide expert preparation for the IELTS exam as well as giving students the academic study skills required to succeed in the further and higher education environment.
Number of lessons per week: 30
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday and 14.00 – 16.30 Tuesday to Thursday
ENGLISH FOR PROFESSIONALS
CES is a dynamic center of learning in today’s rapidly changing world. Its course designers are very aware of the time constraints of our professional clients, so they help them to design a course that will cater for their social and business requirements. CES has vast experience in delivering courses for management-level students in a number of professions. They will receive one-to-one tuition in language suitable to their profession and the social interaction they will encounter, giving them the confidence and vocabulary necessary for clear communication in the modern business world.
Executive Courses
CES’ Executive Courses are designed for business and professional people who wish to make the maximum amount of progress in the shortest possible time. Each course is designed to meet the specific needs and objectives of the participants. Clients return a completed Language Needs Analysis questionnaire to CES in advance to help the school prepare the most effective course for your requirements. The teacher will discuss the details of the course with the student again, and he or she will have the opportunity to change the emphasis and content as they progress.
General English with Business (available in July and August)
Students follow the Standard General English course in the mornings and take the business option three afternoons per week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The Business option is designed for students who wish to improve their communicative proficiency in a business environment. It can be tailored to suit the needs of any particular group of students and focuses primarily on the specialized language of Business English in the following areas:
- Meetings and negotiations
- Socializing and travel
- Oral and written presentations
- Analyzing figures and describing trends
- Sales/Marketing/Advertising
- Understanding cultural differences
- Oral and written communication—telephone, faxes, e-mails, etc.
If students have any particular areas of Business English that they wish to focus on, the course can be adapted to accommodate these.
This course requires a minimum number of participants.Marshall Language Services can check enrollment numbers at the time of inquiry.
Number of lessons per week: 30
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday (General English) and 14.00 – 16.30 Tuesday to Thursday (Business English)
Teacher Training – CELTA Course
In 2015 CES purchased the Randolph School of English from Valerie Reynolds, one of the best-known CELTA trainers in all of the UK. Between 1999, when Valerie started the school, and 2015, the Randolph School trained thousands of teachers. Valerie has continued to work with CES Edinburgh, and as a result, the school has Scotland’s most experienced CELTA tutors. They are all assessors, and Valerie was a Joint Chief Assessor for the scheme for 15 years. The CES Edinburgh CELTA course is also competitively priced for the northern UK.
CELTA
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults is a qualification for entry into the field of EFL teaching to adults internationally. It is validated by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, who set the guidelines and criteria for centers running these courses.
- Full time course duration: 120 contact hours over 4 weeks
- Part time course duration: 120 contact hours over 12 weeks
- Start dates: See Dates and Fees
- Timetable for full time: 9:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday
- Timetable for part time: 18:00 – 21:00 Monday to Wednesday, 10:00 – 13:15 on Saturday
- Recommended hours for reading, research, assignment writing and lesson preparation: minimum 60 (approximately 15 hours per week in addition to contact hours)
- Enrollment age: Minimum 18 years, recommended 20
- Minimum qualification: secondary school diploma for native English speakers, also C1/C2 level of English for non-native speakers. No previous teaching experience required.
CELTA Course Content:
- Methodology, language awareness, phonology and lesson preparation.
- Observation of 6 hours of classes with qualified teachers (3 are of live teaching and 3 can be of videos)
- Teaching practice in the afternoons (two or three different English levels)
From our clients
My experience at CES Edinburgh was unique, and I can only say positive things about this school!
Whether or not you come on your own or as part of a group, as soon as you set foot in CES, you will be surrounded in hospitality and feel at home. The office staff is cordial and very available to help; they will do whatever it takes to make you student feel at ease and resolve any problems during your stay.
During my three-month stay at CES, I was able to get to know most of the teachers, and I can assure you that they are fantastic and very well qualified. They were ready to answer any question I had. Their lessons are always interesting and interactive, and you cannot help but participate in the fun activities that they offer every day.
My English improved enormously. I became fluent for their teaching, and they helped me discover a whole world of Scottish culture, as well as the language (which is completely different from English). I learned many new things while having fun and without even realizing that I was learning more and more things each day.
Every afternoon and evening, the school offers new activities tied to the discovery of the magnificent and vibrant Scottish city in which the school is located—there are museums to visit, places to explore, pubs, cafés, even Scottish dance lessons! One afternoon a week, there is also the possibility of conversing with the teachers, who make themselves fully available to the students.
Therefore, if you are looking for a unique place to combine study and fun, CES Edinburgh is for you. After a morning in class, you can go out and just a few steps away is Princes Street, the heart of the city, where there is an endless selection of shops, or you can relax in the gardens while admiring the famous Edinburgh Castle in all its glory.
As a result, not only did I improve my English, but I also had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, come into contact with different cultures, and discover the beauty of a city that is so historically rich as Edinburgh, with so much to offer. I promise anyone looking for a good school that they will never regret choosing this destination!”–Ilaria V.
Do you have a positive experience to share? Write to Rachel.
HOST FAMILY
One of the best ways to learn more about the people of Scotland is to choose homestay accommodation. All homestays are carefully selected and visited regularly by the school’s Accommodation Officer to ensure consistently high standards. The school has a large selection of families in Edinburgh who have experience hosting overseas students, and homestays are in fact the accommodation of choice for the majority of CES students. The school and Marshall Language Services recommend this form of accommodation the most for language learning. Family life is informal and the people are welcoming, friendly and talkative, so students will have plenty of opportunities to practice their English with native speakers. By booking homestay accommodation students will also not have to worry about shopping for food and preparing meals every day. Mealtimes are often the occasions in which families converse most with the students.
Additional Homestay provisions and information:
- Meals: Breakfast and dinner from Monday to Friday, all meals on Saturday and Sundays. The main evening meal takes place between 6 pm and 7 pm.
- Homestay families provide all bed linens and towels. The school advises students to bring one extra towel.
- Distance from school: All the school’s homestays are located across many areas of the city. The average distance from the school is 20 minutes’ walk, and the maximum is 40 minutes’ walk. The city also has bicycle lanes, and if students prefer this mode of transport, the school can help with bicycle rental.
- Homestay accommodation is normally offered in a single room. Twin rooms for students not arriving together are subject to availability.
- Accommodation is from Saturday to Saturday, Sunday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday. No reduction in price is offered for early departure. It is possible to book extra nights at an additional cost.
- Host families offering private bathrooms may be available, but are limited.
- Adults aged 18+ do not have curfews.
STUDENT RESIDENCE
CES Edinburgh offers Canal Point, its own modern residential accommodation just 20 minutes’ walk from the school and 10 minutes from Prince’s Street. This student residence opened in 2014 and is centrally located close to shops, bars and the Meadows park. All rooms are en-suite in an apartment of between 3 to 8 bedrooms. CES Edinburgh students will be sharing the suite only with other students from the school, but the other residents of the building may be from various Edinburgh schools.
Canal Point also offers:
- A fully-furnished room with study space, shower room, double bed and clean linen
- A shared, well-equipped kitchen
- Wi-Fi throughout the building and in bedrooms
- A shared lounge-diner social space
- 24 hour on-site support
- Electronic key entry
- Laundry Facility
- Bike storage
- Reception staff to help with any questions about Edinburgh
NO ACCOMMODATION
It is possible to book only the course at CES Edinburgh. For short stay students who do not wish to stay with a host family, there are many beautiful guest houses and hotels in Edinburgh. All are in walking distance of the school, and the Accommodation Officer can help with inquiries and reservations.
Insurance
Insurance covering medical and travel assistance, personal liability and trip cancellation is not included in the price of the program. Marshall Language Services has a policy available through Guard.Me that covers these elements, as well as an additional policy through CareMed that covers cancellation under a wider range of circumstances, including the need to repeat school exams. A summary of these policies may be downloaded below.
Dates and Fees
Calculate your own approximate quote
The following tool will help you to get a good idea of the cost of a language course and accommodation, if requested, at this school. It may not include all the courses and accommodation options available or take into account promotional offers or costs associated with student visas, insurance, study materials or exam fees. For these reasons, the availability of any course, accommodation option (especially in the high season) and the final price of a package will always have to be verified with Marshall Language Services prior to enrolment.
Contact us for information about dates & prices
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