Centre of English Studies (CES) Leeds
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 Leeds is located in the center of this great sporting and shopping city. As a university city, it’s big enough to find plenty to do, yet small enough to get around easily. The school is located in the financial and legal district, and is just minutes away from some of the best tourist attractions and shopping streets. The large student population means the nightlife is never dull, and there is always something to do and someplace to go.
Leeds is a vibrant metropolitan city in the very heart of north England. Leeds boasts a beautiful city center, which is complemented by stunning local countryside, including the famous Yorkshire Dales. The city’s safe and friendly environment, exciting lifestyle and comparative affordability make Leeds the ideal location to live and learn in. This wonderful city is big enough to find plenty to do, but small enough for one to lose their way.
CES LEEDS AT A GLANCE
- Year of foundation: 2002 as Leeds Languages, CES Leeds in 2011
- Type of city: Large city (population 767,000)
- School’s position in the city: Center
- Minimum age in adult school: 16
- Number of students in school: Average 90, Maximum 350
- Main type of public transport in Leeds: Buses and trains every day until 23:00, bicycles
- Approximate number of nationalities in school each year: 30
CES Leeds Adult School: 9 Park Place, Leeds, LS1 2RU England
“I had the opportunity to visit Leeds and the school on the occasion of the IALC workshop in 2016. It was just a half an hour away from York, one of the most spectacular cities I had ever seen in England, but here I was immediately surrounded by a youthful population and a modern and vibrant atmosphere. CES hosted a large party for agents in the traditional Victoria shopping center, which was in walking distance of the school and the center of the city. The shopping center was to me an English version of the famous gallerias of Milan, Rome, and Naples, with their glass ceilings and period architecture, and full of elegant and international shops and restaurants. Outside the Victoria center, the places to shop, eat, drink, and listen to music continued for blocks and blocks. I found the employees of all the establishments I visited to be very friendly and helpful, as was the case with every place I went to in the north of England. Leeds itself is a perfect blend of traditional English and modern, and the large, recent investment in the city is obvious everywhere. I am enthusiastic about recommending this city to students who don’t want the expense of London and the south of England, in both the cost of the language school and living expenses, but who would still like to be in a place that is large enough to be interesting, lively, and cosmopolitan (but at the same time cozy) and close to other fabulous destinations in the UK.”
Leeds, United Kingdom
Why Study English at CES Leeds?
- Leeds is home to four universities with 15,000 international students, creating a youthful population in the city and the opportunity for English language students to make friends with the local students.
- Leeds is England’s second financial center after London. Three billion pounds have been invested in its regeneration in the past 10 years, and there are many job prospects for students and graduates. It has the vitality of a large city, but is small enough for students to get around without traveling long distances.
- CES Leeds is located in a beautiful Georgian building, in the very center of the city, and has excellent facilities. It is surrounded by all of Leeds’s top visitor attractions – the award-winning Royal Armouries, Harewood House, Tropical World, Thackeray Museum and Leeds City Art Gallery.
- The school is very conveniently located in Leeds—it is 5 minutes’ walk to the main shopping area of the town and countless restaurants, cafés, bars, nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, The Grand Theatre, and Opera House Leeds.
- CES Leeds is 5 minutes’ walk to Leeds Train Station and all main bus routes on the Headrow, Leeds’ main street in the center. The school is also 15 minutes’ walk to Leeds Bus Station. From Leeds there are regular trains and buses to Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and London. London is a two-and-a-quarter hour train journey, or 40 minute flight away. Manchester is just under 1 hour by train, Liverpool is one hour and a half by train, and Edinburgh is a 3-hour train ride.
- The school’s courses are competitively priced for the UK market and offer good value for money. In the section of this website “How to Save Money on an English course,” Marshall Language Services recommends attending a good quality school in an inexpensive but vibrant destination, and Leeds is a perfect example of this.
- 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.
- For IELTS test takers, CES Leeds is an official testing center, meaning that these tests can be taken directly on site.
- The spectacular city of York is just 25 minutes from Leeds by bus, and Leeds is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, with Illkey Moor on the doorstep.
- CES Leeds is a member of IALC, a prestigious certification that is more difficult to attain than the others for language schools around the world.
- CES schools have won and been shortlisted for multiple awards, including the prestigious Study Travel Magazine’s “Best English Language School in Europe,” which is nominated and voted on by agents around the world.
The facilities
THE FACILITIES AT A GLANCE
- 11 year-round classrooms, each with Smart TVs
- Free high speed fiber-optic broadband internet and Wi-Fi access
- Comfortable student common room with home cinema
- Tea and coffee facilities
- Multimedia center with 12 computers and printing facilities
- 17 tablet computers for classroom use
- Many excellent cafes and sandwich shops within a short walk from the school
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 for three months 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 Leeds has a dedicated computer room with 12 computers connected to the internet and free WIFI for students’ own devices. A teacher is available three afternoons per week 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.
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.
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.
University Guidance
Students can discuss how CES can guide them in their potential career paths with the Director of Studies.
The courses
GENERAL AND EXAMINATION ENGLISH
- Minimum age – 16 years
- Course duration: 2-50 weeks
- Number of lessons per week: 20 or 30
- Length of each lesson: 45 minutes
- Start dates: Most Mondays (General English and IELTS), fixed dates (FCE)
- 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 their lessons.
Number of lessons: 20 lessons of 45 minutes + 5 hours added to Standard Course
Timetable: 9:30 – 13:00 Monday to Friday (Group Lessons) and 14.00 – 16.30 Tuesday to Thursday two afternoons per week (One-to-One Lessons)
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. As the only official IELTS test center in the area, CES Leeds is able to offer the IELTS courses with the IELTS exam on site. At CES Leeds, 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.
Note: This course requires a minimum number of participants to run. Marshall Language Services can check enrolment numbers at the time of enquiry.
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)
From our clients
For a long time, I wanted to take a language course abroad to improve my English, but for various reasons, I wasn’t able to do it until the end of 2015. I chose the CES schools because they were recommended to me by an English teacher in Italy. I wanted a city that was lively and not too big, so I chose Leeds, and my choice turned out to be perfect.
Leeds is a city that offers a lot—it’s very dynamic and full of young people, pubs, nightclubs and shopping centers. But it is also an historical city, with Medieval buildings and museums, and it is a good place from which to visit other places in Yorkshire, or cities like Liverpool and Manchester.
The schools offers courses at all levels, the quality is very high, and the teaching and administrative staff are always ready to accommodate requests.
At CES, I felt part of a big family. The school regularly organizes outings and occasions on which the students can meet.
My stay in Leeds lasted six weeks, during which I took an intensive course. I wanted to make the most of the time I had available and to make as much progress as possible. The most marked improvement was in my ability to understand spoken English, and to converse.
I don’t deny that in the days prior to my departure, I was a bit apprehensive about going, but the only regret I have now is that I didn’t partake in this wonderful experience sooner!”
—Cecilia B., Italy
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 the UK 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 Leeds 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: From Monday to Friday, breakfast and dinner at home and a packed lunch to take to school, all meals at home 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 in the Leeds area, close to public transport links. The average distance from the school is 30 minutes’ by public transport, and the maximum is 45 minutes. The city also has bicycle lanes, and if students prefer this mode of transport, the school can help with bicycle rental. More information about renting bicycles in Leeds is also available here.
- Homestay accommodation is normally offered in a single room. Outside of the high season, 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. Is it 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 RESIDENCES
Unite Students Plaza (available all year)
Clay Pit Lane, Leeds
Situated in the heart of the city near shops, cafés, museums, cinemas and nightlife, Unite Students Plaza is just a 10-minute walk to the school. CES Leeds offers the residence’s Classic ensuite rooms, which are 13 metres squared and have a large single bed in them and their own bathroom. These rooms are in a suite which students will share with 2-5 other people. The minimum booking period for this residence is 4 weeks. Bed linens are included, but kitchen utensils are not and can be purchased from the residence, if necessary.
Unite Students Plaza amenities:
- Free 50 Mb Wi-Fi in rooms and communal areas
- Free gym
- Common room
- Vending machines for snacks
- Communal laundry facilities
- Bicycle storage
Liberty Park Living (available in July and August only)
19 Marlborough Street, Leeds
Mixed in with the student hot spots, cafés and university facilities of Leeds city center, students will find Liberty Park, the school’s dedicated student accommodation building. This modern student accommodation offers single en-suite rooms with a communal kitchen, living area and breakfast bar. There are also 31 studio apartments available, each with its own bathroom and kitchen. Bed linens are furnished, but students should bring their own towels. Liberty Park is within 10 minutes’ walk of CES Leeds. It is also close to various shopping centers, entertainment venues, and Leeds train station.
Liberty Park amenities
- Large common area
- External courtyard
- On-site laundry
- Secure Parking
- Free WIFI
- 24 Hour security
- Bike storage
- Postal services
- 24 hour reception—students can arrive at any hour
NO ACCOMMODATION
It is possible to book only the course at CES Leeds. For short stay students who do not wish to stay with a host family, there are many beautiful guest houses and hotels in Leeds. 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
Contact us for information about dates & prices
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