“In the Lake School, there are students from many other countries. We went to the Oxford Story Museum, which was a lot of fun and I saw the beautiful buildings in Oxford.”

- Sakie, Japan
General English Course

Before you arrive

Lake School of English: Home > Before You Arrive > FAQs

FAQs

Here are some questions that students often ask us.

Do you speak my language?
We speak Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Japanese and Turkish. >> more info
Can I study part-time?
Yes, on our Semi-Intensive General English courses, you study for 15 hours in the mornings. You can work, study or have free time in the afternoons. If you would like to study for fewer hours, we can arrange Individual Tuition. >> more about Semi-Intensive courses
Can I take an exam?
Yes. There are exams for all levels of student from Elementary to Advanced. The Director of Studies and your class teacher will help you decide which exam to take. >> more about exams
Do I need to take a test before I start the course?
Yes, except teachers on a Teacher Refresher course. The placement test includes grammar, vocabulary, writing and a spoken interview. You then join a class at your level of English.
Can I change my homestay?
Yes. It is important that you enjoy your homestay experience and that you feel "at home" with the family. All the homestay accommodation is arranged by the directors of the school personally. If you are not happy in your family, they can arrange for you to visit other homestays and help you choose the best one for you. >> more about homestay accommodation
Can I rent a flat in Oxford?
Yes, although it is expensive - approximately £700 per month (not including gas, electricity or phone). We can help you to find an accommodation agency but we do not arrange the accommodation for you. Most of our students choose homestay, because this helps them to improve their English more quickly and to learn about the British way of life. >> more about long stay
Who can I contact in an emergency?
A director of the school is available 24 hours a day, including holidays and weekends. >> more about student services
Do you have free email and Internet access?
Yes. You can use our broadband cabled or wireless internet access when you are not in class. You can input your own language to send email. >> more about school facilities
Do I have to pay for materials in class?
No, all study materials are provided. You will need to bring a notebook, pen and perhaps a bi-lingual dictionary. (We provide English-English dictionaries.) >> more about what's included
How many students of my nationality will there be?
Every year we have hundreds of students from many different countries, on average 50 different nationalities per year. >> more about student life
Can I get a part-time job?
Students who are from an EU country or who have a 'Full General Student Visa ' stamp in their passport, can work part-time. Non EU students cannot work if they have a 'Student Visitor Visa'. For more information about studying and working in Britain, please visit the British Council website, www.educationuk.org In Oxford, there are lots of opportunities for temporary jobs and at the Lake School, we can arrange an interview for you at a local employment agency if you wish. >> more about long stay students
Where is the Lake School?
The Lake School is in the centre of Oxford: 3 minutes' walk from historic Oxford University colleges, Oxford railway and bus stations, cafes, pubs, theatres and Oxford's main shopping areas.
Oxford is not a very big city (about 130,000 population, including students.) Lake School homestays are within walking distance or a bus ride away from the school.>> more about location
Not found an answer to your question?
We will be happy to answer your phone, fax or email enquiries between 8.00 and 17.30, Monday to Thursday and between 8.00 and 16.30 on Fridays.

Tel: +44 1865 724312
Fax: +44 1865 251360

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