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A language school is a school where one studies a foreign language. Classes at a language school are usually geared towards, for example, communicative competence in a foreign language. Language learning in such schools typically supplements formal education or existing knowledge of a foreign language.

Students vary widely by age, educational background, work experience. They usually have the possibility of selecting a specific course according to their language proficiency. According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR),^[1] there are six language levels that define student language proficiency based on their speaking, writing and reading skills.

Language courses

English

Globally, English language schools have seen the greatest demand over schools for other languages. Over one billion people are said to be learning English in a second language or foreign language context.^[2] In the United States alone, ESL learners make up over one-third of all adult, non-academic learners.^[3]

Accreditations for English Language Schools

In England, major accreditations include ^[4]:

British Council: Accredits schools meeting high standards in education, teacher qualifications, and facilities.
English UK: Requires member schools to comply with strict quality standards.
RELSA: Accredits schools based on rigorous criteria in teaching and facilities.
Quality English: An international association ensuring top standards for independent schools.

In Malta, accreditation is provided by:

FELTOM: Accredits schools that meet high-quality standards in teaching, qualifications, and facilities.

Arabic

Arabic has also grown in popularity in the last decade. Reasons include the continued growth of Islam worldwide (the Koran holy book is in Arabic), as well as cultural, economic and political reasons.^[5]

Hindi

The Hindi language along with the culture of the Indian subcontinent has started to become important due to recent foreign policies, global competitiveness, and emigration from the country. Hindi began to be introduced as a foreign language in some American schools in the 2000s. Instructors in the language were sought to teach from the kindergarten level right up to the university as part of the National Security Language Initiative.^[6]

References

^ "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)". Retrieved 17 December 2016.
^ "How many people learn English globally?". Retrieved 17 December 2016.
^ "How large is the English learning market worldwide?". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
^ "Language School Accreditations". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
^ "A God-given way to communicate". Economist. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
^ Hemali Chhapia (March 23, 2008). "India shining: US headhunts Hindi teachers". Times of India.

External links

Council of Europe Language Policy Unit

[1] "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)". Retrieved 17 December 2016.

[2] "How many people learn English globally?". Retrieved 17 December 2016.

[3] "How large is the English learning market worldwide?". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

[4] "Language School Accreditations". Retrieved 20 October 2024.

[5] "A God-given way to communicate". Economist. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 2015-03-04.

[6] Hemali Chhapia (March 23, 2008). "India shining: US headhunts Hindi teachers". Times of India.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|School for learning a foreign language}}
-<!-- {{Original research|date=September 2008}} - provisionally commented, pending review by other editors -->
-A '''language school''' is a [[school]] where one studies a [[foreign language]].  Classes at a [[language]] school are usually geared towards, but not limited to, [[communicative competence]] in a foreign language. Language learning in such schools typically supplements formal [[education]] or existing knowledge of a foreign language.
+{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}}
-[[Students]] vary widely by age, educational background, work experience, and language proficiency.
+<!-- {{Original research|date=September 2008}} - provisionally commented, pending review by other editors -->
-== Structure ==
+A '''language school''' is a [[school]] where one studies a [[foreign language]]. Classes at a language school are usually geared towards, for example, [[communicative competence]] in a foreign language. Language learning in such schools typically supplements formal education or existing knowledge of a foreign language.
-As a general rule, new students take a placement [[test (student assessment)|test]] which enables teachers to determine which is the most appropriate level for the student. Courses can be organized in groups or for individuals (one-to-one lessons). These language schools, generally open all year round, are equipped with pedagogical material (books, tape recorders, videos, language laboratories, a library, etc.).
+Students vary widely by age, educational background, work experience. They usually have the possibility of selecting a specific course according to their language proficiency. According to the ''Common European Framework of Reference for Languages'' ([[CEFR]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/cadre1_en.asp|title=Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment (CEFR)|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> there are six language levels that define student language proficiency based on their speaking, writing and reading skills.
-===Organization===
-Most language schools are private and [[for-profit]]. Fees vary depending on demand for the language in the area where a school is located.  Language schools are either independent entities or [[corporation|corporate]] [[Franchising|franchises]].
+==Language courses==
-===Teachers===
-Teachers are expected to possess [[native speaker]] [[fluency#Language fluency|fluency]] or acquired competence in their target languages; formal qualifications to become a language teacher, however, vary by school, region or country.  Teachers may have graduated with a [[B.A]], [[Master's degree]] or a [[Ph.D]]. Pedagogy, experience and strong teaching skills are the principal criteria during the recruitment of the language school's teachers. {{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}
-===Accommodation===
-Many language schools offer various kinds of [[Lodging|accommodation]] to their students: host family ([[homestay]]s), [[dorm|campus residences]], shared housing, or even [[hotel]]s.
-Host families may live close to the selected school and students can go there walking or by public transport. The campuses and shared apartments, generally available for students aged over 18, offer various facilities such as an [[Internet]] access, [[TV]] sets, [[air conditioning]] or heating, and a shared kitchen. {{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}
-==Qualifications==
-Most students will sit an international language exam and receive an internationally recognized qualification.
-===International language exams===
-[[Language]] schools commonly offer specific programs to those wishing to prepare for internationally recognized language exams such as:
-* [[TOEIC]] ([[English language|English]])
-* [[TOEFL]] ([[English language|English]])
-* [[University of Toronto TEFL ]] ([[English language|English]])
-* [[University of Cambridge ESOL examination]]s ([[English language|English]])
-* [[DELF]] / [[DALF]] ([[French language|French]])
-* [[TestDaF]] ([[German language|German]])
-* [[DELE]] ([[Spanish language|Spanish]])
-* [[JLPT]] ([[Japanese language|Japanese]])
-* [[KLPT]] ([[Korean language|Korean]])
-* [[Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì|HSK]] ([[Standard Mandarin|Chinese Mandarin]])
-* [[DELI/DILI/DALI]] ([[Italian language|Italian]])
-Some organizations combine language study with travel to destinations where the language is natively spoken, making it easier for students to become immersed in understanding the destination country's culture and language.
-==Language courses==
 ===English===
 {{Main|English language learning and teaching}}
-Globally, [[English language]] schools have seen the greatest demand over schools for other languages.  Over one billion people are said to be learning English in a [[second language]] or foreign language context.<ref>[http://esl.about.com/od/englishlearningresources/f/f_eslmarket.htm ESL Market Statistics - How many people learn English world wide]</ref> In the [[United States]] alone, ESL learners make up over one-third of all adult, non-academic learners.<ref>[http://esl.about.com/od/englishlearningresources/f/f_eslvalue.htm How large is the ESL market - English learning market statistics]</ref>
+Globally, [[English language]] schools have seen the greatest demand over schools for other languages.  Over one billion people are said to be learning English in a [[second language]] or foreign language context.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esl.about.com/od/englishlearningresources/f/f_eslmarket.htm|title=How many people learn English globally?|access-date=17 December 2016}}</ref> In the [[United States]] alone, ESL learners make up over one-third of all adult, non-academic learners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://esl.about.com/od/englishlearningresources/f/f_eslvalue.htm|title=How large is the English learning market worldwide?|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220130353/http://esl.about.com/od/englishlearningresources/f/f_eslvalue.htm|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+====Accreditations for English Language Schools====
-English language schools are also among the most numerous in [[Asia]]n countries such as [[China]], [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]], as Western culture influences the rising demand for English in business and cultural contexts.
+In England, major accreditations include <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.extralingo.com/en/accreditations|title=Language School Accreditations|access-date=20 October 2024}}</ref>:
+* [[British Council]]: Accredits schools meeting high standards in education, teacher qualifications, and facilities.
-===Other European languages===
+* English UK: Requires member schools to comply with strict quality standards.
-Spanish is the second most popular language in the language travel market followed with some distance by French, Italian and German.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} While demand for French, Italian and German is decreasing, the demand for other languages such as Chinese and Arabic has significantly increased within the last years.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/2008/02/22/popular-foreign-languages-tech-language_sp08-cx_rr_0222foreign.html</ref> Total immersion [[ACUPARI|Spanish language schools]] have become very popular in Latin America and Spain.  Total immersion [[ACUPARI|Italian language schools]] are popular in Italy.
+* RELSA: Accredits schools based on rigorous criteria in teaching and facilities.
+* Quality English: An international association ensuring top standards for independent schools.
+In Malta, accreditation is provided by:
-=== Chinese ===
-[[Chinese language|Chinese]] is one of the largest growing languages among second or foreign language learners, and demand for such classes has typically followed suit. Language schools teaching [[Mandarin Chinese]] in the United States and the United Kingdom have increased in number over the last two decades.{{fact|date=June 2013}}
+* FELTOM: Accredits schools that meet high-quality standards in teaching, qualifications, and facilities.
 === Arabic ===
+{{Main|Arabic language school}}
-[[Arabic language|Arabic]] has also grown in popularity in the last decade. Reasons include the continued growth of [[Islam]] worldwide (the [[Koran]] holy book is in [[Arabic]]), as well as cultural, economical and political reasons.
+[[Arabic language|Arabic]] has also grown in popularity in the last decade. Reasons include the continued growth of [[Islam]] worldwide (the [[Koran]] holy book is in Arabic), as well as cultural, economic and political reasons.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.economist.com/node/15955462 |title=A God-given way to communicate |journal=Economist |date=22 April 2010 |access-date=2015-03-04}}</ref>
-=== Russian ===
+===Hindi===
+{{Main|Hindi language school}}
-[[Russian language|Russian]] has also grown in popularity in the last decade. Reasons include the continued growth of [[Russian science]] worldwide, as well as cultural, economical and political reasons.
+The [[Hindi]] language along with the culture of the Indian subcontinent has started to become important due to recent foreign policies, global competitiveness, and emigration from the country.  Hindi began to be introduced as a foreign language in some American schools in the 2000s. Instructors in the language were sought to teach from the kindergarten level right up to the university as part of the [[National Security Language Initiative]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-shining-US-headhunts-Hindi-teachers/articleshow/2890036.cms |title=India shining: US headhunts Hindi teachers|author=Hemali Chhapia |date= March 23, 2008|work=Times of India }}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 64: / Line 42: @@
 *[[Second language acquisition]]
-==Sources==
+==References==
 {{Reflist}}
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.travelingandstudyabroad.org/ Language exchange abroad]
+* [http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/default_en.asp Council of Europe Language Policy Unit]
-* [http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/default_en.asp Council of Europe, European]
+{{Language school}}
-* [http://www.ialc.org International Association of Language Centres]
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Language schools| ]]