Between its show-stopping cultural sights, diverse communities and endless sunny days, it’s not hard to see why Sydney is such a popular destination to learn English.
Sydney is a popular destination for English language-learners (Photo: Mimi Thian via Unsplash)
English is the most widely spoken language in the world, with an estimated 1.5 billion speakers across the globe. You could choose to learn the lingo in the UK – its spiritual home – or across the pond in the United States, but Australia is becoming an increasingly popular place to refine the skillset. And, as Australia’s oldest, largest and most multicultural city, Sydney offers the most choice when it comes to reputable language schools. There are now dozens of language schools located across the city, but not all are equal. To help you make the right choice for your budget and ability, we’ve rounded up five of the best language schools to learn English in Sydney, taking into account location, lesson format and value for money.
English Language Company
This award-winning language school is located right in the heart of Sydney, a stone’s throw from Darling Harbour and the city’s major shopping and entertainment districts. Lessons take place in one of 24 bright and airy classrooms. The building also has two comfortable student lounges, chill-out spaces for quiet learning and a kitchen and dining area. There’s a good range of programmes available, from General English courses to Business English. Within each program, learners can opt for a premium, semi-intensive or intensive course. You’ll also get to explore Sydney with the guidance of an ELC teacher, through city walks, museum trips and themed outings.
Kingsway Institute
An English language lesson at Kingsway Institute (Photo: Kingsway Institute)
Conveniently located in Sydney CBD, Kingsway Institute has received rave reviews from previous students. The school offers three programmes: General English, IELTS preparation and English for Academic Purposes. General English is designed to improve students’ everyday language skills, with courses lasting 2-75 weeks and tailored for beginner to upper-intermediate speakers. There are regular assessments and students can study during the day from Monday to Thursday or during the evening from Monday to Friday. Prized for its friendly and welcoming environment, the school is both NEAS and TEQSA accredited.
Find out more at Kway.nsw.edu.au
OHC English
Since opening its first school in 1974, OHC English has grown to deliver expansive English language courses across three continents. The Sydney OHC campus is located in CBD and features a large lecture auditorium and dedicated tutorial rooms, a well-stocked library, a lively cafe and a computer lab for self-study. There’s also a dedicated student-welfare team who can provide advice and support on everything from getting around to setting up a bank account. There’s an excellent range of courses available and students can choose to live in homestay accommodation for additional English-language practice.
Find out more at ohcenglish.com
ILSC Language School
The ILCS Cafe Work Skills programme (Photo: ILCS)
ILCS boasts a handful of reputable language schools across Australia, including Sydney. As well as English for General and Business use, the school offers highly specialised courses rarely offered at other schools. For instance, on the Creative and Cultural English course, students improve their English while learning more about the city, film, art, photography and food. The Cafe Work Skills programme takes place in an English-speaking cafe in Sydney, where students learn how to make typical hot beverages while refining a specialized vocabulary for the cafe work environment. Students can also sign up for the free Job Club to find out more about job opportunities in Sydney.
La Lingua Language
Established in 1995, La Lingua Language offers a variety of courses for a range of language levels and needs. As well as the General English programmes, the school offers exam preparation, Business English and English for Academic Purposes. Students can choose to combine this with other language courses, such as Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. Lessons take place at the school, which is located in CBD. Courses run throughout the year and are open to students aged 16 years and over.