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Student Welcome Booklet

3 Portwall Lane Redcliffe

Bristol BS1 6NB

Tel: +44 (0) 117 929 2233

Email: enq@blc-english.co.uk

www.blc-english.co.uk

Director: Seonaid Birkett

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Dear Student

Welcome to Bristol and to BLC! It is a pleasure to have you with us, and we hope you will value and enjoy the experience of your course. This booklet is to provide you with helpful information as you begin your time of studying and living here. Please read the following pages carefully. We assure you that we will do all we can to make your time here as productive and stress free as possible.

BLC team

Please feel free to seek our assistance at any time. We will be happy to help you. If you have any further questions or problems, please see:

Seonaid Birkett – Managing Director and Founder of BLC

Jenny Cannell – Director of Studies

See her about any academic issues including classes, course books, levels and exams

Monika Smith – Assistant Director of Studies

See her about any academic issues including classes, course books, levels and exams

Alexis D’Orsi – BLC Services and Support Office Team Leader

See her about your course and any changes, payments, refunds or visas, welfare

Charlotte Holcombe – Group and Student Support Officer

Joanna Brachun – Receptionist

See her about student cards, IELTS applications, etc.

Full Time Teachers –Kasia Tyka, Steven Peters, James Macpherson … and many

more!

Please talk to your teachers about your English progress.

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School map

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Lesson timetable

Daily timetable Time

Lesson 1

9.15 – 10.00

Lesson 2

10.00 – 10.45

15 minutes’ break

10.45 – 11.00

Lesson 3

11.00 – 11.45

Lesson 4

11.45 – 12.30

Lunch break (1 hour 15 minutes)

12.30 – 13.45

Lesson 5

13.45 – 14.30

Lesson 6

14.30 – 15.15

Day Example Social Programme

Monday Conversation Club 15.30 – 16.30

Tuesday

Wednesday Drinks and dinner at a local pub 19.00

Thursday Tour of the Suspension Bridge 15.30

Friday

Saturday Excursion to Cardiff 10.00 – 18.00

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Studying in BLC

Materials you need to bring to lessons: 1. Paper to write on 2. Pen or pencil to write with 3. Text book

Books – You will need to buy an exam book if you are following an exam course. These books cost £25. They can be bought from Jenny or Monika on the first floor.

School holidays – The school will close for two weeks for Christmas and New Year holidays. Please check school holiday dates and public holiday dates with the school. There is no discount in fees for courses which include public holidays.

Your holiday – If you want to take a holiday during your course, you must tell us at least two weeks beforehand. The holiday period – which must be from Monday till Friday – may be added to your course.

Smoking, alcohol and drugs – The school expects all students to comply with UK law regarding public behaviour, alcohol and drugs. In the UK you must be 18 years old to buy alcohol in a bar or public house. Always carry proof of age. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the school building. If you are a smoker, you may smoke in the street, across the road from the school (not in the entrance). You will not be allowed into class if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may be asked to leave the school if you do so.

There is a Procedure for Dealing with Abusive Behaviour. You must obey the school’s rules. Abusive behaviour towards staff, students or hosts will not be tolerated. You may be asked to leave your accommodation and/or the school.

Please read and understand this booklet. Please note that the Director reserves the right to expel a student if he or she behaves in a way that is disruptive or harmful to the running or reputation of the school. Any fee refund is solely at the discretion of the Director.

Tips for your study!!

Be on time – If you are more than 5 minutes late for your class you will not be permitted to enter and will be asked to wait until the next class.

Attend – You are expected to attend all your lessons. All classes are compulsory and if you do not attend your absence will be recorded. Immigration authorities, who grant visas for students to learn English, demand 100% attendance. If your attendance falls below 80%, you will not be given a Certificate of Attendance.

Do homework – Homework is set regularly. It is part of the course and you are expected to complete all work which is set by your teachers. During the course we will monitor your progress through weekly tests.

Only speak English! – Always communicate in English – not just with us, but with other members of the course, not only in class. You should speak English when you are relaxing, this will help your English and you will make friends from other countries.

Participate – Contribute to lessons. It will help you to get the most out of them.

Attend weekly tests and tutorials on Friday – Attending progress test sessions and tutorials with your class teacher will allow us to monitor your progress and help you to succeed during your course.

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Top ways to learn at BLC 1. BLC Anytime: Use BLC’s online learning tool to get the most out of your time at school. You can create your own study plan, gain access to additional practice, book appointments with staff and complete school forms online: http://www.blc-english.co.uk/interactive.

Login: User ID: blc your student number Password: blc your student number

Example Login: User ID: blc1111 Password: blc1111

2. BLConTEXT: If you agree to receive text messages from us, we will send you a text with an English puzzle every day in the morning. Talk to your friends and classmates about the possible answers to the puzzle before your 11.00 teacher gives the answer to the whole class. This way you can learn even more English. 3. Friday afternoon classes: If you are an intensive student, you can choose the afternoon class you want to go to on Friday. Make sure that you try different classes and that you choose the ones that can help you to improve your English the most. 4. Conversation Club: Go to the free ‘Conversation Club’ on Mondays at 15:30 to improve your speaking skills and make new friends. 5. Recycling Banks: Read the ‘Recycling Banks’ in your classroom and write any vocabulary in your notebooks to help you remember and use the new words. 6. Extra reading in English: Ask your teacher for a ‘Reader’ (small book at different levels) or a novel to develop your reading skills. Read the newspaper articles on the wall on the first floor to learn lots of everyday vocabulary on current topics. 7. Social programme: Go to the social programme activities to make friends, practise your speaking and listening, and have fun!

Wi-Fi code

BLCStudent2010

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Absence procedures All students are expected to attend all lessons of the course they are enrolled on.

Your final attendance will be marked on your certificate at the end of your course.

Any student with an attendance of less than 80% will NOT receive a certificate.

Students studying on a Tier 4 Visa or Student Visitor Visa must have excellent attendance

figures as a condition of their visa.

Any student studying on a Tier 4 Visa that misses 10 days of school will be reported to the

immigration authorities (UKBA).

We do not want to penalise students who have a genuine reason for absence.

To let us know about a genuine absence, please complete the ABSENCE FORM online.

If you feel ill: You MUST phone the school every morning you are ill BEFORE 09.00 and speak to reception – 0117 929 2233. However, if you are ill for more than 4 days, you must bring a note from your doctor to have your absence approved. Course extensions will not be granted in the event of sickness.

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Personal safety

Plan ahead – decide in advance how you are going to get to your destination.

Always go out with people you know and trust.

Always use well-lit, busy roads and avoid shortcuts through dark, quiet areas.

Walk with friends and never walk alone at night – use a taxi.

Only share taxis with people you know.

Never give your personal details to anyone you don’t know.

Never carry all your money or passport with you and try to carry valuables such as

cameras out of view.

Never leave your bag unattended at the school or in public places. It may be stolen or

treated as suspicious.

Don’t walk straight into the road – remember to look right – cars in England drive on the

left.

If you are staying with a host family let them know where you are going and what time

you expect to be back.

Emergencies

In an emergency you can dial 999 for the Police, Fire Service or Ambulance. Calls are free

from any phone.

The school’s emergency number is: 07903 336818.

Do you want to keep in touch outside of the classroom?

A place for you to connect with BLC students past and present!

Join us at www.facebook.com/BLC.LearnEnglish Follow us at twitter.com/BLC_Bristol

Have fun browsing the site and feel free to add your comments, photos, music, news etc.