CherylRumsey, Author at Studio Cambridge

Staffing Changes at Studio Cambridge

CherylRumsey — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:38:47 +0000

Important Announcement: Staffing Changes at Studio Cambridge

We are delighted to announce that our Head of Summer Camps, Edwina Warrington, has become Managing Director as Richard Mountford moves into a consultancy role. Edwina has been at Studio for 16 years and is well-known to our staff and many agents already. Her appointment creates continuity in the leadership and development of Studio Cambridge.

Edwina joined Studio in 2009, initially working in the Sales Team before moving to the operations side of the business to help run the mini-stay group programmes. She has worked as a Course Director at several summer camps, Head of Young Learners, and most recently Head of Summer Camps – overseeing the running of all of our summer camps for juniors. Edwina brings enthusiasm, drive and a detailed understanding of the school and we are confident that her experience and motivation will lead the school forward into an exciting new chapter.

As Edwina takes the reins , Richard Mountford will be stepping back from the day- to- day running of the school and transitioning into a part-time consultancy role within the business. Richard has devoted three decades to Studio Cambridge after starting in 1995 as a summer camp Course Director. He had previously taught English in Taiwan and Portugal, and run summer camps elsewhere in the UK. Richard worked as Head of Summer Camps and Operations Director before becoming Managing Director in 2018. Richard has also travelled extensively for the school in a sales capacity, and he was responsible for developing our strong presence in Turkey (which has led to numerous UED awards from the Turkish agents).

While Richard will be moving away from the daily running of the company, we’re thrilled that his expertise will remain part of Studio Cambridge and he will continue to offer his guidance and insights when needed as he supports us in his new position.

Edwina said “I’m honoured to step into this role at a school that has been a major part of my development personally and professionally. Throughout my career I have worked closely with Nicole and Richard and have learnt so much from their leadership and encouragement. I plan to bring their same energy and commitment whilst embracing any opportunities for us to grow and evolve. At Studio we have a strong sense of community, working together as one team to give our students the best possible experience. I’m confident that this ethos will remain at the heart of everything we do and I’m excited about what lies ahead.”

We are also bidding farewell to our Sales Director, Nicole Kennedy, at the end of January after 28 years at Studio Cambridge.

Since joining Studio in 1998, Nicole has been instrumental in shaping the development of the company, cultivating long-term agent relationships, mentoring staff and leading the team at Studio. Within just a few years of joining Studio, Nicole took on the role of Sales Director, with her extensive knowledge of every aspect of the school forming an essential part of the senior management team.

Nicole said: “Over the last 28 years at Studio, I’ve had the privilege and the pleasure to meet students, parents, agents and teachers from all over the world. I’ve learned new words and customs, tried new foods, laughed, cried and everything in between! To all the agents who’ve introduced me to their countries, their cities, their offices – and even in some cases, their homes – thank you for your hospitality and your warmth. To all the students who have enriched my life with their enthusiasm and vigour, thank you. I won’t miss the 3 am emergency calls, or the last-minute host family cancellations, but I will miss my wonderful colleagues at Studio, and all the amazing people working in this industry.”

Nicole has been a guiding force in our organisation and a trusted partner to hundreds of agents globally. Her expertise, compassion and exceptional work ethic have played a vital role in developing Studio Cambridge’s reputation as a greatly respected English language school. Her legacy will continue to influence Studio Cambridge for many years to come. We wish Nicole all the very best for her retirement.

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Cheryl Rumsey to the role of Sales Director. With 15 years’ experience in the Sales and Marketing Team at Studio Cambridge, Cheryl brings a wealth of expertise and understanding of the ELT sector, having overseen sales and marketing operations across a range of international markets. Over the years, she has developed strong relationships with many of our partners worldwide and her long-standing collaboration with Nicole places her in an excellent position to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.

Cheryl said: “Working with Nicole over the past 15 years has been a real pleasure. Her dedication, steady leadership and good humour have always been at the heart of our team, and I shall miss her enormously. I am honoured to take on the role of Sales Director and I am fully committed to building on the excellent work Nicole has led with such care and dedication. I look forward to continuing to nurture the strong relationships we have with our partners worldwide and to driving Studio Cambridge forward with the same passion and integrity that has been central to our success.”

Edwina said: “Cheryl has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership within the sales team and her warmth and wealth of experience enable her to provide the very best service. Cheryl understands what our agents and students need from us and ensures that we deliver personal care and attention from the point of enquiring and enrolling, through to leaving the school. I want to reassure our partners and students that although Nicole will be missed, we remain the same team, with the same values, and we will look after you.”

From L to R: Richard Mountford, Nicole Kennedy, Edwina Warrington, Cheryl Rumsey

The post Staffing Changes at Studio Cambridge appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

Dr. Phil Brown’s new book reflects on life as an English language teacher at Studio Cambridge

CherylRumsey — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:08:37 +0000

Dr. Phil Brown taught at Studio Cambridge for 40 years, but did you know he is also an author? His latest book, ‘Language and Life – Reflections of a Language Teacher’ reflects on his life as an English language teacher at Studio Cambridge.

The book, an anthology of articles dealing with aspects of the teaching of English as a foreign language, discusses approaches to elements of the language, such as grammar, lexis, punctuation, etc. The articles were written in response to attempts to help his students understand the importance of language. Perhaps some of you can remember Phil’s help?

A full interview with Phil and his reasons for writing the book can be found here.

After graduating from University College Swansea, I studied for a Ph.D at St John’s College, Cambridge. Afterwards I taught English & American Literature at the University of Isfahan, Iran, with a view to an eventual position teaching philosophy, until the Iranian revolution interrupted my tenure. In January 1980, I started teaching at Studio School, & taught there until my retirement. Apart from writing, I play classical guitar &, lately, I have started writing songs to lighten the mood. My philosophical background has influenced my approach to life in general, & in particular to language & language-acquisition, which is why, in the classroom, I have encouraged students to ask questions about the world in which they find themselves & to think critically through the medium of English.

If you’d like to buy ‘Language and Life – Reflections of a Language Teacher’ you can do so online from the publisher here. It’s also available online and in most book shops including WH Smith, Waterstones, Heffer’s, Blackwell’s and Amazon.

The post Dr. Phil Brown’s new book reflects on life as an English language teacher at Studio Cambridge appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

A brief guide to British accents and dialects

CherylRumsey — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:20:33 +0000

A brief guide to British accents and dialects

If you’re considering learning English in the UK, you might think you’ll return home with a perfect accent that sounds like you got English lessons from the King himself! In reality, there are almost 40 different British accents and dialects that sound very different from each other! The most well-known is Received Pronunciation (RP), which is classed as the “standard” British accent (this is the accent you hear King Charles using!)

That’s right, accents and dialects vary greatly across Great Britain. There is no such thing as a single ‘British accent’. Instead, it’s an amalgamation of different ones that have been shaped by history, and made iconic through TV and film. Here is a brief guide to British accents and dialects.

Some British accents and dialects by region

British Accent	Region
RP (Received Pronunciation)	London & South East England
Cockney	London
Scouse	Liverpool (North West England)
Geordie	Newcastle (North East England)
Brummie	Birmingham (West Midlands)
West Country English	South West England
Scottish	Scotland
Welsh	Wales
Northern Irish	Northern Ireland

Here’s a guide to these accents and dialects, which you’re sure to encounter on any trip to the UK.

RP

Received Pronunciation (RP) is often referred to as “Standard English” the “Queen’s English” or “BBC English”. It has traditionally been associated with the middle and upper classes.

RP is considered to have the widest geographical distribution and the fewest regional peculiarities. It was originally the pronunciation of educated speakers in southern England and traditionally used in the public schools. It was also used at Oxford and Cambridge universities and adopted by many speakers elsewhere and widely used in broadcasting.

Speech sample:

Catherine, Princess of Wales

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZiiLY3enGQ

Cockney

Over the centuries, the cockney accent has become synonymous with working-class London, specifically associated with the East End of London.

The Cockney dialect also gave us rhyming slang, a humorous slang first used by cockneys in the east end of London and now understood widely in London and throughout Britain.

Invented in London in the 1840s by market traders, costermongers and street hawkers, it was probably first used as a language designed to disguise what was being said from passers-by.

Cockney rhyming slang is still in use today – the next time you visit London, keep your ears peeled for it!

Speech sample

Michael Caine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBjp1oEZcwU

Scouse

The term Scouse refers to Liverpool English and an inhabitant of Liverpool is a Liverpudlian or Scouse(r). The Scouse accent is well-know throughout Britain and the world, mainly due to the Beatles! It is one of the most distinctive regional accents in England, with unique sound variations and a melody all of its own.

Speech sample

Paul O’Grady and Cilla Black

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmD12063NTI

Geordie

As the oldest English dialect still spoken, Geordie refers to the people and dialect of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in Northeast England. It is one of the strongest and most distinctive accents in England. At its broadest, the dialect is very different from Standard English in terms of its pronunciation and some of the constructions and words that are used. Many Geordies say divn’t knaa for ‘don’t know’, for example, and talk about their bairns (‘children’).

Speech sample

Cheryl Cole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEFIB2Fw-b0

Brummie

The Brummie dialect is spoken by many people in Birmingham, England, and some of its surrounding area.

The melody of Brummie is truly distinctive. It has a monotone nature with long stretches hitting the same note. But when Brummies stress a word, it tends to lengthen considerably, and this can be followed by sharp rises or falls in tone.

Speech sample

Ozzy Osbourne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZki6zZ91g0

West Country

The West Country accent can be heard in South West England and extending to the Welsh border. Often, the letter ‘r’ is pronounced after vowels. Someone with a West Country accent would say ‘mutherrr’ instead of saying mother as ‘muthah’.

Speech sample

Hagrid from Harry Potter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JiSQ0bv_qs

Scottish

Scottish English is heavily influenced by the Gaelic language, which was, and still sometimes is, spoken in certain areas of Scotland, as well as Norse languages from Viking invaders.

Compared to standard English, the Scottish accent has a very different rhythm, giving it a distinct sound.

Scots use the sound ‘oo’ instead of ‘ow.’ For example, ‘house’ sounds like ‘hoose’ and ‘about’ sounds like ‘aboot.’ Scots also pronounce ‘eh’ as ‘ee’ so you’ll hear them say ‘heed’ instead of ‘head.’

Another interesting difference is that in standard English ‘you’ is used as a singular and plural personal pronoun. In the Scottish accent, ‘yous’ is used as a plural pronoun. For example, “Are yous okay?”

Speech sample

David Tennant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kql1IFQlBKY

Welsh

Wales has its very own language and it is very different to English. In fact, the town with the longest name is in Wales. It’s called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!

When Welsh people speak English, their accent is instantly recognisable – they pronounce words like ‘Wales’ as WEE-alss unlike the English, who pronounce it WAY-ells.

Speech sample

Gareth Bale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4EAN9Nb6JM

Northern Irish

The Northern Irish accent is quite a beautiful one, and a strong one too. The first thing you’ll probably notice about Northern Irish is how many letters seem to be missing from words when people speak it. For example, ‘Northern Irish’ is pronounced more like ‘Nor’n Ir’sh’! They have a very tight, rigid mouth when they say ‘cow’, ‘now’, or ‘how’ and this makes the sound shorter and less round than most other UK accents.

Speech sample

Kenneth Brannagh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGXhypC7HYs

If you’ve been inspired to learn English, consider enrolling on one of our English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses and develop your English skills in the company of like-minded students in the beautiful city of Cambridge.

The post A brief guide to British accents and dialects appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

How to learn English quickly

CherylRumsey — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:54:58 +0000

Learning any new language takes time, but how can you speed the learning process up?

English is the world’s most widely spoken language, with over a quarter of people speaking it! You don’t have to search very far to find opportunities to practice it, but with some 750,000 English words and strange ways of spelling, it can confuse even those whose native language is English!

Learning any new language takes time. There are new rules to memorise and new words to learn. Though it’s perfectly acceptable to learn at your own pace, these tips and resources can help you learn English quickly and effectively.

1. Listen to a lot of English

Scientists who study languages have a special term for one of the ways we learn languages: unconscious or implicit language learning. This kind of learning happens when we are not trying – the sound of English is in the background, and your brain automatically absorbs the sounds, accents, words and grammar, even though you are not listening well, speaking or taking notes.

So, listen to as much English as you can. Listen constantly! Whenever you can, make sure that you have something in English playing in your room, in your office or in your headphones. As long as the sounds of English are entering your ears and your brain, you will learn more English than you realise!

2. Read everything you can!

Books, newspapers, websites, emails, your social media feed, cereal boxes: if it’s in English, read it. Why? Well, this content will be full of new vocabulary, as well as some you already know. Re-exposure to learned vocabulary gives you new examples in context, therefore reinforcing those words in your mind. On the other hand, learning new words and expressions is essential to building your vocabulary, particularly in a language like English with so many words!

3. Speak English

The best way to learn English fast is to speak English with native English speakers. A native English speaking partner will correct mistakes before they become habits. They will be able to correct your spoken grammar so that you can express yourself clearly in English. Talk with real-life humans – seek out native speakers for an informal chat, enrol in a course, or take classes online.

4. Sing along!

Music is can be a powerful tool for making a second language feel more natural. Listening to music with English lyrics can help you gain a better understanding of pronunciation, vocabulary and sentence structure, without feeling like study at all. Listening to music in English can help you pick up grammatical rules more easily, in a similar way that you do when first learning to speak as a child.

There is no shortage of great, free English-language music on the web. YouTube has an almost unlimited supply of music with lyric videos so you can read along without missing a word. In addition:

Lyrics Training app allows you to practice your listening skills by creating “fill in the gaps” exercises from your favorite song lyrics.
Radio Garden is a great, free tool to listen to radio stations around the world.
The British Council has a free collection of English songs made for children.

5. Travel to an English-speaking country

Immerse yourself in an English-speaking country – travel, take a course, stay with a friend. If you are fortunate enough to travel or take a course in an English-speaking country, it will help you and your language so much! Everything around you is in English, restaurants, road signs, people speaking, so you have to push yourself to speak and use English. Maybe you will need to ask for directions in English, or even just talk to someone at a bus stop in English, you will have so many opportunities to practise speaking English.

If you’re thinking of studying English in the UK, why not check out the courses available at Studio Cambridge!

The post How to learn English quickly appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

Why study English in the UK?

CherylRumsey — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 10:47:38 +0000

10 reasons to study English in the UK

One of the best ways to pick up a new language quickly is by fully immersing yourself in a country that commonly speaks the language you are learning. If you’re learning English, you may be considering studying in the UK, US or Canada, but here our our top 10 reasons to study English in the UK:

Aerial View of Historic buildings in Cambridge

1. A large range of English courses with more than 100 study locations

You can study IELTS, General English, CAE, FCE, English with sports, holiday camps…..the list is endless!

There are accredited English language centres all over the UK in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. You can study in a big modern city, a historic small town, by the seaside or in a country village.

2. UK qualifications are internationally recognised and valued

The UK is home to the English language and its qualifications are recognised all over the world.

3. You will learn English faster with great teachers

In the UK you will study English with qualified teachers. You will learn new language each day and practice with other students. You will have lots of speaking practice to improve your communication skills.

Teacher at the whiteboard

4. You will immerse yourself in British English

When you learn English language in the UK you will learn about different British accents, phrases and vocabulary. You will increase your confidence and improve your fluency in real-life situations – you will hear and speak English all the time, both inside and outside the classroom.

5. The culture and attractions

The UK has culture for every taste. From Shakespeare to Harry Potter, Fish and Chips to Afternoon Tea, The Beatles to The Spice Girls. You can visit fantastic museums, famous filming locations, football stadiums or see live music and theatre at our cultural institutions.

6. You can have amazing adventures in the UK and Europe

Visit our medieval castles, royal palaces, lakes, green spaces and beautiful old cities. It is easy to explore the UK and Europe by bus, train and plane. Spend a weekend in Scotland or Cornwall, Paris, Ireland, Barcelona or Amsterdam. Here at Studio Cambridge we organise regular group trips to places of interest.

Group of students at Warwick Castle

7. It’s a safe place to study

The UK is considered one of the safest destinations to travel in the world.

8. Accommodation for all tastes

You can live with a friendly host, student residence or in private accommodation.

9. Studying in the UK raises your chances of getting a university place here

Almost 60 per cent of international students who successfully apply to UK universities are already studying here, usually on English language or international foundation year courses.

10. It’s the birthplace of the English language

What better place to practice your English than England, where the language originated from?

Why not join us and learn English in the UK! Check out our courses here or contact us for further information.

The post Why study English in the UK? appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

How long does it take to learn English?

CherylRumsey — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 11:50:36 +0000

How long does it take to learn English?

Here at Studio Cambridge, we often get asked how long it takes to become fluent in English. The answer: everyone is different!

How long it will take you to learn English depends on many things:

Your current level of English
Which languages you already speak
If you’re living in an English-speaking country
How hard you study
How much you practice

Factors that affect how long it takes to learn English

Motivation

It goes without saying that if you are motivated to learn and you work hard, you will learn faster!

Exposure to native speakers

If you are living and working in an English speaking country and speaking in English frequently (such as with roommates or in your job) you will pick up the language much quicker than you would at home.

Listening to English

If you’re unable to spend time with native speakers, then watching English TV shows is a great way to pick up vocabulary and learn English quickly. Alternatively, you might want to try listening to English speaking podcasts to broaden your vocabulary.

Reading in English frequently

Even if you are speaking English regularly you might find it difficult to write in English without reading. Reading the news, books English novels or even putting your social media feed in English are all great ways to reduce the amount of time it takes to learn English.

Prior Linguistic Knowledge

Once you have studied and acquired a new language, your skill at learning another will increase. Language learners are able to translate skills from one language to another because they’re able to recognise the rules and patterns of language, even if the vocabulary is different.

Progress at Studio Cambridge

As we mentioned earlier, the exact time a student needs to make progress is variable depending on the student.

However, as a rule of thumb it takes the average Studio student 6 weeks to increase their IELTS score by 0.5. A further 6 weeks’ study will be needed to acquire the exam skills.

Time for an average Studio Cambridge student’s progress in English as measured on the IELTS scale

IELTS

3.5 Studio level 3: Lower Intermediate

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus

4.0 Studio level 4: Intermediate level

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus or Reading and Writing.

4.5 Studio level 4: Intermediate or PET level in the Cambridge exam suite.

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus or Reading and Writing.

5.0 Studio level 5: Upper intermediate.

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus or Academic Skills.

5.5 Studio level 5: Strong Upper Intermediate or FCE level in the Cambridge exam suite, typical score required of an ARU undergraduate.

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus or Academic Skills.

6.0 Studio level 6: Advanced. The typical score required by most UK universities including the Northern 12.

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus or Academic Skills

6.5 Studio level 6: Advanced or CAE level in the Cambridge exam suite.

6 weeks – Intensive English and Language Skills Plus or Academic Skills.

7.0 Studio level 6: High Advanced. The typical score required for a post-graduate course at Cambridge University.

6 weeks for a student with a high level of language ability.

7.5 Studio level 6: High Advanced or Proficiency level in the Cambridge exam suite.

6 weeks for a student with a high level of language ability.

8.0

If you’d like to improve your English, why not join one of Studio Cambridge’s courses, the oldest English language school in Cambridge, established 1954!

The post How long does it take to learn English? appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

Top tips for improving your English speaking skills

CherylRumsey — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:20:44 +0000

Top tips for improving your English speaking skills

Students speaking in English

Becoming a proficient English speaker is not something that can happen overnight. In reality, the only way to develop fluency in another language is through large amounts of listening and speaking. However, the good news is that practising speaking is a fun and rewarding part of learning English! Here are a few top tips for improving your English speaking skills:

Speak whenever you can!

Be confident and speak as often as possible to as many people as you possibly can! If there are English-speaking members in your family, try to communicate with them only using English. Do not be shy! The more you practice the better and more confident you will become in your pronunciation and vocabulary. You can also speak aloud to yourself when no one is around! Remember, speaking is a skill like learning a musical instrument or new sport – the only way you can get good at it is to actually do it!

Do some speech shadowing

Shadowing is a simple language learning technique. You take a native audio recording with a transcript and you speak along at as close to the same time as you can. That’s it.

Shadowing helps you practise the pronunciation of individual words and phases, as well as helping with the melody of phrases.

Listen to the text
Replay the text and repeat in your voice. Be louder and try to match the accent
Repeat the same text again and again until you are confident you can speak with the same speed as the audio

Listen to native speakers

Listen to news bulletins and songs in English to listen to the pronunciation of words. You can also learn new words and expressions this way. Listening to and copying native speakers of the English language is an effective way to both reduce your accent and to improve your pronunciation. The more you listen, the more you learn!

Read aloud

Read the newspaper or a magazine out to yourself. You could even find a script for your favourite TV show and act it out! This is a great way to practise pronunciation because you only need to concentrate on making sure you English sounds great and don’t need to worry about sentence structure or grammar.

Learn a new word every day

By learning one new word every day, after a year you will have learned 365 new English words. Use the word until you have learnt it and keep using it regularly.

Make friends

It’s important to find a partner to practice with, ideally a native speaker. Make friends with English speakers or others learning to speak English and compare notes. Talk about things that you have learnt and exchange ideas.

Use technology

A smartphone a powerful tool – you can use an app to talk to native speakers online and there are also lots of great apps which often have audio examples so you can check your pronunciation. You can also chat with Siri which is a great way to force yourself to speak more clearly.

Of course, the very best way to improve your English speaking skills is by coming to the UK and immersing yourself in the language and culture. If you are interested in learning English in Cambridge check out our course options here.

The post Top tips for improving your English speaking skills appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

Common CELTA course questions and answers

CherylRumsey — Tue, 18 May 2021 10:47:07 +0000

CELTA course questions and answers

Hi! I’m Gabriel and I’ve been working here at Studio Cambridge for more than ten years now as an English teacher and also as a teacher trainer on CELTA courses. The school asked me to look at five questions about the CELTA course that people have asked and you’ll see my answers below – one thing I’d say is that when I answered these questions it made me realise how much I enjoy being a CELTA tutor and how lucky I am to work with so many different people – though I suppose that’s like any EFL job really…

CELTA teacher trainer Gabriel

Do you need a CELTA qualification to work as an English teacher?

You might expect the answer to this question to be ‘yes’. Actually, CELTA is just a ‘brand name’ for a particular type of ‘TEFL’ certificate. TEFL is the acronym (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) that just describes the whole industry/area of English teaching. There are other ‘TEFL’ certificates offered by other institutions and organisations. However, a CELTA is a bit like getting a degree from Cambridge University – it’s the best one! Also, importantly many employers request CELTA specifically and it is recognised by employers as really the gold standard in the world of English teaching – and by employers offering high-quality teaching jobs especially. So, if you have a CELTA you can be confident that this will cover any job-hunting situation, and you can be confident that you’ll have a better chance with some of the really good TEFL jobs. Our trainees have gone on to work all over the world as well as in the UK (and in some cases for our school itself)!

Is a CELTA course only for new teachers?

No! Many people who do a CELTA course do have teaching experience but want to develop their skills further. This is true of many of our trainees. On our last course for example half of the group had at least some background in teaching, both in the UK and in other countries. Did they benefit from doing the course? Of course! In fact, typically trainees who’ve had some experience sign up for a course because they know that there’s something missing in their own practice or school and they want to take things to the next level, really focusing on what they can do to improve or even changing their whole approach. A great part of my job is that I can work with people with all kinds of experience and none – I know that they will go away from the course feeling that they’ve really got a lot out of it.

Studio Cambridge CELTA course graduates

Is CELTA difficult?

It depends by what you mean by ‘difficult’. A word that many trainees use after the course is ‘challenging’! There’s no doubt that the course is intense – there’s a lot to cover in a relatively short time and you have to take in a lot of new information. You’re also under pressure to perform in a new environment. But this is totally normal. Teaching is not a passive job – you need to just jump in and go for it. If you ask teachers to look back on their CELTA they will often smile and mention that word ‘challenging’… but then straight away start using words like ‘rewarding’. Of course, it’s my job to give all the support necessary, to help people take on that challenge and deal with it. And actually I love that – I love seeing people rise to it, improve and look back and feel proud of themselves!

Do you have to be an extrovert to do a CELTA and be an English teacher?

For me, this is a really interesting question! Many people think that the answer to this must be ‘yes’. But in fact in my experience teachers come in all varieties. Just like students, teachers have their own personalities and … that’s OK! Of course communication and interpersonal skills are important in this job, but some of the best teachers I know can actually be quite reserved in ‘real life’. Also, of course, because students are different, they will respond to different types of teacher. As long as the teacher is confident in what they’re doing and motivated to help students as much as they can then students will benefit. You don’t need to fake being another person. You can and will have your own teacher personality or ‘voice’. So, yes, another a reason I love my job as a CELTA tutor is I get to see all kinds of teachers find that voice and I love seeing how different personalities can shine.

Do you need to have English as your first language?

No, definitely not. You need to have very good English of course, but many of our trainees are non-first-language English speakers. Our most recent courses included trainees from Argentina, Germany, China and Russia for example. You guessed it – a great part of my job is working with trainees from all over the world and with different language and educational backgrounds. I also see how trainees on a course can learn so much from each other in those situations!

The post Common CELTA course questions and answers appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

Studio Cambridge teaches ‘Change 10’ participants

CherylRumsey — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 08:51:48 +0000

Studio Cambridge teaches former Street Child United participants as part of a dedicated programme celebrating the charity’s 10-year anniversary

As many of you already know, Studio Cambridge is an official supporter of Street Child United (SCU), the Cambridge-based charity behind the Street Child World Cup.

SCU provides a global platform for street children to be heard, challenging the negative perceptions of street children across the world. The aims of the charity focus on raising awareness of the unfair legislation facing children born on the streets. They do this through high-profile sporting events, as well as global summit meetings, under the slogan “I am somebody”.

To celebrate Street Child United’s 10-year anniversary, the charity have invited ten former SCU participants and change-makers of the future to take part in a personal development programme called ‘Change 10’. The programme focuses on leadership and other soft skills, English language, communication skills, advocacy learning and personal growth. It runs from May 2020 – May 2021 and Studio Cambridge is delivering the English language training.

The ‘Change 10’ programme

Participating Young Leaders will:

gain certification in English language and sports training
develop their soft skills
have access to opportunities to speak about their experiences to different audiences
receive work experience in the field of their choice
create impact in their own communities
extend their network and create strong links with the other participants

The full programme is 4 stages and takes place online or in person (back home):

1 – Developing soft skills
2 – Skill Building
3 – English Language
4 – Delivering workshops back home

Designed to boost the 10 young leaders’ personal development goals, the hope is that the programme will empower them to speak out on behalf of street-connected young people just like them. And, as a result, inspire people across the world to take action.

Stage 3 – English Language

The English language course runs for 10 weeks and all lessons take place online. It aims to improve the students’ knowledge of the language, as well as build on what the students have already learned in stages 1 and 2. We are almost half-way through the programme and we are pleased to say that everybody is progressing very well!

Who are the participants?

Abdallah (Egypt)
Drika and Jessica (Brazil)
Ibrar and Husnain (Pakistan)
Jhoselin and Denya (Bolivia)
Eswari and Nagalakshmi (India)
Sadock (Tanzania)

Drika’s story

Drika was born and raised by her grandmother in Northern Brazil. She was one of ten children, and the family had no electric lights, TV, or stove. When Drika was 14, her grandmother died. After that, that she went to live with her mother and stepfather in Rio de Janeiro, but was thrown out and, as a consequence, ended up ‘couchsurfing’.

Things began to change for the better when Drika started training with Favela Street, a Foundation in Brazil who use the power of street football to create a new generation of strong role models in marginalised communities. She went on to represent Brazil at the Street Child World Cup Rio 2014, as team captain. Since then, Street Child United have built a football pitch in Complexo da Penha, with the support of GM Chevrolet. Drika is now a community coach and acts as an inspirational role model and leader for the children of the community.

In 2015, Drika studied English at Studio Cambridge alongside 7 other SCU students as part of a programme called Cambridge Ambassadors. She was named by the BBC in their top 100 most inspiring women in the world in 2017.

Drika says:

“Of the children living and working on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, the vast majority come from areas like Complexo. Every day the young people are at risk of exploitation and violence from drug gangs and the police and gunfights on the streets often break out.
I like challenges: because spending two months away from home with different people, different food and also different language, it’s not easy. But knowledge is not bought. And my English will improve a lot, I can’t miss the great opportunities that appear in life.”

‘Change 10’ is also contributing to the wider SCU mission because it is changing societal attitude towards street-connected young people. As a result of awareness-raising and understanding, these young people are being protected, respected and supported to realise their potential.

If you are interested in helping SCU improve the lives of street-connected children and would like to make a donation to the charity you can do so here:

Donate

The post Studio Cambridge teaches ‘Change 10’ participants appeared first on Studio Cambridge.

5 podcasts to help you improve your English

CherylRumsey — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:53:59 +0000

5 podcasts to help you improve your English

Podcasts are a great way for you to listen to English being spoken. Even if you don’t understand everything that’s being said, simply listening to the language will be of some benefit to you. You can choose to listen to podcasts specifically aimed at English Language Learners, or you can just listen to podcasts that are in English, depending on your preference. The beauty of the podcast is that it can be listened to almost anywhere – while working, showering, commuting, cooking or even at the gym! Here are 5 of the best podcasts to help you improve your English:

Learn English Vocabulary by Jack Radford

Why we love it:

The podcasts are labelled by level so you can listen to the ones designed for you and the subject matter is vast – ranging from songs, news stories, life situations, film scenes and more

The English We Speak by the BBC Learning English

Why we love it:

Very short episodes featuring words and concepts that are very current, such as ‘social media influencer’ and ‘tiger mother’

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

Why we love it:

You can learn and practise useful English language for everyday situations at a range of levels

Learn English by the British Council

Why we love it:

The episodes are divided into different sections, from fictional drama and jokes to quizzes and language advice

Better at English

Alongside each episode you’ll be able to download a transcript of all the conversations as well as some vocabulary notes, so you can put what you’ve learnt into practice

Improve your English online

Are you interested in learning English with fully-qualified teachers? If so, we have a range of online classes suitable for adults, teens and kids. Check out our online English courses and start improving your English today!

The post 5 podcasts to help you improve your English appeared first on Studio Cambridge.