Page 13 - ELG1903 Mar-Apr Issue 464

NEWS

Can language schools compete in rush to CLIL?

By Melanie Butler The Spanish market is following and King’s College London now leaves the under-16 market largely
The two largest markets for the same trajectory, according offer ‘pre-university courses’ - in the hands of boarding schools
UK ELT are moving away from to Rafael Rivas of Interway, open to native and non-native who have years of experience
general English summer courses head of the agents’ association speakers alike. They are, however, in delivering academic subjects
and towards academic courses ASEPROCE. Academic-year highly selective, and a B2 level of through the medium of English.
in English. The growth of CLIL programmes, particularly in the English is a must. Boarding schools also have
in local state schools has fueled US, now represent a major share Non-selective ‘pre-university’ summer schools of all types and for
the shift, language schools were of agency business, while demand programmes run by private sector all ages. For example, starting at
warned at a recent seminar on the for traditional junior summer companies have been enrolling age seven, children can attend an
key Italian and Spanish markets. courses is declining. students from America and Asia academic course at Bishopstrow
“Our students are no longer The market change comes as no for some years. EFL summer College; and at age 10 they can
interested in ‘fun’ summer surprise to the UK’s international school operators are moving into choose Maths, Economics or
courses,” Stefania Bresquar, from education sector. Lowrie Coupland this niche, but struggle to enroll Science at Concord College.
GEO International in Padua, of St Clare’s, Oxford, told us they native speakers. The failure of Private language schools may
told an audience of English had been aware of a, “considerable the British Council, thus far, to now have to change their business
UK members, at the recent shift away from traditional language accredit academic courses presents model, and their accreditation
event, which was organised and courses for some time,” and it was an additional major problem, as it choice, to compete.
sponsored by LanguageCert. not limited to Europe.
Bresquar, representing Italian The market for CLIL courses
agent association IALCA, is an easy fit for international
emphasised the rising language education specialists like St Clare’s,
levels in Italy, the UK’s largest which runs an international ST CLARE’S, OXFORD
ELT market. Clients were boarding school, an adult language
increasingly looking for academic- school and an international college
year programmes in secondary offering pre-university pathways
schools, and summer courses and undergraduate year abroad
covering academic subjects in programmes.
English, she said. Academic UK universities have been
standards were key. “Physics must quick to move into the 16+
be taught by someone who knows summer market. A range of big
about physics,” she warned. names, such as Exeter, Warwick

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ic.enquiries@stclares.ac.uk +44 (0)1865 517706 www.stclares.ac.uk
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