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Adult General English (Age 15+)

Southbourne school of English

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Course description

Our General and Intensive courses include lessons that build on the four language skills – writing, reading, speaking and listening – as well as focus on grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary.

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary and Grammar

Class schedule

Course duration
1-52 weeks
Start dates
Every Monday
Classes per week
15 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 60 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday
School holidays
18 Apr 2025, 21 Apr 2025, 05 May 2025, 26 May 2025, 25 Aug 2025, 21 Dec 2025 - 04 Jan 2026, 25 Dec 2025, 26 Dec 2025

Southbourne school of English does not hold classes on the holiday dates above. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Class times

Morning session
09:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Morning session
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Break
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Morning session
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

All levels, beginner to advanced
You will take a placement test before your arrival in Bournemouth to determine your class level.

Class size

Average 12 students
Maximum 16 students

Student age

Age range 15 years old and older
Average 22 years old
(17 in the summer)

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school

School description

At Southbourne School of English, we make learning English fun. Our English school is the highest rated language school in Bournemouth, ideally located by the sea in a suburb of Bournemouth called Southbourne. Bournemouth is one of the UK’s most popular locations for international students and home to numerous award winning beaches, including Bournemouth Beach – voted the Best Beach in the United Kingdom by TripAdvisor in 2023. and voted the 20th Best Beach in Europe at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024!

Tens of thousands of students of all ages and nationalities have passed through our doors since 1966. Many of our students make friends for life – and you can too.

We run English language courses in well-equipped classrooms, all with interactive smart boards, heating and air conditioning systems to ensure students comfort. As well as excellent teaching, our students benefit from trips to famous British landmarks.

We offer Adult English language courses for students aged 15+ and Junior English language courses for students aged 9+ (students who require homestay accommodation must be age 10+). We have a course to suit any English level, ranging from our most popular General and Intensive Courses that include 15 or 21 hours of English tuition, to our 4-week Cambridge English Examination Courses such as B2 First (Formerly FCE) and C1 Advanced (Formerly CAE). Whether you are looking to study English for university, college, work or anything else, we can help you achieve the level you wish to and make memories you will cherish forever!

All year around, students study and socialise with us. But best of all, we enjoy the experience together.

We are accredited by the British Council and we are also members of Quality English, IALC, and English UK. We are also an examination centre for both Cambridge and Trinity.

Year opened
1966
Number of classrooms
22

Accreditations

Facilities

  • Library
  • Social Activities
  • Cultural Trips
  • Cambridge Exam Center
  • TV Room
  • Eating Area
  • Free Internet
  • Wireless Internet
  • Computers
  • Studying Area
  • Audio Learning
  • Sports Activities

Teacher qualifications

Native English speakers
All
Teachers with English teaching certification
All
Teachers with college degrees
Over 50%

Nationality and age mix

The nationality and age mix at Southbourne school of English varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 22. In the summer, the average age is 17.

teaches students from all over the world, including:

Switzerland
19%
China
10%
Spain
9%
Czech Republic
8%
Germany
8%
Italy
7%
Japan
6%
Thailand
5%
Hungary
4%
France
3%
Other
21%

School holidays

does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Open dates
Year round
School holidays
18 Apr 2025, 21 Apr 2025, 05 May 2025, 26 May 2025, 25 Aug 2025, 21 Dec 2025 - 04 Jan 2026, 25 Dec 2025, 26 Dec 2025

School location

Southbourne School of English is a family run school that was established in 1966. It is located in a beautiful residential area of Bournemouth where young families and professionals live. It is in a friendly, safe and clean area and is on very good bus routes, and close to a railway station. It is only a short walk from the local high street and 10 minutes to the beautiful beach, which is one of the longest sandy beaches in England.

Bournemouth is one of the UK’s most popular locations for international students and home to numerous award winning beaches, including Bournemouth Beach – voted the Best Beach in the United Kingdom by TripAdvisor in 2023. and voted the 20th Best Beach in Europe at the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024!

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photos

Photos

  • Entrance to Southbourne school of English 1/49
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  • Classroom at Southbourne school of English 8/49
  • Students of Southbourne school of English 9/49
  • Building of Southbourne school of English 10/49
  • Students of Southbourne school of English 11/49
  • City of Bournemouth 12/49
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housing

Housing

Southbourne school of English offers the following housing types:
homestay

Adult homestay - 2-person shared room - Breakfast and dinner on weekdays, 3 meals on weekends

S$ 321
weekly
Age range: 15 years old and older
Location: Outside the city center of Bournemouth
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: 2-person shared room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner on weekdays, 3 meals on weekends (16 meals per week)
Facilities: Kitchen, laundry, wireless internet, free internet, and heating
Distance to school: 1 - 35 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Sunday, anytime
S$ 321
We carefully select all of our hosts and we have been working with some for many years. A typical homestay provides a family feel, and could be one or more adults with or without children. We have a large selection of homestays to choose from and any that host under 18 year olds are guaranteed to be police checked.

We also have a designated Homestay Accommodation Officer who visits the homes to ensure they are of a high standard. We believe that choosing the right host for you is very important, as we want you to feel comfortable, happy and safe during your stay.

Most of our homestays are within walking distance of the school and adults aged 18+ are guaranteed single rooms all year round.
When living with a host, you’ll enjoy home comforts and learn a lot about the English way of life.

Using every opportunity to practice your English is important to learning faster. We make sure that you aren’t in the same house as another student of the same nationality. You’ll learn much more by speaking in English at every opportunity.

“My host family is really good. They are polite, communicative and help me in all situations if I need it. The food is very tasty and my room is very tidy so I’m happy.” – Victoria

During our quieter seasons, students can have a room to themselves, unless they ask to share. As it’s busier in the summer, students under 18 years old share a twin-bedded room to help with demand.

What we need to know from you
The more we know about your needs, the more we can do to help. Whether they are special accommodation requests, allergies or dietary requirements, let us know before arriving. We want to match you with the homestay best suited to you.

Many hosts in England have pets. Therefore, if you do not want to stay with a host that has animals please tell us and we will do our best to help.
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

If you are studying in the UK for over 11 months, you will receive a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that you need to submit to the UK embassy along with your General Student Visa application. Students who have successfully booked a language course and have paid their fees will receive a CAS from . Please note that UK law states that a CAS can only be issued to students who intend to pursue English language studies for over 11 months.

If you are studying in the UK for 11 months or less, you have to apply for a special visitor visa called a Student Visitor Visa. As a student visitor, you will not be able to work part-time while studying. If you plan to study in the UK for 11 months or less, a letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you.

Learn more about how to get a UK visa »

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Bournemouth based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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questions

Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Southbourne school of English staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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