Learn English in Canterbury

“I love my morning lessons – my teachers are really good and my English is improving really quickly. The classes really make you think – you get to discuss ideas and this helps you learn better.

I chose Stafford House School of English because it was recommended by my cousin. I like that there are so many people from so many countries here.

I love Canterbury, it’s beautiful. I love the shopping, the history, the Cathedral, the coffee shops – I love being here and getting to hang out with my friends.”

"I like Canterbury, I wish I could live here always – it’s so small, safe, peaceful and clean.”

“I hope to study medicine at university. I know that having a good understanding of English will help me with this.

I love my lessons at Stafford House School of English. My teacher, Marina, really helps me with my English speaking – she is very understanding and friendly.

There is a lot of freedom here. Everyone is free to do what they like (within reason!). Canterbury is a wonderful town – everything you need is here; shopping, coffee shops and the beach close-by, plus there’s a great social life.”

“Canterbury is a really friendly and safe city.

My favourite thing about School of English is the teachers, because they make me feel so welcome - I really feel like I am in my own country!

The other students are like my sisters and brothers - I feel like I am at home here. Canterbury is not too big or too strange - you can walk anywhere, explore and find great places to hang out.”
 

The teachers here are very very good! I started here as a beginner and I didn’t know what I was saying, it was difficult to talk and understand others, communicate with people from different countries with different accents, now really I find it so easy to communicate with both internationals and native speakers and understand what they say. I think I’m ready to start my university studies and that means I’ve achieved my goal. I’ve passed the exams to start my pre-sessional course so Stafford House helped me to get into university that I wanted.

Staff here is very helpful they always smile and always friendly – provide us help with everything we need. Stafford House is something else, it’s difficult to explain, it’s like my second home – I will miss it very much.

Teachers at Stafford house are so fabulous! I’ve learned from them not only English but also a lot about British culture. Classes are very enjoyable and fun – we learn by playing games and working in groups. When I arrived I could only understand about 20% of what people were saying to me in English but now I understand 80-90% so my English has definitely improved a lot! I was in Intermediate level and now I’m in Advanced.

The staff here are very friendly and they are friends for me now not just staff. I’m staying in a host family and I’ve met the most angel-like host mother and father – I’m very happy living with them. They are very young – under 35 and it seems that they are like my friends. They have made my life in the UK much easier – they’ve even organised a special festival party for me. Social programme is great – excursions and activities change every week so we are not bored of it, and it’s a great chance to meet and socialise with other international students and practise your English.

“Canterbury has a lot to offer; it has a great social life, it’s really welcoming to international students and it has a friendly atmosphere. I find the School to be an exceptionally pleasant place to study in – a really relaxed environment. The teachers are fun and approachable, and I enjoy mixing with so many other nationalities – learning about other cultures and making new friends."

“We always have fun in the lessons, plus they are always interesting – my English is improving all the time. Canterbury is perfect for studying – it’s so peaceful. Plus the coast is really close by – I love being able to swim in the sea and relax at the beach.”

"I’ve been learning English at Stafford House School of English since June. I studied in Canterbury School for two months and I’m studying in London for four months until December.

I studied in a relaxing environment in Canterbury and I could get used to living in Britain. There are lots of places to see in London. It is easy to access anywhere in Britain from London. I’m learning not only English but lots of things now. I talk to teachers and staff if I have some problems. They kindly help me every time.”

Kevin spent 5 months at Stafford House School of English in Canterbury and is now preparing to begin the Pre: Programme at CATS College Canterbury.

Kevin's story
Kevin finished F.5 in HK in last July, but the result was disappointing, with an English IELTS of only 2.5.

His mother visited Stafford House in September together with Kevin, and they decided it would be a good place for him to improve his English before further study.

Kevin made many friends from around the world - Korea, Saudi Arabia and more.

After only 5 months at Stafford House, Kevin's mother was delighted to find that Kevin had improved significantly – he is now able to speak English well and his listening skills are also very strong.

For his accommodation, Kevin chose the homestay option, staying with a local family. This was so successful he has asked to stay with the same family when he moves over to CATS College Canterbury.

Kevin's aim is to study the A level Business pathway at CATS and is looking forward to going to University in a couple of years.

“The teachers do not just teach us English, but they also understand how we are feeling – they are really supportive, they really care about you. Canterbury is good for shopping, and having London so close by is great."

I improved my English a lot! I started in Pre-Intermediate level and progressed to advanced. I had a lot of teachers in the time that I’ve been here and I think they are the best! They really care and help us with every question that we have. I also love the social programme and activity managers! I took a lot of trips over the weekends to Brighton, London, Cambridge, Oxford, Leeds Castle, Dover Castle so I feel like I’ve travelled all over and know Britain very well. And now my IELTS score will help me progress onto a Master’s degree in Manchester University. I live with a host family and I think that they are the most lovely host family that anybody can have!

"The school provides everything a student wants and the teachers are very helpful, cheerful and kind.

I chose Canterbury because it's a quiet town where I can concentrate on my studies. The environment here is suitable for studying in every way. The most important thing is that the staff care about what students think and listen to them."

Recommended by a friend, I really like Stafford House! There are many activities and our activity leaders are very cool and I’m always socialising and traveling all around. All my friends are usually coming with me and we have this extra opportunity to speak and practise our English. I’m staying with a host family and I really like them! I talk with them a lot when I go home and have dinner with them. They are great and taught me how to play Lawn Bowling - it’s so much fun! My teachers are all very different but I like all of them.

I enjoyed all things about Stafford House. We have lots of activities and get to choose from many different options. Pub nights, museums, cinema days, pool competition. Every weekend we have a journey to another city - Cambridge, Oxford, London and Brighton - they are really unforgettable memories for us. I feel that I really improved my English at Stafford House - of course my main aim! Before I came here I didn’t trust my speaking and it was really hard to understand the English accent but now I can speak fluently and understand everything.

In my opinion teachers in Stafford House are very good because they can give us examples and whenever I have a question they really take time to explain and make sure I understand. I have 4 different teachers in 5 months that I’ve studied here. The classes are very useful and it was a great choice to go for intensive class. I’ve made great progress – I used to speak very slow and made a lot of mistakes, now I still make mistakes but I’m much more confident and have a wider vocabulary. Staff in the school is very friendly and provide a good service! It’s important because when you live in a foreign country you need a lot of help and staff is here to help us and resolve any issues. Social programme here is very useful because you can use the language that you learn in the classroom and you can practise a lot more.

Staff in the school is very helpful, I’ve just changed accommodation and now live in a student house with a lot of international students which is great because I’ve made a lot of friends. There are a lot of activities in the afternoon every day and we are having a great time here!