BRISTOL

ELC Bristol Brochure

PA RT O F T H E
CLIFTON COLLEGE
E D U C AT I O N G R O U P

English Language
Centre Bristol
The joint number 1 English language school in the UK** According to the EL Gazette rankings based on British Council inspectors’ publishable statements

The school building, 1 The Avenue

The School
The English Language Centre Bristol offers intensive
General English and Examination Preparation courses.
We are accredited by the British Council for the Teachingof English in the UK. We are part of the Clifton CollegeEducation Group and members of IALC (InternationalAssociation of Language Centres) and Quality English.
The school is also a member of The English Network(TEN), a group of independent schools that share bestpractice and have a reputation for quality and personalservice.
The school is located close to the University in Clifton,
one of Bristol’s most attractive areas.

Andrew Edwards (Principal) and John Duncan (Director)“We believe that personal care and attention are
essential and we will do everything we can to ensurethat your stay in Bristol is one of the most productiveand enjoyable times of your life.”

2|Our Students

I’ve spent 6 months in ELC preparing
myself for the First Certificate exam.
Bristol gave me the opportunity to meetamazing people and learn English withthe best teachers.

Student Nationalities 2022

Percentages fluctuate according to season

OtherThe teachers are
an example forthe students, andthey always try tofind the best way
to help us makeprogress everyday.

Switzerland

JapanThe
Netherlands
South Korea

Hada from Spain

TurkeyStudent Ages 2022

Average age: 23 Minimum age: 16
No maximum age

Spain

Middle EastItaly

Latin America

FranceBelgium

30 and over

16-17

18-21

22-29

Weekly Student Numbers 2022

An average of 112 students per week from a total of 36 different countries
18016014012010080
60
40200JANFEB

MARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC|3

ELC students in front of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge

BristolWith a population of around 450,000 and two major
universities, Bristol is the second-largest city in the Southafter London, which is less than two hours away by train.
Bristol is a lively student city, well known for its nightlife,
theatres, shopping, music scene and street art.
The lively harbourside is popular with our students, andthere is a wide choice of international restaurants in thecity.
Bristol has all the attractions of a major city but it is easy
to live here as most places of interest are located withinwalking distance, and you are not dependent on public
transport.

Bristol Harbourside

Bristol hosts many festivals through the year. 250,000
people visit the city over the weekend of the Harbour
Festival. There are several stages for live music, dance,acrobatics and performing arts. Other popular events
are Bristol Pride, Upfest Foodies Festival and Bristol
International Balloon Fiesta, the largest balloon
gathering in Europe. There are more than 20 nightclubs
within walking distance of the school and live musicvenues all over the city. Street art is very popular in
Bristol and there are several Banksy pieces in the city.

4|

Bristol Planetarium

Park Street

Banksy Street Art
TRAVEL AROUND THE UK & EUROPE
Bristol has major transport links and isconveniently placed for day trips to popular
destinations like London, Bath, Oxford, Cardiff,
Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.
Bristol International Airport has flights to over
100 destinations in more than 30 countries.
As well as making it easy to get here, it offers
our students a great opportunity to visit other
European destinations.

Cabot Circus

Bristol International
Balloon Fiesta|5ELC students and teacherCourses• Courses include 21 full hours of classroom time per week plus daily homework.
• There are 7 levels from A2 (Elementary) to C2 (Advanced), with classes at most levels.
• On the first day, or the week before you arrive, we test you so that we can place you in a class at the right level.
• Average class size: 10. Maximum: 14.
• As part of your course, depending on your level, you can prepare for the Cambridge English First, Advanced andProficiency exams, or Academic IELTS.
• Normal minimum enrolment: 2 weeks (General English), 4 weeks (exam preparation).

Levels
CEFR*

LEVEL

A2		

ElementaryPre-intermediate

B1		

Intermediate

4-5

Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET)

B2		

Upper-Intermediate

5 - 6.5

Cambridge English: First (FCE)C1		

Pre-advanced / Advanced

6.5 - 8Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

C2		

Advanced +8-9Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)*Common European Framework 			

6|IELTS**

Cambridge Exam**
Basic User**Details of exam dates and fees are in the enrolment form

IndependentUser

ProficientUser

Break time in school

Included in the programme• Personal study programme with 4 hours’ optional supervised self-study per week.
• Course book every 3 months, supplementary teaching materials and a leaving certificate.
• E-learning service from the moment you enrol until 3 months after you leave.
• After classes have finished, optional free language activities are arranged regularly, such as Conversation Club,Job Club and Friday Film Club.

Sample timetable 						09:15 - 10:00

10:00 - 10:45

10:45 - 11:15

Grammarusing asuitable,
modern course
bookListening /BreakPronunciation		practice - can		
include workin themultimedia
centre12:45 - 14:00

28 Lessons (21 hours) a week

11:15 - 12:00

12:00 - 12:45

14:00 - 14:45

14:45 - 15:30

Reading skills& vocabularybuilding

Speaking skills Lunch break			
Monday & Wednesday& vocabulary			 Writing/exam Listening &building				practicestudy skills

15:45 - 16:45
Optional
supervised
self-study

Tuesday & Thursday
Speaking &Listening &pronunciation vocabulary
At level B2 and above,subjects such as Business
English, Music, Film andBritish Life and Culture
may be covered on Tuesdays
and Thursdays|7

ELC teacher and students

Examination
preparation courses• Cambridge English: First (FCE), Advanced (CAE), Proficiency (CPE) and Academic IELTS.
• Minimum period of enrolment: 4 weeks.
• You should be at least B2 level before joining an Academic IELTS class or a Cambridge First Certificate class.
• 21 hours per week.
• You can take the IELTS or Cambridge exams in the local examination centres.

Academic IELTS – How long will it take?
You generally need an IELTS score of 6.5 before going to university or 5.5 if you wish to take a foundation or
pre-sessional course. Based on our students’ results, it takes around 12 weeks of full-time study to improve yourIELTS score by 1 point.		

Pre-Intermediate

Intermediate

Courses

General English

General English 		

CEFR level

A2

B1

IELTS score 		

4.0

Upper-Intermediate

Academic IELTS preparation
B2

4.5

5.0

5.5

University foundation /pre-sessional courses

8|

Pre-Adv. / Advanced

C1 / C2		
6.0

6.5

7.0

8.0

8.5

University under-graduate, post-graduate
and doctorate programmes

SummerCourses

Summer sports activities at Clifton College

The summer courses are run in the same way as ourcourses throughout the year, with intensive General
English and examination preparation available together
with additional language activities and a varied andexciting social programme.
The courses include 21 full teaching hours per week plus
daily homework.

Summer Centre Garden

During July and August we open an additional study
centre in Clifton College with spacious classrooms, abeautiful garden and cafeteria.
The summer centre is located in Clifton College, 10
minutes’ walk from the main school.
During the summer courses, you may be taught in theSummer Centre or the main ELC building.

Multi-Media Centre|9Students at the Welcome PartySocial Programme
An exciting social programme is arranged every week ofthe year. It includes regular sports, a minimum of twoevening activities a week and a weekend excursion.
The programme is organised by our teachers and is agreat way to see the country, explore the local area, makenew friends and practise your English.

Free Activities
Could include: School Parties, Film Club, Conversation
Club, Banksy Street Art Trail, Bristol Balloon Fiesta,
Bristol Harbour Festival.

Paid Activities*
Could include: American Pool and Darts (£6), Opera/
Ballet at the Hippodrome (£13-17), Laser Fusion (£10),
Golf (£9), Bowling (£10), Salsa (£4), Harbour Cruise (£10),
SS Great Britain (£12), Paintball (£25), live music (£15-20)

10 |Weekend Excursions*
Could include: London (£25), Oxford (£22), Bath & Roman
Baths (£27), Stonehenge, Avebury & Salisbury (£35),
Cambridge (£27).
*Prices may vary at time of booking

Excursion to Oxford

Excursion to London

Excursion to Longleat

Excursion to BathExcursion to Stonehenge

Bristol University Students’
Union and Clifton College
With more than 50,000 students, Bristol is well-known for its nightlife and music scene.
A special advantage for ELC students is that, if you become an Associate Member of the Students’ Union,
you can join many of the University Students’ Union clubs and societies during the academic year - a great
way to make English-speaking friends!
For a one-off fee of £10, you can have free use of the Clifton College Gym and Swimming Pool as often as
you like without paying extra. You can also play badminton and table tennis.

12 |SS Great Britain

Mountain Biking

Clifton College Gym

Football with the teachers

Oxford Fun Run

Clifton College Swimming Pool

Bristol’s great nightlife and music scene| 13

Homestay family and ELC students

Accommodation• Almost all of our accommodation is located withinwalking distance of the school.
• ELC Bristol is in Clifton, one of the most attractive
parts of the city.
• We arrange the accommodation ourselves and don’t
use an agency.
• 55% of our students live in homestays, 35% live in
independent student houses and apartments and10% find their own accommodation.

Homestay
Homestay accommodation includes bed (single room),
breakfast and an evening meal.
Staying with one of our homestays is the best way toexperience the British way of life.
The average time to walk to school is 20 minutes. During
July and August, and sometimes during the year, weoccasionally place students with families who live
outside our normal catchment area. These students
may have to take a short bus ride to come to school(maximum 15 minutes).

14 |Homestay Student Bedroom

If you choose to travel by bus, the cost of aweekly bus pass is currently £17.70 via the FirstBus app with an ELC Bristol student card.
(Cost subject to change).

St John’s House

Self-Catering Houses & Apartments (18+)
Self-catering accommodation is very popular at ELC
Bristol. Some students like to be independent and cook
for themselves instead of living with a homestay family.
In self-catering accommodation, you will be living withother students from the school in student houses,
smaller apartments or our larger student residences. Allof our self-catering accommodation is within 25 minutes’walk of the school.

Summer University Residence (18+)
This self-catering residence is located just 5 minutes fromthe harbourside and 30 minutes on foot from school oran easy 10-minute journey by bus.

Summer Residence Reception Area

Flats are shared only with other ELC students, who are
aged 18 or over. All rooms are en suite.
The residence has a student lounge with pool table, tablefootball, large screen TV, table tennis, quiet study roomand on-site bike storage.

Young Adult Summer Residence (16-17)
All rooms are fully-furnished lockable study bedroomsarranged in flats shared only with other ELC students
under 18, plus the Residence Managers. The bedrooms
are fully en suite. This residence is half-board, withbreakfast provided in the residence and dinner in a local
international restaurant daily.
The residence has a student lounge with pool table, tablefootball, large screen TV, table tennis, quiet study roomand on­-site bike storage.

Summer Residence Student Bedroom| 15

Job Club(subject to demand)• Bristol is a relatively wealthy city and, if you havethe right to work, it is quite easy to find part-timework here.
• Students with a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa
have the right to work in the UK.
• ELC runs a free Job Club giving advice and thelanguage needed to help you find casual and parttime employment.
• ELC Bristol is able to put you in contact with acompany which organises professional internships
in Bristol and other cities including London, Oxfordand Brighton.

Testimonials
The experience at ELC is not only
an opportunity to improve one’s
English and to have fun, but also
an insight into other cultures. The
presence of students from all overthe world makes the school a door
which opens to the world andopens chances to experiences thatare uncommon to live otherwise.
I’m really glad to have had such experience here.
Lorenzo from Italy
This is my fifth month at ELC
Bristol. I feel it is like a big family.
All of the staff are very kind andpatient to listen to our poor
English.
And each class has students fromdifferent nationalities, so we cancommunicate with many people
and experience different cultures.
By the way we can also use the gym and swimming pool,which is great.
Julie from Taiwan

ELC is like my family in the UK.
When I arrived at ELC 8 months
ago I was an elementary student- I am now applying to Universityand hope to get a 6 on my IELTS. I
love the classes as there is a greatbalance between formal study andactivities, which has really helped,
especially with my speaking. Allthe teachers and staff have been really kind and very
helpful. It is so easy to speak to them and they are always
happy to help if you ever have a problem.
Mu from Saudi Arabia
I’ve spent the last 6 months herein ELC and I’m very happy that I
chose to stay here in ELC. I could
improve my English and I amvery thankful to my teachers. I’m
staying with a British family and I
couldn’t ask for a better homestay.
This family is very kind andhelpful. I really like the food in myhomestay. They took good care of me and treated me liketheir family member and that’s why I felt so comfortable
there. I am very thankful for this amazing experience I’ve
met so many nice people all over the world and spent agreat time with them. This is an unforgettable experiencein my life.
Liya from Switzerland

16 |

| 17

Why study at ELC Bristol
Number 1
It is the joint number 1 English language school in theUK according to the EL Gazette’s rankings, based on theBritish Council inspectors’ publishable statements.

Teachers
Our dedicated teachers have an average of more than
18 years’ teaching experience and an average of 9 years
teaching at ELC Bristol.

Accommodation
Most of our accommodation and many attractions arewithin walking distance of the school.

Social Life
Bristol is a lively university city and our students can joinmany of the Student Union’s clubs and societies - a great
way to make English friends.

Bristol AirportBristol International Airport has flights to over 100
destinations in more than 30 countries, so it is easy to
get here and a big advantage if you want to visit other
European cities. Bristol is also well located for day trips
to London, just 1 hour 40 minutes by train.

18 |A message fromJohn and Margaret
We would love to welcome you to ELC Bristol.
It is a family-run school which prides itself on
caring for each individual student. If you come,our team of dedicated teachers and staff will
do everything they can to ensure that you haveone of the most enjoyable and productive times
in your life.
John and Margaret

How to get here
From Bristol Airport
25 minutes

MANCHESTERLIVERPOOL

From London Heathrow
2 hours

BHX

WALES

BIRMINGHAMCAMBRIDGE

LTN

From London Paddington
1 hour 40 minutes

BRISTOL
BATH

BRS

STN

LONDON

LHR
LGW

DEVON
CORNWALLWESTBURY PARKTHE DOWNSLONDON

AVON
RIVER

Exit 19

Clifton Down
Station

1 The Avenue

M32

Summer Centre
Pembroke Rd

CLIFTON

Queens Rd

M4Whiteladies Rd
COTHAM

University
Students’UnionBus Station

CITY CENTRE
Park Street

RIVER
AVON
Temple Meads
Railway Station| 19BRISTOLPA RT O F T H E
CLIFTON COLLEGE
E D U C AT I O N G R O U P

ELC Bristol Ltd.
1 The Avenue,Bristol BS8 3HG
Tel: +44 117 970 7060

info@elcbristol.co.uk I www.elcbristol.co.uk
Reg No: 14119797 (Registered in England)