We are very pleased to welcome you to Berlitz Manchester!

Transcription

1 STUDENT HANDBOOK

2 CONTENTS Welcome... 3 Contact Details... 4 About the School... 5 Our Team... 6 Teachers... 7 Our Courses and Teaching... 7 Lessons... 8 Levels... 8 Examinations... 9 Student Responsibilities... 9 Attendance Student Misconduct Abusive Behaviour by Staff Complaints Facilities Social Activities Tourist Information Accommodation Health & Safety NHS Medical Treatment Cost of Living Banking Legal Matters / Police Registration Useful Numbers Polite Behaviour Frequently Asked Questions WELCOME 2

3 We are very pleased to welcome you to Berlitz Manchester! Berlitz is proud to be able to welcome students from countries all over the world. This handbook contains information on all aspects of your stay in Britain, including detailed information on our location, what to expect, school facilities, frequently asked questions, and details on our academic system. We hope it answers all your questions. If you still have questions after reading this handbook, please come and speak to us. Best wishes, and enjoy your studies with us at Berlitz. Mark Harrington Managing Director CONTACT DETAILS Berlitz Manchester Berlitz Manchester, Europa House, 55 Mosley Street, Manchester. M2 3HQ. England Tel.: Fax:

4 Europa House 55 Mosley Street Manchester M2 3HQ United Kingdom Tel: Fax: Emergency number in the UK: ABOUT THE SCHOOL Berlitz was originally founded in We teach English as a Foreign Language as well as offering other language courses. 4

5 Our programmes are designed to provide you with the most effective learning experience. All teachers are qualified to CELTA or DELTA equivalent and classes are carefully monitored to ensure the highest quality at all times. At Berlitz Manchester students can choose from our wide range of programmes including; General English, IELTS and Cambridge exam preparation and Business English. We also offer personalised one-to-one courses which can be tailored to your specific needs. Class sizes vary from 4 15 students allowing more individual attention and a friendly learning environment. Smaller groups allow for more focus and greater opportunity for student and teacher interaction. Our centre is located on 55 Mosley Street, in the Financial Quarter of Manchester City Centre. It occupies an exclusive four storey-building and has twenty large classrooms. As well as offering WIFI throughout the building, there is also a computer room with fifteen workstations with free internet access. There is a large library, a meeting room with interactive whiteboard and TV, and a coffee area where students can relax between lessons. Manchester is the `uncrowned capital of the North and as the premier city location outside of London, it offers the advantages of a vibrant city set within close proximity to some of the most beautiful scenery in England. It combines 5

6 the sophistication and energy of a thriving metropolis with easy access to the stunning scenery of the Lake District and Wales. With leading universities on the doorstep, you will find a large international student population in Manchester, and a city whose bars and restaurants reflect its cultural diversity sample the culinary delights of China Town, or try a spot of salsa dancing in a Latin-style café! Whether your interests lie in visiting Manchester United football ground, in attending the concert of your favourite band, or simply in enjoying superb shopping, you won t be disappointed! OUR TEAM The teachers and staff at Berlitz are here to help you with anything you may need to make your stay in Manchester enjoyable and productive. We are an experienced, enthusiastic and above all, friendly team. Contact our team: Mark Harrington Managing Director Marketing Department Enquiries Department Bookings Department Finance Department Academic Department Accommodation Department [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] TEACHERS We have a great team of teachers at Berlitz; have a look at the notice board in the lounge area on the first floor to find out who they are. OUR COURSES AND TEACHING 6

7 Berlitz Manchester School is accredited by the British Council for English language teaching and is registered with the Department of Education and Skills. We offer the following courses: General English language Business English IELTS Preparation courses English for Academic Purposes All of our teachers are qualified to CELTA or DELTA equivalent through accredited English language teaching schemes. As a Berlitz franchisee, we offer lessons using the Berlitz method when requested and considered appropriate. In our group courses, we favour an eclectic approach to English language teaching, with our teachers exploiting a variety of methodologies in order to assist learning in an effective manner, which seeks to constantly take into consideration the individual learning styles and particular needs of all our students. Students from all over the world are welcome here and have lots of opportunities to make new international friends! 7

8 LESSONS Group classes have a minimum of four and maximum of twelve students. Students can choose either: 1. Standard programme: 15 hours. 2. Intensive programme: 20 hours. 3. Super-intensive programme: 25 hours. Each level takes a minimum of 12 weeks to complete. You will be given a copy of the course programme on your first day. Each course has weekly and end of book tests to assess your progress. In order to move up to the next level, you must get over 80% each week and have attended 80% of your classes. We offer IELTS exam preparation classes. Morning classes begin at 9.30am and finish at 12.45pm with a 15 minute break at 11am. Afternoon classes begin at 1.30pm, and finish at 5pm with a 15 minute break at 3.15pm or at 4.15pm with a break at 3.00pm. Module classes run for five hours which are spread over two days. Module classes are topic-based, exam-related or deal with specific skills. LEVELS We offer the following levels at Berlitz Manchester: Level at Berlitz Manchester CEF Level UCLES Level IELTS level Beginner A1 2 Elementary A2.1 KET 2.5 Pre-Intermediate A2.2 - A Intermediate B1 PET / BEC Upper-Intermediate B2 FCE/BEC Advanced/Proficiency C1-C2 CAE/CPE/BEC

9 EXAMINATIONS IELTS and Cambridge are the most popular exams and we offer preparation for both. You can ask your teacher for more details. You can also find out a lot of useful information about the exams on the following websites: We have several IELTS exam sessions at Berlitz every year. Other exams take place outside of the school in official examination centres, such as the University of Manchester. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Staff and students have worked together to produce a list of rules in order to make the most of your learning. A copy of these rules can be found in each classroom. They include: Don t use your mobile phone in class unless your teacher asks you to. Try to speak only in English when in class. No food is allowed in classrooms. Listen to the teacher and pay attention in class. Participate as much as possible in all the classroom activities. It is the school s policy to refuse entry into a class for students who are more than 15 minutes late. They will be marked absent in the attendance register. If a student is late during the first part of the lesson, they may join the class after the break. We expect all students to have a commitment to their studies and everyone at Berlitz will do their best to support this. 9

10 ATTENDANCE Academically, if you are absent or late to classes, you cannot hope to progress sufficiently on your course. Legally, the school is obliged to take attendance each week, especially in the case of students with visas. If you are sick or know that you are going to be late, please call If you are absent for more than three days, you must provide a doctor s certificate. All students with a student visa must enrol for a course of at least 15 hours per week, and they must attend at least 80% of their classes (module classes are also taken into account). If the school finds that a student's attendance has dropped below 80%, then the student will be warned by letter. If the student's attendance fails to improve, the school is obliged to inform the Home Office of this. At the end of the course you may wish for an attendance report so that you can apply for another visa, but the school can only tell the truth, so if your attendance is less than 80%, the school is unable to change this. STUDENT MISCONDUCT We want all students and staff to be happy at Berlitz, so the school has some rules which you need to follow. Please remember that: You must pay for any damage you cause to the school or to your home stay and its contents. The school will cancel your course in the case of serious misconduct. You may not get a refund. If the school is not happy with your behaviour, the following will happen: Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 You ll get a verbal warning from your teacher &/or the Director of Studies. You ll get a written warning from the Director of Studies. If your misconduct is very serious, you will have to leave the school. Behaviour that would be regarded as serious misconduct & might lead to you having to leave the school includes: 10

11 Stealing Taking drugs. Deliberately damaging the school or your accommodation. Looking at pornography on the Internet. Putting other people in danger (e.g. by playing with fire extinguishers). Using threatening or abusive language. Using physical violence or bullying. Harassing or discriminating against staff or other students for any reason. This list is not complete! There are other things that would be regarded as serious misconduct. If you have any questions about this policy, please ask your teacher or see the Director of Studies. ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR BY STAFF If you feel that a Berlitz Manchester employee (teacher or admin staff) has acted or spoken in an abusive way, you should speak to someone you can trust. If necessary, you should make a formal complaint. The employee who you make the complaint against will then be subject to our disciplinary procedures. If you are an employee subject to the disciplinary procedure, you should remember that: The procedure will try to establish the facts quickly and consistently. There will be no disciplinary action until a full investigation has taken place. You will be told about the nature of the complaint & given the chance to give your version. If you want to, you can be represented or accompanied by a colleague of your choice. You will not be dismissed for the first offence, unless there is gross misconduct, when the penalty will normally be dismissal without notice and without pay in lieu of notice. You can appeal against any disciplinary action taken against you. The procedure can take place at any time if your alleged misconduct is serious enough. A colleague or trade union official can accompany you if there is a disciplinary hearing. 11

12 If an employee is accused of abusive behavior, the following Disciplinary Procedure will take place: Stage 1: Informal Discussion. We will make every effort to resolve the matter by informal discussion with the employee. If this fails, the formal disciplinary procedure will be implemented. Stage 2: First warning. If misconduct is proved, the employee will get a written warning. This will be recorded, but removed after 3 months of good behaviour. However, the employee may get a final written warning if there is not satisfactory improvement. (If the first offence is very serious, the employee may get a final written warning immediately.) Stage 3: Final Written Warning. If the offence is serious, or there is no improvement, or if another offence of a similar kind occurs, the employee will get a final written warning, which will include the reason for the warning and a note that if no improvement results within one month, one of the actions in Stage 4 (below) will take place. Stage 4: Dismissal or action short of dismissal. If the employee s conduct fails to improve, he or she may suffer demotion, disciplinary transfer, loss of seniority, or dismissal. COMPLAINTS If you are not happy with anything at the school then please let someone know. We cannot help you if you do not tell us what is wrong. We will try to sort out any problems as soon as possible. First of all, you should talk to your teacher. If you are still unhappy and want to make a formal complaint, please talk to the Operations Manager. This is what will happen next: 1. The Operations Manager will look at the problem and try to find an answer for you as soon as possible. 2. He will record the problem and write down her suggestions for dealing with it. You will also be given a copy of this. 3. If the problem has not been resolved, you can talk to Mark Harrington, the Managing Director of the school, who will try to resolve the issue. You can get a complaints form at reception, which you can complete and give to one of the receptionists. 12

13 FACILITIES Computer Room There is a computer room with fifteen work stations on the bottom floor of the school. Each computer has broadband access and there are links to English language websites. There is also a WIFI access if you have your own laptop. You are welcome to use the computers in your free time and between classes. You teacher will sometimes also use them in your lessons. You will also find forms there for holidays and complaints. Learning Resource Centre If you want to study in a quiet space on your own, please feel free to use the Learning Resource Centre on the bottom floor next to the computer room. There is one computer and other resources available are graded reading books, grammar books, University prospectuses and DVDs. You can also find brochures with details of event listings in Manchester. Coffee Area We have a coffee area on the first floor where you can buy hot drinks and snacks. There is also a large seating area where you can relax during your breaks and meet other students. SOCIAL ACTIVITIES The school regularly organizes events around Manchester and other cities in the North West. We have free tours of Manchester Art Gallery, tours of Manchester United football stadium, trips to the Lake District, theatre trips, 5-a-side football tournaments, outings to the cinema and much more! You will find a list of the activities taking place each month on the notice board in every classroom, at reception and on our website. They are a great way to meet other students as well as chatting to your teacher outside of the classroom. 13

14 TOURIST INFORMATION For information about events in and around Manchester, please look at the information racks in reception or visit the tourist information centre which is on Portland Street near Piccadilly Gardens. You can also find information about events in Manchester at the following websites: Cinemas There are many cinemas in Manchester; the biggest ones in the city centre are the Odeon in the Printworks on Exchange Square and AMC Cinemas on Deansgate. The Cornerhouse is an independent cinema located in a larger complex called Home. They show foreign films and on a Monday and Tuesday they have the Reel Deal - for you can get a drink, pizza and film ticket. See their website for more information: Sports There are a number of fitness centres in and around Manchester. In the city centre, Manchester Aquatics Centre is the largest. They have a pool, gym and variety of exercise classes. You can also rent sports courts. University sports centres, like the Sugden Centre, tend to be the cheapest as they do not charge a monthly fee. 14

15 See this website to find the closest sports centre to you: Art, Theatre and Concerts Manchester has an incredible arts scene. Manchester Art Gallery is located very close to the school and there are lots of theatres where you can see plays and musicals. The city is famous for its musical history and there are many music venues which have tours by international stars. MEN Arena, the O2 Apollo and Manchester Academy are the biggest concert venues in the city. 15

16 ACCOMMODATION Home Stays We offer homestay accommodation for students who would like to experience living with a British family. It costs 135 per week and this cost covers your room, bills, insurance and food (Half-board: breakfast and evening meals during the week and all meals at the weekend). Special diet and Executive homestay options are also available at different rates. Student Halls During the summer we also provide rooms in University Student Halls of Residence. These rooms cost from 120 to 145 and cover bills. Private Accommodation If you decide to rent a room, flat or house, you will have to get in touch with a letting agency or landlord. You will be responsible for paying your own bills and council tax. If you need any further help or advice, Kasia Mirgos, the Accommodation and Welfare Officer, will be happy to help. Bed & Breakfast/Hotels We have a list of available hotels. B&B prices are typically between per night. Hotel rates start at 45 per night and can go up to 150 depending on the quality of the hotel. HEALTH & SAFETY In School Make sure you know all the fire escapes and the location of the fire extinguishers. If you hear the fire alarm, please vacate the building. Our meeting point is on the corner of Charlotte Street. Read the health and safety policy on the wall opposite the Events board in the coffee area. 16

17 To call the emergency services from a school phone, first press 9 (for an outside line) then 999. Outside School The emergency number is 999. The school emergency number is Take good care of your valuables. Avoid walking alone after dark and use your common sense at all times. If you feel ill, you can phone NHS Direct on You can also make an appointment with your GP or go to the nearest NHS Walk-In Centre or A&E (for more details look under NHS). NHS - MEDICAL TREATMENT You can have free treatment from the NHS if you are from the EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland, or if you are from a country which has a "bilateral healthcare agreement" with the UK. If you are in the UK with a visa which lasts for six months or more, you should be able to have free treatment from the NHS from the start of your stay in the UK. You have to be accepted as being an "ordinary UK resident", which means being in the UK for a "settled purpose" (a shortterm course of study may not be considered enough for this). If you need medical attention, please go to your nearest Walk-in Centre or in case of an emergency either phone an ambulance (999) or go to Accident and Emergency in your nearest hospital. The Walk-In Centre closest to the school is the Manchester Piccadilly NHS Walk-In Centre, 1st Floor Gateway House, Station Approach, Piccadilly South, Manchester, M1 2GH OR in Boots on market Street. To find another NHS Walk-In Centre, look at earch.aspx. If you are a long-term student we advise you to register with a doctor. You have to register with a doctor near your house. To find a doctor close to you and how to register with a doctor look at 17

18 Even if you can have free treatment from the NHS, you will probably have to pay some charges for medicines and for dental and optical check-ups or treatment. A prescription charge per item of medication is currently at Treatment at GUM ("genito-urinary medicine") clinics, which deal with sexual diseases, is free for everybody. Private Health Care There may be some advantages in paying for private health care instead of free NHS care. You may be able to receive treatment faster, and the quality of service may be better. There is a detailed guide for overseas visitors on this site: Dentists Manchester University offers a free dentist as a training centre for students, if you would like more details please look at: Opticians There is a standard charge for eye examinations but the charge for spectacles varies from optician to optician. It is worth contacting a number of opticians to obtain a price you are happy to pay. Some students may be entitled to free examination and details can be obtained from any optician premises. See for more information:

19 COST OF LIVING Life in Manchester is cheaper than London, but is still more expensive than many cities in the world! The most significant costs for students will be accommodation and transport. If you are in a home stay, most of your food will be included in your cost. Clothes are relatively cheap and you can get good deals on mobile phones these days too. Look at the list below to calculate the amount of money you may need during your stay in Manchester. Travel from the Airport to Berlitz Manchester Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly by train Liverpool Airport to Sackville Street, Manchester by bus (Manchester Piccadilly and Sackville Street are both just a short walk from the school.) We can arrange a taxi from Manchester Airport. Please contact our bookings department for information and cost. Travel in Manchester Bus - weekly student pass Metrolink - day return Coach - Manchester London return Train - Manchester London return (cheaper in advance) Bills Unless you are living with a home stay or student residence hall you will have to pay for your electricity, gas, water and phone bills. If you are living alone in a one bedroom flat the average that you will pay per week is as follows: Gas (for heating and/or cooking) - 10 Electricity - 10 Water

20 Internet There are several internet providers but for most you also need to have a landline connection and sign up to a twelve-month contract. Mobile Phones It is recommended that you get a Pay As You Go phone rather than a contract phone. With a PAYG phone you can control the amount of money that you spend, and don t have to sign up to a contract. Tesco supermarkets often have good deals on PAYG phones. Food & Drink Sandwich - 3+ Can of Coca-Cola - 70p Loaf of bread - 90p 6 eggs - 90p Half a litre of milk - 50p Whole chicken Jar of coffee - 2 Bottle of wine - 4+ Entertainment Lunch in pub Dinner in restaurant Cinema ticket Club entrance Glass of wine in a pub - 4+ Pint of beer in a pub - 4+ Museum & gallery entrance - usually free 20

21 BANKING Opening a bank account in the UK is not easy due to strict laws. And you will find that every bank requires different information and documentation. The following are only guidelines. See for more information. Banks are normally open between 9:30 5:00pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning till 12:00. Here are some of the documents you need to open a bank account: Proof of Identity: You need an official document with a photo to show who you are, for example a passport. Proof of Address: You need an official document to show where you live, so you can either show a utility bill with your name, the contract with your landlord or a letter from the school. The documents accepted change from bank to bank. Proof of Home Country Address: Again, documents accepted change from bank to bank, but usually a letter from your bank at home with your address or a letter of acceptance from the school to your home address are fine. Proof of Student Status: A letter from school stating your length of enrolment and confirming your student status is enough. Credit Record: Sometimes the bank wants to see a previous credit record, you will need a letter in English from your home bank to prove this. Source of income: Often the bank wants to know where you get your money from, so you need a letter either from your family, friends, sponsor or employer saying that they will pay for your stay. If you need further help or advice please do not hesitate to ask Kasia Mirgos, the Accommodation and Welfare Officer. 21

22 LEGAL MATTERS It is your responsibility to comply with the British law. Like in most European countries the possession of drugs is illegal. You are not allowed to buy tobacco or alcohol if under 18. If you want to drive in the UK make sure you fulfill the legal requirements and familiarize yourself with the British Highway code. If in doubt ask your teacher or Welfare Officer for help. If you are in trouble, please do not hesitate to use the school Emergency phone on If you require legal help the Citizens Advice Bureau can provide information and advice. Their website is Police Registration Some international students need to register their stay with the police within seven days of their arrival. You can find out if you need to register by looking at the stamp in your passport. Whether that is your case, you should be registered by us. Berlitz Manchester will contact directly the police to arrange any appointments for students to go and register. To register you need to take this to the local police station: Your passport Two recent photographs 34 registration fee cash only A letter from the school Missed appointments will be reported on your record and to UKBA, it may affect your stay in the UK and any future The most convenient police station is: Greenheys Police Station Charles Halle Road Hulme Manchester M15 6NP Tel: If you change your accommodation before the end of the course, you need to inform all correspondents of your new address, in order to enable them to send mail to you at your new location. 22

23 Traffic Regulations Be careful when crossing the road or driving in Britain. The British drive on the left-hand side of the road and only overtake on the right. For more information about driving in England please look at page 18 of your British Council Safety First booklet. Work Depending on the type of visa you have, you may or may not be entitled to work in the UK. Please ask a member of reception for advice on this matter. Insurance We strongly recommend you have insurance. The company we use is ACE European Group Limited. Berlitz Manchester can arrange your insurance for you. If you are staying in a home stay, the insurance is included in the accommodation fees. Worship You can find a list with places of worship for most religions at: or ask at reception. 23

24 USEFUL NUMBERS In case of emergency call 999 It is for use when an "immediate" response is required and should only be used in cases where a crime is happening now or if anyone is in immediate danger. Other Useful Telephone Numbers: Ambulance Service Doctor (Emergency) Immigration (Airport) Manchester Airport POLITE BEHAVIOUR HSBC Bank Manchester Local Authority Train Enquiries Local Bus & Train (GMPTE) Manners are important in every country so please take the time to read the following advice: Do stand in line - In England, we like to stand in queues, for example when waiting for a bus. It s rude to jump the queue. Do say Excuse me - We like to say excuse me. If you want someone to move out of your way say excuse me and they will move. Remember, you can never use it too much. Do Pay as you Go - Pay for drinks as you order them in cafés, pubs and other types of bars. Do say Please and Thank you - It s very good manners to say please and thank you. It s rude if you don t. For example when you need a letter, say PLEASE! Do cover your mouth - Always cover your mouth with your hand when yawning, coughing or sneezing. 24

25 Do shake hands - When you are first introduced to someone shake their right hand with your right hand. Do say sorry - If you accidentally bump into someone, say sorry. They will say it as well, even if it s your fault. Do smile!! A smiling face is a happy face. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How do I know my level of English? When you arrive at the school, you will take a written and oral placement test so we can decide which level you are and place you in the right class. If you have a question about the level you have been placed in speak to the Director of Studies. How fast will I progress? Each student is different when it comes to learning English. All of our teachers are ready to give you all the advice, encouragement and assistance you need to develop your English skills as fast as possible. Also, the school's computer facilities, library and frequent excursions can all help you to improve. Can I visit my host family before I decide to stay with them? In all cases, this is not possible and certainly not necessary. Our application form asks you to provide specific details of any accommodation requirements you have and we find a host that matches these requirements. If you are not happy with your host family when you arrive, you must inform us straight away. If you want to leave your home stay, you must tell us two weeks in advance. Can I choose my teacher? All teachers rotate on a six week cycle. Please understand that this may change due to staff taking holidays or sick leave. It is good for students to have a variety of teachers who teach in different styles with various teaching backgrounds to improve your English. 25

26 Can I change my level? This will depend on your results in the weekly tests and your overall performance in class. If you feel you are ready to move before the level is finished, talk to your teacher to see what they think. If they think you are good enough, they will then confirm it with the DOS before allowing you to move. How do I get a letter for police registrations, council tax, and/or bank? You will need to fill in a form to request the letter. You can find the form in the grey tray box in the computer room. Give it to reception. Your letters will be ready by 4pm the following day. Can I leave the school before my contract finishes? We cannot offer any refunds on uncompleted courses. Can I take holiday time? If you have a visa, you can only take a certain amount of holiday time. Complete a holiday request form (which can be found in the computer room) and give it to the Director of Studies, who will tell you if you are able to take time off. 26

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