English-as-a-Foreign-Language Schools

Information

Ireland is a popular destination for those interested in learning English. There are many schools and courses available throughout the country that cater for everyone from business executives and students who want to improve their English language proficiency, to those who want to learn how to teach English as a foreign language.

The majority of English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) schools in Ireland are privately run and provide students with a full package of tuition, homestay accommodation and extra-curricular activities. The majority of schools offer preparation programmes for the major English language examinations, such as TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, RSA, Oxford and Trinity College (London). TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) programmes are also available at many private schools and a number of universities (University College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Galway, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, Queens University, Belfast and the University of Ulster, Coleraine.

Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services

It is important to ensure that high standards exist throughout the EFL sector and that courses in EFL schools in Ireland are comparable with other international courses. The Department of Education and Skills has given Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services (ACELS) the responsibility for monitoring the EFL sector. Since January 2011 ACELS is part of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI).

NQAI-ACELS runs an inspection scheme, which leads to school recognition by the Department of Education and Skills. The list of recognised EFL schools and organisations in Ireland is published on an annual basis and is available on the ACELS web site. NQAI-ACELS is also involved in the recognition of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) courses and the development of materials and examinations for overseas students.

Regulations governing EFL schools

Before making a recommendation to the Department, NQAI-ACELS must carry out an inspection of the EFL school in question. New schools receive two inspection visits, 10 months apart. If NQAI-ACELS is satisfied after the second inspection, it will recommend to the Department that the school be officially recognised. NQAI-ACELS will inspect existing schools at least once every three years to make sure that they are adhering to the regulations. While this is normal practice, it has the authority to visit or inspect a school at all reasonable times.

NQAI-ACELS has a number of criteria that it uses to determine if a school is worthy of official recognition.

• All premises used by the school must comply with the Schedule of Required Standards prepared by NQAI-ACELS. These standards include local authority requirements in planning, construction, water supply, sewage disposal, fire precautions and general safety. Schools must also be properly heated and ventilated and provide adequate facilities (learning and recreational) for students.
• Schools must have the correct public and employer liability insurance cover and all employment legislation and health and safety legislation must be complied with. Safety statements and logs must be available for inspection.
• Schools must adhere to all the immigration requirements for students laid down by the Department of Justice and Equality.
• The courses provided by schools must be educationally sound and have content appropriate to their stated objectives.
• Course programmes should clearly state the number of tuition hours. The number of hours should normally not be less than 15 per week.
• Students should be placed in class according to competence and age and there should normally be no more than 15 students per class.
• A complete schedule of supervised activities must form an essential part of all junior programmes.
• If it is appropriate, the school's courses should reflect Irish life and culture.
• All teachers working in language schools must have a Level 7 degree and taken a recognised EFL certificate course.
• The school must make sure that arrangements are in place for teacher induction and that ongoing teacher development is provided.
• Each school must have a person with appropriate skills, experience and qualifications in the field of academic management to deal with the needs of the curriculum. This person must be available to students and staff during a normal working day.
• All information contained in advertising and promotional material (brochures, etc.) must be clear, accurate and verifiable.
• In circumstances where students are referred to other organisations for tuition, the following procedures must be adhered to:
• The organisations must be recognised by the Department of Education and Skills as an English Language Teaching Organisation.
• NQAI-ACELS may at any time advise the Department of Education and Skills to withdraw recognition from an organisation.
• Refusal/withdrawal of recognition from one centre may, at the discretion of NQAI-ACELS, lead to the refusal/withdrawal of recognition from an organisation as a whole.
• Only centres that have been inspected by NQAI-ACELS at specified addresses and for which recognition has been obtained can be advertised in publicity material claiming recognition from the Department of Education and Skills.

Requirements for host family accommodation

If accommodation is organised by the school, it must meet the required standards for host family accommodation or residential accommodation. The first requirement is that the student should be well looked after and treated as a member of the family during his or her stay.

The following facilities should be made available to the student:

• A comfortable bed with good supply of quality bedclothes and weekly change of bed linen
• Adequate space for clothes storage
• Laundry or reasonable access to a washing machine
• Table and chair in bedroom for private study or access at all times to another room with study facilities
• Free access to a bathroom and bath or shower daily
• Adequate heating, lighting and ventilation.

Each host family can accommodate up to three students, but only one student of any particular mother tongue. There should only be two students to a room at any time and a well-balanced and varied diet should be provided. EFL organisations offering residential programmes are required to have the accommodation approved by Fáilte Ireland - (the National Tourism Development Board for the island of Ireland). Further details are available from NQAI-ACELS and schools must carry out regular checks on the accommodation they provide for students.

TEFL courses

The purpose of TEFL courses is to familiarise candidates with current practices in teaching English as a foreign language. Courses also instruct candidates how to construct and teach a series of lessons appropriate to the level and needs of language learners. TEFL courses are run in many private schools and a number of universities. They range from basic introductory courses to courses designed to prepare candidates for the workplace. More in-depth courses aimed at TEFL professionals interested in further professional development are also available from both private schools and universities.

Test of Interactive English

Another task assigned to NQAI-ACELS by the Department was the design and implementation of a new EFL exam - the Test of Interactive English (TIE) - for English language learners. The test is task-based, with the content chosen by each individual learner, and can therefore be used to assess learners with different needs, such as those learning English for business, academic or general purposes. Learners' communicative and interactive skills are tested in both predictable and spontaneous situations and they must complete both an oral and written exam. The test is offered in two formats:

• The Junior TIE: for English language learners aged 12-18 years.
• The TIE: for English language learners of 18+ (post secondary).

After taking the TIE, each candidate is awarded a certificate, printed with the logos of the Department of Education and Skills and NQAI-ACELS. The certificate also contains the sentence stating that TIE is recognised by the Department of Education and Skills. Certificates are issued within 10 working days of the test having been taken. Assessment of the TIE is given according to the Council of Europe's Common Framework Scale of Language Proficiency.

MEI

MEI is a merger of two existing associations - MEI and RELSA. RELSA (the Recognised English Language Schools Association) was the trade association for the EFL industry. MEI (Marketing English in Ireland) was a marketing group for EFL schools. The result of the merger is an industry body, which represents the majority of recognised EFL schools in Ireland. All members of MEI are recognised and regulated by the Department of Education and Skills through NQAI-ACELS. The functions of MEI can be defined by the following categories, each of which has a sub-committee made up from members of the association:

• Quality and Standards
• Education and Training
• Government Liaison
• Industry Liaison
• Marketing
• Technology.

Complaints about English language schools

If you have any complaints about EFL schools, you should contact NQAI-ACELS - see 'Where to apply' below, which is responsible for monitoring the standards in these schools.