If you’re planning an English Language course in Cornwall for 2025, it’s likely that dedicating time to practising your English is a priority. It might be that you’re interested in walking the South West Coast Path too, or just spending time in our landscapes, but improving your English is often the main reason for visiting.
After all, if we are not immersed in language, it’s difficult sometimes to find exactly the right words or phrases. Immersive language programmes help. If your English use is currently minimal during the day, you might be finding it frustrating that the English vocabulary doesn’t easily come, or as often is the case – you might find physically manipulating your mouth to make the English sounds difficult.
These difficulties are what we deal in here at Skool, and our function – above all else, is to help our clients improve and begin to overcome these issues. We have the advantage of teaching in an extraordinary place – here in beautiful St Agnes in Cornwall.
It has been a busy year at Skool: our first clients joined in January, and our last client flew home this weekend. As I stare out of my garden window now – I see before me a quiet Cornish Winter scene: green fields, half transparent clouds, and a typical low light. It’s 7 degrees, which is cold for Cornwall. Today, the warm summer days are difficult to remember. In the past, I had wished away the cold weather, and found myself longing for Spring – but – I’m leaning to embrace the present. And this half philosophy has come about precisely because of Skool. In order to learn language, being present is essential.
Here, we try to create the conditions where being present is the priority: small classes, adult only learning, stimulating lessons, afternoon programmes that allow and encourage free flowing communication. And our beautiful setting – St Agnes – is wonderful, and I feel very protective of it; it’s one of the reasons why we limit the number of clients that visit. I don’t believe more is always more – and I think this is particularly true with learning. We learn better when teaching is adapted to us. And we learn better when we are not lost in the crowd.
If you have visited us before, you may remember that I often emphasise the importance of tuning in to the sound of English. After all, language is fundamentally oral and aural. An immersion programme is of course my recommendation, but in light of the fact that we can’t permanently take a break from our busy lives, listening to English might be doable wherever you are. Some of my clients enjoy watching English shows on TV, but I always recommend audiobooks. I have put together some recommendations on Spotify. You can listen here. If there’s a particular genre you would prefer to read – do email me at [email protected] I’d be very happy to recommend something more up your street.
This afternoon, I’m off in to the village to attend my son’s Christmas Carol concert at the church. Last night, I spent the evening at Truro Cathedral watching my daughter and classmates sing. It does sound idyllic, but those of you with families know that the festive season brings its own logistical challenges, as well as fun. It’s great to see my kids so excited, even if there is a direct correlation to our diminishing energy levels!
January is not so far away, and Christmas is just around the corner. Plans for the new year, even coming to Cornwall, might be on your mind too. It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge that in this flood of preparations and daily tasks that we all try to take a moment – a perfect ideal I realise, but it is still important. Wherever you are, I wish you that moment.