Page 5 - ELG2109 Sep Issue 477

WELCOME .

EDITORS’ LETTER
The annual rankings

Which are the top ranked English language
schools in the UK – and why? After a
tumultuous year we publish this year’s list theteam

Without mentioning the dreaded C word – we’ve all heard more than enough about it during MELANIE BUTLER,
the past nearly two years – this has been a tricky time for many, not least the English language editor-in-chief,
teaching sector. So, how have the schools fared? Who’s still standing and which ones top our started teaching EFL in
Iran in 1975. She worked
league table? for the BBC World Service,
EL Gazette’s founder, Melanie Butler, has spent many hours slavishly going over the Pearson/Longman and
results of 112 schools and ranking them for the benefit of those deciding where to send MET magazine before
students to and for the schools themselves. Included are 15 areas the schools are judged taking over at the Gazette in 1987 and
on, covering such diverse topics as safeguarding to staff management and course design, also launching Study Travel magazine.
for a fully rounded picture of each institution. In our 2021-22 rankings supplement, we’ve Educated in 10 schools in seven countries,
she speaks fluent French and Spanish, and
also put together the essential key on how to read the table, as well as more in-depth rather rusty Italian.
explanatory notes on what a British boarding school actually is (and no, it very rarely melanie@elgazette.com
resembles Hogwarts), where universities fit in and the benefits of studying for an MA in
English language teaching. Turn to page 13 to read all about it. LIZ GRANIRER,
Elsewhere in the magazine we preview two editor, has edited for
This has been exciting events: the British Council’s ELTons parenting, travel and kids’
Innovation Awards (page 11), which recognise the magazines, writes for a
a tricky time for individuals, teams and organisations producing number of print and online
publications, and has
original courses, publications, apps and other worked on a range of
many, not least the projects to help English language teachers and well-known consumer and
students around the world; and ICEF Berlin (page
contract magazines.
English language 26), the international education industry’s largest editor@elgazette.com
B2B networking event, which takes place this year
teaching sector from 31 October to 3 November. GILL RAGSDALE,
research news reporter,
Along with a fascinating look at research
findings on how language first emerged and the has a PhD in Evolutionary
way in which we learn new languages, we’ve included an English language teacher’s findings Anthropology from
Cambridge and teaches
on the bias in online hiring (page 32), which will no doubt resonate with many. There’s Psychology with the Open
also an opinion piece raising the timely question of how British colonisation has influenced University. She also holds
the rise of English language acquisition, though perhaps not in the way you may think an RSA-Cert TEFL. Gill has taught EFL in
the UK, Turkey, Egypt and to refugees in
(page 30). the Calais ‘Jungle’ in France. She currently
Especially for teachers, there’s a review of a useful book (page 35) that will help you answer teaches English to refugees in the UK.
all those tricksy questions your students ask and, finally, we catch up with news and updates
from around the world as it affects and influences the teaching and learning of English. CHARLOTTE DYASON,
senior sales, a graduate
of Canterbury and
LIZ GRANIER, EDITOR experienced education
marketer, Charlotte has a
wealth of expertise and
knowledge to assist with
PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK info@elgazette.com, tel 020 3137 9119.
promotional campaigns.

IAN CARTER,
publisher, has a
Masters in Strategic
Business Management
(Westminster) and
30 years’ publishing
experience in the
professional and academic sector.
elgazette@media-shed.co.uk,
tel 020 3475 6811.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in EL
Gazette editorially or by contributors do
not necessarily represent the official view of
EL Gazette or Media Shed Ltd, nor is either
responsible for claims expressed or implied
in advertising. EL Gazette is published
under licence by Media Shed Ltd and all
reproduction rights are strictly reserved.
Copyright 2021. ISSN 1368-2628

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