Page 11 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

NEWS

teenagers all year round; using a as it bravely kept going. It has now classes – offers the widest range of interesting, labyrinthine place,
Task Based Learning approach, moved into new premises in Leith, language training and translation and it is still evident where the
they had operated with success which is generally considered services in the city. cells used to be located.
since 2008. Their closure came Edinburgh’s liveliest area and has Other schools seeing recovery These expansions and re-openings
about a year after a move to undergone massive changes since include Basil Paterson, which exemplify more optimistic prospects
spacious new premises in an the 1980s. has long been a prominent EFL for the EFL sector in Edinburgh.
attractively renovated church Other schools in the city are location in the city. Alongside The schools are looking forward
on Constitution Street, and saw demonstrating renewed health. regular lessons, they offer with some bullishness. So too
a large number of teachers and CES retains its elegant premises respected teacher training are Edinburgh’s universities and
admin staff laid-off. The business in Edinburgh’s West End, close courses. Many EFL teachers colleges which offer EFL classes.
has since transmogrified into a to both Princes Street and one of working in Edinburgh have gone It will take some time for the
nursery school. Edinburgh’s most beautiful and through Basil Paterson’s CELTA number of students to reach pre-
A proliferation of empty most “instagrammable” spots, courses. Basil Paterson is also pandemic levels, but there are
premises and “To Let” signs spoke Dean Village. It continues to offer the city’s main exam centre and sufficient signs to suggest that a
of a sector in crisis. This now seems teacher training courses alongside the largest open exam centre in revival is just getting started. Like
to have passed. The majority of its regular EFL classes. Scotland for IELTS. those in charge of the Edinburgh
schools are looking ahead with Simply English, which aims Alba English School in Festival and Fringe, many schools
greater optimism and a number to “immerse students into the Causewayside has recently are hoping for a busy summer.
are in the process of expanding. lifestyle and culture of the city,” marked its 10th Anniversary.
has been in operation since 2016 As it enters its second decade, Charlie Ellis
Encouraging signs and has recovered well from the Alba is going through a period (charliejellis@
Kaplan International Languages pandemic. Simply English lies of expansion, seeking to adapt gmail.com) is a
plans to move from their present very close to the Meadow’s, one of to a much-changed business researcher and
home in Albyn Place to new Edinburgh’s many excellent public climate in the EFL sector. This EFL teacher
premises at 26 St Andrew Square. parks, as well as the main campus includes a shift in focus away from who writes on
There they will have the capacity of Edinburgh University. EU countries and an attempt culture, politics,
for 300 students and 34 staff. ECS Scotland has reopened, to access broader international coffee, sport, as well as language
The Language Institute (TLI), and targets those coming for markets. Having been based on teaching. He writes academic
previously on Palmerston Place, intensive study holidays and the second floor of the business articles on British politics and is a
has had a peripatetic existence who are prepared to pay a slight centre in Causewayside, Alba regular contributor to the Scottish
over the last few years. For a time, premium for small class sizes and have now taken over the ground Review, Scotland’s weekly current
it made use of rooms in the back an extensive cultural programme. floor of the building. Originally a affairs magazine.
of a church in the Newington area Inlingua – in addition to EFL police station, the building is an

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