Cork English Academy was founded in 2011. It is an MEI member school with ACELS recognised courses. They hope to help students progress in life through helping them with their English language skills.
Cork English Academy offers all levels from Elementary Proficient in both morning and afternoon schedules. Their teachers are all native English speaking teachers. They also hold extra language workshops each week helping students meet students from outside of their class also. The syllabus is task-based, with students carrying out tasks in class to provide them with the necessary skills to manage using the English language in real-life situations.
They also aim to make the syllabus student-cantered, placing the emphasis on student training, enabling them to become more independent and provide them with practical skills to apply to their ongoing language learning when they finish the course.
However, they also have stated objectives and targeted learning outcomes which are achievable and measurable. The syllabus takes into consideration;
- Skills versus grammar/vocabulary - taking into consideration the abilities and needs of the group
- New language versus practice opportunities- ensuring a balance of input and revision
- Outcomes- the stated outcomes of the syllabus and what the learners need to be able to do by the end of the module.
Morning Timetable: Monday to Friday 09.00 to 12:15
Afternoon Timetable: Monday to Friday 13:15 to 16:30
Among Cork English Academy’s memberships that support education quality are ACELS (The Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services), and MEI (Marketing English in Ireland). Cork English Academy has a student Lounge Area with access to coffee and tea machines. Free distilled water points -cold and ice cold. Student Computer Area. Printing Facility. Full range of Graded Readers through lending library.
All Cork English Academy students receive a school certificate at the end of their course. It is also necessary to take an external exam as part of an Academic Year Programme (8-month Work & Study) as per Immigration Policy. Here are some notes about the different exams. All exams test your main English skills - reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
IELTS (exam can be taken in Cork)
- IELTS is open to all levels A2 to C2
- Students need to be at least A2 starting their Academic Year course (or B1+ when starting the 6 week preparation course in CEA)
- IELTS is valid for 2 years
- The IELTS exam takes a total of 2 hours 45 minutes
- Speaking section is done in front of a live teacher. In IELTS the speaking exam is one to one.
- You can't 'fail' IELTS - your results are given on a scale from 4.0 to 8.9
- You have one hour maximum for the writing section of IELTS
IELTS is more academic in tone, which is best suited for someone who is preparing for University. The writing tasks, for example, prepare you for academic work.
The TIE exam (usually can be taken online or sometimes face to face in Dublin)
- Available to all students A1 to C2
- The TIE exam is a test of a student’s interactive English skills. As such there is no grammar section, just a written section and a speaking section.
- It may suit students who have a lot of experience speaking and communicating in English but are not so grammatically aware or accurate, or low-level students.
- TIE assesses your levels of written and spoken English and separate grades are awarded for each part of the test.
- The writing test takes 1 hour and the speaking test takes 30 minutes.
- The test is in two parts – a speaking test (OTIE) and a written test (WTIE).
- In the oral test you present your project, talk about either your book or news story and talk to your partner to reach a decision based on some material the examiner will give you.
- In the writing test you are required to produce two pieces of writing. You write about either your book or news story for the first task and for the second you write something which you have not prepared.
- To prepare, you need to do three tasks and record them in a logbook; Carry out a short project on a subject of interest to you, Read a book of your choice in English at your level and follow a News Story in the newspapers and/or on TV or radio.Please consider this information before booking an Academic Year as we will need to know your final exam choice at time of booking and before you start your course. No changes to courses or final exam choice can be made after you start your course.
Cork English Academy has partnered with Viva Ireland an experienced accommodation provider in Cork to offer you accommodation on arrival. Usually students staying with Cork English Academy short term (for 2 to 12 weeks) book all accommodation through the school. Students who plan on staying more long term usually book about 4 weeks accommodation through the school and then search for their own accommodation when more familiar with the city.
Shared Apartments
- Accommodation is self-catering. You will have a shared living and kitchen area. You can prepare your own food and meals in the shared kitchen.
- Walking distance to the school (average 15 minutes).
- Self check-in (24 hours, 7 days per week).
- Utility bills, TV, Wi-Fi, one duvet and bed linen set included.
- Access to laundry facilities.
Viva Ireland
- 1 week minimum stay
- Single room with private bathroom - limited availability - and only available to accommodation bookings of 8 weeks or more
- Twin/double room - twin rooms available for two people or a single person booking. Viva Ireland will find someone of the same gender to share the room.
- Placement fee €50 per person
- Security Deposit for 1 to 7 week bookings: €100 (refundable)
- Security Deposit for 8 or more week bookings: €300 (refundable)
- Viva Ireland sends an email to you about 10 days before arrival. The email will contain an online link to complete the security deposit payment – the following online payments are accepted: Debit/Credit card and Bank transfer. The fee will be refunded if you have left the accommodation as you found it without issues.
- Viva Ireland Terms & Conditions apply to all bookings
Host Family
Most family homes are located just outside the city centre and so you may need to take public transport to and from the school. Average distance between the school and host families is 30 minutes.
- Half-board Monday to Friday, full-board Saturday and Sunday.
- Wi-Fi Internet
- It is the school’s policy not to have two students of the same native tongue in any one Host Family. The only exception would be at the request of students who wish to share
- Access to laundry facilities
- Host family stays are based on a Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday booking only
- Host Family return transfer from either Cork Airport or Aircoach bus stop on Patrick’s Quay is available to students arriving between 08.00 and 00.00
- No late arrivals option outside of 08.00 and 00.00 available for host family stay
EazyCity Accommodation Provider
- You can make an accommodation booking directly with EazyCity
- EazyCity specialise in offering a wide range of services and options suited to everyone’s needs, including shared accommodation in Cork, homestay accommodation and student residences.
Hosting Power
- You can make an accommodation booking directly with Hosting Power.
- Hosting Power is a platform where students can book a room in someone’s home. It is usually room only and no meals are provided.
- Students will need to create a booking on the website, sign confirmation and pay a deposit.
- Look out for rooms in Cork in the following areas: Blackrock, Mayfield, Tivoli, Glanmire, Broadale, Carrigaline, Ballinlough, and Douglas (all on a city bus route).
- There are other rooms in Cobh, Millstreet, Mallow, Watergrasshill, Crosshaven.
- These are in County Cork but not city or suburbs.
The address of Cork English Academy is Cork English Academy, 2 Drinan Street, Cork City, T12KP40, CORK, IRELAND
