Welcome to 2020, we hope your year is filled with self-discovery, fulfilment and accomplishments! If learning English is one of your goals this year, or you are seriously considering this as a path, perhaps Bongeka Makatsa can guide you on why it is so important to learn within a classroom environment.
As a teacher in a language school, I have observed that the physical act of going to a different place of learning – especially one designed for the specific purpose of learning a language has some subtle but beneficial advantages. Once in a while I do come across brave people who tell me that they have decided to learn English by themselves at home. And as admirable as that may be, I know for a fact that they miss out on these three perks which really enrich the language learning process:
- Discipline
- Student diversity and social bonds
- Student life and culture
1. Discipline
When you, a student enrols in a language school, it means that you want to commit to either full-time or part-time study towards the language. This will mean physically leaving the comfort of your home and entering a different space for a few hours to dedicate your time and energy into learning that language. At home, the distractions are plenty! One day off becomes three, ten, and eventually a whole year of no study. At home no one will be there to hold you accountable and to remind you of your commitment to study and improve your English. No qualified and competent teacher will be there to ensure that learning English is fun and easy!
2. Student diversity and social bonds
Can you imagine moving to a country like South Africa because your spouse has just been transferred there! You wouldn’t know anyone other than your immediate family and by self-studying at home, you would be keeping the circle of people you know at the same size. However, when you come to a language school like EAG, you come across a variety of students from all over the world. And there are students who probably come from the same continent as you, who have the same culture as you. I have seen many friendships form from students spending time together in class and the break-times where they get to know each other better and grow that connection to outside of the classroom.
3. Student life and culture
Ask any student who has studied at a language school what they loved about it and you are most likely to hear about all the outings and parties that they had. Contrary to ‘traditional’ schools, language schools know how beneficial it is to take learning beyond text books and the classroom. Because in reality you will need practice in these different environments. At EAG for example, students have been to various sites around the city, places they would not normally have gone to if they were home learning. These outings included trips to Soweto (Credo Mutwa Village, and the Mandela House), the Johannesburg Zoo and other historical sites. These outings were coupled with term parties where students showcased hidden talents like singing and dancing.
Language learning in itself is challenging and requires the perfect balance in your social, personal and academic life. Studying at home is not a bad idea but there is absolutely no chance of gaining all the perks that come with being a student at a language school. And with that, I ask, “What would have to lose by discovering yourself this year and enrolling at English Access Gauteng, today?”