GETTING totally immersed in a country’s culture has been proven to be one of the best ways to improve your knowledge of a language and feel more confident using a new skill.

It can be very different from learning a language in a familiar classroom.

At the Kingsway English language training centre in Worcester, people from all over the world attend the courses set out to ultimately give them confidence in their skills.

Sue Johns, partner and business development director at the centre, says it is important to be able to blend culture and language together.

“It is mainly professional people who come and use this course, but they are all at different levels in their knowledge,” she said.

“We have clients from Rolls- Royce to BMW use us, and individuals from businesses all over the world who want to be able to trade in English.

“So they come to improve their skills. It’s not useful if they come as complete beginners, but if they have an elementary level in the language they can use and work on it.

“They may have the theory in the language but they haven’t had the chance to use it, so within two to four weeks they just improve so much.

“We give them the confidence, mainly in their speaking and listening skills. Our courses give priority to speaking and listening, although lessons do also include reading, writing and grammar.”

Mrs Johns, who set up the company with her husband Rick in 1988, said there was an English- only rule while their students were in the centre.

The students are constantly using the language they are learning and any fear they have of making a mistake soon disappears.

“If someone is understood in another language that is the main point,” Mrs Johns said.

“To be understood shows effective communication.

“We do deal with grammar but we don’t pick them up on it too harshly.

“To be able to speak English naturally and pronounce the words well is the main aim, so that a native speaker will understand them, even if the grammar may be slightly wrong.”

Mrs Johns gave the example of a former student trying to get a train to Worcester. But because she put the wrong emphasis on the word Worcester, the ticket officer thought she was trying to get to Chester and she ended up in the wrong city.

“We teach examples of words such as Worcester that can be confusing. It is really important to know where the stresses are in the word,” said Mrs Johns.

“We do have an international phonemic alphabet, which is a tool for pronouncing words. So, for example, if they look up a word in the dictionary, they can also speak it correctly. Once the fear of making mistakes goes then students can make real progress in their speaking skills.” About 20 to 40 students pass through the school each week and are placed in groups according to the skills being taught by their fully qualified staff. The students come from countries all over the world, including Spain, Russia and Mexico. They are placed with host families in the city so they are able to practise their skills outside the school.

During the week they also have a number of social activities planned by social manager Bob South.

“I provide the link between the language and the culture which is just so important to their development,” he said.

“I do three events a week, two in the evening and one day trip. This may be anything from live music in pubs, ice skating, skittles to trips to London. But when we are out and about we only speak English.” Over Christmas, the centre offers a unique chance for their students to share the festive season with their families.

Mrs Johns said: “We stay open during the Christmas period for a number of reasons. For some people this is the only time they are free to take a language course, others want the unique cultural experience of spending Christmas in England plus many international companies do not stop for Christmas.

“It is always unique to experience Christmas in a different culture and not many language schools offer this.”

Alfonso Navarro, aged 33, from Spain, spent four weeks at the centre to improve his English.

“For me to be able to learn it within the culture has been very important and I have been made to feel very welcome,” he said.

“I have the best teacher I have ever had in my life and my skills have improved fantastically, but I am working hard on my pronunciation. Worcester is a great city and I have enjoyed learning here.” For more details about the Kingsway English Centre in Foregate Street, visit kingsway-english.com or ring 01905 619877.