A2Z - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are accredited by the British Council. We are the FIRST Callan Method school in the WORLD to be accredited by the British Council! We are also first on the list;http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm

Where are your teachers from? Are they qualified?

Our teachers are all native speakers of English. Most of them are from England, and a few are from other countries. They all have a teaching certificate and have gone to University.

Do you have social events for students?

Yes, we have many events for students, including visits to Manchester united and tours around the city art galleries. We also have big parties! Most of these events are free to attend.

How many hours a week do I have to study?

You can study as many hours as you like. We have part time as well as full time courses. If you prefer a full time course you can choose from 20 up to 40 hours per week. Part time courses include 4, 6 or 10 hours per week.

How much do I have to pay?
The price depends on how many hours a week you would like to study and for how many weeks. The more weeks you pay for in advance the cheaper price is!

First you should decide how many hours and for how many weeks you want to study and then you can check the price on our website.

Do I have to pay for my course in advance or can I pay monthly/weekly?

You can pay weekly but then, your price will be higher that when you pay in advance for few weeks or months. It’s the same if you want to pay monthly; the rate per hour for 1 month is more expensive than for 4 months.

But if you would like to study 6 months and you are from the European Union, we can sign a contract with you. Then your total price will be as you would pay in advance plus 10%, but in fact you will be paying monthly. When you start you will have to pay for the first and for the last month, then you pay equal payments monthly, and you won’t have to pay for the last month.

When do I have to pay?

Before you start your course you can have 2 days of trial lessons! If you decide to stay after your 2 days classes, then you will have to pay.

How will I know which level is good for me?

Before you start your course, we will give you a short level test to check which one is the best for you. When during your course you feel that lessons are too easy or too difficult for you, you can ask to be moved up or down a level.

Can I change my level during my course?

You can always move a level down, when you feel that lessons are too difficult for you.
If you want to move level up, you will have to have the agreement of 3 of the teachers who have recently taught you.

Do you have courses for beginners?

Yes. We have 12 different stages of the Callan Method. The first stage is for beginners who have never learnt English. Stage 10 is at the level of the FCE, a famous exam.

How many different levels do you have?

We have 12 different stages in the Callan Method. The first stage is for beginners who never learnt English. Stage 10 is at approximately the same level as the Cambridge First Certificate.

Do I have to buy a book?

Yes you will have to buy a book. Each callan book is 1 stage. So, there are 12 books all together, and each book is £15. Each book includes a CD that you can listen to outside of lessons.

If you study a non callan method class the book is either £15 or £25. We sell most of these books in our school.

When can I start to study?

You can start your course any time. Even if a particular course has already started, you can still join the group! If you like to start from the beginning please check our website for the exact dates of new courses start dates.

Can I have a discount?

You can have a discount if you study at certain times of day. These times change every so often, so you should come to the school to ask or visit our website. They are cheaper because fewer people like to study at these times, it is not because the lessons are worse, they are just the same!

Can you help me to get a student visa?

Yes, we can help you to get a student visa, but you apply for a full time course (20 lessons per week or more) at least for 6 months (24 weeks) and have to pay for your course in advance. After you pay we register you as a full time student, and we will give you an enrolment letter to an embassy. To know more please visit our website : http://www.a2z-english.com/360/visa.html

What happens if my visa is rejected? Will I get my money back?

If your visa is rejected then we will give you all your money back minus £100. We must see your official letters of rejection from the British Government first, and we can only refund money by bank transfer or cheque.

When can I come for a level test?

You can have a level test at most times of day, but you can nearly always have a level test everyday between 13:30 and 14:15. Before you come please call the reception or email us to book your place.

Can you give me a certificate after a course?

Yes, we can give you a Callan Method certificate, which says how many hours you have studied and which level you have reached. If you want an official test result you can either enter a Cambridge University Exam or you can do the TOEIC Bridge or TOEIC exams in our school. These happen once a month.

Can you help me to get a student card?

Yes, we give all A2Z Students a free A2Z Identity card. If you are a full time student we can give you a letter which confirms that you are a student of A2Z School, and with this letter you can apply for an International student card at the STA travel shop.

How can I enrol?

The easiest way is just to visit our school and fill an application form. You can also fill an application form online on our website.

How many students are there in a class?

There are always from 4 to 14 students in each class, but the average is 8.

Do you have students from many countries?

Yes we have students from all parts of the world. No one nationality dominates. If you would like to know the current percentage of students from your language/country just email the school and we will tell you.

Can I have individual lessons?

Yes it’s possible, but the price will be different than for regular courses. The price is £35 per hour for normal lessons and £45 per hour for special lessons.

How long does it take to finish one book?

It depends how many hours a week you study. If you study on a full time basis it will take about 4 - 6 weeks.

Do you have books in my language?

We have books in Chinese, Russian, Czech, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Slovakian, Turkish, Spanish and Thai. If we don’t have books in your language, we are very sorry, but you can still use English ones.

Do you have courses during weekend?

No, we are sorry we are closed during weekends.

What time school is open?

We are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:30.

Do you arrange accommodation for students?

Yes, we do. If you want us to arrange accommodation for you you have to pay for your course and for your accommodation in advance. We only provide one kind of accommodation. This is called a homestay, which is living with an English family.
We charge £40 for accommodation finding fee.

Please read more at: http://www.a2z-english.com/360/accomodation.html

What is homestay?

Homestay is living with an English family, they provide breakfast and dinner for you and lunch at weekends. It’s very good because it allows you to practise your English all the time! You have day to day contact with English native speakers. Please read more at: http://www.a2z-english.com/361/homestay.html

How long is the course?

It’s up to you! It depends how long you would like to study. You can study just one week, one month, but the best results you'll gain after studying few months or one year! Generally the maximum people pay for is 52 weeks.

What is the Callan Method?

It is completely different to traditional methods of learning English. It consists of 12 stages up to the level of the Cambridge CAE. It consists of 70% speaking and listening time, 10 minutes of reading and 5 minutes of writing each lesson. It uses question and answers with native English speaking teachers to learn to speak English. You can learn English in ¼ of time!

Do you prepare your students for the FCE?

Yes. We have special courses which prepare our students to pass the Cambridge first certificate. The price of the course doesn't include the price of the exam.

Please check the website to know more : http://www.a2z-english.com/348/first_certificate.html

Do you prepare your students for the IELTS?

Yes. We have special courses which prepare our students to pass the IELTS test. The price of the course doesn't include the price of the exam.

Please check the website to know more : http://www.a2z-english.com/348/first_certificate.html

Do you have courses of advanced English?

Yes. Those courses are for those students who finished all the stages with the Callan Method, or their English is at an advanced level already. We have classes for the Cambridge Advanced examination in the morning and evening.

Can I take a TOEIC exam in your school?

Yes you can take a TOEIC exam in our school. We organize this exam every month, to check the exact dates please visit the website http://www.a2z-english.com/348/toeic_exam.html
The price of taking an exam is £100, if you require certificate you will also have to pay £15.
If none of our dates is convenient for you we can organize the TOEIC exam just for you! The charge for a private exam is £150.