There are two stages: written and spoken assessment.

1. The written part is in the form of an online grammar test on the school’s website. The speaking skills are assessed by the Director of Studies when you first arrive in the school.

2. The Director of Studies will choose the most suitable course for you and give you information about your level, class times, course book and classroom allocation.

3. Should the Director of Studies be unavailable, this will be carried out by another senior member of the Academic Team.

Full-time courses

15 hours per week:
Monday –Friday: 09:00-12:10

20 hours per week :
Monday-Friday: 9:00-12:10 and 12:50-13:50

25 hours per week (30 lessons):
Monday-Friday: 9:00-12:10, 12:50-13:50 and 14:00 – 15:00

The above are example timetables. Please note it is also possible that on some days your classes will be starting at 12:00.

Part-time courses

Morning Classes:
Example timetable for 3 days per week:
Monday – Wednesday – Friday: 09:00-12:10

Afternoon Classes
For 5 days per week:
Monday – Friday 12:50-13:50 or 14:00-15:00

We also evening part-time courses.
Conversation classes take place at 12:50 or 14:00
If you study a full time or intensive course:
a) you may have more than 1 class in one day.
b) you may study with more than one group of students during a week.

You will get the timetable after the level assessment, before you start the course. If there are any times or days during which you cannot study, inform us before you register and we will try to adapt your timetable if possible.

It is important that you arrive on time for lessons. If this is not possible, for example due to work commitments, please let us know in advance. lf you arrive after the class start time, your attendance will be marked as late. If you arrive more than 5 minutes late after your class has started, you may not be able to enter the classroom until break time.

If you are absent for more than one day, please telephone or email the school or send information with a classmate. We will call you at the end of the week if you have not attended lessons that week to check that you are OK and if there is anything we can do to help you.

There are several formal exams you can take to prove your level of English, and at Communicate we have some classes to help you prepare for these (FCE, CAE, IELTS).

The exam costs in 2022/23 are approximately:

£160 Cambridge B2 First (formerly known as FCE) for CEFR B2 or Upper Intermediate level
£163 Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly known as CAE) for CEFR C1 or Advanced level
£175 – £195 IELTS (depending on location)

You can take the B2 First and C1 Advanced exams at the following exam centre in Manchester:

British Study Centres Manchester, Indemnity House, Manchester, Manchester, M1 3AQ

We are not an Cambridge exam centre but you can take the FCE and CAE examinations at the following location in Manchester:

British Study Centres Manchester, St Margaret’s Chambers, Newton Street, Manchester
Website: http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/

We are not an IELTS exam centre but you can take the IELTS Exam at the University of Manchester Language Centre and the exams are every month.

Website: https://ielts.britishcouncil.org/manchester

If you study General English or an exam preparation courses, you will regularly take tests that will allow you and your teacher to check the progress and what you may still need to work on. If you study IELTS you will write monthly mock tests.

These tests are written and include questions on grammar, vocabulary, and reading. You will also be tested informally in class based on how well you do in group activities, and your understanding of new language.

Sometimes teachers will give you smaller tests on vocabulary, spelling and grammar, but they will always tell you when these tests are going to be.

Please do not use your mobile phones during lessons. Please ask permission if you need to make or receive an urgent call during class and move to an empty room to do so.

Our school will be closed on the following dates:

Communicate will not allow any abusive behaviour.

What is abusive behaviour?

Abusive behaviour can take many forms:

• It might be physical – for example if you push, hit or kick someone (violence) or damage property.
• It can be verbal – such as making fun of people, calling them names or threatening people.
• It can be non-verbal – such as ignoring someone or excluding them.
• Communicate School reserves the right to expel students with no refund due to abusive or inappropriate behaviour.

It can create a scary environment, or leave you feeling upset, vulnerable or threatened. It could happen anywhere – not just in school but on the street, in your accommodation or in your homestay.

You need to tell the Designated Safeguarding Lead (the Center Manager), the Director of Studies, your teacher or a Student Support Officer if you suffer from any of this type of behaviour from anyone – staff or student.

We hope all our students find studying at Communicate a comfortable, relaxing and safe experience and we are always happy to hear anything you have to say – good or bad.

There are no refunds on courses that a student has started attending. Lessons cannot be transferred from one student to another.

Please see the full terms and conditions: TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For students:

If you have any problems or if you are unhappy with anything (for example behaviour of a student or a member of staff, your progress, timetable, teacher, lessons, accommodation or anything else) you should speak to your teacher or a student support officer first. They will try to help you with the problem.

If you still have a problem:

1. Fill in the complaint form available at reception.

2. Give it to a Student Support Officer, the School Office Manager or Director of Studies.

3. We will write down a report which we will keep in the office.

4. We will take further action to resolve the problem and help.

If you prefer to file a complaint anonymously, you can do so by using our online form available here

We always try our best to help you with any problems but if you are still not happy, as we are an accredited English centre, you can contact British Council

For parents/guardians:

If you have a complaint, please email us on manchester@malvernplc.com or call us on +44 (0)161 235 8480 and we will direct your complaint to the person most suitable to help.

If you need emergency treatment in the UK it is usually free on the NHS (National Health Service) but you may have to pay for other types of treatment (non-emergency, hospital appointments, dentist).

If you are a visitor from the European Economic Area (EEA) then you are strongly advised to bring a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you, otherwise you may be charged for your healthcare. The EHIC means you can get healthcare free or cheaper than usual.

However, the EHIC is not a replacement for medical insurance. Some services that would be free in your home country may not be free here and medical insurance is important if anything serious happens. If you come from outside the EEA, we strongly advise you to get medical insurance.

If you want to register with your local health centre, you might need a letter of introduction issued by the school. Such letters may be issued to our registered students upon application.

Your local medical centres, GPs, dentists and hospitals can be found at http://www.nhs.uk/service-search. The school can help you to find address and contact details of the above centres.

Speak to a Student Support Officer at reception to get more information.

You may be able to join Manchester central library where you can find resources such as course books, story books, CDs, magazines and many more. We will be happy to issue our registered students with a letter of introduction if they decide to join. The library’s contact details are:

Manchester Central Library
St. Peter’s Square
Manchester M2 5PD
Telephone: 0161 234 1900

ln order to join the library, you will need a proof of ID.

The library is open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 5pm on Fridays.

Telephone number is 0161 234 1972. More information can be found on the library website
www.manchester.gov.uk/info/500138/central_library.

Copyright

Please note that it is illegal to copy books and other publications protected by copyright law without consent from the publisher. lt is also illegal to download software protected by copyright law without consent given by the publisher.

Communicate School does not permit the copying of course books or other published material or downloading software protected by copyright law without consent given by the publisher. Any such copying is in breach of copyright law and therefore illegal. Further information can be found on Copyright Licensing Agency website at www.cla.co.uk.

Roman Catholic

St Augustine’s Parish and University Chaplaincy
Grosvenor Square
All Saints
Manchester M15 6BW
Tel: 0161 236 6762

Church of England

Manchester Cathedral
Victoria Street
Manchester M3 1SX
Tel: 0161 833 2220

Muslim

Manchester Central Mosque & Islamic Cultural Centre
20 Upper Park Road
Victoria Park
Manchester M14 5RU
Tel: 0161 224 4119

Hindu

Krishna Dharma
20 Mayfield Road
Whalley Range
Manchester M16 8FT
Tel: 01923 857244

Sikh

Gurdwara Sikh Temple
Monton Street
Manchester M14 4GP
Tel:0161 226 1131

Jewish

Cheetham Hebrew Congregation
453 Cheetham Hill Road
Salford M8 7PA
Tel: 0161 740 7788

Manchester Advice: People living in Manchester can get free and confidential information and advice on benefits, housing rights, adult and social care, education, leisure, consumer law and basic immigration rights through Manchester Advice based in Town Hall Extension. Contact details of Manchester Advice are as follows:

Manchester Advice
Town Hall Extension
Manchester M60 2AF
(Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm, Wednesdays 10:00am to 4:30pm)
Tel: 0161 234 5678
(Monday to Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm)
Email: man-advice@manchestergov.uk

Consumer Advice Service: If you have paid money for goods or services and you are not happy with what you have received, you can phone Consumer Direct on 0845 040 506 for advice. Their address is:

Consumer Advice
Town Hall Extension
PO Box 536
St Peter Square

Council Tax: Full-time students may be able to apply for exemption or a reduction in their council tax. For complete information and how to apply visit Manchester City Council website www.manchester.gov.uk/counciltax.

Social
International Society: Membership fee for students from £7 to £20 per year depending on when you join. The society has 3000 members from 130 countries and offers advice as well as organising social events.

William Kay House
327 Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PG
Tel: 0161 275 4959
Email: int.soc@manchester.ac.uk
http://internationalsociety.org.uk/trips/

lf you would like to keep fit and do some physical activities during your stay and study in Manchester, you can have access to sports facilities at the centres below:

Moss Side Leisure Centre:

Moss Lane East
Moss Side
Manchester M15 5NN
Tel: 0161 226 5015
Email: info.mosssideleisure@leisure.serco.com. (No joining fee)

Abraham Moss Leisure Centre:

Crescent Road
Crumpsall
Manchester M8 5UF
Tel: 0161 720 7622
Email: info.abrahammoss@leisure.serco.com. (No joining fee)

Manchester Aquatics Centre:

2 Booth Street East
Manchester M13 9SS
Tel: 0161 275 9450
Email: info.manchesteraquatics@leisure.serco.com. (No joining fee)

Please note that there is no joining fee for the above centres, however you will need to pay a membership fee. Please contact the centres for their membership fees.

Most major cities have direct flights to Manchester. Getting to the city centre from the airport is easy! You can get the train, the tram or the bus.

• Trains run every 10 minutes to or from Manchester Piccadilly, with an average journey time of 20 minutes. The ticket costs £4.30. Look for signs to ‘The Station’ in the airport. Make sure you buy a ticket at the machine before you get on the train.
• Also at the airport is the tram station. Trams run every 12 minutes to Manchester City Centre and take about 35 minutes. Make sure you buy a ticket at the machine before you get on the tram. The ticket costs £4.30. The tram will stop at a station called Cornbrook. You need to get off the tram here and change onto a tram going towards the city centre (Bury, Piccadilly, Rochdale, Ashton).
• You can get three buses to the city centre: 43, 44, and 105. You can buy the ticket on the bus from the bus driver. It will cost about £4.
• Alternatively, we can book you an airport transfer by taxi. Just contact us and we will take
  care of it for you.

Homestay

What is homestay accommodation?

One of the most popular types of accommodation is staying at a local Manchester homestay. This means that you are a household member, and you eat and relax with your hosts. Mancunians (people from Manchester) are famous for their humour, generosity and friendliness. You may stay with one person, two people or the whole family. Staying with hosts in Manchester is a very enjoyable and beneficial experience which means you will get to know British people and it is an effective way to immerse yourself in the English language.

What happens when you stay at homestay accommodation?

The hosts will regard you as a guest and you will be expected to follow the house rules. All hosts provide a private room with access to all living areas in the house and two meals. In most cases students will be expected to share the bathroom. Experience has shown us that living with a host is the most interesting and effective way to become fully immersed in English language and culture.

Hosts will always do their best to involve you in daily conversation while making you feel as comfortable as possible in their home. Remember that they may have different customs and habits than perhaps you are used to. Meals will be prepared according to local tradition. All houses are within 45 minutes travelling time of the school and have easy access to public transport.

Some of the questions you should ask yourself if considering the homestay option:

1. Am I prepared to adapt to the lifestyles of the hosts?

2. Will I be happy to live by the house rules?

3. Will the hosts be able to satisfy my food and diet requirements?

How do I get the best out of staying at homestay accommodation?
Communication

Open and honest communication is perhaps the most important factor to successfully living with hosts. When all parties concerned know what is expected of them – and what to expect in return – an honest relationship can develop. To avoid cultural confusion after you move in, make sure to clarify certain details before you begin your stay. Ask about sleeping arrangements and where to store your possessions, ask about the routine when it comes to meal times.

It is also important to familiarise yourself to laundry facilities, communication technology such as the Internet and telephone, pets and younger children who are living at the home.

You should also ask if the hosts have any curfew rules and whether you are free to drink alcohol or smoke.

Cleanliness is an important issue

Cleanliness is an important factor when showing respect and consideration to the hosts.

Please put dirty laundry in the laundry bag, wash it on a regular basis, hang up wet towels and clean your bedroom regularly.

There are other cleaning tasks you should do during your stay such as: changing your sheets now and then, washing up after you have eaten or prepared food (if you chose self-catering option), wiping down all kitchen surfaces you may have stained, keeping all school or work supplies neatly tucked away, leaving any room as clean as you found it and pitching in during a general family clean up.

Care and considerations

If students care and respect the hosts, they will receive the same treatment in return and the stay will be all the more worthwhile.

Anyone can pay rent and become a tenant, but becoming a part of the family and making lasting relationships requires caring.

Living with a host should be a time for you to experience a new culture. With a small amount of communication, cleanliness and caring, living with a host will be a superb experience that you can take home and cherish.

Overview of the House Rules

• In the case that you’re unhappy with something, please discuss it with your host. If the problem continues, speak to a student support officer at the school reception and alternative accommodation may be found.
• Find out what the protocol is for internet and the telephone when you arrive. A suitable arrangement regarding phone and internet use should be discussed on the first day.
• Smoking is only permitted with the prior agreement.
• If you are planning to eat out, let your host know beforehand so that they do not prepare a meal for you.
• Show respect for the property. If you break or damage anything, be honest about it and offer to pay for it.
• If you are cold, ask for extra bedding and blankets.
• Remember to switch lights off when you leave the room.
• Be punctual for meals.
• Don’t help yourself to food unless it is clear you can do so.
• Keep your room tidy.
• Change your sheets and bed linen.
• Leave the bathroom clean after you have finished. Any questions regarding the use of bathing/toilet facilities, discuss these with the host. Women should ask about the arrangements for the disposal of sanitary towels.
• Make yourself aware of the house rules regarding health and safety.
• If you want to invite friends to the house remember to ask permission first.
• If you are under 18, you must always let your host know where you are and you must come home by 10:30pm Sunday to Thursday and by 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday.