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How to choose an ideal course?

The following are some of the guidelines that could help you choose the ideal course.

Where is the school located?

1) Location: Central Business District (CBD):

If you are working in the CBD, then this would be ideal for you!
If you are coming from overseas, the CBD has all the facilities and the city centre is nearby with most of Singapore's leisure activities: shopping, pubs, cinemas, bowling alleys. . . etc. However do consider the prohibitive costs of renting a place near the CBD.

2) Location: The heartlands (or suburbs):

It could be that your working place is close to the heartlands, or you may want a school that is near your home. Certain community centres offer language courses as well (for Singapore residents only).
If you are coming from overseas to study, you may well pick a school near your doorsteps. However, you will have less exposure to Singapore's vibrant city life in the suburbs.

What type of course should you take?

Usually, when you approach a school, they will give you a placement test to assess your level (beginner, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper-intermediate or advanced). Some schools may give you the option to study in a group or individually. Groups study is usually more fun as the lesson usually includes a lot of interactive activities and you will learn at a steady pace. For one-on-one classes, it's only you and the teacher. This type of course maybe more intensive and you will have more practical opportunities of speaking English! One-on-one courses tend to be more expensive.

You may also want to join a course to prepare for an examination such as IELTS or TOEFL. Most reputable schools offer such courses at the end of which you will take an exam that will give you an internationally recognised certificate. If you are a long-term student, it would be well-worth your time if you sign on for such a course.

If you are learning English for career advancement, then you might want to consider taking up one of the business English course. In these courses, you will to write letters, memos. faxes etc... How to greet clients, answer the phone and make presentations.

Class size is also an important factor for you to consider. You will learn faster in a small class but bigger classes area cheaper.

Starting dates and course duration

The starting date of a course depends largely on the school. Most modular courses typically take you 3 months to complete. But there are longer-running courses too. If you are a full-time student you will be required to attend classes for at least 15 hours a week. As a word of caution, it is generally more difficult for mature students to obtain a student pass from the Singapore Immigration.

Costs you need to consider

The biggest portion of your expenses will go towards paying for an accomodation. Some schools arrange housing for their students. You have several options:

1) You can choose to rent a whole flat with a group of friends. If it is a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat, the owner needs to get permission from the HDB (the public housing authority) to let out his/her flat. Costs are typically from S$900 upwards.

2) You can rent a room and stay with a family. You can stay alone or share to cut costs. A room will cost you S$300 upwards depending on where the flat is located, whether the room has air-conditioning or an attached bathroom.

To be on the safe side, it is wise to allocate S$400 per month for housing.

If you are staying near your school, the cost of the transport will not be very high. The transport system in Singapore is very efficient and you will find that walking is not a viable option as it is extremely hot! You should budget S$100-S$150 for transport.

Eating out in Singapore is relatively cheap (depending on where you go). You should set aside about S$10-S$15 per day if you are going to have all your meals out. If you intend to cook at home, S$300 per month should be more than enough.

Be mindful that your course fees normally do not include the cost of textbooks and stationery. You should budget about S$100 for every 3 months for such experiences.

And don't forget that you are coming to Singapore not only to study but also to see what the city has to offer! What amount you want to budget on entertainment is entirely up to you but a minimum of S$50 should be enough for a few activities a month.

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