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Professional passport or personal interest, the study of a language is often as much an advantage as a major need for any student or international traveller. You have decided to come to study a language in its mother country, or you wish to improve your English, you will have several possibilities that we will see below:

The linguistic trip

For young people, taking advantage of the school holidays to improve their foreign language, trips abroad are organized for a few weeks period. The stay is usually with local families, boarding (pack-lunch at lunch time). Language courses with small groups occur during the day, with cultural activities and visits. It costs usually more than 600 EUR a week (and normally last for 2 weeks).

Intense and Evening courses

According to the school infrastructure, you can work in a language laboratory, have free access to study rooms, libraries or the Internet. In addition, extra-curicular activities can be offered, such as cultural visits or trips.
An English test is asked at registration time, in order to assess your level.
If you want more information, look on this school website :

• U learn : http://www.u-learn.ie/
• AMCD : http://www.amcd.ie/
• Annalivia : http://www.annaliviaschool.com/

Exams

TOEFL For the past 40 years, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) has been the leading academic English proficiency test in the world.

Each year, more than 800,000 candidates register for the exam worldwide and test their capacity to master the English language in writing, speaking, listening on paper or with a computer.

The test covers several sections:

• Listening and Understanding
• Structure
• Reading
• Writing

Your result is a number of points for each section. A lot of institutes ask 500 points minimum for the paper test, or 250 points for the computer test.

Cambridge (ESOL) Tests of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) of Cambridge University are assessed each year by about 1.5 million of people in more than 135 countries. This exam is suitable for English teaching and is recognised internationally.

You will find more information on the official website: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/

A list of recognised EFL schools and organisations in Ireland : http://www.acels.ie/search.htm

For more information, have a look in Irish Council for International Students : http://www.icosirl.ie/