Essential Information for Participants
Welcome!
We look forward to meeting you at Canning. Here are some points to help you to prepare for your stay in England.
How to get here
You can reach London easily by air, rail or road. Our training centre is in Fulham, South-West London, convenient for underground services to and from Heathrow. Click here for a map. When you travel locally, we recommend that you use public transport. It can be very difficult (and expensive) to park your car in the city centre. Click here for more details on how to get to Canning from main airports and St. Pancras Eurostar station.
Warning! - Taxis
Make sure you find a taxi with a meter (preferably a black cab or Hackney carriage) or one from an official taxi rank. Other taxis often overcharge.
Speaking English
For the success of your course, it is really important for you to speak English and only English from the moment you arrive. Any practice you can get before you come here will be helpful too. Try listening to the radio, reading English newspapers, or, better still, speaking English.
Telephone calls
It is important that you are free from interruptions during your course. Your progress could be seriously affected by any distractions. We will not interrupt a training session, but in an emergency, telephone messages will be taken and given to you during a break. Mobile phones should be switched off during training sessions.
Fax and email messages
We can receive short, urgent fax and e-mail messages on your behalf. They, too, will be given to you during a break. To be able to access your own e-mail system, you will need to get a local (UK) telephone number from your service provider.
Wireless Internet Access
Our London training centre has a wireless Hotspot / Internet point in the lounge. If you would like to use it - you will need to bring a laptop with wireless capability with you.
Training material
All the training material you need for the course will be provided. If you would like to keep a copy of your tailored language laboratory exercises - please bring a high capacity empty memory stick/flash drive with you. Books and compact discs for use after the course will be available for you to buy if you wish.
Social Activities
We arrange social activities on several evenings during the course and sometimes at weekends. These activities are voluntary but they give you further opportunities to speak and hear English. We recommend you attend as many as possible. If you are interested in using the local sports facilities, please bring your sports equipment with you. Facilities include tennis, swimming, and golf. Click here for a map of sights to see in London, or visit our London weblinks page.
Meals
On most days you will have lunch with your trainer in a local pub or restaurant. Please remember to include lunches and dinners when calculating your expenses.
Clothes
The atmosphere on the course is informal. Bring the clothes you feel most comfortable in!
Return Flight
Please arrange your schedule so that your return flight leaves at least 2 hours after the end of the course.
The English Way of Life
We will do our best to make you feel at home during your stay. If you are visiting England for the first time, you will find that English life has its own special characteristics. Relax and enjoy the difference!