Our accommodation is all carefully selected and inspected by our accommodation agents, who have specific experience in providing accommodation for overseas students and visitors to Swansea. We work hard to ensure that all the accommodation we offer is clean, comfortable and friendly so that you can study well and make the most of your stay in Swansea.
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Check the Social Life menu on the right of this page to get all the information you need to plan your free time and make the most of your stay. Use the links to:
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You are probably visiting this site as you want to improve your English and possibly pass a formal examination. You almost certainly want to learn more about living and studying in the UK and why our school can help you to achieve your aims. My role as the Principal and owner of CSL is to provide you with an excellent learning environment and supportive teaching from dedicated professional teachers. My team and I will work hard to give you the care and support to make sure your every aspect of your stay is the same high quality as the teaching on which we pride ourselves. We believe in quality and in innovation and I hope you will discover that our courses are at the cutting edge of good language learning and teaching.
In these pages you can find out about our facilities and courses, our location in Swansea, a vibrant and safe university city, and the different accommodation options we offer.
All of us at the school look forward to welcoming you. If you would like to talk to us or ask any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help you
Ismara Antunes
Principal
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Please click the link above for more information.
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Our homestays are organised for us by a specialist agency with many years of experience placing students with local people. The families are personally known and their homes are regularly visited and inspected to make sure your stay will be comfortable and enjoyable. You really will feel as if you are home from home.
Our homestays live within a 30 minute journey to the school and no more than one bus ride away.
We offer the following options:
Full-board homestay gives you three meals per day: breakfast and dinner with your host and a packed lunch which you can eat at school. At weekends you can have a packed lunch or a light lunch at home.
Half-board homestay gives you two meals per day: breakfast and dinner with your host.
You can buy a sandwich or a hot meal and something to drink from one of the cafes and sandwich shops on Walter Road, a two minute walk from the school
Self-catering homestay does not include food.
It gives you the freedom to eat what you want when you want, either eating out in Swansea’s wide choice of restaurants and cafes or to preparing your own food in your host’s kitchen. Your host provider will allow you to use the kitchen equipment you need to cook.
We also have a limited supply of Executive Homestays where you have your own bathroom. Please contact us if you are interested in executive homestay, telling us the intended dates of your stay.
Please follow the link below for further Homestay Information:
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Self-catering accommodation is ideal if complete freedom is important to you. It means you can come and go when you please, cook and eat what you want when you want, and spend time with other students and friends in your own home.
Self-catering accommodation is situated close to the school, mainly in the Uplands and Marina areas of Swansea, meaning you can walk to school.
Because self-catering accommodation is popular, we will need to start the process of helping you to find the right accommodation for you a month before you arrive.
We can help you with:
If you are interested in self-catering accommodation which is not on this list, please contact us as we have access to many different types of accommodation.
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City School of Languages is accredited by the British Council.The British Council is the quality assurance scheme for the UK English Language Teaching sector and ensures that our management, teaching, resources, welfare and accommodation all meet the highest standards of British Council standards approval.
City School of Languages is accredited by the Association of British Language Schools (ABLS) , which monitors and improves standards of management, teaching, resources and welfare in organisations teaching English as a foreign language in Britain.
English UK is the association for accredited English language providers. As a member of this association CSL undertakes to follow English UK’s code of conduct and to adhere to its regulations which are designed to ensure excellent standards of teaching and welfare for foreign learners of English in the UK.
Through membership of ABLS we set out to promote quality, professionalism and expertise in the field of English language tuition.
CSL is licensed by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to enrol international students under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. Our UKBA Sponsor Licence Number is 50987M5C2 and we feature on the UKBA website as an ‘A Rated’ registered education provider.
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General English 15 is ideal if you want to combine studying English with enjoying your free time, exploring Swansea and the surrounding area, or just relaxing with friends. At the end of your course you can expect to feel much more confident using natural English for personal, work or academic purposes.
At Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate levels (A2-B1 CEFR), this course also includes preparation for the internationally recognised Cambridge KET (A2 CEFR) and PET (B1 CEFR) exams.This gives you an excellent opportunity to practise and develop you reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in more depth than is usually found on General English courses.
If you would like a more intensive course, look at our Semi-Intensive 21 and Intensive 25 English courses, which combine General English 15 with 6 or 10 hours of Afternoon Options.
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Minimum age
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18 years old
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Class Size
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Average Class Size: 10
Maximum Class Size 12 (Occasionally up to 14)
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Start Dates
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Any Monday
Beginners are recommended to start on one of the following dates:
4th January, 29th March, 28th June or 27th September 2010
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Length of course
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2 weeks +
We recommend 12-13 weeks to complete a level
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Hours per week
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15
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Minimum level
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Beginner A1 CEFR
Elementary A2 CEFR for Tier 4 Visa Students
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Class Times
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09.30-11-00 and 11.15-12.45
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CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
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The 15 hours of General English focuses on the key areas of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. In dynamic and interactive lessons you will quickly improve your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
The 6 hours of Afternoon Options give you more opportunities to practise and activate real English. Our options include English Out There, Business English and Cambridge Examination Preparation (FCE and CAE).
At the end of your course you will be more confident using natural English for personal, work or academic purposes and you will feel ready to take your exam.
If you want an even more intensive course, Intensive English 25 adds an extra 4 hours of Afternoon Options, giving you 15 hours of General English and 10 hours of Afternoon Options.
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Minimum age
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18 years old
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|---|---|
Class Size
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Average Class Size: 10
Maximum Class Size 12 (Occasionally up to 14)
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Start Dates
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Any Monday
Beginners are recommended to start on one of the following dates:
4th January, 29th March, 28th June or 27th September 2010
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Length of course
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2 weeks +
We recommend 12-13 weeks to complete a level
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Hours per week
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15
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Minimum level
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Beginner A1 CEFR
Elementary A2 CEFR for Tier 4 Visa Students
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Class Times
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General English 15: 09.30-11-00 and 11.15-12.45
Afternoon Options: 6 hours of afternoon lessons each week
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CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
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We think the best way for you to see Cardiff is by taking one of the hop on-hop off sightseeing buses which leave from outside Cardiff Castle every hour (every 30 minutes in peak season). From an open-top double decker bus, you will visit all the main attractions of the city and once you have paid for your ticket, you can get on and get off the bus as many times as you like.
The CitySightseeing Cardiff bus has 10 stops including Cardiff Castle, Mermaid Quay, Techniquest, the Millennium Stadium and Wales Millennium Centre.
For timetables and more information visit the CitySightseeing Cardiff website.
Located in the heart of the city centre, Cardiff Castle has a history of over 2000 years. The castle has been home to Romans, Normans and wealthy business men. Every month Cardiff Castle also organises visitor events. More details are available here.
Built in 1999 to host the Rugby World Cup, Cardiff Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales and home to the Welsh national rugby union and football teams. It is the second largest stadium in the world with a roof and has a capacity of 74,500 people. The stadium is also host to many other large sporting and music events. International stars like Madonna, U2 and Robbie Williams have all appeared here.
In the London 2012 Olympics the stadium will host at least eight football matches. We recommend that you take a tour of the stadium and walk in the footsteps of the greats of rugby, football and music. Find out more about these stadium tours here.
Close to the city centre is Cardiff Bay, Europe’s most exciting waterfront development. You can get there by the Citysightseeing bus or by water taxi.
Cardiff Bay is home to many exciting visitor attractions, including Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, the Wales Millennium Centre (a stunning international arts centre) and the Senedd, home of the Welsh government, the Welsh Assembly. If you are a fan of science-fiction, you’ll love the Dr Who exhibition – many recent Dr. Who TV episodes have been filmed in Cardiff and around Cardiff Bay. The Dr. Who exhibition is located inside the Red Dragon Centre, a leisure and entertainment centre where you can eat, drink, watch films at the multi-screen cinema or go ten-pin bowling.
Mermaid Quay is an enjoyable destination for shopping, eating and relaxing on the waterfront. It’s the perfect place to relax and have lunch or dinner. The cuisine is truly international with Indian, Oriental, Turkish, Italian, American, and French food on offer. Bon appetit!
You can find out more about the above attractions at Cardiff Bay and Mermaid Quay websites.
The popularity of the huge indoor mall of St. David’s Shopping Centre has made Cardiff one of the top five shopping destinations in the UK. From brand chains like Marks and Spencer to designer stores and boutiques, you will have plenty to spend your money on!
Cardiff is also famous for its beautiful Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades. These are covered shopping passages, often with a glass roof, where you can find smaller, independent shops. The arcades are one of Cardiff’s special features and are well worth a visit.
For more information about Cardiff, we recommend you visit the Visit Cardiff website.
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Mumbles is great for frequent visits. Relax in one of the many cafes and browse the wonderful assortment of independent shops, selling everything from hand-made toys to exotic clothes, pottery to paintings. Follow the seafront till you reach the Victorian Pier, a rare structure every seaside town once had. Eat icecream or buy from the monthly farmers market, stocked with local produce.
There is a frequent bus service from Swansea to Mumbles. For more information, visit the Swansea Bay website.
The Gower Peninsula, known simply as Gower, was the UK’s first designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” (1956). Today the area is popular with walkers, watersports lovers and anyone who enjoys nature. The stunning countryside and beaches which make up the Gower include 34 miles of coastline, 19 sandy beaches, 83 ancient monuments, 67 ancient woodlands and 6 nature reserves.
Here are some Gower facts:
There is a frequent bus service from Swansea to the Gower. For more information, have a look at the Gower Transport Map and interactive timetable
More information about Gower is available from the Gower page of the Visit Swansea Bay website
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See photo gallery at the bottom of this page for the sites of Swansea.
The city has two universities, Swansea University and Swansea Metropolitan University. There are more than 18,500 students in Swansea, and there are good links between City School of Languages and the two universities.
Swansea is rich in culture and is home to a number of permanent museums and temporary exhibits. The National Waterfront Museum, Swansea Museum, the Dylan Thomas Centre and The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery are amongst the finest in Wales.
The city has two multi-screen cinemas, theatres and a great variety of music-based entertainment, from live bands to clubs.
Swansea Grand Theatre provides a cross section of events from music to comedy to dance, whilst the Brangwyn Hall is used for classical concerts, and every October is the centre of the Swansea Festival, which attracts orchestras from around the world.
In the summer, outdoor theatre takes place at Oystermouth Castle, and Singleton Park holds the biggest dance party in Wales with Escape in the Park.
The Taliesin Centre, in the grounds of Swansea University, stages world cinema and a variety of music.
Swansea is also famous for its nightlife and people come from all over Wales to enjoy themselves, especially on Friday and Saturday.
The choice of places to relax, eat and drink in Swansea is excellent. Many of the local restaurants, cafés and pubs use local food and drink, including meats, seafood, vegetables, real ale and cider from the Swansea Bay and Gower areas. The food you can sample includes British, Italian, French, Thai, Indian, Japanese, Chinese and vegetarian.
Swansea has all the good shopping you need, from supermarkets to department stores, boutiques to indoor malls. Swansea Market, the largest indoor market in Wales, is a great place to buy fresh, locally grown food.
Swansea is a great place to keep fit and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. There are lots of gyms around the city, including the YMCA , which is close to the school, and The LC2. The LC2 is a fantastic, newly-opened (2008) leisure complex in the city centre with amazing facilities which include the largest health and fitness gym in Wales; the UK’s first indoor surf experience; a waterpark; a 30ft climbing wall; health spa; dance studios and a large multi-purpose sports hall.
If you prefer to watch sport, Swansea is home to successful football and rugby teams. The recently built Liberty Stadium hosts the Swansea City Football Club, called The Swans, and the Ospreys, one of two local rugby clubs. The other club plays at St. Helen’s Rugby Club, near the university, so there is always a match to enjoy.
The choice of leisure activities available in and around Swansea really is excellent.
The Visit Swansea Bay website has a comprehensive list (see below) and even includes an activity finder:
The Swansea area is one of the best places to surf in the United Kingdom and Swansea is the idea base if you want to combine studying English with surfing. The area has the second greatest tidal range in the world and some of the finest surfing beaches in the UK. You can learn to surf at a number of the accredited surf schools in the area or try Britain’s first standing surf machine, the BoardRider at the LC2.
Travel in and around Swansea is easy and great value for money. The city centre is quite compact and you can get around easily on foot. CSL is a ten minute walk from the centre and buses connect all parts of the city including Walter Road, the universities and further afield. Bus and train connections make it easy if you want to travel outside the city. There is an hourly train service seven days a week to London, Cardiff and Bristol, and great coach connections between Swansea and Cardiff.
Swansea was ranked as one of the safest cities to live in by two separate surveys conducted by Endsleigh Insurance and Men’s Health magazine in 2006. Visit the city sure that your stay will be a safe and comfortable one, and where you can enjoy a friendly Swansea welcome.
Find out even more about Swansea by visiting the Swansea Tourist Information site and by looking at the Swansea Pocket Map. The Swansea Pocket Map (pdf) is a great way to see the many attractions the city has to offer. © Map kindly supplied by The Welsh Assembly Government.
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