'I chose to come to the UK as it has long been the top choice for international students who want to improve their English language skills. The people are incredibly friendly while the cities and towns feel very cosmopolitan. My language college is located in a busy city centre, which gives me a great chance to experience UK life first hand.

I found the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) course stimulating and flexible, and the teaching staff give students every opportunity to learn English. The communication skills I have learnt could be vital in my later life.

I have made remarkable progress and I am sure any student who chooses to study in the UK will be amazed at what it has to offer'

'Lots of people come to the UK for tourism; I think Big Ben, Shakespeare, the Royal family, ancient castles and beautiful gardens have a lot to do with it. As an art teacher, I always wanted to come to Europe to embrace the culture and witness the great masterpieces, which I only knew about from books and encyclopaedias.

Studying English in the UK is not just about learning the language - it's also a chance to learn about many different cultures. My classmates come from everywhere, even from those places located in the most remote corners of the planet and I've enjoyed learning about their cultures and traditions.

And my English teachers! I have great admiration and respect for them and see them as great models for my own teaching. They've helped me to set my goals and have made me feel welcome. I've found so many courses I'd like to enrol on that I'm very tempted to apply for a visa for another year.'

'I came to the UK because I knew that a British Education, together with the ability to speak English fluently, would open up a great deal more employment opportunities in Brazil. In order to submerge myself in British culture and meet new friends, I joined clubs, classes, and went to community meetings. I've begun to enjoy my English course more and more and my English has improved notably.

My experience over the last two years in the United Kingdom has been fascinating. My cross-cultural appreciation has widened, as I am meeting people not only from UK, but also from all over the world. Although I have experienced some tough times, I believe that I have really benefited from studying in the UK and it has made me more disciplined towards my study and work.'

'I want to be a corporate lawyer and to work as a bridge between Japanese and British companies. So English is not an option, but a necessity for me. That's why I work hard at my studies and why I chose to come to the UK. If I compare the education systems in Japan and the UK I think the UK's is better. Each class consists of approximately 10 students compared to classes of around 45 students in Japan.

There are lots of sports to choose from in the UK and I'm now doing four sports that I had never tried before: rock climbing, archery, badminton and tennis. I'm especially excited by the archery. I'm not very good at it yet… but I'm trying to get better.

Through sport, lessons and social activities, I've met some lovely people. Sometimes we talk about the future. This kind of talk is quite interesting, and it is a good opportunity to make connections - not just for business, but because it is great to share your school life with friends from a lot of different countries.'

If I have to say only one thing that was extraordinary about the school, it would be the degree to which it was cosmopolitan. I've never been in a place in which I have heard so many languages being spoken simultaneously. In a class of ten, there were ten different nationalities, most of which I had never had the chance to interact with through my job.