With more than 128 teaching centres in 56 different countries, the British Council is the world’s leading provider of high quality English language courses and training.
In Poland we have been working with Polish partners for 70 years in the fields of the Arts, Science, and Education.  

LOCATION
2009 is the tenth anniversary of The British Council Kraków. In 2005 we moved to specially designed premises in the heart of the city, which enable us to maximise the quality and range of services we offer.

CLASSROOMS
We have seven modern classrooms equipped with the latest technology in electronic Interactive Whiteboards and audio and video facilities.  We also have a multi-media room with computers equipped with special language learning software .

TEACHING STAFF
All our teachers are highly-qualified native speakers with extensive experience of teaching English. Click here to find out more about them.

ADDITIONAL FACILITIES
All students receive free membership of the British Council InfoCentre. Here you can borrow self-study resources such as books, graded readers, over 500 DVDs, audio books, Cambridge exam practice materials and more.

You can also use the multimedia room computers which are equipped with language learning software to help you improve your English outside of class.

SUM UP YOUR LEARNING WITH INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED EXAMS
The British Council in Warsaw and Krakow invite you to our Examinations Services, which offer a wide range of testing services including such globally recognised exams as IELTS, FCE and CAE and many more. Our examinations constitute the best possibility to gain recognition for the time you have devoted to English language learning in our Teaching Centres. To familiarise yourself with our examination offer, please click here.

• Highly qualified and experienced native speaker teachers
• Classes in the centre of Kraków in modern classrooms with audio and video facilities and a multi-media room for computer-aided learning.
• Free British Council InfoCentre membership - opportunity to borrow self-study resources such as books, graded readers, over 500 DVDs, audio CDs, Cambridge exam practice materials and more.
• Free access to a range of computer programmes to help you improve your English
• Free conversation classes every week
• Free learning notebook
• Regular feedback on progress, including individual counselling sessions with your teacher.
• A learner-centred approach that emphasises the importance of communication.
• Contact with contemporary English language and culture
• Thorough preparation for exams, including free mock exams
• Cambridge Examinations Centre in the same building – The British Council administers Cambridge Examinations and IELTS in Poland.

Most of our courses last 16 weeks and classes are 2 x 90 minutes per week. We also have Saturday classes of 1 x 180 minutes, and intensive courses.  Most courses last 46.5 real hours.

Our groups normally have between 6 and 12 students.

All our courses are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF)

Adults	CEF Levels	Can Do (Speaking and Listening)
Elementary 1, 2	A1	Can understand basic instructions or take part in a basic factual conversation on a predictable topic.
Pre-Intermediate 1, 2	A2	Can express simple opinions or requirements in a familiar context
Intermediate 1, 2	B1	Can express opinions on abstract/cultural matters in a limited way or offer advice within a known area, and understand instructions or public announcements.
Upper-Intermediate 1, 2 FCE 1, FCE EXAM IELTS	B2	Can follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics.
Advanced 1, 2 CAE 1, 2, CAE EXAM Advanced Business English	C1	Can contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within own area of work or keep up a casual conversation with a good degree of fluency, coping with abstract expressions
CPE 1, 2, 3 CPE EXAM	C2	Can advise on or talk about complex or sensitive issues, understanding colloquial references and dealing confidently with hostile questions.

GENERAL ENGLISH

Courses for adults (17+) are offered at all levels from beginner to proficiency.

Our General English courses progressively develop your English language and study skills and are carefully designed to help you:

• gain confidence in English
• strengthen your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills
• improve your pronunciation
• expand your vocabulary
• develop grammatical accuracy
• use English in real-life situations

CAMBRIDGE EXAMS PREPARATION COURSES

The British Council administers Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Examinations in Poland. Our courses prepare students for the FCE (First Certificate in English), CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) examinations. FCE and CAE examinations take place in December, March and June. The CPE exam is held twice a year in December and June.

LEGAL ENGLISH

Our advanced level Legal English course for both lawyers and students of Law can help you prepare for the TOLES and ILEC exams. These are internationally recognised exams testing your knowledge of Legal English. The course includes areas such as legal vocabulary, drafting skills, communicating complex ideas in understandable language, and the language used in meetings and negotiations.

BUSINESS ENGLISH

You will learn to communicate more effectively in a range of business situations, while also improving vocabulary and grammar related to business contexts.  The course includes business skills such as giving presentations, managing meetings and writing emails.  These courses will also help you prepare for the internationally recognised Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC).

IELTS PREPARATION COURSES

We offer preparation courses for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. These courses will help you develop all the skills you need to achieve exam success and provide you with essential practice in the reading, writing, speaking and listening papers. The IELTS exam is usually held twice a month at the British Council.

CORPORATE COURSES

Whether at the company’s premises or here at the British Council, we provide top quality language training for our corporate customers. Before the course we will test your employees’ language level and offer you advice about suitable training options. We will also give you regular updates on your employees’ progress throughout the course. We offer language training for groups and for individuals. Our course offer includes:

• Business English
• General English
• Legal English
• Financial English
• Tailor-made training programmes
• Exam Preparation

The British Council Poland is committed to providing all our students with a structured English language learning career that will give each child the opportunity to reach their full potential in a rewarding, stimulating and rich environment.

Our teachers are all qualified native speakers of English with experience in teaching young learners.

You will receive regular written reports about your child’s progress and have the opportunity to attend a Parents Day at the end of each semester.

PRIMARY (7-10 YEARS OLD)

Our Starters, Movers and Flyers courses will give your child a truly rewarding learning experience. Our aim is to:

• Give your child a positive experience of English that they will enjoy and will want to continue with as they get older
• Improve your child’s understanding of the language and develop their skills at interacting in English
• Ensure their success at school.

You have the option of entering your child for a Cambridge Young Learner English Test. These are at 3 levels: Starters, Movers and Flyers

Lessons are 2 x 90 minutes per week.

SECONDARY (11-16 YEARS OLD)

We offer secondary courses at a range of levels. These are divided into classes for 11-13 year-olds (Teenagers) and 14-16 year-olds (Young Adults). In these lessons we aim to:

• Help pupils feel comfortable expressing themselves in English and improve their ability to communicate effectively
• Teach students to use natural language to explore topics that are real and meaningful for them
• Complement their learning at regular school to help them achieve success now and in the future.

TEENAGERS (11-13 YEARS OLD)

Your child will be listening to and singing songs, doing surveys, reading and writing stories, playing grammar and vocabulary games, watching videos, creating posters and speaking about their favourite topics. These courses include computer work for your child to practise language and develop independent skills which will enable them to continue their learning outside the classroom.

YOUNG ADULTS (14-16 YEARS OLD)

Teenagers learn best when they are motivated and challenged. Our aim is to provide a structured and stimulating approach which helps them to see that English has a real purpose for communication.

Your son/daughter will follow a structured learning path with our specially designed syllabuses. The teacher will exploit the coursebook, project work based on graded readers and other resources to provide a balance of carefully planned tasks and activities.

Assessment is an integral part of the course structure. Teachers gather and record information throughout the course from a variety of sources, including class work, homework, language quizzes, informal and formal tests and observation

HOW WE TEACH ENGLISH

While each teacher has their own style and adapts the course to the specific needs of each group, there is a common methodology that all our teachers follow.

THE USE OF ENGLISH IN CLASS

From the first level and the first day you will be encouraged to use English in the classroom to communicate with the teacher and other members of the class.

THE EMPHASIS ON SPEAKING AND LISTENING

Your course includes the study of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary taught through spoken and written English. We want you to be able to communicate effectively with other speakers of English. For this reason, we put special emphasis on speaking and listening.

WORKING IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS

Just as with learning to drive, knowing what to do is only the first step and practice is essential. To develop your fluency and confidence in English you need to maximise your time speaking English and the best way to do this in class is for you to speak to your classmates in pairs or in small groups. At the same time, your teacher will be listening and helping. The more you speak, the easier it becomes to say what you want to say.

ASSESSMENT

To help you progress in your studies, throughout the course the teacher will continually assess your progress in the areas of spoken English (speaking and listening) and written English (reading and writing) based on work done in class and at home. Your teacher will counsel you during the course and at the end. This will be an opportunity to discuss your progress and to consider ways of improving your language learning. If you would like to discuss your progress at any other time, your teacher will be happy to talk to you.

The complete testing and registration process usually takes about one hour and is free of charge.

There are two parts of the placement test: a written test, evaluating both grammar and vocabulary and an oral interview to assess your level of English.

These tests are not pass or fail assessments. They are to evaluate your overall level of English to enable us to recommend the best class for you.

Autumn 2008 term	29 September 2008 - 31 January 2009	Registration from 8 September 2008 Monday – Friday 10-18
Spring 2009 term	28 February 2009 - 27 June 2009	Registration from 2 February 2009
Summer 2009 term I	29 June 2009 – 17 July 2009	Registration from 15 June 2009
Summer 2009 term II	20 July 2009 – 7 August 2009	Registration from 15 June 2009

AUTUMN 2008 SEMESTER
General English for children, teenagers and adults, Cambridge exam courses 46.5 real hours, classes 2 x 1.5 a week	1465zł I instalment 785zł II instalment 7730zł
General English for adults, Cambridge exam courses 48 real hours, classes on Saturdays	1505zł I instalment 805zł II instalment 750zł
Legal English 46.5 real hours, classes 2 x 1.5 a week	1585zł I instalment 845zł II instalment 790zł
Business English 46.5 real hours, classes 2 x 1.5 a week	1465zł I instalment 785zł II instalment 730zł
Intensive IELTS courses 20 real hours, classes on Saturdays	660zł

WHICH LEVEL SHOULD I TAKE?
We provide a testing and counselling service to help you select the right course at the correct level to suit your needs.

WHEN CAN I STUDY AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL?
Both our centres have 16 week Autumn/Winter and Spring courses and 3 week intensive Summer courses. A choice from a variety of days and times is available for our courses. For details of each centre see Warsaw and Krakow. Most classes meet twice a week.

HOW DO I JOIN A BRITISH COUNCIL COURSE?
If you are a new student then you need to take a placement test. For further information please contact bc.krakow@britishcouncil.pl

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE THERE IN A CLASS?
There are usually between 6 and 12 students in a class.

HOW DO I TAKE A PLACEMENT TEST?
Testing takes place before the start of each new course. The test takes about 1 hour and is free of charge. During that time you will speak to one of our teachers, who will help you choose an appropriate class for you. You don’t have to make an appointment, contact bc.krakow@britishcouncil.pl for days and times of the placement tests.

HOW MUCH DO COURSES COST?
A typical semester course of 46.5 real hours costs 1465 PLN.

Payment must be made in full before the start of the course or in two instalments in the time agreed during registration. Payment can be made through a bank or a post office or by a credit card. For more details please click here or contact bc.krakow@britishcouncil.pl

WHAT MATERIALS WILL I USE TO STUDY?
We use modern textbooks and design course materials for the specific needs of our students. We also incorporate the latest computer technology into our courses. In addition to access to the internet, we also use CD-ROMs developed exclusively for British Council Teaching Centres.

The British Council is the UK’s international organization for educational and cultural relations. We are represented in 110 countries and English language education is one of our most important roles. Click here for more information about the British Council.

Tel. 012 428 59 30/39
Fax. 012 428 59 40
e-maIl: bc.krakow@britishcouncil.pl

Rynek Główny 6
Szara Kamienica
31-042 Kraków

OPENING TIMES

8:30 – 19:00