General English Course

Students generally attend classes in the morning which follow the same layout as a General English Course. There are 15 hours English classes per week held Monday to Friday and split into two 90 minute lessons per day. Class size is restricted to a maximum of 15 students and all levels are available from Elementary (A1) to Advanced (C1).

Two teachers, covering different prearranged areas of the syllabus, work alternately with each class. One teacher takes the first 90-minute session which focuses on language in use, vocabulary and grammar practice. After a short break, the second teacher starts the next 90-minute session which covers conversational practice, pronunciation, listening and speaking. This work share provides variety for the students and allows them to benefit from different personalities and teaching styles.All our teaching staff are university graduates and are qualified to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL).

Teachers and Staff

All of the staff at “Rugby and English” are committed to offering students the best education during their stay. We inspire students to work diligently to improve in all aspects of the English language.

Our experienced teaching staff are well trained and highly qualified in what they teach. They are up to date with the latest methods in teaching English as a foreign language and combine academic excellence with the sensitivity and receptiveness for each student’s individual needs, talents and potential.

All “Rugby and English” teachers are university graduates with qualifications in teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and are respected for their knowledge and professionalism.

Classes and Activities (and day one)

Classes are on from 9:30 until 13:00 with a 30-minute break at 11:00. After class, there is a 60-minute lunch break. After lunch, depending on the programme, there will be sports, activities or a cultural trip. Students must be ready at the designated time.

The first day in the college is somewhat different to the rest. Students are advised to arrive at 9:00 to allow for unforeseen delays as they may not be familiar with the bus timetable or the route. At 9:30 there will be a short introduction by the camp manager and principal. After there will be an assessment test, which is used to determine the level of English so students can be placed in the appropriate class.

After the test students meet in the main hall again. Here a staff member will go through the college rules and some other important information. The students are then taken on a tour of the college. At the end of the tour, students will be divided into their appropriate classes and attend the second-morning class until lunch time. After lunch students on the general course go on a familiarisation trip, while students on the specialised sports courses have training.

Please note that all students on “Play Rugby and Learn English” programme MUST bring their training equipment with them on the first day (Gumshield included!).

Students on the familiarisation tour will arrive back to the college by approximately 17:00. For further excursions to the city centre, students staying with the host families, do not return to the college but travel directly home to the host family.
Students on “Play Rugby and Learn English” programme will finish training at approximately 17:00 – 17:30.

English Course Certificate

Students will receive the English course materials and workbooks as part of the programme. After completion of the English course, a Certificate of Attendance will be issued to each student. It certifies the progress that has been made and the level of English reached.

Optional:

TIE EXAM (minimum stay 4 weeks)

The Test of Interactive English (TIE)  is a recognized English Language Examination designed specifically to meet the needs of all students coming to Ireland to learn and improve their English. TIE is designed to assess learners’ communicative and interactive skills in both predictable and spontaneous situations.
It assesses the students’ level of language ability in speaking and writing, with the receptive skills (reading and listening) being tested indirectly through preparation for the test and through the skills required to interact effectively during the test.

The test is task-based with the content chosen by each individual learner and can, therefore, be used to assess learners with the following needs and motivations:

• # learners of English for general purposes;
• # learners of English for business, professional or academic purposes;
• # learners of English as a second language.

CERTIFICATE  After taking TIE, each candidate is awarded a certificate recording their 2 grades. This certificate tells candidates their level for each part of the test – oral and written – and awards them a separate grade for each section.

Optionals:

Intensive English

Contact us for more details

English for specific purposes

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Trinity Exam

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Cambridge Exam Preparation

Contact us for more details

Extracurricular Activities

In addition to training, students go on one half day cultural trip per week. These are normally to local visitor attractions such as galleries, museums, sports stadiums or other popular sites. Students travel to the locations with their group leader(s) and one or more “Play Rugby” activity leader. Admission fees are included.
One full day excursion per week, usually on Saturdays, is also included. Students travel to places of interest, normally outside the city, by private bus. Admission fees are included. There are no organised activities on Sundays as many groups, host families or friends like to organise their own day.

Evening activities are held several times every week. These can include discos, Irish nights, karaoke, quiz night, treasure hunts, sports & games competitions, movie nights, barbecues and much more. Evening activities normally take place between 20:00 and 22:00 but this can vary depending on the activity and age group of the students.

The activities programme provides students with an opportunity to absorb some of Ireland’s rich heritage in a fun and relaxed way while also allowing students the opportunity to improve their English. This informal and social aspect of the programme is key to improving language skills. It also allows students from different nationalities to get to know each other outside the classroom. Some of the friendships made at “Rugby and English” will last a lifetime.

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College Accommodation

Boarding schools offer an alternative to the “host family” option for students who wish to immerse themselves in the complete school experience. Boarding offers a unique community orientated way of life and suits students who are outgoing, sporty & adaptable. It offers a comprehensive academic and extracurricular environment which serves to develop each student to their full all-around potential.

The “Rugby and English” campus is a self-contained community, which offers children a degree of independence and freedom to explore whilst providing a safe and secure environment. The well-being of our students is at the heart of our boarding provision. With a generous staff to student ratio, we guarantee round-the-clock care within a happy, well-ordered environment. We encourage staff to cultivate a friendly, lively, family atmosphere to ensure all students feel comfortable, contented and supported while they are away from home.

The College can accommodate residential students on-site, most in comfortable double or triple rooms accommodation. All the accommodation used by the Language School students is of extremely high quality. Each bedroom is either situated very close to our modern wash and toilet facilities or, alternatively, has its own en-suite shower room. Each student will have their own wardrobe, drawers, desk and chair.

The catering facilities provide both hot and cold meals and a wide range of snacks.It is open before school and at break times.

Host family accommodation

Students attending “Rugby and English” should stay with host families. All our families are inspected and carefully selected by our accommodation officers who maintain regular contact with each host family during a student’s stay. Host families are conveniently located to the colleges and most have many years experience looking after students.
 Accommodation is arranged on a full board basis with packed lunch Monday to Saturday.

Students normally share a room with a student of a similar age but of a different nationality. Unless specifically requested and if feasible there is only one student of any particular nationality in each family.
 Students normally travel to classes each day by public transport like bus, DART (suburban train) or LUAS (tram). Private transfers can also be arranged at an additional cost.
Living with a host family gives a perspective into Irish family life. The interaction with a host family plays a prominent role in developing language skills.

Staff and Supervision

All of the staff at “Rugby and English” are committed to offering our students the best education during their stay. We inspire our students to work diligently so they can effectively improve their English proficiency.

Our experienced teaching staff are well trained and highly qualified in what they teach. They are up to date with the latest methods in teaching English as a foreign language and combine academic excellence with sensitivity and receptiveness to each student’s individual needs, talents and potential.
 All “Rugby and English” teachers are university graduates with qualifications in teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and are respected for their knowledge and professionalism.

The activities programme provides students with an opportunity to absorb some of Ireland’s rich heritage in a fun and relaxed way while also allowing students the opportunity to improve their English. This informal and social aspect of the programme is key to improving language skills. It also allows students from different nationalities to get to know each other outside the classroom. Some of the friendships made at “Rugby and English” will last a lifetime.

Students travel to the locations with their group leader(s) and one or more “Play Rugby” activity leader.

All students are supervised by “Play Rugby” activity leaders. During the day, students take part in supervised school classes, training sessions, activities and excursions. During the evening, students will also have a programme of supervised activities.

All the students have 24-hour emergency assistance.