From Brno to London: Jan’s English language learning experience

Why should students learn English in London?

London is a culturally rich city with various fun activities for students, and we believe it is the best place to make international friends. On top of that, there is no better way to learn English than to immerse yourself in British culture. As an international student, you get plenty of opportunities to practise your skills, from ordering food at a restaurant to shopping at a grocery store and a lot more.

Jan organised his study abroad trip with Alfa agency, and there were options to travel to several cities in England and even throughout Europe, but Jan had his eyes on London. He wasn't keen on living in homestay accommodation because his primary goal was to meet a lot of new people, so the SCL campus experience in London sounded like something he wanted to explore further.

We were glad to hear that our college was Jan’s number one choice!

SCL International College is a modern English language school with quirky designs and British Council-accredited courses. We have campuses in several London locations with an easy commute to all areas of the city. Our college is designed for international students who want to make the most of their time in London. We offer an all-inclusive experience with accommodation, English lessons, excursions, catering and social activities.

First impressions of London from an international student perspective

"We have a very small airport in Brno, I think three gates, so arriving at Stansted was a shock," Jan laughs.

"The people in London were very nice." From his first moment of arriving in London, Jan was pleased that everyone was amiable and helpful. Jan admitted that he didn't expect such a friendly attitude in this big city.

At some point, he was unsure about public transport or how to use the Oyster Card, but not for long; soon after, a kind Londoner helped him to find his way to our Camden Town campus.

We recommend getting an Oyster Card once you arrive in London. Oyster Card is a smart card that you add money to and can travel on a bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, IFS Cloud Cable Car and Thames Clippers River Bus services. Many contactless bank cards issued outside the UK can be used as an alternative, however, most travellers prefer the Oyster Card because it helps them save on overseas transaction and conversion fees. For more information about different types of Oyster Cards, please visit tfl.gov.uk.

SCL's all-inclusive campus helps new foreign students make friends fast

As we mentioned earlier, Jan stayed at our Camden Town campus, located opposite Camden Market. Jan describes his check-in experience: "People at reception were very nice. I felt very welcomed."

Jan was impressed by our modern facilities and his studio room. He added full catering to his booking so he could enjoy meals on campus and he appreciated that he didn't need to worry about breakfast, lunch or dinner.

After lessons and off-campus, he met with his newfound group of friends, and they travelled around London. Jan was fascinated by the city’s monuments such as the London Eye and Buckingham Palace, to name a few. In his free time, he also enjoyed using the gym or meeting with classmates and friends during weekly events such as karaoke or disco.

“Meeting new people helped me to improve my English,” he confirms.