Bristol Language Centre

In September 2011 I spent 4 weeks at the Bristol Language Centre, taking an intensive course. The school is pretty good located at the center. The rooms are normally quite small, but it’s okay. The teaching quality also differs from teacher to teacher, but in general they are quite friendly and open to help you. Unfortunately we (me + gf) had serious trouble with our accommodation. When we arrived on Sunday at the king square studios, we were told, that they didn’t have any records of us, so we had to spend the first night at the hotel. The next day we spoke to the accommodation officer of the Bristol Language Center. She told us there was a misunderstanding and arranged finally a room and the hotel expenses were refunded. Actually that wasn’t the way we wanted to start in Bristol, but mistakes can happen. So get over it and look at the bright sight. Although we booked in advance a double room, we just recieved a single room. Despite we were told, that the normal/​standard stuff you need for cleaning, washing, cooking or sleeping would be there, it wasn’t there at the beginning. Everything seemed quite improvised. After complaining again to the accommodation officer of the BLC about the room situation. We were told that the room we have they regarded as double room, which was quite ridiculous since in the King square studios there were real double studios. We even were told, that because England is a island, there’s not much place, so we should get used to the small size of the room. We asked the accommodation officer to organize a bigger room and in the mean time for example a second chair or a larger blanked for the bed. But she wasn’t really interested to help us. It took her 3 weeks to organize a second chair. We never got a larger room nor a larger blanked for the rest of our visit in Bristol. Some mates from the Bristol language center also told us weird stories about their accommodation. As far as I can tell the the school really lacks of professional administration. Although you pay a lot of money in advance, they don’t treat you really a customer. I absolutely understand that a mistake can happen. But not three in a row.

This is a review for anyone in Bristol to improve their English!
The Bristol Language Centre is an impressively run organisation, they seem to be constantly expanding and offering new services and ways to take your money!
Their facilities are second to none, to support any lessons or courses you might take there’s a whole host of helpful online based resources.
It’s location is great, the teachers are all qualified and experienced, their flexible courses mean you should be able to fit something in around work. They offer both daytime and evening sessions.
Fees are fees, any language learning is always going to be expensive, I think these are as reasonable as any other though. They can also help you find accomodation.