If you are looking to learn or improve your English, our vote is a language holiday in Cape Town. Not only is this city one of the most beautiful destinations to visit in the world, it is also home to numerous English language training schools. You have a number of options for where to refine your English in Cape Time and what is more, you can spend the rest of your time adventuring up Table Mountain, relaxing on Camps Bay beach or wine tasting at some of the world’s finest wine farms.
South Africa is a land rich in lingual diversity. Believe it or not, there are 11 official languages in South Africa. Two of these official languages came from the European languages that were brought to South Africa many centuries ago: English and, what originated from Dutch, Afrikaans. The remaining nine official languages are of African origin and these include: Zulu, Xhosa, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Tsonga, Venda, Ndebele and Swati. Amidst the abundant languages spoken in the country, English is described as “an urban language of public life, widely used in the media, business and government”, it is the common language of communication in the cities and is widely used throughout the country.
As SouthAfrica.com explains, the English that is spoken in South Africa was derived from the British Settlers in the 1820s and as a result, the English that is taught at schools throughout the country are based on the British grammatical system.
As mentioned, there are a host of English language training schools in Cape Town for you to choose from so we thought we’d make the task a little easier for you. That way you have more time to plan the adventures you want to take in your Rentacheapie vehicle ;)
The truth is, the school you choose will largely depend on your needs... and your budget. There are several categories you can select from for learning English in Cape Town. You could be looking for a general English course, English test preparation courses (from TOEFL to GMAT), business English, English teacher training or even a speciality English course (such as sightseeing or cycling). Language International have curated a very useful list of their top recommended schools in the city. This list includes a breakdown by prices as well as courses for you to choose from.
Their site also provides a lot of details for you; from insights on topics covered by course to detail descriptions of on site facilities and reviews from past students. You will also need to consider how much time you have for your language holiday. Are you looking for a shorter, more crash course, option? Or could you extend your stay for 6-12 weeks? You might even be able to take a full year off to study English abroad. You need to consider if you are going to be studying part time or full time over the course of your stay and if you are looking for learning in a group setting or in a private, one to one, context.
While private learning can be incredibly valuable, if you are on a language holiday, group courses provide a great way to meet people with similar mindsets and if the group sizes aren’t too large, you can learn a lot from your peers. Many colleges also offer group trips that are great to experience with classmates you’ve connected with.
If you are looking for a school that looks after all your needs from accommodation to classes, you can consider options such as Good Hope Studies. GHS has two English language schools in Cape Town, so you can choose to be right in the city centre or in the quiet (and very beautiful) suburb of Newlands. This school offers a variety of options including morning courses, full day courses, English for work, IELTS and TOEFL courses, Cambridge courses and private lessons. They even offer a full year programme as well as volunteering opportunities you can be involved in across a number of Southern African regions. Furthermore, they offer teacher training courses (CELTA and DELTA) and they can also assist you with homestay, on-site, student residence or student housing accommodation for your stay.
What is great about visiting an English speaking country is the informal language training you get through just doing life there. In Cape Town there are various ways to improve your English outside of the classroom. The first step is to simply speak the language, wherever you go, with whoever you meet. South Africans are known for being incredibly friendly and most of them enjoy a little banter. If talking to strangers doesn’t come too naturally for you, you can sign up for an Airbnb Experience, where locals are your personal hosts for experiences from hiking to surfing - there is definitely something for everyone.
Another advantage of being in an English language speaking country is that the media you consume is in English. You can get into some local TV while visiting South Africa or treat yourself to an outdoor open air cinema experience in Kirstenbosch gardens or another beautiful location.
The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in a country where the language is spoken. With the fun and adventure found in the beautiful city of Cape Town, we couldn't recommend this destination more for your next steps in English speaking journey!