 |
South Africa |
|
 |
Learning the English language |
English language schools and colleges in South Africa
GEOS English Language Colleges have certainly developed an enviable
reputation for providing students with a wonderful cultural experience
whilst at the same time ensuring that their educational goals are achieved.
GEOS Colleges offer an extensive range of long and part-time courses. In
fact, whatever a student's English needs are, they will be met- whether it
be the Cambridge Examinations, IELTS or TOEFL preparation.
South Africa
The
English language
is the language spoken by the greatest number of non-native speaker with 250
million to 350 million non-native speakers, including many in South Africa.
The Republic of South Africa is the country at the southern tip of Africa.
It borders the Atlantic and Indian oceans and Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho, an independent enclave surrounded by
South African territory. South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. The South African economy is the largest in Africa and 24th largest
in the world. Due to this it is the most socially and economically developed
country in Africa.
South Africa has eleven official languages: Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana,
siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and
isiZulu. However, some languages are spoken more than others, as shows in
the 2001 National Census, where the three most spoken languages are
Zulu (23.8%), Xhosa (17.6%) and Afrikaans (13.3%). The country also
recognizes eight non-official languages: Fanagalo, Khoe, Lobedu, Nama,
Northern Ndebele, Phuthi, San and South African Sign Language. These
non-official languages may be used in certain official uses in limited areas
where it has been determined that these languages are prevalent.
Nevertheless, their populations are not such that they require nationwide
recognition. Many white South Africans also speak other European languages,
such as Portuguese, English, German, and Greek, while some Asians and
Indians in South Africa speak South Asian languages.
Tips for choosing an English college
There are many factors to consider when choosing a college to study at.
The amount of choice in schools and colleges that teach English means that
some research is needed to be able to make an informed decision. Visit
the colleges you're interested in and see how you feel walking around their
campuses. Could you imagine yourself going to school there? Make sure to ask
about living conditions, fees, class sizes, financial aid and career
opportunities. Other factors that you may want to research include the size of the college, types
of colleges (private, public, secular or religious), entry requirements, and extra curricular activities
offered. Don't be afraid to talk to people who have been to the colleges you're considering, a
careers advisor, your parents and friends.
|
