Eurocentres

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Eurocentres Global Language Learning
Company type Private
Founded1948
Headquarters London, England, United Kingdom
Key people
CEO, Stephan Roussounis
ProductsLanguage (English and French) and 21st Century skills, Language Learning, Exam & University preparation courses, teaching preparation, Government consulting
Website www.eurocentres.com

Eurocentres – Global Language Learning is an international language teaching organization with 20 language schools in 13 countries.

Contents

History

The first Eurocentres Language School was founded in 1948 by a Swiss, Erhard Waespi, in Bournemouth and is probably the oldest language school still operating on England's south coast. Waespi believed that learning a language should be an enjoyable, enriching, and personal experience that increased understanding between cultures. In 1960, he handed over his five schools for English (Bournemouth, London), French (Lausanne), German (Cologne – now Berlin), and Italian (Florence), to the Eurocentres Foundation, which he then managed for another 20 years. In 1970, Eurocentres acquired Davies' Schools of English at Cambridge. After 2000, Eurocentres began to expand outside of Europe.

The Eurocentres Global Language Learning has been a consultant to the Council of Europe for the development of the Common European Framework of Reference [1] for language teaching and learning.

For 72 years, Eurocentres was a Foundation Institution owned by Migros Cultural Percentage. The aims foundation implied to promote understanding between people and bridge national, cultural and social barriers.

In 2018, Eurocentres is part of the German firm mvc Education & Career group.

In 2020, Eurocentres was acquired by Bayswater Education, who rebranded the schools to Bayswater in January 2023. [2]

Pioneer Period: 1948–1960

1948: Erhard Waespi opens the first Eurocentres school in Bournemouth.

1959: The early Eurocentres schools come to the attention of the Federation of Migros Cooperatives. Founder Gottlieb Duttweiler takes over and opens three new centres in Florence, Barcelona, and Cologne. 1960: Duttweiler forms an independent Foundation under the Eurocentres name, creating a number of what he terms 'European Language and Educational Centres'. The total number of students studying with the Foundation rises to 4,300.

Initial Expansion Period: 1960–1975

1960: Collaboration with France, Spain, and the USA begins.

1968: Eurocentres receives the "Statut Consultatif de la Catégorie 1" – advisory status in the field of language teaching and learning – from the Council of Europe.

1975: The number of students exceeds 20,000 per year.

Implementation Period: 1975–1985

1975: The first purpose-built school in London showcases innovative classroom design and self-learning facilities, as well as facilities for Computer Assisted Language Learning.

1977: The first purpose-built school in London showcases innovative classroom design and self-learning facilities, as well as facilities for Computer Assisted Language Learning.

1984: Eurocentres Cambridge, the second model school for teaching adults, follows.

Second Expansion Period: 1986–1999

1986: The first purpose-built school for teaching German opens in Cologne.

1988: New center's are opened in countries outside of Europe, including the United States and Japan.

1990: Eurocentres aids in the development of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and is commended by the Council of Europe Language Policy Unit for its contributions.

1991: With the completion of a new purpose-built school in La Rochelle, there are now 3 year-round schools in France – Paris, Amboise, and La Rochelle.

1993: The "Eurocentres Scale of Language Proficiency" is put into practice. It is followed by the development of a computerised language testing system which enables teachers to generate reliable tests according to students' individual needs.

1995: The first consultancy agreements take shape in Switzerland, Spain, and Brazil.

1999: International collaboration leads to partnerships in Canada and Malta.

Third Expansion Period: 2001–2018

2002: There are now two Eurocentres schools in Canada, and further partnerships develop with schools in Malta, Australia and Spain.

2005: There are now two Eurocentres schools across Australia and a centre opens in Auckland, New Zealand.

2006: Cape Town, South Africa, opens its own center.

2007: A new school for teaching German opens in Berlin.

2008: The Eurocentres school network in Australia is completed with the opening of Eurocentres Sydney. Today: Eurocentres remains an internationally recognised organisation, with a network of schools, agencies and offices dedicated to maintaining global dialogues across cultures.

2018: All Eurocentres' English and French activities, including schools in the UK, France, a franchise network, and teaching provisions across the world have been acquired by German firm mvc Education & Career group. CEO and owner Stefan Menden sees Eurocentres as a "synergy" with the company's current portfolio. "Our experience lies in professional development/career services which combine very well with Eurocentres' strategy to teach 21st-century skills," [3] he said.

Schools

Eurocentres offers languages schools in the UK and Ireland (London Victoria, Bournemouth, Brighton, Cambridge, Dublin and Galway); Australia (Cairns) ; Canada (Toronto, Lunenburg and Vancouver); United States (San Diego); France (Paris and La Rochelle), South Africa (Cape Town); Malta (Pembroke);

Previous schools: (Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne); New Zealand (Auckland)); United States (Alexandria, New York and East Lansing); Malta (Sliema); France (Amboise); Switzerland (Lausanne); Spain (Barcelona, Valencia and Marbella); Germany (Berlin); Italy (Florence); Japan (Yokohama-Kanazawa); China (Beijing); Turkey (Istanbul) and Russia (Moscow and Saint Petersburg); .

Courses

Eurocentres offers a variety of language courses from general language instruction, exam preparation (IELTS, Cambridge FCE, Cambridge CAE, Cambridge CPE, TOEFL, DELF, DALF), to Business and Language instruction, work and study programs, and culture courses.

In Turkey they offer an IELTS Course as well

Related Research Articles

Language education – the process and practice of teaching a second or foreign language – is primarily a branch of applied linguistics, but can be an interdisciplinary field. There are four main learning categories for language education: communicative competencies, proficiencies, cross-cultural experiences, and multiple literacies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International English Language Testing System</span> Test for learners of English as a second language

International English Language Testing System is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world. The IELTS test has two modules: Academic and General Training. IELTS One Skill Retake was introduced for computer-delivered tests in 2023, which allows a test taker to retake any one section of the test.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English as a second or foreign language</span> Use of English by speakers with different native languages

English as a second or foreign language refers to the use of English by individuals whose native language is different, commonly among students learning to speak and write English. Variably known as English as a foreign language (EFL), English as a second language (ESL), English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), English as an additional language (EAL), or English as a new language (ENL), these terms denote the study of English in environments where it is not the dominant language. Programs such as ESL are designed as academic courses to instruct non-native speakers in English proficiency, encompassing both learning in English-speaking nations and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages</span> Teacher training qualification

CELTA is an initial teacher training qualification for teaching English as a second or foreign language (ESL and EFL). It is provided by Cambridge Assessment English through authorised Cambridge English Teaching Qualification centres and can be taken either full-time or part-time. CELTA was developed to be suitable both for those interested in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and for Teaching English to the Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The full name of the course was originally the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and is still referred to in this way by some course providers. However, in 2011 the qualification title was amended on the Ofqual register to the Cambridge English Level 5 Certificate In Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) in order to reflect the wider range of students that teachers might have, including younger learners.

A foreign language is a language that is not an official language of, nor typically spoken in, a specific country. Native speakers from that country usually need to acquire it through conscious learning, such as through language lessons at school, self-teaching, or attending language courses. A foreign language might be learned as a second language; however, there is a distinction between the two terms. A second language refers to a language that plays a significant role in the region where the speaker lives, whether for communication, education, business, or governance. Consequently, a second language is not necessarily a foreign language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Migros</span> Swiss retail company

Migros is Switzerland's largest retail company, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It is also one of the forty largest retailers in the world. It is structured in the form of a cooperative federation, with more than two million members.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, abbreviated in English as CEFR, CEF, or CEFRL, is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and, increasingly, in other countries. The CEFR is also intended to make it easier for educational institutions and employers to evaluate the language qualifications of candidates for education admission or employment. Its main aim is to provide a method of learning, teaching, and assessing that applies to all languages in Europe.

Cambridge Assessment English or Cambridge English develops and produces Cambridge English Qualifications and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The organisation contributed to the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the standard used around the world to benchmark language skills, and its qualifications and tests are aligned with CEFR levels.

A language school is a school where one studies a foreign language. Classes at a language school are usually geared towards, for example, communicative competence in a foreign language. Language learning in such schools typically supplements formal education or existing knowledge of a foreign language.

Migros Ticaret A.Ş. is one of the biggest chains of supermarkets in Turkey.[citation needed]

Language proficiency is the ability of an individual to use language with a level of accuracy which transfers meaning in production and comprehension.

Trinity College London ESOL is an international English Language examinations board delivering assessments in English language learning and teaching and has been offering English language examinations since 1938. Trinity College London's exams are taken by over 850,000 candidates in over 60 countries each year.

British Study Centres (BSC) is a group of English language schools consisting of eight adult language schools and seventeen junior centres, including the City Football Language School in partnership with Manchester City, with the majority of schools and centres based in the UK. The head office is located in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. Today, British Study Centres (BSC) specialises in English language training for adults and young learners, teacher training courses for UK and overseas teachers and University Pathway programmes in partnership with NCUK.

Kaplan International is a division of education company Kaplan Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company, formerly known as The Washington Post Company. Kaplan International is headquartered in London and consists of a number of global education businesses including Kaplan International Pathways and Kaplan International Languages. Kaplan International Pathways has partnerships with over 40 universities worldwide and prepares 20,000 international students for university each year. Kaplan International Languages provides English courses, as well as French and German courses after acquiring Alpadia Language Schools in 2019, and it offers a wide range of courses at locations in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain. As a result of government-imposed travel restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kaplan International's revenue fell 13% in 2020 to US$654 million, although still accounted for half of Kaplan Inc.’s total revenue in that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valencian International University</span> Private international university in Valencia, Spain

The Valencian International University (VIU) is a private university in Spain with an international remit. It was founded by the regional government of Valencia in 2008. 70% of it was later acquired by the Planeta publishing house. The university is officially recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Education. It is headquartered in Valencia, Spain.

Eurospeak Language School is an institution that specializes in English language training and cultural exchange. The school was founded in 1991 and is in Reading, United Kingdom. The founder of Eurospeak, Michael O'Brien, died in 2011. Eurospeak also has a "subsidiary" in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Each year, Eurospeak welcomes more than 1,349 students from over 71 nationalities. In May 2018, Eurospeak submitted a planning application to create new premises at Cumberland Place, Southampton. The planning application was approved, and Eurospeak Southampton opened in October 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adele Duttweiler</span> Swiss philanthropist (1892–1990)

Adele Duttweiler was a Swiss philanthropist and the wife of Gottlieb Duttweiler, founder of both the Migros group and the LdU political party.

Klubschule is a group of adult education programs initiated by Adele and Gottlieb Duttweiler. The literally club school is a brand of the Swiss Migros group which provides courses and programmes at about 50 locations throughout Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education</span>

The Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education (ICTE) is a university located in Brisbane, Australia specialising in English language courses, teacher training, professional development, and English language testing.

<i>Migros Magazine</i>

Migros Magazine is a weekly free newspaper of the Swiss retail group Migros. Previously, the magazine Wir Brückenbauer, founded by Migros founder Gottlieb Duttweiler in 1942 and published by the Federation of Migros Cooperatives, was subtitled "Wochenblatt des Sozialkapital".

References

  1. "Eaquals Homepage". Eaquals.org. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
  2. "UK: Bayswater Education acquires Eurocentres".
  3. "Eurocentres English acquired by mvc Education". The PIE.