FAQs

Will my level of English be tested?
Yes. We assess your speaking and listening ability in a relaxed and informal way when you arrive. There is no written test.

Will I be put into a group at my level?
Yes. We have up to 4 levels, from basic conversation to advanced.

So what can I do if I am a beginner?
If you haven't studied English before we recommend that you do a course in your own country before coming to England.

I studied English many years ago at school but now I'm nervous about speaking English. Would this be the right school for me?
Yes. We specialize in helping you to activate passive language. Because you will be hearing only English, all day every day, you will remember your English very quickly.

What about the other people on the course? Where are they from? How old are they?
There are 20 students living at Nab Cottage at any time. They are from all over the world. The minimum age is 18 and the oldest people could be in their 70s. The mix is always different.

Who is the course for?
It is for anyone interested in a whole person approach to learning. We have created this course after many years working in the fields of education and personal development. The course will inspire cooperation, build community, develop confidence, enable communication and enjoy celebration.

You say it is experiential learning. What is this?
We like the saying of Confucius to illustrate this.

Tell me and I will forget.
Show me and I may remember.
Involve me and I will understand

Will there be traditional teaching as I'm used to?
There certainly will. And there will also be a lot more.

How many teaching hours are there?
The course begins when you arrive at Nab Cottage and ends when you leave. We say there are 35 contact hours a week though even this is often an under-estimate.

Do I need to join in all the activities?
No, you don't. You can always decide to join in or not. However we do ask everyone here to speak only in English at all times in all public places. There is a lot of support and guidance and you can discuss things with us at any time.

What about weekends?
Saturday is a free day though we'll suggest different options and often small groups of people here will go off together, either to a local town by bus, for a walk in the hills, or organise a trip further away to Chester or Lancaster. On Sunday we do a longer walk with anyone who wants to join us. We then have a long dinner in the evening and meet the new students.

How long do people generally stay at Nab Cottage?
The average stay is about 3 weeks, though some people stay for up to 3 months.

Do many people come back?
Yes, over the years we've had an astonishing return rate - many people come again and again, many refer families, friends, and work colleagues.

Can I have extra one to one?
Yes. Sometimes people ask for specific extra training; for work, travel or business. We organise this during afternoons or evenings and charge £30 per hour.

Will I need a lot of spending money?
No. Unlike other schools where students need to go out and spend money in order to socialise and practise English, at Nab Cottage this isn't necessary. During the afternoon, evening and at weekends there is a programme of activities designed to activate language in a natural and motivating way.

Will I be able to reserve a specific bedroom?
The earlier you book the more choice you'll have over the bedrooms.