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News

Here are some recent news stories from Embassy London:

HomeStay of the Year

Doreen Lee was voted Homestay of the Year by students at Embasy London. Doreen has been hosting students for 8 or 9 years and one significant thing she has learnt from the experience is tolerance. She likes hosting students from Embassy because she gets support when she needs it, and particularly enjoys hosting students from Taiwan and South America.

Below Doreen answers a number of questions about her hosting experiences:

What do you do to make students feel welcome?
I don't have any rules except that students must call when they are going to be late. I tell them to treat my house as their own. I encourage students to have their friends round and to stay because they are far from home.

Why do you host?
Originally I had a friend who was an Accommodation Officer and she asked me if I'd like to host. Then my husband died and I had time on my hands. 

Have you had any problems?
Just one. I had a nice Chinese rug in the students room and it was a bit large so it kept getting caught in the door. Rather than move the rug one of them cut the end off it!

What sort of things do you do to encourage student to practise their English? 
I ask them to stay when I have friends visit (and not scuttle upstairs to their room), so that they are included in the conversation and get the opportunity to practice their English with someone else besides me.

Embassy London student attains 7.5 in IELTS

Nonna Polonskaya has received one of the highest possible IELTS scores - 7.5 - after completing an examination preparation course at Embassy London.

She now aims to apply for City University in London. Nonna followed a four-week IELTS preparation course with Embassy. She says: "I'm really happy with my results. All I need now is good luck and patience, because City University have got all my documents and I'm waiting for their decision.

"I can call myself rather an experienced student in that I have sampled several schools abroad. All of them promised effective, joyful and positive ways of improving your English level.

"While some schools have failed with their promises, the staff at Embassy, as well as the hospitable, friendly atmosphere, fulfilled and even exceeded all my expectations.

"My IELTS result was the effect of well-organised, creative work in lessons, the valuable help of teachers, and of course a number of social activities aimed at enriching and practising the student's knowledge. I'm very grateful to all my advisers and teachers that helped me to make my study in London not only successful but unforgettable!"

IELTS scores go up to 9, but 7.5 is considered 'proficient'; the student is thought of as completely fluent. We wish Nonna the very best of luck. Find out more about our IELTS preparation courses.

Update on Nonna

We are pleased to report that Nonna was accepted to do a Business Masters course at CASS (City University Business School). CASS is in the top 20 business schools in Europe, according to the Financial Times league table. Congratulations, Nonna!

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