FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

• About the school

• About Whitby

• Accommodation

• Arrival  

• Bookings

• Certificates

• Costs

• Courses

• Entry to the courses  

• Exams

• I.T. Facilities

• Group Bookings

• Money in Britain

• Payment

• Social activities

• Student nationalities

• Travel  

About the school

What are the attractions of your school?

The school is residential and situated in an attractive red-brick Victorian building with a large garden, 500 metres from the beach and town centre. The school is well-equipped with a language laboratory and listening centre as well as a computer room where students can work on guided activities outside class times. 

Most of our students choose this school for its atmosphere of international Christian friendship - we welcome students from all Christian churches as well as students of any faith or none - we aim to make everyone equally at home. We start each day with a 25 minute service of worship which is led by both staff and students, and we encourage links with local churches. There is a weekly fellowship meeting where Christian speakers share their experience of missionary work; Bible study classes; and help for students preparing to enter a Bible College. However, all these Christian activities are optional.

We are a quiet, caring school and we welcome families with children – in the summer we offer residential courses for juniors from age 12 to 16. We encourage students to make friends from all over the world. We have courses at all levels from Beginner to Advanced, as well as short vacation courses in the summer for adults and young people.  

What are the attractions for overseas students of learning in your town or city?

Whitby is a small Yorkshire town on the North East coast of England between Middlesbrough and Scarborough – its small alleys and historic buildings create a beautiful setting. It is a town of around 14,000 people and is situated at the heart of the North York Moors National Park, which provides many opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling and sailing. It has a three kilometre stretch of sandy beach which is a popular attraction during the summer months and there is an attractive harbour which is used by both fishing boats and sailing craft. The town has been the inspiration for many writers including Bram Stoker, Lewis Carroll and more recently, Kate Atkinson. The beauty of the area has provided the setting for the well known television series, ‘Heartbeat’, but the historic atmosphere of the town has also been used for the filming of many recent movies including ‘Captain Jack’, ‘Shackleton’, ‘Harry Potter’, and ‘Possession’.

Are there any interesting customs in your town/city (events, food, dress, dance, festivals etc) What is the history behind them?

The summer time is the most important for local festivals, and every August the Whitby Regatta is held, including sailing and rowing races, various air displays e.g. by the Red Arrows, a programme of events and a fireworks display over the harbour as a finale. This festival draws on the heritage of Whitby as a fishing and sailing town.

Also in August, we host Whitby Folk Week, and the town is filled with colourful dancers for a week, performing dances on every street corner, and organising concerts of British folk music. For lovers of traditional music, there are also folk festivals in May (Moor & Coast Festival) and June (Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend)

The town and the area have many connections with the famous sailor and navigator Captain Cook, and in addition to a museum in his memory, there is an annual festival in his honour in October, including heritage trails, treasure hunts, concerts, exhibitions and guided walks.

The World Music Festival in October offers a wide-ranging choice of music including samba, gypsy, African, Indian and South American music all staged over a weekend at the Whitby Spa Pavilion.  

The Whitby Gospel Music Convention has been running since 1999.  It is an annual event that bring together artistes from Europe and America for a weekend of worship, witness and outreach. It takes place in May and artistes appearing at the 2003 convention include Helen Shapiro, Dave Bilbrough, the band Inheritance and Whitby's own Gospel singer/songwriter Paul Wheater.

Many interesting foods can be bought here, including traditionally cooked kippers (smoked herrings) which are still made in the town, a wide variety of locally caught seafood, fish and chips everywhere, and many different kinds of baking in the cafes and teashops.

  See our accommodation page for details

 Do you organise accommodation ?

Yes – we can arrange residential accommodation in the school, homestay with families or in rented flats or houses.

 What is the accommodation like?

Residential accommodation in the school is simple, with small rooms, and shared bathrooms. You can see photos of this in our brochure or on our website.

 Do you provide food?

Yes. Lunches are served family style at tables and students have a opportunity to talk with each other and with staff. We ask students who eat in the school to share with the serving and washing up – normally 3 times a week.

Would it be possible to stay in this time in a Christian family?

Yes. We try to arrange a family that will meet your needs. However, do try to remember that it is not always possible for us to arrange everything you want. Not everyone’s ideas of being a Christian is exactly the same, so it is good to come with an open mind, to learn from the people you meet. We do monitor our host families very carefully and if there is a problem then we can arrange for you to move your accommodation.

Do you provide a private bathroom ?

If you want a private bathroom we can arrange a hotel room or rented accommodation for you. Please contact us for details.

Do you provide TV?

TV’s are available in the school but not in individual rooms. We put on videos for student 3 nights a week and we encourage students to watch the news etc. Students are not allowed to rent videos for their own use.

Can I make food and drinks for myself?

There are facilities in the school for you to make food – a microwave, hot water, cups and plates etc. We recommend that you make food in our Dining room and not in your bedroom because of the fire risk.

What kind of accommodation for families do you offer?
Couples can share double rooms in the school. Families with children can rent flats of house in Whitby.

What is the cost of rented accommodation and how high will the costs of living be?  

If you require rented accommodation, our Welfare Officer will try to find you accommodation of a good standard at a reasonable rent. Whitby attracts many tourists during the summer months and, as a result of this, rented accommodation is more expensive during these months. Generally speaking, rents for flats are £120 to £150 per week at most times of the year but during the tourist season (July and August) you can expect to pay around £250 or more. These costs do not include electricity, gas, water and other bills.  The cost of living in Whitby compares favourably to that of other parts of the United Kingdom, particularly Southern England.

Do you organise a nursery for children?

      Yes.  

Arrival

What day of the week do the courses start?

We ask students to arrive on Saturday or Sunday at the weekend so that they can start  their course on the Monday. Normally a student will have a test on the Monday, a tour of the school, and then be placed into a class that day.

Bookings

Am I too late to come – the course starts in 3 weeks?

            No. Please come, we will be delighted to see you.

Is it acceptable to try a "last minute" reservation? Of course, I will fully understand if you're not able to accept me on a short notice, but... can I try?

We like to know in advance how many students are coming so that we can plan ahead. Normally we can accept bookings at any time, but in the summer months we are often very busy and we may not have enough accommodation if you book late. However, if you want to live in a rented flat or house we need to know at least 3 months in advance!  

What certificate will I get when I finish the course or pass an examination?

Every student receives a certificate from Functional English that says how long they studied and at what level. Students who take and pass an exam will receive a certificate after the results are published.

Costs

How much does it cost?

See our Prices and Dates page for details

Does it include accommodation?

See our Prices and Dates page for details

What are the minimum hours per week you offer and how much does it cost?

Our normal courses include 20 hours of teaching per week. We can also offer courses that include 15 hours of teaching in mornings only.

Is it possible to study and work (part-time job) to pay for my course fee at the same time?

Students on student visas (staying more than 6 months) can work part-time during courses and during holidays between courses..

Can I get part-time work in the school or in the local town?

 We do not have work in the school, but there may be some work in the town. However, we do not provide an employment service so you will need to look for work yourself.

What type of meals do you offer ?

Students in homestays eat lunches in the school on weekdays and all other meals with the hosts. Students who rent a flat or house normally buy and cook their own food, although we can provide lunches in the school at extra cost.

What types of room do you have ?

In the school we have single rooms, double (shared) rooms and 3 or 4 bed shared rooms.

What is the fee for registration?

You should pay a £40 enrolment fee at the time you enrol. We do not give this back if you cancel your enrolment.

What is the fee for airport pick-up service from a regional airport in Northern England?

A popular regional airport is Manchester Airport and the cost is £85 to £95  (one journey)

Which courses do you run?

            See our Courses Pages for details

 How long are the courses ?

You can come for as little as one week or for a whole year. Exam preparation courses are normally at least 10 weeks. We teach for 4 terms in a year, and most students start at the beginning of a term, because exam preparation courses start then. However we will welcome you to start a course at any time of the year.

 What is the number of lessons?

Our normal courses include 20 hours of teaching per week. We can also offer courses that include 15 hours of teaching in mornings only.

 Do you teach Missions at the same time as teaching English?

We are not a Bible college and our main classes are in English. However, we offer Bible study classes, Mission practical lessons, and preaching opportunities for students who want to prepare for missionary work or study. We are also happy to help students prepare for Bible College entry study.

 Is your College accredited by the British Council?

            Yes. We are inspected every 4 years.

What kind of courses do you have for beginners and when will they start?

            Yes. Please arrange to start at the beginning of a term.

Do you offer a TEFL course?

            No. We do not offer any teacher training courses.

Do you offer further study ?

We do not offer further study courses, but we can help you to find out about further study at Universities and Colleges in Britain.

I'd like to know the class size. 

Although we have maximum class size of 14, our average class size is 11 students.

Do you organise any other classes for students?

Students can choose practical classes in cookery, photography or computers as well as special subject classes in Business, Study or Medical English.    

Entry to the course

What standard of English do you expect for taking your course?

We do not require any standard of English – we are happy to accept Beginners as long as they can read and write in the Roman alphabet. However, if someone cannot (e.g. students from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Arab countries) then we would advise that they study some English before they come.

 Can you help me to get the student visa?

Once you enrol with us and send the enrolment fee, we will send you an enrolment certificate. You will need this to apply for a visa. We cannot apply for a visa – you must apply yourself at the nearest British Embassy or Consulate. Please leave enough time for your application to be processed and make sure that you provide all the information they ask for.

 If they won't give me a visa, will my money be returned?

If you are refused a visa, you should be given a written statement of the reason. Please let us know what this says – we may be able to help. We would not refund the enrolment fee, but we would refund any fees you have paid.

Where can I get an application form?

You can find an enrolment form on our website at www.funenglish.co.uk/enrol/index.html or in our printed brochure. If you do not have one, then contact our office, who will be happy to send you a form.

 How should I send the application form to you - by e-mail or post ?

If you use the form on our website, it will send an email to us if you click on the ‘Send’ button. If you cannot access this, then send details to us by email, fax or post.  

Exams

  See our Exams Pages for details

Is it possible in your school to take a language test or examination?

            Yes – see our exams page for more details

Do you offer Cambridge Exam Courses?

Yes – see our exams page for more details

Do you have TOEFL or TOEIC courses ?

Yes – see our exams page for more details

When do the exams start?

Yes – see our exams page for more details

 What is the last date to enter the exams?

Normally the closing date for each Cambridge exam is 2 or 3 weeks after the beginning of our exam course.

 How much do exams cost?

Exams start at £28 for the Key English Test. and go up to £80 for the IELTS test (prices in pound sterling and current at June  2003).

From your school, can I send and receive emails? 

All students have free access to email from the school's computer room.  Students use the general e-mail address for the school, and can store e-mails  in their own personal folder.

Can students access the Internet free of charge in the school?

Free Internet access is available in the school every afternoon and evening on a designated computer in the school's computer room  There is a booking system in operation so that all students get a fair chance of using the Internet. The school has also arranged with the local library for students to use the computers in the IT Suite there.  The library is just a short walk from the school and Internet access there is available for a small charge.  

Can I bring my own laptop/notebook PC with me and connect to the Internet?

Students can bring their own laptop/ /notebook PC with them and plug it into a connection in the school to gain access to the Internet. However, this connection is outside the school’s computer network, so the student needs to make sure that both a suitable firewall and up-to-date anti-virus software is installed on the computer.  The school cannot accept any responsibility for any damage caused to a personal computer whilst using this connection. 

Do you offer a free place for a group leader?

We are happy to offer a free place for a leader of a group who brings at least 6 full paying students.

 How many students can you accept in a group?

Because we are a small school, we are not able to accept large groups. Please contact us if you are interested in bringing a group.

Travel

Will it be possible to travel around?

There are many opportunities to travel around. The school organises visits each Saturday and a longer trip at the half-term break e.g. to Scotland or the Lake District. We can advise students on making their own travel arrangements by bus, train, coach or hired car.

When I arrive in Whitby with the National Express, how can I get to your school ?

If you tell us when you are arriving in Whitby, we will meet you at the bus station. If you arrive at a different time, then phone the school or take a taxi. There is a taxi stand near the bus station.  

Money in Britain

Can I get money from a cash dispenser in Whitby?

Yes, all banks in Whitby have cash dispensers which accept international cash  cards such as those with the ‘Cirrus’ symbol and credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard.

Is it easy to take Traveller's Cheques?

            Yes.

Can I open a bank account?

Can I pay for goods and services in Whitby using Euros?

No, but you can change your Euros at the main post office or any bank for pound sterling.  There may be a small commission fee for doing this.

           See our Prices and Dates page for details

 How do I pay the enrolment fee?

           See our Prices and Dates page for details

 What kinds of discounts do you offer? 

Our prices are highest in July and August for short courses. If you want a lower price, then try to come at another time – our courses are cheapest between January and March. If you stay for a full course then we also offer a lower price per week.

 How should I pay - in advance or after my coming there? 

You should pay in advance. However, if you enrol a short time before the course starts, then we will accept payment when you arrive. We do not offer credit – fees must be paid before the course starts.

 What amount of money do I have to pay in advance?

Full fees should be paid in advance for short courses. However, for students staying more than one month we are happy to accept payment monthly, in advance. 

What activities do you organise for students?

Each term we organise a welcome evening for students, an international song contest, and a farewell evening. Every week we organise a fellowship evening at which students and visiting speakers talk about their life and their work; we also provide regular showings of well-known videos.  

What excursions do you organise for students?

We also organise a Saturday activity for students which may involve a visit to the city of York, a shopping trip to Scarborough, a country walk along the coast from Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby, a theatre trip to Hull, an opportunity to take art in one of Whitby’s many festivals, or a classical concert at the Whitby Music Club. The programme varies throughout the year.

Do you organise events that bring international students together with native English speakers?

Students learn English by speaking - all students must speak English in the school and we arrange opportunities for them to talk to local people. We organise many opportunities for all students to meet British people through home visits to English homes, international food and song evenings, sports, traditional dancing at barn dances and country walks e.g. on the Cleveland way path that follows the Yorkshire coast from Filey to Saltburn.. The community in Whitby has for many years welcomed students with open arms and people have made lasting friendships here. Local clubs and churches too give a warm welcome to our students.

Student nationalities

How many students do you have from my country?

Naturally we do not know in advance how many students we will have from each country. However, we try to ensure that there is a good mixture of students in the school and we insist that all students use English in the school with each other so that there is the maximum opportunity to learn. Normally we have a good mixture of nationalities – the main countries are Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Korea, the Netherlands and Japan.

Do you have an amusing/interesting story about one of your students (e.g. misunderstandings, unusual experience, culture shock etc)?

If you want an illustration of the best way to improve your English, then I should mention an Italian student who unfortunately broke his ankle quite badly while he was playing a game in our garden, and had to be admitted to hospital for a few days. When he came out, his English had improved greatly and I asked him what he had done. He said that he had spent all his time in hospital talking to anyone who would listen – the nurses, the other patients, visitors. As a result, and because he had nothing else to do, he had improved. I don’t recommend that every student goes to such lengths to learn, but it is amazing how much students can learn if they are ready to join local groups such as the Photographic society, the Ballroom dancing club or the Rambling club – they are welcomed warmly and have the opportunity to speak English regularly.