Find English tutors near me in Bloemfontein

Where the Dickens Are You?

You find yourself in the heart of South Africa, in Bloemfontein (“fountain of flowers”), also called The City of Roses. This is a quaint city with a country feel because it lacks the noise and bustle of most urban spaces. This city, set in the centre of a nature reserve, is dotted with character-filled, historic sandstone buildings harking way back to early South African history. You’re now in the land of cheetahs and hobbits, as the city is also known as Mangaung (where cheetahs roam) and is the birth town of JRR Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings. A fascinating location to study English, don’t you think?

History buffs would revel in the splendid Anglo-Boer War Museum and The National Museum, both highly regarded by historians. Naval Hill houses one of the most advanced planetariums in South Africa as well as a statue of the country’s first democratically elected president, the widely revered Nelson Mandela, which looks directly towards the birthplace of the African National Congress, previously a banned liberation movement, now a political party.

‘Bloem’, as it is affectionately known, also renowned for its natural splendour and warm hospitality, has an impressive array of accommodation options, as well as numerous institutions which offer opportunities for the pursuit of educational study and the conducting of research.

Why Study English?

Very often, and even more so in our increasingly technological world, young people, in particular, do not recognise the need to study a language, like English for example. So, they may be attracted to study medicine, if they have the aptitude, or IT (Information Technology), computer science, graphic design and human resource management, commonly called HR. Some, unfortunately, find themselves to be a square peg in a round hole.

Few students consider that their very lecturers, in the first instance, had to study and, therefore, make sense of their chosen subject through the medium of language with English playing that role on a global scale. A good grasp of English can, no, will facilitate your learning in any subject you can think of. Not only that, it will ramp up the rate (think speed; how fast) at which you can process information. A very pertinent example is a close relative who speed reads a document before her boss, an accountant, has read one-third of it. Such is the power of a good grasp of English!

Have you ever been inspired by a great speech by a mayor, politician or actor or even just by a one-liner like, “I’m having an old friend for dinner” in The Silence of the Lambs or the classic, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” from Gone with the Wind. These were all written by some or other screen-writer. Even the line, “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind,” was crafted somewhere by someone with an aptitude for crafting impactful, attention-grabbing English.

A solid background in English can, thus, propel you in so many career directions. If you don’t engage in conventional journalism, writing for a magazine or newspaper, you may decide to write a daily blog or even compose text for vlogs (video logs).Movies (film) and even nature programmes and documentaries all draw on the skills and finesse of writers, as does the drafting of legal documents and even something as magnificently important as a country’s constitution. So, in a world where so many people have capitulated to technology and communicate in techno-speak (abbreviations, …. and emoticons), the great skill of crafting a document in grammatically correct English, has never been more important and, dare I say, rare!

Where Can I Study English?

Opportunities for following a course of study in English are numerous and varied. Offerings range from participation in full-time study at the University of the Free State, studying online, with or without a tutor, to short-term immersion programmes. The latter option allows for a student to learn English from a qualified and experienced native speaker, whilst the student is domiciled in the tutor’s home. You, the student, will learn at your own pace and practise spoken English through informal conversation with the host family, their friends and neighbours. This is really a brilliant way for a non-English native to learn how to speak English fluently.

A student, seeking a full academic degree, would benefit greatly from enrolling at The University of the Free State (UFS) with its comprehensive course offerings. UFS, as a dynamic, responsive institution of higher learning, has kept abreast of global trends which have seen institutions focus more closely on the links between education and democracy, even as the student’s basic skills of reading, writing and speaking are honed. The English department consists of two academic streams, namely Linguistics and English Literary and Cultural Studies. Both streams will expose students to a variety of texts which relate to specific historical periods and movements. They are also tied to South African and global contexts. Students are given a thorough grounding in reading, writing, analytical, interpretative and oral communication skills which are central to critical and creative debate in contemporary South Africa.

Short courses are also available to satisfy specific short-term goals of learners. Students, wishing to teach overseas, can pursue a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) or TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) course.

Finding an English Tutor in Bloemfontein

Students, who feel that they require additional support, can seek the assistance of a professional English tutor. Numerous tutors will aid students to write essays or examinations better. One private institute offers exposure to English communication classes, adult conversation classes, how to write an academic essay and study methods. A brief search for English tutors in Bloemfontein will bring up several pages of results. So, there’s no shortage there, at all. Superprof, a tutoring company, has a comprehensive list of tutors, some of who conduct all kinds of adult education classes. Lessons are reasonably priced, with the first one usually being free. Interaction between student and tutor can be face to face or online. With so many options available to you, the ball’s really in your court. What are you waiting for?