Does anyone know anything about the Callan method of teaching English as a second language?

[legalalien]

(am helping my potential new au pair out with finding summer classes in English. Any other suggestions as to good grammar focused English classes in centralish London also welcome!)

TIA

The Callen method as used at the English House school (Fulham or Putney) is basically reading from a book twice ie reading outloud the same sentence twice whilst the student follows what the teacher said. My first au pair tried it and declared it boring boring boring. My second au pair agreed. Now I use South Thames College, if you are located south of the river. I can highly recommend it. Their entry dates are Sept / Jan and March. I think they run a summer school

Used to be a TEFL teacher (not a very good one mind) - Callan method is where you learn things by rote, parrot style and is therefore rubbish in my book. Communicative methods (where you learn by using the language in real or pretend situations, along with some grammar input) are best I think.

Ooh and the school I used to work at -Central School of English - is v v good.

I used to be a TEFL teacher too (plantsitter, I'm sure you were marvellous!).

I agree with plantsitter. Funnily enough I was just a few steps from their building at 2am yesterday and was recalling how awful they were.

That said I did know someone who studied there and felt he learned well...but he also turned out to be extremely untrustworthy so perhaps his opinion doesn't count for much!

I would send her to a local education college - the same teachers that work in the private sector will also work for colleges. She'll pay far less and will get just as good tuition.

CityLit is excellent for just about everything: www.citylit.ac.uk

hmm, sounds ghastly. I will pass that message on!

The au pair's only going to be here for a month, which I sort of thought would rule out LEA classes as opposed to the more flexible "private" classes. I will check.

thanks!

Do check - there are often summer schools around - I used to teach on one.