Welcome to England

Welcome to ELC Schools. If your goal is to make rapid progress and achieve fluency faster, you have come to the right place. We offer an excellent selection of intensive, full-time English courses delivered in a warm, friendly and professional environment.

Our three centres in Brighton, Chester, and Eastbourne provide the perfect setting to immerse yourself in the English language. Each school has its own unique character, but they all share our core mission: providing comprehensive, practical courses and a very personal service.

Our teaching teams are passionate about what they do. They are dedicated to creating a supportive atmosphere where you can build your skills and confidence. This intensive approach is proven to accelerate learning, focusing on real-world communication rather than just textbooks. We have many years of experience helping students master English, and we look forward to welcoming you.

Course features

Comprehensive language level testing to ensure you start in the most suitable class.
Small class sizes guaranteed, with an average of just nine students.
A practical, balanced curriculum covering all four core skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Personalised attention and detailed feedback from highly experienced teachers.
An immersive, structured format designed to accelerate your learning and rapid progress.
Learning carried out in classic, historical school buildings with up-to-date, modern language learning facilities.

What is Intensive English?

So, what exactly is an intensive English course? Think of it as a fast-paced, immersive learning experience, personally designed to help you make maximum progress by fully engaging you in the language.

Unlike a casual, part-time class, our programmes are built around a consistent and structured schedule. This regular, focused contact with the language builds momentum, which is proven to accelerate your learning and build your confidence quickly in a supportive, friendly environment.

It creates a wonderful total immersion experience. You will be surrounded by English, helping you start to think and speak the language more naturally, both in class and during our shared social activities. This format also ensures we have dedicated time together to explore complex topics, from tricky grammar to dedicated fluency practice, giving you a comprehensive grasp of the language.

In short, this immersive, structured approach is the perfect choice for anyone serious about improving their English fast.

About our Intensive English programmes

At ELC, our intensive programmes are built around one simple idea: the best learning happens in a warm, friendly, and supportive environment. We are passionate about helping you succeed.

That is why we guarantee small class sizes, with a maximum of 12 students and an average of just 9. This ensures our highly experienced teachers can provide you with truly personal attention and detailed feedback, helping you build confidence from your very first day. Our teaching philosophy is practical and engaging.

Our balanced curriculum covers all four core skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Crucially, we focus on practical, conversational skills that you can use in real-life situations immediately. This intensive format, combined with our personal touch, ensures you make rapid progress. It is more than just a course; it is a total immersion in both the English language and authentic British culture.

Where can you take your intensive english courses?

We offer year-round English language courses in three English locations. All our schools are classic, historical buildings with up-to-date, modern language learning facilities, and a warm and friendly welcome.

Map of ELC’s locations in England at Brighton, Chester and Eastbourne, with indications of their distance from major cities, airports and national parks. Brighton and Eastbourne are on the south east coast next door to the South Downs National Park and not far from London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports. Chester just to the east of north Wales is close to Liverpool and Manchester airports and roughly half way between Snowdon National Park and the Peak District National Park. An overlaid scale of 50km helps to show that Brighton and Eastbourne are about 120km from central London, and that Chester is about 35km from central Liverpool and 65km from central Manchester.

A photo of the seafront at Brighton which shows an array of white buildings and the sand-coloured pebble beach. There is a large white ferris wheel in the foreground, and a scattering of people sitting looking out to sea. — Brighton

Brighton and Hove is a lively, cosmopolitan seaside city of about 300,000 people with a vivid cultural life. It is about 85 km – 1 hour – south of central London and surrounded by the beautiful Sussex countryside. Learn more about Brighton

A photograph of the famous Eastgate clock in Chester which stands high above the road on a section of the Roman walls. The clock has a round white face with black roman numerals and hands, and lots of ornate black metalwork filled in with orange and gold panels. The letters VR are above it, visible against the turquoise dome roof, and the date 1897. This was erected in memory of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. — Chester

Chester is an English city with 2,000 years of heritage, excellent shopping and a lively nightlife. It is 30km from Liverpool and 60km from Manchester – major cities of around half a million people each. Learn more about Chester

A seafront photo of Eastbourne taken from the west side. The pier can be seen jutting out into the sea towards the top of the photo, as the beach extends round to the left and the emerald sea takes up most of the rest of the shot. The sun is shining and the white hotels on the seafront are very noticeable. — Eastbourne

Eastbourne is a traditional seaside town that’s regularly the UK’s sunniest place. It is about 120 km from central London. The beautiful South Downs national park rises up directly from the western end of its seafront. Learn more about Eastbourne

Our selection of Intensive English programmes in England

All our programmes are taught in our intensive, immersive format, ensuring you make rapid progress. We offer a range of specialist courses alongside our General English programmes to help you find the perfect fit.

Here is a selection of our most popular intensive options:

Brighton: Business English

Business English classes for experienced professionals who need to communicate effectively in English for work.

A library shot suggesting a professional business person. The shot is quite dark containing a woman wearing a black roll-top jumper, about to take off or just putting on her black rimmed glasses. The background is very dark and out of focus, and you can just see the lid of a laptop in the foreground. This is suggestive of someone in their work environment, and isn't a photo taken in ELC Brighton.

English for ages 50 plus

You're over 50, and now the fun starts. Combine our warm, inclusive English lessons with guided cultural experiences.

A photo of two over 50s English course students in Chester chatting to their teacher. Behind them is a bookshelf suggesting they may be doing some work in the library.

Study year programme

Stay with us for longer to boost your English, take an exam and maybe prepare for life, work and study in the UK.

Three students chat together during their English language lesson in ELC language school in Brighton

CELTA preparation

The 4-week CELTA course is probably the most internationally recognised initial TEFL qualification.

An image of what looks like a classroom where CELTA students are going through notes and preparing, possibly for teaching practice, whilst a trainer looks on and gives advice to a student in the background. This is indicative of what it might look like during a CELTA course in Brighton, though this might be a library photograph.

Find your English level

Our language learning levels relate closely to how the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) define them, but with a difference which we have found to help our students at Elementary level.

ELC level	Equivalent CEFR levels
Complete beginner	A0
Beginner	A1
Elementary	Upper A1	Lower A2
Pre-intermediate	A2
Intermediate	B1
Upper-intermediate	B2
Advanced	C1
Upper-advanced	C2

We offer an English level test which anyone can take. It involves 50 questions and, depending on your level, will probably take you from 10 to 20 minutes. At the end of it, we will tell you your probable level.

But when you book, we will ask you to take a more detailed and accurate test, to make sure that you start in the class which is best for you.

Test your English level now

Is an Intensive English with ELC right for you?

Are you wondering if our intensive programme is the perfect fit for your goals?

Our courses are ideal for students wanting to make the most of their time in the UK and see their fluency improve daily. They are designed to help you achieve a wide range of goals, whether preparing for university, aiming for a career promotion, or simply wanting to communicate more confidently.

But it’s not just about the classroom. Our approach is also for those wanting a truly immersive cultural experience—making new friends and exploring the UK.

Our programmes are for motivated learners (aged 16 and over) serious about making rapid progress in a warm, supportive, and friendly community. If you value personal attention from expert teachers and thrive in small classes, you will succeed here.

If this sounds like you, then an Intensive English course at ELC is the perfect choice. Contact us today to start your journey!

How to apply

Please tell us all about your requirements, or use this site’s chat function. We’ll respond to you with a detailed quotation as soon as possible.

Contact us