Your Guide to Starting a Course at Horner School: Tasks To Complete Before Your Arrival in Dublin.
Please ensure that you complete the steps below before arrival at Horner School of English.
The combined results of your “Online Grading Test” AND “Speaking Test” will be used to determine your class level. You will receive your timetable, textbook & welcome pack on arrival at the school – 09.00hrs on Monday (if Monday is a bank holiday you should come to the school Tuesday at 09.00 hrs). A short welcome meeting for new students will be held at 13.15 on the first day of your course.
FAQ’s About Starting An English Course at Horner School.
We recommend that you take a taxi, it is the most efficient method to travel from Dublin Airport to your accommodation. A public taxi stand is located just outside the arrivals hall at Dublin Airport (Terminal 1 & 2) , operating 24 hours per day. The average cost per journey to a host family is €35.00. To City Centre (approx. €40).
It is also possible to book a a Private Hire Airport Pick-Up Service through the Horner School. If you book this service, you will be met by our private hire service and transferred by chauffeur car to your host family or other accommodation. Your driver will wait in the main public arrival hall, as you exit the Luggage Hall / Customs Area. He will carry a sign with your name clearly printed. Please contact us by email if you wish to arrange this service on arrival.
Alternatively, there are a number of bus services from Dublin Airport To Dublin City Centre, please follow this link for more information: https://www.dublinairport.com/to-from-the-airport/by-bus/dublin-buses
Please come to the school for 09.00hrs on Monday, (if Monday is a bank holiday you should come on Tuesday at 09.00 hrs).
Please check-in at the front office as soon as you arrive at the school. You will receive a welcome pack and a textbook for your morning class. Your welcome pack will contain the timetable for all your English classes, some documents with important school information, and a questionnaire to provide your feedback.
The morning classes usually start at 09.30 and run until 13.10hrs (Monday to Friday Only).
After the class, you are invited to the WELCOME MEETING which starts at 13.15 hrs. At this (short) welcome meeting you will meet other new students, be introduced to school staff and have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about timetables, social activity programme, school facilities and about public transport in Dublin.
If you have an afternoon class this will start at 14.00 hrs (afternoon class timetables are determined by the type of course you have chosen).
The Horner School is open from 08.30 to 17.30 Monday to Friday @ 40 Fitzwilliam Street Upper, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Please bring pens and notepaper for your own use in the classroom. A travel plug (we use the three pin plugs that are also found in the UK). AND don’t forget to bring an umbrella and some comfortable walking shoes for going out on the day tours !
- Stay home if you are unwell or experiencing any symptoms of Covid 19. Do not come to work/school if you are sick or with symptoms.
- Take an Antigen Test (they can be bought at any pharmacy)
- Tell Horner School about your illness – send us an email or call us on the emergency 24 hour number: +353 86 3886071
- If positive you should self-isolate for 5 days (from date of onset of symptoms)
- If negative you should stay home until you are feeling better (until you no longer experience any symptoms)
If you test positive for Covid 19, please stay home (for a minimum of 5 days) or until you have recovered.
How long does it take to finish one level of the English Language Course ?
At Horner School of English, we teach English at 5 different class levels based on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). Those class levels are as follows:
| CEFR Level A1* | Elementary Class |
| CEFR Level A2 | Pre-intermediate Class |
| CEFR Level B1 | Intermediate Class |
| CEFR Level B2 | Upper-Intermediate Class |
| CEFR Level C1 | Advanced Class |
*The lowest class level that we offer is (CEFR Level A1 Elementary Class). A1 class is not a beginner class !
A1 students should already have a little English and they should be able to make very basic sentences (basic communication).
How does the school find my level for the classes ?
You will be asked to take our online grading test and to do a TEAMS online interview before joining the Horner School. We recommend that you take the online grading test as soon as possible (do this just after you have made your booking /enrolment). You should do the TEAMS online interview [at least] 3 or 4 weeks before your arrival. It is important that you complete the grading test and TEAMS online interview, as early as possible, so so we can plan your timetable and organise the BEST class level for your English language course.
How are the classes structured and how long does it take to finish one class level ?
Our language classes are organised into teaching blocks (terms) of 12 weeks. In our experience, students can improve relatively quickly, especially at the lower levels, but it is generally true to say that it takes most students about 12 weeks to complete one of the CEFR levels.
You can find more information about our school calendar here https://www.hornerschool.com/about-horner-school/general-information/
You can join our English language courses on any Monday throughout the year and it is Okay to study at Horner School for short periods (1, 2, 3, 4 + weeks) or for longer periods 12, 24 + weeks, as you wish !
Why is it important to check language level at the end of an English language course?
Completing the Language Assessment Test at the end of the course will help us to evaluate your progress, and to identify strengths and weaknesses. It will also determine if the course objectives have been met. At Horner School, we use a standardised End of Course Test which allows us to then compare language levels from commencement point to the completion of the course.
We ask ALL students to take our End of Course Test in the FINAL week of your course. Please click on the following link to take the test:
Our Director of Studies will provide you with an End of Course Certificate which will consider your overall language ability i.e. your participation on the course, your teachers assessment of your level AND the result of your End of Course Test.