The best learners always ask questions.
Here are some common ones. If yours isn't answered, send us a message. We might even add it.
Here are some common ones. If yours isn't answered, send us a message. We might even add it.
We've done our best to answer many of the questions that you may have. If you're wondering about something else, just send us an message and we will get back to you as quick as we can.
Learning online is undoubtedly different from learning face to face. We communicate differently depending on our mode of communication. That is to say that the way you communicate is different on the phone as it is sending emails or speaking to someone face to face. We aim to help you gain confidence in these different and unique forms of communication that have become normal. Most English classes don’t recognise this difference and therefore aren’t teaching you the English and communication skills you need.
Our classes are designed for people who already work or are about to start working in English. That means students need to be at least B1. However, send us a message and we can create a custom-made course for you to meet your needs.
Yes. If they are part of the team we encourage it. Everyone can improve their communication skills and often native speakers have no idea how or when they can cause others difficulty. Native speakers will also form an important part of your work culture and we think they have an important voice. Our classes encourage collaboration between all levels to promote better communication.
We ask all students to complete an online questionnaire before starting. This is based around the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) can-do statements. If we are unsure, we may do a further diagnostic.
If you want something more detailed, we can do a full diagnostic, see our services section for more information.
We are happy to design you a custom-made one-to-one course. Send us a message and tell us what skills you are interested in developing.
We do our best to keep the same teacher on the complete course. We believe it is the best way to build a relationship and for our teacher to understand your needs.
Of course! Most classes have a fantastic experience with our teachers and we do our best to keep you together on your next course.
We believe in a cultural social approach to language learning. That means our courses are designed around communicating with other people. Furthermore, we communicate with multiple people differently from how we communicate one to one. We recommend a class size of 4-8 learners.
We believe teacher student interaction is important. Having more that twelve students would mean we couldn’t provide a full and fair service to everyone.
Our six-hour course squeezes in the most important content into a fast-paced intensive course. The twelve-hour course has more content and more space to practice and get feedback on your progress.
Sure. We will upgrade you to the twelve-hour class and we only charge the difference.
For our standard six and twelve hour courses, we will send you an online questionnaire. If your level is below B1 but you still want to prepare for the exam, we can design you a custom-made course.
Our IELTS classes follow our standard six and twelve hour model. Remember if you feel you need more time we can design you a custom-made course.
We offer no guarantees on the score you’ll get. What we can guarantee is our honest and professional advice and fantastic classes to help you do as well as you possibly can.
We do not routinely record classes. If you wish to record the classes, we would require the written permission of all attendees and your organisation.
There is no need to buy any books or extra material. All class material is provided by the teacher and shared in the way that best suits you.
We are flexible to your schedule. We can change the time and frequency of your classes to suit you.
Whatever you want. We can do once a week, every day, or even intensive one or two day courses. We recommend once or twice a week as this gives you time to assimilate new skills and ask for feedback as you try things out.
Sure. The courses are designed with this kind of flexibility in mind.
Let us know two working days in advance and we can reschedule the class.
We will do our best to find a substitute teacher or if you prefer, we can reschedule the class.
We don’t just proofread and correct your writing; we want to make you a better writer and better proof-reader. By talking you through the process, we will tell you not just what but also why. Also, we are not experts in your field, by discussing the meaning we can be sure you are saying what you want to say.
This depends on the length and the type of document you want proofed and how quickly you need it. Send us a message with these details and we’ll give you a quote.
The price remains the same but we will obviously not be able to focus on all the errors in the consultation. The better your draft, the better your learning experience will be.
Our standard is British English but we are happy to proof in American English.
We can provide a faster service but remember our focus is not on the document but on you. If you need something very quickly and don’t have time to develop your language, we might not be the service for you.
Don’t worry. Unlike other services, we give you the chance to talk directly to your proof-reader and make sure you understand exactly what you are saying.
Proofreading is done using Microsoft Word and we use track changes and comments.
We look at all linguistic aspects of the document. That includes meaning, so if something isn’t clear we will highlight it and discuss it with you.
The maximum size for team building is 50. We can manage this by having multiple facilitators. We maintain a maximum ratio of 12:1 student to facilitator.
Our preference is to use Zoom as we believe it offers better functionality. However, we can also use Skype, Teams and Google Meet. We are also happy to investigate using other options should you require.
If we are having a problem, we will happily extend the session so you will still meet your learning aim. If the issue lasts longer than 15 minutes, we will reschedule the class. Unfortunately we cannot be responsible for your connection but we try to be as flexible as possible and will extend the class whenever we can.
We recommend a minimum of 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down) for more information on system requirements for Zoom we recommend you visit this site here. We recommend having a work meeting with your cameras on. If it works, there will be no problem.
You will need a computer, microphone and speaker or headphones and a webcam. While you can connect using a tablet or smartphone, you will have reduced functionality.
That is a good question. There will be times when we will ask you to turn it off to replicate your work experience. However, facial expressions are an important part of communication and help build confidence and trust between participants. As you will be working with your teacher and colleagues as a group, we feel it is important to build a trustful and supportive environment. The more relaxed you are the better your English will be.
Our pricing depends on the course you take and the options you choose. Send us a message and we’ll give you a quote.
We are based in the UK so we charge in GB Pounds. However, we will give you a binding quote when you first enquire about the classes meaning it is easy for you to budget.
Our standard payment model is invoice and bank transfer. However, we also accept credit and debit card payments using PayPal.
Classes are booked in six or twelve-hour blocks and must be paid when the class is booked. If you are paying by bank transfer we will send you an invoice which must be paid before the start of the course.
Of course. Once you have made your purchase, we will ask you to send us the names and email addresses of the students. If you are unsure of their availability, we are happy to arrange directly with them. All classes must however be completed within six months of purchase.
Our class size is three to twelve students, the cost per class remains the same. If there are only two of you, we can make you a custom-made course.
If you are interested in any of our courses or services, feel free to send us a message and we can work together to find the right solution for you.
Send us an email to info@starlingskills.com or book a consultation using the calendar below and we can discuss what works best for you.
Once you've sent us a message, do check your spam folder from time to time. Unfortunately, this is where our emails sometimes end up.
You can also contact us on Twitter @StarlingSkills or LinkedIn.