Why choose The Square Mile?
We provide high quality language training programmes. Over the years we have learned which approaches are effective and work accordingly. We are extremely customer focussed and are also a principled sparring partner for our clients. Our organisation and programmes display the following qualities:
- Professional. Our trainers are highly experienced, qualified native speakers. Many possess a background in Sales, Marketing, Accountancy, Engineering, HR, Administration and Customer Service.. A number of our trainers are also Cambridge ESOL Business English and Dutch NT2 examiners. In addition, our client relationship team can provide full service support to clients, arranging everything from intakes to course planning for both small and large projects.
- Tailored. We develop courses that focus on the participants’ needs, role and industry and research vocabulary and contexts directly relevant to the participants. All courses are tailor-made.
- Flexible. We deliver programmes at times and places to suit the needs of our clients. We usually work “in-company” to reduce travel time and can provide programmes from 1-6 participants in the same group, from the same organisation. Programmes usually last between 1 and 15 weeks and can be run intensively, semi-intensively or weekly. We provide programmes throughout the Netherlands.
- Interactive. Participants are constantly challenged through role-play and exercises aimed at developing their language skills. We demand a lot from our participants, both during and between lessons.
- Innovative. We are increasingly supplementing our proven traditional training techniques with digital media and channels to further increase effectiveness and improve the overall training experience.
Course option overview:
Core Training
Face to face training, “in-company” or at our locations in Leiden and Amsterdam. Individual or small group basis (colleagues from the same company).
Benefits
- Direct contact, interaction and correction with individual and groups.
- Fast and efficient development of skills.
- All skills can be practiced by role play or simulation.
- Natural, human interaction focusing on the situation and required language at hand.
- Encourage full participation and private study.
Format
- Intensive Programmes. Sessions of up to 7 hours a day for 1 or 2 weeks.
- Semi-Intensive Courses. Sessions 2-3 half days a week for 5-10 weeks.
- Weekly Courses. Our most popular option, sessions of 2-3 hours, once or twice a week for 10-15 weeks.
Executive Training
Individual face to face training, at a location and time to suit the individual. Flexible planning and cancellation policy. Working with a highly experienced business trainer.
Benefits
- Fast and flexible.
- Trainers with language and business skills experience.
- Support for particular events (presentations, negotiations and so on).
Format
- Flexible.
Workshops
Short (one or two day) sessions with specific focus on one business area or function. Usually in a group format “in-company”.
Benefits
- Compact and easy to plan with clear objectives.
- Excellent for refreshing knowledge or preparing for a particular event.
Format
- One or two days of 7 hours
Tutorials
An individual coaching session of 30-60 minutes, either face to face or by phone. The student and trainer can discuss homework assignments, review grammar or work on developing language/skills of relevance to the individual.
Benefits
- Offer the student individual time with the trainer dedicated to their particular needs.
- Promotes completion of private study assignments.
- Can be carried out at the office or at home.
- Offers an easy, additional opportunity to practice target language each week.
Format
- Usually in combination with a core course, i.e. group lesson on Monday, tutorial on Thursday for 30-60 minutes.
- Additional products such as English 360 or our collaborative learning platform can also be used to support tutorials.
Distance Learning
A combination of classroom sessions, with written assignments between sessions. Written assignments can either be submitted via e-mail or could be completed in a more interactive way with the support of one of our web-based products such as Cambridge 360 and/or individual telephone tutorials with the trainer.
Benefits
- Offers a flexible approach to language training.
- Of benefit particularly for writing skills courses at higher levels.
- Lower impact on working time.
- These courses work best for participants with a high degree of self-motivation who would prefer to take a large part of the course outside working hours.
Format
- Often a combination of three to five face-to-face lessons with weekly assignments and feedback sessions.
Post course Support
The opportunity to continue working with a trainer on an ad-hoc basis after the course. Usually working by phone and/or with English360 or our collaborative platform.
Benefits
- Encourages extension of learning period.
- Offers direct support with immediate problems.
Format
- Can be offered “ad-hoc”or as a structured service with specific tasks set on a monthly, bi-monthly or weekly basis.
Teaching tools:
Blended approach
Our standard approach to language training. Combines interaction, role play, exercises from books and CD-Roms, internet and e-mail.
Benefits
- Interactive, hands-on approach to language learning.
- Adapt client material where possible into course.
- Uses a variety of teaching approaches.
English360
Our exclusive partnership with Cambridge University Press. “English360” is an online language training system specifically designed for tailor-made courses. Often used together with telephone tutorials to maximise benefit.
Benefits
- Offers an online, tailored programme as an integrated part of a core course.
- Provides multi-media materials sourced from a wide variety of current material.
- Allows tracking and monitoring of private study assignments.
- Enables us to build a library of online materials relevant to your business.
Tell Me More
A fully integrated classical online learning package. Provides learners with a wide variety of learning exercises in all major European languages and can be supported by The Square Mile on request.
Benefits
- Useful for learners with limited budget and high levels of self discipline.
Collaborative Platform
An online system which provides an online meeting point for course participants to share ideas and information. Often used with telephone tutorials to maximise benefit.
Benefits
- Allows trainer to develop a bank of useful sites, ideas, templates and other materials for the participants.
- Allows participants to store all materials in one place and easily access them.
- Enables trainer and participant to share and collaborate on written documents, particularly during tutorials.
