English School in Cork, Ireland

Cork English Academy:
Cork English Academy is an English language school located in the heart of Cork city in the south of Ireland. We offer high-quality English language courses to students from around the world of all levels - from beginner to advanced. Our aim is to provide excellent instruction in the English language in a friendly environment that gives our students the opportunity to use the language with native speakers and practice with each other while gaining a greater understanding of Irish life and culture. Students must to be 18+ years when they start the course.

Each member of the Cork English Academy team commits themselves to their roles in the areas of teaching, registration, accommodation, social programme, administration and marketing. Our teachers are all native English speaking university graduates who have special qualifications to teach English as a foreign language. Many members of the teaching staff have extensive academic and general experience stretching over many years from teaching in Ireland and in other countries.

English Language Courses:
We offer quality English instruction and a range of course options to suit your needs. The curriculum is based on the Common European Framework and uses its six proficiency levels from A1 Elementary to C2 Advanced.

Programmes offered by Cork English Academy:

• General English (15 hours per week) – Morning and Afternoon
• Intensive General English (20 hours per week) - Morning and Afternoon
• General English 20h – 15h Group classes + 5h Private lessons
• General English 25h – 15h Group classes + 10h Private lessons
• General English 30h – 15h Group classes + 15h Private lessons
• General English 25h – 20h Group classes + 5h Private lessons
• General English 30h – 20h Group classes + 10h Private lessons
• General English 35h – 20h Group classes + 15h Private lessons
• One to One lessons
• General English + Business - 20h Group classes + 5 hours Business one to one
• General English + Business - 20h Group classes + 10 hours Business one to one
• General English + Business - 20h Group classes + 15 hours Business one to one
• FCE Exam Preparation – 6 weeks programme – Cambridge Exam from Intermediate levels – Morning and Afternoon
• CAE Exam Preparation – 6 weeks programme – Cambridge Exam from advanced levels – Morning and Afternoon
• IELTS Exam Preparation – 6 weeks programme – Exam Preparation from Elementary - Morning and Afternoon
• Academic Year - 25 weeks General English - 20h per week – Morning and Afternoon
• Academic Year - 25 weeks General English - 15h per week – Morning and Afternoon
• Academic Year - 19 weeks General English + 6 weeks Exam Preparation - 20h per week – Morning and Afternoon
• Academic Year - 19 weeks General English + 6 weeks Exam Preparation - 15h per week – Morning and Afternoon

Cork is Ireland's second largest city outside of Dublin. Here, you will get to experience the best of city living combined with proximity to the coast, the mountains and the beautiful green Irish countryside. Cork English Academy is located in the city centre, less than 5 minutes walk from Patrick’s Street the main shopping street in the immediate city centre. Our school is conveniently located in Clarkes Bridge House, a modern building with ceiling to floor windows flooding each classroom with natural light.

The city's streets are lined with cosy cafés, bars, shops, restaurants and street performers. After class students can stroll through the bustling streets of the city and soak up the ambiance. The school is located on the same side of the city as the University College Cork and Cork Institute of Technology but even closer to the city centre. This means that Cork English Academy is in the middle of all major facilities and amenities geared towards students.

Every aspect of your stay at Cork English Academy is catered for and our facilities include:

- Modern, comfortable and fully equipped classrooms
- Free Wi-Fi, with access to computers
- Study room/common area with candy machine, coffee and snacks available
- Audio and video equipment
- An extensive range of textbooks, authentic textbooks and current texts for use in class
- Library: Oxford University Press graduate reader books available to lend to home study
- DVD Library: just like movie afternoons in school students can borrow DVDs to watch at home
- 3 floors and excellent terrace

All of our accommodation is inspected and regularly checked by our Accommodations Department to ensure that the highest standards are always offered to our students.

- Standard Home Stay with Irish Host Family:
Our host families are carefully selected, friendly local families who are happy to welcome you into their home. You will have a single or shared room with breakfast and evening meal included. Most family homes are located just outside the city centre and so you may need to take public transport to and from the school. Average distance between the school and host families is 25 minutes (maximum 30) by bus. All host families are on a city bus route. Transfers to and from Cork airport on your arrival and departure are also included.


- Shared Apartment:
If you would prefer to live more independently during your stay in Cork you can choose to share an apartment in the city centre with one to four others. You will have a private bedroom with shared living and kitchen areas and a shared bathroom (en-suite bathrooms option also available). All accommodation is between 5 and 15 minutes’ walk from school. There is internet connection in all apartments and Wi-Fi available.

Learning in the school is greatly enhanced when students are involved in social and activity events. In many ways the magnificent landscape, the cosy pubs and the friendly people of Cork are an extension of the school where students continue to learn about Irish culture and heritage while practicing and developing their language skills in the real world. We encourage students to take part in the school’s weekly events.

Daily activities are from free to €8, half day tours are from €10 to €16 and full day excursions are around €20/€25. 

Cork city is Ireland’s second largest city and is an ideal location in the South of Ireland to take day trips to discover some of Ireland’s finest visitor attractions.The most popular trips within our student body are the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, Cobh and Kinsale.

“I enjoyed the way they make classes. Also they teach all the fields we need: Grammar, Speaking, writing and listening. They make you feel very comfortable”
- Ruth on her classes

“I love my teacher! He has a nice method of teaching English. The classes are wonderful, very interesting and perfect for my level of English. I am learning a lot very quickly”
- Laura on her teacher

“My accommodation was very good, in a very good place. Easy to get to school and the city centre. The Wi-Fi was brilliant for me to Skype my friends”
- Carlos on his apartment

“I would recommend my host family for future students. I have felt like I’m at home. They have taken care of me and the relationship with them was perfect. I am really pleased to have stayed at their house.”
- Raquel on her Host Family

“There are very interesting cultural activities in the timetable. The trips were wonderful. Cork is a beautiful place in Ireland.”
- Sergio on social activities

“My family and I had a very good time in Ireland, It has been a very good experience, I'm going to recommend it to my mates .I think we'll go back to Ireland in the future and we'll visit your school, it has been a pleasure to be in your school”
- Carmen on her Family Stay

“If we had John as a teacher at home we would know English better than Italian”.
- Luca on his Juniro Short Stay Experience

What happens on the first day at the Academy?
The first day at Cork English Academy is very important.
Please arrive at the Academy by 08:30 if you are studying in the Morning and 13:15pm if you are studying in the afternoon and bring a pen and some paper. Students enrolled on group courses will take a speaking test to assess your level. There is an introduction to the Academy for all new students and a chance to meet the staff and other students as well as a tour of the city centre, identifying the places which will be important for you during your stay.

When may I start a course?
On any Monday (except on bank holiday Mondays where the course commences on the following Tuesday). Individual Tuition: On any weekday. Examination Preparation Courses at certain times of the year. Please contact us for more information.

How many students are there in each class?
The maximum is 15 students per class; however, the average number of students is usually 9-11 within the academic year and between 10-14 in July and August. For exam preparation courses the maximum is 15 and the average is 8.

Am I allowed to speak my mother tongue at the Academy?
Only in an emergency! Try to speak English as much as possible in the classroom and outside of class time. The more you try to practice your English the faster you will make progress.