Coming to Britain offers a unique opportunity not only to enjoy the wealth of cultural experiences Britain has to offer, but also to benefit from being in a country which many consider to be the 'home' of the English language. Learning or improving their English is one of the aims of many visitors to Britain. But where do you start looking for a school or teacher you can rely on?

The British Council, together with ARELS (the Association of Recognised English Language Services) and BASELT (the British Association of State English Language Teaching) runs the 'English in Britain' Accreditation Scheme for centres running English language courses. Accredited centres may be private language schools, or EFL (English as a foreign language) departments in colleges of further education or universities.

'English in Britain' accreditation, as well as membership of ARELS or BASELT, offers you a guarantee that a centre meets quality standards. The British Council inspects all accredited centres every three years and, of course, they have to pass a tough initial inspection to join the Scheme.

When we inspect, we look carefully at those aspects of a centre which make a difference to their clients. We check that their publicity materials accurately reflect the reality of the centre. Inspectors check that student satisfaction is monitored and any problems are dealt with efficiently, that the premises are safe and suited to teaching, that the resources (from worksheets to computers) aren't just for show but really help you learn and that the teachers are properly qualified. Most importantly, our inspectors sit in on all the classes taking place during an inspection to make sure that the teaching is really helping the students learn.

If you're thinking of sending a young member of your family to learn English, then accreditation becomes even more important. Language schools often offer excellent courses for 'juniors' which combine a fun holiday with learning English. However, they are not normally routinely inspected by any other body apart from the British Council. Our inspectors take the care and teaching of juniors very seriously, particularly when they are staying in the school's residential or homestay accommodation. We check that the homes they stay in are suitable, that they are properly supervised at all times and that people who shouldn't work with children don't have access to them. We also check that the teachers are appropriately qualified and that the way that younger students are being taught, and the leisure activities provided, are suitable for their age group.

There are a number of resources available to help you find the course you want. A guide listing all the accredited centres, the 'English in Britain' Guide to Accredited Courses is available at British Council offices overseas and in the UK, as are the guides listing members of ARELS and BASELT, all of whom are accredited. The 2000 English in Britain Guide, available from September 1999, comes with a free CD-ROM which will help you choose an accredited course which meets your needs exactly.

If you enjoy surfing the net, the same interactive database is available at: http://www.EnglishinBritain.co.uk.

There are around 380 accredited EFL centres at the moment, so before you look at these resources, it will help if you have some idea of what you want. In particular you need to think about...

• Where you want to study: you can learn English in the city you're living in, or choose a residential course which will give you a chance to see another part of the country. If you do go on a residential course, remember that you're more likely to meet British people and have a really British experience if you avoid the parts of the country which attract lots of tourists. If you have plenty of energy, it's worth thinking about a university city like Manchester or Bristol, where there's bound to be a lively social scene. Alternatively, there are accredited centres in lovely rural spots like the Lake District or Cornwall where you can study and relax at the same time.
• What you want to learn: plenty of centres now specialise in professional English, where you can learn English directly related to your job. Another possibility is to do an 'English plus' course, where you can study English for part of the day and another subject - golf, photography and yoga are some of the options available - for the rest of your time. If time is short, you can fit in a specially-designed intensive course at a London centre.
• How you want to study: you can study in a group or one-to-one, intensively or in a more relaxed manner, focusing on speaking and listening or improving your writing or reading skills. You need to think about how you learn best. One-to-one classes are very effective for some people, but others learn better in the friendly atmosphere of a class (and of course, being in a class helps you to make friends). Some people want a teacher who is young and enthusiastic, others want a more 'professorial' approach from a mature and experienced teacher. You may want a teacher with qualifications in a profession such as law or medicine as well as English. It really helps to spend a moment thinking about yourself as a learner (especially if you haven't followed a course for a while): what situations have helped you be a successful learner? What situations didn't work for you?

Whatever you decide you want, don't be shy about making your preferences known to the centre before you start. The best place for you to study is the one where they make every effort to get to know you and ensure your needs are met.

If you need more information on the British Council's work in Accreditation, see our web pages at: http://www.britishcouncil.org/english/courses/index.htm or contact the British Council's Information Centre on +44 171-389 4383