Did you know that George Town was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008? Named after King George III who ruled the British Empire in the late 1700s, this capital city has a well-preserved culture and historical heritage: in fact, people have said that walking down the streets of George Town is like walking through the paths of history.
Home to the best of Penang’s sights, sounds and tastes, people come from far and wide to visit the abundance of attractions that George Town has to offer: the star-shaped Fort Cornwallis; Kek Lok Si Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the country; the 160-year-old world heritage church, Cathedral of the Assumption; and even the Penang Peranakan Mansion which houses Peranakan culture.
While all these attractions hold special places in the hearts of local folk, Penang Road is arguably the most important place (and street) to visit in George Town. Known as Penang’s version of Hollywood’s Rodeo Drive, you can expect to see high-end restaurants and karaoke pubs, but also numerous antique shops and hawker stalls, with the occasional hawker calling you over to buy their nasi kandar.
It is these modern touches yet quaint features of the city that have greatly boosted Penang’s tourism, and with it, comes the English language that has become omnipresent in the city.
What is special about taking an English class in George Town?
Unlike other cities in Malaysia, George Town still retains most of its English street names. Even for roads that have been renamed in Malay, the locals (or Penangites) generally use colonial names when referring to streets and roads, reflecting the widespread acceptance of Penang’s colonial history as part of the people’s local identity. This habit has allowed the English language to blend into the lives of all who have been blessed to be in this colourful city.
Here in George Town, English has become the widespread medium for nearly every engagement or activity. This is interesting, especially following the emergence of a multicultural population in the city, comprising of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan, Eurasian, Thai and other ethnicities. Even with various languages being spoken by these ethnic groups, such as Hokkien Chinese which is widely spoken throughout many parts of the state, locals instead prefer to use English to communicate with one another.
Thus, being fluent in English is crucial for going out and about in George Town - whether you are strolling through famous streets, asking for directions to one of the famous temples, engaging in conversations with the Penangites, or making another order of that nasi kandar.
At Superprof, we believe that taking an English course in Malaysia will greatly help ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) speakers pick up this language that is so extensively used, especially through the help of an English teacher.
Are you aware of the many opportunities you can get from learning with an English teacher in Malaysia?
What are the benefits of learning with an English teacher in George Town?
The notable role of an English teacher can perhaps be best supported by a quote from American author and speaker, Joyce Meyer: “Teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges.”
With experience, the best English teacher will know what will work best for their students, especially when their students are unsure about how to improve their proficiency in the language. Effective teachers can have a direct influence on enhancing student success - research has shown that effective teachers not only make students feel good about learning, but their dedication to teaching also leads to increased student achievement.
A good English tutor will provide their students with constructive feedback and help them to learn from it. Getting this regular feedback is so important if you are an ESOL speaker because this helps you become aware of whether you are on the right track to understanding the English language and be able to see how well you’ve progressed.
By working with an English tutor who makes plans to personalise their lessons, you can acquire an enriching learning experience with the use of various materials and activities, making your language-learning journey more fun and exciting!
Of course, learning English vocabulary and grammar on your own can be helpful.
However, we stand by the fact that with an excellent English tutor, you will be instructed on how to learn English correctly.
Taking any English course in Malaysia, even if it’s an online English course, leads you to English tutors who can provide you with the necessary study skills for learning English independently and correctly, but more importantly, they can help you focus on all the skill areas in English, such as reading, writing, speaking, listening...
… when you are guided in all these skill areas by a professional who is trained to teach English, you’ll be able to develop and grow your mastery of the language.
You may be staying in another area of Penang, like Seberang Perai. Click here for English courses in Seberang Perai!
Where to take English courses in George Town?
Are you curious about where to find an English tutor in Ipoh?
Generally, George Town offers English courses for all ages and all levels of English. Whether you’re a young learner or part of the working class, you can get the best English courses in Malaysia right here in George Town: from primary-level English classes to advanced academic English courses, and even a business English course for business communication skills - you can join weekly or monthly programmes if that suits your fancy, or even an intensive English camp if that is something you are looking for.
In the city, you can also easily find qualified English teachers who have received international accreditation or are native speakers of the language. George Town has become not only a hub for foreigners but also a target of expatriates seeking to expand their business - hence, both individual students and companies can source out experienced teachers who offer quality English courses.
Also, note that the price of English classes in George Town depends on the duration of the class as well as the number of sessions undertaken, and some centres that teach English classes in groups would require a minimum number of students before you can proceed with payment (and the actual class). However, some English centres offer free trial classes, such as free speaking and writing sessions, so you can always check these out before deciding on which English class for adults or English class for kids to sign up for.
You can study with an English tutor on pretty much any day of the week as most tutors in George Town offer flexible tutoring hours for their students. So, even if you are seeking out an English class for adults, you can opt for weekend or night classes if that fits into your working schedule better. Don’t forget that some English centres will have off days even when it’s not a public holiday, so be sure to double-check your class schedules before heading out to attend your English class!
Would you be interested in ESOL classes in Petaling Jaya?
Find an English tutor in George Town
Are you ready to look for the best English courses in George Town? Indeed, you will be swamped with numerous English class for kids and adults options the moment you look up an English tutor in George Town, so we’ve added a brief list of popular English language centres where Penangites love learning English.
Be sure to compare the prices and locations of the places below when making a choice of which English teacher or centre you want to go for.
British Council
If you are located right at the heart of the city, then the British Council Centre, which is located along Light Street (Lebuh Light), may be most accessible to you. Internationally qualified and experienced teachers run the centre, and they even have student counsellors to help you reach your learning objectives.
If you are looking for an English class for kids, you can check out their courses for young learners. While waiting to return home after their English class, your child may also enjoy spending time in their “Reading Zone” meant for children to read and borrow books.
Location: Wisma Great Eastern, Suite 3A.1 & 3A.2, 25 Light Street, 10200 George Town, Penang
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Progressive Language Academy
This academy provides English courses in Malaysia - but did you know they are also facilitating English courses in Thailand and Singapore? With various locations scattered throughout Penang, Progressive Language Academy has a centre right in George Town so you don’t have to travel too far to learn with an English teacher.
Now then, why are we recommending this centre? Progressive Language Academy prides itself as a world-class standard-compliant exam preparation centre, which makes sense as they conduct English courses and examinations according to MLA and Cambridge English standards - perfect for those seeking an English class for kids or even a business English course that matches international English language qualifications.
Location (in George Town): St Xavier’s Institution, 2nd Floor, Karpal Singh Building, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 George Town, Penang
Opening hours: 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. daily
London Academy of English
This is a great English language centre to go to if you are unsure which English class to take but would like to explore the options available to you. London Academy of English provides English language programmes catered to adults, primary and secondary school students, those preparing for their MUET exam and also organisations seeking corporate training through their business English course.
In addition, the centre provides English courses for students who want to prepare for international examinations related to ESOL (check out ESOL classes in Shah Alam too). You can prepare for examinations such as the CAE English exam, FCE and IGCSE with a qualified English teacher at this centre.
Location: 701, 702 & 703, 7th Floor, No.11, Lorong Kinta, 10400 Penang.
Opening hours: Not stated
Hey… why not further enhance your learning experience with an English teacher in Kuala Lumpur?
Can I learn English online for free?
At this point, you may be thinking: what if you just decided to learn English online yourself from George Town?
As opposed to completely avoiding the idea of taking an English class with a qualified English tutor in George Town, we encourage that you to practise learning English in your own time in accompaniment to the lessons taught by your English tutor. Why should you only reap the benefits on one end of the stick when you can gain the best of both worlds?
When you combine the English course in Malaysia you are taking with the effort you are putting in to learn English online outside of your lessons, this makes a fantastic recipe for a fluent user of English, as well as a confident speaker of the language!
This doesn’t mean you have to sign up for a new online English course, though. Fortunately, there are a lot of useful online resources for learning English that are free and readily available on the Internet. All you’ll need is a device that works well for accessing these online resources and a solid Internet connection.
BBC Bitesize
Who says you can’t practise speaking, listening, reading and writing in English on your own for free? You may have extra time on hand after completing the grammar exercises provided by your English teacher, so head over to BBC Bitesize and select “English” as the subject you want to learn.
While it looks like you will have to complete a rigorous online English course when you first look at the list of English resources available, BBC Bitesize actually helps you learn English online by breaking down complex language concepts in understandable ways. In the Engineering subsection of the Functional Skills course, for instance, you can learn to ask specialist questions and apply the specialist terms you’ve learned in writing.
Perfect if you are already taking an English class for adults and would like to expand your practical English skills at your workplace in George Town.
Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab
One of the most common struggles faced by ESOL learners is the challenge of accurately picking up what native English speakers are saying. As a fresh English learner, you may recognise some words that are spoken after taking some time to process them… but by the time your brain has made sense of what is being said, another flurry of English phrases has come your way!
In addition to the listening exercises with your English tutor, you can test your listening skills through fun quizzes on Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab. The quizzes here are sure to strengthen not only your listening skills in English, but also your reading and writing skills as you will be provided with pre- and post-listening exercises that encourage discussion, vocabulary practices and even additional sections like idiom explanations.
Think it’ll be too easy for you? Here’s a challenging listening quiz on interviewing a potential employee.
Learn English Online
Yes, we don’t just mean you should learn English online. “Learn English Online” is a real website created by Learn English Network, a non-profit organisation in the UK that has been providing support to ESOL learners and teachers since 1999.
This site is amazing as it includes various free resources to help you improve your language skills both in and out of your English class. Pick up basic English grammar, spelling and pronunciation and test your skills through the interactive games, tests and quizzes that are readily available.
We also encourage you to learn English online through their extensive vocabulary section that highlights British culture, customs and traditions, so that you become more familiar with the formal English used by native speakers.
At Superprof, we are also aware that students may be looking for an online English course that they can complete in their own time. Since you are thinking of taking an English class for adults or kids, how about visiting one of the most popular social media platforms for language learning: YouTube?
This is one channel where you can improve your English language skills for free.
Easy English (YouTube)
Have you ever wanted to sound more “natural” in English, to the point where words and common phrases roll off your tongue with ease?
It helps to listen in on daily conversations in English, but when you don’t have access to conversations with English speakers at home, you can also look out for videos on the Easy English YouTube channel. This channel is popular among ESOL speakers not only for its cute illustrations but also for the relevant storylines and characters portrayed in the videos.
One of our favourite videos on the channel is “English Conversations for Daily Life” as there is a section depicting a casual conversation between a hairdresser and a customer who wants to try a trendy haircut. Pick up phrases you don’t normally see on written English exercises!
Embark on an amazing language learning journey with your English tutor on Superprof
Finally, we don’t want to close without talking about the opportunity to take an online English course which you may have been searching for in George Town.
While you might find many of our Superprof tutors available in George Town, remember: with Superprof, you can even opt for an online English course apart from just face-to-face classes... this means that you can find English teachers from other areas or parts of the world if you’d like, as long as they are offering online classes!
Imagine learning with a qualified English teacher from Birmingham, Vancouver, Toronto or Washington…
… wouldn’t you be interested in using English as fluently as native speakers?
In addition to experiencing a quality English course in Malaysia with the top English tutor in George Town, you should know that English courses on Superprof are highly affordable for all students, with lessons beginning from as low as RM30 per hour.
The awesome part about learning English with Superprof is that you can fine-tune your English learning experience to your wants and needs! The first step you need to take is to look for the Superprof page and search for English or ESOL tutors in George Town.
Once you have made it to the Superprof English tutors’ catalogue, use the filters at the top left corner of the page to select your preferred mode of learning (face-to-face or online), maximum budget for your English class, current learning level of English and preferred tutor response time. Superprof tutors can respond to your queries within the day if you would like to learn English online ASAP.
On the Superprof page, you will notice that each tutor will have a portfolio - this is because Superprof grants you the option of getting to know your tutor FIRST before taking up an English class. You can read up on whether the tutor offers individual or group lessons, how the lessons will be held, as well as which English levels the tutor caters to. With this handy introduction of all the tutors, there is zero hassle when finding and selecting the right English tutor.
Even better, many of our Superprof tutors are currently offering their first English class for FREE - so what are you waiting for? Sign up with Superprof today to enjoy these benefits!
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