A、TRUE B、FALSE A

Hello, everyone. Today I will introduce you the learning chains in Britain. Here the chains refer to schools linked together as part of a group. They can offer students many practical advantages.
    When people are asked to name a language school, more often than not, they think of one of the large international chains of schools. Some are vast language teaching organizations with schools in many different countries and may teach just one language.
    One of the main strengths of these chains is the fact that their name is familiar to people all over the world. This can be a big advantage in the confusing world of language learning. Most students are bewildered by the large choice of schools and courses on offer, both at home and abroad, and so many prefer to choose a school which has a familiar name and an established reputation. Chain schools know this, and part of their success is due to effective marketing and advertising, which helps to keep their name well-known.
    But chain schools should not be dismissed by serious students just because they use clever marketing techniques. They have other important strengthens which can provide advantages to students. A school is only as good as its teachers and facilities, and many chains offer very high standards in both. More chains require that their teachers have internationally recognized qualifications and a maximum amount of teaching experience. It is important for chains to maintain these standards at all schools, because the reputation of the whole chain can be affected if one school performs badly.
    Students also benefit from the standardized structure of chains. Most chains use the same text books in all their schools, and often they produce their own coursework materials. They also organize their courses in the same way which means that starting dates and course lengths are usually the same at all schools.
    For students, one of the main advantages of this standardized structure is simplicity. If you cannot decide whether to study in the U. S. or Britain, for example, most chains allow students to start their language course at one school and continue at another, so they can experience different regions or different countries, as part of the same study trip.
    Chain schools tend to be larger than single center schools, which can also have advantages for students. With larger numbers of students, school administrators can achieve a better mixture of nationalities in classrooms. This means that students can avoid being with other students who speak their language. This gives them the chance to meet students from other countries, and to practice their English with them.
    Some chains offer students a very simple booking and enrolment procedure which is also useful. Application forms and enrolment procedures are the same for all schools, so students need only supply their details once. Students may find that they can book their course abroad through a representative of a chain school in their own town or city. Other chains offer a centralized booking facility, so students only have to contact one center to make a booking anywhere in the world.
    Chain schools often operate in different locations, whereas a single school is likely to be based permanently in one building. Many chain schools operate temporary schools, particularly during the summer holidays. In Britain, they often use secondary school premises which are empty during the school holidays.
    Studying English in an English-speaking country is the most effective way to learn the language, but for many students this is only one stage oi their learning career. Most students start learning English in their own country and they will probably want to continue learning once they return from their study trip. An international chain can usually offer you a continuous learning program from one country to the next.
    Language school chains can offer students high standards of teaching based on widespread experience. For students it can be a useful way of making learning more flexible.