Student stories: Preparing for the FCE and CAE with Kings in Bournemouth
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Ankica Marisavljevic from Switzerland returned to Kings this summer to prepare for the Cambridge English: Advanced exam. She studied with us last year in preparation for sitting the Cambridge English: First exam, which she passed. We caught up with her to find out what brought her to Kings for a second time!
Hi Ankica. Tell us why you are at Kings.
I’m doing the CAE preparation course, but was here last here for three months to prepare for the FCE exam, which I passed! I really liked it here so I came back to do my CAE.
Why do you need the FCE and CAE?
Because I’m studying to be a primary school teacher and in Switzerland we need level B2 in English. I had it from my high school, I finished with B2, but we need also to travel for a minimum of 6 weeks in England. I wanted to do my FCE here and now I want to do the CAE because in Switzerland it’s really recognised and helps you to find work.
What is it that you like about Bournemouth?
First the city – I don’t like big cities, I like it when there is a part of nature… we have a beach here, we can do sport there. We can also go out at night, and there are lots of shops — there is everything you need here.
I really like the ambiance here at Kings — there are people from lots of different countries.
Presumably you like the style of teaching and the classes at Kings?
Yes. It was the first time I felt comfortable because no one is judging you. Everyone is here to improve their English and we can express ourselves and if we have questions the teachers are here for us. We can ask for websites and recommendations if there is something specific we want to improve.
When you did the FCE exam was it exactly what you expected?
Yes, it was exactly as I expected — no surprises!
Are you still in touch with other people from the FCE course?
Yes, I stayed in contact with some of them — maybe one of them will meet me here in Bournemouth! She was working in London for a year and will come here at the weekend.
Where are you staying?
In the Town Centre residence. It’s good, we can communicate with other people and I have my own room, bathroom.
Have you done many activities?
Last year I didn’t do a lot of activities, but this year I plan to do more — to improve your English it’s better if you communicate with lots of people. There is yoga, boxercise, volleyball on the beach…
What do you think of the facilities?
Everything is new, we have interactive whiteboards — it’s really useful when the teachers show us websites, for example.
Originally published on Kings Life on 26 August 2016.
See photos and the original Kings Life blog post here.
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