As autumn deepens in Edinburgh, our students continue to explore the city in new ways, both in and out of the classroom. This week, we welcomed participants on our General English, Communication at Work and Experience Edinburgh courses, alongside 1:1 learners working on everything from presentation skills to exam preparation. Here's a look at what we've been up to—from visiting political buildings to eating iced buns!
Coffee, Cinnamon and Catch-ups
We started the week with a misty Monday morning and some sweet surprises in the ECS coffee room. Local bakery doughnuts and cinnamon buns made their way onto the snack table—along with the usual hot tea and friendly chat.
Behind the scenes, Jane has also been busy with online pre-course interviews, helping new students get ready to join us in the weeks ahead. It’s always great to see our small school staying connected with learners from all over the world.
Explore Edinburgh: Parliament, Portobello and Beyond
This week’s Experience Edinburgh group enjoyed a mix of political insight and seaside calm. We visited the Scottish Parliament at the bottom of the Royal Mile as well as Portobello Beach - blending history, architecture and sea air into our afternoons of learning.
We ended one of our walking days with a well-earned seat at The Thistle Street Bar—a relaxed pub just a few minutes from school. Students sampled local beers and enjoyed the excellent selection of soft drinks while chatting in English.
Spooky Scenes and Surprising Skies
Edinburgh knows how to "do atmosphere". As Halloween approaches, local doors around the school have started to dress up—we've spotted spooky wreaths, skeletons, cobweb bunting and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
Despite what the forecast said, the weather turned out better than expected, staying mostly dry for our outdoor classes and offering up some truly beautiful sunsets.
🎯 We also added a new pin to our student world map this week — it’s always exciting to see another corner of the globe represented in our small international community.
English in Real Situations
From sharing doughnuts in the coffee room to talking politics at Holyrood or learning new expressions over a drink in the pub, this week was filled with real-world English experiences. That's the heart of what we offer at ECS Scotland: quality English lessons for adults, rooted in small group communication, friendly guidance and everyday discovery.
🎯 For a couple of students, it was also their first ever taste of Scotch whisky — a personal introduction to local flavours, recommended to us by our local bartender, shared in good company with some great stories too. 🥃
Thinking of Joining Us?
Our short courses are ideal for learners who want to build confidence, practise speaking and connect with local culture.
✍️ Small-group English courses for adults (30+) in Edinburgh
📅 Courses run all year — join for 1 or more weeks
