Frequently asked questions
This is a list of frequently asked questions. However, if you have any further questions not mentioned here, please do contact us.
We are a company using our own Learning Management System (LMS) for our employees to access courses. Can you integrate your LMS to ours through an API?
Yes. Our proprietary LMS can be integrated into your company’s LMS so that your employees can access their BiCortex language courses. Further details can be provided after meeting with a BiCortex technology representative.
Can you deliver language training lessons to my time zone?
Absolutely. BiCortex is an international company with offices, team members, instructors, and contacts all throughout the world. We can accommodate your preferred time zone so that lessons can take place at your desired time – morning, afternoon, or evening. Assignees and their families (if applicable) advise us on their preferred days and times for training. No additional fees are charged for weekend lessons.
Are your trainers based in all major and secondary markets?
Yes, we have trainers available in all major and secondary markets to avoid extra costs and fees. This allows us to provide high-quality instructor-led lessons, virtually and face-to-face, in any country in the world. And in the unlikely case that travel is required, we fully absorb that expense.
Is the core curriculum the same regardless of the instructor?
Yes. We follow the standards set by the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) for best-in-class educational practices. This ensures that the core curriculum taught develops the four core language skills (speaking, writing, reading, and listening) and the additional fluency goals consistently.
However, we take a flexible approach in our teaching methodology and lesson focus, so that the client’s objectives and expectations are satisfactorily met. One student, for example, might benefit from a communicative approach to language teaching. Their instructor would then work to establish links between the student’s primary language and the target language.
In contrast, another student might take language lessons for a business setting. That lesson will focus more on public speaking and business vocabulary.
What happens after the lessons have finished?
When a student has completed their lessons with their instructor, an End of Training Report (ETR) is created. The ETR details achievements and is provided not just when a programme has been fully completed but also if there are changes in trainer, or when pre-departure lessons are completed. This helps to maintain consistency as the new trainer will have all the necessary information regarding the student’s fluency level, the content studied, and preferred learning materials.
Can I change teachers mid-course if I am not fully satisfied?
Absolutely. We take student-instructor compatibility seriously and strive to satisfy our clients with the level of competence, engagement, and professionalism demonstrated by our instructors. If you are not satisfied by your interactions with your designated instructor, then our support team can arrange for you to be paired with a new teacher.
Are the language programs customized for the student?
Yes, each course is fully customized to fit the student’s fluency level, timeline, schedule, needs, and goals. We take a rigorous customization process to ensure this.
Is the programme led by one or more trainers (based on availability)?
Generally, one trainer is assigned per student. BiCortex specializes is matching the right trainer with the exact availability needed for each student.
In some cases, more than one trainer may be assigned to a student:
- Face-to-face, before and after relocation: BiCortex is experienced in facilitating trainers for pre-departure and post-departure language lessons. Pre-departure language lessons before relocation are highly encouraged. Whatever the language and wherever the destination, BiCortex will find the best available language instructors for clients prior to and after relocating to a new country.
- Virtual lessons, before and after relocation: BiCortex is flexible with providing learning options for clients and can switch face-to-face language lessons pre-departure to virtual language lessons with a different trainer. We can also host virtual lessons pre-departure and face-to-face lessons after relocation. In any instance, the instructors will coordinate curriculum to allow for a smooth transition.
- Assignees traveling between two locations: When a client is traveling back-and-forth between two locations and wants face-to-face lessons, BiCortex can assign the client an instructor in both of the respective countries.
- Intensive language training: When language lessons last several hours per day for multiple days, two or more teachers may be assigned in order to make lessons enjoyable and so that students can interact with differing accents.
- When a change of instructor is requested (by the student or instructor).
Language lessons involving multiple instructors are overseen by the program coodinator to ensure consistent curriculum and seamless transitions.
When a student moves to work with a new trainer, the previous instructor creates an End of Training Report This report is passed onto the new trainer with notes on the student’s progress and preferences. The new trainer is also advised on the best learning materials used by the initial trainer.
In certain cases, the program coordinator will facilitate communications between the previous and new trainer to maintain a client’s curriculum post-arrival.
What course materials are provided?
BiCortex uses a variety of course materials for enhanced and engaging learning. Materials used to teach a new language include:
- Physical hard copies: Textbooks, workbooks, and dictionaries, flash cards, and other similar handheld learning tools. Standard in both face-to-face and online lessons. Online learners receive these in the mail.
- Digital media: Audio and video files, digital images, PowerPoint presentations, and pre-recorded proprietary media. Utilized in face-to-face and online lessons.
- Complementary materials: Grammar theory and exercises, test/exam models, lesson and course plans, language games, children’s books and stories, roleplay and field trip ideas/examples.
Are they standard or customized for each student?
All language lessons are customized to fit the client’s needs and can be further customized to meet expectations. Trainers can make use of extra materials to ensure that the lessons are even more relevant and engaging. This can mean that materials such as worksheets, recent editions of magazines or newspapers, and even music videos can be incorporated if they fit the learner’s goals.
Do course materials differ based on training method?
Yes. The client’s goals and objectives play a considerable part in the lesson and overall course plans. For some vertical industries that have approved blended training, BiCortex hosts a proprietary self-paced online language course that features pre-loaded content that can be modified to adapt to the client’s specific needs.