When you come to Ireland you will have a completely unique and unforgettable living and learning experience. For an island with a population of just 4.5 million, the Irish culture and way of life has travelled far and wide. More than 70 million people are proud to claim Irish heritage. GCI 02 Destination: Ireland A vibrant historical and cultural tradition means that you will always have something fun and exciting to do during your stay. You will never have trouble finding someone to talk to - Irish people are welcoming, friendly and full of conversation. A wonderful nightlife, many festivals and excellent pubs will ensure lots of opportunities for language practice and fun. Music is very much part of the Irish identity, and phenomena such as U2, Enya, Westlife and The Corrs have taken the world by storm. Riverdance has been witnessed by millions from Beijing to Boston. Our literary tradition boasts internationally acclaimed writers such as Seamus Heaney, James Joyce, Samuel Becket, W. B. Yeats, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. I wanted to come to a mid- sized school with people from all over the world; and not too many Japanese. I wanted something that was homely so I chose GCI. I thought English would be very difficult, but the teachers here are very clear. My English improved really quickly; I started at pre- intermediate level and am now upper intermediate. It was great fun going out to the pub with my new friends and being involved in activities - I played the fiddle at the Kinvara Music Festival. When you come to GCI, don't be shy - talk to people and you will learn really quickly. Dai: Japan, 22. Academic Year

GCI 03 Situated on the Atlantic west coast, Galway is an excellent location to study English. Our city is its people, warm, friendly, welcoming - a people with a sense of Ireland's past and a sharp eye on Ireland's future. Galway is a university city - of its 100,000 inhabitants, 20,000 are university students. The main industries are education, tourism, I. T, software and medical devices. We can share with you our clean environment, a thriving artistic and dramatic culture, traditional pubs with music to suit all tastes, top quality restaurants and a full calendar of festivals featuring poetry, the arts, music, horse racing, oyster festivals etc. Galway is also the ideal location for the sports enthusiast - golf, fishing, horse- riding, tennis, sailing and falconry are all easily accessible. We have one of the most uniquely beautiful landscapes in the world: the 2,000 year old fortress Dun Aengus on the Aran Islands, the sheer Cliffs of Moher and lakeside tranquillity of Kylemore Abbey are all must sees. GCI offers a full activity programme throughout the year which allows students to take advantage of the attractions Galway city and the surrounding countryside have to offer you. Destination: Galway I chose GCI because I found it on the internet and got a recommendation from my agency. I chose the school because they are not many people from my country here - It is really international! My favourite thing in the school is meeting people from all over the world, and my teachers - I love them! Also, the location of the school is beautiful - you can sit in the café and look at the sea - it's really lovely. Gee Hae: South Korean, 28. Academic Year programme