Customer Terms and Conditions
Definitions and interpretations in these conditions
SLC shall mean Specialist Language Courses Ltd.
'The client' shall mean the person in whose name the booking is made and shall include the person or persons on whose behalf the same is made. In terms of organisational purchases, the client therefore refers to both the purchasing organisation and to those who take the courses purchased for them by that organisation.
‘The courses’ shall mean one or all of the online courses, assessments or tutor-led courses purchased from SLC.
'Force Majeure' shall mean any event outside SLC’s control which prevents the prompt performance of its obligations, including war and civil strife, etc.
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Online English Courses and Assessments
Copyright and intellectual property rights
Specialist Language Courses Ltd (SLC) owns or is licensed to use all intellectual property rights relating to the courses.
SLC retains the courses copyright and all rights therein, including but not limited to the right to publish, republish, transmit, sell, distribute and otherwise use the courses in whole or in part in electronic and print editions throughout the world, in all languages and in all media of expression now known or later developed, and to license or permit others to do so. Where SLC co-owns the course copyright, this information is available on request.
Reproduction, posting, transmission or other distribution or use of the courses in whole or in part, in any medium, requires the written permission of the copyright holders, or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. Clients may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
If clients believe that any materials included in the courses may infringe the copyrights of another party, please contact SLC by sending a written notice describing the alleged infringement to the following address: Specialist Language Courses Ltd, Sussex Innovation Centre, Science Park Square, University of Sussex, Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9SB, UK.
A notice must include the following:
- a physical or electronic signature of the owner, or a person authorised to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive right that is allegedly being infringed;
- identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed or, if the claim involves multiple works, a representative list of such works;
- identification of the allegedly infringing material on the Product;
- information reasonably sufficient to permit us to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, or, if available, an email address;
- a statement that the complaining party believes that use of the materials in the manner complained of is not authorised by the copyright owner; and
- a statement that the information in the notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorised to act on behalf of the owner of the exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
Course updates
SLC reserves the right to update the content of the courses from time to time, in order to ensure that the content is up-to-date, for example with any changes in operational procedures or technologies.
License for personal use
Clients may view this course electronically. Clients may, for their personal use only, save to their individual storage medium and print such extracts from the courses as are necessary for personal learning purposes. Clients may not sell or distribute any content from the courses without the written permission of SLC.
Course delivery
Courses are accessible online via PC, tablet or smartphone for a set period after the client’s initial login. After purchase, clients can access the course using the code provided by SLC. Clients may purchase extended access to the courses on request.
Website
SLC use a third party, Avallain AG, to host the courses. Clients use the Avallain website and the content at their own risk. SLC is not responsible for the running of the website, and do not guarantee that the website will provide continuous, prompt, secure or error-free service, and assume no responsibility, and shall not be liable for, any damages to or viruses that may affect users’ computer equipment or other property arising from use of the courses, including but not limited to the reproduction of the content.
SLC reserves the right to use an alternative Party to host the courses.
Links
Any electronic links from the courses are provided for information and convenience only, and SLC has no control over and cannot therefore accept responsibility or liability for the content of any linked third-party Web site. SLC does not endorse any linked Web site.
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Tutor-led Online Courses and Speaking Assessments
Closed group, one-to-one teaching, and speaking assessments
SLC’s responsibility is to provide the teaching or speaking assessment purchased by the client. There may be up to 1 calendar month between booking a course and the course commencing. This is to allow SLC reasonable time to source the best possible teacher or assessor for the course.
All trainers and assessors will be qualified and experienced English Language Teachers, with a minimum CELTA, Trinity TESOL or equivalent teaching qualification.
Postponing a lesson or assessment
To postpone a lesson or assessment, 2 working days’ notice is required, otherwise the lesson or assessment will be cancelled and there will be no refund or further lesson or assessment added to the schedule. Any changes to the agreed schedule must be communicated to SLC in writing in order for confirmation to be given to the tutor. A lesson or assessment may be re-scheduled no more than 3 times in 1 course unless agreed otherwise in writing.
Lateness
The tutor is required to wait 15 minutes after the agreed lesson start time. If the client arrives within this time, the remaining class time will be taught – the missed time will be forfeited.
If the tutor is late for the class for reasons beyond their control e.g technical issues, they will make up the missed time at the end of the lesson or at a time agreed by the client. All necessary effort will be made to contact the client to inform them of any delay to the class start time.
Open group English language courses
Open group English language courses are all tutor-led programmes. The schedule and hours of all courses are shown on the SLC website. Course materials used are at the discretion of SLC. Lessons are given on an online platform of SLC’s choice.
The entry level for customers joining the courses is described on the SLC website and there is a link to an online English language test to support customers in their decision to book the course. Customers may also speak to SLC to discuss their level before making a booking. SLC is not liable for a customer purchasing a course and finding that the level of the course does not meet their expectations.
Customers are expected to attend all lessons in order to make the progress expected of them. SLC does not accept any liability for any lessons missed and no refunds will be given where lessons are missed for any reason except in the case of Force Majeure.
In order for courses to run, there must be a minimum booking of 6 customers. Any exception to this is at the sole discretion of SLC. If the course does not run due to insufficient bookings, customers will receive a full refund.
The minimum age for attending a course is 18.
Teacher absence
Where a tutor is sick or away on pre-arranged times such as a holiday, SLC will arrange cover, unless the client agrees otherwise in writing. SLC requires 2 working days to arrange a cover teacher and may therefore rearrange the schedule in agreement with the client, where SLC receives less notice.
All changes to the schedule will be communicated immediately to the clients.
Technical specifications
- Lesson video platform: Clients should use a PC or tablet to participate in tutor-led online courses and speaking assessments.
- Lesson software: SLC uses Zoom, an award-winning web conferencing platform. Zoom works on low internet connections, both with video and audio-only. Zoom is now used and trusted by more than 180,000 companies and educational institutions around the world. Zoom is free to download and use.
- Minimum requirements:
- Browser - Chrome, Firefox, Safari 5+, Internet Explorer 7+, Opera 12+
- Operating system - Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, OSX 10.6.8+
- Supported tablet and mobile devices: iOS, Android and Blackberry devices, Surface PRO 2 running Win 8.1
- Speakers and microphone – built-in or USB plug-in or wireless bluetooth
- A webcam or HD webcam – built in or USB plug-in
- Computer processor – any 1 Ghz single core processor or better
- Bandwidth requirements: the bandwidth used by Zoom is optimised for the best experience based on the participants’ network. It automatically adjusts for 3G, WiFi or Wired environments. Recommended bandwidth:
- For 1:1 video calling: 600kbps (up/down) for HQ video and 1.2Mbps (up/down) for HD video
- For group video calling: 600kbps/1.2Mbps (up/down) for HQ video. For gallery view: 1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps (up/down)
- For screen sharing only (no vide thumbnail): 50-75kbps
- For screen sharing with video thumbnail: 50-150 kbps
- For audio VoiP: 60-80kbps
- Firewall configuration: If internet access has been restricted by administrators, please ensure this domain is added to the firewall exceptions list:
- *.zoom.us
Public holidays
There will be no classes delivered on UK Public holidays. Fees are pro-rata and are not charged for these dates. A list of UK public holidays is available on the UK government website:
https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays.
Course participation: expectations
Clients are expected to behave in a courteous manner and to respect fellow students and teachers. The use of drugs, alcohol abuse and inconsiderate behaviour is considered unacceptable. SLC reserves the right to withhold courses from any student behaving in an offensive or abusive manner towards others. SLC reserves the right to terminate courses in such cases.
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In General
Disclaimer
The contents of the courses, including the technical, operational and related information, are provided for language learning purposes only. The information and material contained on the courses does not constitute professional advice or opinion and should not be relied upon in this way.
While SLC has used its best endeavours to ensure that the material and information contained on the courses was accurate at the time it was developed, no explicit or implied guarantee is given that the information and material located in the courses, or on any other site or location referred to in the courses, is free from error or omission.
SLC does not accept any liability to any person for the use of the information which is provided in the courses or incorporated into it by reference, or for any action taken or omission made on the basis of the information located in the courses. Clients should exercise their own skill and care with respect to the use of the information and material contained in the courses.
Technical failures
SLC cannot be held responsible for part or all of a course being missed due to technical failures on the client side. Where courses are missed due to technical issues at SLC’s or the tutor’s end, the missing part will be rescheduled at the client’s convenience.
Alterations by SLC
SLC will do its utmost to provide the arrangements that have been confirmed, but it must reserve the right to modify or cancel part or all of any course if unforeseen circumstances arise.
If SLC cancels or significantly alters part or all of the client's course for reasons of force majeure, SLC shall inform the client as soon as possible and shall offer them the choice of an alternative course of at least comparable standard if available, a full refund, or a partial proportionate refund where part of the course has been delivered.
Alterations by the client
If the client wishes to change their booking in any way after the course has been confirmed has been issued, they must inform SLC immediately, in writing, and SLC reserves the right to charge £50 per person per change to cover the additional administration involved. SLC also reserves the right not to fulfil the booking in this case.
Limitations of liability
SLC accepts responsibility for ensuring that all parts of the courses are supplied as described and that all services shall reach reasonable standard. However they shall not be liable for the perceived failure of these services where such failure is attributable to a) the fault of the client, b) the unforeseeable or unavoidable actions of an unconnected third party, c) unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond SLC’s suppliers’ control, including force majeure.
SLC specifically excludes any liability whatsoever, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in respect of any loss or damage resulting or arising from reliance on the contents of this course or any material or content accessed through it. Clients agree to indemnify, defend and hold SLC, its directors, officers, employees or agents, harmless from all claims, causes, costs, expenses, fees (including reasonable legal fees), judgments, liabilities, losses and damages arising from or relating to use of the courses.
Choice of law
These Terms and Conditions and any counterparts, amendments or revisions thereto shall be governed and construed in accordance with English Law without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
Privacy policy
SLC collects the minimum amount of information about clients that is commensurate with providing a satisfactory service. This Policy indicates the type of processes that may result in data being collected about the client. Use of courses gives SLC the right to collect that information.
Data collected in the UK is held in accordance with the 2018 Data Protection Act, the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All reasonable precautions are taken to prevent unauthorised access to this information. This safeguard may require clients to provide additional forms of identity should they wish to obtain information about their account details.
See
https://www.specialistlanguagecourses.com/privacy-policy/.
Complaints
If clients feel they have genuine reason for complaint, they should inform SLC as soon as possible. SLC will respond to all reasonable complaints and will do all they can to resolve any problems. SLC will not, unfortunately, be able to respond to complaints made after a course has been finished, unless notified of this complaint whilst a client was still studying on the course and reasonable opportunity was given to respond to this complaint at that time.
Cancellations and Refunds
Clients can cancel their course and request a refund up to 14 days after paying for access to a course, provided they have not yet accessed the materials or started lessons or taken an assessment. All refunds will be subject to a £50 administration fee and any associated bank charges. If a client would like a refund, please make the request in writing, via email, to
enquiries@specialistlanguagecourses.com. Refunds will be processed within 30 days of request.
Force Majeure
SLC is not liable for failure to perform the party's obligations if such failure is as a result of Acts of God (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane or other natural disaster), war, invasion, act of foreign enemies, hostilities (regardless of whether war is declared), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalisation, government sanction, blockage, embargo, labor dispute, strike, lockout or interruption or failure of electricity or telephone service. No party is entitled to terminate this Agreement in such circumstances.
If SLC asserts Force Majeure as a reason for failure to perform its obligations, then SLC will prove that it took reasonable steps to minimize delay or damages caused by foreseeable events, that SLC substantially fulfilled all non-excused obligations, and that clients were timely notified of the likelihood or actual occurrence of an event described in this Clause 12(Force Majeure).
Contact details
If clients have any questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
Specialist Language Courses Ltd
Sussex Innovation Centre
University of Sussex
Science Park Square
Falmer, Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 9SB
UK
enquiries@specialistlanguagecourses.com
Tel: +44 1273 900213
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