Oguzhan is from Istanbul, Turkey. He started his English language journey at Cork English Academy back in September. Here is his story.
I’m a mechanical engineer. Due to my job, I need to communicate with companies and employees abroad. English is used as a common language. For this reason, I decided to study English. I chose Ireland for English education because I heard how helpful the Irish people are. I think Irish people are the people most like the Turkish people in the continent of Europe.
Photo @sykes_36
The reason I chose the city of Cork is that it is a small and safe city. Turkish people usually go to Dublin for English education. The only reason I wanted to be away from Turkish people was to always speak English and improve my level. During my four and a half months in Ireland, I travelled to Cork and Dublin. But I would love to visit other cities of Ireland in the spring. My favourite thing about Cork is that the buildings are small and you can always see the sky even in the city centre. This is very refreshing. The thing I dislike most is the weather, of course.
Photo @yaycork
I have improved my English more than I expected at Cork English Academy. Everyone at school helps a lot. I really want to work and live in Ireland in the future.
Lena is a French student who studies General English at CEA.
Hi, my name is Léna, I am 19 and I am a Cork English Academy student I have lived in Cork for 3 months, since September. My first experience was as an Au pair, it was not too bad but it’s definitely not for me. After 3 months, I returned to France, and since February I am still in Ireland, I was in Dublin for 2 weeks and I’ll stay in Cork for 3/4 months more. I live with other people in the School Residence.
Lena’s Photography
For me, Cork it’s a very nice city, you can find whatever you want, when you want. This city is easier than other cities.You can shop and also go to the park. The bus is also the Best transport. You really need to use the bus in Cork. What i really like in Cork is the house’s colours. Even if the weather is bad, Cork have a lot of colours, you can feel good even if it’s raining. That’s my point of view.
Both Revolut or Money Jar now have Irish IBANs starting with IE (for some employers in Ireland this is important).
You can use this digital account to show proof of having €4680(€6665 from June 30th 2025) if you like. You can make an electronic transfer from one account to this new digital account.
You cannot lodge cash to these accounts. You can only make online transfers.
You can open a digital account within minutes!
Open a Regular (traditional) Irish Bank Account
Students can now open accounts using the AIB App. Search for the AIB Banking App on your phone.
If you get into difficulty with registering your details on the App you are welcome to visit the AIB Branch on South Mall, Cork city centre (2 minutes walk from the school).
Here’s a step-by-step guide to opening an account on the AIB Mobile Banking App:
Step 1: Download AIB App
Download the AIB Mobile Banking App from the App Store or Play Store. Select the option to “Become an AIB customer”.
Step 2: Verify email address
Enter your e-mail address. We’ll send a unique code to your inbox that is required to continue
Step 3: Provide some personal details
We’ll ask you to enter your personal details and present you with the account suitable for you, then…
Step 4: Complete a video call
We will connect with you to a video call with an agent, so you’ll need your photo ID and stable internet connection. Our agent will guide you, for example getting you to hold up your passport so we can check your identity.
Step 5: Provide some more details
After the video call, we need a few more details from you in order open your account so don’t go anywhere. Follow the steps on screen all the way to picking a branch and register for our internet banking service.
Step 6: Almost there…
Your account will then be opened, but before you can begin to use your account you will need to prove your address.
Step 7: Wait for letter
To prove your address, we will send you a letter to the provided postal address that you’ve given us. This letter will contain a unique identifier code which you will then need to enter into the app. Your account wont be active until you do this!
Step 8: Enter code from letter
Once you have entered the code, you’re good to go and you can lodge money to your new current account and transact online(this may take 24hours after code entry). We will send a debit card in the post and a PIN separately.
Acceptable types of photographic ID includes:
Language school students should choose a basic account. This may cause an issue for students if they select a student account in error, as the app will not allow them to continue. They should instead start again and choose a basic account, they will be able to complete the account opening.
Any students who find themselves unable to open an account via the mobile app can visit the AIB South Mall Branch.
To open an account in branch they will need to make an appointment and provide the following:
Documents AIB might request:
Original School Letter (signed and stamped)
Original Bank Letter (signed and stamped)
This letter is different to your school letter. It must include your address in Cork, your address abroad and the school AIB bank account number)
Medical insurance document with address in Cork
Passport
Irish mobile number
If you follow all the steps without issue you could have a bank account open within 2 weeks.
Banan on the Top Floor of Shandon Tower – Cork City
I completed level B1 and I am nearly to finished B2 at Cork English Academy. It was a brilliant experience.
The teachers did their best to help us and make everything clear and let us communicate which other students and practice speaking as much as possible.
My speaking is the most improved. The most challenging for me is practicing writing skills.
I don’t get a chance to practice English outside of school hours so speaking to teachers and classmates was important for me.
In my opinion I didn’t find huge differences between studying online and studying in person. The teachers were still brilliant. However, the relations and communication between students is better in person, in the school.
Here are some photos I took of Cork:
The Courthouse – Cork CitySt. Finbarr’s Cathedral and the River Lee – Cork City
Daniel (progressing from A2 Pre-Intermediate to C1 Advanced) and Zabele (progressing from B1 Intermediate to C1 Advanced) studied at Cork English Academy from March 2020 to May 2021. Congratulations to you both on your achievements!
Online Classes at Cork English Academy
When we arrived in Ireland our focus was to learn English. Obviously we were doubt about the school, about life and if we could live far away from our family.
Luckily, the reception of school, the teachers and the classmates helped us to feel better. All of our teachers helped us a lot to learn and the methodology was very good.
We had five weeks on face-to-face classes and then the quarantine started. It was a hard time for everyone and we thought about give up and go back to Brazil.
Fortunately, we stayed in Ireland and we restarted the English language course online. One more time we were worried about the course but the teachers made everything to improve their methods and helped us. To be honest, in many times, it looks like we were at school.
We’ve tried practicing English with some friends at work but, because of quarantine, we just stayed at home and watched movies in English.
The most important thing for improving our English, in our opinion, was the teachers. Every time they told us some ways and points that we needed to focus, they showed another online free material for practice more and more. Everything supported us to learn.
We would like to say thank you for our teachers Joanne, Emma, Phil, Pat, Karen, Aine, Annushka, Gavin, Michael, Christopher, all of the School staff, directors and everyone who supported us. You are amazing.
