1. Go British. One of the most painless routes up the learning curve is with a British owned and staffed ski school. You¹ll get not just English- language classes, but a style of tuition much more in tune with our own habits of mind.

For a full list of British Schools, call the information service of the Ski Club of Great Britain on 0845 458 0783. One of the most highly-rated among them is New Generation: a course of 5x2-hour lessons costs £102. It has schools in Courchevels 1650 and 1850, Meribel, Les Arcs and Val d¹Isere, and of these, Courchevel 1650 has the best beginner¹s slopes. Chalet specialist Le Ski has catered chalet holidays there starting from £469pp, half board.

2. Pick a beginner-friendly tour operator. Neilson runs a Learn To Turn programme especially designed for beginners, with exclusive English-language instruction for its guests and a dedicated beginner¹s rep. One week in Soll in Austria, for example, staying in a catered lodge, and including the full Learn to Turn package, costs from £660pp, half board.

3. Go West. Tuition in American and Canadian resorts is some of the most patient and painstaking in the world, and Winter Park in Colorado the resort to aim for: a laid-back, rootsy, ski area close to Denver airport, which is blessed with lots of specialist beginner¹s terrain. One week in a catered chalet starts from £550pp, half board with Crystal and three half-day lessons, including equipment rental and lift pass for three full days, will set you back £81.

4. Go to Andorra. Soldeu is the resort of choice, thanks to its popular British-run ski school; five three-hour classes cost from £60). Inghams has one week at the four-star Sporthotel from £555pp, half board.