General English Intensive (22.5 hrs/wk)
The General English course is a full-time programme that runs all year. The course has a strong focus on the practical needs of both short and long term visitors to the UK. It is ideal for anyone who wants to improve their all-round communication skills. There are 22.5 hours of classes each week. You can study from as little as one week to one year or more. You can enrol on most Mondays (see calendar below for start dates and holidays).
What level is the course?
This course covers six levels from Beginner (CEF Level A1) to Advanced (CEF Level C1) and includes regular opportunities to progress through these levels. Although every student improves at a different pace, students typically spend 3~4 months in each level until Intermediate when progress usually takes longer, around 4~6 months.
Course Levels compared with International Examinations:
| Level | Cambridge Exams | CEF Level | IELTS Score | TOEIC Score |
| Advanced | CAE, BEC Higher | C1 Effective Operational Efficiency | 6.5-7.0 | 701-910+ |
| Upper Intermediate | FCE, BEC Vantage | B2 Vantage | 5.0-6.0 | 541-700 |
| Intermediate | PET, BEC Preliminary | B1 Threshold | 4.0-4.5 | 460-540 |
| Pre-Intermediate | PET | B1 / A2 | 3.5-4.0 | 381-459 |
| Elementary | KET, YLE Flyers | A2 Waystage | 3.0 | 246-380 |
| Beginner | YLE Movers | A1 Breakthrough | 1.0 - 2.0 | <246 |
What will I study each week?
In the mornings, you will study a balanced mix of the four language skills (Speaking, Listening, Reading & Writing) and the four language systems (Grammar, Vocabulary, Functions & Pronunciation) with a strong emphasis on practical, every day communication. There are also regular feedback sessions so you can discuss with your teacher what you would like to do. In the afternoons, you will attend special workshops each of which focuses on a specific skill or language area such as Reading & Vocabulary, Speaking & Listening and Writing & Grammar. Students are grouped by ability for each individual skill. This system allows students who are strong in some areas but weak in others to get extra help and practice in the right areas and at the right level.
What materials will I use?
We use only the latest Textbooks and Audio from major ELT publishers and supplement these with Video, DVD, CD-ROMs, online resources, and authentic materials. Our experienced teachers also create their own materials for classes depending on the students' interests. Materials cost approximately £30 every 12 weeks.
Timetable 2010General English Calendar 2010
