General English
We have 6 levels of general English courses. Each level progressively develops your English skills through structured learning, regular practice activities, real-life situation role plays and scenarios, and course support facilities. Here is what you can expect from each level:
Starter – Elementary (90 hours)
This level allows true beginners to build their first foundations in English. All four skills (reading/writing/listening/speaking) are gradually introduced and practiced in communicative activities. The course also systematically builds student’s vocabulary and provides simple dictionary training. The course provides a focus on basic grammar as it is one of the key enabling skills for allowing language learners to effectively develop their overall ability.
After studying the Starter course, learners should:
- Be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.
- Be able to introduce himself/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has.
- Be able to interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Elementary – Pre-intermediate (90 hours)
The Elementary course allows both true beginners and strong beginners to development their existing limited English skills. All four skills (reading/writing/listening/speaking) are focused on and practiced in communicative activities. The course provides a more in-depth focus on grammar studied at Starter level.
After studying the Elementary course, learners should:
- Be able to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).
- Be able to communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.
- Be able to describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
Pre-intermediate – Intermediate (90 hours)
Our Pre-intermediate class is designed to develop both strong elementary students and true pre-intermediate students by building on their existing skills. All four skills (reading/writing/listening/speaking) are developed in context using a wide variety of material on many topics. Student’s widen their understanding of English and extend their ability to use the language for general communication purposes. Grammar study at this level explores new tenses and structures and introduces self-check exercises.
After studying the Pre-intermediate course, learners should:
- Be able to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- Be able to deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
- Be able to describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Intermediate – Upper-intermediate (90 hours)
Student’s at both strong pre-intermediate and true intermediate can benefit from our Intermediate course. All skills are practiced through a combination of stimulating, motivating, and effective activities. Student’s broaden and deepen their understanding of all areas of English and extend their abilities to use it. There is an equal focus on both fluency and accuracy in all skill areas at this level. Grammar in this level includes detailed tense review and introduces stative and event verbs as well as extension on all structures studied at pre-intermediate level.
After studying the Intermediate course, learners should:
- Be able to understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation.
- Be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
- Be able to produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
Upper-intermediate – Advanced (90 hours)
The Upper-intermediate course allows student to further develop skills are practiced through a combination of stimulating, motivating, and effective activities. Student’s are able to build on the firm grammatical, lexical, and functional foundation achieved in the previous levels. Students will extend their overall understanding of all areas of English as well as their abilities to use the language for highly effective communication. At this level, greater attention is paid to lexis and spoken language. Grammar in this level includes expressing habit and detailed study of modal verbs and their usage.
After studying the Upper-intermediate course, learners should:
- Be able to understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning.
- Be able to express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
- Be able to use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.
- Be able to produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
Advanced – Mastery (90 hours)
After studying the Advanced course, learners should:
- Be able to understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
- Be able to summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation.
- Be able to express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.