General English Course
Key Facts
Course Starts: Any Monday
Course Duration:
minimum 1 week
maximum 1 year
Levels:
Beginner – Advanced Plus (CEFR A1 – C2)
Beginners should start within the first 3 weeks of a new term.
Lessons/hours per week:
GE6 – 6 lessons / 5 hours 30 minutes
GE10 – 10 lessons / 9 hours 10 minutes
GE15 – 15 lessons / 13 hours 45 minutes
GE21 – 21 lessons / 19 hours 15 minutes
GE25 – 25 lessons / 22 hours 55 minutes
Lesson Length: 55 minutes
Maximum Class Size: 15
Minimum Age: 16 (Written parental consent is required for students aged under 18 years)
Visa Requirements:
GE6/GE10/GE15 – Short Term Study Visa or Visitor Visa
GE21/GE25 – Short Term Study Visa, Student Visa or Visitor Visa
Summary
Our General English Course aims to improve all areas of your English language competence: speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
Our teachers use the communicative approach to deliver learner-centred lessons which are dynamic and engaging. Lessons focus on both accuracy and fluency and our teachers ensure that each lesson has clear learning outcomes. You will develop your ability to communicate confidently in real-life situations.
Our Academic Team carefully selects course materials to ensure lessons are relevant and interesting to our students. You will be given a coursebook for each level that you study at.
Book NowAdditional Information
Included in your fees;
- A short review test each week
- Monthly progress tests and progress report
- 1:1 tutorial with your teacher including an Individual Action Plan
- Optional Exit Test – Compare your placement test results with your exit results to see how much you have improved
- Outside the classroom you can use our online learning platform for extra practice.
- Access to Microsoft Office including Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint programmes
- A student handbook which explains how the course works and any important information you need to know.
- End of Course Certificate (PDF)
Afternoon Electives
Afternoon Electives for students on GE6, GE10, GE21 and GE25:
Your General English course includes an afternoon elective if you study GE21 or GE25 lessons per week and your level is Pre-Intermediate+ (CEFR A2+). These allow you to personalise your learning.
Communication Skills (Minimum Level: Beginner/Elementary A1)
- This elective develops your practical English language skills. There is an emphasis on speaking, listening and vocabulary development. Topics are carefully chosen by teachers based on the needs of the students in the class. Lessons include activities focusing on real-life situations to increase your confidence when communicating in English.
- Topics and themes include:
- Travel and Holidays
- Work and careers
- Free time
- Health and wellbeing
- Food and drink
- Friends and family
- Shopping
English For Business (Minimum level: intermediate A2)
- This elective provides practical language skills for the workplace. You will develop your skills and vocabulary in a business context and practise communication in workplace scenarios such as meetings and presentations.
- Topics and themes include:
- Giving presentations
- Meetings and discussions
- Telephoning
- Writing and responding to emails
- Interviews
- Problem solving
Academic Skills (Minimum Level: Intermediate B1)
- Academic Skills helps prepare you for a university course taught in English. You will increase your academic vocabulary and practise skills to become more confident in your understanding and use of academic English and therefore better able to succeed in your chosen university career. You will become more confident in your understanding and use of academic English and therefore better able to succeed in your chosen university course.
- Topics and themes include:
- Academic Style
- Academic Listening (for lectures)
- Language of Presentations
- Academic Vocabulary
- Academic Writing Skills
You can change your elective at any time and start a different afternoon elective the following Monday, subject to availability.
Our electives are subject to availability.
Students at Beginner/Elementary levels (CEFR A1 – A2) do not select an afternoon elective. On GE21 or GE25 courses these students take a level-appropriate Communications Skills class for 6 lessons per week. Part-time students on GE6 or GE10 courses, at pre-intermediate level+ (CEFR A2+), can also take an afternoon elective.
FAQs
I am Beginner level; can I do a General English course?
- If you are a Beginner (CEFR level A1) you need to start the course within the first 3 weeks of a new term.
Can I change my afternoon elective?
- Yes. You can change your elective at any time and start a different afternoon elective the following Monday.
Can I do more than one afternoon elective?
- You can only study one afternoon elective at a time but you can change your afternoon electives during your course.
How much does it cost to take the afternoon elective?
- Afternoon electives are included in your course fees so you don’t need to pay any extra.
Are the afternoon electives guaranteed to run?
- We need 3 students to run an afternoon elective. If we have fewer than 3 students in a class, we will ask if you prefer to take a different afternoon elective or we will offer you 3 lessons of 1:1 or 2:1 classes in place of the advertised 6 lessons per week.
How many weeks is the maximum for each afternoon elective?
- There is no maximum number of weeks for electives.