Description of Classes

DESCRIPTION OF CLASSES AND WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

GENERAL ENGLISH CLASS

General English classes will help you to improve your all round ability in English. These classes will provide a balance of practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and will also cover grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. A course book may be used which you will need to buy.

GRAMMAR AND WRITING CLASS

Grammar and writing classes will concentrate on areas of grammar and writing which you will need to improve. Lessons may cover some analysis of areas of grammar as well as exercises to give further practice using the language. Writing tasks will aim to improve your ability to write accurately in a variety of contexts. A book may be used which you will need to buy.

CONVERSATION AND PRONUNCIATION CLASS

Conversation and pronunciation classes will concentrate on improving your ability to speak accurately and easily in a variety of situations. Lessons will concentrate mostly on listening, speaking and pronunciation work in a variety of everyday contexts. There may also be work on grammar, and vocabulary as well as some reading and writing. Teachers will use a range of different resources and material during the lessons. A book may be used which you will need to buy.

READING AND WRITING CLASS

Reading and Writing classes will aim to improve your vocabulary and reading skills using a number of different topic areas. You will have the opportunity to use the language you learn during a reading task to write text in a variety of different styles. A book may be used which you will need to buy.

LISTENING AND SPEAKING CLASS

Listening and Speaking classes will aim to improve your ability to listen and understand language spoken in a variety of different situations and with a range of different accents. You will have the opportunity to use the language you cover during a listening task to talk about similar subjects yourself and to discuss more general topics of interest. A book may be used which you will need to buy.

MULTI SKILLS CLASS

This class is suitable for students who need to improve their skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Teachers may use a course book and/or material from other sources eg newspapers, magazines, multimedia broadcasts etc. These classes will help you to improve your skills, look at language used in certain situations and practice language during both inside the class and outside. The class will help you to develop your four skills and can also help you to improve the skills you will need to use when you sit one of the English language exams for international students eg IELTS, FCE, CAE CPE etc. A book may be used which you will need to buy.

EXAM PREPARATION CLASS

This class is for students who need to prepare for one of the English Exams for international students. Lessons will include work on reading, writing, listening, and speaking as well as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Lessons will focus on areas of language that you will be tested on during your exam. Your teacher will help you improve your English and also give you exam practice material so you can improve your exam technique and be ready to sit your exam. The class will help you to achieve your best possible grade when you sit your exam. A book may be used which you will need to buy.

ELECTIVES:

There are also a list of electives which students can choose to study. These are as follows:

ACADEMIC ENGLISH CLASS

Academic English provides language instruction for academic study in English Universities and colleges of Higher Education. Lessons will address all four language skills, ie reading, writing, listening and speaking, for academic purposes and will include work on listening comprehension, fluency development, oral intelligibility, grammar, and vocabulary development.

BUSINESS ENGLISH CLASS

Business English will focus on the type of English used in business contexts, such as international trade, commerce, finance, insurance, banking, and many office settings. We will cover the language necessary to make your communication fluent and accurate so that your message clear in both your written and spoken English. We will also focus on improving your vocabulary and grammar as well as all four skills within a business context.

SURVIVAL ENGLISH CLASS

This class is for students who need to learn how to use English in everyday life in the UK. The lessons are very practical and you will learn how to book appointments, telephone a company for advice or information, open a bank account, join the library etc. Your teacher may use a course book and/or authentic material and real situations to teach the lessons. Students may be taken out of the classroom to practice their English. A book may be used which students will need to buy.

TASK BASED ENGLISH CLASS

In this class the teacher will help you to choose a topic or area of English that you want to focus on and will then provide you with resources and material that you can use to help you explore, research and learn more about this topic/area.
Topics/areas of English may include one or more of the following:

British Education and how to apply to a University in the UK
Work and Leisure in the UK and how to apply for a job
Health and the Health service in the UK and how to book an appointment with a doctor, talk about your symptoms etc
British Politics and/or the Royal Family and how this is different to your country
Newspapers and Fleet Street and the language used in newspapers
Important people in English history etc, etc

DISCOVER ENGLAND - GUIDED LEARNING CLASS

This is a guide learning class; this means that your teacher will guide you so that you can use your English to find out more about England and about English customs, culture and traditions. You will learn about England, the country, the people, the customs and the culture and your teacher will give you a task to complete eg a student magazine, a guide book for the local area, a poster to advertise upcoming events in Milton Keynes etc. You will work with other students and you may need to research the local area, its history and traditions, visit the local library or local places of interest, take photographs, interview people etc in order to complete your task. Each week you will meet with your teacher and other students in the class to compare your findings and use English you have learnt to complete your task. You will work mostly work with authentic material to research and learn about England and English life and culture. This class will help you to improve your speaking and communication, expand your vocabulary and grammar and will give you lots of opportunities to develop on your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

PLAY YOUR PLAY - GUIDED LEARNING CLASS

This is a guide learning class; this means that your teacher will guide you so that you can work in a groups to prepare, act and film scenes from an English Play. The teacher will help you to find a suitable play, write the script, choose the cast, director, producer, camera man etc of the play, rehearse and perform the play for the camera. When you finish, you will have a film of your play which you can send to your family and/or friends.