General English Course

CRICOS Course Code: 059870M   Campus location: Sydney

Duration: 4 – 72 weeks: it is up to you. What are your visa conditions? What are your language goals? Ask us for a pre-enrolment test and we can tell you how much time you need.

Fees: Please refer to our Price List

Course Aims: The General English course aims to teach you to speak English confidently using the correct vocabulary, grammar, register, intonation and pronunciation.

The course also aims to teach you to listen to English being spoken by speakers from all over the world.

You will most likely get a job and work beside Australians and may have lots of questions. Please bring your questions to class and ask your teacher. They can help you understand the nuances of the language and similarities and differences in work culture.

Entry Requirements: Students must be 18 years old or older at the time of enrolment.

Teaching Methods: You will be in a face-to-face class with a qualified and experienced English language teacher. Our class sizes average 15 students, enabling you to interact meaningfully with your teacher and classmates. We use the communicative method of language teaching and focus on building your confidence and fluency. Your teacher will use strategies such as pair and group work, drilling, textbook exercises, videos, YouTube, class tests, teamwork and competition, games, role plays, simulations and much more.

Assessment: Every time the teacher says something to you or the class, your listening is tested. Every time you speak English, your speaking is being monitored and assessed by your teacher. Every time you read from the textbook; the teacher is listening to your pronunciation. Whenever you write, the teacher will check your writing and tell you how you are doing. This is part of your formative assessment. You will also take a formal test each week, to check your progress. Your teacher will give you feedback on areas you need to improve.

When a student asks the teacher a question in class, please listen to the students and the teacher’s answer. You might be asked to answer their question. This is a test of your:

• understanding of the student’s question (comprehension)
• understanding of the student’s English and comprehension of their meaning (remember, English is a global language, and you will always be listening to people from all over the world speaking English)
• speaking – the teacher is listening to you answer the other student’s question. This is a test! Your pronunciation, elision, intonation, intelligibility, and word choice.
• attentiveness – your engagement and participation in the class
• cultural awareness – in American, British, Canadian, and Australian classrooms we all listen to the questions and answers of other students. Doing so helps you to learn how to think and learn how to learn. Remember, learning a language is not just about grammar and vocabulary.

General English Learning Outcomes

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, our courses are designed to enhance your reading, writing, speaking, and listening abilities. Gain confidence and fluency in real-world communication with expert guidance and practical exercises. Listed below is what you will learn in each General English level.

Beginner:

Speaking

• Can initiate and hold simple conversational exchanges on very familiar topics using short, fixed expressions, providing the speech is clear and carefully delivered.
• Can express meaning and simple descriptions using basic, fixed expressions, with limited range and accuracy in grammar and vocabulary.
• Can use the alphabet and numerals to discuss personal details, indicate time phrases and give a range of quantities and prices.
• Can perform simple social transactions: greetings/farewells, requesting/giving information (e.g. daily routines, work/family details, holiday plans etc.).
• Can make basic queries and requests and engage in simple interactions in shops, restaurants and on the street (requesting and giving directions, describing transportation etc.).
• Can offer very simple statements on familiar topics (e.g. food and drink preferences, likes and dislikes, descriptions of things and places).
• Can pronounce items intelligibly when repeating familiar words and short, fixed phrases.

Listening

• Can recognise the topic and gist of short, slow and simple dialogues on everyday topics and routine scenarios.
• Can understand short, simple and specific information like factual statements, commands, names, phone numbers, descriptions etc.
• Can identify basic questions and opinions (e.g. likes and dislikes) if delivered slowly and clearly.

Writing

• Can write very short, simple social media posts, notes and complete brief forms requiring basic information etc.
• Can write basic descriptions of people, places, familiar objects, personal interests, someone’s life and routines etc.
• Can copy or write short, isolated sentences on everyday topics (e.g. directions or instructions).
• Can often write simple isolated sentences using basic punctuation and spelling.

Reading

• Can understand short, simple social media posts, notes, text messages, short forms, emails, and brief articles on common, everyday topics.
• Can understand content of simple informational texts (e.g. short directions, descriptions or instructions, particularly when there is visual support.
• Can recognise and understand familiar phrases in brief texts on basic opinions (e.g. likes and dislikes, food and drink preferences etc.).

Elementary:

Speaking

• Can hold short, basic conversations on very common topics such as work, study, home, personal details, routines and interests.
• Can make their meaning clear in basic, routine situations though range of grammar & vocabulary might be limited.
• Tense choice conveys whether an event occurs in the past, present or future.
• Can perform basic social functions effectively, such as introducing people, apologising, making social arrangements.
• Can effectively perform basic transactional conversations in shops, stations, restaurants etc.
• Can express very basic opinions on common subjects.
• Can usually pronounce short sentences intelligibly.

Listening

• Can understand the topic & important points of carefully spoken English on basic everyday topics & in routine situations.
• Can pick up simple specific information such as numbers, prices and times if spoken slowly and carefully.
• Can pick out basic opinions, e.g. likes & dislikes.

Writing

• Can write very short notes, social media posts, etc for social purposes.
• Can write very brief descriptions of places, people, jobs, stories etc.
• Can write very short social media posts, emails etc for transactional purposes.
• Can often write basic sentences with sufficient accuracy to be intelligible.

Reading

• Can identify the topic and follow the important points of short, basic, predictable texts including articles, emails and social network posts on basic everyday topics.
• Can identify specific information in short articles, brochures, menus etc as long as the meaning is basic, and the topic is common.
• Can identify basic opinions, e.g. likes & dislikes.

Pre-Intermediate:

Speaking

• Can talk at some length with an understanding interlocutor on familiar, everyday topics, though expression may be vague and/or involve repair or noticeable pauses.
• Can use a range of basic language structures and common vocabulary with some degree of accuracy.
• Can perform everyday social and transactional functions such as making arrangements, obtaining information, giving advice & asking for clarification.
• Can ask to about & describe simple opinions, preferences & feelings.
• Can use some features of English pronunciation appropriately such as weak forms and word stress, though pronunciation may cause some difficulty.
• Can briefly describe experiences and re-tell stories or anecdotes, ideas etc.

Listening

• Can generally understand short social conversations on everyday topics if speech is careful.
• Can identify the topic & main points of longer conversations and talks on familiar topics as long as delivery is careful, is in a familiar accent, and avoids colloquial language.
• Can pick out specific information such as times and prices, as long as they’re not too complex & speech is careful.
• With visual support (e.g. images or TV), can often identify or predict the main points of clear speech at normal speed on topics of common experience.

Writing

• Can write short simple texts including social emails, descriptions and recounts, paragraphed and structured appropriately.
• Can use a range of basic language structures and common vocabulary with some degree of accuracy.
• Can use tense and/or time expressions to make the timing and sequence of events clear.
• Can describe opinions, feelings and reactions in a basic way.
• Can link ideas using simple linking words.

Reading

• Can generally understand short articles, brochures etc as long as the language is kept simple.
• Can pick up the main ideas of short, structured texts on topics of common experience.
• Can extract specific information in straightforward websites, brochures and articles.

Intermediate:

Speaking

• Can hold reasonably lengthy conversations on most everyday topics with some detail, but may lack precision or be somewhat rather hesitant, repetitive or circuitous.
• Can use a range of lexis just sufficient for communication on most everyday topics.
• Can use a good range of grammatical forms including basic subordination, but with accuracy on basic forms only.
• Can perform a range of more sophisticated functions such as taking messages, describing, giving and responding to suggestions and participating in straightforward interviews.
• Can give and request basic explanations for actions, feelings, attitudes & opinions.
• Pronunciation is intelligible without too much difficulty, and stress, rhythm, chunking and/or intonation appears.
• Can re-tell or summarise stories, articles, conversations, issues etc on common topics.

Listening

• Can follow much of longer conversations at normal speed provided that colloquial language is avoided, though details may be lost.
• Can follow the gist or main points of segments of talks, radio/ TV programmes etc when delivery is clear, and topics are familiar.
• Can pick out a variety of specific information / details from normal conversation or talks.
• Can follow simple relationships between ideas in talks and discussions, such as cause-effect, problem-solution & reason-result.
• Can make basic inferences about opinion, text purpose, audience, word meaning etc.

Writing

• Can write a range of multi-paragraph texts with a clear purpose, such as social & transactional emails/ letters, descriptions and justifications for opinions.
• Can use a sufficient range of lexis that communication breakdowns are rare, though variety is limited.
• A range of grammatical forms including basic subordination is used, with limited accuracy.
• Can control register/level of formality with some success.
• Can signal simple relationships within a text such as relative time, cause-effect, point-example though may be mechanical or repetitive.
• Can organise basic texts in a minimally coherent way, including the using introductions, paragraphs & conclusions.

Reading

• Can recognise main ideas and opinions expressed in straightforward newspaper/ magazine articles, brochures etc on familiar topics.
• Can extract some meaning from medium to long texts by skimming and scanning.
• Can pick out a variety of details/ specific information from authentic texts.
• Can follow simple relationships between ideas in tests, such as sequence, point-example, problem-solution & reason-result.
• Can make basic inferences about opinion, text purpose, audience, word meaning etc when clues are clear.

Upper Intermediate:

Speaking

• Can hold longer conversations on topics of current or general interest provided the topic is not too abstract or technical.
• Some ability to use more complex, less common and/or idiomatic language patterns has emerged.
• Can perform a range of more complex functions such as speculating and giving detailed advice.
• Can clearly express & justify opinions, discuss pros & cons, provide coherent arguments etc.
• Is able to use a range of pronunciation features including stress & intonation, with reasonable consistency.
• Manages conversations & discussions effectively by turn taking, inviting others’ views, confirming comprehension etc.
• Can give short talks involving some degree of complexity.

Listening

• Can generally follow most conversations and group discussions where delivery isn’t too fast & the language isn’t too colloquial.
• Follows the main points & many details of talks, radio/TV programmes, documentaries & films.
• Picks up details and specific information from a variety of aural sources.
• Picks up and differentiate between opinions, attitudes etc in monologues & dialogues.
• Can follow fairly complex cause-effect, reason-result etc relationships.

Writing

• Can follow the conventions of a range of common types of text, including social & transactional emails, letters etc. that give information or support opinions.
• Some ability to use more complex, less common and/or idiomatic language patterns has emerged.
• Has some control over register and style.
• Attempts logical paragraphing with a smooth flow of ideas.
• Can give and justify opinions with some logic to the argument.
• Can convey abstract concepts such as the personal significance of events in some detail.

Reading

• Can pick up the main points of most general interest articles.
• Can use strategies such as prediction, skimming and scanning to deal quickly with longer or more specialist texts.
• Can understand details and relationships between ideas at the level of complexity found in most general texts.
• Can pick up and differentiate between opinions, including the author’s, in most texts.
• Can recognise a text’s purpose, register and intended audience.

Advanced:

Speaking

• Can actively and flexibly participate in fluent, animated discussions.
• Can use grammar and lexis with sufficient control to express nuance and shades of meaning, including the use of some idiomatic or colloquial language.
• Can effectively negotiate, influence & persuade.
• Can express complex ideas and arguments convincingly and with precision, in response to others where appropriate.
• Can successfully use pronunciation features to influence a variety of meaning, e.g. emphasis, attitude.

Listening

• Can follow enthusiastic conversation including some colloquial language.
• Can understand in detail most talks, news, films and documentaries.
• Can follow abstract concepts and complex arguments.
• Has some ability to infer attitude, mood & other unstated meaning.

Writing

• Can write clear detailed descriptions, critical reviews, narratives etc containing complex ideas.
• Can use complex and idiomatic language with sufficient accuracy that meaning is rarely lost.
• Controls register and style well.
• Can use a good range of cohesive devices to achieve a smooth flow of ideas.
• Can argue and justify a point, evaluate ideas, etc in a clear, logical, well-structured way.
• Can emphasise important points, signal concession, contrast, deduction etc, appropriately.

Reading

• Can follow sophisticated reasoning and relationships between ideas.
• Can pick up most inferences, attitudes etc that a native speaker would where specific background or cultural knowledge isn’t required.

 

*Please note, Beginner level is currently not operational, contact us to discuss your language needs.