General English IV – Upper-Intermediate

General Information:

CRICOS Code: 03490G
Total Course Duration: 12 Weeks （Start every Monday）
Study Period: 10 Weeks (20 hours of scheduled classes every week)
Holidays: 2 Weeks
Tuition Fees: AUD $2880.00
Material Fee: AUD $180
Application Fee: AUD $ 250

Profile Target:

This course is designed for candidates over 18 years old who hold a valid Australian Visa (onshore and offshore). It is designed for a formal classroom setting; the methodology and content are directed to adults from different backgrounds who are willing to improve their English as a second language knowledge and proficiency for General purposes. This includes the notion that language learning is a conscious process, and that learning and acquisition of language can arise from interaction both with others and with materials.

Entry requirements:

We accept English Language proficiency scores from a variety of tests:

CEFR B1-B2
IELTS 4.5
PTE ACADEMIC 30
TOEFL IBT 32

Course Structure & Delivery Methods:

GE IV will comprehend 12 weeks duration of which the students will have 250 hours class per level divided into 10 weeks, 20 hours are classroom based (face to face) and there is a 5-hour self-paced space for students to study during the week (from week 1-10, week 11 and 12 are break time or time for students to catch up with pending summative assessments). The weekly 25 hours will be allocated within 4 days per week. However, students may consult or express special needs for further considerations to the trainer or ELICOS Director of Studies/Academic Manager.

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of the General English (GE) program is to meet the basic communication needs of the learners. It aims at developing basic English language skills, in order for the learners to gain social skills that are necessary to meet communication and cultural needs while travelling and participating in community contexts in Australia and other English-speaking countries.

It can be assumed that all students entering the GE course have the common objective of giving the first steps to learn English start communicating in this one. During the course they will focus on the four key skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Also, to gain accuracy and pronunciation by daily practices integrated with class practices. It is a great opportunity to develop the communication skills by taking part in classroom activities with other students and focus on vocabulary building.

At the end of the course, students should be able to hold and understand simple conversations, write basic texts and reading them. This knowledge will facilitate the learning process for those who want to continue with the EAP, taking international English exams or display skills to access higher education.

Course Learning Outcome:

– Listening

Use active listening skills to comprehend and respond to a range of speech acts in an academic environment
Identify major lexical items and predict meaning
Demonstrate the ability to respond to academic questions
Distinguish different formal and informal language
Use discourse markers to locate information in a spoken text
Demonstrate the ability to comprehend and take notes from a lecture
Follow complex lines of argument given the topic of discussion is reasonably familiar
Assess peer presentations
Operate competently in an interview

– Reading

Develop an awareness of the different types of instructions commonly used in academic texts and how to follow them
Predict meaning from context, skim/scan a text for information
Use a library to locate materials on different topics
Perform research tasks and take notes from a written text
Demonstrate the ability to collect, interpret and organize information
Recognize different forms of written language
Identify the structure and language features of different texts
Extract and follow information presented in graphs, charts and tables
Develop skills which will enable them to cope with unknown vocabulary
Increase their vocabulary range through exposure to reading texts

– Writing

Demonstrate knowledge and use of effective writing skills and strategies
Learn and use vocabulary related to different topics
Take notes and write a summary
Demonstrate overall grammatical competence
Paraphrase information drawn from written sources
Produce different types of essays with introduction, body and conclusion
Demonstrate the ability to write under exam conditions
Understand the issues associated with plagiarism
Paraphrase and produce paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting statements
Become aware of how to produce an essay using appropriate organizational structure, register and a variety of language
Produce competent and cohesive arguments using evidence and examples
Interpret questions and write an answer appropriate to the question type (Essays: cause and effect,argumentative, opinion, discursive)

– Speaking

Show overall clarity and competence in most spoken genres
Present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects
Use different discourse patterns and markers
Use appropriate language and speak about various topics
Learn and use new vocabulary relating to different topics
Avoid irrelevance and repetition
Demonstrate overall grammatical competence
Ask for clarification when they do not understand a question
Give a sustained oral presentation on a topic of interest
Demonstrate knowledge and use of effective speaking skills and strategies

– Study Skills

Work independently and in a group to complete an academic task
With guidance, develop research skills
Use a computer in the completion of an academic task
With guidance, complete a number of academic tasks simultaneously