General English

Description

Plymouth is a vibrant University city in the South West of England.

The General English Language course is focussed on developing the fluency of students in the four key communications skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. This is achieved through a combination of teaching and learning exercises that are focussed on everyday life.Examples of subjects covered include ‘English for Business’, ‘An Introduction of the United Kingdom’, ‘Pronunciation’, ‘English Culture’ and ‘living and working in the UK’.Placement into classAll new students are required to sit our entrance test on the first day. This is a carefully designed test which helps us to measure the level of English competence and to then place them into the appropriate class. The test includes questionnaires, grammar and listening tests, and an interview with a senior teacher. We also discuss with students any specific areas that they may wish to study. Following the test, we carefully explain what their level of English is and why they have been placed in a particular class.SyllabusTILT students enjoy small mixed nationality classes that are of a size where they can receive individual attention. Particular attention is paid to the language areas that are important for the individual student. Because our experience is that most of the students wish to improve their speaking and listening skills, a lot of the class work reflects this common need. The General English Course covers:Vocabulary - Learning key, common and useful words, together with words chosen by students. You feel the real progress you are making every day. Grammar - Basic structures are learnt, revised and consolidated. Pronunciation - An important area for students who work in a multi-national environment. Students meet a range of different accents in natural and authentic conditions. Functions - Students are coached on how to ask for permission, describe, suggest, complain and many other important daily actions. Situations - Students are helped to feel confident and enjoy using their English, for example when shopping, travelling, on the phone or in a hotel.Notions - Common concepts such as contrast, purpose and sequence are covered.Topics - Students will practise and feel comfortable talking on typical and also more controversial subject areas.Skills - Students will undertake systematic work on reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.