General English: Elementary to Upper Intermediate

CRICOS Course Code: 112488F

Courses in General English are at the following four levels – Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate and Upper Intermediate.

The General English course integrates the four macro skills or reading, writing, speaking and listening with grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. This approach provides students with the knowledge and the cultural understanding to succeed in a variety of contexts in an English-speaking country. Each of the skills requires the development of strategies that help students approach situations where they need to use their knowledge of English to communicate.

The four levels are scaffolded, each building on the preceding level. Each lead to a qualification at the Common European Framework of Reference for languages – A1, A2, B1 and B2.

The exit competencies are:
A1 – Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way, provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

A2 – Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g., very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

B1 – Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

B2 – Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.