General English - Essential

Course description

Objectives - Our core class is an integrated skills class. It covers reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary and critical thinking. In this class you'll improve your accuracy (how correct your English is) and fluency (how well you can communicate). We use the Communicative Approach, so you'll learn English by using English—not by listening to grammar lectures and doing worksheets. We feel strongly that this is the most effective method to acquire English that students can use in the real world.
Each week you will be encouraged to consider your own development and suggest areas that will help you develop most quickly. This is what we call a ‘negotiated syllabus’ and your teacher will expect you to comment on the weekly plan which is displayed on the classroom wall. Your teacher will take your suggestions and use them with the syllabus to create lessons for your class that work for you.

The Syllabus for each level is mapped to the CEFR levels A1-C2. The levels define what you can do and Stafford House believes that language is for communication. Each of our Core Class Course Books is also mapped to the CEFR providing a consistent basis for developing your language skills.

Flexibility - From Essential and Standard to Intensive and Super Intensive, our range of English language courses offers you a choice on how intensively you want to study - whether that’s 20 lessons a week on an Essential course or 35 lessons a week on our Super Intensive. Plus with our range of modules you get to personalise your course to fit your needs.

How you learn - We believe that you will learn faster and more effectively if your lessons are engaging, fun and relevant, that’s why our teachers use a range of techniques and develop classes that are motivating and build your confidence. This will allow time to focus on any areas of weakness. Any weekly programme is influenced not only by the course book syllabus but also by the learning goals and interests of the students in any one group.

Testing on arrival - On your first day you will take a language assessment, to assess your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and how well you are able to understand and speak English. This helps us to understand the class you’ll be happiest and most successful in.

Monthly Tutorial - Every month you’ll have a one-to-one tutorial with a senior member of the academic team to make sure you are on track to achieve your goals and fulfil your potential. It’s a great opportunity to review your course choices and learning methods and to really make sure you achieve what you want to achieve.

Quality Assurance - Our Directors of Studies are based in all of our schools to ensure our programmes are of the highest possible quality, our class sizes are small and that our students leave having gained the maximum from their time with us.

* Essential (or the 20 lesson option) is only available for students on B1/B2 visa or visa waiver for a maximum of 12 weeks.