General English Syllabus

Overview

Product- orientated- GE courses are primarily focused on achieving communicativeness. Courses are built around materials that move away from passive knowledge into active use, as this is the primary purpose (in most cases) of studying abroad. Although materials for this type of course tend to be part of the Structural Approach, the preference is towards a Notional Approach to ensure that real-life, everyday communication is covered adequately.

15/21- hour split- Two packages are available for this course: 15 hours and 21 hours (20 hours of class time + 1 afternoon club). The 15 hours covers the main language input of the day, revision, progress tests and controlled practice of language. The final teaching hour per day, for the 21-hour package, is planned without the course materials and encourages free practice of key language aims, further language exploration and analysis, skills practice and TBL-style learning.

Adaptation and personalisation- materials are frequently adapted by the teacher to ensure they are relevant to students. Teachers are encouraged to adapt materials where possible.

Materials chosen for Autumn Term 2017-2018: Outcomes 2nd Edition. Reason being:

-  Is also product-orientated and seeks to facilitate communication.

-  Speaking and listening-heavy, therefore addressing the most immediate language skills needed for living in an English-speaking country.

-  Diverse, everyday topics that can appeal to a range of students.

-  Easily adaptable with clear language aims for each section that can be further exploited.

-  Correct length needed for a long term (16 weeks and 16 units).

-  Regular testing as a set part of the course.

Materials chosen for Winter Term 2018: English File 3rd Edition. Reason being:

-  Although this series is more grammar-focused, it approaches this through communicativeness.

-  It has lots of skills work paired with systems, giving students confidence in achieving accurate communication.

-  Diverse, everyday topics that will appeal to a range of students.

-  Adaptable for a range of levels in the case of mixed ability classes and teacher adapting to suit the class.

-  Simple to use and logical; students get a sense of progression and achievement.

-  Clear language aims and more pronunciation focused, to help students and teachers to work on this.

-  Student’s Book comes with range of supplementary materials and an online site to introduce online learning.

Incorporation of technology- all GE courses will have an online platform accompanying the course, in this case, the English File website.

Regular homework- Homework (either controlled, free or experiential) is to given at least 2 (ideally 3) times per week in order to ensure revision and exploitation of environment during UK study.

Weekly assessment- all students will be assessed weekly and these scores recorded on their School Manager profile.

Sample weekly plan

Flexible structure- Although the lessons loosely follow the structure of the course book, teachers are free to change the structure in order to better suit the weekly aims.

Weekly and daily aims- Teachers set both daily and weekly aims to ensure all skills and systems are properly covered. These are made available to students through noting on the board, visible schemes of work and verbal instruction.

Week day / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday
Aim / Grammar, reading and speaking. / Vocabulary, writing and speaking. / Listening, speaking and vocabulary. / Reading, writing, speaking and grammar. / Students revise content from the week, including key vocabulary and complete a weekly assessment.