Express English College offers General English at all levels. We also deliver English for Academic Purposes, IELTS preparation courses, Trinity College London preparation tuition, ESP (English for Specific Purposes, such as medical, media or hospitality), Business English, and one-to-one tailored tuition where you can ‘design your own course’. There is a Women-only option for all of the above. Also, all these courses can be taken online.
We offer General English in packages of 20 and 25 lessons per week (General English extra), 30 lessons per week (Intensive), and 40 lessons per week (Super Intensive). We offer a Super Intensive General English + IELTS programme (also 40 lessons). Our Business English programme can be taken in 20, 25, or 30 lessons per week packages. Other programmes can be tailored to your needs.
That depends on you! However, to move from one CEFR level to the next, experts suggest 120-150 hours of guided learning is typical. You can choose to do this in a more intensive way (see above), or over a longer period of time, according to your needs.
They are a system of grading or levelling a student’s performance in a second language, such as English. Many people link them to words to describe the level, although that is not always helpful. A1 is beginner; A2 is elementary-pre-intermediate, B1 is pre/low intermediate/intermediate, B2 is intermediate to upper-intermediate; C1 is low advanced; C2 is advanced or proficient. However, some books and courses use slightly different words; but almost ALL materials in English Language studies use A1-C2.
Once you register at Express English College (including online), you will receive a placement test, called the OPT. This tests your use of grammar and vocabulary, and your listening skills. You will also have a speaking assessment and a writing sample evaluation. You might find you are at slightly different levels in different things – this is normal.
You will receive in-class feedback during every lesson; additionally, you will review your progress with the Academic Manager once a month, reflecting on your progress and improvements made through the month, and negotiating goals to help you in your areas of weakness. At the end of your course, you will sit with the Academic Manager to evaluate the extent of your progress through the whole course and can be re-tested to measure your level of progression. Typically, progress would occur almost daily, because you are using the language you have learned, both in and out of your lessons, but progression in terms of moving up one whole level usually happens after 120-150 hours of guided learning. Every student is different, of course.
During your first day at EEC, you will talk with the academic manager about your goals, areas of strength and weakness, and learning needs, and make plans to address these. These plans will help the teacher(s) prepare for your classes and, especially, to help them to support you. Each day, your teacher will help you achieve your goals and adopt a friendly, supportive attitude to make sure you are happy with your learning experience. Out of class, as well as in, all relevant staff are trained in our welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding procedures, so you can relax and enjoy your visit – your class, activities, and free time. You will always have access to an emergency phone number, as well.
You will receive your learning materials as part of your course fee. We do adopt a buy back scheme where you make notes in course books in pencil, so they can be reused when you finish, if you sell us your book back! This helps with environmental sustainability, part of our ‘Green’ status and ethical duties.
Yes – Express English College believes independent study to be of great importance to enable you to develop and progress. However, that does not mean you will be writing essays every night after the college day. Homework can include writing, but also other things, such as preparation for a presentation, doing research, watching, or listening to something, or doing some reading. Most exciting of all, it may well involve speaking, with class members, in your home stay house (if applicable), and in the community.
Our maximum class size is 12. Your class members could be from anywhere in the world! We are an inclusive organisation, and we encourage students from different backgrounds, countries, and cultures, to work together.
Yes – in class, teachers are trained and selected to incorporate interactive activities and tasks so you get frequent opportunities to speak to your teacher, and your class members. In the afternoon, you will be speaking constantly – during activities, trips, in your accommodation, and out in the ‘real world’! Our methods, values, and beliefs are based on the educational theory of communicative competence being the single greatest asset you can have in mastering a language.
If you need to cancel, communicate with us and we will explain the options. Please see our full terms and conditions for full details of how we can help, and what you need to do. There is also a 14-day cooling off period once you have booked.
We have safe, secure, legally sound, and financially fair strategies in place in the light of further restrictions. Please see our Covid-19 Policy Statement for full details. The short version is: you will not be left alone, without a course: we operate online, but also provide a full refund if you are unable or unwilling to study online (from the time of the start of any online provision).
