On a SMALL GROUP COURSE, the maximum class size of 4 provides a serious and friendly atmosphere for study and ensures a good level of personal attention from the teacher. Small Group Courses take place in the mornings, 09.30-12.30, Monday to Friday, and involve 15 daytime hours' attendance per full week. Homework occupies an additional 2 hours or so per day. Small Group Courses are offered throughout the year. The minimum age for enrolment is 18. There is no maximum age. New students may START AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY WEEK, provided that a place is available. The shortest course a student may enrol for is 2 weeks. SMALL GROUP COURSES are suitable for students who already have a good Upper-Intermediate / Early-Advanced ability in English. There is a TEST on this website to check that the level of the course is suitable. PROGRAMME OF STUDIES Your existing knowledge of GRAMMAR is systematically checked and enlarged. You will learn the useful VOCABULARY and IDIOMS for general and specialised areas of language. In PRONUNCIATION, the features of individual sounds, stress and intonation are dealt with as required. You will develop accuracy in LISTENING through regular practice with authentic recordings taken from radio and television, and also with Cambridge Examination practice test recordings. Fluency in SPEAKING is achieved through discussions – in which you learn to present your point of view effectively, and talks – in which you give prepared PRESENTATIONS on your observations in the UK and on subjects that are of interest to you. In addition to the INTENSIVE READING of short texts for detailed comprehension, fluency is gained by EXTENSIVE READING - as homework - of books from the school library. You will be asked to make spoken and written reports on your reading. WRITING is done in the form of essays, compositions, reports, letters, and dictations. Most reading and writing is set as homework and not done in class. Topics from BUSINESS, ECONOMICS and CURRENT AFFAIRS are regularly introduced from newspapers, radio and television. ENGLISH LIFE AND CULTURE - an understanding of the ways of life and attitudes of English-speaking people is an essential part of achieving a high level of ability in English. Class activities include discussion based on background reading of books and newspapers, and practical observations made by you and your fellow students during your stay in England. You will be invited to contrast the situation in Britain with that in your own country and elsewhere relative to - *The press, radio and TV *The English social system *Women’s place in society *The Educational system *The British monarchy *Parliamentary Government *The Legal System *Family life and leisure. TEACHING MATERIALS A main course book normally provides the basis of work in grammar and vocabulary. Practice in other skills utilises authentic materials from the media, a selection from the best published teaching materials, and past Cambridge English examination papers. The CLASSROOM for the Small Group Courses is well lit, pleasantly furnished and has a white-board. A TAPE RECORDER is used for listening and pronunciation practice. Pre-recorded TV News broadcasts and other programmes selected for their interest are shown on VIDEO. A Typical DAY'S WORK on a Small Group Course - - CLASS (3 hours): 1. Grammar - review of exercises on Phrasal Verbs set as homework. 2. The day’s pre-recorded BBC TV News – listening and discussion of current affairs and cultural points. 3. Checking student's latest written homework. - Break - 4. Presentation - a student gives a talk about a subject prepared for homework, followed by questions and discussion. 5. Reading Text prepared as homework - discussion plus checks on comprehension. - - - - - - - HOMEWORK (about 2 hours): a. Writing: summary and evaluation of a book read recently. b. Grammar: exercise on Conditionals. c. Reading: article for discussion in class the following day. EXAMINATIONS If you wish, you may take the opportunity to enter for a Cambridge University Examination in English: the CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) or FCE (First Certificate in English), which can be taken in March, June or December; and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) which can normally be taken with about a month's advance notice. A *LINK* to the Cambridge Examinations in English is at the bottom of this page. The School can also help students make arrangements to sit the TOEFL examination. For more information, please see 'EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS' on the "CONTACT" page. Students who need extra LISTENING or PRONUNCIATION practice may borrow cassettes and books from the school for private use. On request, Progress Reports can be sent to sponsoring institutions, parents or students themselves both during and at the end of a period of study. Certificates of Study are available on application to all students who have attended their classes regularly and successfully completed their studies in the school. It is possible to arrange PRIVATE COURSES for individuals or small groups at Intermediate level or higher, with emphasis upon particular areas of language as required. *LINKS* - To find out more about the CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS IN ENGLISH, see: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/index.htm Contact the School: Windsor.ELC@virgin.net (End)