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EFL and ESOL Course Information

Courses

Levels

English Language Courses at Chelmsford are offered at a range of levels, from Breakthrough (Entry Level 1) to Upper Advanced (Level 3).

The most suitable level for you will be decided by placement testing, which can either be done on computer at the College or on paper, downloadable from this site. In addition, we will assess your writing skills and conduct a short interview with you, face to face or on the telephone.

Hours and timetable

When your level has been assessed we can discuss with you the right course, depending on individual needs. Courses available require from 2 ½ to 16 hours per week in College, plus some private study time after classes to complete homework and review what you have learnt on your course. The day and time you come to College will depend on your level and you will be provided with a timetable with details of when you need to attend.

Teaching methods

The teaching methods used in class encourage the active use of the language so you can expect to work in pairs, small groups and on your own. To ensure maximum benefit from the classes, students should be prepared to take part in all the classroom activities. Generally speaking each class will work from a course book which will be supplemented with other material provided by the tutor. All students are advised to buy a monolingual dictionary (your tutor will advise you on this) and a vocabulary notebook.

Examinations

The College is an examination centre for Cambridge ESOL and offers the following examinations, usually in June. Other arrangements can be made for those wanting to take these examinations in March or December.

• PET (Preliminary English Test)
• FCE (First Certificate in English)
• CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
• CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• Skills for Life ESOL at Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3 and at Level 1
• Full-Time EFL FCE Course
• Cambridge ESOL Skills for Work at Entry 3 and Level 1

Students wishing to take one of these examinations will need to register and pay the examination fee (see course details) 10 to 12 weeks in advance and must enrol on the third term of their course.

IELTS

The College also offers a part-time and an intensive IELTS preparation course. The IELTS Test can be taken in Colchester every month of the year. This examination is mainly for those wishing to follow a course of higher education in the UK. Information about this exam can be found on the following websites: www.ielts.org.uk and www.cesc.co.uk/ielts

Costs

For details of the cost of each course please use the link to that course. Skills for Life ESOL classes are subsidised for those who fulfil the necessary criteria. Course fees have to be paid at the start of classes in order to complete the enrolment process. In addition to the course fees, students will be asked to buy a course book for use in the class, a work book for homework and in some cases a grammar reference book. The cost of these materials will be between £30 and £50 per year.

Social Programme

The College organises an occasional, optional social programme for English language students. This will help you to meet other students from different classes who are also studying English. Those joining in with these activities will normally be asked for a small contribution to cover the costs. This is usually no more than £2/£4 per activity.