General English (ELICOS) 

The General English course focuses on everyday functional English and facilitates student understanding of the language, communication and conventions used in an English-speaking country. The course aims to provide students with a learning environment that is as close as possible to common everyday situations in Australia and is also designed around common student-based requirements. The course is structured into four levels,  

Starter 

Elementary 

Pre-Intermediate  

Intermediate  

Students will be placed at the appropriate level and may complete one or more levels according to their needs.  

At Starter level, the course is based on survival-type English which a beginner student needs to learn to communicate following arrival in an English-speaking country. On completion of this level, students will be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases, will be able to introduce themselves and others, as well as ask and answer questions about personal details. Students will also be able to interact in a simple way when the other person speaks slowly and clearly and repeats or clarifies information as needed.  

Completion of the Elementary level will enable students to be able to understand and use sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (for example, basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Students will also be able to communicate in situations requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.  

Completion of the Pre-Intermediate level will enable students to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure and other familiar situations. They will also be able to write simple, connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest, as well as describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and give brief reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.  

Completion of the Intermediate level will enable students to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics. Students will be able to interact with some fluency and spontaneity, making regular interaction with native speakers relatively easy. They will also be able to produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a current issue, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of various options.