IELTS Preparation
The IELTS
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is an exam that can be taken to have evidence of your English language skills covering skills of reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking. It has both an Academic version for entry into universities and a General Training version useful for entrance into high school, vocational study or an English speaking country. The test consists of four components:
- Listening (30 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes)
- Speaking (14 minutes).
The IELTS is a widely recognised indicator of the ability to use and comprehend English, accepted by over 6000 institutions and spanning 120 nations.
IELTS Exam Preparation
GEOS Gold Coast is an English college in Queensland, Australia, that offers a course to help students prepare for the IETLS exam. The couse runs for 10 weeks and focuses on key skills including speaking, listening, reading and writing. Students require a minimum of intermediate level English in order to benefit from the course.
It covers both the Academic and General format of the exam in two modules. The Academic Module prepares students who are taking the test to enter university. The General Training Module is designed for students who wish to continue with vocational training courses, for example at TAFE, as well as those who are applying for Permanent Residency in Australia.
GEOS Gold Coast is one of the leading schools on the Gold Coast. Established for 10 years and winner of the Gold Coast Export Awards for Education in 2005 and 2006, it is a college with experienced, caring and qualified teachers as well as a variety of different courses. The college is part of a network of GEOS schools in the Oceania region, meaning it is possible to transfer to another school in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and so on. Located only 5 minutes from the beach, the college not only offers great English courses but lots of fun as well.
Academic and Cambridge Exams
PACE
GEOS Gold Coast is an English college offering a range of English language courses for all levels. Among these, it offers a course in Preparation for Academic and Cambridge Exams (PACE). PACE is a twelve-week course designed for students at an Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate level that are looking to study at an intensive level. It helps those who want to improve all areas of their English skills quickly, but are not at an appropriate level to enter the IELTS or Cambridge Exam preparation courses.
This course will improve students’ skills so they can enrol in an exam preparation course, but will also help those wanting to improve their English to travel and work in Australia. Students are tested on a weekly basis on grammar and vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading and writing. Classes are held five days a week, with different topics each week ranging from cinema to science, relationships and travel. Apart from in-class work on interviews, writing reports, reading comprehension, negotiation, grammar and so on, homework is also assigned each day from research tasks to translation.
Academic English
Academic writing is a genre different to news articles, fiction novels or blogging. It involves not only a strong grasp of the English language in order to present your argument succintly, but also specific skills in paraphrasing, summarising, critiqueing and referencing. For example, in a literature review you will outline the main ideas of other authors, referencing their works, then comparing and contrasting to reveal strengths and weaknesses.
A well-written academic paper will also be structured logically, cohesively and coherently. Students must know how to write a strong introduction and conclusion, as well as being able to link the main points in the body with topic and linking sentences. Furthermore, most academic papers will not be written in the first person using ‘I’. Instead, the author’s voice should come across through perceptive analysis of the evidence.
General English
General English Course
GEOS Gold Coast runs various English language courses to meet the different needs of students. These include General English, Preparation for Academic and Cambridge Exams (PACE), IETLS Exam Preparation, Cambridge Exam Preparation (FCE/CAE), Certificate IV in TESOL, Joey Kangaroo Club (Young Learners Program) and a Study Tour Program.
The General English course is offered at six levels: Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate and Advanced. Classes are taught in 10-week modules, with an average class size of 16 students. Students can commence on any Monday, with an English level test and orientation given before commencement.
The GE course is very practical, with specialist afternoon lessons preparing students to use English right away. These specialist classes could niclude Telephone English, Business English, English for Tourism and Hospitality, and English for Presentations. Students are kept motivated with real life material and guest speakers. With progress tests every 5 weeks, along with one-on-one sessions with detailed feedback, students will be able to see their progress. The tests cover every skill area, from listening to reading, writing and speaking. GEOS Gold Coast’s program is unique as its been specifically developed from feedback from current students.
Learning a Second Language
There are many reasons to learn another language, from seeking employment to study, travel and migration. There are a range of ways to learn a second language, from different courses to overseas study, hoemstays, and distance education. Or perhaps you want to study on your own, which is possible with the wealth of materials available from libraries and bookstores. Some helpful resources include a bilingual dictionary, grammar books, phrasebooks, online exercises, language learning software and so on.
Of course, whichever way you decide to take, it is important to be able to practice your language skills in reading, writing and conversing. Practice will help improve your pronunciation, increase your vocabulary and perfect your grammar.