Archive for October, 2009
You are currently browsing the Learn English blog archives for October, 2009.
30
Oct
2009
GEOS Gold Coast
Why GEOS Gold Coast?
GEOS Gold Coast’s motto is “Serious Study: Serious Fun!”. This language college aims to not only provide extensive English language courses, but also a whole lot of fun with regular weekday and weekend activities. These include day cruises around the Gold Coast, marine sports (scuba diving courses, jet skiing, deep sea fishing, surfing, sea kayaking, etc), bush walking, horse riding and overnight camping. The college also has its own soccer team which competes with other language schools.
GEOS Gold Coast has many facilities available for students including a courtyard and barbeque, spacious student lunchroom, a well-equipped modern library with computers, televisions, stereos and much more. It also runs a student conversation club to improve English skills while discussing current affairs, with teacher present to help with grammar and pronunciation.
There are a variety of accommodation options available for students including a homestay program, self-contained apartments and share accommodation. The aim of the homestay program is for students to improve their English with an Australian family, while developing friendships and participating in social activities. The college can also provide confirmed prices for holiday style accommodation with resort facilities in the complex. Alternatively, it can help students find shared accommodation with other students at the college.
GEOS English Courses
GEOS Gold Coast offers a range of courses to improve English grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary through classes and social activities. Established for 10 years and winners of the the Gold Coast Export Awards for Education in 2005 and 2006, the college offers high quality education with experienced and highly qualified teachers.
From General English to IELTS and Cambridge Preparation Programs, the course diversity means that there are various pathways to further education after completion. This could include University studies or TAFE courses. Located on the beautiful Gold Coast, only 5 minutes from the spectacular Surfers Paradise Beach, students have every reason to come and study at GEOS Gold Coast.
19
Oct
2009
Australian English
Australian English
English became the official language of Australia after being colonised by the British. However, the language evolved away from standard British English over time. One of the dominant English influences was South-East England Cockney, with input from the Irish, Welsh and Scots. During the gold rushes of the 1850s, American colloquialisms and expressions were also added to the Australian vocabulary. Today, Australian English is most similar to New Zealand English due to their similar history and geographical proximity.
Apart from a distinct Australian accent, which has been categorised as ‘broad’, ‘general’ and ‘cultivated’ (General English is the most common in English), Australia also has unique terms and expressions. These include phrases such as “fair dinkum!”, “g’day!”, and “dinky-di”, though they are more likely to be used in paradies of Australian speech than actual Australian slang.
Learning English in Australia
GEOS has several English colleges in Australia, in fact in most of the Australian capital cities. These include colleges in Sydney (NSW), Cairns (Qld), Brisbane (Qld), the Gold Coast (Qld), Adelaide (SA), Perth (WA) and Melbourne (VIC). These colleges offer a range of courses to improve English skills, often incorporating fun activities as part of the program. Some of the typical English courses on offer, depending on the particular college, include General English, TESOL, CAE, Business English and Study Tours.
All are situated in great locations for sightseeing, access to public transport, nearby cafes and shopping opportunities, often near beaches and a range of tourist activities from water sports to museums, galleries, wine tasting, entertainment venues and restaurants. There is often accommodation on-campus, and if not, places to stay nearby.
With highly qualified teachers that have experience teaching in various locations around the world, small class sizes, and students of mixed nationalities and ages, GEOS colleges offer a great experience and effective teaching. The great benefit of studying at one of these English schools is that they can immerse you in an English-speaking culture. Consequentially, students have ample opportunity to practice their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening to English.
19
Oct
2009
English Language Colleges
Why study at a language college?
While it is possible to learn another language on your own, or through a distance education course, or simply by immersing yourself in the language by going overseas, and English language college can give you the best of all these options.
GEOS English language colleges immerse you in English-language cultures all over the world, providing ample opportunity not only to practice your language skills, but also have a lot of fun exploring the country and meeting new people. Through regular weekday and weekend activities, as well as fun courses such as ‘English plus Surfing’, students get to experience much more than simply the classroom. Students will also get to make new friends within the college, with a mix of students from over 30 different countries.
On the other hand, spending time at an English language college will mean that you get a real grasp on the language- including reading, writing, listening and speaking. From the basics to advanced English courses, GEOS colleges offer a range of courses to cater for whatever level students are at. These include General English, Cambridge Preparation Programs, English for TESOL and much more. The courses are taught by highly qualified and experienced teachers who have lived and taught all around the world. In addition, these courses offer pathways to further studies, whether university or other tertiary institutions such as TAFE.
Learning English
GEOS Gold Coast, located 5 minutes from Surfers Paradise Beach, offers a range of English language courses. These include General English, Preparation for Academic and Cambridge Exams (PACE), IELTS Exam Preparation (IELTS), Cambridge Exam Preparation (FCE/CAE), Certificate IV in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), the Joey Kangaroo Club (Young Learners Program), and the Study Tour Program.
The Study Tour Program offers students a range of custom made courses and programs, designed to combine English lessons with an area of interest. So this would mean combining an English language course (such as General English) with sports, sightseeing, adventure holidays and more.