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.
GEOS English Colleges
GEOS International Group
The GEOS International Group was established to contribute to international communication through teaching English. It was founded in 1973 and its colleges span approximately 15 countries, across Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania. GEOS stands for Global Education Opportunities and Services, and offers quality language teaching with experienced and caring English teachers.
GEOS colleges offer a range of professionally accredited English courses, useful for improving English language skills, gaining entry into tertiary education or seeking employment in English speaking companies. These include general English for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, as well as more speciliased courses such as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), Business English, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). They often offer programmes that combine leisure activities or sightseeing with English classes, such as English and Surfing. All the colleges offer modern facilities, located in exciting tourist destinations to combine English language learning with fun.
GEOS Oceania
GEOS Oceania has colleges in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and Korea. In Australia, there are colleges in most of the capital cities including Sydney in New South Wales, Cairns, Brisbane and the Gold Coast in Queensland, Adelaide in South Australia, Perth in Western Australia and Melbourne in Victoria. In New Zealand, there are GEOS colleges in Wellington and Christchurch, and in South Africa there is a college in Cape Town. In Singapore, the GEOS college is of course in the city of Singapore, it being a city-state.
The colleges have a reputation for providing students with outstanding teaching, ensureing that students’ language goals are met while having fun. They offer extensive student support, leisure and educational facilities, help with accommodation, small class sizes, experienced and qualified teachers, as well as a diverse student body.