Where is GEOS Gold Coast?
Gold Coast, Qld
GEOS Gold Coast is located in Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast of Queensland. Today the Gold Coast is reknown for its sun, surf and sand that stretches across 57 kilometres of coastline. According to the Gold Coast City Council, this reputation only took off around the 1950s. Previously, residents had focused on working the land, but at the turn of the century people started to look for more leisure. As a result, iconic holiday accommodation was built reflecting the philosophy of fantasy, fun, nightlife and relaxation. These included the Pink Poodle and the Gold Coast’s first high rise Kinkabool, built in 1959.
Then there is The Q1, which is the world’s tallest residential tower, and the Palazzo Versace. These last two are Australia’s only 6 star hotels, specialising in glamour and indulgence. Of course, the Gold Coast has a whole range of accommodation, from budget to family and luxury.
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise is a large town encompassing wonderful beaches, shopping centres, restaurants and fun attractions. Surfers Paradise is on the Gold Coast, just over an hour away from Brisbane. The English college itself is on Orchid Avenue, in the heart of the town and only 5 minutes from the beach.
There is so much to do in Surfers Paradise to complement your English language studies and practice it in real world situations. There are beach volleyball games at Central Surfers Paradise Beach, fishing charters, whale watching cruises or a whole variety of water sports from scuba diving to surfing and jet skiing. You can hire equipment, whether surf boards, body boards or jet skis, or bring your own. Or you can simply enjoy the patrolled beaches along the coast, including Surfers Paradise Main Beach. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the town and along the beach.
Away from the beach, there is still plenty to do. There are the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks, including Dreamworld, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Movie World, Sea World and WhiteWater World. You can go bunjy jumping, play mini golf, or go golfing at a professional course.
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.
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.