23
Nov
2009
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.
11
Sep
2009
English Language Colleges in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is located to the southeast of Australia, and is composed of two main islands: the North Island and the South Island. The South Island is the larger island, and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps, while the North Island is less mountainous but more volcanic. The realm of New Zealand also includes Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, the Cook Islands, and the Ross Dependency in Antarctica.
Its capital is Wellington, though its largest city is Auckland. The official languages are Maori and English, as its indigenous people are the Maori and it was settled by Europeans in the seventeenth century. The first Europeans to reach New Zealand were Dutch, who gave it the name Nova Zeelandia, but it was the English who claimed sovereignty and negotiated a treaty with the Maori in 1840, thereby anglicising the name to ‘New Zealand’. Queen Elizabeth II is the official head of state, represented by the Governor-General, however the actual governing of the country is undertaken by the democratically elected Parliament and Prime Minister.
English Colleges in New Zealand
The GEOS Wellington English College was established in 2003 and is the youngest of the GEOS group. Usually the college contains around 30 to 40 students. The school caters for General English courses (both full-time and part-time), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and TOEIC (Test of English for International Purposes) courses, Cambridge FCE (First Certificate in English) and CAE (Advanced English) courses, as well as IELTS Examination Preparation and English for Academic Purposes.
The GEOS Christchurch English college opened in 1997 and has now grown to 120 students, though the maximum number of students in a class remains only twelve so students can interact with the teacher easily. It is located in the heart of the city, next to the Avon River. Students come from all over the world to learn English there, with a variety of courses.
30
Jun
2009
IELTS
IELTS- International English Language Testing System
The International English Language Testing System is a test to prove your English language skills across reading, writing, listening and speaking components. It comes in two versions- the Academic version and the General Training version. The Academic test is for entry into tertiary study at English-speaking colleges and universities. The General Training test is a more basic test for both study or day-to-day English speaking, including attending an English-speaking secondary school, work experience, training programs, or if you simply want to move to an English-speaking country.
The IELTS is useful as English is the third most spoken language in the world, and covers countries such as Australia, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Canada, India, and the UK.
Information for sitting the IELTS
The IELTS is recognised by over 6000 institutions across 120 countries as a trusted and valid indicator of the ability to communicate and comprehend English orally and in written form. To sit the IELTS you should first find out which version of the test you need to take (depending on the requirements of the institution you are applying to) - whether the Academic or the General Training. You should also familiarise yourself with the test components: 30 minutes Listening, 60 minutes Reading, 60 minutes Writing and 14 minutes speaking. It is important to note that the speaking component can be on the same day, or alternatively 7 days before or after the other test components. There are sample tests available to inform yourself of the format and types of questions, as well as to practice your answers.
The fees for both the Academic and the General Training tests are the same. You must bring identification on the testing day, such as a passport or identity card (depending on which you used in your application). The test uses a variety of English accents so no one is disadvantaged- this could include an American, Australian or British accent.