Week beginning 28th September ’09

Spring term starts

Summer term starts
Easter holidays

Please note that some classes will not run on certain days due to College events (open evenings etc.) or staff holidays. It may also be necessary for some classes to run during the half term holidays.

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Please refer to the course descriptors below to help you decide which course would be most suitable.

Holiday (Beginner)

This highly communicative short course is ideally for those with no prior knowledge of the language. Emphasis will be on learning simple ways of expressing yourself to be able to ‘get by’ when abroad, for example booking a hotel room and ordering food in a restaurant. Grammar explanations will be kept to a minimum. This course is ideal for people who cannot commit themselves for more than 1 term or who just want to learn basic phrases to use on holiday.

Level 1 (Beginner)

This course is ideally for those with little or no knowledge of the language. You will learn how to give information about yourself as well as learning practical communication skills to help you be able to ‘get by’ on holiday. Topics will be covered in more detail than on the holiday course and grammar will be incorporated so that you can start to understand the basic structures of the language. You will concentrate on learning the present tense.
This course leads to Level 2.

Level 2 (Lower intermediate)

This course is for those who have successfully completed Level 1 or equivalent, who can already cope in the target language on holiday and have an understanding of basic grammar. You will develop your confidence by expanding on Level 1 topics and then go on to more complex structures.
This course leads to Level 3.

Level 3 (Intermediate)

This course is for those who have successfully completed Level 2 or equivalent. You should already be familiar with the present, past and future tenses, though all language items will be consolidated.
This course leads to Level 4.

Level 4 (Upper Intermediate)

This course is for those who have successfully completed Level 3 or equivalent. You should be confident using the present, future and past tenses as well as some more complex structures.
This course leads to Level 5.

Level 5 (Advanced)

This course is for those who have already learnt all the main tenses and who are comfortable conversing in the target language but would like to build up fluency. The tutor will structure the course around the interests of the students using a variety of media. We hope to increase your confidence in expressing your opinions on a wide range of topical issues.

Language Clubs Conversation workshops with wine (e.g. Spanish Club)

This 10-week course is designed for intermediate / advanced learners and is purely conversational in character. Therefore, the emphasis will be on developing speaking skills and boosting fluency in the target language through lively conversation lessons with wine and nibbles. Students will also have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge about Spanish-speaking countries as cultural component is incorporated into the course.

"It is a pleasure to do a course so well organised and delivered"
Student feedback

Class size - between 8 and 16
Small groups – if a class number is below 8, we may open the course providing students are happy to pay an additional fee.

Courses will only run if student numbers meet a viable minimum. To enhance the quality of the learning, the maximum number of students per class is 16.
Full refunds will automatically be given if a course is cancelled due to insufficient participants. We regret we are unable to refund fees once a course has begun, nor transfer people to courses starting later on in the year. Occasionally, we are forced to change the day of a course. If this applies to a course you have already signed up for, we will give a full refund if the changes do not suit you.
You will receive a letter or email with all the details before your course starts.

If you wish to withdraw from a course before the end date, we will ask you to put it in writing.

Q: What do I do if I find myself on the wrong level?
A: Providing there is a suitable course, we will be more than happy to move you up or down a level. (Not available to students on holiday courses or conversation classes with wine).

Q: Can I join in with a class during the year?
A: If places are available then yes!

Q: Can I pay in instalments.
A: Sorry but the full fee must be paid before the course starts.

Q: I am really interested in one of your courses, but can’t attend on the day you are advertising should I look elsewhere?
A: Yes and we will be happy to recommend other institutions. However, it is still worth registering your interest, as occasionally we create additional courses if there is a high demand, especially Level 1 courses.

Q: Do you have any courses starting later on in the year?
A: Yes! We offer 20-week courses that commence in January as well as 10-week holiday courses and 10-week conversation classes with wine and nibbles starting in April.

Q: Will I need to put much work in outside of the lessons?
A: Even though our courses do not lead to a qualification, it is impossible to retain what you have learnt in class without doing some homework and revision throughout the course. We recommend about 20 minutes per day of exposure to the language, i.e. doing homework, listening to the radio, songs, watching a video or reading an article in a newspaper or magazine.

The Laboratory is equipped with 25 individual workstations; 23 with PCs and 2 with TV and video/ DVD. The Laboratory’s self study resources include reference books, CDs and interactive videos, access to the internet, reading and listening comprehensions, satellite TV, and magazines.

"The teacher is an inspiration and so enthusiastic"
Student feedback

(for self access, term-time only)

(These times are provisional)

Monday - Thursday: 4.30 - 6.30pm

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